Chapter 66: Cold War
Yan Gui Xing had been called cruel, venomous, a reckless madman, and a carefree playboy.
But only Mu Mu had ever called him “silly,” the repeated use of the word adding a cute effect. No one else had ever called him that.
For a moment, he found it quite novel.
But this wasn’t the time for such observations. Yan Gui Xing needed to know why Mu Mu wanted to work—if it was his own idea or if someone influenced him.
Yan Gui Xing was already mentally considering ways to confine Mu Mu at home. His expression was unchanged; he didn’t show any anomaly. His voice remained consistently gentle.
“Mu Mu, can you tell me why you want to work? Did someone say something bad to you?”
Mu Mu wanted to say he wanted to save up star coins to buy him a gift. His account balance was very low, only enough for a cheap gift.
But he didn’t want to give Gui Gui a cheap gift, he felt that cheap gifts weren’t good enough for Gui Gui; Gui Gui deserved the best in the entire Empire, even the entire galaxy. So, he had to work hard and earn money.
But a gift is a surprise; it wouldn’t be a surprise if he told Gui Gui beforehand.
Mu Mu lowered his eyes, hiding his shifting gaze. He mumbled, fidgeting with his fingers, “Everyone works, right? How else can you earn star coins? Mu Mu also worked before, many, many jobs.”
What kind of jobs were those?! Yan Gui Xing almost blurted out.
Fortunately, he held back. He knew those were the best jobs Mu Mu could find, proof of his struggle to survive.
If Mu Mu hadn’t fought so hard to survive, he wouldn’t have met Mu Mu.
He had no right to judge Mu Mu’s past life, but he had the right to control Mu Mu’s future.
He would absolutely never let Mu Mu do those physically demanding, health-damaging, low-paying odd jobs again.
Considering Mu Mu’s self-esteem, Yan Gui Xing didn’t speak harshly, asking gently, “What kind of job are you looking for?”
Mu Mu answered readily, “The same as before.”
Hearing the expected answer, Yan Gui Xing felt a headache coming on. Leaning against the sofa back, taking advantage of the fact that Mu Mu couldn’t see the back of his head, he dropped the act, his expression gloomy, his eyes dark, clearly unhappy.
“If it’s those kinds of jobs, I won’t allow it.” His beautiful voice was still gentle. “It takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone, your rib injury is still healing, you shouldn’t overwork yourself.”
The saying “it takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone” only applied to ancient Earth.
In the interstellar era, with advanced medical technology, using therapeutic instruments and healing chambers for bone injuries, the recovery period for ordinary fractures was ten to twenty days.
Yan Gui Xing was just fooling Mu Mu, this simpleton with little common sense.
Mu Mu was unsurprisingly taken in. He touched the injured area through his soft pajamas. It didn’t hurt anymore; Dr. Gongsun had said he could increase his exercise.
But… Mu Mu puffed out his cheeks, secretly glancing at Yan Gui Xing, catching a glimpse of the white shirt, partially golden in the sunlight, before lowering his eyes.
Gui Gui wouldn’t lie to him; he believed Gui Gui’s words.
“But Mu Mu can’t do anything else,” Mu Mu’s mood dropped. Two invisible dog ears drooped on his head; he wilted like a frostbitten eggplant.
He hadn’t gone to university, he had bad hearing and couldn’t hear anything without a hearing aid, he had a limp, and he spoke strangely. He couldn’t find a good, long-term job and could only do low-demand odd jobs.
Yan Gui Xing had been waiting for this. He saw Mu Mu’s low spirits and felt a pang of sympathy, wanting to hold him and comfort him.
But comfort wasn’t the priority now. He needed Mu Mu to drop the idea of working, no, preferably to completely abandon the idea.
Yan Gui Xing tempted him, “Then Mu Mu shouldn’t go to work, stay home and keep me company, okay?”
Mu Mu, head lowered, blinked twice. He had to admit he was tempted. Yan Gui Xing’s home was so big and nice; Xiao Ting could talk to him, play with him, and cook him delicious food.
Most importantly, his favorite Yan Gui Xing was here.
But if he listened to Yan Gui Xing and didn’t work, his savings would run out quickly.
He wanted to prepare small gifts for Yan Gui Xing, but he couldn’t use Yan Gui Xing’s money to buy gifts for him.
That wouldn’t be a gift, nor a surprise.
Thinking of this, Mu Mu resolutely shook his head, “No, Mu Mu needs to work.”
Yan Gui Xing’s eyes were irritated by the bobbing strawberry hairpin. He closed his eyes, his voice low, like a snake tempting Eve to eat the apple.
“Don’t go, just consider it keeping me company, okay?”
Yan Gui Xing was betting on Mu Mu’s soft heart, but Mu Mu didn’t fall for it. He wasn’t Eve, he wouldn’t be tempted by the snake.
In his soft voice, with his strange pronunciation, he refused Yan Gui Xing.
“No, Gui Gui, you have a job, and you’re very busy. You don’t have much time to spend with me, even Xiao Ting has more time. You don’t need Mu Mu to keep you company.”
Yan Gui Xing never thought he would be speechless because of a little fool. He took a deep breath and stopped beating around the bush.
He leaned forward, held Mu Mu’s shoulders, pulled him into his arms, resting his chin on Mu Mu’s shoulder, their faces touching. He said directly, “I don’t want you to go to work, and I won’t let you.”
“Ah?” Mu Mu raised his eyes in astonishment, wanting to turn to look at Yan Gui Xing, but Yan Gui Xing was pressed against his face; he couldn’t turn, only rolling his eyes toward Yan Gui Xing, anxiously asking, “Why?”
“Because I don’t like it.”
Yan Gui Xing didn’t like him going to work, so he wouldn’t let him.
“Gui Gui doesn’t like it, so you won’t let me go to work?” Mu Mu felt silly, perhaps the equation he deduced was wrong, tentatively asking.
Thinking Mu Mu finally understood, Yan Gui Xing’s frustration eased, he leaned over and kissed Mu Mu’s cheek, praising, “Mu Mu is so smart. Listen to me and stay home to keep me company.”
Having received a definite answer, Mu Mu’s eyes reddened, his small hands clenching into fists.
Suddenly turning sideways, he forcefully pushed Yan Gui Xing, angrily shouting, “Gui Gui, you’re too bossy!”
Yan Gui Xing hadn’t expected Mu Mu’s sudden outburst. Unprepared, he was pushed backward. The sofa was small; his back was empty. He lost his balance and “thumped” to the floor.
He was stunned for ten seconds before realizing what had happened. So, the soft bun could also get angry and hit people.
Yan Gui Xing sat up, looking at Mu Mu, whose cheeks were puffed and eyes red, he asked with a wry smile, “So angry?”
Mu Mu didn’t want to talk to Yan Gui Xing; he nodded forcefully.
Yan Gui Xing asked again, “Do you absolutely have to work?”
Mu Mu nodded again.
Seeing Mu Mu refusing to talk to him, Yan Gui Xing’s temper flared. He pushed himself up from the floor, using the sofa for support.
His tall shadow enveloped Mu Mu. Looking down at the angry little fool, he sneered, “I disagree. You won’t be going out anymore.”
Saying this, Yan Gui Xing turned and walked upstairs without looking back.
Mu Mu glared with red eyes, clenching his small fists, waving at Yan Gui Xing’s back and shouting, “Gui Gui is domineering and autocratic! If you won’t let Mu Mu work, Mu Mu won’t talk to you!”
Yan Gui Xing, having reached the landing halfway up the stairs, was amused and raised his voice, “Fine, don’t talk to me. Let’s see who gives in first.”
This cold war, initiated by both sides, had begun.
From the moment Yan Gui Xing went upstairs until dinner, Mu Mu didn’t proactively seek Yan Gui Xing out as usual. Seeing Yan Gui Xing at the dinner table, he pouted, snorted, and turned away, pretending not to see him.
Yan Gui Xing, on the other hand, had already calmed down. Controlling Mu Mu wasn’t difficult. He could prevent any establishment on Glass Star from hiring him, or he could simply chain him to the house.
There were many methods, but he found Mu Mu’s rare display of temper novel and amusing, curious to see how long Mu Mu could keep it up.
Dinner ended in unusual silence. Four hours later, when Mu Mu entered the bedroom, Yan Gui Xing was standing by the bed, taking off his shirt.
Treating the large Yan Gui Xing as air, Mu Mu walked directly to the bed, picked up his pillows and blankets, and started to leave.
While unbuttoning his shirt, Yan Gui Xing saw a bundle of blankets passing by and instinctively grabbed the thin arm carrying the bundle.
Seeing that Mu Mu was carrying pillows and blankets, Yan Gui Xing’s face darkened. He asked coldly, “Where are you going with your pillows and blankets?”
Mu Mu turned his head away, and fiercely said, “I don’t want to sleep with you. I’m going to sleep in another room.”
Yan Gui Xing laughed angrily, letting go of his arm and stepping back. “Fine, go ahead. Don’t come back if you can’t find anywhere to sleep.”
Mu Mu sulked, “There are so many rooms; I can find one. I’m not coming back!”
He left the room, slamming the door shut.
Yan Gui Xing rubbed his temples, not bothering to change his clothes, leaving his shirt open, revealing his strong chest and abdominal muscles.
He paced anxiously for a couple of circles, then grabbed his data pad from the dresser. After quickly tapping a few times, the rage on his face subsided.
Sitting by the bed, Yan Gui Xing opened the villa’s surveillance system, found the small figure carrying the blankets, and smirked. “Let’s see when you come back to sleep.”