Although Chu Xuan’s current appearance couldn’t compare to her looks back in Hehuan Palace, in this beast world, she was still considered a rare beauty.
With her crescent-shaped eyebrows and expressive eyes, delicate nose and cherry lips, combined with the unique bewitchment techniques of Hehuan Palace, her every movement carried an enchanting grace that could easily captivate several Male Beasts.
Just as Chu Xuan was feeling quite pleased with herself, System 38 poured cold water on her excitement.
[Host, don’t celebrate too early. Up to now, Xie Xingwen’s affinity points haven’t shown any fluctuation at all.]
Chu Xuan: “…”
Her smile vanished instantly.
“Can you detect Xie Xingwen’s current state?”
Chu Xuan was somewhat curious. During their interactions, her other Beast Husbands had all contributed some reward Points to varying degrees, except for Xie Xingwen.
She had treated his injuries, cooked delicious food for him, and been gentle and considerate toward him…
If she had done all this for Mo Jingxing or Jian Ze, how many reward Points would she have gained by now?
But Xie Xingwen remained an iron rooster, not giving anything at all.
Chu Xuan now suspected that Xie Xingwen might be an emotionless block of wood.
[Host, Xie Xingwen’s emotional responses are rather slow. His mind is solely focused on how to become stronger, even stronger. So to conquer Xie Xingwen, Host needs to put in more effort.]
Sure enough, he really was an emotionless block of wood!!
.
After dinner was ready, Chu Xuan and Jian Ze brought the food to the main hall together. Xie Xingwen, as usual, followed the aroma without needing to be called, coming over on his own.
Having tasted Chu Xuan’s cooking at noon, Yu Jinglan was already salivating at the sight of new dishes she had prepared, which smelled just as delicious.
Mo Jingxing had just finished handling the game he hunted in the afternoon when Chu Xuan called out to him in a gentle voice, “Jingxing, you’ve been busy all afternoon, you must be tired. Come and eat now.”
Her soft voice felt like a feather brushing against Mo Jingxing’s heart, making it itch, and his handsome face uncontrollably flushed red again.
He nodded silently and walked toward the main hall.
[Ding! Mo Jingxing’s affinity points +5, reward Points +5.]
Receiving the Points, Chu Xuan’s smile grew even warmer. She then went to call Shen Lingjun.
During the day, both Yu Jinglan and Xie Xingwen had eaten food prepared by Chu Xuan without any issues. Shen Lingjun wasn’t one to deprive himself either.
Besides, having not eaten all day, he was genuinely hungry.
Thus, when Chu Xuan called him, he came over.
[Ding! Shen Lingjun’s affinity points +1, reward Points +1.]
Chu Xuan: “…”
This damn leopard is so stingy. The black wolf brother is much better, so generous.
Although Xie Xingwen and Yu Jinglan had already tasted Chu Xuan’s cooking during the day, they were still amazed by her culinary skills.
When the sweet and sour flavor of the Sweet and Sour Pork exploded on his tongue, Yu Jinglan narrowed his fox eyes in pure enjoyment. He had never eaten such delicious food—the unique sweet and sour taste and texture were truly exquisite.
[Ding! Yu Jinglan’s affinity points +5, reward Points +5.]
Jian Ze, who had watched Chu Xuan prepare the food in the kitchen, never imagined that combining sugar and vinegar could create such a wonderful flavor.
Mo Jingxing took a bite of the Braised Pork Ribs, and instantly, his amber wolf eyes widened in surprise. How could food be made so delicious? The Female Master was truly incredible.
Even the usually indifferent Shen Lingjun showed a look of astonishment after taking a bite of the water-boiled meat. Then, he kept eating bite after bite, completely unable to stop.
[Ding! Jian Ze’s favorability +5, reward Points +5.]
[Ding! Mo Jingxing’s favorability +10, reward Points +10.]
[Ding! Shen Lingjun’s favorability +5, reward Points +5.]
Chu Xuan watched the Points rewards coming in one after another, grinning from ear to ear. She was especially moved when she saw Mo Jingxing’s contribution of ten Points—one person counting for two.
But when she saw Xie Xingwen, who remained unmoved, her smile froze.
Xie Xingwen just kept his head down, eating heartily and enjoying the meal more than anyone else at the table, yet his favorability hadn’t budged at all.
Eat, eat, eat—why don’t you just eat yourself to death?
Chu Xuan glared at him angrily.
Xie Xingwen looked up in confusion, noticing that everyone else was focused on their meal without any unusual behavior.
Strange, he had clearly sensed a murderous intent earlier. Could it have been his imagination?
After the meal, Jian Ze took the initiative to clean up the dishes. Chu Xuan was someone who enjoyed cooking but absolutely detested washing dishes, so she didn’t argue with Jian Ze about it.
She took a short walk in the courtyard to aid digestion. As it was getting late, she returned to her room and lay down.
As soon as she lay down, the voice of System 38 echoed in her mind: [Now issuing a task for the host: Stroke Mo Jingxing’s tail. Time limit: three days. Reward upon completion: Points +20. If the host fails to complete the task within three days, the system will eliminate the host.]
Chu Xuan: “…”
“38, are you playing it this intense?” Chu Xuan said. “I’ve just managed to get a little closer to them, and now you want me to touch such a private part of his body? Are you afraid I won’t die fast enough?”
However, the only response Chu Xuan received was the system’s cold, emotionless voice: [If the host fails to complete the task within three days, the system will eliminate the host!]
Chu Xuan felt a bit agitated. She pulled the blanket over her head, thinking about how to complete this task.
She couldn’t just go up to Mo Jingxing and say, “Show me your tail and let me touch it.”
Mo Jingxing would probably kill her on the spot.
Currently, Mo Jingxing had the highest favorability toward her among all the Beast Husbands, but it still wasn’t high enough to let her touch his tail!
Chu Xuan tossed and turned, thinking about how to complete the task naturally. She thought and thought until the next day, when she appeared before Jian Ze with heavy dark circles under her eyes.
Jian Ze had prepared breakfast and, noticing that it was getting late and Chu Xuan still hadn’t gotten up, went to wake her. When he saw the dark circles under her eyes, he was visibly taken aback.
“Female Master, did you not sleep well last night?”
Chu Xuan: “I had a nightmare. I was almost bitten to death by a wolf.”
Jian Ze: “…”
After breakfast, all the Beast Husbands were going out to hunt that day to prepare for the Mutual Market two days later.
Upon hearing this, Chu Xuan said, “I’ll go with you! I know how to set traps and can help with the hunting.”
As soon as she finished speaking, all the Beast Husbands looked at her with complicated expressions. Chu Xuan was puzzled. Finally, Shen Lingjun spoke, though he sounded rather disdainful.
“The forest is full of fierce beasts. If the Female Master goes, it won’t be for hunting—it’ll be to deliver food to the beasts. So, it’s better for the Female Master to stay at home.”
“Yes, Female Master.” Mo Jingxing also spoke, though his tone was considerably gentler than Shen Lingjun’s. “We can handle the hunting matters. You should stay home and wait for us to return.”
Only Xie Xingwen’s golden pupils immediately lit up upon hearing about the abundance of fierce beasts in the forest.
A mountain full of fierce beasts—what a perfect place for training!
He glanced covertly at Chu Xuan.
The moment their eyes met, Chu Xuan instantly understood Xie Xingwen’s intention and decisively shook her head in refusal.
Though she wanted to become stronger, her life was more important! She had no desire to become food for wild beasts.