Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off - Chapter 207

Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Punishment for Xaun Long
Su Qinglan slept for a very long time, so long that even inside her dream she could feel her body heavy with pregnancy and her mind slowly relaxing.

When she finally felt refreshed, she tried to move a little, and her eyelids trembled as she tried to open them. The world looked dim at first, as if she was seeing through fog, so she closed her eyes again before slowly opening them fully.

A strong arm was wrapped around her waist, and her cheek was pressed against a solid chest that radiated deep coldness. She blinked once, confused, because the entire area around her looked dark, and she could hear the pitter-patter sound of rain pounding outside. It felt like night, but she wasn’t sure. Her mind was still foggy.

Why is it so dark? How long did I sleep? What happened?

She tried to remember, but the last thing she recalled was crying in the storm, shouting Xuan Long’s name, and then nothing. Her memory was blank after that.

Slowly, she shifted her body, pushing gently against the solid chest so she could sit up and understand where she was. When she lifted her head, her gaze met a pair of dark emerald eyes staring straight at her.

Her breath caught. A soft gasp escaped her lips.

“…Xuan Long…” she whispered.

The snake beastman looked at her gently, his eyes filled with longing and deep love, as if he had been staring at her for hours without looking away even once.

“Lan Lan is awake,” he said softly.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead warmly and carefully, as if she were something fragile and precious. When he pulled back, he looked at her again, and his eyes softened even more.

And then…everything came back to her.

The fear and shouting, the storm, the panic.

The pain of not knowing where he was.

Her fist moved before she even realized it.

She punched him in the chest.

“Where have you been all this time?” she demanded. Her voice was angry, but it cracked slightly, and her eyes were already filling with tears, making her stare at him with trembling lashes and wet eyes.

The punch didn’t hurt him at all. To him it felt like a soft tap, like a feather brushing his skin. But the tears… those hurt him more than anything.

Xuan Long’s face changed immediately. Dread and heartache filled his eyes. He grabbed her waist quickly and pulled her closer, holding her as if she might disappear.

“Lan Lan… I am sorry,” he said quietly. “You can beat me. Beat me as much as you want.”

He even leaned his face toward her, offering it sincerely, as if begging for punishment.

“Do you think that helps?” she snapped, fresh tears pooling in her eyes. “You think beating you is enough? I should tie you up so you never dare to wander off like that ever again!”

Her anger was hotter now, pushing through her tears. She hated how scared she had been. She hated that he left. She hated that she had cried for him until she fainted.

Xuan Long’s lips twitched, and a small amused smile appeared on his face.

“I would be very happy if you tied me, Lan Lan,” he said shamelessly. “How are you planning to do it?”

He wrapped himself more tightly around her, his arms strong and possessive, and she swore he deliberately made his voice lower just to tease her.

“That is not the point!” she snapped again. “Tell me where you went! Tell me when you came back! And what time is it?!”

She looked around the dim room, blinking rapidly. They were on the second floor of the treehouse, in her family’s private sleeping area. But the place was empty except for the two of them.

Where were Rong Ye, Han Jue, and Hu Yan?

Xuan Long felt her confusion instantly, and he responded before she could even ask.

“They are downstairs,” he said calmly. “The upper floor cannot fit all of us, so they are sleeping there.”

He didn’t tell her the truth.

He didn’t say that he had snatched her away the moment he returned because he couldn’t stand seeing her in their arms, crying because of him. He didn’t say he had almost fought them in jealousy before realizing she had fainted after crying. He didn’t say he had been away for days, and those days had driven him half-mad.

He didn’t say any of it. Because he didn’t want her to worry.

But Su Qinglan still glared at him, refusing to let things go.

“Xuan Long, I asked where you went,” she said firmly.

He didn’t answer directly.

Instead, he gently rubbed her lower back and looked at her with innocent eyes that were clearly not innocent at all.

“I got a little lazy,” he said, avoiding the truth completely. “But Lan Lan can punish me however she wants. Any punishment is fine.”

His tone was teasing again.

Then he leaned forward, burying his face into her shoulder, inhaling her scent deeply as if trying to press her inside his heart.

“Lan Lan… I missed you so much…” he whispered. “These days away from you… I thought I would go crazy. My mind was filled with only you. You are like an aphrodisiac to me.”

His warm breath against her skin sent tingling sensations down her neck, making her cheeks heat up even though she tried to stay angry.

She pushed his face away with a flustered expression.

“Don’t say sweet things like that. I am still angry,” she muttered. “And I haven’t decided your punishment yet…you should first start by staying away from me.”

Xuan Long froze.

His eyes widened. His face stiffened like someone had thrown cold water on his soul.

A punishment…? A punishment of staying away from her?

If the punishment meant staying away from her…he would rather die.

He immediately pulled her closer with desperate urgency, his expression turning pitiful as he shook his head like a frightened child.

“Lan Lan… please,” he said quickly. “Not that punishment. Anything but that.”

His emerald eyes were wide and pleading, clearly saying he would not accept being separated from her even for a moment.