Now that she had grown up, she understood that her past self had used the wrong approach. If she could do it all over again, she would definitely choose a more intimate way!
Forget it, heaven had given her a second chance at life, so she might as well cherish the present and start anew.
...
Seeing the beastman agree, Shuxin snorted and continued drinking her soup.
Using soup to mask her current predicament, self-harm was the most foolish act in her opinion, yet it was now her trump card to subdue the beastman.
It was truly pathetic, as if she always hurt those who loved her...
She knew the beastman loved her, but she didn't know how to face it. They had only known each other for a short time, and she dared not easily accept this burning heart.
...She would take it one step at a time.
Before they had even finished their meal, a guest arrived at their home.
Without leaving the house, Leite recognized who it was and gave Wente a look, "I guess Uncle Hu Qing is here for you. Go and see."
Wente nodded and went out to open the door.
Shuyue glanced curiously but paid it no mind, continuing to eat her fried egg.
...
Outside the door, Hu Qing was curiously examining the wooden courtyard wall. How could it have changed so drastically overnight?
As he was wondering, Wente came out and called, "Uncle Hu Qing?"
Seeing him emerge, Hu Qing asked, "Wente, what is this you've done?"
Wente explained, "I've enclosed a courtyard. The area enclosed by wood is my home. From now on, Uncle, you can knock or call out from outside the door."
He then pointed to the simple wooden door.
Hu Qing was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Good."
He then stated his purpose, "Uncle is here to see you about something today. Is Leite at your home too?"
"Yes, he is."
"Then how about we go somewhere else to talk?" Hu Qing suggested.
Wente thought for a few seconds and then agreed, "Alright, I'll go and tell them."
He then returned to the courtyard and said to Shuyue, "Yueyue, I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back soon."
Shuyue nodded casually, "Mm, go ahead."
...
Wente and Hu Qing left the tribe. As a father, he didn't want his child to be gossiped about, so it was best to find a secluded place to talk.
Hu Qing got straight to the point, "Wente, what are your plans for our Jiao Jiao?"
The question completely bewildered Wente, "Uncle Hu Qing, what do you mean by that? What happened to Jiao Jiao?"
Hu Qing looked at him with displeasure, "Wente, don't play dumb with me. The entire tribe knows that Jiao Jiao likes you. How can you abandon Jiao Jiao and form a bond with another female!"
If he hadn't been unable to defeat him, he would have punched this scumbag dragon beast for toying with his child's feelings!
Upon hearing this, Wente couldn't help but frown, "Uncle Hu Qing, have you misunderstood something? I don't like Jiao Jiao. It's her business who she likes. I never said I was going to pursue Jiao Jiao."
Hu Qing was stunned, "What! Say that again if you dare?!"
"It'll be the same if I say it again. If I liked Jiao Jiao, I would have pursued her long ago, let alone gone out for training," Wente stated resolutely.
"You, you, you! How could you not like Jiao Jiao? Back then..." Hu Qing suddenly paused. He recalled it, and it seemed this kid had never actually said he liked Jiao Jiao?
Then when did he start thinking Wente liked Jiao Jiao?
Hu Qing thought carefully, his head starting to ache without recalling any reason for his misunderstanding.
But his Jiao Jiao was now madly in love with this Wente, wholeheartedly waiting to form a bond with him. Yet, the other party didn't like her at all. What was his Jiao Jiao supposed to do!
"Wente, Jiao Jiao likes you very much. She only wants to be your female. What do you say we do?"
Wente was somewhat baffled, "Uncle Hu Qing, I already have a mate, and I made a vow at the bonding ceremony to have only one female in my life. I'm very sorry for the misunderstanding. Please let Jiao Jiao find another beastman."
"..."
"What, you even made a vow at the bonding ceremony? You're a dragon beast, and you made a vow?!" Hu Qing found it hard to understand!
He retorted, "Why can't dragon beasts make vows? I love my current mate very much, and I want to give her the best."
"..." Hu Qing was speechless.
The conversation between the two ended unhappily. Hu Qing didn't even know how he got back. If Wente had made a vow, then Jiao Jiao had no hope at all...
Upon returning home, Hu Qing was questioned by the expectant Jiao Jiao, "Father, how did it go? What did Wente say?"
Hu Qing wiped his face and said bitterly, "Jiao Jiao, give up on Wente. He made a vow at the bonding ceremony, and he won't have any other females in this life."
Jiao Jiao's face instantly fell, "Impossible! Father, Wente is lying to you. How could he have made a vow!"
Hu Qing hugged his child, comforting her with heartache, "Jiao Jiao, don't get agitated. Listen to your father, Wente said it himself. He never liked you, so our Jiao Jiao shouldn't like him anymore, okay?"
"...Did Wente really say that himself?!" Jiao Jiao couldn't believe it.
Tears began to fall, and Jiao Jiao struggled out of her father's embrace and ran out, "I don't believe it, I'm going to find Wente and ask him!"
"Jiao Jiao, don't go!" Hu Qing quickly chased after her, pulling back the Jiao Jiao who hadn't run far.
Hong Chun said with heartache, "Jiao Jiao, listen to your father. Wente is not a good beastman!"
Jiao Jiao cried loudly, refusing to believe it, "I don't believe it, Father, I don't believe it. I want to ask Wente myself. I've waited for him for so long, how can he not like me!"
As Jiao Jiao cried and fussed, Hu Qing, with a stern face, forcibly dragged Jiao Jiao back into the cave, blocking the view of other onlookers.
Inside the cave, Jiao Jiao continued to cry. The tribesmen who heard the commotion felt sympathetic. Jiao Jiao was such a beautiful female, how could Wente bear to make her sad!
The tribesmen whispered amongst themselves, "I heard that the female Wente brought back is also very beautiful. People who have heard of her say she's even more beautiful than Jiao Jiao!"
Another tribesman didn't believe it, "I went to see yesterday, and she was clearly a female covered in mud!"
A female said, "The female herself said she smeared mud on her body to prevent sunburn. I think she's very smart."
"Uh, really?"
"When she goes out next time, we'll sneak a peek and find out?"
"That's true. When she goes out next time, we'll sneak a peek..."
A few females chattered and gossiped until the heat became unbearable, and then they each returned to their homes.
...
Meanwhile, the person being gossiped about was currently in the wilderness, holding a leaf umbrella, drinking cool leaf water from a bamboo tube, and watching the fighting beastmen with great interest.
Beside her was Shuxin, also drinking the same water, with a look of disdain for a certain beastman in her eyes.
Leite, with a bruised and swollen face, squatted to the side, his back looking somewhat desolate.