Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off - Chapter 235

Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Han Jue, I am not running away!
A strange warmness spread through her heart, and a small desire bubbled inside her. She turned to him with sparkling eyes, cheeks slightly flushed. “Han Jue… I want to be drenched in the rain.”

Her voice was soft, hopeful, a little excited, like a child wanting to play.

Han Jue froze for a second. She wanted to be drenched in the rain right in front of him. His mind exploded like fire. Her eyes were shining so beautifully that saying no was impossible. She looked like she wanted to enjoy life, like she wanted to feel free, and he was helpless before that expression.

He hurriedly placed her down properly, checked the ground. They were in a less muddy area so she would not slip, and he nodded.

Su Qinglan smiled brightly and removed her leaf raincoat, letting the cool droplets fall on her skin.

A few drops hit her face first, and she closed her eyes slowly, breathing in the fresh smell of rain.

The world suddenly felt magical. She raised her hands and walked a few steps away from him, spinning lightly as her face tilted upward. She looked truly like a picture, peaceful, joyful, glowing.

Han Jue just stood there, mesmerized.

His eyes softened so much that even he did not recognize himself.

The raindrops fell on her hair, flowed slowly over her ears, slid down her cheek, and disappeared into her clothes.

She looked breathtaking. A deep sense of protectiveness. A deep sense of belonging. She looked like a gentle dream and the most beautiful reality at the same time.

He thought, If a beastman like me can have a female like her, then I must have done something good in a past life.

Waking up every day and seeing this face, seeing her smile at me, seeing her exist in my world, what more could anyone ask? With her by my side, everything would be wonderful. Even the hardest life would feel easy.

The more he watched, the deeper the feeling grew. She was everything soft and everything fierce. She was warmth and fire. She was chaos and peace. She was his.

Before he could stop himself, he moved toward her slowly, like he was pulled by something stronger than him.

Su Qinglan twirled again, giggling softly, and her laugh filled the rainy mountains. Han Jue reached her just as she spun back to him, and he gently took her hand, his large fingers wrapping around her small ones.

He twirled her carefully, his other hand steadying her waist so she would not slip. Su Qinglan giggled even more, letting him guide her like she was dancing in the rain. “Han Jue, what are you doing?” she asked between laughs.

“I just want you to enjoy,” he said softly, eyes fixed on her like she was the only thing he could see.

Her cheeks flushed, her breaths came quicker as she spun, her heart thumping with joy and something sweeter. When she finally stopped, breathing hard and huffing softly, Han Jue’s gaze locked onto her lips.

Just one second. Just one breath.

He leaned down, and then he kissed her.

The rain fell around them, the world disappeared, the mountains blurred, the wind faded, and only the warmth of her lips existed.

His entire body trembled as if he had touched something sacred. His hand held her waist firmly, pulling her closer, while her fingers clutched his shoulders without even realizing it.

It was just them, only them.

For a long, breathless eternity, their kiss deepened as they lost themselves in each other. They were full of all the words neither of them had ever dared to say. The rain drummed softly around them, cooling their skin but heating everything inside.

When Han Jue finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers. Su Qinglan, his Lan Lan, was flushed, damp, and glowing like she was carved from the rain itself. Her big eyes looked right into him, deep and shimmering with something he had only dreamed of.

Desire for him.

That alone nearly made his knees give out.

He swallowed hard, gave a tiny impulsive peck on her lips, more like a plea than a kiss, and whispered in a trembling voice,

“Lan Lan… would you be willing to mate with me? I… I want to be your best husband.”

One sentence.

One terrifying, stupidly brave sentence.

Han Jue froze the moment it left his mouth. His heart dropped to his stomach. His ears burned. His entire soul panicked when he realized he had actually said it.

What if she laughed?

What if she rejected him?

What if he had just ruined everything?

He knew he was not confident like Hu Yan.

He was not bold like Rong Ye.

He was not possessive like Xuan Long.

He was just him. Awkward, shy, slow to speak Han Jue.

But he said it, he finally said it.

And now he could only wait.

Su Qinglan stared at him, stunned for half a heartbeat, but then her lips curved into the softest, warmest, most dangerous smile he had ever seen.

Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging him down toward her because he was too tall and too flustered to move by himself.

Her lips brushed his ear in a warm teasing and sinful way.

“So… my shy beastman has finally gathered courage to ask me?” she whispered. “I thought I would die waiting. Truly… I would have grown old waiting for you.”

Before he could even react, she lightly blew hot air on his ears.

Han Jue’s entire soul left his body.

His ears turned bright red. He almost dropped her in shock but ended up scooping her tighter, lifting her easily into his arms.

“L Lan Lan…” he choked, burying his face in her neck like a flustered cub. “Do not tease me… you know I am very shy…”

“Oh?” She looked at him with raised brows, her smile wickedly sweet. “If you are this shy, then how will you mate with me? You will not make me do all the work, right?”

His entire body stiffened.

“No! I… I can! I know how… I mean… I have never… but I… I will… I mean… I can do… something…” He stuttered so hard he forgot how to breathe.

Su Qinglan burst into laughter, soft and bright like bells echoing in the rain.

Han Jue did not dare look at her. He was blushing too hard. But he was also smiling because her laughter wrapped around his heart like sunlight.

Without another word, because he clearly could not make coherent sentences anymore, he picked her up fully in his arms.

Lan Lan blinked as he lifted her bridal style, protected from the cold rain by his broad chest.

“Oh?” she teased again. “My shy beastman… where are we going?”

Han Jue tightened his hold on her, eyes serious yet burning with excitement.

“There is… a cave nearby,” he murmured, voice low. “Just a little up the mountain. I know all the paths. I will not let you slip.”

He did not even realize how fast he was walking, steps firm and sure through the mist. The rain ran down his hair, down his jaw, dripping onto her hands wrapped around his shoulders.

Su Qinglan watched him, cheeks warming.

Her shy Han Jue was suddenly moving with purpose, like something inside him had snapped free, something that had been tied down for too long.

She leaned her head against his chest, hearing his heart racing wildly just as fast as hers.

“Han Jue…” she whispered softly, “do not walk too fast. I am not running away.”

He stumbled for one second, face turning red again, before tightening his grip and continuing up the path.