Chapter 208 - 207: Then We Can Naturally Take the Lead

The cold wind sobered him up. Sheng Yue walked into the cave as if nothing had happened.

Unlike the silent desolation outside, a dozen or so electronic lamps hung from the cave walls inside.

The scent of orchids in his nose dissipated, replaced by the rich aroma of roasting meat.

Wang Hu and the others were gathered around a fire, roasting meat.

They rose reverently. "Chairman Sheng."

Wang Hu pointed to a makeshift screen. "They’re over there, bathing."

Sheng Yue grunted in acknowledgment.

The sound of splashing water filled his ears and the smell of meat filled his nose as his gaze swept across the cave.

To the side was a long, wooden sleeping platform covered with soft blankets.

Sheng Yue’s mind stirred.

’Only one bed.’

’No matter how long it is, it’s still just one bed. At best, there’d be some kind of divider down the middle at night.’

Yin Jiu was curled up on the bed, listlessly wagging its tail. [Master.]

Sheng Yue suppressed the dark thoughts in the depths of his mind. [Where is she?]

Yin Jiu’s tail shot up, pointing in the same direction Wang Hu had.

[Yu Baby brought a lot of stuff. She even heated bathwater for everyone.]

Sheng Yue’s lips thinned. He shot a cold glance at the roasted meat. [She didn’t bring any food? Has she eaten yet?]

Yin Jiu’s eyes were narrowed, and its voice was thick and mumbled as if it were dozing off:

[She brought plenty of food. Pei Yin broke the rules. He knew no one would inspect Yu Baby, so he prepared lots of things for her—way more than allowed.]

[But Yu Baby is a specially invited team member. Teacher Hu said she doesn’t have to follow the mission rules so rigidly.]

[They said they’d been here before and thought the Lulu Meat from the Beast Forest was delicious. When Yu Baby heard that, her mouth started to water. They heard her drool a little, so Zhang Qin took the initiative and went outside to catch one to roast.]

Yin Jiu got angry, the fur on its back starting to bristle. [Master, why are you never around? If you were here, there’d be no need for that brat Zhang Qin to be sucking up to her!]

The words had barely faded when Sheng Yue vanished again.

[...]

Furious, Yin Jiu scurried back and forth across the bed, its tail and paws pattering frantically.

Wang Hu looked away from the bed. "Why’d the Chairman go out again?" he asked in a low voice.

Instead of answering, Zhang Qin asked, "You said before that Little Yu is highly regarded by the other Chiefs?"

"Yeah, you didn’t know?" Wang Hu recalled that Zhang Qin had indeed been quite busy around that time.

He said in an exaggerated tone, "It’s way beyond ’highly regarded’—it’s a declaration of love! Chief Ling, Chief Xi Yu, Si Xu, and Chief Pei Yin, those four for sure. People have seen them hugging her with their own eyes."

Yan Xu chimed in, "I heard Chief Duan also announced he was going to pursue her."

Zhang Qin mused, "And Chairman Sheng?"

Yan Xu fell silent.

Wang Hu was stumped as well.

He glanced furtively at Yin Jiu. "I guess... the Chairman is still in the pursuit phase. They’re all very respectful of her feelings. Don’t go sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. And don’t get all motherly and do something rash."

Zhang Qin unclenched his fists.

He raised his arm and jabbed his buddy with his elbow. "What the hell are you talking about! You’re the maternal one! I’m a man!"

Wang Hu rubbed his nose.

Lu Qi lowered his head, hugging his knees and darting his eyes back and forth.

Yan Xu and Yan Yi exchanged a look and tactfully remained silent.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Qin couldn’t resist asking, "Where’s the Chairman sleeping tonight?"

Wang Hu answered nonchalantly, "With us, probably. The platform’s big enough."

Zhang Qin clicked his tongue twice, his voice gruff. "Shouldn’t have slacked off."

’It wouldn’t have taken much effort to cut the wood and make twelve separate beds.’

Thinking they were being weird, Lu Qi scooted away from them.

Zhang Qin suggested quietly, "Later, in the spot where the Chairman sleeps, I’ll..."

Before he could finish, Sheng Yue tossed over two cleaned Lu Lu Beasts.

Wang Hu’s eyes instantly lit up. "Chairman!"

The Lu Lu Beasts from the Beast Forest were more fragrant than the farm-raised kind, with an added grassy note.

Lu Lu Beasts are most delicious when they’re not too big and not too small—right around a year and a half old.

But they’re incredibly hard to catch at that age. Zhang Qin had spent half the day wandering around the cave entrance and only managed to snag one old Lu Lu Beast.

Wang Hu dragged the Lu Lu Beasts over and set them on the rack to roast.

His mouth watered. "I love this tender Lulu Meat best. Chairman, you’re amazing. Zhang Qin is useless."

’Zhang Qin’s lip twitched. ’Did he really have to put me down just to praise him?!’’

’He’d only held back because he was following the rules and didn’t dare venture too far.’

"It smells so good," Lu Yi’s voice drifted over.

The makeshift screen was moved aside, and the barrier disappeared.

The girls had all finished bathing and changed into fresh clothes, wisps of steam still clinging to them.

Zhang Qin quickly called out, "Lu Yi, come on! Yu, come on! All of you, it’s almost ready to eat."

Jian Yu slowly walked over with the others.

Tiny water droplets clung to the tip of her nose, her lips were a vibrant red, and a rosy flush colored the corners of her eyes.

Sheng Yue turned away, a familiar itch rising in his throat.

Yin Jiu’s ears perked up. As Jian Yu passed, it stuck out a paw. "Baby."

Jian Yu was a little tired today, and she walked with a slight daze.

She bent down and scooped Yin Jiu into her arms.

She looked up and saw Sheng Yue, his lips pressed into a thin line, an air of loneliness enveloping him.

Jian Yu’s gaze faltered for a moment. "Chairman, care to join us?"

The moment she spoke, Sheng Yue’s eyes immediately caught the faint glimpse of her soft, wet, red tongue.

"Alright," he replied coldly.

Sheng Yue’s tense brow slowly relaxed, and his lips curved into a tiny smile.

Jian Yu’s long, curled lashes fluttered. She still looked soft and docile.

’But she was complaining inwardly, ’Perhaps a cold and aloof person needs a cheerful girl.’’

’Jian Yu didn’t consider herself a cheerful person.’

’But when faced with Sheng Yue—someone even more stubborn and avoidant than she was—Jian Yu found she wasn’t so easily intimidated.’

Lu Yi looked around. "Where’s the teacher?"

Wang Hu’s attention was solely focused on the two cuts of meat that were almost done roasting.

Zhang Qin nudged him.

Only then did Wang Hu snap out of it. "A team nearby lost their supplies. Teacher Hu knows their team leader, so he went to check on them. He told us to just listen to the Chairman."

Lu Yi blinked. "Oh."

She turned her head, sizing up Jian Yu’s outfit. "The insulation in your dress seems more advanced than ours. Did you buy it?"

"No, someone else prepared it for me." Jian Yu looked a little worn out, her responses slightly sluggish.

She slowly sat down, still holding Yin Jiu. Her large eyes were misty from the hot bath, and she had a natural, delicate air that made one want to dote on her.

Sheng Yue quickened his steps and sat down right beside Jian Yu.

His eyes remained fixed on the roasting meat, but his gaze kept darting to the dress of the person beside him.

The dress was cyan, with a plush, turned-down collar. Its fluffy, soft edges were unmistakably Pei Yin’s style.

The dress fell just past Jian Yu’s ankles, its hem flaring out playfully.

The ends of her long, chestnut hair curled up as it rested on her shoulders. Her lips were a pale pink, pressed lightly together, making her seem both soft and docile.

Sheng Yue’s breathing grew heavy, and the veins on his neck began to throb.

’His mind was filled with a single refrain: ’So soft, so red, so fragrant. I want to kiss her.’’

Influenced by Sheng Yue, Yin Jiu’s snow-white ears began to burn faintly.

"Are you hot?" Jian Yu found it strange and rubbed the tip of Yin Jiu’s ear again.

Yin Jiu’s ears drooped as it tried to cover up. "I’m sleepy."

Jian Yu paused for a couple of seconds, then rocked it in her arms, coaxing it to sleep.

Yin Jiu was so blissful it felt like its nose was about to start purring and blowing bubbles.

The moment the meat was done, Wang Hu offered it up first. "Chairman, for you."

Sheng Yue took the wooden skewer, holding it distractedly.

Pushing its luck, Yin Jiu wanted even more.

It urged him on:

[Master, can you sneak a kiss with Baby tonight? Once the lights are off, it’ll be pitch black. No one will ever find out. If she struggles and figures it out, that’s even better! Then we can secure our position as a matter of course!]