CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: MN... SWEET.

And then, before she could even process that, Bai Ling turned to another beastman at her side, another one of her husbands, and kissed him too!

Su Qinglan nearly choked on her own spit.

"What the hell—?!" she hissed in her mind, her face heating instantly.

What is this situation?! Is this public display of affection day? Right in front of the sacred bonfire?

She coughed loudly into her fist, hoping to hide her flustered expression. "Ahem!"

Bai Ling jumped, her face instantly turning pink. She fidgeted with her hands, eyes darting nervously.

"I-It’s not what you think!" she stuttered. "Everyone says... if you kiss your beast-husbands in front of the sacred fire, the Beast God will give you many cubs..."

Su Qinglan’s lips twitched.

"...Many cubs?"

She stared blankly at the girl, then at the two smug beastmen grinning down at Bai Ling like they’d just won the lottery.

Her mind went silent for a long moment.

Su Qinglan slowly turned her head left... then right to confirm...

But her eyes widened even more.

All around the square, females were leaning close to their beast-husbands, pressing kisses to their lips or cheeks.

One after another.

Smack. Smack. Smack.

The sound of kissing echoed everywhere, mixed in with laughter, cheers, and beastmen’s happy growls.

Su Qinglan’s mouth twitched violently.

"... What the hell... is this a feast or a kissing competition?" She muttered under her breath.

Almost every young female was busy clinging to her beast-husbands, looking shy but also secretly pleased. And the beastmen? They looked like they had just been crowned kings of the world.

Meanwhile, the single unmated beastmen stood scattered at the edges of the square. Their faces were dark, and their eyes burned with green jealousy as they stared at the mated pairs.

Su Qinglan blinked, speechless.

She wanted to laugh... but she also kind of wanted to cry.

So this is their great tradition? Kiss in front of the fire for cub blessings? Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

She hugged her arms around herself, feeling like the last sober person at a drunken party.

Just as she was rolling her eyes, she suddenly felt it.

A strong presence. Lingering right behind her.

The hair on her neck prickled. Slowly, hesitantly, she tilted her head up.

And her gaze collided with a pair of deep, sharp golden eyes.

Hu Yan.

He was standing so close, towering over her, the firelight painting his already striking face in shades of gold and shadow. His eyes didn’t waver... they were fixed entirely on her.

Su Qinglan’s breath caught in her throat.

"...Oh no," she whispered to herself, heart skipping a beat.

"Is he also going to kiss her..."

Su Qinglan’s heart pounded.

Her eyes darted around nervously. Everywhere she looked, females were pressing their lips to their beast-husbands, squealing softly when the men pulled them closer. The atmosphere was fiery, intimate, and overwhelming.

And now this beastman was staring at her like she was next in line.

She coughed into her fist. "Ahem... So, uh, the fire is really bright tonight, huh? Haha, very warm. So many flames... ha... ha..."

Hu Yan raised an eyebrow.

Su Qinglan wanted to bury herself alive.

She took a small step back, but his presence followed her like a wall. The firelight flickered in his eyes, making them glint dangerously.

Oh god. He’s too close. Way too close. Don’t tell me he was really going to kiss her...

Does he believe this ’kiss-the-husband-get-cubs’ nonsense? But they have not even gotten married! And cubs?? What cubs??!

Her palms grew sweaty. Her brain screamed at her to look away. But her traitorous eyes stayed locked on his, more like locked on his sexy lips.

For a moment, it felt like the whole world had gone quiet. The cheering, the laughter, the fire crackling—it all faded.

It was just her and him.

Su Qinglan’s lips twitched. She forced a shaky laugh.

"...D-Don’t look at me like that. I swear, if you try anything, I’ll—I’ll bite you back." Damn, she could do more than only biting.

Hu Yan’s expression didn’t change. But for the briefest second, the corner of his lips curved, as if amused.

And that tiny smile sent Su Qinglan’s heart into complete chaos.

Just when Su Qinglan’s nerves were about to snap like a bowstring, Hu Yan finally opened his mouth.

"Let’s go," he said, his voice low and steady.

Su Qinglan blinked. "...Huh?"

Hu Yan tilted his head slightly toward the firelit square. "Our place is over there." Without waiting for her reply, he turned around and began walking through the crowd, his tall figure cutting through the sea of beastmen like it was nothing.

Su Qinglan just stood there, frozen. Her lips parted. Her mind was blank.

"...That’s it?!"

She nearly stomped her foot.

Here I was, ready to kick, bite, and scream if he so much as leaned closer—and he just... walked away? That’s all??

Her shoulders slumped, a heavy sigh escaping her chest. Relief poured through her body.

But right beneath that relief... a tiny sting of disappointment twisted in her chest.

She wrinkled her nose. Tch. What am I even thinking? Am I seriously disappointed that he didn’t try anything? Have I gone mad already in this beast world?!

She muttered under her breath as she trailed him.

"... Stupid beastman. Who just leaves a girl hanging like that? Ugh, my poor heart almost jumped out of my chest."

She was still grumbling when she suddenly felt a pull on her hand, and she was yanked backwards. Before she could shout, "Who the hell is he?"

Her mouth was suddenly sealed with a kiss. Her eyes widened as she found herself plastered to a solid chest, and her lips were still pressed firmly to soft lips...

Su Qinglan’s entire body froze, her mind exploding into a million sparks.

What—what—WHAT?!

Her eyes went round as saucers, staring blankly at the firelit world that suddenly felt so far away. She was pressed flush against a solid chest, the steady thump of a powerful heartbeat vibrating through her. His grip on her wrist was unyielding, keeping her right where he wanted her.

And then, like a fool, she made the mistake of looking up.

Her dazed gaze collided with eyes the color of stormy violets.

They glimmered with sly amusement, sharp as if they could see right through her.

Her mind went blank.

Her body trembled.

And traitorously... Her lips tingled, soft warmth spreading from where his mouth claimed hers.

Oh no. Oh hell no.

She was supposed to shove him away. To slap him, kick him, and scream, Bloody bastard!

But her hands, the absolute traitors, clutched at his chest instead—feeling the hard ridges of muscle beneath her fingertips. Her heart hammered wildly, like a trapped bird, while her knees went weak.

The kiss deepened... just a slow, confident press that left her dizzy.

His violet eyes stayed open, locked on hers, as if daring her to look away.

She couldn’t.

Her lashes fluttered, heat crawling up her neck, her chest, everywhere.

Finally, when she thought she might suffocate, he drew back just a fraction. Just enough to let her breathe, yet still so close that his lips brushed hers with every stolen breath.

Su Qinglan’s voice came out broken, trembling, and utterly betrayed by her own body.

"Y-you—!"

Her hands shoved weakly at him, but his smirk only widened. Those violet eyes gleamed victoriously.

As if to get on her nerves more, the man dared to shamelessly lay the bold claim.

"Mn. Sweet."

Su Qinglan’s entire brain short-circuited.