“Hu Jiao Jiao, it’s you again!”

Hu Jiao Jiao was carrying a shoulder pole, sweating profusely as she walked, when suddenly she heard someone call her name. She turned around and saw a tall, burly and handsome male.

She was taken aback. Who was this guy? Did the original Hu Jiao Jiao have some kind of grudge with him?

As she pondered how to respond without revealing she didn’t recognize him, the male noticed the meat she was carrying. His sharp brows furrowed in disgust as he distanced himself from her, his voice cold and harsh.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, I’ve told you many times: I like Mian’er. No matter how much meat you give me, I won’t like you.”

“Thanks to you, Mian’er and I are already mates. Take your meat and get lost, and don’t show up in front of me again. You disgust me!”

Hu Jiao Jiao was stunned. Meat? Mian’er? Could this guy be the male lead from the book, Ying Yuan, whom the original Hu Jiao Jiao had been obsessed with?

It dawned on her. The original Hu Jiao Jiao had tried to win Ying Yuan’s affection by constantly giving him meat, thinking this would earn his favor. Instead, it had only deepened his dislike for her. The original Hu Jiao Jiao was so fixated on pleasing Ying Yuan that she neglected her own cubs, who were starving. It was sheer madness!

Ying Yuan didn’t want her meat, so she’d just drop it and leave. When she didn’t get his affection, she’d take her frustration out on her cubs, blaming them for Ying Yuan’s rejection.

Seeing Hu Jiao Jiao standing still, Ying Yuan assumed she was playing dumb. His expression grew more disgusted as he said coldly, “Take your meat and get lost. If I see you here again, I won’t be so kind.”

Hu Jiao Jiao snapped out of her thoughts, furrowing her brows as she looked at the tall, handsome male in front of her. Ying Yuan was an eagle beastman, with piercing eyes and a rugged, wild charm.

Recalling how he had despised the original Hu Jiao Jiao but took her offerings to woo Lu Mian’er, Hu Jiao Jiao had no positive feelings toward him. She shot him a disinterested glance, shifted the shoulder pole, and continued walking.

“Move aside, you’re blocking my way,” she said indifferently, her tone cold and distant, as if he were a stranger.

Ying Yuan barely dodged the swinging pole, quickly stepping back with a look of shock that was soon replaced by anger.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, what game are you playing now? No matter what you do, I won’t like you. Stop pestering me.”

Hu Jiao Jiao was speechless. Did this guy have some kind of illness? She was just trying to walk past, hadn’t said a word to him, and yet somehow she was “pestering” him?

Annoyed, she stopped and turned back to him with an exasperated look. “Is there something wrong with your ears? I told you to move. You’re in my way.”

“And who said I was giving you this meat? Am I an idiot? I don’t even have enough for myself. Why would I give it to someone who insults me every day?”

Seriously, who taught this guy to be so arrogant?

Ying Yuan’s face turned pale, then flushed with anger. The Hu Jiao Jiao in front of him was completely different from the soft, fawning female who used to try to please him. This must be one of her tricks. Fox beastmen were known for their cunning, and he wouldn’t fall for it!

He scoffed coldly, looking down at her with disdain. “Hu Jiao Jiao, don’t think your words will fool me. I know you haven’t given up. Why else would you bring meat here?”

“Let me tell you, Mian’er is my only mate, and she’s a thousand times better than you. Nothing you do will ever change that. In fact, it just makes me despise you more!”

What the hell? Could this guy not understand plain speech?

Hu Jiao Jiao almost choked in frustration. He had seemed normal enough in the book, but now, he was acting delusional and self-obsessed.

“Yes, yes, your Mian’er is wonderful, a million times better than me. Now can you move? I have things to do and no time to waste on you.”

Her sarcastic response made Ying Yuan feel humiliated. Furious, he gritted his teeth and snarled, “Hu Jiao Jiao, stop pretending. What could you possibly have to do? Take your meat and get lost.”

Hu Jiao Jiao finally lost her patience. She walked past him, swinging the pole, and with a loud thud, dropped the meat directly on Ying Yuan’s foot.

The piece was hefty, easily several dozen pounds.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, are you trying to get yourself killed?” Ying Yuan’s face turned purple in an instant, but he was too proud to show his pain, so he gritting his teeth as he spat out his words.

Hu Jiao Jiao met his glare without fear. “Is the tribe yours? Why can you walk here, but I have to leave?”

Determined to clear up the misunderstanding once and for all, she spoke seriously, “I was an idiot before, treating you like some kind of king. But I’ve woken up. You’re less important to me than this piece of meat. By the way, consider the meat I gave you as a gift to a dog. I won’t ask for it back. I wish you and Lu Mianer a life full of children.”

With that, she swung her shoulder pole, pushing Ying Yuan aside, and walked away.

She had made things crystal clear. Surely, Ying Yuan wouldn’t misunderstand anymore.

As both of them left, a female quietly stepped out from behind a tree, her eyes flashing as she watched Hu Jiao Jiao disappear.

“Hu Jiao Jiao? What is she doing here?”

Murmuring to herself, the female quickly followed Hu Jiao Jiao.

After searching for half an hour, Hu Jiao Jiao finally found Old Niu’s house.

Old Niu lived in a stone house, with a few trees outside. The trees had been stripped of their leaves except at the very top, and various animal skins were hung on the bare branches, likely to dry in the shade.

Hu Jiao Jiao unloaded the pole beneath one of the trees. Curious about the animal skins, she reached out to touch one but thinking that it was someone else’s thing, it would be better not to touch it without permission, so he withdrew her hand.

Just then, Old Niu came outside, his face dark as he stormed toward her. “Hu Jiao Jiao, what are you doing here? I don’t welcome you! Leave!”

Turning to face him, she saw a burly middle-aged man with a fierce expression. Quickly, she explained, “Uncle Niu, I came to trade meat for some animal skins. I mean no harm.”

As she spoke, she uncovered the meat to show him.

The original Hu Jiao Jiao had earned quite the terrible reputation in the tribe. The males were afraid of catching her attention and avoided her at all costs. Her character was notorious.

Now, even just to trade for animal skins, she had to force a smile and plead her case.

Sighing inwardly, Hu Jiao Jiao put on her best sincere and hopeful expression, waiting for Old Niu’s reply.

“You’re really just here to trade for skins?”

Old Niu’s face softened slightly, though he still eyed her suspiciously.