Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off - Chapter 201

Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Han Jue’s Conflicted Feelings
Su Qinglan had barely finished rinsing the last streak of water from her hair when everything suddenly turned into chaos.

One second, Han Jue was staring at her in the bath like he wanted to dive in with her.

The next second, everything exploded.

Because just when the atmosphere got hot… so hot Han Jue’s entire body had tensed and his breath had shortened, and he had genuinely, truly almost pounced on her like a starved beast.

A very unwelcome voice screeched from outside.

“Lan Lan! The group who went to trade rice is back! Xuan Long should be back too!”

Rong Ye’s voice shook the leaves. Han Jue’s soul left his body on the spot because he was startled by that fox’s banshee-like voice.

Su Qinglan’s eyes widened like a startled deer.

“Xuan… Long… is back?”

And in that one moment, she forgot everything. She immediately rinsed herself and stepped out from the tub. The poor Han Jue could only look at her hurrying figure with a sullen expression.

She completely forgot about him. She didn’t even look at his trembling hands. Didn’t look at his poor heart that was still stuck in the previous moment.

Han Jue stood there with an absolutely gloomy face, because he knew… she wasn’t running from him. She was running to that snake.

How did that snake suddenly become so close to her, he wondered, but he realized only he had himself to blame.

If he had not deliberately kept himself away from her and acted aloof, maybe he would also be receiving the same enthusiasm from her.

At first he was really wary of her; he had never believed that an evil female could ever change. But she slowly and truly changed… and by the time he had realized, those shameless men were already beside her, which made him jealous.

And he had realized he had always fallen behind them. He did not know how to win a female’s heart… because he had never learned it when it was being taught, because from childhood he was determined he would never mate with anyone.

All females were cruel, just like his mother who had killed his father in front of his eyes.

But he really wanted to beat his past self. He shouldn’t have let his past cloud his eyes. And now, when he realized he truly liked her, she was already surrounded by loving mates.

Hu Yan, who was such a caring mate; Xuan Long, who was obsessed with her and spoiled her to the heavens; and Rong Ye, who lit up her whole world with his silly antics. And he… he had nothing to offer…

A sudden sad sigh escaped his lips before he pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at her back, who was busy searching for what to wear.

He silently stood one step behind her, like a shadow that had accepted its fate. Not because he was letting her go ahead. No, he was maintaining distance for safety.

Because just moments ago, he had nearly thrown himself at her.

If he got close again, his self-control might truly, tragically die.

Meanwhile, Rong Ye barged into the room with the energy of someone who had big opinions about life.

“Lan Lan! Wear this! Hurry, hurry… AH, why are you like this?! Slow down!”

Han Jue looked at Rong Ye and muttered under his breath as Rong Ye wrestled her into dry clothes, “I swear that snake picked the perfect time to return… why now… why right now… tch, I bet that sly fox shouted on purpose, jealous creature…”

Su Qinglan meanwhile was hopping impatiently, her sleeves halfway on, hair still wet, everything a mess as she said, “Let me go! I want to see Xuan Long!”

“No,” Han Jue and Rong Ye said at the same time.

She immediately froze and blinked at them with her big eyes, refusing to believe they were saying no to her.

Rong Ye rolled his eyes at her innocent expression. “You want to go out like this? It’s still raining…! You’ll get drenched the moment you step outside!”

Han Jue nodded with a firm expression, speaking gently but seriously, “Lan Lan, wait here. We will go look. You stay dry.”

She pouted and gave them the best puppy look she could muster to the point her expression cracked when not a muscle budged on their faces.

Ahh! Were they already immune to her charm… no, did she have to learn something else?

Rong Ye crossed his arms dramatically.

“Beastmen can stay in the rain. We lived outside on the mountain for days when our caves flooded. We can handle it. You cannot.”

Han Jue was calmer, but his words were final.

“If you step out, you’ll get cold again. I won’t allow that… so you can only wait here.”

Su Qinglan knew she couldn’t win. Not when these two were teaming up like overprotective grandmothers.

She plopped onto the floor with a defeated huff, mumbling, “You both are bullies…”

Rong Ye snorted. Han Jue’s lips twitched into a smile, but he forced it down.

Finally, Rong Ye grabbed Han Jue by the wrist and pulled him toward the door.

“Come on, gloomy husband. Let’s go get your rival back.”

Han Jue: “He’s not my rival.”

Rong Ye: “Sure, sure, keep telling yourself that.”

Han Jue: “…”

They both stepped under the newly built shed, letting the rain fall around them as they prepared to leave. Before going, Han Jue turned back one last time, looking at Su Qinglan sitting sadly inside, wrapped in dry clothes but dripping disappointment.

He sighed quietly.

“I’ll be back soon, Lan Lan,” he said softly.

She looked up at him with those big eyes that made his heart twist painfully.

Han Jue immediately looked away and escaped into the rain before he lost control again.

Both of them ran toward the centre where the crowd was gathered, leaving only Hu Yan beside her, who was still busy tying the fence around their tree house.