To avoid letting Bai Ning say anything more, Beichuan pushed the roasted meat toward her, forcefully suppressing the sadness in his heart.
“Eat first. It won’t taste good once it gets cold. All the caves in the tribe are currently occupied by other beastmen, and there are no extra ones available for now. Just stay in mine for the time being. I can sleep in the smaller side cave; I won’t disturb you. I’ll go out and prepare the herbs for you now. After you’ve finished eating, I’ll help you apply the medicine.”
Without waiting for her reply, Beichuan turned and walked toward the cave entrance. His steps were quick and frantic. Because he was in such a rush, he accidentally slammed into the stone wall on his way out.
The loud thud sounded particularly jarring in the quiet cave.
Beichuan stumbled out of the cave, where the cold night wind instantly wrapped around him. The moonlight spilled across the ground like a layer of frost, making his sorrow appear even more prominent. He crouched by the entrance, his hands tightly gripping the herbs until the green juice seeped through his fingers.
Bai Ning knew exactly how much Beichuan was hurting, but she didn’t want to lie to him. Looking at the roasted meat by the bed, a faint bitterness welled up in her heart.
“Big Sister… actually, you didn’t have to do that,” Tongtong said, feeling her emotions and trying to comfort her.
Bai Ning withdrew her gaze from the entrance and shook her head gently. “Tongtong, I understand what you mean, but I can’t do it.”
She could no longer return to her parents, but she had never forgotten the values they taught her. She could not—and would not—become the kind of person who exploited someone else’s feelings!
The Beast World was dangerous, and on her own, it might take a very long time to save enough points for the “Yellow Millet Dream.” But there were always more solutions than problems. She hadn’t even stepped ten meters outside this cave yet. Though it might make her parents wait longer, she believed that if they knew, they would approve of her choice.
Her stomach growled again. Bai Ning didn’t let herself get sentimental; she picked up the meat and began to eat heartily. The flavor was mediocre and had a hint of bitterness, but she ate with gusto. Someone who had survived the apocalypse understood the true value of food.
Outside, Beichuan heard the sounds from within the cave. With a bitter smile, he stood up and walked despondently toward the smaller cave. By the time he emerged again, he had composed his emotions, and his expression had returned to normal. Holding the freshly crushed herbs, he took a deep breath before lifting the animal skin curtain and stepping back inside.
Bai Ning already knew he was coming thanks to Tongtong. When she saw Beichuan, a flash of awkwardness crossed her face, but she quickly hid it.
Beichuan walked over, placed the herbs by the bed, and looked at her earnestly. “Bai Ning, I’ve thought about what you said. You’ve suffered so many injuries; it’s only natural that you don’t want to find a partner right now. I won’t force you. I only hope that if you ever do decide to look for one, you’ll consider me. I know I’m not great and I can be careless, but I will change. I just want a chance to take care of you. You’re covered in wounds, and your arm and leg are broken. If you move out, you won’t get the care you need, and your injuries will get worse. Besides, I wasn’t lying about the caves; every cave in the tribe is currently occupied.”
He continued, “If you really don’t want to stay in my cave, I can help you dig a new one nearby. However, digging a cave takes time, and we have to wait for it to dry out before you can move in. So, please, just stay here for now.”
Bai Ning looked up and met his sincere gaze, her heart a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She gripped the animal skin beneath her and hesitated for a moment before speaking with a hint of apology, “Beichuan, thank you for understanding, and thank you for being so considerate of me. It’s just… if I stay here, won’t it affect your ability to find a mate in the future?”
Bitterness surged in Beichuan’s heart. He had been rejected again. She wouldn’t even give him the slightest opening.
Forcing a smile, he shook his head. “It won’t. Before I met you, I never intended to find a mate, and I won’t in the future either… So, please stay here with a peace of mind. It won’t affect me.”
The only one who can affect me… is you. Beichuan couldn’t understand it himself. So many females in the tribe had shown interest in him, yet he felt absolutely nothing for them. Why was it that after only meeting her once, his eyes and heart were full of no one but her?
Bai Ning didn’t know how to respond to that. She lowered her eyes to the stone bowl by the bed, which was emitting a strange smell, trying to find a topic to break the heavy atmosphere. “Um… is this the medicine for my wounds?”
Beichuan looked down at the bowl and nodded. “Yes, these are the herbs the Witch Doctor had Chi Li send over. I’ve already crushed them. I… I’ll help you apply it.”
As Beichuan reached for the bowl, Bai Ning hurriedly stopped him.
“No… no need! I can do it myself. I’ll do it, thank you!”
Was he joking? If she let him apply the medicine, wouldn’t she be exposed immediately?
Rejected again!
Beichuan felt as if he were soaking in bitter water; he felt the sting from the inside out. “But your arm is still injured…”
“It’s okay, I can manage. Thank you!” Bai Ning refused decisively.
Rejected yet again!
Beichuan’s forced composure was about to crumble. He nodded frantically. “Okay… then call me if you need anything. I’ll be right outside.”
“Okay… thank you!”
“…”
Beichuan turned around gloomily, preparing to leave.
“Wait!” Bai Ning called out.
Beichuan turned back with sudden hope, only to see her pointing at the stone bowl.
“Could you please take this bowl out? There was too much meat; I couldn’t finish it. Could you save it for me to eat tomorrow?”
Beichuan froze. He hadn’t noticed until now, but looking at the bowl, she had only eaten a tiny bit. Nearly half the meat was still there.
“Why did you eat so little? Do you not like it? Tell me what you like to eat, and I’ll go catch it for you tomorrow!”
The firelight was dim, but Bai Ning could still see the deep worry in his eyes. Ignoring the strange stirrings in her heart, she waved her hand. “It’s not that I don’t like it. The meat is delicious; it’s just that I have a small appetite. I really can’t eat another bite.”
Hearing that it wasn’t because she disliked it, Beichuan breathed a sigh of relief. Still, she ate far too little—no wonder she was so thin and small.
“Don’t save it for tomorrow. I’ll roast fresh meat for you then.”
Beichuan carried the bowl out and sat by the fire. He stared at the leftover meat for a long time before finally picking up a piece and putting it in his mouth.