Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Testing Each Other

“Six perfect marten pelts,” Rona said, opening the bag to reveal a coat with glossy, luxurious fur. “I made two. This one is for Brother Zulu.”

“Two coats,” Su Yan repeated, smiling without warmth.

She glanced back at Zulu, her eyes full of quiet mockery.

Anyone who dealt in pelts knew marten fur cost more than fox fur. And Oro was one of the larger pelt merchants in the mouse clan—Su Yan knew prices better than most.

Rona’s smile stretched tighter. “You’re misunderstanding—”

Zulu didn’t even look at the coat. His face was distant, almost contemptuous. “Female Reishi is mistaken. Those marten pelts weren’t mine. My cousin asked me to pass them to Female Reishi. Many people know this.”

He didn’t reach for the coat. “Female Reishi has delivered it to the wrong person.”

With that, he took Su Yan’s hand and walked past a stunned Rona ·Lei Shi.

Su Yan’s surprise was almost as sharp as Rona’s. She raised her voice on purpose, letting it ring out in the open air. “So it really was your cousin who asked you to pass them on? You didn’t give them to her yourself?”

“If you don’t believe me,” Zulu said evenly, “go ask around. Little Luo knows. He was in my devil-hunting squad back then.”

“I’ll ask Little Luo,” Su Yan said, eyes still narrowed.

“Do,” Zulu replied, and pulled her into his arms again—gentler this time, but firm.

Su Yan wanted to push away.

Then she opened the System Map and saw Rona’s gaze behind them—thick with hate, locked on Su Yan like teeth.

Su Yan let herself stay in Zulu’s arms a moment longer.

“Rona likes you,” she said quietly.

Zulu laughed under his breath. “A lot of females like me. Does that mean I have to do something with each one?”

Su Yan snorted. “Males will do anything for offspring.”

“…Fair,” Zulu said, studying her. “Then tonight—how about we have another litter?”

“No.” Su Yan’s answer was immediate.

A cold, mechanical voice suddenly sounded in her mind.

“Warning, host. Host may not refuse a high-talent male’s request to conceive. Repeat offense: deduct 500 points.”

Su Yan froze mid-step, eyes widening so hard they nearly hurt.

“Little Mei—” she said in her mind, shocked and furious.

The voice returned, mercilessly calm. “Reminder to host: acting on emotion is a major taboo of the childbearing system.”

Su Yan went cold all the way through.

Now she understood why the childbearing system had chosen her.

Because she had been betrayed before. Because her heart had died once already.

If she fell into feelings again—if she refused to bear children because of something as useless as love—then the childbearing system might erase her and choose another host.

A chill crawled up from the deepest part of her soul.

“I understand,” she told it.

Her consciousness snapped back into her body.

Zulu looked at her and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Su Yan walked forward, face blank, thoughts in a knot.

Near home, she stopped again.

Zulu stopped behind her, watching.

“I’m ready,” Su Yan said.

Zulu stared. “Ready for what?”

“To have a child.”

Su Yan narrowed her eyes at him, calculation sharpening her gaze.

If Little Mei had personally interfered, then this male’s talent was definitely above Yellow-grade.

One litter wouldn’t hurt. And better yet—children could prove whether he truly was Zulu.

Facts didn’t lie.

With the evidence in front of him, he wouldn’t be able to deny his identity.

“But your body hasn’t fully recovered,” Zulu said, genuinely surprised. She’d refused him with no room for argument before.

“It’s fine,” Su Yan said, and turned toward the house.

Damn the childbearing system. She didn’t even have the right to refuse.

Inside, Emma fed the three cubs, coaxed them to sleep, then headed to the kitchen to prepare food. Oro followed to help, grateful hands moving where they could.

“Emma,” Oro asked, “how come I’ve never heard you mention your own children?”

“My fertility is low,” Emma said. “I don’t have children. But I like them.”

“That much is obvious,” Oro said. “You care for these little ones so patiently. You’re better than some mothers.”

“I can manage children,” Emma replied. “Other things, not so much.”

“You’ve helped a lot,” Oro said warmly. “The whole house is spotless. It looks like a new place.”

Footsteps sounded outside.

Oro straightened. “Yan Er and Zulu are back.”

Emma immediately began slicing fruit and meat. “Tell them to wash their hands. Dinner’s ready.”

…

No matter how tangled her thoughts were, no matter how heavy the pressure on her chest, Su Yan never let it reach her family’s eyes.

The moment she stepped inside, she called out brightly, “Dad, I’m back! Ashley said our whole family should go to the victory banquet.”

“Good,” Oro said, smiling. “We can use it to meet a few more pelt merchants from the rabbit clan.”

“Mm.” Su Yan nodded.

Emma came out carrying chilled, tender backstrap meat, fruit, and milk. After setting everything down, she said, “The ice Zulu made is so useful. The meat tastes especially good this way. Eat slowly—I’ll go check on the children.”

Su Yan popped a piece of ice into her mouth. Cold cracked across her tongue, clean and sharp, and her head cleared for a heartbeat. “Where did you get ice?”

“Water-element profundity,” Zulu said easily. “The freezing art. Simple.”

He took a warm cloth and wiped Su Yan’s hands with practiced care. “Later I’ll get you some fine cotton cloths. They’re softer—better for you.”

“Where are you going to find fine cotton?” Su Yan asked, genuinely curious.

“I have a friend from the East District in the roc clan,” Zulu said. “I can have him bring things over.”

Su Yan’s heart sank a fraction.

This was his network—not Zulu’s. If the real Zulu had contacts like that, he would have told her long ago.

Zulu spoke again, tone casual, like he was just making conversation. “You said you have friends in the East District too. How did you meet them?”

“I met him in Senyu Beast Forest,” Su Yan said. “He’s from the leopard clan.”

Thinking of that black leopard made her think of her first cub again. Was it healthy? Had it grown well?

“What leopard?” A red glint flickered across Zulu’s eyes.

Su Yan took a sip of milk. “None of your business.”

“…Male or female?” Zulu pressed.

Su Yan took a bite of chilled meat, then looked at him. “Then let me ask you—your roc clan friend. Male or female?”

“It’s a male,” Zulu said. His gaze sharpened. “Did you mate with him?”

He really was dangerous. Clever. Like a blade hidden under velvet.

Su Yan’s appetite vanished. She set her food down. “Eat. And tonight, you sleep with the children.”

She stood and left the table.

Zulu picked up the milk she hadn’t finished and drank it in one go.

Leopard clan…

He did know one. And that one had a cub he guarded like his life.

…

After washing up, Su Yan returned to her cave-room and shut the door, the message clear: don’t disturb me.

She undressed, shifted into a little white mouse , and slipped out through the vent near the ceiling.

Perched along the edge of the roof, she looked down into the yard.

Little Luo and Oro were making beast-skin boots. Zulu sat with them, cutting leather. The three of them worked in smooth rhythm, blades and hands moving like they shared the same breath.