Beauty and the Beasts

Parker said, “The cold season is coming. We need to store food and prepare to exchange for the salt that we’re going to consume next year. I’ll go out for a breather with you, before going hunting.”

With her hand over her tummy, Bai Qingqing leaned against the furnace-like Parker. “You need to work too? Then I’ll be all alone at home.”

She really missed her classmates. Right now they should be on their winter break, right?

In the past at this time, Bai Qingqing would be receiving her Chinese New Year red packets, then going shopping with her friends. In the blink of an eye, she had turned into an adult herself, with many kids of her own.

Upon hearing this, Parker’s tail drooped down. The current Qingqing was too pretty. Without the protection of a formidable male, those males without mates would surely come and pester her.

“I’ll take you to Camel Hump Valley to play,” Parker suddenly said.

Bai Qingqing said casually, “Okay, what will we be doing in Camel Hump Valley?”

It was only after she agreed that she remembered the need for postpartum confinement. But then again, she had only been pregnant for over a month—was there a need for her to be confined for one month? Bai Qingqing wondered with uncertainty.

Parker said in a gloomy tone, “Take you out for a breather, and also to get the tiger to come and protect you.”

“Winston?”

“Mm.”

Bai Qingqing thought about it for a moment, then said, “Doesn’t seem very nice to keep troubling him. With Curtis still at home, nobody will dare to harass me.”

Parker said, “Perhaps no one will come and look for you if it’s a day or two. But as time goes on, they will surely grow suspicious. Those bachelor beastmen are bold. Even at the risk of death, they will come and probe. I don’t feel at ease leaving you alone at home.”

“Alright.” Bai Qingqing consented to it in a resigned tone.

Bai Qingqing put on another coat made out of animal skin before Parker carried her to Camel Hump Valley.

Camel Hump Valley appeared very busy as well. The houses were densely gathered here, so one was able to see all the houses in the village at one glance. The females were at the entrances of their own homes playing with their young ones, and the male beastmen accompanied by their females’ sides, busying to and fro.

“Meow meow—”

Three half-grown young cubs ran to Parker’s side and purred softly with their heads raised.

“Eh? Do the three of you know me?” Bai Qingqing stuck out her head from Parker’s arms. The little leopards were the size of mutts, and the leopard prints on their bodies were very dark in color. One wouldn’t mistake them for little cats now.

“Or do they know you?” Bai Qingqing asked Parker with a smile.

Parker said, “Nope. I’m guessing it’s because you have just given birth and they sniffed your scent, so they’re here to ask for milk from you.”

Bai Qingqing’s expression froze and she instantly blocked her chest with her hands.

No way would she have that thing! Ooh… she probably didn’t have it, right? She decided she had better go home and check tonight.

Parker, too, realized what he had just said. He stared straight at Bai Qingqing’s chest with an ambiguous expression. Face turning red, Bai Qingqing smacked her palm on his forehead and feigned anger. “What are you looking at!”

Parker was about to say something when the gentle voice of a female rang over not far away. “My babies!”

Bai Qingqing stuck out her neck and looked in the direction of the voice. With a delighted expression on her face, she called out, “Eve!”

“Ah, it’s really you guys. I was just wondering why my little cubs ran off.” Eve jogged towards Bai Qingqing. She was wearing a cream-colored animal skin which looked very cozy and suited her disposition well.

“It’s been such a long time since I saw you,” Bai Qingqing said happily. She twisted her body to indicate for Parker to set her down and then bent over to touch the little cubs. “Wow, they’re growing so fast!”

The little cubs purred in their soft and adorable voices as they rubbed their faces against Bai Qingqing’s palms like little cats. Their light-yellow leopard eyes were brimming with water as though eye drops had been applied to them.

Bai Qingqing’s heart nearly melted.