CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: THE BEASTMAN WITH ICY EYES

On the other side of the river, Su Qinglan was completely unaware that poor Hu Yan was being teased half to death by the beastmen like a newlywed bride.

Even if she knew, she couldn’t do much about it. In the beast world, this was normal.

No beastman could escape once the others caught him after mating with a female.

It wasn’t bullying. It was entertainment.

Life in the beast world was simple but also boring. There were no dramas, no games, and no books to read. Their only fun was gossiping about couples and teasing the unlucky male who had just gotten himself a female.

Hu Yan might be strong, but even he couldn’t fight against a dozen beastmen at once. And he didn’t really want to. After all, those males were like his brothers—some older, some younger.

If he fought them seriously, it would only bring bad blood. So he could only endure, face red, while the others laughed until their stomachs hurt.

But Su Qinglan?

At this moment, she was happily humming to herself in the river. The water was cool against her skin, the sunlight falling in patches through the leaves above.

From the day she had arrived in this beast world, she felt... lighter. Not just her body, but her heart too. No more struggling through the rotten, hopeless apocalypse. No more hiding, starving, or smelling corpses everywhere.

Here, the air was fresh. The food was good. The beastmen were strong enough to keep her safe. For the first time in a long time...she was happy.

She bent forward, peering into the clear river water. Her reflection rippled back at her.

Wait...

Her round cheeks... looked a little less round?

Her jaw seemed sharper, the double chin almost gone.

She blinked, rubbed her eyes, and then leaned closer.

"Is it my imagination... or did my face slim down?"

Her eyes lit up.

"System, system! Xuyu! Did I lose weight?" She whispered eagerly, her whole face sparkling with excitement.

Xuyu’s calm voice echoed in her mind.

[Yes, host. You’ve lost five kilograms in the last two days.]

"WHAT?!" Su Qinglan almost splashed water everywhere. Her jaw dropped.

"Five whole kilos?! How? I didn’t even do anything! Did I... did I finally get blessed by the heavens?"

[Not exactly.] Xuyu’s voice was cool, as always.

[Host has a plant-type healing ability. It has started healing your body and slowly removing impurities. That is why you are slimming down without effort.]

Su Qinglan froze for a second.

Then—BOOM! Her heart practically leapt to the sky.

"YESSS!" she cheered inside. "Hahahaha! I knew it! My golden finger is the best! No dieting, no exercise, and still losing weight...this is the true dream of women!"

Her body practically vibrated with joy.

She clenched her fists, her round face shining with excitement. "Does this mean... I can eat more now? I’ve been controlling myself like crazy, only eating a few bites of meat just to slim down. But if my ability heals me automatically... then I can eat! I can really eat!"

Just thinking of roasted meat dripping with fat made her stomach growl.

But before she could float away in bliss, Xuyu’s voice stabbed her heart like a knife.

[If the host keeps eating like a pig, then the host will forever look like... a potato.]

"..."

[So if the host truly wants to blind her beast husbands’ wolf eyes with an hourglass figure, then the host must show restraint.]

Su Qinglan’s mouth twitched.

She pouted at her reflection in the water. Her cheeks were still soft and round, even if they were less so than before.

"...A potato, huh?" she muttered gloomily.

She poked at her cheek with her finger. It really did bounce back like dough.

In her mind, she imagined Hu Yan’s cold golden eyes staring at her and Rong Ye’s suspicious violet gaze.

"Tch... blinding them with my beauty was supposed to be my greatest counterattack!" she whispered dramatically.

But even though she complained, the corners of her lips curled up secretly.

After happily splashing in the water and cheering about her lost weight, Su Qinglan finally finished bathing.

She stood up, water dripping down her skin, and quickly wrapped herself in the soft towel she got from the system. The warmth of the towel felt comforting against the cool air.

Humming lightly, she rubbed herself dry. Her round figure wobbled a little as she moved, but her heart was light.

Once she was done, she slipped into her freshly cleaned clothes. The soft hides hugged her body, making her feel neat and proper.

It was such a small thing, but after living in filth for so long in her past life, wearing clean clothes always made her mood shoot up.

"Ahhh~ clean again! This is life!" she said to herself proudly.

But her work wasn’t finished. She squatted down by the riverbank again, grabbed the pile of dirty hides, and began washing them one by one.

Her hands dipped into the cool water, scrubbing with steady movements. She hummed another tune—this one cheerful, almost like a little spring song.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was sweet, clear, and carried easily across the quiet forest.

Far away, someone heard it.

A male beastman’s steps slowed. His sharp ears twitched at the unfamiliar sound.

Who was humming?

The voice was soft yet lively, carrying a warmth that tugged at his chest. In this world, females rarely hummed. Most were proud, sharp-tempered, and didn’t bother making such sounds. But this one... this one was different.

Almost without realizing it, his feet carried him toward the riverbank.

As he drew closer, the sight made him pause.

A round figure crouched by the water, scrubbing hides, her wet hair falling over her shoulders in a messy curtain. Droplets slid down her strands, landing softly on her back.

She swayed slightly as she hummed, looking completely absorbed in her own little world.

The male beastman blinked, his icy blue eyes narrowing.

Who was she?

Even though she was on the round side, her scent drifted to him, fresh and sweet, tickling his senses. Her hair gleamed in the sunlight, smooth and beautiful. His heart gave an unfamiliar thump.

Before he realized it, he had walked closer, silent as a shadow. He stopped right behind her, gazing down at her back.

His voice came out low, calm, and direct.

"Female, which tribe do you belong to?"

Su Qinglan nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Ahhh—!" She whipped her head around, eyes wide. She hadn’t even noticed someone sneaking up on her!

Her instincts screamed at her to throw the wet hide in her hand straight at the intruder’s face or maybe a heavy stone to knock him out.

How could someone sneak up behind her and she not even notice? What the hell—where have her survival skills gone, or are the beastmen truly masters at hiding their presence?

But the moment her eyes met his—she froze.

Icy blue eyes. Cold, piercing, yet strangely beautiful.

And the beastman standing behind her also froze. His gaze locked on her pale round face, droplets of water still clinging to her flushed cheeks.

For a breath, time seemed to stop.

Both Su Qinglan and the beastman stared at each other, caught off guard.