91: What did the child interrupt?

The next morning, Kong Jiamu appeared in the VIP dining area at the stern of the ship for breakfast.

He declined invitations from the Female Beasts while discreetly casting his gaze toward the entrance.

When that figure appeared, he picked up his water glass, his smiling eyes reflected in the slightly rippling water.

The moment Tu Nan walked into the restaurant, she saw that Male Beast.

He was casually dressed in a loose top, his dark green curls a bit unruly, and he sat at the table in the very center of the restaurant looking sleepy-eyed.

No one was seated in the immediate circle around him, but the tables one ring further out were filled with exquisitely groomed Female Beasts.

Who was he waiting for?

Tu Nan had her own answer. Leading Miao Miao by the hand, she walked straight to his side without looking away and gave him a smile.

"What a coincidence." Tu Nan considered this her greeting and immediately hailed a waiter, "Add a seat here for the child."

Only then did she ask, "You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not." Kong Jiamu placed the small spoon he was holding back onto the saucer and shrugged.

He had said she was a bold Female Beast.

Tu Nan wasn't wearing makeup, so her beauty didn't seem as sharp as it had last night, but that sense of enchantment seemed even more prominent.

She was as casual as if she were dining in her own breakfast nook, having simply thrown a non-transparent morning robe over her pajamas, her hair loosely gathered in a bunch at the back of her head.

Kong Jiamu was very satisfied. Who would want to see a bunch of pretentious, uptight people first thing in the morning?

He looked down again at the little girl standing next to Pearl, who was staring at him.

"This is... Huai En?"

Except for her green eyes, this child didn't look much like her mother; perhaps she took after her father, who was currently nowhere to be found.

The little girl suddenly dashed to his side and reached out to carefully touch his hair.

Her eyes were full of admiration as she turned back to Tu Nan in surprise, "Mama, come touch it, it's so pretty."

"Huai En..."

The waiter happened to bring over a high chair, and Tu Nan beckoned her, "Come here, don't be impolite."

Miao Miao was reluctant. In her eyes, the luster of that hair danced, as full of temptation as a cat teaser wand.

「It really is beautiful and soft, Mama, come touch it.」 Miao Miao continued to clamor in her mind.

Tu Nan was speechless. Silly child, Mama will get to touch it eventually.

Unexpectedly, Kong Jiamu picked Miao Miao up and placed her on his lap.

He solemnly negotiated with Miao Miao: "I know it's pretty, but little Children have to eat breakfast first before they can be rewarded."

He pulled a set of new utensils in front of him and asked the little one, "What do you want to eat? Tell me."

"Meat!" Miao Miao was delighted!

Mama never let her eat too much meat in the morning; this uncle was quite nice, she decided she liked him.

Although it was a bit surprising that a Male Beast like Kong Jiamu would actually look after a child, seeing him hold Miao Miao seemed quite harmonious?

Tu Nan thought about it; fine, liking Children was better than hating them.

Mm... better for everyone.

"Is it too much trouble for you?" She offered a few polite words casually.

Kong Jiamu heard the lack of sincerity in her voice and only gave her a half-smiling glance.

Holding the knife and fork in his slender hands, he deftly and quickly cut the meat served by the waiter into equal-sized squares. Only then did he put a napkin on the child and hand her a small fork.

"I'm finished eating anyway. Huai En has good taste; I like this child."

It seemed both parties were willing.

So, Tu Nan went about her business, finishing her breakfast while ignoring the 'death glares' from the surroundings.

Kong Jiamu patiently fed the cub, occasionally taking a few sips of his drink.

When Tu Nan stood up to take the child from his arms, Kong Jiamu suddenly spoke.

"There's a music room upstairs where one can practice dancing. Meet there tonight?"

Tu Nan clicked her tongue and hoisted Miao Miao—who felt a pound heavier after just one breakfast—a bit higher. Her eyes shimmered with a wealth of unspoken words.

The child is here, Tu Nan signaled to him.

Kong Jiamu smiled. He picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth. "Ten o'clock tonight, I'll wait for you."

Glancing at the little one who had no idea what the adults were talking about, he added mischievously.

"Huai En should go to sleep early too..."

Tu Nan left with the child in her arms. Miao Miao popped her head over her mother's shoulder and waved goodbye to him.

Actually, she's quite cute—such a thought flashed through Kong Jiamu's mind.

On the other side, Tu Nan was already discussing things with Miao Miao.

「I'll take you to learn the way first. You'll be able to find it tonight, right...」

「Don't worry, Mama. If I can't, Ao Ao has a sharp nose.」 At a time like this, Miao Miao trusted her brother very much.

「...You need to put in some effort yourself too, baby.」

Why did her daughter feel like her physical strength was more developed than her brainpower... ***

Tu Nan pushed open the music room door, and a beautiful melody drifted out. It was Jiamu playing.

The light in the music room was dim, and the entire space was filled with ambient light that slowly changed shape with the music, creating a hallucinogenic atmosphere.

Beside Kong Jiamu was a marvelous upright instrument with giant strings stretched across it. The Male Beast sat sideways, elegantly and casually plucking the strings. Hearing the door open, he turned his head slightly.

His skin was far fairer than that of an average Male Beast, and he had narrow, upturned eyes. In this half-light, as he sat before the instrument, he merely raised an eyebrow at Tu Nan, his seductive hormones washing over her without restraint.

This Male Beast knew exactly how to present his charm.

He patted the spot next to him. He was sitting to one side, leaving a space that wasn't particularly wide.

Tu Nan gently closed the door and walked toward him.

She leaned over and asked knowingly, "Wasn't it for learning to dance?"

Kong Jiamu casually strummed a short melody on the strings and suddenly brought up an unrelated topic.

"Have you ever gone birdwatching?"

Tu Nan shook her head.

Kong Jiamu gave a light laugh, "We Bird Beastmen just love a sense of ritual."

Ah... a peacock spreading its feathers.

Tu Nan sat down beside him, watched him play, and suddenly reached out toward the strings.

Kong Jiamu stopped. He very naturally slowed his movements, plucking the strings one by one. Tu Nan's fingers followed his, chasing his hand as it brushed across the strings.

His movements grew slower and slower, but Tu Nan seemed not to notice, and so her fingers pressed against his.

Kong Jiamu turned his hand and caught that mischievous little hand.

He gently rubbed Tu Nan's soft fingers, and Tu Nan slid her fingers between his, praising him with a smile.

"That was a wonderful performance. So, are we switching to music lessons today?"

Kong Jiamu's other hand had moved behind her waist at some point. He pulled Tu Nan closer, his lips brushing hers as he told her with a smile.

"Either is fine, but... tuition must be paid first."

The two exchanged a kiss between equals.

After a while, Tu Nan gently pushed him away, licked her lips, and hopped down from the stool.

Standing in the forest of shifting green light, she spoke as haughtily as a queen demanding her knight.

"Quickly, Teacher Kong. You aren't planning to take the fee and not do the work, are you?"

Kong Jiamu was in no hurry. He enjoyed the process of seduction; he was never one of those impatient boors who lacked aesthetic appreciation for life.

The two finally began their formal lesson for the evening, but before they could even learn a couple of rhythms, the music room door was pushed open with effort.

A small figure stood at the door, a cub sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath.

When Miao Miao saw her mother, she finally rushed over as if she had found her savior.

She threw herself into her mother's arms and wailed loudly.

"Mama! Brother, Big Brother is gone!"

Tu Nan comforted her daughter, her face full of confusion.

"What brother? Huai En, speak clearly, don't cry."

"It's... Brother Ao Ao. We were playing hide-and-seek, and I can't find him."

Tu Nan turned pale with shock. "Are you saying Ao Ao is on the ship?"

"He snuck on. Mama, don't be angry..." Miao Miao was both scared and anxious.

Tu Nan felt like she was going to faint. She looked at Miao Miao in shock, then at Kong Jiamu, her face full of collapse.

"Ao Ao stowed away on board?"

"What?"

Kong Jiamu couldn't believe what he was hearing.