Chapter 202: You Like Her?

Chapter 202: Chapter 202: You Like Her?

The setting sun stretched Xin Feng’s shadow long. His white robes fluttered gently in the breeze, making him seem as if he were shrouded in an ethereal aura.

A Xin Feng like this was incredibly handsome. Ordinarily, Bai Wanwan wouldn’t have been able to tear her eyes away.

But right now, she felt guilty. Without giving him more than a glance, she turned to the male beside her and said, "Thank you for seeing me out, but my Beast Husband is waiting for me. I won’t trouble you to escort me any further."

Jin Yue recognized Xin Feng as well. After a nod, he tactfully retreated back into the stone house.

This brief moment was enough for Bai Wanwan to prepare herself mentally.

Looking up again, she put on a smile and walked toward Xin Feng, feigning a casual and surprised expression. "What are you doing here?"

Xin Feng straightened up, his broad palm naturally enveloping her cool fingers. His voice was as gentle as ever. "Before you came out, you asked me about the Ghost Orchid Grass."

Bai Wanwan hadn’t expected him to be so perceptive; the smile on her face almost faltered.

She had just been trying to get a bit of information about the Ghost Orchid Grass from Xin Feng.

She had only asked a couple of questions, but Xin Feng had never even heard of the Ghost Orchid Grass. Plus, the System had said the herb was extremely precious in the Beast World, which was why she decided to ask Jin Cang Clan Leader directly and try to make an exchange with him.

Seeing Bai Wanwan lost in thought, Xin Feng gently caressed the back of her cool hand with his thumb. His gaze was as soft as moonlight piercing through mist. "Can you tell me now what you came to see the Clan Leader for?"

Bai Wanwan wanted to discuss this with someone, and Xin Feng was the most suitable person.

Without much hesitation, she looked into his eyes and said, "The Ghost Orchid Grass can unify my Divine Soul. I came to the Clan Leader hoping to trade for it."

"What are you trading for it? Did he agree?" Xin Feng’s brow furrowed slightly. He had a feeling things weren’t that simple.

"Um... if I become partners with a male, he’ll help me get the Ghost Orchid Grass..."

Before she could finish, she clearly felt the fingers on the back of her hand tighten.

"He wants you to... with who?" The words came out strained from Xin Feng’s throat.

"Jin Yi."

After answering, she immediately added, "But Jin Cang Clan Leader said that if I agree, and for some reason we can’t become partners because of Jin Yi, he’ll just give me the Ghost Orchid Grass as a gift."

Bai Wanwan let out a long sigh. "I almost agreed on the spot. After all, getting a male to hate me is much easier than finding Ghost Orchid Grass."

Her words felt like they were tearing Xin Feng’s heart apart.

He opened his arms and pulled her into an embrace, lowering his head to press his lips against her hair.

’If the Ghost Orchid Grass is the only thing that can save Wanwan, I’m sure it’s not just me. Even if Yan Lie and Zhu Xiu aren’t willing to easily accept another male into our family, they would still agree.’

Bai Wanwan leaned into his chest, still murmuring, "But I feel like I can’t be that heartless. Jin Cang Clan Leader is a decent person and has never forced me to do anything. I can’t use a trick like that to get the Ghost Orchid Grass."

Her head was really starting to hurt. Without the Ghost Orchid Grass, the poison in the original owner’s body couldn’t be suppressed. She wouldn’t be able to bear cubs, and her life would be in danger...

Xin Feng sorted through his chaotic thoughts and looked down at her. "Wanwan, Zhu Xiu, Yan Lie, and I all want you to be safe. If you don’t want to accept Jin Yi, we can go back and discuss it with Zhu Xiu and the others. No matter how precious the Ghost Orchid Grass is, it has a price. As long as we find something of equal value, we can definitely pay him back for it."

His voice carried a comforting power that quickly dispelled all the anxiety in Bai Wanwan’s heart.

’That’s right! I have several powerful Beast Husbands. Agreeing to Jin Cang Clan Leader’s condition isn’t my only option.’

*******

Jin Yi was walking toward his residence when he suddenly stopped. He turned to look over his shoulder. "Come out!"

Zhuo Ling had originally planned to visit the females who had been "bullied" by Bai Wanwan. But after seeing Jin Yi and Bai Wanwan together, she changed her mind and followed him.

"Jin Yi, it’s me."

Zhuo Ling was carrying a small basket filled with fresh fruit.

Her pretty eyes welled with tears. "I saw you with Bai Wanwan. Do you... like her?"

After Zhuo Ling had become partners with someone else, he had stopped thinking of her as his future mate. An awkward distance had grown between them.

"I’ve only met her a few times."

Jin Yi felt his explanation was perfectly clear, but Zhuo Ling was obviously not satisfied.

"Jin Yi, then promise me. Even if you can’t accept becoming my partner right now, don’t become partners with Bai Wanwan."

Jin Yi had never entertained the thought of becoming partners with Bai Wanwan, so he answered without hesitation, "I will not become partners with Bai Wanwan."

Hearing his words, Zhuo Ling let out a small sigh of relief.

She walked over, step by step, and deliberately stepped on a nearby stone.

"Ouch!"

She let out a soft cry, her body stumbling as she threw herself directly into Jin Yi’s arms.

If Jin Yi were to move aside, she would fall to the ground.

Jin Yi surely wouldn’t just stand by and watch her fall.

Zhuo Ling was certain that Jin Yi had feelings for her.

But in that split second, Jin Yi still moved aside.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Jin Yi?"

Just as she was about to fall, Jin Yi grabbed her arm to help her regain her balance, then stepped back.

Seeing his action, a powerful sense of panic bloomed in Zhuo Ling’s heart.

The Jin Yi before her was a stranger.

The Jin Yi who used to care for her, who would immediately worry if she was cold or if she fell, was gone.

This shattered her long-held belief that if she just waited a little longer, Jin Yi would surely relent and agree to be her Beast Husband.

He was the male she liked most, the one she wanted more than any other. She couldn’t bear to imagine him becoming someone else’s Beast Husband, treating another female with tender care while being cold and indifferent to her.

But she knew confronting Jin Yi now would be useless. Her only option was to feign weakness.

"Hiss... I think I hurt my leg. Jin Yi, help me up."

She suppressed the pain in her heart, trying to close the distance between them.

Jin Yi stared at her outstretched hand. He had seen it clearly just now; Zhuo Ling hadn’t actually sprained her ankle.

Since he had already made his decision, he couldn’t let her think they still had a future together.

"I am not your Beast Husband. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to take care of you."

Under Zhuo Ling’s shocked and panicked gaze, Jin Yi beckoned to a passing male. "Take the female Zhuo Ling back to her residence."

"Zhuo Ling, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now."

With that, Jin Yi turned and walked away.

’Her act of saving my life... I’ll repay her with material goods, but I can’t give her anything more.’

"Jin Yi, have you forgotten about the past..."

But Jin Yi didn’t wait for her to finish. His pace was fast, and in the blink of an eye, he was already far away.

The male beside her reached out to help, but for the first time, Zhuo Ling forgot to maintain her pleasant image in front of a male. She slapped his hand away.

"Get lost! Who said you could touch me?"

The male’s expression stiffened, and he could only stand by quietly, waiting.

Zhuo Ling thought of the Jin Yi who had been walking with Bai Wanwan just moments ago, who even had a hint of a smile on his face.

She nearly ground her teeth to dust.

"Female Zhuo Ling, did something happen?"

Zhuo Ling was fuming. She turned her head in irritation and saw the male standing beside her.

She recognized him. He was one of the few Yellow Rank Beastmen in the Golden Master Tribe.

Her eyes flickered. She quickly concealed her anger and gave the male a gentle smile. "Yes, I’ve sprained my ankle. Could I trouble you to take me home?"