Chapter 15: Staying Calm and Rational
As Hua Linye spoke, his stunningly beautiful eyes were fixed on Su Muyao. His foxy eyes naturally possessed a soul-stirring power. When he focused on someone, it was as if he were born with an affectionate gaze, one that held the magic to bewitch the human heart.
Su Muyao nearly lost herself in his eyes, but she managed to remain calm and rational.
She laughed it off. “Ah, that was in the past. And I’ve already promised you the three-month deadline, haven’t I? I was just thinking, let’s get along peacefully for now. That way, after you get your freedom in three months, you won’t come looking for trouble with me, right?”
She couldn’t exactly tell them she wasn’t their original wife; they would never believe her. They might even think she was a mutated beast and try to burn her to death. She had a feeling they were already a little suspicious of her, but they certainly had no proof.
Wen Nanxi’s picturesque eyes flickered. “Rest assured, my lady. I will not harm the person you are now in the slightest.” The person you are now, he thought, not the person you once were.
The intensity in Hua Linye’s foxy eyes softened. “I hope you stay this way, my lady, and don’t revert to how you were before.”
Xiao Jihan remained silent, though an unusual glint flashed through his cold eyes.
Su Muyao felt she had to say something more. She thought for a moment and said, “I was wrong in the past. I apologize to you all for that. It won’t happen again. I know you might not believe me, but time will tell, right? Just bear with me for a little while longer. I might even be able to release you from the contract early.” If she could regain her strength sooner, she could end the contract early, without waiting the full three months.
Hearing her apologize, Wen Nanxi felt a pang in his heart. A gentle look filled his eyes, and he said softly, “It’s not your fault. Don’t go hungry. Let’s eat first. The temperature is just right.” He had used his ability to control the temperature of her bowl of porridge, ensuring it was neither too hot nor too cold, but perfect for her to eat.
Su Muyao smiled. “Yes, let’s eat. After breakfast, I’m going hunting, too.” Her main goal was to look for food in the mountains.
“Alright, I’ll accompany you, my lady,” Wen Nanxi said.
Hua Linye’s beautiful eyes curved upwards, his voice enchantingly thin. “Today, it’s my turn to accompany my lady.” He then looked at Su Muyao with a pitiful, bewitching gaze. “Wherever you wish to go, my lady, Linye will take you. How does that sound?” As he spoke, the end of his words lifted slightly, laced with a seductive charm, as if he were releasing his innate allure.
Su Muyao didn’t dare to meet his gaze. She knew that foxes possessed the ability to enchant. In her heart, she wanted to go to the mountains with Wen Nanxi. She didn’t trust any of the three, but if she had to choose one to protect her, she would choose him. However, she could sense the subtle, simmering tension between Hua Linye and Wen Nanxi, and she worried they would start a fight if she said the wrong thing.
She lowered her head, stirring the porridge in her bowl with her spoon. “Then… let’s just stick to the schedule,” she mumbled.
As they began to eat, they were shocked to find that every single dish was incredibly delicious. They had been reluctant to even touch the pork offal. But after standing in the cookhouse for so long, enveloped in its fragrant aroma, they had decided to try it. It would be a shame to waste food that their lady had personally cooked. No other female would be willing to cook for their beastman husbands. For that reason alone, they shouldn’t waste it.
Having come to that conclusion, they ate. And the moment the food touched their lips, they realized just how delicious it was. Normally, they all ate slowly and with the utmost elegance, but now they couldn’t help but speed up. The corn porridge, too—they had never imagined that the coarse cornmeal, which was usually so harsh on the throat, could be made into something so delectable.
It was too good!
As they ate, their eyes were involuntarily drawn to Su Muyao, filled with a sense of wonder and disbelief, as if they were trying to see right through her.
Su Muyao kept her head down, eating silently and showing them only the top of her head, not letting them see her expression. The meal was an ordeal, as she could feel the pressure of their stares.
Finally, they were full. When she looked up, she was stunned to see that their bowls were empty and the large basin of braised offal was gone.
“Are you guys still hungry?” Or had she not made enough?
Seeing her dazed, adorable expression, Wen Nanxi smiled gently. “We’re full. The food you made was delicious, my lady. We used to throw these parts away. Thinking back now, it was truly a waste and a pity.” But back then, they wouldn’t have known how to prepare them, let alone cook them. He didn’t know how she had made the braised dish, only that she had added some things, probably for seasoning. In the past, they might have suspected her of poisoning them, but after last night, they no longer had such doubts.
Su Muyao nodded. She would have to make more next time. Beastmen had special constitutions and needed to eat a lot to maintain their energy for hunting.
After the meal, Su Muyao didn’t have to lift a finger. The three of them scrambled to clear the table and wash the dishes, leaving the cookhouse spotless.
Afterward, Wen Nanxi and Xiao Jihan went out to hunt, while Hua Linye took Su Muyao into the mountains. He transformed directly into his true form: a giant, nine-tailed red fox that stood over two meters tall.
Seeing Hua Linye’s true form with her own eyes, Su Muyao was captivated. He was truly beautiful, especially his red fur. She now understood why her predecessor had been so obsessed with using his fur to make clothes. A coat made from such noble red fur would undoubtedly be stunning.
Hua Linye’s beast form was a bit too tall for Su Muyao to climb onto. She jumped a few times to no avail. Seeing this, a faint smile appeared in his foxy eyes; he found her efforts quite cute. He then used one of his tails to curl around her, gently placing her on his back.
“Where would you like to go, my lady?”
“Do you know where to find a lot of medicinal herbs?” She wanted to gather some herbs to detoxify her own body. On top of that, all three of her beastman husbands had serious internal and external injuries that were hindering their training and suppressing their power levels. They must be in a lot of pain. When her predecessor had abused them, she had actually triggered their mental rampages, which had worsened their injuries and the poison in their bodies. Su Muyao felt it was her responsibility to heal them so they could part ways without owing each other anything.
“I do,” Hua Linye said. “I’ll take you there.” He knew where the herbs grew, but there were countless varieties, and normally only a shaman could identify them. A mistake could easily lead to poisoning. He didn’t dwell on it and simply carried Su Muyao in that direction.
Hua Linye ran at an incredible speed, and Su Muyao reflexively held on to him. She realized that hugging fox fur was a completely different experience from hugging a snake’s body. His fur was so comfortable. It was beautiful and soft, and it carried a faint, clean, and pleasant scent.
As if enchanted, Su Muyao couldn’t resist stroking his fur.
Hua Linye’s body trembled. He stopped in his tracks and asked in a low, husky voice, “What are you touching, my lady?”
Su Muyao snapped back to her senses, her scalp tingling. “N-nothing. Don’t get the wrong idea. I… I just accidentally grabbed your fur!” They were in the middle of the forest with no one around. If Hua Linye decided to kill her, no one would be able to save her. No, wait—the beastman contract prevented him from killing her, but he could still torture and abuse her, just as her predecessor had done to him. It would be the perfect revenge.
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