Mo Yan In the Book 166 - 170

 

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166 Hami Melon

The sun shone through the windows of the gazebo, dazzling and warm.

Situ Yi and Mo Yan were in the north courtyard, sitting together eating fruit. (Zuben: Are they all taking turns?) He picked up a piece of hami melon with a fork from the porcelain bowl on the table and fed Mo Yan,

‘Eat some fruit.’

‘Oh, how sweet!’ she exclaimed as the juice spread in her mouth. Mo Yan smiled happily as she playing with Lin Lin in her arms.

Yi stared at the little tiger coldly, full of displeasure, but when Mo Yan looked up at him, his expression was instantly warm.

‘Yan’er, do your arms hurt? I’ll hold him for you. You can concentrate on eating the melon. Lin-Lin is too fat, I’m afraid it would crush you.’

Mo Yan looked up at him, and blinked before gently shaking her head, ‘No, Lin-Lin is not heavy.’ She carried on teasing the little cub.

With her gaze turned away, Yi collapsed in gloom. Suddenly, the tiger looked at him, its blue eyes blinked, and a little tongue popped out before it rubbed its head against Mo Yan’s chest, although it kept looking at Yi from the corner of its eye.

Mo Yan laughed, ‘Lin-lin is so playful.’ She cuddled the little creature.

‘He must be hungry. Let me send him to eat.’ Yi chuckled while his lips sneered at the tiger. He tried to collect the ball of fur from Mo Yan. But the furball began to howl and flail.

Mo Yan took Lin-Lin back, and frowned at him, ‘Don’t be so fierce to it, you’ll frighten it. Besides, I’ve already fed Lin-Lin. It just needs to play and rest.’ She stroked the little tiger, soothing it.

‘Oh.’ Yi replied. He felt so wronged. The scene before him made him want to vomit blood. (Zuben: Do so and die) He watched the tiger from an angle Mo Yan wouldn’t notice, and the tiger looked like it was making fun of him. When Mo Yan looked, the tiger would tremble as though Yi was threatening him, and he instantly received her disapproving glare.

He was the most wronged.

Yi sighed in dejection and picked up another piece of melon from the bowl and handed it to Mo Yan, but the melon on the fork disappeared with the flash of a pink tongue. Lin-Lin gave a joyous purr as it chewed on the melon.

‘Damn this…’ he growled as the hand that clenched the fork trembled with anger. His gave a cold smile, a cold front blew from him. The boastful tiger suddenly curled up into a ball in her arms.

Mo Yan tried to comfort Lin-Lin and put the tiger aside, and stroked Yi’s cheek.

‘Don’t be angry.’ She said with a soft smile, before kissing him lightly.

‘Since, it appeared you don’t remember I am here.’ He said sulkily. He wanted to hold her in his arms and play with her.

‘I’ll pay attention next time.’ She smiled and took a napkin to gently wipe his palm.

He quickly embraced her, and drank in the fragrance from her hair. Lin-Lin tried to return to Mo Yan, but Yi glared in warning, and it plopped down on the sofa to watch. Once Yi was satisfied that it was obedient, he continued to enjoy holding Mo Yan. 

167 How was your day?

Mu Zeyuan entered the room.

‘What are you talking about?’ he asked.

Mo Yan was playing with Lin Lin’s tail. He raised an eyebrow.

‘You’re back,’ Mo Yan said noticing his arrival.

He took a seat beside her on the sofa, and took of his glasses before pressing his thumbs lightly between his brows.

‘Yeah, just back from court.’

Mo Yan stroked his face, ‘Come here, I’ll give you a message.’ She gently pressed got him to lay across her lap, and she gently massaged his head.

Situ Yi coldly watched Zeyuan occupy his territory, but when he saw Zeyuan’s tired face, he sighed and said,

‘I’ll take Lin Lin to eat.’ (Zuben: That cat is going to be fat and useless)

She deftly pressed on his head and neck to help relieve his tension. As her fragrance rushed up is nose, his harsh expression relaxed. He looked like a young boy with his eyes closed.

‘Why don’t you ask me about my day?’

‘Only if you want to talk about it.’

‘When I finished my case today, I came across another one in another room. A gigolo and a widow; guess who won?’ Zeyuan raised his hand to his forehead and stared at the chandelier over them.

‘I suppose you can guess. How can there be such person in this world?’ he said with a mirthless laugh. (Zuben: Writer, if you’re going to talk about shit, don’t just write nonsense. I know we’re only here for the pa-pa-pa, but still)

‘That’s why you are there to see justice is done.’ She said stroking his face. (Zuben: Justice for the oppressed? Are they lying to Mo Yan so she can like them?)

He smiled and snuggled deeper in her embrace to enjoy it. She stroked him gently.

There was a roar, and Lin-Lin was back. He squinted fiercely at Zeyuan occupying its exclusive throne.

Lin Lin clambered upon Zeyuan’s body trying to compel him to move. When he didn’t, the tiger moved back and forth, intentionally extending its claws to pull at his expensive shirt and scratch his skin.

Zeyuan raised his head and glared at the tiger cub, ‘You tore my shirt.’ He growled.

‘Lin Lin, don’t be naughty.’ Mo Yan said lifting the animal off Zeyuan, ‘Stay beside me.’ But the blue eyes gazed at her pitifully, she couldn’t bear to scold him.

Yi approached with a malicious smile, ‘A Yuan this why you don’t know better. Why do you care about that little tiger?’

Zeyuan glared at Yi, before picking up the tiger and getting out a machine file, ‘I think we should file its claws, so he won’t hurt Yan’er.’ (Zuben: It must be brownies, cos everything they could ever want is right next to them; tea, red wine, tiger nail file…)

But Lin-lin gave a pitiful yeowl, and Mo Yan took it from Zeyuan. She glared at both of them,

‘Don’t bully Lin Lin. Despicable…’ she said before walking off with the tiger in her arms. As she went, its small claws were waving in the air. 

168 Going out

‘Where is Yan’er?’ Muchen asked when he returned home and found Zeyuan and Yi looking bored, fiddling with their mobile phones. (Zuben: Are they teenagers, don’t they have work?)

Zeyuan looked up at him, and jutting his chin at the stairs.

‘It looks like that damned tiger has more weight in her heart than five of us put together.’ Yi said petulantly. (Zuben: Men, always trying to rewrite history)

Zeyuan’s eyes flashed, ‘We should throw it into the Amazon jungle, and see how it survives there.’

Just then, Mo Yan returned, ‘What is this I hear about Amazon jungles?’

‘Nothing! Just talking about starting a project there. Are you going out?’ Muchen asked staring at her ensemble. She was wearing a brightly coloured chiffon dress that outlined her beautiful figure. Her features were even more bewitching and attractive with make-up. The most dissonant thing was the tiger she was carrying against her chest – they wanted to rip it off her.

‘I made an appointment to see Xiaoyu.’ Mo Yan said with a replying nod.

‘And Chu Jinxu?’ Yi asked trying to look unperturbed.

Mo Yan went up to him and took the cup of tea from his hand to take a sip, ‘Of course, and you’re not allowed to follow me about!’ She turned away as she said to all of them, ‘Look after Lin Lin, you aren’t allowed to bully him.’ She put the little cub in Yi’s hands.

Muchen held up his keys, ‘I’ll take you.’

‘No, I’m taking a taxi. Bye.’

Her shoes echoed through the hall, and the resounding slam of the door rang through the hallway. The three men looked at each other and then at the tiger in Yi’s arms.

Zeyuan had a wicked smile on his face as he said, ‘Yan’er said we are not allowed to follow, but what if it isn’t us that wants to follow her?’

Yi and Muchen returned his smile as their gaze converged over the little tiger. The tiger mewled as it scratched its ears with its front paws and looked around uneasily.

🜟

Seeing her friend, Shen Yu waved, ‘Yan-yan, here!’

Mo Yan ran up to her.

‘We haven’t met in such a long time, ah! I miss you!’ Shen Yu said throwing her arms around her friend.

‘Me, too! But, you’re strangling me to death.’ Mo Yan patted Shen Yu, as she smiled in greeting at Lin Yifeng. Xu-ge should also be here, but it seemed he hadn’t arrived.

‘Didn’t you used to talk about Chu Jinxu often? I met him at a party when I was a child, I heard he is setting up a branch office here.’ Lin Yifeng asked.

‘Yes.’ Mo Yan replied, she saw Jinxu arrive, ‘Here he is!’

‘Girlie, I haven’t seen you in a while.’ He said hugging her, seeing she looked well, he was able to calm his anxiety. He shook hands with Shen Yu and Lin Yifeng.

‘Are you the Xu-gege that Yan-yan used to talk about when she was little? I heard a lot about you.’

Jinxu laughed, ‘Thank you for helping me look after, girlie.’ (Zuben: they did bang up job!)

‘Ah, you don’t have to be polite. Shall we find somewhere to eat?’ Mo Yan said, looking at her friends helplessly.

A black Maserati drove sedately into the department store and parked. The men pushed the door open. Their casual dress showed off their powerful figure. And their beautiful faces were hidden in shadows. (Zuben: So, the shadows saw them and ran to cover?) Their faces were angular and clear, making onlookers unable to look away from them. (Zuben: But people can see them in the shadows?)

‘How did you know she’s here?’ Yi asked Muchen.

‘Special bodyguards following her. They won’t be easily discovered.’ Muchen said with a light smile as he reached into the back seat and picked up the black pet box.

169 Commotion

Mo Yan was looking around her, but when Shen Yu looked she didn’t see anything.

‘Yan-yan, what’s wrong? Is there anything behind you?’

Mo Yan smiled, a little embarrassed, but also a little annoyed, ‘Nothing really, I just saw familiar people.’

Damn it, they followed her. She would deal with them when they get back.

There was a stir amongst the patrons, and the three men appeared. Their lofty auras made people automatically submit to them.

Yi smiled as he saw them, his eyes full of tenderness, ‘Yan’er!’ (Zuben: Urgh)

‘Yan-yan?’ Shen Yu looked at them in dismay. She could still remember Zeyuan kissing her despite Situ Yi claiming to be her boyfriend. She felt it was extremely ridiculous, but it was hard for her to speak of. And that glare had been hard to forget. She had felt like prey before a snake.

Lin Yifeng wrapped his arm around Shen Yu and stroked her, soothing her as he said, ‘Hello, it’s been a while.’

Zeyuan nodded as he pushed down his glasses to narrow his eyes at them, and smiled, ‘Hope you don’t mind us sitting together.’ As the waiter brought a free table to join with theirs. They arranged their chairs so that they were sitting beside Mo Yan.

Mo Yan saw Jinxu’s clenched fist, she coughed softly. And reached down to pinch him.

Zeyuan caught her naughty hand, and stroked it while giving her a soft look laden with meaning.

‘How are you here?’ Mo Yan asked Yi. She tried to use more polite speech not to expose their relationship.

‘We and Lin Lin missed you.’ Yi said pulling out the cub from the box. (Zuben: They didn’t get the memo, dear)

A waiter rushed up to them, ‘I’m sorry, sirs, but we do not allow pets in the restaurant. Some customers may be afraid of them.’

Muchen raised an eyebrow and stared evilly at the patrons before asking, ‘Are you afraid?’

His oppressive tyrannical gaze made their hearts tremble.

They all shook their heads, ‘No,’ the muttered, cowed.

The waiter was speechless.

‘Rest assured, he won’t run about and bother others.’

‘But this is a tiger…’

‘It’s a cat.’ As though Lin Lin understood his role, he mewled softly.

‘See…?’ Zeyuan ticked Lin Lin’s chin.

The waiter smiled nervously, and said, ‘Alright. I won’t disturb.’

Mo Yan took the scared cub from Yi, ‘Why did you bring him here?’

Yi raised his hands, feinging innocence, ‘It was crying when he didn’t see you. He didn’t want to eat; we had to bring him out to see you.’ (Zuben: Didn’t he eat before she left. And no, you didn’t. But Mo Yan is too dumb to say that)

Mo Yan looked at them sceptically, before cuddling Lin Lin. (Zuben: Just take him out with you next time, they’ll have to find a cleverer excuse)

170 White eyed wolf

Shen Yu’s eyes lit up at the sight of Lin Lin. The little cub groomed itself in Mo Yan’s arms.

‘How lovely! Can I hold him?’

Mo Yan hesitated, ‘Yeah, but I’m scared he will bite you.’

‘It’s alright, even if he bites, it shouldn’t hurt.’ She said reaching over to stroke the little guy’s broad head. But Lin Yifeng (Zuben: party pooper) stooped her, looking at the cub with some vigilance, ‘It’s a tiger.’

‘A tiger?’

‘Yes.’ Mo Yan replied with a smile.

Shen Yu gasped, her interest rocketing. She completely ignored the worried Yifeng, ‘I haven’t ever seen a real tiger. How should I touch him? Can I touch him?’

A strange scent darted into the tiger’s nose. It looked up to a delicate hand above it. It subconsciously extracted its claws about to swipe the obstacle, but Mo Yan gently pressed on it’s paw, ‘Be good. Let the beautiful sister touch you.’ She said softly. (Zuben: It’s your masters’ fault for bringing you out.)

But it turned away from Shen Yu and flicked its tail impatiently. As Shen Yu stroked its back, it reached defensively. It growled to Mo Yan.

Muchen laughed, but he instantaneously got a glare from Mo Yan. He rubbed his nose contritely.

Jinxu leaned on his chin and watched them with interest as he fiddled with his spoon, ‘Girl, what does it eat?’

‘Meat!’ Zeyuan exclaimed, before chuckling. He held the tiger’s paw affectionately before putting his finger in its mouth to stroke its sharp teeth.

Jinxu shot him a look: I didn’t ask you.

‘Does it have milk?’

‘Yes, but warm.’ Mo Yan replied.

Jinxu ordered a little bit of warmed milk from the waiter. It was quickly brought to the table.

Jinxu took a spoonful of milk and held it to the tiger. The tiger looked at it suspiciously before sniffing, and licked it.

After a few spoonfuls, Jinxu stroked the tiger’s head and back. It didn’t resist. Jinxu bolding stroked at and threw a provocative glance at the three men, ‘He seems to like me.’ (Zuben: I love Chu Jinxu. He must be the only character she wrote consistently.)

‘Lin Lin, don’t be nice to strangers, they may sell you off.’ Muchen said. Lin Lin’s defection making them exasperated.

Lin Lin glanced at them, and did a baby yawn before turning his head back into Jinxu’s palm,

‘Lin Lin is so good.’ He said.

Zeyuan, Muchen and Yi all grit their teeth in anger: White eyed wolf.

Shen Yu looked at Yifeng, how gave her a look that said “serves you right”. She turned back to Mo Yan,

‘Yan-yan, are you going to the auction? Long Aotian will be there.’

‘Hmm, so?’ she said

Shen Yu frowned at her lackadaisical attitude, before asking slyly, ‘Is Mr Situ taking you?’

‘Yan’er is going with me.’ Zeyuan interjected. (Zuben: Actually, Hanyu asked her first)

‘Er, well,’ she glared at Zeyuan, ‘I have broken it off with Situ Yi, and now with Mu Zeyuan.’ She explained hurriedly.

Yi glanced at Zeyuan, Yan’er was not aware that her friend knew.

‘There are both high quality,’ Shen Yu said, ‘the most important thing is that we make Long Aotian know that he gave up a good woman.’ Her expression was full of righteous indignation. 

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