Ming Xi looked thoughtfully at the roughly presented breakfast that diminished one's appetite.
Qiao Ci led the male beasts of the tribe out to hunt for food every day. Even with the contributions of the Lion Tribe as a subordinate, she did not slacken and persisted.
After breakfast, Ming Xi did not follow her to hunt but voluntarily stayed behind.
Qiao Ci thought he was tired, so she told him to rest well before going to gather the beastmen to prepare for departure.
The male beasts who often accompanied her saw that the delicate tail-wagger was not behind Qiao Ci, and couldn't help but tease, "Leader, as expected of our tiger tribe's tigress. Ming Xi can't get out of bed after only living together?"
"Hahaha, the leopard tribe's stamina is indeed inferior to our tiger tribe's. However, it's also our leader's natural strength and great skill."
Qiao Ci disliked discussing her intimate life with these open-minded beastmen, and said coldly, "Shut up. You two will haul most of the prey down the mountain today."
The two teasing male beasts immediately grinned with faces like crying. Although they were strong, carrying the equivalent of ten people and hauling it down the uneven mountain would surely exhaust them like dogs.
Knowing the leader's taboo, they would never dare to be glib again.
They were quite lucky today and caught a lot of prey. Those two gossipy male beasts indeed experienced the consequences of their loose tongues.
When Qiao Ci returned, she found the female beastmen of the tribe looking at her with ambiguous and envious eyes. Qiao Ci was a little bewildered.
Upon returning to her dwelling and pushing open the door, a mouth-watering aroma of food wafted out, and she finally understood.
Perhaps Ming Xi had cooked for her? Was his reason for not accompanying her on the hunt today to give her a surprise?
Qiao Ci felt a warmth in her heart. This life of working from sunrise to sunset, with someone waiting at home to prepare delicious meals for you, seemed not bad either.
"You're back?" Ming Xi was arranging the food he had prepared.
When he came into contact with those pots, pans, and utensils, he felt a sense of long-lost familiarity. After asking a few female beastmen, who were mainly responsible for cooking, about the steps, he began to cook himself.
Holding the cleaver and ingredients, his mind could quickly reflect on what to do next, as if he had done it countless times before.
Estimating that the time was about right, and after trying once or twice, he began to prepare food that his intuition told him would be delicious.
As soon as the dishes were set, Qiao Ci returned. He quickly went to her side, took off the cloak he had personally sewn for her, folded it neatly, and placed it in the closet. He said in a low, gentle voice, "Go wash your hands, it's time to eat."
Qiao Ci was pulled by him to sit at the table. As Ming Xi was about to leave and sit opposite her, Qiao Ci grabbed him.
Looking at Qiao Ci in confusion, she reached out towards his cheek. He immediately stiffened, not daring to move at all, for fear that if he flinched even slightly, she would withdraw her hand.
Qiao Ci reached out and gently wiped the soot from his fair cheek, her eyes soft as she said, "Little kitty."
Ming Xi probably knew that his face was stained from cooking. He looked a little uncomfortable and retorted in a voice as faint as a mosquito's wing, "I'm not a little kitty, I'm a little leopard~"
"Alright, then little leopard," Qiao Ci said, following his words. Then she wrapped her arms around his slender waist, her eyes curving into a very cute smile, "Thank you for the dinner, I really like it."
A big hug, wasn't this it?
An主动 big hug was also unexpectedly sweet.
I like it!
After Qiao Ci hugged him enough, she let go of Ming Xi and sat down to start eating.
The delicious food spread in her mouth, and Qiao Ci's eyes narrowed in enjoyment.
Familiar hugs, familiar food, familiar cub.
It was so good.
If she had known she would eat delicious food after living together, she would have lured him over much earlier.
Ming Xi restrained his wildly beating heart and walked to the opposite side with clumsy steps, sitting down.
His mind was filled with: She hugged me, she hugged me again, she hugged me while she was awake!
Watching Qiao Ci enjoy his cooking with a blissful expression, Ming Xi's excited heart slowly calmed down, and he cautiously asked, "Is it delicious?"
"It's made by my cub, of course it's delicious," Qiao Ci said naturally.
"Cub?" Ming Xi felt a moment of awkwardness hearing this new title, but felt no aversion.
"Yes, you are my cub." Qiao Ci replied while eating, her cheeks puffed out, but her expression was very serious, showing a contrasting cuteness.
This directly made Ming Xi's heart soften immensely, and he blurted out, "Then can I call you A'Ci?"
"Yes."
Ming Xi's heart was instantly filled with boundless sweetness, and he silently picked up his bowl and chopsticks to eat.
Seeing Qiao Ci eating with her eyes curved and a satisfied expression, Ming Xi decided to study culinary arts diligently from now on, ensuring that in her limited lifespan, she would depend on him for food.
Yes, just like in the storybooks, to conquer a woman, you must first conquer her stomach.
Now that she liked him enough, he would conquer her stomach and make her even more unable to leave him.
After figuring this out, Ming Xi also ate with peace of mind, occasionally picking up food that Qiao Ci seemed to like and putting it in her bowl.
A faint warmth enveloped them, peaceful and harmonious.
"Ao ao, aowu aowu~"
The cry of a small tiger broke the tranquility.
After Ming Xi moved in with Qiao Ci, Ming Xi stopped teasing the little tiger. The little green-hatted tiger was overjoyed and ran all over the tiger tribe in excitement.
Afterwards, it took a deep breath of the fresh air and began its kingly pronouncement: Ah, is this the taste of freedom? It's so damn sweet.
However, as soon as it returned, it smelled the long-lost aroma of food.
Looking at the two of them eating their loving dinner with affectionate gazes, with only two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, the little tiger was filled with a moment of grievance.
In the past, Dan Qing at least prepared a small dog bowl specifically for it. After losing its memory, it was simply unloved?
Clearly, he still liked the host as much as ever, so why didn't he extend his affection to it?
Sensing the little tiger's grievance, Qiao Ci amusingly took a small bowl, put some meat in it, and placed it in front of it.
Ming Xi then noticed his oversight, squatted down, and said understandingly, "I'll prepare a set of bowls and chopsticks for it next time. Sorry, Little Spoon, I forgot about you."
However, Little Spoon sensed a hint of displeasure from his cheerful words and quickly, sensibly picked up its food bowl and went out to eat.
"The little tiger is so cute." Although Ming Xi disliked the little tiger disturbing his and Qiao Ci's private time, he couldn't show it in front of Qiao Ci.
Recently, Little Spoon had been indispensable as a communication tool between them. Qiao Ci casually remarked, "Don't always scare it; it's a child and can't handle being scared."
Ming Xi's expression stiffened and faltered for a moment.