Chapter 28

Ye Baizhi honestly hadn’t expected to find Ye Wulan at Grandma Lin’s house. She clearly remembered her mother mentioning last night that the shaman rarely appeared in the tribe during the day. Even when preparing medicine, it was usually brewed in the mountains, and someone would bring it down for the tribe to drink. Yet here he was, even though it was already midmorning.

In that instant, she had the urge to turn around and leave. Her fingers, clutching the basket, stiffened slightly.

Ye Wulan sat quietly on the stone stool. The morning sunlight streamed in, casting a hazy, dreamlike glow behind him. It was a beauty capable of effortlessly ensnaring the heart. He spoke in a low, husky voice. “Miss Ye has arrived.”

His voice was soft like silk brushing against heartstrings, layered with a deep and alluring resonance. For a moment, Ye Baizhi couldn’t decipher his emotions. Since Ye Wulan had already noticed her, she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t come.

She smiled faintly. “So it’s the esteemed doctor—my apologies for not greeting you properly.”

Ye Wulan’s captivating eyes held a trace of amusement. He regarded her leisurely and said, “Miss Ye, feel free to act as you wish. There’s no need for such restraint.”

Gesi didn’t understand the underlying tension moments ago. He looked up at Ye Baizhi with an admiring expression and said, “Sister Ye, come in quickly.”

Thanks to her, he had followed the older children in the tribe and managed to dig up plenty of radishes and mushrooms. He wouldn’t go hungry.

Ye Baizhi’s expression softened as she looked at Gesi. “Gesi, how is your grandmother?”

Gesi answered seriously, “Sister Ye, the doctor saved my grandma. He’s really amazing.”

“She just drank the medicine and said she feels much better. She’s resting now.”

“I’m sorry—last night, it rained, and it was so dark. I was too scared to go up the mountain. I didn’t want to waste time, so I went to find the chief instead.”

Under normal circumstances, he would have gone straight to the doctor. But going up the mountain and back would have taken too long, and he was afraid. So, he sought out the chief. The chief would be able to bring the doctor quickly. He knew he had troubled the chief. Since Ye Baizhi was part of the chief’s family, now that his grandmother was safe, he felt relieved and wanted to apologize.

Ye Baizhi gave him a gentle smile and said, “Gesi, this isn’t your fault.”

“You did well. Calling the doctor as quickly as possible meant that everyone could come sooner to help take care of your grandmother.”

“What matters most is that she’s safe.”

“Don’t dwell on it. Do you have a bowl at home? I brought you some food.”

Gesi’s eyes lit up, and he quickly went to fetch a bowl.

Ye Baizhi poured the soy milk from the bamboo tube, releasing a rich, fragrant aroma. She filled four bowls.

“And this is a pancake made with eggs and soybean pulp. You and your grandmother should eat.”

“Sister Ye, thank you! When I grow up and have the ability, I will definitely repay you.”

Food was the most precious thing—nothing came without effort. Once he was capable, he would double his efforts in hunting for food and repay her.

Ye Baizhi smiled and said, “You’re still young. Don’t think about that yet. Right now, the most important thing is living well with your grandmother.”

“Children shouldn’t be frowning with such worries.”

Looking at the small, thin Gesi, Ye Baizhi felt a pang in her heart. But this was the reality of the tribe. Right now, this was all she could do. She believed that in time, as food supplies grew, the tribe would improve.

While speaking with Gesi, she couldn’t shake the feeling that a gaze lingered on her. She knew it was Ye Wulan.

Ye Wulan watched Ye Baizhi, his exquisitely beautiful face carrying a rare trace of emotion.

Few female beasts showed such patience toward young beastmen. There was a gentleness in her—one that came from deep within.

A gentle female beast? Ye Wulan was skeptical.

“Sister Ye, did you make this food?”

“Yes, I did.”

“I’ve never smelled anything this fragrant before. I don’t even know what it is.”

Ye Baizhi explained, “It’s made from soybeans—a newly discovered food source.”

“In the future, our tribe will have more food, so don’t worry.”

“Mm, okay. Thank you, Sister Ye!”

“No need to thank me.”

“Sister Ye, what are soybeans? Can we get them too?”

Ye Baizhi smiled. “I’ll have Brother Ye Shuo explain it to you later.”

The place where she gathered soybeans had an entire hillside full of them, with many scattered on the ground. For years, fallen soybeans had been left untouched—no one had picked them, no one had collected them. But the tribe could fully embrace this food source. With soybean-based meals, everyone would be able to replenish their nutrition more quickly.

Ye Baizhi patiently explained to Gesi, and his clear eyes immediately gleamed with hope. She knew that hope was what kept people going.

Ye Baizhi originally planned to check on Grandma Lin, but upon seeing Ye Wulan in the cave, she hesitated. He seemed to carry many secrets, and his aura was unsettling—if possible, she preferred to keep her distance.

After some thought, she decided to leave.

Understanding her hesitation, Ye Wulan stood up and said, “Gesi, your grandmother is fine, so I’ll be heading back now.”

Gesi, feeling a little lost, held the food in his hands, wanting to offer it to Ye Wulan. But he hesitated—it was a gift from Sister Ye, and he couldn’t give it away so easily.

Ye Baizhi sighed. Gesi’s eager gaze was too obvious. There was also a trace of uncertainty and anxiety. She knew that, to the tribe, Ye Wulan was almost like a god. She couldn’t just ignore it—she didn’t want to hurt the child’s young heart. So, bracing herself, she said, “Doctor, why not try the food I made?”

“I would appreciate your thoughts on it—if it’s convenient for you.”

Ye Wulan’s steps paused. His gaze landed on her, the corners of his eyes lifting ever so slightly, catching the light in a mesmerizing glow. His entire presence carried an overwhelming, breathtaking allure.

“Alright.”

Ye Baizhi hadn’t expected Ye Wulan to agree so readily. So, she picked up a bowl of soy milk and handed it to him.

“This is soy milk, made from ground soybeans.”

As Ye Wulan reached out to take it, his fingertips accidentally brushed against hers. It felt like an electric shock—her fingers instinctively flinched. Luckily, in that fleeting moment, he had already taken the bowl.

When he drank, his movements were slow and deliberate—impeccably graceful. He was tall; Ye Baizhi had to look up at him. Watching him, she couldn’t help but feel that his aura of elegance was entirely natural.

Her curiosity about his origins deepened. How had someone like him ended up in their lowly rabbit tribe? How had he become their doctor?

It was said that he didn’t like living in caves, so instead of staying with the rabbit tribe, he resided in his own house midway up the mountain. Even just his habits suggested he was no ordinary man.

As he drank the soy milk, his expression shifted slightly. In a quiet tone, he remarked, “Miss Ye, this soy milk is quite good.”

“If the tribe’s beastmen drink this regularly, it will be beneficial to their health.”

Ye Baizhi watched him, increasingly convinced that he knew far more than he let on.

Soy milk was indeed nutritious and good for the body.

“Miss Ye, since you are expecting, you will need plenty of food.”

“But you must also be careful.”

Ye Baizhi’s expression changed—his words felt like a veiled warning.

Careful of what?