Jiang Fei turned into his lion form and tore the wild boar into pieces.
He secretly looked at Xi Qingqing, trying to see if she felt disgusted.
But she didn’t.
She looked at him with bright eyes. He could tell—she was simply admiring him, not wanting to take anything from him.
He stepped aside.
Jiang Fei smelled the strong blood on his body. Everyone else smelled clean, but he smelled like blood.
He didn’t turn back into a human. Even as a lion he smelled bad—if he turned human, it would be worse.
He walked toward the garden, where green onions were planted. He tried to cover his smell with their scent.
Xi Qingqing gave the recipe to Hua Yun and ran toward him.
His body was huge, leaving bloody footprints behind.
When he saw her coming, he moved away. She followed. He moved again. She followed again.
Finally, she grabbed his ear.
“Why are you running?!”
Her hand was soft and warm. Jiang Fei froze for a moment and tried to hide behind the green onions—but he was far too big.
A fierce lion that had just cut up a boar now looked shy, hiding behind plants.
Xi Qingqing loved animals in her past life. She almost found him too cute to handle.
She coughed lightly.
“Are you avoiding me?”
“I… I need to go wash,” he said.
“Later,” she replied. “We were supposed to go to the office today. I forgot. You should have reminded me. Let’s go tomorrow?”
He lowered his head.
“It’s not urgent.”
“Okay, good,” she said.
She gently touched his mane. It was very smooth.
“I’m always free. If you need me, just call me.”
“Okay.” His paws moved nervously in place.
Seeing he didn’t resist, she rubbed his head more.
“Where did you go today? You must have gone back to that mountain to find such a wild boar, right?”
“Yes… yes!”
“Good boy.”
She scratched under his chin. He slowly closed his eyes, enjoying it.
A beastman who has been touched like this will remember it deeply. The next time someone touches the same spot, it awakens their sensitivity.
Jiang Fei was no exception.
“Master! There’s too much pork! The fridge is full!”
Xue Xi shouted from afar.
Xi Qingqing reluctantly let go.
“Go wash up. I’ll check.”
Jiang Fei opened his eyes. He saw her hands—now dirty with dried blood.
She really didn’t dislike him anymore.
“Go on,” she said gently, patting his head.
He watched her walk away.
Then he glanced at Xue Xi.
Xue Xi silently mouthed: “Don’t forget—you’re getting divorced.”
Jiang Fei stayed silent… then raised his middle finger.
Later in the kitchen, Xi Qingqing helped store the meat. Xue Xi praised her, and she praised him back.
They had made many dumplings. Some broke while cooking, and the filling floated in the water.
Hua Yun felt embarrassed.
“I made them by hand… maybe they don’t look good.”
“That’s okay,” she said. “You’ll improve.”
She invited him and his mother to dinner. His mother happily agreed and even told him to work hard.
After that, Hua Yun stayed in the palace as a cook.
The next day, before the guests arrived, Xi Qingqing went to see the little snakes.
She opened the door and saw many small snakes tangled together.
Suddenly, a child’s voice shouted:
“The scary woman is here! Turn human or she’ll cook us!”
In an instant, the snakes turned into babies. Some were half-human, half-snake. Some still had snake heads.
Xi Qingqing froze… then slammed the door shut.
She had tried to accept snakes.
But that scene was too much.
“Princess, why didn’t you go in?” Mo Fuqing asked behind her.
She didn’t dare turn around.
“I… I have something to do,” she said, walking away with her eyes closed.
Suddenly, a cold hand gently held hers.
“There’s still time before the guests arrive,” he said softly.
She started talking about cooking, trying to change the topic—
But suddenly, something soft touched her lips.
She opened her eyes.
He was kissing her.
His face was beautiful, his eyes closed, his expression serious.
She leaned back against the wall and let him continue.
After a while, he stopped. His eyes were slightly red.
“If you don’t want to see them, then don’t,” he said gently.
She thought for a moment.
“It’s… not completely unbearable.”
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
She remembered what she saw and sighed softly.
“Let them grow up first.”
“Okay,” he said, touching her waist gently. “Whatever you want.”
Then he asked softly,
“The guests will arrive soon. Do you want me to help you change clothes?”