The valley was silent.
The messenger stared at Bai Chen and Bai Yan with disbelief.
Then at Xue Linyuan.
Then back at the twins.
His face looked like it might crack.
The Snow Leopard Crown Prince…
Had heirs.
Two heirs.
Living heirs.
The news alone could shake the entire northern continent.
“Your Highness…”
The messenger’s voice trembled.
“The Elders request that you bring the young masters back immediately.”
The twins frowned.
“Young masters?”
Bai Yan looked disgusted.
“We’re not going anywhere.”
Bai Chen quietly nodded.
The messenger froze.
Then instinctively looked toward Xue Linyuan.
Waiting for the prince’s decision.
But before Xue Linyuan could speak—
A calm voice interrupted.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
Bai Xueyin stood beside the cubs.
The valley became silent.
Even Xue Linyuan looked at her.
The messenger blinked.
“…Lady Bai?”
Xueyin took a deep breath.
The words she was about to say had been bothering her since yesterday.
Ever since the males started appearing.
Ever since everyone assumed things would simply return to normal.
But for her—
Nothing was normal.
“I won’t send the cubs anywhere.”
The messenger immediately looked horrified.
Meanwhile, the twins moved closer to her instinctively.
Xueyin continued.
“They can decide where they want to live when they’re older.”
The cubs immediately nodded.
Especially Bai Yan.
“Exactly.”
The messenger looked ready to faint.
The future heirs of the Snow Leopard Clan refusing the clan?
Disaster.
Absolute disaster.
But Xueyin wasn’t finished.
She looked toward Xue Linyuan.
The prince met her gaze silently.
For some reason—
This felt harder than she expected.
Still…
It needed to be said.
“Also…”
She hesitated.
Then spoke honestly.
“I think some distance would be better.”
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Lin Huan’s smile faded.
Wu Ye stopped playing with a feather.
Even the cubs looked confused.
Xue Linyuan remained still.
“…Distance?” he repeated quietly.
Xueyin nodded.
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“From all of you.”
Silence.
The snowstorm winds seemed louder suddenly.
Xueyin clenched her hands.
“I know everyone keeps saying we’re mates.”
Her gaze lowered briefly.
“But I don’t remember any of it.”
No one spoke.
Because they already knew.
Yet hearing it aloud hurt.
A lot.
Xueyin forced herself to continue.
“The person who loved you…”
Her voice softened.
“The person who made promises to you…”
“The person who shared those memories…”
“Was the old previous Bai Xueyin, not me.”
The three males froze.
“I don’t know any of you.”
The words weren’t cruel.
Just honest.
Painfully honest.
“I care about the cubs.”
She immediately looked toward them.
“And that won’t change.”
Wu Yin.
Bai Shuyi.
Bai Qingluo.
Bai Xingyuan.
The twins.
Every child mattered to her.
That much she was certain of.
But the adults?
She couldn’t pretend.
Couldn’t force feelings she didn’t have.
“I don’t want to lead anyone on.”
The valley became quiet.
The messenger wisely stopped breathing.
Far away.
Very far away.
A mountain beast sneezed for no reason.
Because the atmosphere here was terrifying.
Finally—
Xue Linyuan spoke.
His silver eyes never left her face.
“…So you are rejecting us.”
The blunt words made Xueyin wince.
“When you say it like that, it sounds terrible.”
“It is terrible.”
Lin Huan immediately agreed.
“Very terrible.”
Wu Ye sighed dramatically.
“Heartbreaking, even.”
Xueyin rubbed her forehead.
These men were impossible.
For a moment— Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Nobody spoke.
Then unexpectedly—
Xue Linyuan nodded.
“Understood.”
Everyone looked at him.
Even Xueyin blinked.
That was easier than expected.
The prince’s expression remained calm.
“You don’t remember.”
A pause.
“So your decision is reasonable.”
The answer shocked everyone.
Especially the messenger.
Because this was the same prince who once marched through three territories over an insult.
Yet now—
He was accepting rejection.
Almost peacefully.
Then Xue Linyuan continued.
“But.”
The single word made everyone nervous.
His silver eyes softened slightly.
“I won’t leave.”
Xueyin froze.
“What?”
“You asked for distance.”
The prince nodded once.
“I can do that.”
Then he glanced toward the twins.
“They are still my sons.”
Silence.
The cubs immediately looked pleased.
And before Xueyin could respond—
Lin Huan raised his hand.
“Same.”
Wu Ye smiled.
“Me too.”
Xueyin stared.
The three males looked surprisingly united.
For once.
“We won’t force you.”
Lin Huan said.
“We won’t make you remember.”
Wu Ye added.
“We won’t treat you like the person you used to be.”
Xue Linyuan finished.
A strange emotion flickered through Xueyin’s chest.
Relief.
And guilt.
Then Wu Ye smiled slightly.
“But we’re still staying nearby.”
Lin Huan nodded.
“Very nearby.”
Xue Linyuan calmly added:
“Extremely nearby.”
The cubs burst out laughing.
And for the first time—
Even Bai Xueyin couldn’t stop a small smile from appearing.
Because somehow…
This ridiculous family had become even more complicated.