Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off - Chapter 197

Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Relentless Rain
Rong Ye barreled into the cave like a wet fox who had just defeated heaven itself.

He skidded across the stone floor, water dripping in heavy lines from his hair and clothes, and loudly dropped his haul.

Clack! Clunk! Thud!

The sounds echoed through the cave.

Han Jue didn’t even look up; he was too busy tying a hide bundle. Hu Yan flicked an ear, unimpressed. But Su Qinglan turned at once.

The moment she looked at him, Rong Ye’s entire posture changed. He straightened, puffed up, tail practically wagging behind him even though he was currently in human form.

He didn’t even greet the others.

He immediately grabbed a thick hide from the drying rack, shook it once, and wrapped it around his head like a dramatic fox prince. Then he pat-pat-patted himself dry. His cheeks, his hair, his neck, his arms…he rubbed every part until the rainwater finally stopped dripping.

Only then did he fling the hide aside, sprint to Su Qinglan, and scoop her into his arms.

“Lan Lan, you’re awake!” Rong Ye declared proudly, burying half his face into the curve of her neck and shoulder. He inhaled deeply, as if trying to pull her whole scent into his lungs. “Ahh… I missed you so much…”

Su Qinglan blinked, startled but amused. His wet hair was cold against her skin, yet the warmth of his arms made her giggle.

“Rong Ye… you’re soaked! What happened? You look… very happy?”

“Happy?” he pulled back, violet eyes shining like precious gems. “Of course I’m happy! I snatched all the good items from the tribe!”

He lifted his chin, unbearably smug.

“I got the softest ribs, the best loin pieces, even the smoked bison tail! Elder Bo tried to cheat us, but I stopped him…oh, Lan Lan, you should’ve seen me! I fought for your meals! I made sure you got the best!”

Su Qinglan stared at him. Utterly speechless.

Her mouth opened… closed… opened again.

“Rong Ye… we already have so much meat…”

“That is not the point!” he snapped with righteous indignation. “You are delicate. A pregnant female should only eat the softest, sweetest meat. Do you want to chew tough neck pieces? No! So I worked hard!”

He said it with such sincerity that she couldn’t even scold him. Instead, she smiled and nodded gently.

“You did well, Rong Ye.”

His ears practically perked up. He hugged her again, tighter, planting his cold cheek to her warm one as if he had earned a lifetime achievement award.

Han Jue finally stepped over, picked up the stone bowls Rong Ye had dropped, and placed them neatly next to the packed items. He didn’t say anything, but he gave Rong Ye a long stare filled with silent judgment.

Rong Ye pretended not to see it.

Hu Yan, meanwhile, walked by carrying a giant bundle of rolled hides, pausing only to smirk at Rong Ye’s obvious triumph.

With all three husbands now inside, the work resumed smoothly.

Han Jue tied stone bowls with vines and stacked them carefully.

Rong Ye dragged hide bundles and wooden tubs toward the entrance, still humming with pride.

Hu Yan moved the heaviest items…large stone tubs, spare firewood, and thick hides…almost effortlessly.

Su Qinglan could only sit on the furs, watching them work. She tried to get up once, but Han Jue looked at her with the same sternness he used when telling a wild beast to sit still.

“No, Lan Lan,” he said firmly. “You are not allowed to lift anything.”

Hu Yan’s giant hand appeared behind her, pushing her gently back down.

Rong Ye even pointed a finger at her. “If you stand up again, I will carry you and tie you to my waist.”

So she stayed where she was.

And Hu Yan quickly set about cooking something warm for her.

The tiger moved around like a silent storm, tossing chopped vegetables into the stone pot, stirring with a carved spoon, adding slices of the newly stolen/snatched meat, and then adjusting the firewood. Steam rose slowly, filling the cave with a rich, comforting smell.

Su Qinglan’s eyelids lowered as she breathed it in.

Her gaze drifted toward the entrance… and toward the endless curtain of rain.

It was heavier now. It was steady, thick, and relentless, like the sky had opened and refused to close.

Her heart tightened with worry.

Xuan Long still hasn’t returned…

The group had left yesterday. They were supposed to come back today. But it was already noon… and the rain was only getting worse.

Her stomach turned at the thought.

If the rice got drenched… if the sacks got soaked…

Would everything spoil?

How cold were they out there? How muddy was the path? How dangerous were the cliffs in the rain?

Xuan Long always looked calm, always confident, but she knew he pushed himself too hard. And with the younger beastmen helping him…

Her chest ached.

She pressed a hand to her stomach unconsciously, feeling the faint warmth inside.

Hu Yan looked over immediately, eyes narrowing with concern. “Pain?”

She shook her head quickly. “No, no… just thinking…”

But her expression betrayed her.

Han Jue straightened from tying a bundle and stepped closer. “You’re worried about Xuan Long?”

She nodded silently.

Rong Ye dropped the vine rope in his hand, his cheerful expression dimming. For a moment, even he looked tense.

“He will come back,” Rong Ye said, trying to sound confident. “After all, what could happen to him…he is simply a monster,” Rong Ye murmured as a shudder ran down his spine.

Han Jue nodded. “The tribe leader will send scouts if they don’t return by dawn. But I believe they will make it back before then.”

Su Qinglan wanted to believe it.

She really did.

But the rain was so loud… so heavy… and the world outside felt drowned.

By the time the sunless afternoon arrived, Hu Yan finally handed out bowls of steaming broth. The four of them sat close together—Han Jue on her left, Rong Ye practically leaning on her shoulder, and Hu Yan across, watching her take every bite.

There was little talking.

Only the sound of rain pounding like drums outside.

Stove finally crawled into the cave, dripping wet but looking unusually energetic. He shook his leaves dramatically, splattering water everywhere, then instantly scurried toward the food, grabbed a tiny piece, and fled back outside, vanishing into the rain again.

Rong Ye groaned. “That creature is going to root himself into mud one day…”

But nobody scolded the plant. Even Han Jue looked too tired to bother.

After they finished eating, the cave looked strangely empty.

Most of their belongings were packed and stacked near the entrance. The piles of hides were gone, the wooden stray items remained.

Han Jue and Rong Ye were preparing for the last round of shifting items to the new living area when Su Qinglan finally exhaled softly.

The world felt too quiet; her earlier excitement was slowly fading as she looked at the relentless rain. She only wished that Xuan Long could come back as soon as possible.