Beauty and the Beasts

Bai Qingqing didn’t know what to say to break the silence. She plucked out a few Flos Eriocauli from the bunch, weaved it into a garland, and put it on Becky’s head.

Becky slapped it away by reflex, causing the garland to drop, and the blue and white flowers to be scattered all over the floor. She stared warily at Bai Qingqing, and her breathing started to get heavy.

Bai Qingqing hurriedly apologized. “I’m sorry. Do you dislike it? I think it looks quite pretty.”

As she spoke, she picked it up and put it on her own head.

Becky’s breathing seemed to calm down a bit upon seeing that. Nonetheless, she shifted backward. Bai Qingqing understood that Becky didn’t want to be touched, so she removed the garland from her head and played with it out of boredom.

“I’ve introduced myself to you before, do you still remember? My name is Bai Qingqing.”

Becky didn’t reply and merely remained seated there in a wooden manner.

If Becky was a complete lunatic, Bai Qingqing wouldn’t have had the patience to speak with her. She merely wanted to try her best to help her since she saw that she was showing signs of getting better.

Bai Qingqing felt that Becky should be more receptive to her than to others, making it easier for her to get closer to Becky.

“You have yet to tell me your name. What’s your name?”

Her question was met with silence.

“I’m staying where you used to live. If you feel bored, you can come and look for me.”

Again, silence.

“I have three little leopard cubs, they’re super adorable.”

Still, no reply.

Bai Qingqing spoke a lot, but Becky didn’t show any reaction. However, her eye movements showed that she was actually taking in what was being said.

With such a response, Bai Qingqing no longer felt bored. She continued talking to Becky, and before she knew it, Ford had returned.

Becky didn’t move, but there was a slightly brighter glow in her eyes.

Ford came back with prickly fruits the size of a fist wrapped in a tree leaf. He transformed into a human and said, “I’m back, Becky. I plucked some prickly fruits, come over and eat.”

“Eh? How do you eat this?” While Becky didn’t move, Bai Qingqing ran over curiously after Ford put on his animal skin skirt.

As Bai Qingqing’s appearance was too bewitching, when she took the initiative to run towards Ford, the latter couldn’t help but freeze for two seconds. He then cracked open one of the fruits.

Several brownish-red fruits with tough skins were revealed. Bai Qingqing let out a surprised gasp as she picked up one of them. Are these chestnuts?

“These are for you.” Ford didn’t dare to look at her again. He gave Bai Qingqing half of the fruits, then carried the other half with him and went to sit down by Becky’s side.

Becky, who was traumatized from having been starved previously, snatched the food the instant she saw it. Ford hurriedly set the fruits aside, lest her hands get pricked by them. He said gently to her, “I’ll help you peel it. Too bad I didn’t find your favorite stone fruit. It’s not cold enough yet, but they’ll probably be available in another month or so.”

Bai Qingqing sat on the ground and chomped on the tough fruit, but she didn’t manage to break the shell despite chomping so hard she salivated. On the other hand, Ford easily peeled a brown colored fruit with his fingernails, revealing a light yellow interior after ripping off the skin.

Those were indeed chestnuts.

Bai Qingqing felt gluttonous as she watched Becky eat chestnut after chestnut. She carried the prickly fruit and said, “Thanks for your food. I can’t eat them myself, so I’ll go back and get my mates to help me.”

Ford cast a quick glance at her and said, “You should go, then.”

With the prickly fruits in her arms, she was about to leave the tree hole when she heard Ford’s voice again. “If it’s convenient, can you come over and visit her frequently? She refuses to see even her own mother. You’re the only person she doesn’t seem averse to seeing.”

Bai Qingqing nodded. “I will.”

Parker, who had been sticking out his hands for quite a while, urged, “Hurry up.”

“Be careful of the prickly fruits,” Bai Qingqing said as she jumped down with the fruits.

“What?” asked Parker as he caught hold of her.