Chapter 17: Chapter Seventeen: You Don't Dislike Me, Right?

A Qing

Yun Li had thought that Mu Qing, being provoked like this by the Leng brothers, would fly into a rage and fight them on the spot, but instead nothing happened at all.

Mu Qing didn't even remove the meat that Leng Xiu and the others had set up on the grill; he just silently turned it over from time to time.

Yun Li followed behind him, unable to figure out what he was doing.

What are you thinking about?

He was clearly angry just a moment ago, yet now he's silent, playing at being withdrawn—can't he just say what's on his mind?

Nothing.

Mu Qing stared at the meat before him, feeling some emotion surge violently in his chest, not knowing how to vent it; he almost masochistically said, "If you like them, you don't have to wait until the cold season. Actually, those males are right—I, a mere beastman, can't possibly protect you completely."

Leng Xiu and Leng Xiao could show up unannounced while I'm not here today, and other males could too.

So, do you want them to come along and take care of me with you?

Yun Li hearing those words suddenly felt uneasy.

She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind and asked, "But didn't you previously want me to look for a male later? If you let Leng Xiu and Leng Xiao in, aren't you afraid I'll end up seeing only those two brothers?"

Mu Qing lowered his head, looking at the female clasped tightly in his arms, and a flood of memories of their time together surged— their first meeting, getting to know each other, their embrace, and after becoming mates, all the things Yun Li had done for him.

A warm feeling rose in his eyes: "You won't, because A Li herself is an excellent female."

She kept her promises, never going back on her word; he was dull and uninteresting, far less sweet-talking and entertaining than other males, yet she never overlooked his efforts.

In the eyes of other beastmen, his first impression was always that of a cold-blooded snake beastman, but only with A Li did he come across as Mu Qing first, and a snake beastman second.

She would worry about his hardship in hunting, feel heartache for his toiling back and forth for this family……

Many mated males in the hunting squad said A Li wasn't the type for everyday life, but Mu Qing thought they were just jealous.

Their jealousy toward A Li was focused entirely on him, and they tried to find signs of their own females' concern for them, having to guess and imagine it themselves.

Really? I'm that good in your eyes!

Yun Li's heart involuntarily softened at Mu Qing's words, "A Li herself is an excellent female."

In her previous life she'd heard plenty of praise from childhood on, yet this life it's the first time a beastman has told her she's excellent.

Who wouldn't like hearing pleasant words?

Mm.

Mu Qing isn't skilled at sweet talk with females, so he simply spoke his true feelings.

You were already good.

Better than any female he'd ever seen before.

If A Li weren't good, why would those single males, knowing she won't seek another beast husband before the cold season, still try to go around him to win her favor?

If Leng Xiu and Leng Xiao weren't still decently strong, Mu Qing would have already dragged them into a corner and beaten them up.

Yun Li smiled as he spoke, then suddenly let go—just as Mu Qing felt emptiness from the soft departure behind him, the female behind him lunged forward.

With the female's arms around his neck and a light bite on his ear, Mu Qing couldn't help but turn his head aside.

Who would have thought that what met his eyes was Yun Li's smiling gaze, saying, "I plan to skip dinner first—I want to eat something else."

Mu Qing wasn't experiencing a female's initiative for the first time, but being completely passive the whole way through like today was truly unprecedented.

However, Yun Li later felt a bit regretful, because doing the work to feed and clothe herself was really exhausting.

And Mu Qing truly didn't mind being in the subordinate role; at night he somehow learned seductive tactics, drawing Yun Li in so many times she couldn't hold back.

Squeak—

The courtyard gate opened, and Yun Li saw Leng Xiao coming for a second visit while Mu Qing was away, her brows slightly furrowing.

What are you here for?

This male came early this morning, so eager to be a third wheel?

Yun Li, being a modern person, had mentally prepared herself for eventually having multiple beast husbands, but when the day actually arrived, she still felt a bit embarrassed.

You're going out? Perfect, I have nothing to do—I'll accompany you for a walk around the tribe.

Leng Xiao came on his own behind his brother's back; usually he follows his brother in many matters, but when it comes to finding a partner, he always goes by his own wishes.

Otherwise, constantly suppressed by his brother, he merely wishes to surpass him one day.

Just like his fondness for Yun Li, Leng Xiao is certain his brother doesn't like her nearly as much as he does.

His brother surely just thinks Yun Li is pretty, and since she only has Mu Qing as a male nearby, that's why he cares so much about her affairs.

Unlike him, he truly fell for Yun Li at first sight, and once he liked her he couldn't let go.

He even likes the little freckles on her face!

Yun Li didn't much like his over-familiarity, dodging his attempts to get close, saying, "Don't get too close to me, or else when A Qing returns I'll have him beat you up."

Leng Xiao felt a flicker of hurt at her dislike, but quickly smiled and said, "Fine, I won't get too close—where do you want to go now? If you don't know the way, I'll show you."

Does she have the original owner's memories or not?

Moreover, even if she doesn't know the way, the tribe has beastman patrols; she can simply ask the patrolling beastmen where her destination is.

Yun Li barely perceptibly curled her lips.

Are you saying in your heart that I'm right or wrong?

Leng Xiao's attention was all on her, so he naturally didn't miss her subtle lip curl, and he felt pleased, thinking, "I knew you were listening to me."

Yun Li couldn't help but reply, "I have ears, of course I can hear you speak."

Leng Xiao smiled narrowly and said, "Mm, so you don't actually dislike me that much, do you?"

At least she's still willing to listen to him speak.

Yun Li gave him a white-eye, saying, "That's your misunderstanding."

If he were like last time, barging into her home without hesitation, she would surely dislike him.

But today he didn't act like last time, so her impression of him has improved somewhat, yet deep down she still feels a bit of aversion toward him.

Leng Xiao is thick-skinned; he doesn't care whether there is any misunderstanding in the understanding, he will first cling to her and then speak, as long as the females haven't completely despised him, by staying by her side he will always have a chance to gain her favor.

"So where are you going? Are you going to go see the liveliness of those few females?"

When several people from Green Grass went out with the gathering team, they always said in alarm that they saw a snake.

When the snake actually came, not a single female believed what they said; the five females who usually liked to gossip and stick together, because they encountered the snake, this time erupted with an unprecedented conflict.

The two females who were bitten said the other three females pushed them; the other three females didn't know whether it was out of guilt or something else, but they all blamed those two females, saying it was their fault, otherwise they wouldn't have encountered the snake.