Chapter 427 - 426: "I Wasn’t Thinking of Him.
Yu Zhizhi’s first thought was that it was the Big Shark.
The other end of the communicator was silent for a long time.
Just as Yu Zhizhi was hesitating on whether to hang up, she heard a slightly youthful voice. "...Mother, it’s me."
"Yun Ze?"
Yu Zhizhi was a little surprised. She hadn’t expected a call from her cub.
She glanced at the man before her, her expression a little evasive as she tried to get off his lap.
Cang Lan held her down with a blank expression.
"What’s wrong? It’s so late. Is something the matter?" Yu Zhizhi asked, a little worried.
The Snake Pup’s tone was calm and soft. "It’s nothing serious, Mother. You don’t need to worry. I just wanted to tell you that I’m about to begin my Third Rank trial. I might not be able to see you for a very long time."
"A trial..." Yu Zhizhi murmured.
She knew that male cubs of the Beast Clan underwent various trials continuously from birth.
Some of these trials were extremely dangerous.
The Snake Pup heard the worry in her voice and quickly said, "Don’t worry, Mother. I’m confident I’ll make it out safely. When that time comes... you can summon me again."
Yu Zhizhi hummed softly in agreement.
’So Little Yunze called specifically to tell me this.’
She wouldn’t be able to summon the Snake Pup until the trial was over.
’Could it be because the Duke found out that I summoned the Snake Pup today?’
’Otherwise, how would the Snake Pup know her contact information?’
Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help but ask, "The Duke... did he have you call me?"
Yun Ze replied, "Yes, Father told me to let you know... not to summon me again until the trial is over."
"Oh... I see." Yu Zhizhi lowered her head. ’Last time, things ended so badly with the Duke,’ she thought. ’He probably doesn’t want me to see the little snake pups.’
Cang Lan stared at the little rabbit in his arms, noticing a trace of melancholy on her face when she mentioned the Duke.
After saying goodbye to the Snake Pup and hanging up, Yu Zhizhi thought to herself, ’It’s been so long. The Duke’s affection level has probably dropped. After all, he hasn’t contacted me at all.’
’Before, even when I wasn’t in Varolan, I would get calls from the Duke and see his clone.’
’Now, there’s been no word at all.’
’He even had Little Yunze tell me about the cub’s situation himself.’
"What are you thinking about?"
Yu Zhizhi was startled when the man before her suddenly spoke. She hesitated, then stammered, "It’s just... about Little Yunze, I..."
Seeing her guilty expression from lying, Cang Lan’s brow furrowed slightly. "Are you thinking about Duke Bolan?"
"No...!" Yu Zhizhi quickly retorted. "I’m not thinking about him."
Cang Lan’s face darkened. He was beginning to understand. This little rabbit was even greedier than he had imagined.
’So many lovers aren’t enough for her; she just had to go and tease me.’
’Sitting in my lap, yet still pining for the Duke who’s far away in the Valoran Imperial City.’
After a moment, something seemed to occur to Cang Lan. He spoke coolly, "Duke Bolan is getting married at the end of the month. Aren’t you going to offer him your congratulations?"
’The end of the month?’
Yu Zhizhi looked up at Cang Lan, her expression slightly stunned.
’That’s... so soon.’
’The Duke is really getting married?’
’Ahh, what do I do? If the Duke’s affection level drops, I won’t have a chance to raise it back up.’
Cang Lan saw the little female’s rabbit ears droop slightly. She seemed even more heartbroken.
A flame of fury ignited in his heart—
’How dare she? I’m right here in front of her, and she’s still thinking so brazenly about another male.’
"Get up," Cang Lan’s tone was ice-cold.
Yu Zhizhi’s thoughts snapped back to the present. She stared blankly at the Big Tiger before her. ’He seems... angry?’
Yu Zhizhi quickly threw herself into his arms, wrapping her hands tightly around his waist.
’Get up?’
’No way.’
’I can’t let Prince Canglan leave now. It was so hard to finally get this close to him.’
Cang Lan hadn’t expected the little rabbit to just hug him, clinging to him for dear life.
He gripped her chin, applying a little pressure. "You provoke so many men. Can you even handle them all?"
Yu Zhizhi felt a slight pain in her jaw. She said aggrievedly, "I didn’t..."
She looked like she was about to cry.
Cang Lan’s grip loosened slightly, but an unidentifiable anger still burned within him—
’I find myself unable to just push this fickle rabbit away,’ he thought. ’Even though I know she already has a First Beast Husband and a whole bunch of lovers, I still got involved with her.’
Cang Lan’s eyes darkened, and he bit down on her fiercely.
Yu Zhizhi felt a sharp sting on her lips. ’Oww, I think it’s bleeding...’
Her blood stained the corner of Cang Lan’s lips. He slowly wiped it away with his thumb, his eyes fixed on her delicate, rosy lips as he steadied his breathing.
He cupped the little female’s face in his hands, drew closer, and gently kissed her.
’...Whatever.’
’I never planned a future with her anyway, so what’s the point of dwelling on all this?’
’I’ll just treat it as a one-night stand.’
’Once morning comes, we’ll go our separate ways.’
’After all, I do love the little rabbit’s blood and her scent so much.’
Yu Zhizhi noticed the Big Tiger’s change in attitude. Her body trembled slightly, and she couldn’t help but clutch the front of his shirt.
It was a long, deep kiss.
Cang Lan’s warm breath fanned across her neck. She heard the man’s husky voice, "When you’re with me, you’re not allowed to think about other males."
The collar of her gauzy white nightgown was suddenly pulled open. Yu Zhizhi’s cheeks flushed, and she tried to stop him, but to no avail.
His actions were forceful, leaving no room for refusal.
She heard Cang Lan say.
"Don’t try to hide."
He bit down.
...
「The next day.」
When Yu Zhizhi woke up, her back and legs were sore. She curled up in the soft bedding, her cheeks burning as she recalled what happened last night.
She didn’t know if Cang Lan had specifically told him not to, but the little tiger cub hadn’t come to find her yet.
Yu Zhizhi slowly sat up and called out softly, "...Ai Xi."
Her throat was a little hoarse.
’Maybe because I cried for so long...’
Ai Xi gently pushed the door open. "Good afternoon, Ms. Zhi Zhi~"
Normally, the little tiger cub was very boisterous. His milky roars could be heard from every corner of the castle; he was bursting with energy.
But now it was surprisingly quiet, and Yu Zhizhi felt a little unsettled. "Where’s Little Star?"
Ai Xi walked toward the bed carrying a glass of warm water. "Miss, the Moonrise Mission has already started its journey back. Prince Canglan took the young master away early this morning."
"They’re already gone?" Yu Zhizhi’s heart skipped a beat. ’I didn’t even get to say goodbye to the little tiger cub!’
Ai Xi nodded lightly. "Young Master Star was very well-behaved. He only whimpered quietly, afraid he might wake you, Miss. The Councilor said that you can contact them anytime to check on the young master’s situation."
Yu Zhizhi slowly drank the entire glass of water.
She knew she would be separated from the little tiger cub one day, but she hadn’t expected it to be so sudden.
’Last night, Prince Canglan and I were so... intimate. Why did he suddenly leave? Without even saying a word?’
’It’s over...’
’His affection level must have dropped even lower, right?’
Yu Zhizhi’s face paled. She quickly got out of bed and jogged to the bathroom. "I want to check Cang Lan’s affection level..."
She whispered to the system.