It’s often said that a man must learn when to bend and when to stand tall, and Ying Yuan was a classic example of someone too proud for his own good. If it weren’t for his protagonist’s halo, his stubborn personality would have gotten him killed eight hundred times over in the book.

When Hu Jiao Jiao had read the book, she had long wanted to roast this male lead’s character. Now, with the chance in front of her, she finally let it all out.

After venting, she turned to leave.

“Ying Yuan! What are you saying? Hu Jiao Jiao isn’t that kind of female,” Lu Mian’er, frustrated, shot a glance at Ying Yuan before quickly rushing to grab Hu Jiao Jiao’s hand, her face full of apology.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, please don’t be angry. I’ll apologize on Ying Yuan’s behalf.”

“Why should you apologize to her?” Ying Yuan frowned, clearly unhappy.

Lu Mian’er bit her lip anxiously. “Ying Yuan, if you keep acting like this, I’ll be mad. Jiao Jiao was only trying to help you. Your injury is so serious… if something happens to you, what will I do?”

Her eyes reddened, and her delicate face was full of grievance.

Ying Yuan couldn’t stand seeing Lu Mian’er upset, so he quickly relented. “Fine, fine, I’ll listen to you. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

Hu Jiao Jiao, who had just witnessed this display, was speechless.

Even when injured like this, they’re still flaunting their love. They really are the male and female leads.

“I don’t like forcing people,” Hu Jiao Jiao said coldly, throwing Ying Yuan a disdainful glance.

“You—” Ying Yuan was about to lose his temper when Lu Mian’er grabbed his arm and pinched him, giving him a look that said don’t mess this up.

Ying Yuan, clearly annoyed, gritted his teeth and grudgingly said, “Fine. I’m not being forced, not at all.”

Turning away from him, Hu Jiao Jiao looked at the Chief and smiled politely. “Chief, could you please arrange for an empty hut?”

“Of course, no problem! I’ll have Ying Yuan moved there right away,” the Chief nodded enthusiastically, immediately ordering some beastmen to prepare it.

Ying Yuan’s injury was serious. Even though his body could naturally heal, the healer’s poor treatment would only make him suffer more.

Once inside the hut, the tribe leader and the other beastmen waited outside, deeply concerned about Ying Yuan’s condition. Of course, not all of them were eager for his recovery. After all, male beastmen were always competing for the favor of females, and without Ying Yuan, they’d have a better chance.

Hu Jiao Jiao wasn’t a doctor, but years ago, she had suffered a head injury and, with no one to help her, was taken to the hospital by a kind stranger. That experience, where she received over a dozen stitches, had left a deep memory into her mind. She knew how to treat wounds because of it.

After everyone had left the room, Hu Jiao Jiao pretended to pull a medical kit from outside, retrieving some hydrogen peroxide to clean Ying Yuan’s wounds. She washed away the remaining plant residue and blood, disinfected the area with iodine, and thoroughly cleaned the wound before stitching it up and applying medicine.

During the entire process, Ying Yuan kept his eyes tightly shut, gritting his teeth to avoid passing out from the pain.

By the time Hu Jiao Jiao finished, Ying Yuan’s sweat had soaked the dry grass beneath him.

Recalling Ying Yuan’s earlier insults, Hu Jiao Jiao had deliberately not given him any anesthesia, and her stitching technique was clumsy. After enduring her treatment, Ying Yuan looked as though he had barely survived.

He didn’t even have the strength to argue with her anymore.

Satisfied, Hu Jiao Jiao put away her medical kit, patted her hands, and said, “All done.”

This was the outcome she wanted—Ying Yuan would be too weakened to cause trouble for her once he recovered.

As she stepped outside, the Chief and Lu Mian’er rushed up to her with anxious faces.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, is there hope for him?”

“How is Ying Yuan?”

Hu Jiao Jiao gave them a reassuring look. “The wound has been treated. Now we just wait for it to heal and scab over.”

The medicine she had used from her space was highly effective, and combined with a beastman’s unique physique and Ying Yuan’s protagonist aura, he would definitely recover.

“Really? That’s wonderful! Thank you so much, Jiao Jiao. You’ve saved both of us,” Lu Mian’er exclaimed, clasping Hu Jiao Jiao’s hands, her face full of gratitude.

From the back, Hou Xiaotiao beamed with pride, as if he had been the one who saved Ying Yuan. Unable to contain himself, he blurted out, “I knew it! Hu Jiao Jiao could do it—she’s a shaman—”

Halfway through his sentence, both Lu Mian’er and the Chief turned to stare at him.

Hou Xiaotiao immediately slapped his hand over his mouth, realizing his mistake. He almost gave away Hu Jiao Jiao’s secret.

“Hou Xiaotiao, what did you just say Hu Jiao Jiao was?” the chief asked, his serious face now tinged with curiosity.

Hou Xiaotiao froze, breaking out into a cold sweat. Suddenly, he had an idea and jumped up, clutching his face.

“I, uh… bit my tongue! It hurts so much!”

Hu Jiao Jiao, lost in her thoughts about Long Mo, hadn’t paid attention to their conversation. After bidding farewell to the Chief, she hurried home.

Lu Mian’er, however, watched her retreating figure with suspicion. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Hou Xiaotiao had been about to reveal something important about Hu Jiao Jiao. But what?

---

At sunset, five cubs sat in a neat row in the yard, resting their chins in their hands as they watched the red sun slowly dip behind the mountains, the sky gradually darkening.

Though Long Xiu couldn’t see the scene, he could sense the surrounding temperature cooling.

Meanwhile, the only one still in beast form, Long Yao, used his tail like a hand to imitate his siblings’ posture, striking a perfect copy of their pose. His round, bright eyes were fixed on the horizon.

Smack, smack…

That big red disc in the sky looked like a juicy meat patty. Yao’er was so hungry… he wanted to eat it.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared in the setting sun.

All five cubs’ eyes widened, and their backs straightened.

Long Yu and Long Zhong immediately sprang into action—one rushed to tidy up the neatly stacked firewood, while the other ran to the water barrel, attempting to fill it with water that was already full.

Long Ling’er and Long Yao excitedly dashed forward.

Long Xiu, sensing the commotion, closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

“Mom! You’re finally back. I thought something happened to you!” Long Ling’er rushed forward like a gust of wind, hugging Hu Jiao Jiao’s leg, her tiny voice full of grievance.

“Awoo awoo!” Long Yao quickly followed, snuggling into Hu Jiao Jiao’s embrace and echoing his sister’s cry.

Seeing these two adorable cubs, all of Hu Jiao Jiao’s exhaustion from the day seemed to melt away.

“How could anything happen to Mom? I’m just a little late today. I’m sorry I worried you,” Hu Jiao Jiao said gently, kneeling to hug Long Ling’er and ruffling her short hair.

“Who was worried about you? Don’t flatter yourself,” Long Zhong grumbled, slamming an empty bucket onto the ground with a heavy thud, interrupting them with a cold snort.

“Oh, really? No one’s worried? That makes me sad. I even brought some fruit back for certain cubs,” Hu Jiao Jiao said with a playful pout, dramatically opening her beast-skin pouch to reveal the fresh grapefruits and persimmons inside.

She sighed wistfully, “Since no one cares, I guess I’ll just have to eat all this fruit myself.”

Long Zhong glanced at the juicy fruit, swallowed hard, then stubbornly turned away.

“Hmph, who cares? Dad brought back meat. Who needs your fruit?”

“Third brother, you’re lying! We all waited for Mom all afternoon because we didn’t want to eat Dad’s roasted meat,” Long Ling’er quickly exposed him, dragging all her siblings into the confession.

Just as she said that, Long Mo stepped out of the house, having overheard the entire conversation.

“…”