Chapter 401: Warmth in the Heart

Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Warmth in the Heart

After Bai Wanwan met up with Yin Mei, they ate and shopped their way through the streets, wandering around for a while longer before finally heading home.

In stark contrast to the relaxed looks on the two females’ faces, Yin Ze barely spoke during the latter half of the trip, his eyes fixed on any Beastman who came near.

Yin Ze didn’t relax until Bai Wanwan had both feet safely inside the door.

Yan Lie and the cubs came up to greet them. "Wanwan, where have you been?"

"Yin Ze took me out for a stroll. Next time, let’s go to a different street."

Yan Lie had felt a pang of jealousy, but her next words immediately soothed him.

"Alright. Next time, I’ll spend the whole day with you."

As they spoke, Yan Lie noticed that Yin Ze, who was standing behind Bai Wanwan, wasn’t smiling at all.

’He got to spend the whole day with Wanwan, and he’s *still* unhappy?’

Once the cubs had captured Wanwan’s attention, Yan Lie walked over to Yin Ze.

"You’re unhappy even after getting to take Wanwan out? Let me give you some advice: don’t even think about keeping Wanwan all to yourself. If you truly start thinking that way, the rest of us won’t let you off the hook."

’After all, Yin Ze is a powerful Orange Rank male and a Flying Beastman. If he wanted to take Wanwan away, it would be easier for him than for any of the others.’

Yin Ze snapped out of it and shook his head. "You’ve misunderstood. I’ve never thought about keeping Wanwan all to myself. I know you were all here before me; I’m just lucky that you’ve accepted me."

Yan Lie eyed him dubiously. "Then why did you look so unhappy just now?"

Yin Ze hesitated for a moment before voicing his concern. "When we were out today, I kept feeling like some Beastman was watching us. I looked all around, but I didn’t see anyone suspicious. Maybe I was just imagining it."

Yan Lie’s expression immediately grew wary. "Was it just a passing feeling, or was it constant?"

"It was constant."

"You’re an Orange Rank male; your Perception is naturally sharp. If you felt it the whole time, then there was almost certainly a Beastman watching you. Wanwan has been snatched from right under my nose a few times before. You have to be more careful from now on. Try not to take Wanwan out by yourself..."

While the two Beast Husbands were conversing in low voices, Bai Wanwan was knocking on a door behind which the tiger cubs had shut themselves.

A moment ago, while playing with the cubs, she had suddenly realized that her cubs with Chou Rong were missing.

After asking the others, she learned they had gone into their room as soon as they got home and hadn’t come out since.

Bai Wanwan leaned down and whispered to the little snake cub beside her, "Sweetie, do you know what happened?"

The snake cub slithered up her pant leg and coiled around her arm, affectionately nuzzling its head against Bai Wanwan’s cheek.

"Mother, I think my older brothers and sisters are angry."

Hearing this, Bai Wanwan glanced back at the tightly shut door.

Instead of continuing to knock, she reached out and stroked its head. "Then can you tell Mother what happened when you all were playing outside today?"

The snake cub nodded. "Big Brother Xingxing thought Big Brother Qiu Guang was really strong, so he challenged him. But Qiu Guang couldn’t even take one hit; Xingxing sent him flying."

Bai Wanwan’s heart sank. "And then what?"

"None of us saw it coming. Big Brother Xingxing just came right out and said, ’Big brothers, how can you not even withstand a single swipe of my paw?’ After Big Brother Qiu Guang got up off the ground, he just ran home."

Bai Wanwan’s expression softened slightly when she heard it wasn’t a malicious brawl between the cubs.

"My sweet little cub, thank you for telling Mama the whole story. Mama needs to go talk to your big brother Qiu Guang now. Why don’t you go play with your other brothers and sisters, okay?"

The snake cub flicked its tongue out and licked her cheek, the picture of attachment.

Only after Bai Wanwan held it and planted several more kisses on it did it reluctantly slither to the floor, glancing back at her as it went.

After the snake cub left, Bai Wanwan resumed knocking.

"Cubs, Mama knows you’re in there. Can you open the door? Mama hasn’t seen you all day, and I miss you so much."

After Bai Wanwan said this, a faint noise came from inside the room.

But it quickly fell silent again.

"I was hoping to sleep with you all tonight and tell you a story, but I guess my cubs don’t want me here. In that case, Mama’s leaving..."

As she spoke, she made a show of leaving, even taking two deliberately loud steps.

The door was thrown open almost instantly.

A little Cat Cub appeared in the doorway. "Mama, don’t go!"

Bai Wanwan turned back. Seeing the clinging look in the little Cat Cub’s eyes, she sighed, walked over, and scooped her up off the floor.

She leaned down to kiss her cheek and asked soothingly, "Want Mama to tell you a story?"

She nodded decisively. "Yes!"

After speaking, she glanced toward their nest. "Mama, you should tell my big brothers a story. Then they won’t be sad anymore."

"Alright, Mama will go check on your brothers right now."

Carrying the Cat Cub, she walked over to the cubs’ nest.

Aside from the Cat Cub in her arms, the other three male cubs all had their heads buried in the animal pelts, revealing nothing but three small, round rumps.

Their tails twitched every now and then.

"Hmm? Where have all of Mama’s sweet cubs hidden themselves?"

Bai Wanwan asked playfully, but the cubs were clearly in no mood for games, remaining still in their nest.

She gently set the female Cat Cub on the floor, tapped her tiny nose, and then gave her a soft "shhh."

The little Cat Cub stood obediently to the side without making a sound, just watching quietly with her big eyes.

Only then did Bai Wanwan turn and playfully pounce on the Cat Cub to the far left.

"Mama found you!"

As she spoke, she scooped the male Cat Cub out of the nest.

The Cat Cub squeezed his head down, trying to hide his face from her.

Bai Wanwan tilted her head. The cub even lifted his paws to cover his face.

"What’s wrong, little one?"

He didn’t make a peep, so Bai Wanwan began stroking his fur, helping him relax.

She didn’t pick up the other two, lying down beside them instead.

She gently stroked their plump little bodies. "Cubs, Mama will always have your backs. You can always tell me if something is making you sad. So... is there anything making you sad?"

They still ignored her.

"Alright then. How about Mama tells you a story?"

This time, Bai Wanwan didn’t wait for them to respond.

She simply lay all the way down, holding the two Cat Cubs in her arms. ’Now, what story should I tell?’

Before Bai Wanwan could even begin the story, the tiger cub closest to her shot out from under the pelts and dove into her arms. "Mother, WAAAH... Why are our little brothers so strong? Father Beast is supposed to be the strongest male in the Tiger Clan, so why aren’t we as good as the other Beast Husbands’ cubs?"

In the Beastman World, all males prized their Talent and power, and the young cubs were no exception.

"My cubs, you aren’t weaker than any other Beastman. The reason your Talent Power isn’t as strong as it could be right now... is because of Mama..."

The cubs immediately stopped crying and blinked their big eyes at her. "Because of you?"

"Yes. Mama wasn’t very healthy back then, so it affected you when you were born. It’s my fault. I’m so sorry."

After she said this, even the last tiger cub emerged from hiding.

They cautiously gathered around Bai Wanwan.

"Mother, are you all better now?"

Those words filled Bai Wanwan’s heart with warmth...