Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off - Chapter 172

172: Chapter 172: Xuan Long is hiding something?

172: Chapter 172: Xuan Long is hiding something?

Su Qinglan’s eyes widened and her cheeks turned red at his whispered words.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the bowl, and she refused to meet his eyes.

Xuan Long watched her closely.

The way her face flushed, the way her lashes trembled, it made his chest tighten.

His heart began to beat faster and faster, almost painfully.

He really wanted to bite her.

Those soft, red lips that always pouted angrily, those cheeks that puffed up whenever she was mad… why was she so sweet?

He chuckled softly, his deep voice low and warm.

“Drink this first,” he said, his eyes still lingering on her face.

Su Qinglan blinked and finally looked down at the stone bowl in her hands.

It was filled with a simple-looking meat soup.

The steam rose slowly, carrying a faint, rich aroma.

Her stomach growled softly.

She hadn’t eaten anything since last night, and it was already noon.

She didn’t even have the strength to pretend anymore.

“…Okay,” she muttered, her voice small.

Before she could lift the bowl, Xuan Long reached out, took it from her hands, and scooped a small spoonful.

He blew on it gently, then brought it to her lips.

Su Qinglan blinked in surprise.

“I…I can eat by myself!” He smiled faintly.

“You’re still weak.

Just eat.” She hesitated for a moment, then gave up.

The warmth of the soup, the gentleness in his tone…

it made it hard to argue.

She leaned forward slightly and took the spoonful.

The taste was surprisingly good.

Soft meat, a little salty, but comforting.

He continued to feed her slowly, one spoon at a time.

Each time, he would blow on the soup carefully before bringing it to her lips.

Somehow, it felt oddly warm… like being cared for.

Su Qinglan found herself eating happily, too focused on the food to notice anything else.

But after a few bites, she frowned slightly.

Something about the taste felt… different.

She paused, licking her lips.

There was a strange warmth spreading through her body…not heat, but a deep, comforting energy, like her muscles were relaxing, her bones strengthening.

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“Wait a second…” Xuan Long looked at her, calm as ever.

“What is it?” Her eyes widened.

“Did you… put something in this soup?” For a moment, he said nothing.

Then his lips curved faintly.

“You noticed?” “So you did put something!” she said, glaring at him.

“What is it?” He hummed softly, a low sound deep in his throat.

“Just something that helps recovery.” “That’s not an answer,” she muttered, but he didn’t reply.

Instead, he gave her another spoonful, and somehow, she ended up eating it anyway.

The more she ate, the more that warm, soothing energy spread through her body.

Her soreness faded little by little.

The ache in her legs disappeared.

Her strength returned.

When the bowl was finally empty, she sat back, blinking in surprise.

Her whole body felt light and stronger, even.

She looked at him again.

“What was that?” He only smiled faintly.

“Something to remove your body ache and help you feel stronger.” Su Qinglan narrowed her eyes.

“You’re hiding something.” “Maybe,” he said calmly.

Before she could ask more, he stood up and looked toward the corner of the cave.

“Do you want to bathe?” She hesitated, then nodded slowly.

“I… guess I do.” His expression softened.

“Good.

I’ve already prepared it.” “What?” Before she could ask what he meant, he turned and disappeared for a moment.

Then, to her shock, he came back carrying a large wooden tub in his arms.

He set it down inside the cave with ease, as if it weighed nothing, and soon water appeared inside it.

Steam rose from the surface, filling the cave with a faint mist.

Su Qinglan blinked, completely stunned.

“You… did you make this again?” “Of course,” he said simply, straightening up.

His hair brushed over his shoulder as he looked down at her.

“You need to relax.” Before Su Qinglan could react, Xuan Long suddenly stepped forward and lifted her into his arms again.

“H-Hey!

What are you doing?!” She yelped, clutching the hide against her chest.

He didn’t answer.

His movements were calm, steady, and almost too smooth.

In the next second, his fingers brushed over her shoulders, and the hide slipped away.

“Wait…Xuan Long!” she gasped, her face turning bright red.

“I can bathe myself!” But he only said softly, “Lan Lan, let me help.” Her breath caught.

His voice was low and deep, filled with quiet warmth that somehow made it hard to argue.

Still, she tried to push his hand away, her cheeks burning.

“N-No!

I said I can do it!” He looked at her then and a faint chuckle escaped his lips.

“What is there to hide, Lan Lan?” he teased gently.

“I’ve already seen everything.” Su Qinglan’s eyes widened, and she covered her face with both hands.

“You!

You shameless snake!” He smiled faintly, his expression calm as ever, and carefully placed her into the warm water after removing all of her clothes.

The moment her body sank in, she couldn’t stop the soft sigh that escaped her lips.

The water was perfectly warm, wrapping around her like a soft blanket.

Her muscles relaxed instantly.

“It feels… nice,” she murmured before she could stop herself.

Su Qinglan’s soft sigh of relief was cut short.

Her eyes snapped open, and she gasped as Xuan Long, with one swift movement, peeled the soft hide from his waist and stepped into the tub with her.

She was so shocked that she could only stare, her cheeks instantly blazing.

“W-what are you doing?” she stuttered, splashing slightly.

He settled down across from her, his long body submerging easily in the large tub, and gave her a slow, mischievous smile.

“I need a bath, too.” “Liar!” she immediately retorted, her voice shaking slightly.

“You’ve already had a bath!” Before she could protest further, he reached out, caught her waist, and easily pulled her across the water and onto his lap.

A breathless sound escaped her throat as she suddenly found herself straddling him.

His large, strong arms wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.

She could feel the hard, unmistakable length of him beneath her, poking against her soft buttocks.

“Lan Lan,” he murmured, his voice now a dark velvet rumble.

“Let me help you wash.” Su Qinglan wanted to protest..this is not how you help someone bathe…but the deep, calm sincerity in his eyes made her hesitate.

She felt a flicker of doubt, even as she felt he was hiding something.

He began to wash her gently, his hands moving slowly over her shoulders and down her back.

The touch was soothing, and she involuntarily relaxed against his solid body.

But as time slowly passed, her eyes opened wide with alarm.

Something was wrong.

A strange, deep heat, unlike the warmth of the water, was slowly spreading through her bones.

It was a raw, undeniable energy, coiling tightly in her core.

“Xuan Long… I feel something is wrong,” she whispered breathlessly, leaning back against him.

His gaze deepened, becoming dark and intense.

He pulled her even closer, massaging the taut muscles in her lower back with a firm, practiced hand, trying to calm her rising panic.

She leaned weakly into his embrace as the strange energy intensified, growing stronger with every beat of her heart.

That soup?

What had Xuan Long fed her?

She thought wildly.

She looked up at him, and he whispered, his eyes never leaving hers, “Lan Lan, do you trust me?” Looking into the depths of his eyes, she swallowed hard and whispered back, “Yes… yes, I trust you.”