CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: MY SAVAGE MATE CAN’T RESIST MY COOKING

Su Qinglan hummed softly as she carried the basin of meat toward the river. Hu Yan followed her with steady steps, silent as always.

She crouched down by the water and dipped the pieces of meat one by one, scrubbing them carefully with her hands until the blood washed away. The cold river water stung her skin, but she didn’t mind. She wanted her food clean.

Hu Yan stood behind her watching with crossed arms. His golden eyes didn’t blink once, as if he was trying to figure out why she was wasting time.

"Meat must be washed," Su Qinglan explained, more to herself than to him. "If you don’t wash it, it smells bad."

Hu Yan tilted his head. For a moment he didn’t move. But then, without a word, he crouched down beside her. He picked up a chunk of meat and dunked it in the river. His movements were clumsy at first. He rubbed the meat too hard, splashing water everywhere, then frowned when it slipped out of his hand.

Su Qinglan bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

The mighty tiger who had scared her half to death earlier... Now he was mimicking her like a child, carefully washing meat in the river.

Her lips curved in a smile. Good food really could make anyone do anything.

When the meat was clean, she carried it back. By then the sky was already growing brighter, sunlight streaming through the leaves outside the cave. She picked a flat stone, placed it on both sides of the firepit she had built earlier, and carefully arranged dry sticks in the middle. Then she struck her flint stones together until sparks caught.

The flames blazed up.

Hu Yan, who had just returned, stopped in his tracks. His golden eyes widened in open shock.

The firelight reflected in his pupils. He stared at it like it was some kind of sacred magic. His brows furrowed, his chest rose and fell slowly, and his usually calm expression showed something close to disbelief.

"When did you learn this?" he asked in a low voice.

Su Qinglan glanced at him, puzzled. "Learn what?"

He pointed at the fire, still staring. "Control fire... this... this I have only seen in the witch doctor’s cave. How do you know?"

She blinked. To her, starting a fire was just... normal. In the apocalypse, she had made hundreds of campfires to cook and keep warm. But here, in this primitive beast world, maybe not everyone knew how.

Su Qinglan straightened her back and raised her chin a little. "Secret," she said smugly, then waved her hand. "Don’t just stand there. Come here."

Hu Yan walked over at once.

Su Qinglan grinned. She picked up a chunk of fat first and tossed it into the pan she had set over the stones. Slowly, the fat melted down, sizzling as it turned into oil. A fragrant smell filled the air.

Hu Yan leaned forward slightly, nose twitching like a curious animal.

Then she added chopped ginger and onions. The moment they hit the hot oil, a sharp and rich aroma spread out, making the whole cave smell heavenly.

Finally, she threw in the meat. The fat sizzled louder, juices popping and crackling. White smoke curled upward, carrying the mouthwatering scent of stir-fried pork.

Hu Yan’s throat bobbed. His golden eyes fixed on the pan, shining with hunger. Without realizing it, he sat down right beside her, his big body crouched low like an eager puppy waiting to be fed.

Su Qinglan chuckled under her breath. She hooked the corner of her lips and showed off her cooking skills with practiced ease. Flip, stir, toss—each movement smooth and natural.

But then she froze for a moment.

Salt.

Her heart skipped. She couldn’t just pull salt out of thin air in front of him. Her mysterious space was her biggest secret. If Hu Yan saw her using it, who knew what might happen?

Thinking quickly, she handed him the crooked wooden spatula she had carved earlier. "Here. Stir it."

Hu Yan blinked at her, clearly bewildered. He took the spatula slowly, his large hand dwarfing the small wooden tool. Then he poked at the meat with all the grace of a snail.

The spatula scraped the bottom of the pan. He flipped one piece, then paused, staring at it like he wasn’t sure what he was doing.

Su Qinglan almost laughed out loud. But she didn’t mind. "Good. Keep stirring. Don’t stop."

As he focused on moving the meat clumsily, she quickly slipped deeper into the cave. She grabbed a small bowl, scooped some salt from her space into it, and hurried back out.

With a casual air, she sprinkled the salt over the sizzling meat. The smell instantly grew richer and sharper.

Even her own stomach growled.

Hu Yan’s did too.

Su Qinglan covered her mouth to hide her grin. She picked up her handmade chopsticks, caught a small piece of meat, and blew on it gently until the steam faded. Then she turned to Hu Yan, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Aaah," she said softly.

Hu Yan didn’t even think. His mouth opened.

Su Qinglan slipped the meat inside.

The big tiger chewed slowly. Then his golden eyes widened, glowing with shock. His whole body seemed to stiffen.

Delicious.

The word wasn’t enough. The flavor burst in his mouth, rich and tender, salty with the bite of ginger and the sweetness of onions. The fat coated his tongue, making it even more savory.

He swallowed, almost in disbelief. "Delicious," he said aloud, his deep voice trembling with excitement. "It is... too delicious."

Su Qinglan tilted her head, a playful twinkle in her eyes. Really too easy. Feed him once and he’s already hooked.

Hu Yan forgot everything else. He forgot that this was the same female who had forcefully mated with him, the same one everyone whispered was cruel and domineering. Right now, none of that mattered.

Only one thought filled his mind.

If he could eat food like this every day, then even if she scolded him, even if she beat him, he was willing. He wanted to stay with her all his life.

Su Qinglan, of course, didn’t know what went through his head. She only knew one thing.

This big tiger... was far too easy to bully.

And she wanted to keep feeding him.