Chapter 452 - 449: A Flower of Hope Blooms in Desperation

Chapter 452: Chapter 449: A Flower of Hope Blooms in Desperation

Bai Wanwan gazed into Hua Han’s amber eyes—which seemed to burn with nervousness and anticipation—as a thousand thoughts raced through her mind.

As a female who had taken several Beast Husbands before, she was all too familiar with that bright glint in a male’s eyes, a look filled with possessiveness and desire.

That fox, Hua Han, was always resorting to petty schemes—playing cute and pitiful in front of her, or deliberately trying to "drive away" his competition—but he had never truly crossed the line. He had certainly never done anything to harm her or the cubs.

His affection was something he offered to her with warmth, held out carefully in his hands.

More importantly, the pride and self-awareness at her core served as a sharp reminder: if she rejected him now, yet continued to shamelessly enjoy his meticulous care, the warmth, and the sense of security he provided, what would that make her?

’How is that any different from taking advantage of his feelings?’

She couldn’t do something like that.

Meeting Hua Han’s tense, breathless gaze, Bai Wanwan suddenly let a small smile touch her lips.

The smile was like a gorgeous flower suddenly blooming in a snowy, midwinter field. Its breathtaking beauty instantly brightened the dim cave.

Hua Han felt his heart clench. His breath caught in his throat, and his entire world narrowed to the faint, bewitching curve of her lips.

"What do you like about me?" Her voice was soft, carrying a probing note and a hint of tenderness she herself hadn’t even noticed.

The question was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, sending massive waves crashing through Hua Han’s heart.

He felt all the blood rush to his head, and his heartbeat was so deafening it felt like it would burst from his chest.

"Everything!" he blurted out eagerly. "Your eyes, your voice, the gentle way you look at the cubs, the way you insist on doing things yourself even when you’re tired... you... everything about you! Wanwan, I like you. Please, like me back, won’t you?"

He was like a child begging for candy, his eyes filled with a desperate, all-or-nothing plea. He even subconsciously reached out to touch her.

But just as his fingertips were about to brush her cheek, Bai Wanwan precisely caught his wrist.

Her grip wasn’t strong, yet it stopped him from moving any further.

She looked up, gazing deep into his eyes, her tone calm and frank. "Hua Han, I can’t lie to you."

She felt his wrist stiffen but continued, "Right now, I only like you ’a little’."

She deliberately stressed those two words, drawing a clear boundary. "It’s the trust between friends, the bond from caring for the cubs together, the gratitude for your constant protection. But that affection is nowhere near enough for me to accept you as my Beast Husband."

She paused, seeing the light in Hua Han’s eyes instantly fade, but she continued to speak plainly. "And I can’t guarantee I’ll ever be willing to accept you as my Beast Husband in the future."

It was, for all intents and purposes, a gentle rejection.

However, the dejection and despair she expected to see didn’t linger on Hua Han’s face for long.

After a brief, dazed moment, his amber eyes lit up again at an astonishing speed, shining even more brilliantly than before.

’He would create his own opportunities if none existed, and besides, Wanwan had admitted with her own mouth that she didn’t hate him!’

’She liked him ’a little’!’

To him, this was a ray of light in the darkness, a flower of hope blooming in a desperate land.

It was a thousand times better than the best outcome he could have imagined!

A wave of immense joy instantly washed away Hua Han’s reason.

Unable to control himself any longer, he threw his arms out and pulled Bai Wanwan into a tight embrace.

"It doesn’t matter, Wanwan."

His voice trembled with excitement. "I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes! Even if... even if you never agree in the end, I’ll never regret my choice today. Just being able to watch over you and protect you like this is the greatest joy I could ask for."

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, greedily inhaling her scent. A single-minded determination became crystal clear in his heart: ’I will give my all, use every method I can, to make that ’little bit of like’ take root and blossom until it consumes her entire heart.’

He absolutely had to become her rightful Beast Husband!

For the rest of the day, Hua Han seemed to be filled with boundless energy.

’Since she had already laid her cards on the table and he was still this persistent, it wasn’t out of the question to give him a chance.’

"Alright, you can let go of me now. I need to go inside and check on the cubs."

Reluctantly, Hua Han nuzzled her neck affectionately for a while longer before slowly letting her go.

For the rest of the day, he worked with vigor, his steps light and quick.

He tidied the cave until it was even cleaner, the minced meat he prepared for the cubs was exceptionally tender, and his care for Bai Wanwan became even more meticulous.

The satisfaction and joy radiating from him were so palpable they almost seemed to emit a physical glow.

The night grew deep and still. In their warm, grassy nest, the cubs breathed evenly.

The flames in the fire pit danced, letting out a soft CRACKLE.

Hua Han sat to one side, his gaze fixed on Bai Wanwan’s sleeping face. The flickering firelight cast warm shadows across her gentle profile, and her long lashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes. Her sleeping expression was as peaceful as that of a young, innocent female who knew nothing of the world.

The longer he watched, the warmer his heart felt. The more he looked, the more he felt that every single thing about her was impossibly perfect.

That "little bit of like" was a seed that had begun to grow wildly in his heart, filling him with unprecedented hope and drive for the future.

By morning, a frigid wind was howling outside the cave, and the snow had piled even deeper.

Bai Wanwan awoke to the deliberately quiet movements of the males.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she threw off the warm animal-pelt blanket, deftly draped a thick outer robe of pelts over her shoulders, and stood up.

"Jiao Yin, wait."

Her voice was still slightly husky from sleep, but it was exceptionally clear.

The tall figure, who had been about to leave without a sound, froze abruptly.

Jiao Yin turned. The moment his eyes, as deep as the sea, landed on her, it was as if stars had been cast into their depths; a faint but genuine light sparked within them.

"Wanwan?" His voice was low, tinged with surprise. "It’s cold out. Why are you up?"

He glanced instinctively toward the cold wind pouring in from the cave entrance.

Bai Wanwan walked up to him and shook her head slightly. "I’m not cold. You’re out there every day, braving this wind and snow to hunt and provide for this family. I’m tucked away in a warm cave, so how could I possibly catch a chill?"

Her gaze fell on his skin, which was chapped and dry from the wind, and then to the almost imperceptible exhaustion in his eyes.

She held out her hand, offering him a pouch sewn from tough animal hide.

"Here. Take this to eat on the road."

Jiao Yin took it, a little hesitant. It was surprisingly heavy.

He untied the drawstring, and a familiar, long-missed scent—the salty tang of the ocean—instantly filled his nostrils.

Inside were several sea fish, cleaned immaculately and preserved by a special smoking method.

’It was his favorite food!’

"You... where did you get these?"

Jiao Yin looked up, his eyes filled with shock and gratitude.