Chapter 594 - 591: A Wen Xin Home

Chapter 594: Chapter 591: A Wen Xin Home

"You think he has his own difficulties, too?"

Bai Wanwan patted the back of her hand, her gaze warm and supportive. "I don’t know him, but I just hope you two can talk things out. At the very least, don’t let the shadows of the past get in the way of your future happiness... No matter what, Yin Ze and I will be by your side to support you."

After she said this, she could clearly see Yin Mei’s resolve hardening. "Wanwan, I understand. Thank you."

After Yin Mei left, Bai Wanwan returned to Aunt Shuang’s home. She played with the cubs until the afternoon, then said her goodbyes to Aunt Shuang and took the cubs home to rest...

As night fell, the warm yellow light of a lamp flickered inside the house. Bai Wanwan was mending a cub’s small leather skirt when she heard a noise and looked up toward the door.

Yin Ze strode in, the lingering scent of blood clinging to him.

Her heart clenched. She immediately dropped what she was doing and rushed to him. Her slender fingers traced his arm in concern as her eyes scanned him. "Are you hurt? Where?"

Sensing her concern, Yin Ze’s stern expression instantly softened. He took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Wanwan, don’t worry. It’s not my blood."

He paused, his voice tinged with a barely perceptible annoyance. "I got into a fight with Yin Yuan. It’s his."

Bai Wanwan first sighed in relief, but then she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She shot him a reproachful look. "Did you hurt him badly? Aren’t you afraid your sister will come after you?"

Her words seemed to hit a sore spot. The corner of Yin Ze’s mouth twitched with indignation. "You were right! Yin Mei saw us and immediately rushed over to protect him! I didn’t even hit him that hard. That guy was definitely just pretending to be weak in front of my sister!"

As he spoke, his simmering anger began to rise again.

Bai Wanwan’s eyes glinted, and a knowing smile touched her lips. She pulled him down to sit on a stone stool and said softly, "If Sister Yin Mei is protecting him, doesn’t that mean she still has feelings for him and can’t bear to see him get hurt? In that case, why not use this as an opportunity? Give Yin Yuan a chance to explain what happened all those years ago himself."

Seeing Yin Ze’s frown, Bai Wanwan placed a hand on his shoulder and said quietly, "If he really was unfaithful and mated with another female, then Sister Yin Mei obviously won’t have anything to do with him anymore. But if there was a genuine misunderstanding... then you’d be helping Sister Yin Mei find out."

After listening to his mate’s clear and logical reasoning, the frustration in Yin Ze’s chest gradually subsided, and his tense shoulders relaxed.

He had to admit that Wanwan was right. He could also see that his sister hadn’t gotten over Yin Yuan.

But whenever he remembered how much pain Yin Yuan had caused his sister back then, he just wanted the man to get lost and stay far away, so he couldn’t ruin her current happiness.

He squeezed his mate’s hand in return. "All right. We’ll give him one more chance."

Bai Wanwan finally smiled. "Then don’t dwell on it. Go wash up. It’ll be time to eat soon."

"Okay."

Just as Yin Ze turned to go wash up, the door was pushed open again.

Yan Lie walked in, also smelling of blood.

It was his turn to lead the Hunting Team today. He dropped the fat Pork Beast he was carrying on his shoulder into a corner with a THUD.

Bai Wanwan stood, poured a bowl of warm water, and walked over to hand it to him. "You’ve been out all day, you must be tired. Drink some water first."

When Yan Lie saw the water she offered and the clear concern in her eyes, the day’s exhaustion seemed to vanish in an instant, and a warmth spread through his chest.

’His mate is so wonderful,’ he thought. ’Always so thoughtful and attentive.’

He took the bowl with a radiant smile, tilted his head back, and began to drink it down in hasty gulps. GULP, GULP.

"Slow down, don’t choke," Bai Wanwan gently reminded him.

Yan Lie finished the water in a few large gulps and let out a satisfied sigh. He then leaned in, pressing a loud, warm kiss to her soft cheek, a broad grin on his face. "Got lucky today and hunted your favorite Pork Beast! I’ll go prepare it in a bit and make you some roasted pork!"

Bai Wanwan smiled and nodded, brushing a few stray bits of grass from his shoulder. She asked casually, "How are things out there? Are there still a lot of Beastmen coming to the Tiger Clan?"

Hearing this, Yan Lie’s expression grew serious. He nodded. "Yeah, quite a few. Several small, nearby tribes that have been destroyed or can no longer protect themselves are all heading for the Tiger Clan. The patrol teams brought in two more groups today and settled them temporarily on the outskirts."

His brow creased. "Looks like things out there are even worse than we thought."

Bai Wanwan’s eyes flickered as a plan in her mind began to take clearer shape.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

As evening fell, the stone house filled with the tempting aroma of food.

Bai Wanwan, wearing a hide apron, bustled about the kitchen with several of her Beast Husbands.

Yin Ze skillfully cut the Pork Beast meat into uniform chunks, Xin Feng carefully tended to the stone pot of simmering stew, and Yan Lie was in charge of the fire...

Bai Wanwan brought out several homemade sauces to cook with, and the whole family worked together to prepare a table laden with dishes that were a feast for the senses.

When Chou Rong returned from the council hall, weary to the bone, he had only just pushed open the door when he was flooded by the senses of home: the warmth of the house, the rich aroma of food, the sound of cubs laughing and playing, and the low murmur of Bai Wanwan’s gentle instructions.

He looked at the noisy but incredibly warm scene before him, at Bai Wanwan’s profile lit by the fire as she spoke with a smile to the cubs. The weight and exhaustion from a full day of handling tribal affairs miraculously melted away, and the corners of his stern lips unconsciously softened into a smile.

Hearing the noise at the door, Bai Wanwan turned her head, her face immediately breaking into a bright smile. Her voice was cheerful. "We were just waiting for you to get home so we could eat!"

The whole family gathered boisterously around the large stone table, which was laden with a sumptuous feast.

In addition to the first few litters of leopard cubs Bai Wanwan had given birth to, the other cubs born since were also there. Some had already grown into strapping young lads, all at that ravenous age. Each one had an astonishing appetite, burying their faces in their food until their mouths shone with grease.

"Mama, this roasted Pork Beast is so yummy! Will you make it for me again next time?" a young wolf cub called out, his words muffled by a full mouth.

"Mama, Mama! I like the meat with the sweet fruit jam!" another little leopard cub piped up, raising a paw, not to be outdone.

Bai Wanwan watched her cubs wolf down their food while simultaneously putting in requests for future meals. She smiled and agreed to each one. "All right. As long as you like it, Mama will make it for you."

Hearing this, the cubs grew even more excited, all starting to clamor and shout out dish names at once. The scene quickly grew chaotic.

"Ahem."

Xin Feng, sitting nearby, cleared his throat softly, his gentle gaze holding a hint of disapproval.