Chapter 62

A-Yin’s lips looked incredibly kissable.

Soft, slightly flushed, and beautiful.

Zhuo Yan was taken aback by this thought, his mind racing with one clear idea: Was he burning up with fever?! How could he even think such things about A-Yin, the boy he had raised himself—okay, maybe that was an exaggeration.

He couldn’t bring himself to meet A-Yin’s gaze, unsure if it was guilt or something else, but then A-Yin leaned in, tilting his head until their faces were almost touching, their breaths mingling.

Zhuo Yan’s heart pounded.

“W-Well, let’s talk about it when you come of age,” he stammered.

“Okay, brother~” A-Yin replied, beaming. “I’ll be of age this snow season, right?”

Zhuo Yan was still reeling from his own shock. How could he say something like “when you come of age”? It sounded almost like a promise! He had meant to say something like “No way, it’s too soon; we’ll talk about it when you understand what being partners means.”

Oh no, oh no—he was becoming a proper green tea (a slang term for someone who pretends to be innocent while being flirtatious).

And he was leading A-Yin on.

Now Zhuo Yan couldn’t even look at A-Yin. He mumbled something vague, his embarrassment driving him to pretend to be busy. While A-Yin washed the dishes, Zhuo Yan took the soap and headed down to the river to bathe. The cold water hit him, and he felt more awake—yet his heartache deepened.

He was questioning his very existence as a potential green tea.

After being single for so long, he had always thought of himself as a reliable and principled young man of the new era, indifferent to romance. Yet, here he was, acting so shamelessly!

Thinking about A-Yin, who was only seventeen or eighteen and blissfully naive.

Zhuo Yan: …sobbing while scrubbing himself down.

“Brother, let me help you wash!”

“N-No, it’s fine! Did you finish washing the dishes?”

“All done.” A-Yin set the bucket on the shore, jumped into the water, and swam over to Zhuo Yan. The river soaked his hair, and as he surfaced—

What a strikingly handsome boy he was!

“Then let brother help you wash!” A-Yin said as he clung to Zhuo Yan.

Zhuo Yan: …I feel like we’re crossing some lines here! Can’t you see I’m over here sobbing and reflecting on my life?!

“O-Okay.”

Zhuo Yan: !!! He was stunned by his own response, as if he had been possessed by some spirit. Was this really who he was? Maybe he just never realized it before, but with such a handsome boy flirting with him, he had been so serious!

It turned out he was a fake serious type. Crying.

That night, in the river, Zhuo Yan lost himself as he scrubbed A-Yin’s chiseled abs, ran his hands through his hair, and even couldn’t help but touch his chest. Suddenly, as if possessed, he caught himself resting his hand on A-Yin’s chest and quickly straightened up, focusing on washing A-Yin’s arms instead…

A-Yin loved bathing with his brother. While Zhuo Yan washed him, he helped wash Zhuo Yan too. Tonight, Zhuo Yan was so good, standing in the river, and A-Yin could touch him freely, which felt just right.

Tonight was wonderful.

When they returned to the den that night, A-Yin placed the dishes neatly on the table. Zhuo Yan hesitated, wondering if he should use this opportunity to sleep apart. The nights were still chilly, and while lA-Ying out a cover felt warm, sleeping alone on the grass mat was a bit cold. But sharing a grass mat and a blanket was just perfect—

Ahhhh! Zhuo Yan, you little schemer! Deep down, you want to sleep next to A-Yin, and here you are making excuses!

A-Yin wasn’t some naïve seventeen or eighteen-year-old; despite being single, he had been navigating life for years. How could he not understand his true feelings? In fact, he didn’t just accept the idea of sleeping with A-Yin—he was slightly longing for it.

Realizing this truth made Zhuo Yan cover his face in shock. Something about him felt… off.

“Brother, let’s go to sleep,” A-Yin said cheerfully, having tidied up and even closed the door behind him. In just a few quick motions, he stripped off his clothes and hung them on a hook on the cave wall.

Zhuo Yan: …

“L-Let’s sleep, then.” This definitely felt wrong.

They climbed onto the stone bed, both smelling of soap. A-Yin thought his brother smelled so nice and snuggled up close, ready to give him a playful lick—

Zhuo Yan felt the weight of adult responsibility pressing down on him. He gently ruffled A-Yin’s hair, signaling him to stop licking, and said seriously, “A-Yin, do you know what it means to be partners?”

“I do!” A-Yin’s eyes lit up. “It means we can mate!”

Zhuo Yan, who had intended to give a serious talk and not take advantage of the boy’s innocence, suddenly stammered, “W-Well, besides mating, there’s also… feelings. You know, love—”

“I know! A-Yin loves his brother the most.” A-Yin interrupted, gazing intently at Zhuo Yan. “You love A-Yin too, don’t you? A-Yin knows!”

Zhuo Yan muttered under his breath, “How do you know? I never said anything.”

“Brother’s eyes are full of A-Yin. You care about A-Yin, think about A-Yin, love A-Yin.”

Zhuo Yan’s face flushed. This wasn’t making any sense! They still hadn’t clarified what “love” meant. A-Yin was firmly convinced they were in love; he believed that once he came of age this snow season, they could be partners and mate.

Wait, where on earth did A-Yin get the idea that he liked him?

Yes, he did like him, but wasn’t that the kind of love families share? They were talking about romantic love!

But A-Yin wasn’t foolish. Animals have a natural instinct and sensitivity; they can hold someone in their hearts, remember the scent of someone they love, and believe unwaveringly without needing words. A-Yin firmly trusted Zhuo Yan.

That night, the two of them drifted off to sleep—innocently sleeping.

The next day, they planned to go plant bamboo rice. Early in the morning, Zhuo Yan cut a big chunk of smoked meat from their home, while A-Yin collected large leaves and brought them back clean. Zhuo Yan wrapped the meat in the leaves and placed it in a woven basket, which also contained a bamboo tube of bamboo rice— a gift from Qiao from the feathered people’s market.

It was originally meant for percussion, but he ended up using it as a storage box.

The little animals at home were let out to find their own food. A-Yin closed the door, and with Zhuo Yan carrying the woven basket and A-Yin holding the wooden bucket, they made their way down the slope. In the distance, they spotted Da Yun running fast and shouted, “Zhuo Yan-ge!”

After a few steps, A-Yin called out again. When Da Yun spotted A-Yin, she paused for a moment before turning back to find her big brother.

Zhuo Yan: ?

“Did you scare Da Yun?” he asked.

A-Yin replied, “I didn’t scare her!”

“That doesn’t seem right,” Zhuo Yan muttered.

A-Yin smiled happily, saying, “Da Yun is just smart! Spring is here, and even though my brother and I aren’t partners yet, we will be soon!”

What on earth? Even if they were partners, it would be winter by then, and it would take several more months. Zhuo Yan silently scoffed at A-Yin’s logic but then realized he was oddly accepting of it.

In winter, he and A-Yin would be partners.

He hadn’t agreed to anything; he just said “we’ll talk about it later,” and yet…

“Zhuo Yan-ge, have you been waiting long? Why are you up so early?” Xiao Xian called out as he approached, followed by his second brother.

Ah Tou greeted A-Yin, and they chatted together. A-Yin was in a great mood and asked Ah Tou why he hadn’t joined the patrol team. Ah Tou replied that he heard Xiao Xian was going to plant bamboo rice today, and since it wasn’t just A-Yin and Zhuo Yan working alone, he decided to come play.

He even added, “A-Hui doesn’t know we’re leaving, so let’s hurry.”

In short: Ah Tou was quite clever.

Zhuo Yan chatted with Xiao Xian for a bit until Shi Tou, Da Yun, and Aman all arrived. They made their way towards the river, and Zhuo Yan had already scoped out a good location. The area around the village, especially by the river, had no available spots left. There was still a large patch of land on the gentle slope near his home, but bamboo grew quickly and densely, which could attract snakes and insects. Even though his family had chickens that could eat them, it would block the sunlight.

Then he thought of the fine tree forest area nearby. It was the closest section to the village and had some empty spaces. While a few saplings were growing, it was still relatively open. The denser forest farther away was thriving, but this area was perfect for planting bamboo rice.

The soil was fertile, and the temperature was just right. Since it was mostly made up of small trees, sunlight came through beautifully.

Perfect!

Zhuo Yan said, “Let’s plant here. We can plant two bamboo rice seeds just a couple of steps apart.” He only had a small bamboo tube with bamboo rice, probably less than a hundred seeds, and he was unsure about the survival rate.

Everyone brought their own stone tools. Shi Tou, Da Yun, and Xiao Xian were particularly serious about digging holes, working diligently for about two to three hours. Zhuo Yan suggested taking a break, but they didn’t want to.

“Aren’t you guys tired? There’s no rush,” he said.

“If we don’t finish today, we can come back tomorrow. Besides, with so many of us, it’s bound to get done. Come on, let’s take a break. What’s the rush?” Zhuo Yan was starting to sweat.

A-Yin said, “Brother, I’m going to fetch some water.” He wanted to tell Ah Tou that his brother promised to become his partner this snow season, and he needed to say it quietly so his brother wouldn’t get shy.

“Okay.”

A-Yin and Ah Tou ran to the river to fetch water. Meanwhile, Zhuo Yan rested under a tree, and the other three finally paused their work. Da Yun was playing with mud over by the riverbank.

“We want to finish early so we can get home sooner,” Xiao Xian said, then added, “It’d be best if the sun sets before you and A-Yin can head back to the cave.”

Zhuo Yan asked, “What’s the rush?”

“We want you and A-Yin to have more time to mate,” Aman chimed in.

Zhuo Yan: ??? What nonsense are you talking about, you silly Aman?!

He glanced at the stone and then at the smug little smirk on Xiao Xian’s face. It was clear they both shared the same thought as Aman. Zhuo Yan sighed, “How on earth did you come to that conclusion? I don’t understand. There’s nothing different between me and A-Yin; he’s still underage.”

“Zhuo Yan, are you really not going to mate with A-Yin?” Xiao Xian’s eyes lit up with excitement, thinking that if they did, he’d get to spend more time with Zhuo Yan.

“Of course not!” Zhuo Yan shot back, his voice firm.

But Aman merely rolled his eyes, not buying it. Shi Tou looked at him and said, “Zhuo Yan, A-Yin is already seventeen or eighteen; he’ll be an adult next year. Honestly, he’s good to go this year. While half-beasts might have restrictions, full beasts can mate whenever. They’re strong and healthy, so it’s definitely possible.”

“Exactly! Spring is here! Last year you were so miserable around this time. You have A-Yin now; why make yourself suffer?” Aman chimed in.

“I’m not miserable; I’m doing just fine!” Zhuo Yan protested, indignantly.

What was this talk about mating cycles? He had enough rationality to overcome such urges!

Noticing the three of them were silent, each wearing an expression that read, “Zhuo Yan is just being stubborn,” he muttered to himself, I am not!

Last year, he had simply been a bit flustered.

“Alright, let’s drop this topic,” Xiao Xian declared, taking on an adult-like tone to ease the tension. He remembered how Zhuo Yan always got shy and awkward when this came up.

Aman reassured him, “We’re your friends. If you’re ever feeling confused or need advice, just ask. We won’t laugh at you.”

“…Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“No need to mention it,” Aman said cheerfully. Then he added, “By the way, I have no idea what kind of toxic mushrooms Maher ate, but he came to me, wanting to mate.”

“Wait, Maher approached you two?” Shi Tou asked, surprised.

Zhuo Yan: What the hell! Now that was serious news! Why hadn’t they mentioned this sooner instead of prattling on about him and A-Yin?

“Maher reached out to you? That’s disgusting! He’s so unfaithful! You both can’t let yourselves be fooled by him!” Zhuo Yan’s gaze turned steely as he shot a glare at Xiao Xian.

Frightened, Xiao Xian waved his hands defensively, “No, no, he didn’t approach me! I’m still underage, Zhuo Yan. Full beasts can mate, but half-beasts like me are still too young. I’ve heard that full beasts mature faster.”

“…Alright then.” Zhuo Yan decided to overlook Xiao Xian’s earlier outburst. “As long as he didn’t approach you, that’s good. If any other beasts came looking for you, dating is fine, but mating and forming a partnership should wait until you’re an adult.”

Xiao Xian giggled, “I know, Zhuo Yan!”

Turning to Shi Tou and Aman, Zhuo Yan decided to check in on his two buddies.

“Why are you looking at me? I have no interest in Maher. He’s dirty and never bathes! I heard he used to live with his parents in a cave, and it was always stinky,” Shi Tou complained, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

Zhuo Yan nearly forgot; Shi Tou had a preference for neat and handsome types.

But Aman seemed to prefer the robust, muscular aesthetic. Zhuo Yan turned to him.

“I’m not stupid. None of the half-beasts in the tribe like Maher. He’s always loud and rude to us. He never laid a hand on anyone, but he’s terrifying nonetheless!” Aman declared, his chin held high. “If I were stuck in a cave with Maher, everyone would laugh at me!”

Great, Zhuo Yan felt relieved.

But after Aman expressed his disdain, propping his chin up, he added gloomily, “Still, spring is really annoying.”

Shi Tou nodded in agreement.

“My body feels a bit off,” he admitted.

Aman concurred, “I’ve been feeling the urge to find a full beast, but there’s no one I particularly like.”

Xiao Xian chimed in, “What about Yu?”

“Ugh, he’s way too skinny! Plus, he’s a cheetah. If I had cubs with him, they wouldn’t turn out well,” Aman explained. “Yu’s parents were killed by a beast attack. His brother and my sister paired up to look after him for a few years.”

“Yu’s mother was a cheetah,” Shi Tou added. “She died a long time ago during a beast raid.”

Zhuo Yan nodded, understanding. Aman was single and had his own standards for partners. The tribe was all about strength. While Yu might be pitiful, that didn’t mean Aman should pair up with him just because of pity.

“Mainly, Yu is always complaining. When we’re hunting, he listens to A Da, and when we’re living in the cave, he listens to his brother…” Aman said, exasperated.

Zhuo Yan chimed in, “I get it. What you care about is that Yu looks grown, but he still can’t stand on his own two feet and has no independent thoughts.”

Aman pondered Zhuo Yan’s words, nodding in agreement.

Returning from fetching water, A-Yin perked up his ears, catching the tail end of the conversation between his brother and Aman. He nodded thoughtfully, and when Ah Tou asked him why he was nodding, A-Yin replied, “Brother was talking about Yu, not me. I’m listening to what he says.”

Ah Tou raised an eyebrow. “Huh? But Yu isn’t even here.”

They had a simple lunch of grilled meat and roasted potatoes. As they were eating, A Hui came running over, squeezing into Ah Tou’s space. “You ran out to find A-Yin without calling me!” He turned to A-Yin and added, “He told me yesterday that we were going to patrol together, but instead, he came out to play with you!”

A-Yin spoke the truth, “We just bumped into each other this morning. We didn’t make plans yesterday.”

“Right,” Ah Tou said lazily. A Hui, undeterred by their earlier conversation, excitedly asked where they were going to play that afternoon. A-Yin said they wouldn’t be going anywhere after planting the bamboo rice; he and his brother were heading home since he had to patrol tomorrow.

“Seriously? Are you really patrolling tomorrow? Then I’ll go too!” A Hui exclaimed.

Ah Tou responded, “Then I’ll go too.”

“What are you guys planning to do after patrolling? You’re definitely going to go play afterward?” A Hui questioned.

A-Yin replied, “I’m going to accompany my brother into the forest to look for mushrooms.”

“Then I want to go too!”

“What are you going for?” Ah Tou asked.

“Are you going or not?”

Ah Tou affirmed, “Of course I’m going! My brother’s going, so I’ll definitely be there!”

“You can’t go just because I am; I’m going too!” A Hui retorted.

Shi Tou watched the two adult beasts banter and couldn’t help but scoff. This was what his father referred to as some good adult beasts he could choose from, but he wasn’t interested! Aman was just munching on a potato, thinking that A Hui had previously wanted to ask Zhuo Yan out, only to be beaten down by A-Yin. However, he noted that A Hui didn’t seem as foolish as before.

After lunch, they took a break before continuing to dig holes for bamboo rice in the afternoon.

A Hui darted around fetching water, and upon learning that A-Yin and his brother Xueji were to become mates, he immediately exclaimed, “Before the mating ceremony, we should go hunting together! I can help you, A-Yin. I remember when Dad got his mate; I know the drill!”

A-Yin, hearing this, couldn’t help but beam with a goofy smile.

By mid-afternoon, around two or three o’clock, they finished planting the bamboo rice, marking the end of their work for the day.

“Let’s head home,” said Zhuo Yan.

As soon as he spoke, he turned around to see the three of them wearing expressions of pure delight. He didn’t want to think about what those faces meant—he could guess they were thinking about how much time he and A-Yin would have together that night.

Once they crossed the little river back to the tribe, they quickly cleaned up and returned to their respective homes.

“Zhuo Yan, let’s meet up tomorrow after lunch,” Shi Tou suggested. Aman chimed in, “We’ll have all evening and morning together!”

Xiao Xian giggled, “Hehehe.”

Zhuo Yan thought to himself: Nothing is going to happen!

Once inside his cave, Zhuo Yan started preparing sweet potato powder. He washed the potatoes and smashed them in a stone pot—this was A-Yin’s job because he had the strength. Zhuo Yan boiled some wild vegetables, deciding to skip meat for dinner since they had indulged in smoked meat for lunch.

He mixed the smashed potatoes with water, letting it settle—just like making hand-pulled noodles.

After a busy cooking session, they finished eating just as darkness fell. A-Yin had already set up the table and stools outside the cave. After they finished their meal, they lingered a bit longer. Zhuo Yan, worn out from a day’s labor, felt drowsy and yawned repeatedly, reluctant to tidy up.

“I’ll wash the dishes, brother,” A-Yin said.

Zhuo Yan mumbled a vague agreement.

After washing the dishes by the river and tidying the stove, A-Yin looked at his brother, who was struggling to stay awake. “Brother, should I carry you to the river?” he offered.

“Sure! Hurry up and finish washing; we’re sleeping early tonight,” Zhuo Yan replied, trying to sound lively.

He thought A-Yin would shift into his beast form to carry him, but instead, A-Yin faced away from him in his human form. Zhuo Yan, still drowsy, climbed onto A-Yin’s back. A-Yin held Zhuo Yan’s legs with one arm and tugged at some leafy plants with the other.

“I’ll grab those,” Zhuo Yan said, taking the leaves from him. Their soap supply at home was running low, and he wanted to conserve it, so A-Yin was careful to use less.

“Brother can use soap; I’ll just use the leaves,” A-Yin said as he reached for the soap.

“No need for soap; the leaves are perfectly fine. Let’s hurry back and get some sleep,” Zhuo Yan insisted. He recalled that tiny piece of soap from yesterday when he and A-Yin took a bath; it felt like a blur, and when he checked this morning, the soap had shrunk even more.

It seemed they had spent a long time scrubbing each other in the river last night.

As they walked back, Zhuo Yan vowed to stay clear-headed tonight; he couldn’t afford any mistakes. Plus, A-Yin’s hands were quite large, securely wrapped around his thighs—ahhhh! What was happening to him?

He had never been like this before—really, he swore it!

Fortunately, their nighttime routine went smoothly. After washing up, A-Yin shifted back into his beast form to carry Zhuo Yan. In the cave, A-Yin playfully said, “Brother, I’m heading straight to bed.”

“Alright, I’ll close the door then,” Zhuo Yan replied, placing A-Yin’s clothes neatly. He sighed in relief, feeling his rationality was intact tonight. It seemed last night had just been a fluke—good, good. He was still upright and dependable.

He shut the door, climbed into bed, and prepared to sleep.

Once A-Yin transformed back into his human form, his damp hair from the river flicked droplets everywhere. Zhuo Yan also had slightly wet hair, so he suggested, “Let’s sit for a bit; sleeping with wet hair isn’t good.”

“Sounds good, brother,” A-Yin replied.

As they sat on the stone bed, Zhuo Yan quickly regretted the suggestion. The atmosphere felt strange; droplets from A-Yin’s hair fell on his neck, trickling down to his chest and disappearing into his well-defined abs. Zhuo Yan felt his throat itch and turned away, trying to start a conversation. “I remember you used to ignore A Hui, but now it seems like you two are getting along.”

“He was annoying before; now he’s just overly friendly,” A-Yin gazed at Zhuo Yan and continued, “I didn’t want to play with him; he likes you, brother. Everyone in the tribe likes you, which is fine, but his affection is the kind that feels off—”

“No, that’s not right; he doesn’t genuinely like me,” Zhuo Yan interjected.

A-Yin couldn’t articulate it well, but he had his instincts. Zhuo Yan understood that A Hui had always been a bit clueless, saying thoughtless things; he probably didn’t grasp the depth of true feelings, just following the crowd—now that he was of age, he could flirt with sub-beastmen, and the tribe was all about that.

If A Hui truly had feelings for him, it would have been different.

“A-Yin really likes you, brother; A-Yin knows,” A-Yin’s eyes sparkled with sincerity.

Zhuo Yan felt a rush of warmth; perhaps the rising temperature was affecting him. The cave wasn’t cold at night, and trying to change the subject, he said, “Let’s sleep; it doesn’t seem too wet now.”

Obediently, A-Yin snuggled up next to him. Zhuo Yan felt an unusual mix of drowsiness and excitement. He was unsure why he felt this way, especially with A-Yin so close—he didn’t feel uncomfortable; if anything, he wanted to get even closer.

It seemed the season was truly affecting him.

Earlier in the day, he had been stubborn, insisting he had rational thoughts; he closed his eyes and murmured, “Let’s sleep, I’m so sleepy.”

Last year, he hadn’t believed he would ever experience the mating season as a sub-beastman.

That night, his dreams took a different turn. He dreamt of kissing A-Yin, wrapped around A-Yin’s neck, droplets from his hair falling onto Zhuo Yan’s collarbone. The kiss felt strangely familiar yet distant—it wasn’t entirely real. The moments before the kiss felt vivid: the embrace, their bodies intertwined, the water droplets cascading down his skin—it felt so real.

But the kiss brought him back to reality, making Zhuo Yan realize he was dreaming. He woke up with a sigh of relief, feeling a bit empty and disappointed—like a fish that had swum freely all night only to be reminded in the morning that it was, in fact, a human, not a fish.

Though this reality felt tangible, something still felt off, leaving him unsettled.

That afternoon, after lunch, Zhuo Yan waited at the foot of the slope with a basket on his back, ready to gather mushrooms in the woods with A-Yin and the others. He deliberately let A-Yin and his little friends lead the way, while he strolled along a little behind with Shi Tou, Xiao Xian, and Aman.

Today, they were foraging for mushrooms, and Shi Tou hadn’t brought Da Yun along because Da Yun had a habit of putting everything into his mouth—even poisonous mushrooms.

“What’s going on with you?” Aman was the first to notice that Zhuo Yan seemed off.

Xiao Xian chimed in, “Zhuo Yan, did you not sleep well last night?”

“I’m fine,” Zhuo Yan replied, hesitant to mention how well he had dreamed of food (not really). He struggled to accept that his inner self had become so… heated. After all, he had been single until he turned twenty-seven without feeling this way.

Never before!

He had relied on sports to channel his youthful energy.

Zhuo Yan thought it over and concluded that the change must be due to the season.

“Shi Tou, Aman, do you guys find the second year of spring more challenging than the first?” Last year, he hadn’t felt this intense; he had just been a bit restless, wistfully reflecting on life but hadn’t experienced any spring dreams.

Aman finally understood, “No wonder you wanted A-Yin to walk ahead. You were trying to talk about this.”

“Yeah, sometimes my body feels a bit hot, and I get irritable,” Shi Tou reflected. “But that’s just how it is for me every year; I don’t really notice a difference between the first and second years.”

Xiao Xian was curious: “Are you feeling particularly uncomfortable this year, Zhuo Yan?”

“This year, A-Yin has become human. Zhuo Yan, don’t hold back! You’ve secretly liked A-Yin since he was a white-haired kid. I used to worry about you; A-Yin was a beast, and now he’s human. What are you still hesitating for?” Aman said, perplexed.

“Yeah, exactly!” Xiao Xian agreed.

The three of them wore expressions that said, “What’s with all this angst?”

Zhuo Yan thought to himself, thankfully they hadn’t mentioned his dream of kissing A-Yin last night.

If they had, he would have been even more conflicted about his desires—definitely more tangled up!

“Let’s say, for example, Shi Tou, what if Aman’s younger brother, at around seventeen or eighteen, pursued you and wanted to be your mate? Just hear me out—he’s very handsome and keeps himself clean.”

Aman’s brother resembled a little monkey, and Shi Tou nearly got upset before Zhuo Yan finished.

“Wait, he’s handsome and clean?” Shi Tou asked, listening closely now.

“Yep! He treats you well; you’ve watched him grow up and think of him like a little brother. Now that he’s seventeen or eighteen, he’s looking great and cleans up the cave like a pro. And it’s springtime—”

Without a second thought, Shi Tou exclaimed, “If that’s the case, I’d have babies with him!”

Zhuo Yan: …

Aman and Xiao Xian burst into laughter, and Shi Tou soon joined in. Zhuo Yan realized Shi Tou had just been teasing him. But then Shi Tou quickly added, “I don’t actually like Aman’s brother. But Zhuo Yan, you like A-Yin. I don’t understand why you’ve been mulling over this for days. If you’re happy, A-Yin will be happy too. Just enjoy it!”

“Exactly! If you don’t want to mate, then don’t. If you do want to, go for it. You and A-Yin should just figure it out yourselves.”

“Right! Right! Zhuo Yan, just be happy!”

In their tribe, where survival was tough and life was short, everyone was particularly attuned to things that brought them joy. There were fewer restrictions—beastmen and sub-beastmen lived together, and if they weren’t happy, they could part ways. Those who wanted to bond were blessed, while those who didn’t faced no judgment.

Even in relationships, those unwilling to raise their young alone could leave the cubs in the big cave. When A-Yin was still a little white-haired boy, he had lived in the big cave and managed to get by despite the challenges.

Zhuo Yan had his moral boundaries; he could never abandon a cub.

Lost in thought, Zhuo Yan contemplated whether he should lean in for a kiss with A-Yin tonight.

He was truly burning with desire—ahhhhhh!