At the thought of this, Beichuan couldn’t help but smile. This little female was truly interesting, unlike any other female he had ever met. Even the “animal skins” she had been wearing were different from theirs; he didn’t know what material they were, but they felt very comfortable to the touch.
While these thoughts occupied his mind, his hands never stopped moving. Soon, the rough shape of a dry toilet was dug out. Beichuan leveled the interior, gathered stones from the riverbank to pave the floor, and drove wooden stakes into the ground to wall it off, leaving only a small opening for entry.
To ensure she wouldn’t get soaked when it rained, he laid wooden beams across the top; later, he would just need to cover it with leaves and wild grass. Recalling how Bai Ning liked to wash her feet, he tidied up the ground even further, spreading a layer of clean, fresh grass.
With the work finished, Beichuan leaned toward the cave and listened intently. Bai Ning didn’t seem to be awake yet. He walked over to the boulders, picked up the remaining wood, and began another round of busy work.
After a wonderful nap, Bai Ning woke up feeling full of energy. She rubbed her eyes to make sure they were clear, reached for her crutch, and prepared to head out for a look.
Putting on her best act, Bai Ning hobbled to the cave entrance and lifted the animal-skin curtain.
Whoa! Impressive!
In the time it took for a single nap, the toilet was already built? But where was Beichuan? Bai Ning scanned the area but saw no sign of him. Though curious, she didn’t dwell on it and hopped over to a large stone to sit down.
Even with no one around, she had to stay in character!
She looked at the cluttered ground and the half-finished woodwork tossed to the side. Where on earth did Beichuan go?
On the other side of the ridge, Beichuan—unaware that Bai Ning was already awake and wondering about him—was looking at his best friend with a face full of exasperation.
“Your father sent you?”
Mo Yi nodded with a mischievous, “I-told-you-so” grin.
“Fine, hurry up. Bai Ning will be awake soon, and I need to get back to take care of her.” Beichuan reached out his hand toward Mo Yi. Mo Yi didn’t hesitate and pounced directly at him.
…
A muffled groan sounded. Beichuan rubbed his jaw and said crossly, “Is that enough? I’m leaving.”
“Hey… what’s the rush?” Having finished his “task,” Mo Yi grabbed Beichuan and slung an arm over his shoulder. “I haven’t even seen this little female you brought back. Let me come with you and have a look!”
Beichuan brushed Mo Yi’s hand off with a look of pure disgust. “My Bai Ning is timid; she can’t stand the sight of ugly things. I’m leaving. Don’t come looking for me unless it’s an emergency.” With that, Beichuan sprinted back toward the cave.
“??? Ugly thing? Make yourself clear! Who are you calling an ugly thing!” Mo Yi stomped his feet in rage. He wished he could drag Beichuan back for another round. Damn it, I should have hit him harder!
The more Beichuan tried to hide her, the more Mo Yi wanted to see. It’s not like he can keep her hidden forever! Thinking this, Mo Yi chased after him.
Beichuan was anxious, worried that Bai Ning would wake up and wander off. He ran all the way to the vicinity of the cave before slowing down to steady his breathing. He strode toward the entrance, but when he saw that small, thin silhouette sitting obediently on the rock, his heart tightened.
The little female was awake, and she had come out all on her own… Damn it, why did I choose this moment to leave!
Hearing footsteps behind him, Beichuan turned around, his face instantly darkening. “What are you doing here?”
Seeing Beichuan’s icy glare, Mo Yi chuckled and peered over his shoulder. “I just want to see what kind of female could actually make my cold, distant brother fall in love!” Catching a glimpse of Bai Ning’s back, Mo Yi clicked his tongue. “Tsk, so thin? Can she even bear cubs?”
Beichuan’s face went pitch black. His gaze grew cold as he grabbed Mo Yi’s arm and dragged him away.
“Hey… what are you doing!” Mo Yi stumbled, letting out a startled cry as he was hauled off.
Bai Ning heard the commotion and turned her head, but she only saw a blurry shadow vanish in an instant.
“Tongtong, was someone there?” “Yes, Sister. It was Beichuan and another male beastman.” “What are they doing?” “I’m not sure. They’re too far for me to hear, but it looks like they had a disagreement and Beichuan dragged him away.” “Oh…” Bai Ning turned back and continued her daydreaming.
Beichuan dragged Mo Yi to a spot hidden from Bai Ning’s view and shoved him away. Mo Yi steadied himself, looking speechless. “I just wanted to see what she looks like. Is all this really necessary?”
Beichuan stared him down with his icy blue eyes. Under that intense gaze, Mo Yi’s confidence flickered. He shrank back and muttered, “Fine, fine. It was just a joke. No need to act like a mother beast protecting her cub.”
Beichuan’s expression didn’t soften. He explained seriously, “The Witch Doctor said Bai Ning likely escaped from stray beasts and has been through a lot. Her arm and leg are both broken. If you suddenly appeared and startled her, what if she fell and hurt herself even worse?”
Mo Yi rubbed his nose guiltily. He remembered seeing her injuries when she first arrived. The Witch Doctor had warned the tribe not to disturb her, but in his excitement, he had forgotten.
“Alright, alright… I won’t look. If you need anything, come find me. But seriously, stop bullying Mu Ye. Every time you do, my father makes me come fight you. It’s a pain for me too!” Mo Yi patted his brother’s shoulder, looking concerned. “Also, you better think this through. That female is far too weak. Forget bearing cubs—I bet even mating with her would be a problem.”
Beichuan removed Mo Yi’s hand and said deeply, “I know what I’m doing. Go back.”
He watched Mo Yi leave, then turned back toward the cave. As Bai Ning came back into view, Beichuan’s lips curled into a tiny smile. He didn’t understand why he loved her, but he knew that seeing her made his empty heart feel full. As for bearing cubs? That didn’t matter to him at all. He just wanted to stay by her side… forever.
He purposely made his footsteps heavier so as not to scare her. Bai Ning, already alerted by Tongtong, pretended to have just noticed him. She turned around and gave him a bright smile.
“You’re back.”