Chapter 414: A Delicate Female

Chapter 414: Chapter 414: A Delicate Female

The Wolf Beast’s appearance didn’t dampen the cubs’ spirits at all. After they worked together to kill the prey, they went right back to their cheerful roughhousing.

Chou Rong stepped forward and hefted the wolf carcass, frowning slightly. "This bit of meat is hardly a mouthful for the cubs. I’ll go hunt some more. We’ll roast it here tonight and head home after we’ve eaten our fill."

His voice carried a rare lightheartedness, a slight departure from his usual stern and imposing demeanor.

When his gaze shifted to Bai Wanwan, his eyes softened. "I’ll bring back your favorite Rabbit Beast meat. Wait for me."

Bai Wanwan gave a soft "mm-hm" and reminded him, "Be careful, and come back soon."

After Chou Rong left, the other Beast Husbands got busy with their own tasks. Only Bai Wanwan remained seated, relaxing. She occasionally teased a cub as it ran past, her eyes on the sun as it gradually sank below the western horizon.

Life here was primitive and rugged, yet moments like these felt surprisingly heartwarming.

As dusk fell, Chou Rong strode out of the forest, shouldering his hunt. Several live Rabbit Beasts dangled from his waist, their legs kicking as they struggled relentlessly.

He tossed the large carcasses onto the riverbank, and the older cubs immediately pounced, excitedly tearing at the tenderest parts and ripping off strips of meat.

Chou Rong paid them no mind and began preparing the Rabbit Beasts—skinning, gutting, and cleaning them with swift, efficient movements.

He skewered the rabbit meat on wooden sticks, getting it ready for roasting.

Bai Wanwan settled the Phoenix Egg in a safe spot, then rose and walked over to Chou Rong. "Let me help."

After a hectic day spent playing with the cubs, her hair was disheveled, and her cheeks were smudged with dirt.

Chou Rong turned to look at her, and a smile touched his eyes.

"What are you smiling at?" Bai Wanwan asked, oblivious. ’He’s so handsome when he smiles,’ she thought. ’He should do it more often.’

Not until the rough pads of his fingers brushed across her cheek and the corner of her eye, tucking away a few stray strands of her hair.

Only then did it belatedly dawn on her that she probably didn’t look her best.

She quickly turned to check her reflection in the water. Even after Chou Rong had tidied her up, she still looked a bit of a mess.

"Why didn’t you say something?"

Bai Wanwan exclaimed softly, quickly turning to the water’s surface to fix herself up.

The whole time, Chou Rong’s gaze never left her.

"There, is that better?"

"Mm. Like I said, you weren’t ugly before, either."

Bai Wanwan suddenly leaned in close, her beautiful eyes glinting with mischief. "Am I just like any other female to you?"

Chou Rong’s hand slid around her waist. "Other females, maybe. But you’re not like them."

She didn’t shy away from his touch, her eyes meeting his intensely possessive gaze. "How am I different?"

The other males were busy in the distance, but Chou Rong’s possessive gaze was fixed solely on her. "Are you sure you want me to tell you right now?"

His deep voice was like a baited hook. His words weren’t explicit, but Bai Wanwan could feel the underlying implication.

"Ahem... Let’s roast the meat first."

Seeing her back down, Chou Rong let out a low chuckle, his hand tightening on her waist. "When are you going to give me another litter of tiger cubs?"

"Fine, fine, the next litter will be tiger cubs."

A smile spread across Chou Rong’s lips, and Bai Wanwan was momentarily dazzled by her Beast Husband’s handsome face.

’He’s this handsome, so what’s wrong with giving him another litter of stunningly gorgeous cubs?’

By the time the Beast Husbands finished their tasks, the rabbit meat was already SIZZLING over the fire, its rich aroma filling the air.

Bai Wanwan handed them the roasted rabbit meat. "You must be hungry. Go on, eat."

The moment the words left her mouth, Chou Rong turned his head, his gaze sweeping coolly over the other males.

He didn’t say a word, but his meaning was unmistakable.

Yan Lie shot it a glance, clearly unimpressed with the meat Chou Rong had roasted for Wanwan.

He sidled up to Bai Wanwan with a wide grin and pushed the rabbit meat back toward her. "You eat it. Do you want some shrimp? I can roast them for you."

"I can do it myself. You’ve all been busy all day, go get something to eat."

And yet, despite her words, the Beast Husbands each started grilling fish, shrimp, and other foods that Bai Wanwan loved. Before long, the large leaf in front of her was piled high with roasted treats.

She had already shared some rabbit meat with the cubs and was already feeling mostly full. If she ate everything in front of her now, she felt like she would burst.

She had no choice but to pick the smallest shrimp and begin nibbling on it slowly.

As her stomach slowly filled, the Beast Husbands continued to stare at her intently, as if waiting for her to pick whose offering she liked best.

’How am I supposed to choose? If I eat all of this, I’ll actually explode.’

Just then, the cubs came rushing over.

A lion cub snatched a fish from the leaf, only to be burned and spit it out with a SPAT. It stuck its tongue out, its eyes welling with tears.

This little incident immediately broke the competitive tension between the males.

Seeing this, Bai Wanwan quickly scooped up the lion cub. "Did you burn yourself? Let Mama see."

The lion cub piteously stuck out its little pink tongue and mumbled, "Mama, ouchie... blow..."

Bai Wanwan quickly blew on its tongue, then booped its little nose. "You have to be careful when you eat from now on. It hurts to get burned, okay? Remember that."

The lion cub blinked its teary eyes and nodded obediently. "I know..."

Full and content, the cubs started to get sleepy. They gathered around Bai Wanwan’s legs, tilting their little heads up and whining, "Mama, Mama, we want a lullaby..."

"Alright, Mama will sing for you."

A gentle song began to drift on the air. The evening breeze seemed to carry its sweetness, and the night grew softer.

The males, as if by unspoken agreement, stopped their conversations and turned their gazes toward the female and her cubs.

Bai Wanwan was already exceptionally beautiful, but now, bathed in the firelight and lost in her song, she seemed to be enveloped in a soft glow that made it impossible to look away.

None of them made a sound, simply savoring this rare, peaceful, and beautiful moment.

As she sang, Bai Wanwan unknowingly lulled herself to sleep.

In her drowsy state, she smelled a familiar, comforting scent. The corners of her lips curved up as she tilted her head and leaned against a broad, masculine chest.

In the dead of night, the female slept soundly on the narrow stone bed.

She clutched the thin blanket and rolled over, her consciousness slowly returning.

Suddenly, she felt something moving against her leg. Instantly wide awake, she raised her foot to kick.

But her slender ankle was caught in a firm grip.

Yan Lie’s hushed voice came from under the blankets. "Wanwan, it’s me..."

Hearing his voice, Bai Wanwan sighed in relief. "What are you doing hiding under the covers?"

It was only then that she noticed Yin Ze lying beside her.

Before she could even react, Yan Lie had wriggled up from the foot of the bed like an inchworm. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist, and he buried his face in the crook of her neck, his hot breath fanning across her skin and sending a tingling sensation through her.

"It’s the middle of the night. Why aren’t you sleeping? What are you doing in my bed?" she whispered, afraid of waking Yin Ze.

"I couldn’t sleep... I was thinking about you," Yan Lie mumbled.

Ever since she’d gotten more males, he’d had to spend most of his nights alone, just missing her.

Tonight had been unbearable. He couldn’t help but take advantage of Yin Ze’s more agreeable nature and sneak his way up here.

"Wanwan..." he murmured.

Bai Wanwan keenly felt the change in his body and shot him a glare. "Don’t even think about it."

"Mm, I’ll just hold you..." he said, but his hands were already starting to wander.

Gradually, his breathing grew heavier.

But a second later, Bai Wanwan suddenly felt the pressure on her waist release.

"Yin Ze... let go!" Yan Lie hissed in pain.

Yin Ze said nothing, merely pulling Yan Lie’s hand firmly away from Bai Wanwan’s waist before hauling him right out of the bed.

"Wanwan... save me..." Yan Lie whined. Knowing he was in the wrong, he didn’t dare use his Talent Power to fight back, and could only look at her with a pitiful expression.

Bai Wanwan leaned lazily against the stone headboard, a grin playing on her lips. "I’m just a delicate little female. How could I possibly save you? Unless... you want me to call Zhu Xiu and Chou Rong?"