MASG chapter 122

 

After Xia Xiaoxiao entered the room, she saw her brother standing stiffly by the bed. He looked uneasy and lost, as if he had done something bad.

“Brother, what’s wrong?” Xia Xiaoxiao sat down on the bed and pulled him over very naturally.

As she sat down, the mattress sank slightly, but not enough to squeeze the space under the bed. Mo An was hiding properly. Through the mattress, he felt a kind of sneaky excitement, though he hadn’t figured out where it came from. He looked forward and saw Xia Xiaoxiao pull her legs and feet up; she was sitting cross-legged. Xia Yu’s slender calves and ankles, just as he remembered them, were right in front of his eyes. They were slender enough to be held in one hand.

Xia Yu was always very thin. Not just in the virtual world—he never gained weight in reality, either.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t gain weight; he just didn’t have the inclination. In Mo An’s memory, Xia Yu would save the last few bites and stuff them into his mouth without discussion. For a very long time, Meng Qingqing and Talos laughed at him for being a fat fish with a round belly.

“It’s nothing. Maybe I’m just tired. I’ll be fine after resting.” Xia Yu lied to his sister while thinking uncontrollably about why Mo An had rolled under the bed and how he had done it so skillfully.

“Is it because studying for the monthly exam is too exhausting? I told you it wasn’t necessary. It’s just a small test. Besides, with your grades, you’ll definitely get into a top university. There’s no need to be so nervous.” Xia Xiaoxiao was clearly more open-minded than her brother. “Life isn’t only about exams and going to university. In the future, I just want to stay on the island. As long as I can come home every day, that’s enough.”

“Then what major do you want to study?” Xia Yu was thinking about Mo An and his sister at the same time, his mind split in two.

Xia Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. “Sports. I want to become a cycling athlete around the island, riding freely.”

“Then you’ll need to start working hard now.” Xia Yu knew his sister had always participated in competitions. She just didn’t want the family to interfere before she achieved results. The family had a tacit understanding to protect her not-yet-formed dream. “As for me, I want to study oceanography. I want to learn about the sea.”

“Then wouldn’t you have to go out to sea all the time?” Xia Xiaoxiao was already feeling reluctant.

“I don’t know yet. Oceanography isn’t easy to get into. I’ll need to work even harder. I always feel that… there’s something in the sea calling me. The ocean is always fascinating, dangerous, and full of vitality.” Xia Yu looked at the test paper in her hands. “Which question do you not understand? I’ll explain it to you.”

Mo An listened the whole time while watching Xia Yu’s ankles. This was another side of Xia Yu that few people knew, and one that Mo An hadn’t really known before. Xia Yu was always busy—saving people and himself. During those years in the control center, they were often apart. Even when they met, they rarely talked about the future.

Mo An had never known that Xia Yu’s love for the ocean actually surpassed his feelings for himself.

He didn’t know whether to scold himself for being too dull or resent the turbulent times that caused them to love each other yet not truly understand each other. Mo An’s restless heart began to settle. He wondered if it was too late to start understanding Xia Yu now—please, let it not be too late.

More than ten minutes later, Xia Xiaoxiao left her brother’s room without staying long. Xia Yu closed the door but didn’t lock it. He didn’t have the habit of locking doors because their mother had always emphasized privacy. She had set the rule that one must knock before entering a room.

“You… come out.” Xia Yu felt especially helpless and awkward facing this uninvited intruder.

Only then did Mo An crawl out. He had listened to every bit of the siblings’ conversation.

“Why did you hide under the bed just now? You’re so strange.” Xia Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“I don’t know either.” Mo An thought, I was afraid Xia Xiaoxiao would chase me away. “Sorry, did I disturb your rest?”

Xia Yu walked to the window to get his phone and tapped the screen as he spoke. “No, it’s still early. I’ll send Xu Minghao a message first. Actually, he doesn’t blame you. He’s a good person.”

“I know. I’m the one who wronged him.” Mo An touched his half-wet hair. There were no bad people on Penghu Island. People’s personalities were relatively simple, without truly malicious sides. “I’ll take his place in the swimming competition. Tell him not to worry.”

“You…can you do it?” But Xia Yu didn’t believe it so easily.

“No problem. I just need to learn how to breathe properly. The key is… the key is participation.” After saying that, Mo An walked to the window. “Then I’ll head back. Go to bed early.”

“Hey!” Unexpectedly, Xia Yu called out to him.

Mo An immediately turned around. What is it, what is it—did he not want me to leave?

Xia Yu pressed his lips together. Just like when he was young, he looked like this whenever he couldn’t figure something out—slightly frowning as if trying to sort everything out. He was wearing pajamas with cartoon patterns, obviously bought by his mischievous little sister. As an older brother, though, he was willing to play along with his sister. After putting them on, they didn’t look too out of place.

“Your hair is wet. Dry it before you go.” After a while, Xia Yu said slowly.

“Okay.” Mo An didn’t know how to dry his hair, but since Xia Yu was keeping him there, he couldn’t leave. Xia Yu seemed to be making up his mind as well. He pointed to the side of the bed and motioned for Mo An to sit down. Then, he went to the drawer and took out a hair dryer. It was a small, silver hair dryer that he had only used to dry Xiaoxiao’s hair before. Now, he was using it again. Yet Xia Yu didn’t reject it, it felt natural, except for a bit of surprise.

Mo An seized the opportunity and sat down, waiting for him.

Xia Yu moved slowly and lightly, as if he were using a small electrical appliance for the first time. He had to carefully confirm every step before moving on to the next. During this time, Mo An wasn’t idle either. He thoroughly examined everything in Xia Yu’s room and asked, “Do you really like silver?”

“Huh? Yeah, I do.” Xia Yu held the hair dryer in front of Mo An. “If I burn you, remember to tell me.”

“Okay.” Mo An spread his legs a little so that Xia Yu could stand closer to him. As the warm air blew through his hair, Mo An felt a wave of calm wash over him. Xia Yu still had some real memories—he liked silver because he liked me.

Only my hair is silver. Xia Yu had praised it ever since they were little, all the way until they grew up. If it weren’t for training at the control center and getting covered in sweat and blood every day, Mo An wouldn’t have wanted to cut his hair short.

The hot air rose, muffling their voices, but Mo An clearly heard every word as “Xia Yu’s” name. He didn’t want to lift his head and expose the vulnerable back of his neck. He enjoyed having Xia Yu’s fingers slide over his scalp and quickly brush the back of his neck, shielding him from the burning wind.

“Can I hug you?” Mo An suddenly raised his head and asked.

“What did you say?” Xia Yu couldn’t hear him clearly.

Mo An didn’t ask again. Instead, he hugged Xia Yu, burying his face in his pajamas against his lower abdomen and wrapping his arms tightly around his waist. He was too excited. He knew it was intrusive and abrupt, but he couldn’t control his emotions.

Because this was something Mo An had never been able to enjoy before.

Xia Yu was a blue jellyfish and he was a mermaid. Their touch meant poison and death. He had never had the chance to experience a moment like this—without protective gear or preparation, hugging whenever he wanted. His arms touched Xia Yu’s arms. He could feel the real friction of skin, the warmth and pressure. He could feel the goosebumps that had just risen.

Mo An wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. Despite his reckless behavior, which made Xia Yu so scared that his whole body went stiff, Xia Yu didn’t push him away.

When his hair was dry, it seemed as if heaven was finally favoring Mo An. Outside, the rain grew heavier, pounding the glass like hail. Mo An looked on for a while, opened the window to test it, and then turned around. “Can I stay tonight?”

“You’re staying to sleep?” Xia Yu looked at his bed. Although it really was a double bed, but…

“Yeah, I’ll stay here and sleep with you.” Mo An said, half seriously, half jokingly. “I left my parents when I was very young. I’ve always been alone. I really want a brother to keep me company—preferably an older one. I know this is a silly suggestion, but all I need is a pillow. I can sleep on the floor.”

Xia Yu looked at the floor again.

The house had solid wood flooring with a thick carpet on top. But sleeping on it probably wouldn’t be very comfortable.

“Just give me a little space. Don’t judge me by my size—I can curl up.” Mo An continued to act pitifully, looking extremely helpless.

“All right, you can stay.” Xia Yu pointed at the bed. “There’s no need to sleep on the floor. I don’t have any cleanliness issues. Just sleep on the bed.”

“Thank you.” Mo An flopped onto the bed, as if he had suddenly lost the ability to walk upright.

Xia Yu still had to tidy up his schoolbag. This was his first time sleeping with Mo An—or rather, with a male peer. By the time he finished, Mo An was lying properly on the pillow, looking at him eagerly with his two eyes, like a well-behaved little dog.

No, that’s not right. He’s a person, not a dog. Xia Yu shook his head and lay down on the other side. “I have to wake up early tomorrow. I might wake you.”

“It’s fine. I’m used to getting up early,” Mo An said softly. “After you get up, remember to call me. I’ll keep you company while you cook.”

“Okay.” Xia Yu turned over and switched off the bedside lamp, leaving only a small nightlight.

Outside, the rain continued to patter, making the room feel especially safe. They could hear the wind and, perhaps mixed in with it, the sound of waves. Mo An turned his face to the side and asked, “Xia Yu, can you teach me how to ride a bicycle?”

“Yes, I can. It’s not difficult.” Xia Yu had his eyes closed, but he couldn’t ignore the heat and breathing beside him. “But you have to listen to me.”

Mo An moved a little closer to him. “I’ve always listened to you.”

Xia Yu immediately opened his eyes and stared at Mo An in confusion. That strange feeling came again. Had he and Mo An met before?

“I mean, I’ll listen to you very well.” Mo An noticed his confusion and quickly changed his words. Before Xia Yu was ready, he didn’t want to forcibly wake him up. “Go to sleep.”

“All right, good night.” Xia Yu let out a breath. “See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow. Good night.” Mo An tucked the blanket around himself. Go to sleep. No matter what happens tonight, I’ll protect you.

The next day, the weather was bright and sunny after the rain.

“Mom, Dad, we’re leaving!” After breakfast, Xia Yu stood at the door to say goodbye to his parents. Meanwhile, Xia Xiaoxiao had already sped off on her modified bike.

“Is it really okay for you to go to school like this?” Xia Li asked worriedly. “Should we drive you?”

“No need. I can do it. I promised Mo An that I’d teach him how to ride a bicycle after school.” Xia Yu patted the backseat. “Mo An, get on.”

Mo An sat sideways on the back seat with great satisfaction and waved to Zhang Mingqiao and Xia Li. “Mom and Dad, goodbye! See you this afternoon! Don’t worry; I’ll definitely learn.”

Under their parents’ concerned gazes, Xia Yu pedaled toward school with Mo An. Mo An leaned against Xia Yu’s back, as if he had returned to the time before he broke out of his shell—when Xia Yu carried fish eggs on his back and the two were inseparable.

Lao Gui, who was cleaning the fish pond, saw this scene and sighed. He’d never seen someone pursue another person like this. Mo An, you really are thick-skinned.