Chapter 113: A Wide Grin

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: A Wide Grin

It came out of nowhere, catching her completely off guard.

Once she processed it, she forced the most natural smile she could. "I won’t take either side. How about I just slap myself instead?"

Bai Wanwan’s comment earned her a cold glance from Zhu Xiu. "You’re that quick to defend him?"

"But isn’t that defending you, too?"

She immediately beamed, linking her arm through his and ushering him into the house. "Dinner’s ready. Go on, take a seat."

After Zhu Xiu strode into the house, Bai Wanwan immediately turned her head and shot a series of expressions at Xin Feng, who was behind him.

’Don’t those two usually get along just fine?’

’How could a male as patient and accommodating as Xin Feng end up fighting with Zhu Xiu?’

Seeing her expression, Xin Feng gave a faint smile. "Don’t worry, it’s nothing."

Bai Wanwan immediately lowered her voice. "He sure didn’t look like it was ’nothing.’"

"He just hasn’t figured it out yet."

’As long as he can’t stand to see Wanwan upset, as long as he can’t bear for her to suffer and struggle, he’ll figure it out sooner or later.’

After speaking, Xin Feng patted her on the shoulder and went into the stone house ahead of her.

Utterly bewildered, Bai Wanwan followed him inside.

Neither of the males said a word. Zhu Xiu’s silent presence alone filled the room with a chilling tension.

’Something’s wrong. Something is very wrong!’

But she knew better than to charge in headfirst, so she decided to play dumb and went to check on the pups.

"Hey pups, are you hungry?"

The wolf pup, having just been frightened, immediately started to WHIMPER and burrowed into its Mother’s arms.

Although Bai Wanwan’s eyes were on the pups, her attention was still focused on the room outside.

She perked up her ears and gave the pups a soft "Shhh," hoping to overhear what the two males might say. She wanted to identify the source of their conflict so she could tackle each issue individually.

But after listening for a long time, she found that neither male had said a single word.

’Are they just sitting there in silence?’

After stalling for ten or twenty minutes, she figured the food must be done and she couldn’t put it off any longer.

She tossed a few chunks of meat to the pups and walked back out.

"What are you doing just sitting there? Let’s eat! The food is ready."

She grabbed a small stone basin from the side and bent over to ladle stew out of the pot.

"I’m just dishing some out for Shi Hua and Aunt Lu. You two go ahead and eat, don’t wait for me."

She said with a cheerful laugh, pulled four or five sweet potatoes and potatoes from the embers, and then, holding the stone basin, slipped away as fast as she could.

The moment she left, Xin Feng turned to Zhu Xiu. "You scared Wanwan."

"Good. She should be scared. If I indulge her in everything like you do, will she even have eyes for you when the house is full of Beast Husbands?"

Xin Feng’s hand, which was resting on his knee, tightened.

He could be indifferent about everything else, but there had to be a place in Wanwan’s heart that was just for him.

Seeing Xin Feng’s reaction, Zhu Xiu pressed on. "If you can’t accept that, then remember this: don’t let other males get close to her so easily in the future, and don’t you dare even think about finding her another Beast Husband."

What the two males didn’t know was that after Bai Wanwan dropped off the food at Aunt Lu’s, she was intercepted by another male.

Yan Lie was all smiles, his gaze burning as he looked at her. "I haven’t seen you in days. They didn’t give you any trouble, did they?"

"They didn’t. Why are you still here? Aren’t you afraid the Black Dog Tribe will catch you?"

She’d been living outside with Zhu Xiu for several days; she never imagined this male would still be lurking around the Black Dog Tribe’s territory.

He looked completely unconcerned. "They can’t catch me. I just don’t want to stir up trouble."

After speaking, he noticed Bai Wanwan’s hands were full and reached out to help.

"Let me help you with that."

Before she could even refuse, Yan Lie took the items from her.

"How long have you been away from home? Aren’t you going back?"

Yan Lie’s gaze burned as he stared at her. Before, all females had looked the same to him. But for some reason, with this one, every expression, every movement, tugged at his heart, setting her completely apart from all the others.

If he hadn’t met her, he certainly wouldn’t have lingered in this place for so long.

’He had finally found a female he truly liked. He wasn’t going to leave now, no matter what.’

"My Mother and her Beast Husband have many pups. None of them like me, so it doesn’t matter if I go back or not."

He put on a pitiful expression. But with his fresh, clean-cut face, he could pull off any look without it seeming greasy or contrived.

Bai Wanwan’s eyes scanned his face.

’A face that charming, and his parents don’t like him?’

When Yan Lie saw her staring, the tips of his ears quietly turned red.

"I have nowhere to go. Can I stay with you?"

’This time, he decided on a more roundabout approach. Only by staying by her side would he have a chance to become her Beast Husband.’

"You need to get that idea out of your head right now."

’Her two Beast Husbands at home were already at each other’s throats. If she brought another one back, would she just be adding fuel to the fire?’

"Why?"

Yan Lie’s lips curved down in a pout, clearly unwilling to accept it.

"There’s no ’why’ to it."

Just then, they arrived at Shi Hua’s house.

"I’ll take those now. Thanks."

Yan Lie clutched the stone basin, not wanting to let go, but when he saw her raise an eyebrow, he had no choice but to release it.

A look of disappointment crossed his clean, handsome face.

Bai Wanwan had intended to just turn and leave, but after a moment’s hesitation, she pulled a potato and a sweet potato from her basket and handed them to him.

"Here, for you. And thank you for last time. Peel them before you eat. They’re really good."

Before Yan Lie could react, she pressed the sweet potato and potato into his hands and turned to go.

Seemingly oblivious to the heat of the food in his hands, Yan Lie broke into a brilliant, dazzling smile and watched Bai Wanwan until she was out of sight.

In reality, it was only a few steps away.

"Shi Hua..."

Bai Wanwan was just about to walk into Shi Hua’s home when a tall male stormed out.

Bai Wanwan jumped in fright. "Whoa!"

The male shot her a single furious glance before striding away.

Bai Wanwan certainly hadn’t expected a male to come barging out of Shi Hua’s house.

She quickly carried the stone basin inside and immediately spotted Shi Hua, who had her back to the entrance.

"Shi Hua?"

With her back still to her, Shi Hua answered with a thick, nasal "Mm."

She stood like that for a moment longer before finally turning around.

Her eyes were terribly red, the tears in them not yet dry.

Bai Wanwan immediately set the things she was holding on a nearby stone stool.

She walked over, took Shi Hua’s hand, and asked in a low voice, "Was it that male just now? Did he bully you?"

Shi Hua immediately shook her head. "No, it wasn’t him."

Seeing the fear on her face, Bai Wanwan was even more convinced.

"Don’t be afraid. If he really did bully you, I’ll have my Beast Husband teach him a lesson for you."

She didn’t have a good reputation in the Black Dog Tribe anyway. Acting as a notorious bully might at least ensure that she and Shi Hua wouldn’t be picked on.

While she had been away from the tribe, it was all thanks to Shi Hua that her pups had been looked after.

In her heart, Shi Hua was already a trusted friend.

"Really, Wanwan, he didn’t bully me."

"Look at yourself! You look so wronged. Who would believe that? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he steers clear of you from now on."

Bai Wanwan immediately turned to go back and get her Beast Husband.

Shi Hua grabbed her hand from behind. "Don’t... please don’t go."

Bai Wanwan turned back. Seeing the pleading look on Shi Hua’s face as she refused to let go, a sudden realization dawned on her...