Chapter 181

"Teething?"

"So soon?" Si Lu was stunned.Xiao Chengyu wasn't even a full month old yet—how could he already be growing teeth?

"Lulu, don't believe me? Our little one will show you his teeth," Cheng Mo said with a smile.

Judging from Si Lu's expression, he clearly didn't believe it.

Cheng Mo didn't explain further. Instead, the little one revealed it himself.

Having heard his dear father's voice, the little cub naturally obeyed.He scooted closer to Si Lu and opened his mouth wide. Not only that, he even lifted his front hoof and pointed to his own mouth.

The sight was so adorably dumb and earnest, it made your heart melt.

Si Lu looked down and saw small white tips poking through the baby's gums—it was unmistakably teeth.

He really was teething!

That was incredible!

Only just past half a month old and already growing teeth? Beastman cubs were seriously something else.

Their constitution was truly out of this world.

If you compared it to human babies—Si Lu didn't even know how to describe the difference.

The little cub seemed to sense how shocked his mom was and looked especially proud.

His eyes sparkled even more brightly. Then, he stood up on his hind legs and pretended to place his front ones on his "hips" like he was posing—adorably smug.

Even Si Lu couldn't help but laugh.

Not just her, the other mates also burst into laughter.

This was the first time they'd seen little Chengyu acting so ridiculously cute.

Si Lu had no idea where this little guy picked up his antics.Sometimes he seemed adorably clueless, and other times he was devilishly clever.

But no matter what, he was absolutely adorable.

"My son is the best. Only half a month old and already teething. This is dried shrimp—when you eat it, chew slowly, okay? Your teeth are still very delicate and just starting to come in. You have to be careful," Si Lu said gently, reaching out to softly pat the little guy's head.

The teeth had just appeared, so nothing too hard yet. Even for grinding, there had to be a limit. She was worried his teeth would get damaged.

Still, the little guy's teeth were cute—just a single, small, sharp tip, snowy white and tiny. Even his smile was adorable.

Upon hearing his mom's words, Xiao Chengyu nodded seriously. His little face looked very earnest, and his eyes were filled with resolve.He remembered everything she said.

He knew his mom was worried and only meant well. Even though he was small, he understood some things.

He wasn't stupid. In fact, he believed he was very smart!

"Good boy. Here, eat this," Si Lu said, placing a freshly wrapped piece of dried shrimp in the little one's mouth.

It was his first time trying something like this, and the second he tasted it, his eyes lit up. The flavor really wasn't bad—it had a bit of saltiness and a great chew to it.

No wonder he often saw his mom sneak bites. Now he knew—it really was good.

He chewed slowly and carefully, remembering everything his mom told him. Since it was his first time eating this kind of food, he was extra cautious.

Si Lu kept watching him the whole time.This was her baby—how could she not be concerned?

It was his first time trying dried shrimp, so she was especially attentive.

"Well? How is it?" Si Lu asked,"

"Ya, ya, ya!" The little guy nodded and gave his mom a huge smile, as if to say, It's great! Everything's fine!

Only then did Si Lu relax.

Just one piece of dried shrimp was enough—it'd keep him chewing for ages!

Seeing how happily he was eating made her feel at ease.

Eventually, Cheng Mo and the others finished making a seafood feast.

Everyone sat around a clean beast pelt, with the food laid out in the middle.

"Let's eat!" Si Lu cheered excitedly.Everyone started digging in.

And, of course, they all began feeding Si Lu.

She was having the time of her life—one mate handed her peeled shrimp, another passed her a perfectly cracked crab leg, someone else offered grilled meat… Her cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk, her sparkling eyes making her look even more adorable.

After the meal, everyone tidied up or settled by the fire to mend clothes.

Si Lu noticed everyone had something to do—except her. She was the only one bored and unoccupied.

So she pulled over Hei Yao and took out her animal-themed wooden cards from her space pouch. The two began playing together.

While they played, Bai Di kept sneaking glances at Si Lu as he mended a beast fur coat.It was his turn to sleep with their little female tonight.

Truthfully, he missed spending time alone with her. With all the chaos around the baby's birth and other things, it had been ages since they were together.

His heart was full of anticipation and excitement—it was finally his turn again.

He watched her playing and laughing with Hei Yao and felt deeply content.

When a spot beside Si Lu opened up, he immediately moved over and sat next to her. As he sewed, he kept his gaze on her.

The furry winter clothes were all made by Si Lu herself. Even though the seaside didn't get freezing in winter, some warm layers were still necessary. Their little female had delicate health, and he wasn't about to let her go cold.

Meanwhile, Song Zhan, Cheng Mo, and Nansi had gone out for some reason.

So it was just Bai Di, Hei Yao, and the little cub keeping Si Lu company.

That's when Kano arrived.

He saw Si Lu and Hei Yao playing cards while the little cub rested peacefully in Si Lu's arms, and Bai Di sat nearby sewing. The scene made his heart ache with envy.

Especially that little female—she seemed to glow with warmth and beauty.

The others noticed him approaching and were surprised.

Why was he here?

Si Lu looked puzzled too.

Bai Di and Hei Yao both looked a little displeased.

They knew exactly why this guy came. From the start, they sensed Kano had feelings for Si Lu. He hadn't said anything, so they hadn't acted. After all, they were guests in his tribe, and he had been kind to them. If he did confess, they'd challenge him fair and square.

But the guy never said anything. He just hung around silently, making it awkward for everyone.

They couldn't very well kick him out just for that, could they?

Honestly, in their eyes, Kano was a weirdo who didn't follow common logic.

At least he hadn't crossed any lines—yet.

"Come sit, Kano. I'll teach you how to play," Si Lu said with a bright smile.

Truthfully, she thought of him like a little brother from the neighborhood—awkward and a bit shut-in. His personality made her heart ache. And he was a pretty boy too, which made her even more protective.

A good-looking kid with such a withdrawn nature—it was a bit heartbreaking.

Kano nodded obediently and sat down on Si Lu's other side.

He just wanted to stay by her side.

The others watched him uneasily.

Even little Chengyu glanced at him, expression unreadable.

Hei Yao and Bai Di exchanged a look. Their eyes were cold.

In their minds, Si Lu was theirs. It was fine for them to sit beside her—but this outsider? Who did he think he was?

Still, they didn't show their irritation, since Si Lu didn't seem to mind. If they spoke up, they'd be embarrassing her.

So they held it in.

Si Lu and Hei Yao kept playing. Bai Di sat on one side. Kano sat on the other.

Kano sat quietly, his gaze resting softly on Si Lu, his eyes flickering with emotion.

Those clear eyes of his were full of something—something neither Bai Di nor Hei Yao missed.

But Si Lu, as always, was oblivious.

The two mates exchanged a knowing look.Called it. This guy definitely had feelings for their little female.

He might not even realize it himself, but the signs were clear.

They said nothing. If they forced a confrontation, it might help him more than them. So they waited. If he ever confessed, then they could issue a challenge. Until then, they'd endure.

"See? Like this—tiger beats fox, fox beats rabbit. It's like a little food chain game," Si Lu explained gently.

Kano listened, not quite understanding the game, but watching her attentively.

His eyes were filled with admiration. Si Lu really was smart.

And kind. And patient. And beautiful.

He just wanted to stay close to her—never leave her side.

His heart beat faster. He felt confused.

His brother had once asked him if he liked her. Back then, he didn't understand.

But now he did. He finally got it.

This was what his brother meant by love—wanting to be someone's mate, staying by their side forever.

But…

His tribe had always looked down on him and whispered behind his back. Would someone like her really accept someone like him?

He was nervous. Anxious. What if she rejected him?

What if he confessed and made things awkward?

He didn't know what to do.

His sensitive heart wavered. He didn't know if it was right or wrong.

He just stared at her, lost in thought.

"Kano? Kano?" Si Lu frowned. What was he thinking about now?

His face looked so… conflicted. Sad. Confused.

It worried her.

"I—I'm fine. I'm listening. You were saying…"