Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off - Chapter 276

Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Lan Yue’s Resolve
Downstairs, Hu Yan and Han Jue sat in a stiff, awkward silence. Their beast ears, far more sensitive than any human’s, were twitching uncontrollably.

The sounds coming from the upper floor were unlike anything they had heard before. They felt their spine tingling both from the adrenaline and fear.

“What is that sly fox doing to her?” Han Jue whispered, his face turning a deep shade of crimson. “I’ve never heard her that angry… or that loud.”

Hu Yan gripped his knees, his own expression dark and flustered. They could hear the smacks, the biting words, and Su Qinglan’s frantic protests that quickly turned into breathless cries for more.

They realized that if they stayed in the house any longer, their own bodies would react so strongly they wouldn’t be able to control themselves. It was pure torture.

“We need to leave,” Hu Yan grunted, standing up abruptly. “If we stay, we’ll end up barging in.”

The two of them practically ran out of the house, seeking the cool, damp air of the forest to calm their racing hearts. They wandered a safe distance away, breathing a sigh of relief that Xuan Long had already stormed off.

If that hot-headed snake had been there to hear those sounds, he would have definitely broken down the door and started a war.

Hours passed. The forest grew quiet, and the frantic noises from the treehouse finally died down into a heavy, peaceful silence.

Hu Yan and Han Jue shared a look. “It’s done,” Han Jue muttered.

They carefully re-entered the house. Hu Yan immediately went to the fire, bringing over the warm, boiled water they had prepared.

He expected Rong Ye to come down any minute, acting like a proud husband, to take the water and help Su Qinglan clean up. They waited patiently, but the minutes ticked by and the house remained silent.

“Why hasn’t he come down?” Hu Yan grew worried.

He climbed the vine ladder and reached for the opening, only to find his hand hitting a solid object. His expression darkened. “That brat… he actually blocked the hole with a log.”

Han Jue climbed up behind him, cursing under his breath. “Does he think we’re going to sneak a peek? Let me try.”

Han Jue used his strength to slowly and silently push the log aside. He moved with extreme care, afraid of waking Su Qinglan after such an exhausting night. Once the gap was clear, the two of them peeked their heads into the upper room.

The sight that met them made them both sigh in exasperation.

There, tangled in a messy pile of furs, were the two mates. They were sleeping so soundly they didn’t even notice the intruders.

Su Qinglan was completely buried under a thick hide, her face soft and peaceful. Beside her, Rong Ye was curled up like a large, satisfied cat.

Because he was tall, his muscular legs were peeking out from the bottom of the hide, unable to be fully covered.

Han Jue reached out and nudged Rong Ye’s foot.

Rong Ye didn’t wake up. He only mumbled something incoherent, shifting his position and burying his face deeper into Su Qinglan’s chest. Su Qinglan, still half-asleep, instinctively reached out and patted his head.

“Rong Ye… don’t cause trouble… sleep…” she mumbled groggily before pulling him closer and drifting back into a deep slumber.

The two husbands stood there with hopeless expressions. They looked at each other and shook their heads.

“Not only is she pampering him, but he’s acting like a pampered prince,” Hu Yan whispered. “He was supposed to take care of her after the mating, but he just fell asleep like a lazy pup.”

Despite their annoyance, they couldn’t stay angry. They had always treated Rong Ye like a mischievous little brother. He was the youngest among them, and they all had a soft spot for his antics.

Deciding not to disturb their rest, Hu Yan moved forward with the warm water. He very gently helped clean Su Qinglan, moving with such precision that she only let out a soft sigh without waking.

They didn’t even bother helping Rong Ye; they just let the “pampered man” sleep in his own mess.

Once she was clean and comfortable, Han Jue brought over a much larger, thicker cover, spreading it over both of them to ensure they stayed warm throughout the night.

With one last look at the mingled mates, the two husbands went back downstairs to prepare a morning feast, leaving the house in total, peaceful harmony for the rest of the night.

***

In the quiet house not far from Su Qinglan’s treehouse, a different kind of silence lingered.

Lan Yue sat by the window, staring out at the falling rain with hollow eyes. Many days had passed since she was saved from the jaws of death, but the shadow in her heart refused to lift.

She looked down, her hand trembling as she caressed her still-flat stomach. It was her first pregnancy…a miracle she and her mate had celebrated with such pure joy.

But that joy had been snatched away in a storm of blood and violence during their journey back from the beast city.

“I can’t stay like this,” she whispered to the empty room. Her voice was raspy from days of silence. If she kept mourning, she would wither away, and she couldn’t risk the life of the child growing inside her.

She needed to go back to her own tribe. She needed to find her mother and father; only with their strength could she ever hope to take revenge for her fallen husband.

Yet, as she thought of leaving, her hand clenched. She felt a strange pull toward the female who had saved her…Su Qinglan.

In the beast world, blood ties were powerful and undeniable. Lan Yue couldn’t shake the feeling that they were related. But how? she wondered.

Everyone always told Lan Yue she was the spitting image of her mother, and Su Qinglan… she shared those same delicate features, that same aura. Could she be kin? But my mother has never traveled this far…

Her spiraling thoughts were interrupted by the sound of heavy, steady footsteps. She looked up just as the door creaked open.

Hu Yan stepped inside, his large frame nearly filling the doorway. He carried a steaming bowl of meat broth and some gathered fruits.

Since Su Qinglan was busy, it was usually her beast husbands who took turns delivering food to their guest.

They were giving her the space and time she needed to grieve, never pushing her to talk.

Lan Yue looked at the powerful tiger beastman. She knew he was Su Qinglan’s first husband, a man of great strength and steady character.

“Thank you,” Lan Yue said softly, her voice barely a murmur as she took the bowl from his hands.

Hu Yan gave an absentminded nod. His mind was likely still on his own household. He didn’t linger or try to force a conversation. With a respectful dip of his head, he turned and left as quickly as he had come.

As the door closed, Lan Yue looked at the nourishing food. She felt a wave of gratitude.

These strangers had not only saved her life but were now protecting her and her child.

Whether they were blood kin or not, she owed them everything. She took a sip of the warm broth, feeling a tiny spark of resolve return to her heart. She would get strong. For her child, and for the answers she desperately sought.