Lu Cuicui’s face froze.

How did she know all this?

“You! Hu Jiao Jiao, stop talking nonsense! You’re slandering me!”

Hu Jiao Jiao blinked her phoenix eyes, suddenly enlightened. “Oh… so only what you say is the truth, and what I say is slander? Then you went to find Ying Yuan under the name of Lu Mian’er, so Ying Yuan isn’t clean either. He should be thrown into the snake Cave with Hou Xiaotiao!”

“Hu Jiao Jiao, shut up! It’s not like that between Ying Yuan and me…”

The moment Lu Cuicui heard Ying Yuan was going to be thrown into the snake Cave, her expression turned panicked, revealing her true colors.

The other beasts saw her reaction and remembered her usual behavior. Their gazes became filled with contempt.

So that’s why Lu Cuicui was so close to Lu Mian’er—she just wanted to get close to Ying Yuan!

Thinking further, they shuddered at the thought of being entangled by such a female in the future and also being thrown into the snake Cave.

Suddenly, no one dared to bring up Hu Jiao Jiao and Hou Xiaotiao anymore.

Seeing her goal achieved, Hu Jiao Jiao smirked, said her goodbyes to Hou Xiaotiao, and headed home.

She hadn’t gone far when she heard Hou Xiaotiao calling after her.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, wait!”

Hou Xiaotiao didn’t even bother taking the meat, hurrying to catch up.

Hu Jiao Jiao turned around, confused, and asked, “What’s wrong? Is the meat not enough?”

If he thought it wasn’t enough, she’d go back and get him some more.

Hou Xiaotiao quickly shook his head. “No, it’s enough! I just wanted to tell you that I’ll go find Long Mo after hunting and ask him to brings the meat himself. Otherwise, the other beastmen might hide it…”

Hu Jiao Jiao froze. So, in a few days, she’d be meeting the main villain?

Just thinking about the bloodthirsty black dragon from her dreams made her shiver, and her skin prickled with fear.

There’s no such thing as divorce between beast partners, only males being abandoned by females. Which means she not only couldn’t separate from Long Mo, but she also had to take good care of him to prevent him from turning evil.

The thought of living with a ruthless dragon beastman filled Hu Jiao Jiao with dread.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, are you okay?” Hou Xiaotiao asked, confused by her pale face.

“I’m fine. Thank you. I should go home now,” Hu Jiao Jiao forced a smile, and went home absent-mindedly.

…

Lu Cuicui, filled with rage from the crowd’s gossip, stormed off in a huff.

As she headed home, she bumped into Lu Mian’er, who was out looking for Ying Yuan.

After mating, Lu Mian’er had officially moved into Ying Yuan’s house, finally escaping her difficult family.

Seeing Lu Cuicui looking downcast, Lu Mian’er approached with concern, “Cuicui, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”

Lu Cuicui’s eyes flashed with malice, but she quickly put on a pitiful face.

Pouting, her voice trembled as she said, “Mian’er sister, I…I…”

Before she could say more, tears streamed down her face, as if she had suffered greatly.

Startled, Lu Mian’er hurried over to comfort her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. What happened? Tell me, and I’ll find a way to help.”

“Mian’er sister, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to cling to Ying Yuan. I just wanted to help you two, but if you’re mad, you can punish me. I’ll prove my innocence,” Lu Cuicui sobbed, covering her face.

Hearing Ying Yuan’s name, Lu Mian’er’s gentle expression darkened. “Cuicui, what happened?”

“Today, I saw Hu Jiao Jiao bothering Ying Yuan. When she noticed me, she accused me of being involved with him and even said she’d throw him into the snake Cave,” Lu Cuicui said tearfully, quickly adding, “Sister, I swear I didn’t…”

Lu Mian’er had always treated Lu Cuicui like a little sister, and hearing this made her furious.

“Hu Jiao Jiao again? This is too much! She couldn’t succeed with Ying Yuan, so now she’s picking on you?”

“Don’t worry, I believe you,” Lu Mian’er reassured her.

Lu Cuicui lowered her gaze, a glint of triumph flashing in her eyes. What a fool, she thought. She believes everything I say.

She lifted her tear-streaked face, now full of concern, and grabbed Lu Mian’er’s hand. “Sister Mian’er, I’m fine. But you’re already Ying Yuan’s partner, and Hu Jiao Jiao still dares to tempt him. It’s outrageous.”

Hearing this, Lu Mian’er grew even more upset.

“Didn’t she learn her lesson last time? Next time I catch her, I won’t let her off easily.”

As they spoke, Ying Yuan returned.

Seeing Lu Mian’er upset, he rushed over, “Mian’er, what’s wrong? Who made you angry? I’ll go teach them a lesson!”

Lu Cuicui’s eyes briefly flickered with admiration before she hid it, once again twisting the story.

Ying Yuan’s face immediately darkened with rage, his brows furrowing in anger. After cooling down a bit, he rushed to Lu Mian’er’s side, trying to please her.

“Mian’er, it’s all her fault. I sent her away right away, I didn’t even say much to her. Don’t be mad at me. If it makes you feel better, I’ll avoid her from now on, or I can even get her kicked out of the tribe!”

He couldn’t stand seeing his Mian’er upset.

Hearing this, Lu Mian’er’s frustration eased a bit. She pressed her lips together, “I’m not mad. Just avoid her. She’s a female, if we exile her, she won’t survive.”

Seeing how close they were, Lu Cuicui’s jealousy grew as she twisted the hem of her cloth, her sharp nails tearing through the animal hide without her even noticing.

…

In the wooden house.

Five little cubs lay huddled together on the straw bed, their heads close as they whispered among themselves.

“She took the meat again. She’s definitely giving it to Ying Yuan,” Long Zhong said with a dark expression.

Long Ling’er rested her chin in her hand, disagreeing, “Mother said she was going to trade it with Old Niu for animal hides, not give it to Ying Yuan.”

Long Yu, with a serious expression, chimed in neutrally, “Before, she would always take the meat to Ying Yuan first. Now at least she lets us eat it, so that’s already an improvement.”

Long Ling’er nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. Third brother, you’re being ungrateful. Would you rather she go back to being mean and strict like before?”

Their mother had gotten much better, after all. She didn’t hit or scold them anymore, and she made sure they were fed, warm, and had a proper house. Long Ling’er had never been this happy in her life.

“Hmph! Do you really think she’s suddenly nice for no reason?” Long Zhong scoffed coldly, his face filled with resentment. “She’s just putting on a show to win over Ying Yuan. As soon as she does, she’ll abandon us and Father.”

Hearing this, Long Ling’er froze.

The other cubs thought about Hu Jiao Jiao’s obsession with Ying Yuan, and their expressions grew cold.

Long Zhong was right. That vicious female would do anything for Ying Yuan.

In the past, when Ying Yuan wanted to get rid of her he told her to beat them to death, she didn’t hesitate to act. If father hadn’t returned in time, they might have died long ago.

At that moment, Long Yao suddenly flew up and angrily shoved his dragon tail into Long Zhong’s nostrils to express his rage.