Qiao Xixi awoke in pain the next morning.
She opened her eyes to find the cubs sprawled all over her. A wry smile touched her lips. She carefully moved them aside, settling them comfortably on the bed, before getting up to stretch her stiff muscles.
After getting dressed, Qiao Xixi opened the door and went out, heading over to Sangqi’s room to check on him.
When she entered, she found Sangze lying beside him.
’Sunxiao probably put the father and son in the same room to make it easier to look after them.’
Qiao Xixi went downstairs. As she was washing up in the backyard, she heard a noise from the kitchen.
Wiping the water from her hands, she walked in and found Sunxiao simmering a meat broth.
"Sunxiao, when did you get up?"
Hearing her, Sunxiao ladled a large piece of meat from the pot and handed it to her.
"I got up at dawn. Here, see if it’s seasoned enough."
Qiao Xixi took the bowl, blew on the meat to cool it, and took a bite. The meat was stewed until it was incredibly tender. ’This isn’t something you can cook to this point just by starting at dawn.’
"Mm, it’s delicious."
"The cubs aren’t up yet?"
"No, I’m letting them sleep in a little. What about Feiyan? Did he not come back last night?"
Sunxiao finished ladling the rest of the meat out of the pot. "He went on patrol in the tribe with Feili Father Beast first thing in the morning."
When Feiyan returned last night, he learned from Feili that many small migrating tribes had arrived while they were away. After some consideration, Feili had let them all stay.
You could say there were almost no vacant stone houses left in the tribe now.
With so many new people, Feiyan wanted to make a round to understand the situation with the new beastmen, which would make managing them easier in the future.
"Then I’ll go take a look too after I’ve eaten."
"Alright."
Qiao Xixi saw a basket of fruit in the kitchen. She took it, washed the fruit, then mashed it and mixed it with the boiled meat slices.
By the time the meal was ready, the cubs were all waking up one by one.
Hearing the noise, Qiao Xixi went upstairs to get clean animal-skin clothes ready for them.
"Once you’re dressed, go downstairs and wash up. Then you can eat."
"Okay."
Qiao Xixi dressed the tiger cub, then carried her downstairs with Qiao Qiao and the others.
During the meal, Xiya was the first to walk over and sit beside Qiao Xixi. "Mother, have my father and Father Jin Ling not come back yet?"
Qiao Xixi placed the tiger cub on a stool to the side and ladled a bowl of meat broth for Xiya. "That’s right, they went to Tiger Beast City on business. But don’t worry, they’ll be back before long."
Hearing that her father hadn’t returned, Xiya looked down, a little disappointed.
Seeing this, Qiao Xixi took out a small bracelet made of Crystal Stone and placed it on her little wrist. "Your father asked me to bring this back for you. Do you like it?"
The small bracelet was also dotted with red agate stones, looking both playful and beautiful.
Xiya’s big eyes lit up instantly. "It’s... it’s so pretty! I love it!"
"Mama, Mama~~!"
Seeing her older sister get a present, the tiger cub pawed at Qiao Xixi’s hand, staring longingly at the bracelet in Xiya’s hand.
Xiya saw that her younger sister liked it. She wanted to give it to her, but she couldn’t bear to part with the gift from her father. She could only look at Qiao Xixi helplessly.
"Go on, put it on properly. This is a gift from your father to you, Xiya."
After speaking, Qiao Xixi took the little tiger cub’s hand and pressed a small, brightly colored wood carving into it.
"An’an, this is what your father got for you."
The tiger cub’s big, liquid gold eyes went wide. Clutching the colorful wood carving, she obediently sat back down in her chair and promptly tried to stuff it into her mouth.
"An’an, you can’t eat that."
With quick reflexes, Qiao Xixi took the drool-covered wood carving away from her. "Let’s eat first. Come on."
As soon as the little one heard it was time to eat, she forgot all about the carving. She grabbed a handful of sliced meat from her bowl and began stuffing it into her mouth.
Qiao Ang and Qiao Lie also came over and sat down at the table. After they sat, although they said nothing, their eyes were fixed expectantly on Qiao Xixi.
When Sunxiao came out with the large pot of meat, Qiao Lie stood up to help. As he watched Sunxiao sit down, his little face remained expressionless, but he murmured, "The gift Father Xijing gave to Sister Xiya is very unique. The gift Father Jin Ling gave to An’an is very cute."
Sunxiao paused in the middle of ladling soup and glanced at his cub.
Qiao Lie’s little face was still blank as he quietly picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks.
Qiao Ang wasn’t as calm as Qiao Lie. He whined as he looked at Feiyan, who was just walking back in.
"Father probably didn’t remember to bring us any gifts."
Feiyan stared at his unhappy cub, completely baffled. ’What’s wrong? I was only out for the morning, why is my cub unhappy now that I’m back?’
Qiao Qiao also puffed up her cheeks and stared at Feiyan.
Feiyan was even more confused. He looked at Qiao Xixi for help. Holding back a laugh, Qiao Xixi pointed to the bracelet on Xiya’s wrist.
It was like Feiyan had just woken from a dream. "Wait, wait! I have some, I have some."
With that, he turned and went upstairs. When he came back down, he was holding a bag of small items, all of which he had traded for with Crystal Stones in Beast King City.
"Here, Qiaoqiao, this is from Father for you." It was a multi-colored agate hair ornament. When worn, it made Qiao Qiao’s complexion look even fairer.
Qiao Qiao, who had always loved beautiful things, smiled so wide her big eyes crinkled into slits.
"I-I don’t want a little flower... Huh? Father, what is this? It looks so cool!" Qiao Ang was overjoyed as he looked at the multi-bladed bone knife in his hand.
Feiyan also handed out the small gifts he had prepared for the other cubs.
Qiao Lie looked at the small bow and arrow in his hand, then glanced at Sunxiao again.
But his father remained seated, showing no intention of speaking.
Qiao Lie lowered his eyes, put away the small bow and arrow, and ate his breakfast without another word.
Qiao Xixi glanced at Sunxiao. Sunxiao met her gaze and put another large piece of meat in her bowl.
"Eat more."
Qiao Xixi felt helpless. ’This is between the father and son. It’s better to let them resolve it themselves.’ She knew that although Sunxiao seemed aloof, his devotion to Qiao Lie was undeniable.
"I’m full. I’m going to check on Brother Sangqi."
Qiao Lie put down his bowl and chopsticks and turned to go upstairs.
For a moment, everyone except for Feiyan and his son, who were still devouring their food, and the tiger cub, who was playing with a mouth full of drool, watched Qiao Lie’s retreating back.
Qiao Lie went upstairs, pushed open the door to Sangqi’s room, and wrung out an animal-skin cloth from a basin of water. He carefully wiped Sangqi’s face. When he saw Sangze lying beside him, he gave his face a quick wipe too.
When he finished and left the room, he found a tall, upright figure standing in the corridor.
"Father, what are you doing up here?"
Sunxiao opened his palm toward him. Lying on his broad palm were two snake-shaped, black obsidian earrings.
"For you."
The two quiet words made the gloom lift from Qiao Lie’s face in an instant.
"Father, did you make these yourself?"
"Mhm."
Qiao Lie suppressed the smile playing at the corners of his eyes. He picked up the earrings to inspect them, then said with a straight face, "They’re alright."
A faint smile touched Sunxiao’s lips. His large, slender hand landed on the boy’s head. "You little brat."