268: Shh... don't talk

The two walked side by side towards the wooden house.

Xun An Cai’s fingers were intertwined, her expression a bit conflicted, and she seemed to have something to say, stammering.

Xu Sanyan tilted his head slightly, "What's wrong?"

"No... nothing."

"Oh."

Xun An Cai finally couldn't hold it in and asked in a very low voice, "What did the Clan Chief tell you?"

A mischievous smile appeared on Xu Sanyan's face, and he spoke slowly, "Oh, nothing much, just asked me which girl I liked..."

Xun An Cai's eyes widened, taking him seriously, and she quickly asked, "Then what did you say?"

"Guess?"

"Hmm..."

"Hahahahaha..."

Xu Sanyan laughed heartily and walked forward.

Xun An Cai's face flushed, and she muttered to herself, "It must be me. Besides me, he doesn't know anyone else, and didn't he say before that he only had me in his heart...?"

As she brainwashed herself, she secretly rejoiced, 'This old lady is going to have a man too!'

"Wait for me!" Xun An Cai quickly chased after him.

...

In front of a makeshift wooden house, Xu Sanyan stopped to observe.

He rarely used the word 'makeshift' to describe a wooden house, but the house in front of him truly deserved those two words.

Between two large trees, seven or eight logs formed a base, with vines binding each log together, laid flat on the ground.

Four crooked wooden stakes stood at the four corners as pillars, with a roof made of piled up weeds above.

Yes, the house had no walls, only the weeds above hanging down to provide a bit of privacy, looking overall as casual as a pavilion.

"This is... your home?" Xu Sanyan's eye twitched.

"Yes, come on in." Xun An Cai didn't feel any shame.

"Is your front door always open? Oh... you don't even have a front door."

Xu Sanyan didn't know how to complain.

"Did you build this house yourself?"

"Yes."

Xun An Cai pulled a piece of meat from the rafter and sniffed it, seemingly checking if it had gone bad.

"Didn't your parents offer to help you?"

"We Dog Clan people, after experiencing our first blessing, have to leave home and live independently. Even if you starve to death, your parents won't care."

Xu Sanyan clicked his tongue. They had to be self-reliant after thirteen years old?

Xun An Cai somehow found a pile of firewood, took out a flint, and squatted there, striking it hard. The flying sparks ignited the weeds, and then she carefully lit the dry branches.

Then she casually skewered the meat, placed it over the fire to roast, and looked up at Xu Sanyan, asking, "Do you like it rare or well-done?"

Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, "How well-done?"

"Huh."

"Well-done."

"Oh." Xun An Cai concentrated on roasting the meat.

Xu Sanyan looked at the room where there was nowhere to step, finally casting his gaze on the only bed.

Calling it a bed, it was actually just several layers of dried animal hides laid out, with some dry grass beneath.

"Your home only has one bed?"

"Mm..."

Xun An Cai seemed to think of something, her face flushed red in the firelight, and after secretly glancing at him, she let out a heavy snort.

Outside, the sky slowly darkened. Xun An Cai's house was a bit remote, and after all this time, few people had passed by.

Xu Sanyan simply tidied up the house a bit; it looked less messy now.

"Here." Xun An Cai handed the roasted meat to Xu Sanyan, her large eyes blinking at him.

"Thank you."

Xu Sanyan was already ravenous. He took the meat and bit into it heartily. Although there were no seasonings, the meat tasted very good and was very firm and chewy.

"Gulp..."

Xun An Cai swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the piece of meat in Xu Sanyan's hand.

"Is this... the only piece of meat left in your house?" Xu Sanyan stopped eating.

"Mm... I was supposed to go hunting today, but I ran into you halfway and couldn't go." Xun An Cai scratched her hair with an embarrassed smile.

"Then let's split it half and half." Xu Sanyan tore the meat apart and handed her the larger piece.

"You eat it, I'll be fine if I'm hungry for a day." Xun An Cai waved her hands repeatedly.

"Eat!"

"Oh."

That Three-Headed Dog lay listlessly outside the house, looking pitifully at the meat in their hands, saliva dripping from its mouth.

After eating and drinking their fill, it was time to rest.

Xun An Cai felt inexplicably reserved, pointing to the bed, "You go to sleep, I... I'll just sleep on the ground."

"Mm."

Xu Sanyan didn't stand on ceremony either. He lay on the bed with his clothes on, casually pulling over an animal hide from the side to cover himself. The animal hide still carried Xun An Cai's body odor.

It was an indescribable smell, but definitely not fragrant, like sweat mixed with the unique musky scent of a wild beast.

Xun An Cai curled up cautiously beside him, her bright eyes looking at Xu Sanyan, lost in thought.

By now, it was completely dark outside. Xu Sanyan wasn't sleepy, and it was hard for him to fall asleep in such a place. He was just resting with his eyes closed.

"Are you asleep?" Xun An Cai asked cautiously.

"No."

"What's the outside world like? Can you eat your fill?"

"Yes."

"That's great, unlike us, we often go hungry." Xun An Cai's tone revealed envy.

"Sigh..."

Xu Sanyan sighed, "The outside world, actually, isn't that good. Although you can eat your fill, people's hearts outside are complex, there are many bad people, and you have to be constantly careful of others' schemes. Living in fear every day is very tiring."

Xun An Cai nodded thoughtfully, "If everyone in the outside world were as simple and kind as you, it would be great."

"Hehe... yes."

Xu Sanyan shamelessly agreed.

Xun An Cai slowly shuffled her body, moving closer to the bed, "Suddenly feeling a bit cold..."

Xu Sanyan pursed his lips. You, with your physique, are afraid of the cold?

"Then you... come up and sleep?"

"Mm-hmm." Xun An Cai flipped over and, with a leap, burrowed into the covers.

Before Xu Sanyan could react, a tall, full-figured body was beside him.

Xun An Cai's fingers were trembling with nervousness, but she was trying her best to control herself.

She remembered what her mother had said back then: if you want to find a man, you have to be thick-skinned; only by being shameless can you succeed.

Xu Sanyan lay flat on his back, while Xun An Cai lay on her side, her cheek directly facing his profile. With each breath, a wave of heat wafted over his face, making his heart itch.

"You smell so good..." Xun An Cai made small talk.

"Hmm?" Xu Sanyan felt this line of conversation was familiar.

"You're so fair..." Xun An Cai racked her brain and spoke again.

Xu Sanyan tilted his head slightly, glancing at her. The breaths between their mouths and noses intertwined, causing their hearts to stir.

A strange atmosphere brewed in the drafty room.

Xun An Cai's cheeks were flushed, almost dripping blood, her eyes filled with desire.

"Turn around." Xu Sanyan said.

"Why?" Xun An Cai didn't understand.

"Turn around." Xu Sanyan's tone became a bit firmer.

"Oh~" Xun An Cai obediently turned around.

Xu Sanyan wrapped his arm around her waist, clearly feeling her body tremble violently.

Xun An Cai suddenly felt something poking her waist uncomfortably. She subconsciously reached back to touch it, "What is this...?"

"Shh... don't speak."

"Oh~"