After I Dumped 7 Beast Husbands and Ran

When Nan Zishi returned to Fox Qi’s cave, she found a fire pit at the entrance. A simple rack made of several large stones was set up over the fire, and on top of the rack sat a stone pot.

A stone lid rested on the pot, not fitting perfectly, allowing steam to escape.

Inside the stone pot, a rich bone broth was simmering over a low flame.

Nan Zishi walked over, pleasantly surprised. She carefully lifted the lid and took a sniff.

"It smells so good! Fox Qi, did you make this?"

Fox Qi ran back from the side, hugging a stone bowl his father had just made. He smiled and said, "Pretty sister, my father and I made this together."

"That’s so amazing. I’ve rarely met any Beastmen in the Beast World who cook with fire."

Fox Qi explained, "My father says that males don’t really eat cooked food, but females have delicate bodies. If their food isn’t cooked with fire, they can easily get sick from eating it."

After speaking, Fox Qi grumbled to himself, ’But I haven’t seen any other females in Stone Village cook food like this. Maybe they use fire in other villages.’

Nan Zishi didn’t suspect a thing. "Your father is so amazing. Your mother must be very happy."

Fox Qi fell silent for a moment. He hesitated, wondering if he should tell the pretty sister about his mother.

Nan Zishi took out the tea tree mushrooms and bird eggs she had washed on her way back. "After this soup is done, I’ll use these tea tree mushrooms to make some scrambled bird eggs for you."

"Okay, okay!" Fox Qi said with a grin.

Using a wooden spoon made by Hu Bai, Nan Zishi tasted the bone broth and was surprised to find that salt had already been added.

Fox Qi also explained with a smile, "Father says females need to eat salt."

Fox Qi thought that since the pretty sister had saved his life, his father must be grateful to her. That’s why he had so carefully prepared food that he would never normally make, food that even Fox Qi himself had never eaten.

’His father’s coldness toward the pretty sister this morning must have been a misunderstanding after all.’

Nan Zishi’s black pearl-like eyes narrowed slightly.

The authentic Beast World bone broth, seasoned with just a little salt, was already incredibly delicious. It made her, after a long and busy day, feel as if every pore on her body was opening up, bubbling with comfort.

Hu Bai returned carrying washed and sliced beast offal. When he saw Nan Zishi, his expression suddenly turned cold.

"Father." Fox Qi couldn’t understand why his father’s mood was changing so drastically today. He trotted over, looked up, and whispered, "Father, the pretty sister is here. Don’t look so cold. Can you smile a little, please?"

Hu Bai averted his gaze, not looking at Nan Zishi.

Fox Qi really couldn’t figure it out, so he could only pull Hu Bai over to the stone hearth and have him sit on a flat stone stool.

Facing the master of the house, Nan Zishi, as a guest, displayed her Earthling politeness. "Little Fox Qi, and you... thank you for your hospitality today."

Fox Qi blushed when she thanked them. Although he had helped out today, he was just a little helper; his father had done most of the work.

"Pretty sister, there’s no need to thank us. You saved my life, so I should be the one thanking you. Also, my father’s name is Hu Bai. Please remember it, pretty sister."

Hu Bai lowered his head, looking gently at his little cub.

Nan Zishi noticed the Male Beastman’s expression. ’So the aloof, ice-cold White Fox Beastman has two sides to him.’

’Cold as ice when he’s indifferent. Warm as fire when he’s gentle.’

Nan Zishi smiled. "You thank me, and I thank you. Alright then, let’s just say we’re even. By the way, my name is Nan Zishi."

Fox Qi said nervously, "How can we be even? Pretty sister, you saved my life!"

"If I say we’re even, then we’re even," Nan Zishi said with a laugh.

Fox Qi pursed his lips. "Okay, then."

’A life-saving debt isn’t something you need to talk about, anyway. It’s something you remember in your heart.’

Nan Zishi watched Fox Qi’s little expressions. ’The way the little fairy child furrows his brow is just too cute. I really want to pinch his cheeks.’

Once the soup was hot, Hu Bai removed the pot. He then set down another stone pot and stir-fried all the beast offal with salt.

After Nan Zishi took out the tea tree mushrooms, Hu Bai glanced at them and immediately knew what to do. He cracked the bird eggs, stir-fried them with the mushrooms, and after adding only a little salt, served the dish.

Little Snake Yang held the small bowl in front of him with his mouth, gobbling down the food. It was the first time he’d ever had such a rich dinner, and his eyes curved into crescents as he ate.

’This is bliss. It’s been so long since I’ve felt the happiness of a full stomach.’

’I like the pretty sister so much. I’m going to follow her forever!’

Little Aqi had also been busy all day. He ate in big mouthfuls, then patted his full belly.

Once they were full, the two little ones got sleepy. Little Aqi transformed into a fluffy, snow-white fox and curled up by the fire. Little Snake Yang snuggled up with him, and they slept warmly together.

The starry sky in the Beast World was very bright. The moon was a full size larger than the one on Earth, making the night sky much brighter.

The entirety of Stone Village was bathed in silvery moonlight, as if draped in a silver veil.

Nan Zishi had let the little ones eat first, so she ate very slowly. Once they had their fill, she began to leisurely eat the remaining dishes.

A stone bowl filled with soup was placed in front of her. Nan Zishi looked up and saw that Hu Bai had served it for her.

She took the soup and said, "Thank you."

Hu Bai didn’t speak.

Nan Zishi asked, "Why aren’t you eating?"

Only then did the Male Beastman say softly, "I can’t eat that much."

Nan Zishi paused for a moment. ’A weakened body can’t handle rich food; he can’t eat that much.’

’But even though he couldn’t eat it, he still worked all day preparing so much to host me.’

"Thank you," Nan Zishi said sincerely.

But she saw him frown slightly.

Such a handsome and delicate Male Beastman was actually frowning. A sense of unease settled over Nan Zishi, and she felt an itch in her heart, a desire to gently smooth the furrow in his brow.

"You’re very skilled at cooking like this. Does your female master also eat cooked food?"

The Male Beastman across from her ladled a bowl of soup for himself, took a small sip, and slowly nodded.

Nan Zishi felt a little awkward, so she casually remarked, "She must be very happy, then."

The Male Beastman opposite her paused. He put down the soup in his hands and asked her, "And you? Are you happy?"

"Huh?" Nan Zishi realized with a start that the Male Beastman was asking her. She was puzzled for a moment, then began to ponder the question.

’Am I happy?’

Her expression slowly clouded over.

Nan Zishi was a homebody. She was an Earthling who had parents, a younger brother, a career, and friends back on Earth. In truth, she wasn’t very willing to be transported to the Beast World. Even the first time, over a year ago, she had been kidnapped and brought here by a "system."

And this time, Nan Zishi still didn’t understand why she had been transported to the Beast World again. What was the meaning of her being here?

After observing her expression, Hu Bai also seemed slightly taken aback. Only then did he respond to Nan Zishi’s earlier statement.

"She might... not have been very happy."