The next morning…
Bai Xueyin woke up because she couldn’t breathe.
“…Mm?”
Still half asleep, she tried to move.
She couldn’t.
Something heavy was pressing against her.
Actually—
Several somethings.
Xueyin slowly opened her eyes.
And froze.
Bai Shuyi was sprawled across her stomach.
One tiny paw was on her face.
Bai Xingyuan had somehow wrapped himself around her waist during the night.
Bai Qingluo was sleeping beside her.
Wu Yin was hugging one of her arms tightly.
Bai Chen and Bai Yan occupied both sides like bodyguards.
She was completely trapped.
“…”
Xueyin stared at the cave ceiling.
“I’ve become a nest.”
The cubs continued sleeping peacefully.
A laugh suddenly came from nearby.
Xueyin turned her head.
Lin Huan was sitting by the fire.
Trying—and failing—not to laugh.
“Good morning, Little Snow Fox.”
Xueyin narrowed her eyes.
“Help me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
The red panda grinned.
“Because this is adorable.”
Xueyin considered throwing something at him.
Before she could—
A small movement came from her side.
Bai Chen was already awake.
The calm twin quietly sat up.
“…Good morning, Mother.”
His voice immediately woke the others.
Chaos followed.
“Mama awake!”
“Mother!”
“Good morning!”
Within seconds, every cub was talking at once.
Xueyin rubbed her forehead.
Too much energy.
Too early.
Then she noticed something.
The cave felt different.
Her gaze moved around slowly.
Only Lin Huan was present.
Wu Ye wasn’t here.
Neither was Xue Linyuan.
The red panda’s smile became strange.
“…Outside.”
Xueyin suddenly had a bad feeling.
“Why?”
Before Lin Huan could answer—
A loud crash echoed from outside.
BOOM.
Snow fell from the cave ceiling.
The cubs didn’t even react.
Which meant this wasn’t unusual.
Another crash followed.
BOOM.
Xueyin stared.
“…What’s happening?”
Bai Qingluo sighed.
Like someone already tired of life.
“Father Wu and Father Xue.”
The fox cub sounded completely unsurprised.
“They started arguing .”
Outside—
Another explosion echoed through the mountains.
Xueyin immediately stood up.
“What?!”
She rushed toward the entrance.
The cubs followed.
When she stepped outside—
She froze.
The snow-covered valley stretched before her.
And in the middle of it—
Wu Ye and Xue Linyuan stood facing each other.
Not fighting.
Technically.
But definitely arguing.
“…you woke her.”
“I walked quietly.”
“Like a stampeding mammoth.”
“At least I don’t lurk outside caves like a suspicious criminal.”
“That’s called surveillance.”
“That’s called being creepy.”
The two males glared at each other.
Nearby—
Several large fish and hunted beasts were piled neatly on the ground.
Apparently both had gone out before sunrise.
To gather breakfast.
Then met each other.
And immediately started competing.
The result:
Enough food to feed an entire clan.
Xueyin stared.
“…You two left before dawn to hunt?”
Silence.
The males looked away.
Simultaneously.
The cubs immediately understood.
Bai Yan snorted.
“They were competing.”
Bai Chen nodded.
Wu Yin sighed.
“Adults are weird.”
For once—
Every cub agreed.
Meanwhile, Xueyin looked at the enormous pile of food.
Then at the two powerful males pretending not to care.
Then at the amused Lin Huan watching everything.
A strange warmth filled her chest.
The situation was ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
Yet for the first time since transmigrating—
This cave felt less lonely.
As if a family was slowly forming around her.
A family she didn’t remember.
But one she was beginning to understand.
Unfortunately…
The peaceful feeling lasted exactly three seconds.
Because suddenly—
A giant shadow appeared overhead.
Everyone looked up.
A massive eagle circled above the valley.
Then descended rapidly.
A messenger beast.
The eagle landed in the snow.
Panting.
Clearly exhausted from flying.
His eyes immediately found Xue Linyuan.
“Your Highness!”
The messenger knelt.
“The Northern Snow Leopard Clan requests your immediate return!”
The valley became silent.
Then the messenger added one final sentence.
“The Elders have discovered evidence that the Crown Prince may have produced heirs.”
The messenger’s gaze slowly shifted toward Bai Chen and Bai Yan.
And his face turned completely white.
Because the evidence was currently staring back at him.