Beauty and the Beasts

Bai Qingqing was speechless.

The leopard in the water instantly revealed his fangs and howled twice.

After which, he pounced towards the merman on his four limbs.

Not afraid to battle, Bluepool swung his fishtail and charged at his opponent. The two beasts got entangled together, and water splashed everywhere, drenching Bai Qingqing completely.

Oh well. Since her hair was already wet, Bai Qingqing untied and said as she washed it, “Stop fighting. My skin is turning wrinkly. Parker, come over and help me wash my hair, then we can go back.”

The two beastmen froze in unison, a pair of blue eyes and a pair of golden eyes glaring ferociously at each other.

Parker transformed into a human and swam to Bai Qingqing’s side. Bluepool, too, started stowing away his cleansing fish.

They had just climbed to shore when they bumped into Winston.

With her head cocked sideways as she smoothed her hair, Bai Qingqing greeted him. “You’re back.”

Winston nodded and said, “I came back to drink water.”

The strong and burly man, standing like a signpost, was covered in sweat from head to toe. His skin tone had turned a bronze shade, adding a steely vibe to him. Due to the sweat, his white hair stood perched in clumps upon his head as they glistened with moisture.

Merely standing under the sun felt intolerable to Bai Qingqing. At the thought of Winston slogging under the blazing sun, her heart couldn’t help but ache for him.

“Hurry up and go drink water. We’ll wait for you to go home together.” Bai Qingqing urged.

“Aye.” Winston’s expression remained solemn, but the quick swing of his tail revealed his good mood.

Under Bai Qingqing’s urging, Winston ran to the waterhole and, within less than a minute, came back with a moist body. He was so fast that Bai Qingqing regretted not going together with him.

How enjoyable would it be to soak in the water under this sweltering heat?

As the three of them walked home alongside each other, Bai Qingqing held Parker’s hand with one hand. Though she yearned to be fair to Winston and treat him equally, she didn’t dare to affront him.

With the sweat gone, Winston looked much more refreshed. As he walked, he said, “I’ll go out now.”

“Don’t!” Bai Qingqing said sternly, “It’s too hot. If you want to work, do it at night. Aren’t you males able to see clearly in the dark?”

Winston lowered his head. He peeked at Bai Qingqing with his peripheral vision, his heart brimming with sweetness.

Of course, he knew that it would be easier to work at night. But at night, he would be able to stay by her side and go to bed while breathing in the air that carried her scent. He couldn’t bear to give up on that.

“It’ll be the heavy rainy season in a few days’ time. There’s no need to change the hours,” Winston said.

“Then change back when the time comes.” Bai Qingqing’s attitude was firm. She said half-jokingly, “You’re absolutely not to go out again today. If you’re disobedient, there’ll be no food for you tonight.”

Winston and Parker both froze.

This was their spouse’s first time acting in the manner of the head of the household. But why did she look so cute doing it?

Especially Winston. The sweetness in his heart nearly spilled out.

Just for these words, he decided to give up the privilege he enjoyed at night.

“Okay,” Winston replied in his deep voice.

Bai Qingqing’s furrowed brows relaxed. “That’s more like it.”

As they spoke, the trio walked to their tree.

Upon seeing Bai Qingqing return, Molly’s eyes lit up. She was about to run towards her when the loud flapping of wings rang from the air above.

She involuntarily halted in her footsteps and looked up. Yet, all she could see was a blur of a blue-green figure, then she finally felt a stab of pain from the top of her head.

“Ah!” Molly shrieked out loud. A tree branch, from which a fruit the size of a fist was hanging, had fallen at her feet.

Cuckoo!

Alva rested upon Molly’s head, before transforming into a human and exclaiming in shock, “Aiyah, did the tree branch hit you?”