Qiao Ci didn't give Ming Xi much time to grieve. She continued, "Of course, no matter what kind of personality you have, I like it. So just be yourself, there's no need to change anything to cater to me."
"It is you I adore."
Ming Xi's flustered gaze instantly froze. Listening to Qiao Ci's confession, his eyes couldn't help but turn red little by little, tears slowly wetting his eyes.
He looked at Qiao Ci, his voice slightly choked, and softly admitted his mistake, "Scaring Little Spoon was indeed my fault. I won't do it again."
Qiao Ci had only said it casually, not expecting to make him cry. She immediately felt flustered.
How could he be like a boy made of water, crying whenever he felt like it?
She pursed her lips, about to comfort him, when Ming Xi continued, "I don't know what my personality is either. For so long, I've lived a life devoid of joy.
It wasn't until I saw you that I became cautious, afraid of offending you with my rigidity, and afraid of displeasing you with my weakness.
However, this version of myself makes me feel real. I like myself this way, and I like you for making me this way. Ah Ci, I'm truly lucky to have met you, to have you protect me, indulge me... and love me."
Seeing that he had managed to console himself, Qiao Ci let out a long sigh. She stepped forward, took his hand, and said earnestly, "Live however you want to live. As long as I'm here, I'll always be with you."
Ming Xi gazed deeply at Qiao Ci, a bewitching blush coloring the corners of his eyes. "Ah Ci, thank you."
Qiao Ci's eyes curved into crescents. "We don't need to thank each other."
Saying this, she pulled Ming Xi to sit down. "Hurry up and eat, it won't taste good if it gets cold."
"If the taste isn't as good as before, I'll make it again for Ah Ci."
"Okay, thank you, Ming Xi."
"Ah Ci..."
Little Milk Tiger, eavesdropping at the doorway, was so touched by Qiao Ci speaking up for it that tears flowed. The host had finally decided to dispense justice. It, Little Spoon, had suffered greatly over the past half a month, boohoohoo.
Turning sorrow into appetite, it wolfed down the meat in its small bowl, then licked its paws with a look of lingering desire. It found the increasingly cloying polite conversation from inside the room a bit too much.
It seemed like there was still a lack of fruits and vegetables~
But it didn't dare to go back in to be tormented.
The host's cub was true love; it was just a small accident.
After Qiao Ci and Ming Xi finished their meal, Ming Xi cleared the table and took the dishes to the kitchen. There were designated female beasts for washing dishes.
When he returned to the room, Qiao Ci had already washed up and was lying in bed.
Seeing him return, Qiao Ci beckoned to him with a gentle expression. "Rest."
The beastman world had limited entertainment options, and people slept early. Qiao Ci found this aspect quite good. Next was her and the cub's private time.
Hmm, she wanted to see ears and a tail...
To make this wonderful night even better, some entertainment would be nice, like pole dancing...
Of course, not the kind involving Little Spoon, but this slightly awkward, hesitant, yet stunningly beautiful young man standing before her.
Seeing her looking at him with shining eyes, Ming Xi pretended to be calm and walked to her side, asking shyly and curiously, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I want to see your ears and tail," Qiao Ci said fiercely, as if she were about to transform into a tigress and bite him if she didn't get her way.
At this moment, Ming Xi was no longer nervous.
Beastmen were most at ease when they transformed into their beast forms. Previously, due to his peculiar beast form, he was reluctant to reveal it to anyone.
Now that Qiao Ci loved his beast form so much, Ming Xi was overjoyed.
To make her like him even more, he didn't mind indulging this particular hobby that also pleased him.
Yes, it was a hobby.
What he considered a flaw, something he found hard to speak of in front of other beastmen, seemed like a surprise to her~
Amidst a myriad of thoughts, Ming Xi's ears twitched, and a pair of cute, fluffy round ears appeared before Qiao Ci's eyes. Immediately after, a long, soft tail stealthily emerged and gently wrapped around her waist.
The seemingly harmless tail, which felt incredibly good to the touch, suddenly pulled her into his embrace.
Looking at Qiao Ci's upturned, radiant face and slightly parted red lips, with a hint of surprise and confusion.
Ming Xi slowly lowered his head and pecked her.
Displaying one's beast form in front of a partner was usually a prelude to a proposal. With the long night ahead, everything naturally progressed.
The next day at noon, Qiao Ci emerged from the room, grumbling.
It was a miscalculation!
She had forgotten that leopards were known for their explosive power and speed!!!
Combined with Ming Xi being a divine being, his body was even more formidable, with practically abnormal stamina!
To hell with the little handsome boy with leopard ears; he was clearly a fierce tiger in leopard skin, a great demon king who wanted to brand the little sweet bun into a flatbread!
In the final analysis, her mortal body was still too weak.
Little Milk Tiger, seeing Qiao Ci rubbing her waist and looking displeased, covered its mouth with its paws and giggled.
Qiao Ci shot it a cold glance, and Little Milk Tiger was startled into a milk burp. It then grinned cheekily and said, "Host, I'm not laughing at you, don't misunderstand."
"Roar~"
With a palm strike from Qiao Ci, Little Milk Tiger was flipped upside down.
Watching its tiny, pudgy limbs struggling to get up, Qiao Ci's mood instantly improved.
She remembered Dan Qing from the previous world, who complained daily about biting the corner of the bed. It was probably retribution.
Ming Xi followed her out.
Seeing her repeatedly flipping over Little Milk Tiger, he couldn't help but laugh. She, who seemed so unsmiling, could actually be so childish at times.
But he loved it!
It turned out that there really was someone who, no matter what kind of person she was, her personality and appearance would become your ultimate preference.
"What do you want to eat for lunch?" the personal chef inquired.
The slight awkwardness in Qiao Ci's heart vanished. She replied, "I want braised pork ribs, shredded potatoes with hot and sour sauce, and pickled fish..."
Ming Xi had never heard of these dishes before, but judging by their names, he seemed to grasp the general idea. He nodded obediently, "Eat something to tide you over first. I'll go make them now."
Qiao Ci's expression instantly brightened like a spring breeze, her eyes curving pleasingly. Little Spoon rarely saw Qiao Ci like this and couldn't help but sigh: this was the power of love.
In less than half an hour, Ming Xi had finished preparing the meal. In fact, Qiao Ci had mentioned these dishes with a bit of a mischievous intent to challenge him, but she never expected him to be able to make them so close to perfection. His talent was truly unparalleled.
This time, Ming Xi had learned his lesson. He specially prepared a set of bowls and chopsticks for Little Milk Tiger and a stool slightly shorter than the dining table, so it could eat on the table.
Little Milk Tiger was extremely proud. No matter how capable someone was, they were still utterly controlled by its owner.
During the meal, Little Milk Tiger kept ordering Ming Xi to give it its favorite dishes. Finally, Qiao Ci couldn't stand its smug behavior. She took away its small bowl, removed its stool, and then lifted the tiger by the scruff of its neck and threw it outside to stand guard.