Chapter 37

Chapter 37: As Fierce as His Face!

At the mention of the drug, Ashley’s face darkened. It was a stain she couldn’t scrub away, and it had left a crack between her and Lin Lang that never fully closed.

“The medicine wasn’t fake,” Ashley said, voice low. “Different bodies react differently. Did you actually drug Zulu?”

“You think I went to the devil-hunting squad for fun?” Rona sneered. “Of course it was for him. If he’d gone into heat and mated, he wouldn’t have been able to stay with Su Yan even if he wanted to.”

Ashley’s jaw tightened. “Thank goodness it didn’t work. Otherwise I would’ve made a terrible mistake.” She turned sharply. “Shava, are you done?”

“Done, done.”

“Let’s go.” Ashley’s tone went ice-cold as she looked at Rona. “A female who keeps coveting someone else’s male—stay away from her in the future.”

The words were brutal. Almost a severing.

Rona’s face twisted. “What are you implying? I never coveted Lin Lang.”

“You wish,” Ashley snapped. “Not a chance.”

She grabbed Shava and walked away.

Su Yan met them as they approached. “How is it?”

“You shouldn’t have helped her,” Ashley muttered. “Letting her embarrass herself would’ve served her right.”

Su Yan shook her head. “We can’t. Today is a three-clan gathering. If she loses face, it won’t just be her—it’ll be the mouse clan’s females.”

Ashley and Shava stared at her, stunned. Then understanding dawned, followed by relief.

“You’re right,” Ashley admitted, exhaling. “I was so angry I stopped thinking.”

She looped her arm through Su Yan’s. “Come. Let’s go see my cubs.”

“Of course.” Su Yan smiled. “It’s been a while. They must’ve grown again.”

Shava followed a step behind. After a few paces, she glanced back at Rona.

Rona was examining the little orange flower at her waist—stitched in brocade silk, cleverly hiding the rip and even making the skirt look a bit playful. After all that work, Rona hadn’t said a single thank-you.

Shava sighed. Fine. She’d call it saving face for mouse clan females.

Not long after, Agma·Lei Shi stepped onto the stage to speak.

Below sat the rabbit clan’s old clan leader, and a young male representing the fox clan.

Walking with Ashley, Su Yan studied the fox clan male. Fox clan men had naturally charming eyes. He was tall and sleek rather than bulky, well-proportioned, with golden-red hair braided thick and long. One loose strand fell across his chest, catching the light whenever he moved.

“Not bad-looking,” Su Yan murmured. “What’s his talent like?”

“No matter how good, he can’t compare to yours,” Ashley said with a laugh. “Yellow-tier wood element. They say he’ll be the next fox clan chief.”

“And him with Rona?” Su Yan pictured it—Rona’s sturdy, lush body beside this slim fox. “They don’t seem to match.”

“It’s not our place to decide,” Ashley said, though her mouth twitched. “Still…”

Su Yan lowered her voice. “Honestly, Rona and our Suo Fei Li look more suited. Similar builds. More even.”

Ashley nodded. “Suo Fei Li is fourth in his family. He has older brothers and younger brothers—marrying in wouldn’t be a problem. Blue-tier peak strength, too.”

Shava’s eyes lit up like lanterns. “No, no, no. I want Suo Fei Li.”

Su Yan blinked. “Don’t you already have a beast husband?”

Shava’s cheeks reddened. “I still haven’t gotten pregnant. So I want another beast husband. Suo Fei Li and I grew up together. He wants me too.”

“Then I hope you get pregnant soon,” Su Yan said gently.

“Thank you, Sister Su Yan.”

“No need. Don’t pressure yourself. Let it happen when it happens.”

Shava nodded, but the envy in her eyes didn’t fade. In their tribe, females were the most precious cubs—rare, treasured, fought over.

Agma·Lei Shi began calling males onto the stage—those who’d joined the Devil-Hunting Plan.

There weren’t many, but Lin Lang and Zulu stood out as the center of everything. Even the males whose names weren’t called clustered around them, eager for attention.

Zulu looked almost lazy, like he was half bored with it all. Then he lifted his gaze—straight toward Su Yan—and caught her watching.

His lips curved.

In that instant, his beauty was almost unfair, like a blade flashed under light.

Su Yan’s expression went flat. Disaster. Absolute disaster.

Shava stared, slack-jawed. “Zulu Ge isn’t like he used to be.”

Su Yan’s heart gave a small jolt. “Oh? What’s different?”

“He’s even more handsome.” Shava’s gaze slid to Su Yan, awed and jealous all at once. “Sister Su Yan, tell me quietly… Zulu Ge in that area—does he live up to his face?”

The question landed like a stone.

Around them, ears perked. Heads angled closer.

Su Yan’s cheeks warmed. How was she supposed to answer that?

She cleared her throat and said, as evenly as she could, “I got pregnant in one night. What do you think?”

A collective gasp rippled through the listeners.

All eyes flew to Zulu.

A male should be like Zulu.

Ashley smacked Shava lightly. “What nonsense are you asking? It’s your beast husband’s turn to go up and take his reward.”

Shava scratched her head and grinned apologetically at Su Yan. “I just say what I’m thinking. Don’t be mad.”

“I’m not,” Su Yan said, still mortified.

She glanced toward the stage and spotted a clean-cut male with a middle-grade build. “That’s your beast husband?”

“Mm. La Ge,” Shava said proudly. “He was in Zulu Ge’s squad this time. He earned a lot of coin. Otherwise I wouldn’t dare bring up taking a second beast husband.”

“And he agreed?” Su Yan asked.

“He agreed. It was his idea.”

“As long as you can all get along,” Su Yan said softly. “Mine… he probably won’t ever allow it.”

“Zulu Ge is too strong,” Shava said, smiling. “If you want a second male who can compare, there’s almost none.”

“And he might not agree anyway,” Ashley added with a knowing look.

In their clan, if a female wanted a second beast husband—or more—she needed the first beast consort’s approval.

Su Yan nodded. “Exactly. He doesn’t seem like the type.”

Ashley leaned closer. “By the way, Lin Lang mentioned something this morning. He drank at your house last night. He said he likes your little son a lot—wants to match him with my daughter, make them children in-law.”

“That’s great,” Su Yan said without hesitation. She didn’t care whether her daughter-in-law had talent. Her son’s talent mattered far more.

“Really?” Ashley’s smile widened.

“Really.” Su Yan nodded. “Have your grandmother pick an auspicious day. We can even set an engagement first.”

Lin Lang and Ashley’s daughter was one Su Yan had helped deliver—pretty, bright-eyed, clever.

“I’ll talk to Lin Lang again,” Ashley said. “If there’s no issue, we’ll make it official.”

“Mm. In my family, the oldest one took the Deyila family surname,” Su Yan said. “I can’t decide for that one. But the other two—I can.”

Shava made a sound of pure longing. “I want to give birth to a litter right now.”

Ashley laughed, but her attention snapped to the stage as Lin Lang stepped up.

The fox clan male rose smoothly. “Lin Lang Ge.”

“Lai Yin.” Lin Lang smiled back.

Agma·Lei Shi lifted a brow. “You know each other?”