A light rain fell in the evening—the first rain of the year. But because it was still early spring, the weather didn’t feel any warmer. Instead, the cold seemed to intensify.

Mura and Zhu Xi weren’t home for dinner. Ever since Zhu Xi had spoken those words that afternoon, Roger’s expression had remained indifferent. At the table, he only mentioned once, “I wonder where they’ve gotten to by now.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lei Jin was also a little worried, but he knew that bad weather alone wasn’t enough to pose a real threat to those strong werebeasts. Besides, he wasn’t the type to dwell on things. Asking him to constantly fret over this was impossible. So after dinner, he dragged Mingya back to their room as usual, ready to sleep.

Every step sent a burning pain through his lower half. If Xiya and Moya were still home, they definitely wouldn’t have gotten off so easily. But since they were gone, all Lei Jin could do was grit his teeth in frustration.

The whole family knew what had happened, but for the sake of his already tattered dignity, Lei Jin had to pretend nothing was wrong all day. The moment they were back in their own room, though, he collapsed onto the bed, not wanting to move.

He remembered that there was still some of the medicine Chunji had given him last time—not the first batch, which had long been used up, but a newer one he hadn’t gotten around to trying yet. Now, it seemed, it would finally come in handy.

Groaning, Lei Jin rubbed his sore lower back and got up, rummaging through a corner of the cabinet until he found the bottle.

I really need to train harder, he lamented silently. If this keeps up, I won’t even be able to get out of bed. Dealing with two beasts was already inhuman treatment—no, three beasts.

Thinking of the third one—who was still sulking—and then looking at the medicine bottle in his hand, Lei Jin felt another headache coming on.

“Put Grapes in his crib. It’s time for him to sleep,” he said to Mingya. “Then come help me.”

Mingya didn’t understand, but he was used to obeying Lei Jin’s words, so he placed Grapes down obediently and walked over. “What do you need me to do?”

Lei Jin lay face-down on the bed and handed him the medicine, squinting slightly. “Help me apply this.”

Even Mingya wasn’t so dense as to not know where this medicine was meant to go. Especially since Lei Jin had already lifted the hem of his tunic, waiting for him to undo his pants.

Mingya stared blankly at the exposed strip of waist—smooth, elastic, and deceptively soft despite its usual strength. He clenched his fists, about to refuse, but Lei Jin cut him off.

“I can’t do it myself. Or do you want me to go out and find someone else to help?”

“No! You can’t let others see!” Mingya immediately snatched the bottle from his hand. Without another thought, he pulled Lei Jin’s pants down to his knees.

Lei Jin buried his face in his arms, smirking in triumph. Still so easy to handle this little dummy.

But it did hurt. Should he really go through with this tonight? If little dummy thought some more, he would realize that Lei Jin could hardly find anyone else.

Mingya regretted his actions almost instantly. The medicine bottle in his hand felt scalding, and he desperately wanted to throw it away. But it was too late now. Trembling, he coated his fingers with the ointment and carefully applied it to Lei Jin’s still-reddened entrance.

The intrusion made Lei Jin grimace in pain, but the cooling effect of the jade mugwort ointment at least made it bearable.

Mingya’s heart pounded wildly. The familiar warmth and tightness that had once clenched around him so pleasurably now lay vulnerable under his fingertips.

“What are you thinking about? Your face is practically flushed red,” Lei Jin teased, propping himself up slightly with a knowing smirk.

Mingya instinctively squeezed his legs together and shook his head rapidly.

“Really, nothing?” Lei Jin clearly didn’t believe him. His hand slid down, brushing against Mingya’s lower half through his clothes. The obvious hardness beneath his palm made his own heart skip a beat.

Maybe he shouldn’t have provoked him.

But it was too late to back out now. So, feigning nonchalance, he flicked it lightly and said, “Quite energetic, huh?”

Lei Jin’s stubborn pride really was his greatest weakness.

Mingya gasped sharply, his eyes darkening with barely restrained desire.

“Want me to help you?” Lei Jin hooked an arm around Mingya’s shoulders, grinning mischievously. His intention had been to offer a hand lest he ended up suffering tonight.

But the moment he saw the fire in Mingya’s eyes, he knew he’d made a mistake. He really should’ve known this little guy had zero self-control when it came to him. And still he provoked him, it really was suicidal.

Yet when Mingya pounced, biting his neck possessively, Lei Jin sighed and gave in. Fine. It’s my fault he’s like this anyway. If he wants it, I’ll give it to him.

Relaxing his body, he closed his eyes and let Mingya press him into the bed, surrendering to the hungry kisses.

Mingya frantically tugged at Lei Jin’s clothes, nearly tearing them in his haste. Lei Jin’s face darkened and he quickly stopped him.

“Xiya already ruined one set yesterday. If you tear this one, I’ll have nothing to wear tomorrow!” There were only so many changes of clothing to go through.

Mingya nodded, but his hands refused to leave Lei Jin’s body, roaming greedily instead. Seeing his state, Lei Jin knew reasoning was pointless. He pushed Mingya back slightly and sighed. “I’ll undress myself.”

But just as he’d loosened a few knots, someone knocked on the door.

Mingya seemed to snap out of his daze, leaping off the bed like he’d been burned. He glanced between Lei Jin and himself, looking so miserable he might cry. Without a word, he wiped his face and went to answer the door.

Lei Jin rubbed his chin, suddenly feeling like he was the one who’d just tried to force himself on Mingya. Who could be here at this hour?

He quickly retied his clothes and got out of bed.

“Lei Jin, are you still awake?” Mura, who had left in the afternoon and just returned, walked in.

“Yeah, just finished dinner. Can’t sleep yet.” The lie sounded painfully hollow. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to collapse onto that bed and sleep for days. If not for Mingya he likely would have by now.

“What’s the matter? Why are you here so late? It’s raining and freezing out.” Lei Jin noticed Zhu Xi standing behind Mura and poured them both hot water, grabbing a handful of pine nuts as well. It was a gift from Moya but Lei Jin really wasn’t the type to be idly snacking on nuts.

Mingya still hadn’t come back in. Lei Jin glanced toward the door.

“Mingya said he’s going to sleep at Uncle Roger’s place,” Mura said, crunching on pine nuts like a squirrel.

“Keep it down, Mura. Can’t you see Grapes’ asleep?” Zhu Xi lightly smacked his hand.

“It’s fine. He sleeps like a log. Won’t wake up that easily.” Don’t know if it was because the child was born weak, but he slept a lot. Sometimes he slept for most of the day without moving, which scared Lei Jin half to death.

But Mura still sheepishly put the nuts down and lowered his voice. “My papa has something to discuss with you.”

Zhu Xi then pulled out a long string of blue-green turquoise beads from his pocket and handed it to Lei Jin. “This is for little Grapes.”

Lei Jin had seen turquoise in his past life, but such a long strand of flawless beads was rare.

“Grapes is still too young for this,” he declined, already guessing the real reason for their late visit. This must be from An Bu.

Sure enough, Zhu Xi said, “Mura and I both adore Grapes. Don’t overthink it. We came now because we were afraid Roger wouldn’t allow it—since it’s from An Bu.”

Lei Jin grew even more puzzled. None of this made sense. Unable to hold back, he ventured, “Aren’t you… upset?”

Zhu Xi’s eyes dimmed slightly, but Mura just laughed. “Why would we be upset? We’re thrilled! Just look at Grapes—it’s clear Moya is Dad’s son. Just because I’m not Dad’s biological child doesn’t mean I can’t be happy he has one.”

Lei Jin was so shocked his eyes widened.

“What, you didn’t know? The whole tribe knows. My birth father died during a spring hunt like this one. Daddy An Bu grew up with Papa. Later… later they became mates.” It was likely Mura didn’t know the full details either.

Lei Jin accepted the turquoise for now—after all, it was a gift from Grapes’ granddad. He’d ask Roger tomorrow. If Roger really objected, he could always return it.

But Mura insisted on staying the night, and Lei Jin agreed. Back in his past life, he’d shared beds with strangers plenty of times. Mura was undeniably a beauty—Lei Jin wasn’t losing out.

So he slept soundly, cuddling Mura without a shred of guilt.

Mura found Lei Jin’s sleeping posture a bit odd, but since they were both females, he didn’t mind. Just before drifting off, he mumbled, “Before Daddy An Bu and Papa held their bonding ceremony… Uncle Roger was already pregnant with Brother Moya.”

“You weren’t even born then. How do you know so much?” Lei Jin patted his back, urging him to sleep. He himself was so sleepy and he wanted to go out for a walk tomorrow to see if he could find some food and bring some from home to Chunji and his master.

“Mm. I was in Papa’s belly then too.”

“So I never met my birth father…”

Lei Jin responded absently, already half-asleep to the sound of rain outside. The past was too complicated. As long as Moya was happy now, that was enough.

He’d expected to sleep well but woke up unusually early. Blaming it on the lack of body heat—definitely not because he’d grown used to those three’s warmth—he got up grumpily.

Breakfast was made by Mingya. Though not as skilled as Xiya or Moya, he was still better than Roger. Not that Lei Jin expected much—being the pampered youngest, Mingya rarely cooked.

After eating, Lei Jin went to the cellar and dug out a wild boar, wrapping it in hide to avoid drawing attention during food shortages. Dragging Mingya along, he carried Grapes to Chunji’s place. Mura tagged along for fun.

Mingya’s wound still needed daily treatment, while Grapes only required acupuncture every ten days.

Chunji adored Grapes, refusing to let go once he had him in his arms. Mingya, meanwhile, avoided Lei Jin even more than usual, so Lei Jin decided not to bother him and instead took Mura for a walk around the tribe.

The rain had left the ground damp, with small puddles everywhere. They walked to the fields outside the tribe, where the snow had mostly melted, leaving only patches of grayish-white residue.

The wheat planted in late autumn showed hints of green, but the rest of the land remained barren yellow, with no signs of spring. Even digging for wild vegetables was futile—there wasn’t a single sprout in sight.

A few females descended from the mountains with baskets of root-like plants. They greeted Lei Jin with strained smiles. It was understandable. No one could be cheerful on an empty stomach.

Only now did Lei Jin truly grasp that this wasn’t some utopia—it was a primitive, harsh society. Before, Xiya and the others had shielded him from hardship. He’d never gone hungry or cold. Occasionally, when he went out to dig wild vegetables and hunted small animals it was for a change of taste or because he didn’t want to rely solely on them. He really never had to worry about his livelihood.

But now, with Xiya and Moya risking their lives for food and the tribe struggling, he felt compelled to act. After all, this was where he would live from now on.

Though he lacked the skills to revolutionize this world despite being a transmigrator, he could at least help with food.

And if he was honest, he was just bored. Bored enough to go stir-crazy. Besides, compared to idling his days away in the corner, he preferred to be in the thick of lively action.

Nowadays, whenever people gathered, conversations inevitably circled back to food within three sentences. Seizing the opportunity, Lei Jin remarked, “I think while the werebeasts are out risking their lives to find food, those of us staying in the tribe should also contribute instead of relying solely on them.” When Lei Jin occasionally spoke with seriousness, he could be quite convincing. After all, he had been a leader for years, managing tough characters in his past life—there was no reason he couldn’t rally these females who had grown up in a relatively sheltered environment.

The tribe’s females quickly saw the logic in his words. The reasoning was simple—they had grown accustomed to being taken care of by the werebeasts, conditioned to depend on them. But given the harsh realities of their society, they weren’t truly fragile. At the very least, they were capable of action.

Seeing no objections, Lei Jin slowly laid out his plan: the next day, he intended to go fishing by the river and asked if anyone wanted to join. All they needed was a basket. He had noticed long ago that the tribe rarely ate fish, leaving the nearby rivers teeming with plump ones. In summer, no one wanted to eat them, and in winter, ice made fishing difficult. Without proper tools, most resorted to spearing fish directly in the freezing water—something even werebeasts struggled with, let alone the females. So unless starving, no one bothered with the fish.

Hearing they were going to the river, the females hesitated until Lei Jin assured them no one would have to enter the water. Encouraged by Mura’s eager agreement to go, they finally said they’d come along to observe.

Lei Jin didn’t push them. Results would speak for themselves.

The next day, under bright sunshine, Zhu Xi carried Grapes while Lei Jin, Roger, Mura, and Mingya hauled baskets and tools, drawing curious onlookers as they marched toward the river—exactly the effect Lei Jin wanted.

The ice wasn’t as thick as in winter, breaking easily in many spots. Having learned from his previous near-disastrous fall through the ice, Lei Jin came prepared. They floated a bamboo raft, chiseled a hole in the ice, and scattered chopped earthworms as bait. Soon, dense schools of fish swarmed beneath. With a quick scoop of the basket, they hauled up half a basket of fat, thrashing fish—leaving the onlooking females stunned.

After Lei Jin pulled up a few baskets, Mingya took over.

Many of the females on the shore grew eager to try.

Taking advantage of the warm day, Lei Jin and Roger swiftly cleaned the fish by the riverbank—gutting them, removing gills and bloodlines, rubbing them with salt, splashing vinegar, and stuffing them with scallions. Zhu Xi tended the fire while Grapes watched. After a brief marinade, the fish were skewered on branches and roasted over the flames. Under the clear sky, the aroma spread far, the skins crisping golden while the flesh remained tender and fragrant, juices dripping with each bite—utterly delicious, without a hint of fishiness. Lei Jin and Roger generously shared, and soon everyone was devouring the fish, nearly biting their tongues in their eagerness before rushing home to fetch their own baskets.

Word spread quickly, and by afternoon, the riverbank was bustling. But with only Lei Jin’s bamboo raft available, people had to take turns fishing. His goal achieved, his family’s haul—minus what they ate at noon—filled a large basket, enough to last them a while.

Lei Jin also set up small traps near the shallows where the ice had broken, baiting them and weighing them down with stones. They’d return the next day to collect the catch.

With such a bounty, dinner naturally featured fish. Lei Jin took charge, selecting three large fish. He separated the heads, sliced the flesh, lightly salted the pieces, and arranged them on a wooden platter. Scooping lard from a small pot on the stove, he melted it in a pan, stir-fried chili and scallions for fragrance, then added water, salt, and a few drops of soy sauce. Once boiling, he tossed in the fish slices, letting them cook briefly before ladling them over a bowl of silken tofu. The tender tofu paired perfectly with the delicate fish—though Lei Jin would’ve preferred a heavier hand with the chili, he held back for the sake of Mingya’s healing wounds, adding just enough for flavor.

The rest of the fish would be smoked or salted for longer preservation.

At dinner, Grapes squirmed restlessly in Lei Jin’s arms, clearly wanting a taste. Most parents would’ve just pacified the child, but Lei Jin wasn’t one for convention. Chewing a bit of fish himself, he bent down and pushed it into his son’s mouth with his tongue. The baby sucked eagerly, the two of them completely oblivious to the oddity of the scene—though it was quite heartwarming.

Life continued like this. Lei Jin’s popularity soared, and soon he didn’t even need to fish himself—just teaching the tribe’s females how to build rafts. Roger, dragged out daily by Lei Jin, seemed livelier than before. Mura followed him around like an adoring fan, helping with everything, practically starry-eyed.

Only Mingya was rarely seen these days. Lei Jin barely had a chance to talk to him. He now slept in Roger’s room, leaving early and returning only after dinner. Even Mura joked, “Mingya acts like a young werebeast who just found his mate—never home.”

Lei Jin laughed it off, paying no mind.

But even fish grew tiresome after a while. Lei Jin turned his attention to the prairie’s abundant field mice and rabbits. Wild pheasants in the mountains were trickier to catch—if only they had traps. He sought out Jia He, one of the tribe’s werebeast guards, to discuss whether he could make some. By the time he left Jia He’s place, night had fallen. Spotting the warm glow of home through the darkness, Lei Jin tightened his scarf and quickened his steps. He wondered how Xiya and Moya were doing—no news yet. And had Mingya returned today?

“I’m back. It’s freezing—even the streams along the path are iced over,” Lei Jin announced as he pushed the door open.

Roger stood by the table holding Grapes, looking awkward, as if hesitating to speak.

“What’s wrong? Have you eaten?” Lei Jin rubbed his hands, reaching for Grapes—only then noticing Mingya sitting at the table beside a delicate-looking young female, their fingers intertwined.

Lei Jin’s expression flickered briefly before he smiled. “We have a guest?”

Roger stayed silent.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Mingya stood, pulling the female up with him. Meeting Lei Jin’s gaze, he finally bit his lip and gestured to him. “We’re going to hold a bonding ceremony.”

Suddenly, Lei Jin remembered—this was the young man who had always chased after him, calling him “Mingya’s female”, bright-eyed and smiling, yet who had tried to shield him whenever danger arose. He let out a soft tsk, his smile unreadable. “Good for you.”

“Grapes, come congratulate… Uncle Mingya.”

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When Lei Jin was planning to accept the three of them, he naturally knew that this day would come. However, he still had a glimmer of hope. He hoped that it could be delayed as long as possible and it would be even better if it did not happen at all. He just never dreamed that it would come without any warning. He had had intimacy with all three of them separately, and also once with Moya and Xiya in the cave, but this was the first time with the four of them together. Just imagining that scene made Lei Jin want to run away into the horizon. However, as soon as he had the thought, he was caught off guard by Xiya. Not only was he picked up by him, but he was also pressed into Mingya’s arms, unable to move. Even his words of resistance were blocked by Xiya’s lips.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Mingya seemed to have not reacted, still chewing the last chestnut that Lei Jin had fed him. Seeing this, he could only stare with his eyes wide open, his paws on Lei Jin’s waist, panicking and not knowing what to do next.

“Wait, Xiya.” Lei Jin really wanted to curse. Was there a need to be so impatient? He wasn’t even given a chance to respond.

“I don’t want to wait anymore.” Xiya refused vaguely but firmly, and stubbornly kissed Lei Jin on the lips.

“Asshole, I told you to wait.” Lei Jin turned his head away, avoiding his kisses that kept raining down. Although he knew that it was wrong of him to drug them in the first place, there was no need to use such a punishment method.

But Xiya didn’t want to listen at all. While kissing him, he eagerly pulled at Lei Jin’s tunic. He didn’t have the patience to untie it, so he just tore it open. The knots of the tunic ripped one after another, and the wide-open tunic was soon thrown to the ground.

Although there was a brazier in the room, the weather was cold and Lei Jin shivered with his torso naked. His skin felt slightly chilled, but it was quickly dispelled by Xiya’s hot palms.

Mingya’s fur stuck tightly to Lei Jin’s skin, making him feel itchy and numb. He twisted his waist at the unbearable feeling, rubbing constantly to try to relieve the sensation. Mingya did not move, but his claws on Lei Jin’s waist became tighter and tighter.

Xiya’s kiss moved lower and lower, trailing a burning path in his wake. No matter how annoyed Lei Jin was afterwards, he could not deny the great pleasure and satisfaction his body got in the process. Just like at this moment, his will to resist was getting weaker and weaker. He could only arch his body, throw his head back and gasp deeply.

But when Xiya turned him over and tried to tear off his belt, he immediately realized that this was his last chance tonight, and if he missed it, he would never be able to get the upper hand tonight.

“Xiya, wait, I have something to say.”

“Later.” As if to verify this, Lei Jin felt a chill in his lower half and his belt was pulled off. Because he had just taken a shower, Lei Jin was only wearing a pair of thin summer pants. Now Xiya pulled them off along with his underwear. There was no obstacle anymore. Xiya’s tongue moved along his smooth ankles, slender calves, and parted Lei Jin’s legs, licking the sensitive inside of his thighs.

“You bastard, Xiya…” Lei Jin bent his legs and kicked backwards, but his pants were still tangled around his feet and he couldn’t lift his legs at all. After a flurry of activity, he could only kneel on the bed with difficulty. However, this made it easier for the person behind him to mount his attack. Xiya clasped Lei Jin’s thin waist tightly with both hands, and licked along the lower abdomen with his tongue all the way down to his member, which was still in a limp state.

Lei Jin clenched his teeth, but his body, which had been abstinent for more than half a year, began to heat up uncontrollably. Under Xiya’s continued attention, his member rose to half mast and he let out a moan of pleasure.

Moya’s clothes were only undone, having no time to take them off fully. He took two steps forward, and without waiting for Lei Jin to react, he clamped his chin and pressed down hard with a slightly punishing kiss. With his other hand, he touched the cherry red nub on one side and began to rub and pinch. The deep kisses made Lei Jin breathless, and he could only utter small unconscious whimpers.

Mingya’s eyes also became misty, seeing the disheveled Lei Jin in the hands of his two brothers, unable to resist, with a dazed and fragile look in his eyes, as if he was just waiting for someone to enter his body and stir his passion wildly. He couldn’t help but lower his head, pass his head under Lei Jin’s lower abdomen, and open his mouth to wrap it around Lei Jin’s erect member.

“Ah…” Unlike during the self pleasuring activities that Lei Jin had been doing secretly with his hands recently, which made his legs go limp, if it weren’t for the support of these three right now, he would probably have fallen directly on the bed.

Xiya cupped Lei Jin’s smooth buttocks in his hands and rubbed them, then spread them apart to reveal the tightly puckered small opening in the middle, and tentatively poked a finger in.

The uncomfortable feeling of a foreign object invading from behind made Lei Jin frown, his brows furrowing in discomfort. Moya’s mouth trailed along his chin, collarbone and all the way to his chest.

Xiya’s second finger added to the pain and Lei Jin cursed out loud, “Get out of there, Xiya.”

Xiya panted heavily and exclaimed in amazement, “It’s remarkable. How can you still be so tight after giving birth to a child?” It felt like the first time he was with him.

Lei Jin couldn’t stand such embarrassing words being spoken to him, but under the attack of Moya and Mingya, he couldn’t speak clearly and could only curse intermittently, “You…piss off…”

After abstaining from sex for so long, how could Xiya hold on for long with Lei Jin’s soft body in his arms, especially with Lei Jin’s legs spread wide open and his entrance winking open obscenely in such a way it made his last bit of rationality disappear completely. When the other could only just accept three fingers, he eagerly took out his member, draped himself over Lei Jin so that their bodies fit tightly together, and pressed against Lei Jin’s entrance, stuffing himself inside little by little. At this, Lei Jin broke out in a cold sweat from the burn and struggled even harder.

Moya kissed his face tenderly, gently and softly, saying, “Relax, relax, it will be fine soon.”

“You always say that, why don’t you try it once.” Lei Jin snapped through his gritted teeth, but for his own sake, he had to try to relax. He felt that his passage was filled up inch by inch by Xiya’s monstrous thing, and he felt sore and swollen.

“If you want to do it, do it quickly.” Lei Jin turned his head and glared at him. It would be even more uncomfortable if he didn’t move.

The wetness and tightness in Lei Jin’s passage was already driving Xiya crazy. Now that he was urging him on, how could he hold on any longer? He almost immediately raised his hips, pushed all the way in with great force, and started thrusting.

The almost tearing pain made Lei Jin’s vision go dark, but the caresses coming from all three sides distracted him from the pain and he soon began to enjoy that familiar pleasure again.

Seeing that Lei Jin had stopped struggling, Xiya’s movements became more wild.

“Ngh… hnn…” Lei Jin endured the piercing pleasure of Xiya hitting his pleasure spot again and again, while all his moans were swallowed by Moya’s mouth.

Mingya was also sucking hard from below, from the tip to the root. Lei Jin was completely defeated by the sensations surrounding him on all sides and could only twist his waist to meet Xiya’s fierce thrusts again and again.

Along with the muffled moans, accompanied by heavy gasps, Lei Jin’s body became completely open and receptive to the three brothers without knowing it. As Mingya’s raspy tongue swept across the small hole on the top of the mushroom head, Lei Jin’s body trembled and he finally came for the first time that night. The tightening of his inner walls at the back in turn made Xiya breathe heavier. After thrusting hard into Lei Jin’s warm passage a few more times, hot liquid painted Lei Jin’s insides in spurts.

The two collapsed in a post email haze but as soon as Xiya pulled out, Moya turned over Lei Jin’s body, lifted his legs up and spread them apart, not giving him any time to relax, and thrust forward in one go, pressing him tightly on his lap. Setting up a grinding rhythm, he pumped in circles inside him, pulling out almost entirely only to then plunge his entire length inside, relentlessly rubbing against that pleasure spot with precision. Lei Jin panted with his head thrown back, his waist sore and gone to jelly, his sweaty body falling into Xiya’s arms from behind.

“Moya… ngh… slow down…”

“Hnn, it’s too deep…” Lei Jin felt like his whole body was on fire from the other’s movements.

After several more thrusts, Lei Jin was laid down on the bed by Xiya. The sudden change in position allowed Moya to enter deeper. In this position, Moya knelt between Lei Jin’s spread legs, hands squeezing and rubbing his buttocks as he moved in and out.

“Is it good?” Moya’s eyes were burning with fire as he watched the tip of Lei Jin’s member, which was already oozing copious white liquid, being stroked in Xiya’s hand.

“Hurry up…ah…faster…Moya…ah…” Lei Jin called out breathlessly.

Moya sped up his thrusts with indescribable strength and speed. At the critical moment, he wrapped Lei Jin in his arms and pressed against him tightly. Moya’s roar of purple mixed together with Lei Jin’s moans, and the two reached climax together.

After this second round, Lei Jin’s whole body softened into jelly, but he still didn’t get much time to rest. Xiya rubbed and spread the white cum that kept flowing out of Lei Jin’s entrance and inserted himself again.

Lei Jin spent the night taking turns receiving the heated members from the two brothers. When one of them pulled out, the other would immediately slip in. It was so intense that Lei Jin thought he would die that night.

Begging for mercy was of no use. Each time he was about to come, he was asked again and again whether he would leave or not. Lei Jin nodded and shook his head in a daze. He could only repeat “no, no, no” over and over again before he was allowed to come.

In truth, they didn’t really do it all night. After all, no matter how strong the body is, it can’t withstand such activities for an entire night. Xiya and Moya still had some sense of restraint in their hearts.

However, the three were so immersed in their lovemaking that no one noticed when Mingya went out.

As the sky began to brighten, Xiya and Moya were already dressed and ready to go. Both of them looked refreshed and energetic, not looking one but tired from exercising for most of the night. But the man wrapped in blankets and unconscious was a different story. His black hair was disheveled, his face was flushed, and the half of his originally smooth arm that had slipped out of the blankets was covered with red hickies. One could imagine the state of his body buried in the blankets was probably an extremely sorry sight.

Mingya was also awake and was standing at the door, looking at Lei Jin lying on the bed. His eyes, which used to be bright, were now dull and lifeless.

“Little Brother, what’s wrong with you?” Xiya asked worriedly. Although they were about to set off, Mingya’s appearance still made him unable to ignore it.

Mingya just lowered his head and said nothing.

“Is it because Eldest and Second Brother didn’t take you into consideration last night?” Xiya thought of this possibility and teased him.

Mingya thought of how Lei Jin was in a state of ecstasy last night when he was touched by the three brothers. His face turned red, adding a bit of color to it, but then he shook his head.

“Little Brother, have you learned to lie too?” Xiya lifted Mingya’s chin and joked, then said, “Don’t be sad, you saw it last night, Lei Jin didn’t push you away, which means he can accept you. As for Eldest Brother and Second Brother, we will be away for a long time this time, and you are the only one left at home. He is yours now, are you afraid that you won’t have a chance? If you act coquettishly in front of him, he will probably surrender automatically. You also know how much Lei Jin loves you, I am actually very jealous.” Xiya winked playfully, but Mingya lowered his head even more.

Xiya wanted to say something more but then he heard An Sen calling for them outside, so he hurried out.

Moya was more thoughtful. When he passed by Mingya, he patted his shoulder and said, “We’ve been through so much, and he finally agreed to stay. No matter what, the four of us will be together.”

Mingya still stood there with his head down, not moving for a long time. After Moya left, there were drops of water stains on the stone floor under his feet.

They couldn’t be together anymore. Even if Mingya liked him so much, he couldn’t be with Lei Jin. That was why he left quietly last night. He couldn’t touch Lei Jin in the future. He belonged to Eldest and Second Brother.

This time, there were a lot of werebeasts who came to see them off, many of them with their whole family. Only Roger went from their family. Mingya wanted to come too, but Roger thought the weather was too cold and was afraid that Grapes would get cold, so he asked him to look after Grapes.

When Lei Jin woke up, he saw Mingya had changed into human form and was walking around the room with Grapes in his arms. His long silver hair fell on Grapes’ face and he was whispering something, which made Grapes giggle continuously. However, the slight limp from his left leg stung Lei Jin’s eyes.

“Mingya.” Lei Jin called him.

“You’re awake?” Mingya came to the bed holding Grapes.

“Why didn’t you wake me up? Did you go to Chunji to apply the medicine today?” Lei Jin said as he was about to get up from the bed only to wince. That part seemed to have been overused. It stung and felt numb at the same time. His whole body felt like it had been taken apart and put back together. He was so achy that he wanted to kill someone, but the two culprits were no longer around.

The blanket fell off, revealing Lei Jin’s body covered with kiss and finger marks, practically layering upon each other, and even the inside of his arms were not spared. Mingya dropped his eyes, his heart aching slightly, and he tried his best to ignore it all.

“En.” Mingya responded softly.

“That’s good.” Lei Jin smiled and took Grapes who was staring at him with one hand. He wanted to touch Mingya’s head with his other hand, but the other inadvertently avoided it.

Lei Jin looked at his empty hand, his smile faded slightly, and he began to feel that something was wrong.

“I’ll bring you lunch.” Mingya hurriedly stood up from the edge of the bed.

“Help me sit up first. I don’t have much strength.” Lei Jin narrowed his eyes, trying to see something from Mingya’s face.

“Oh.” Mingya wrapped Lei Jin in a blanket, supported his waist, helped him sit on the bed, and then took the clothes that had been heated on the charcoal fire and placed them next to Lei Jin.

Lei Jin first put Grapes on the bed, lifted the blanket, got out of bed naked, and prepared to put on his clothes. Only to see Mingya with his back turned to him, fidgeting, as if he was ready to rush out at any time.

“It’s not like you haven’t seen it all before, why are you shy?” Lei Jin dressed neatly, touched his neck, and asked Mingya to find the scarf that had never been used in the closet. He knew without looking in the mirror that he would not be able to go out and see people today without covering up.

Lei Jin wrapped himself tightly, pulled Mingya over, rubbed his face, and said with a smile, “How about I accompany you alone tonight?” Although he was a little dazed last night, he still remembered that Mingya didn’t do it. He and Xiya thought the same thing and simply believed that Mingya was sulking.

It was not easy for Lei Jin to say this on his own initiative, especially since he had a sore back and could barely even stand steadily. This was probably the only time in his life. But a certain someone clearly didn’t appreciate it. Mingya blushed, but still stammered and refused, “No… No, you… have a good rest tonight.”

Lei Jin felt like a bucket of cold water was poured over his head. It was the first time he took the initiative to ask to be ravished, but was rejected. He really lost all his face. Although he was not upset, he thought that it was impossible to ever ask it a second time.

“I’ll hold Grapes, let’s go eat. Papa has already heated it up several times.” Mingya probably felt that he had offended Lei Jin after saying this, so he hurriedly tried to make amends, but he didn’t know what to say.

Lei Jin watched him leave with Grapes in his arms and shook his head, thinking, forget it, take it slow, there’s plenty of time anyway. He wasn’t afraid that the little guy would not come around soon.

After lunch, Mura and his papa Zhu Xi came over, bringing with them a lot of food and some spare clothes, as if they were planning to live here permanently.

“Every year at this time, Uncle Zhu Xi and Brother Mura come to stay at our house. Many families in the tribe do this.” Mingya helped put the food they brought into the cellar.

“Why?” An Bu’s wife and son often living in Roger’s house, and they even got along well with Roger. When he didn’t know the whole story before, he didn’t think anything of it, but now, what on earth was this weird situation?

“Firstly, we’re worried about foreign attacks at this time, so we have to take care of each other and living together makes that easier. Secondly, this allows us to gather our food together so that we can overcome any difficulties together.” After washing his hands, Mura ran over with a smile, and wanted to take Grapes and hug him.

Grapes was never shy and could be held by anyone.

“Grapes, Grapes, I’m Uncle Mura.” Seeing Grapes smile, Mura was so happy that he shouted to Zhu Xi who just walked over, “Papa, look, Grapes really looks like Dad when he smiles.”

Lei Jin was speechless for a moment, thinking to himself, Mura, where is your brain? How dare you say such a thing? Didn’t you notice how Roger’s expression had turned dark? But what shocked him even more was yet to come. He saw Zhu Xi come over, look at Grapes, and said with a smile, “It’s true. Your grandpa also had such a pair of beautiful emerald green eyes. Since Grandpa passed away, only your dad is left. Now there is little Grapes. He is prettier the more you look at him.”

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This “grandpa” referred to the dad’s papa, and “granddad” was used for the dad’s father. Lei Jin had been here for so long that he could now distinguish them clearly. Judging from the performance of these two people, it was either that they didn’t really care, or they were here to bully others. He didn’t understand Zhu Xi, but Mura was cheerful and generous, and Roger loved him, so there was no reason for him to deliberately anger Roger. But it was even more impossible to say that they didn’t care. Who wouldn’t care about their husband and father cheating with another? Or did this world lack modern ethics and morals, so they didn’t mind? If that was the case, then that was truly strange. However, this question did not bother him for long, and Lei Jin got the answer that night.

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“A tangled mess”—that was the only phrase Lei Jin could use to describe the current situation.

Little Grapes waved his tiny fists, whimpered twice, and woke up. Just from the sound, Lei Jin knew it was time for another diaper change. Before he could even get up, Moya had already thrown on his clothes and come in from the outer room. Though a new father for only a short time, Moya had already mastered the task with ease. After cleaning and swaddling the baby, he handed Grapes back to Lei Jin, washed his hands, and then warmed some milk fruit juice—everything done in an orderly manner.

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A clay pot by the charcoal brazier kept water warm all night. Moya mixed it with hot water, added herbs, blew on it to cool it slightly, and then fed the baby spoonful by spoonful.

“I heard you’re heading to the Bear Tribe’s territory this time?” Lei Jin wiped the corners of Grapes’s mouth with a small cloth as the baby drank, the two new parents working seamlessly together.

“En. At this time of year, that’s the only place with enough prey.” Though Moya was speaking to Lei Jin, he kept his eyes on the baby to avoid mistakenly choking him.

Lei Jin pressed for more details and soon grasped the situation. The Bear Tribe was located southwest of the Wolf Tribe, which meant northwest from the Leopard Tribe’s perspective. Nestled at the end of a northern mountain range, the area featured towering peaks and deep valleys. Despite the cold season, the Bear Tribe’s nearby valleys remained warm and humid—unsuitable for living but lush with year-round vegetation, attracting plenty of game.

Though not technically Bear Tribe territory, it was close enough to their doorstep that they wouldn’t let outsiders hunt freely. With food scarce this season, conflicts were inevitable. The Tiger Tribe, being farther away, stayed out of it, leaving the Leopard, Wolf, and Bear Tribes in a three-way standoff. Relations were already strained, and now, with survival at stake, alliances crumbled. The battles were predictably going to be brutal.

The Leopard and Wolf Tribes, at least, shared a grudging camaraderie—both hindered by the Bear Tribe, they avoided direct conflict with each other. But the Bear Tribe was no pushover. Using their knowledge of the terrain, they ambushed and weakened intruders before launching full-scale attacks.

“Strange. Aren’t bears supposed to be stupid? Stupid bears, stupid bears—how come the ones in this world sound so clever?” Lei Jin muttered, impressed by their strategy of wearing down their enemies.

“What stupid bears?” Moya didn’t catch his muttering.

“The Bear Tribe people.” Lei Jin patted Grapes, who, after finishing his milk, was already blinking sleepily. Apart from being frail, the baby was remarkably easy to care for—unfussy, adaptable, and content to eat and sleep. Lei Jin couldn’t be happier with his little piglet.

“They’re not stupid.” Moya placed the sleeping baby back in the crib. “The Leopard and Wolf Tribes haven’t gained any advantage over them in years.”

“Have you been there before? Do you know the terrain well?” Lei Jin wondered if there was a way to avoid walking straight into an ambush.

“I’ve gone every year since adulthood. I remember the layout. But it’s almost dawn—if you have any ideas, we can discuss them with the family tomorrow.” Before Lei Jin could respond, Moya cupped the back of his head and pushed him onto the bed, sealing their lips together in a rough, untamed kiss.

Lei Jin sighed inwardly. No improvement in technique at all. He hooked an arm around Moya’s neck and took control, nibbling at his lower lip before deepening the kiss. What started as simple soon turned heated, both breathing heavily. Moya, unable to resist, slid a knee between Lei Jin’s thighs, his hands slipping under the hem of Lei Jin’s shirt to roam over smooth, warm skin.

“It’s almost dawn… mmph… You still want me to sleep or not?” Lei Jin arched beneath him, deliberately grinding his hips and earning harsher pants from the person currently buried in his chest busy sucking his cherry red nubs.

Feeling the hard and erect thing against his waist and hips becoming increasingly hot, Lei Jin’s long leg rubbed it intentionally or unintentionally, and his chest was bitten hard in retaliation.

Lei Jin gasped out loud.

“Sleep. It’s late.” Moya exhaled sharply, pulling the blanket over them both. He held Lei Jin for a while longer before finally leaving.

Once alone, Lei Jin smirked. Let’s see how long you can hold out. It wasn’t that he was impatient—but compared to their previous clinginess, their current aloofness made him uneasy. Are they plotting something?

But that was a concern for another time. Right now, there were bigger matters at hand.

After lunch, Lei Jin handed the napping Grapes to Mingya and headed to the main room to discuss the upcoming hunt with the family.

“Mingya, what’s wrong? Is your leg hurting more today?” Since returning from Chunji’s, Mingya had seemed downcast. The little guy was terrible at hiding his feelings—everything showed on his face.

“En.” Mingya nodded glumly, following Lei Jin’s train of thought.

Lei Jin ruffled his hair. “You’re Grapes’s little dad now. Look, even Grapes doesn’t cry after his treatments. Hang in there—once it’s warmer, I’m counting on you to carry me and Grapes around.”

“Right, Grapes?” He gently pinched the baby’s soft cheek, eliciting a giggle.

“Take a nap with Grapes. I’ll check on you later. Call me if you need anything.” Though he noticed Mingya’s odd behavior, Lei Jin was preoccupied and didn’t dwell on it. He settled Grapes between Mingya’s paws and left.

Grapes reached for Mingya’s fur, but the young werebeast’s tears fell onto Grapes’s face, which he then carefully licked away.

Earlier, he had overheard Chunji whispering to Lei Jin: “His leg won’t heal fully. This is as good as it gets.”

“Grapes… I don’t want to be your little dad anymore. I don’t want Lei Jin either. My leg won’t get better. I can’t protect him now. Eldest Brother and Second Brother love him so much—they’ll take good care of your papa.”

But letting go was so hard. Lei Jin was the female he found first.

Grapes blinked innocently, unaware of the warmth dripping onto his face.

“The situation is roughly like this.” Xiya wiped the water from his hands. With input from the others, he had sketched the terrain on the table using water.

Lei Jin stroked his chin. The valley ran north-south, wide in the middle and narrow at both ends, with an entrance at each. The southern one was too far to matter, leaving only the northern entrance—conveniently located west of the Bear Tribe’s settlement, with towering mountains to the north. Every year, the Bear Tribe ambushed hunters at the eastern side of the entrance.

“Why not just fly down from above?” Lei Jin asked.

“The valley’s too deep, and the fog’s thick. Without a landing spot, you’d fall to your death,” Xiya explained wryly.

Lei Jin frowned, tapping the table absently. The Bear Tribe had chosen their location well—advantageous in every way.

“If there’s no solution, forget it. We’ve managed all these years,” An Sen said, seeing Lei Jin’s frustration.

“There has to be a way.” But nothing came to mind.

“Don’t rush. You can think it over. Eldest Brother and I will go chop more firewood.” Moya knew Lei Jin was worried, but ideas didn’t come on demand.

“Why? We have plenty.” With so many able-bodied adults in the house, firewood was never in short supply.

“We might be gone a while. Stocking up means you and Papa won’t have to gather any.” Though unspoken, the risks of the hunt were clear—especially this spring expedition.

“Firewood, firewood… Might as well burn down the Bear Tribe,” Lei Jin muttered.

“What did you say?” Xiya didn’t catch it.

Lei Jin’s eyes lit up. “What if we actually burn down the Bear Tribe?”

“No.” Roger emerged from his room, coughing.

An Luo helped him sit and handed him warm water.

“Roger, feeling better?” Lei Jin asked. Though spring had arrived, the cold lingered, and Roger’s low spirits had led to illness.

“Much better. I haven’t even gotten to hold Grapes yet. Where is he?” Regardless of past grievances, Grapes was his grandson—how could he not adore him?

“Mingya’s napping with him.” Lei Jin was relieved Roger accepted the baby. Living under the same roof would’ve been miserable otherwise.

“Once I’m better, let Grapes stay with me a few days. I haven’t even held him yet.” Roger took a sip of water. “Now, what did you just say about burning the Bear Tribe?”

“I think this is a great idea.” Lei Jin grinned. “We skirt around the northern mountains’ shaded slopes, bypass their eastern ambush, and set a fire near their settlement. While they rush back to save their homes, our tribe can enter the valley unhindered.”

“Can you even cross those mountains?” That was the first hurdle.

“They’re high, with year-round snow, but werebeasts should manage,” Moya said cautiously.

That was good enough for Lei Jin.

“Why is your solution to everything to burn it down?” Roger sighed. Even as a father, Lei Jin remained reckless.

“Because it’s fast and effective.” One fire, problem solved.

“And what about the surviving Bear Tribe members? With their homes destroyed and families dead, they’d seek revenge. Our tribe would never know peace.”

“I didn’t mean actually burn it down. Just light fires around their settlement—enough to make it smoky and look like a big fire. The people of the Bear Tribe who are ambushing and guarding the entrance will definitely turn back. Then don’t we have a chance?” Lei Jin was still smiling, not looking serious at all.

Seeing him like this, Roger felt a little relieved. This guy just had this ability. As if being with him, one didn’t need to worry about anything and all difficulties would pass.

“What if the Bear Tribe suffers a great loss this time and gets really angry, and comes to seek revenge on us after they come to their senses?” It’s always better to be cautious in everything.

“There are always unexpected events, Roger, you think too much.” Although he said this, it was better if such things didn’t occur. “How about we get the Wolf Tribe to do it together? First, it can increase the chance of success. Second, if the Bear Tribe wants revenge they would have to think about it, as it would mean going up against our two tribes.”

When good things happen, you can enjoy them alone, but when something bad happens, of course the more people there are, the better.

“Can the Wolf Tribe be so easy to convince?” The relationship between the tribes on the mainland was not very good, An Sen thought.

“The new chief of the Wolf Tribe, Yu Qi, seems to be rather smart. It makes no sense for him not to agree to such a favorable offer. But if he doesn’t agree?” Lei Jin smiled cunningly and asked Xiya lazily, “What was the name of the father of the child Mingya rescued last time?”

“Qinghe.” Fortunately, Xiya’s memory was still good.

“Yes, Qinghe, didn’t I hear that he has a lot of supporters in the Wolf Tribe? Just help him to bring Yu Qi down.” Anyway, Qinghe had repeatedly promised last time that he would repay the favor of saving his little chubby wolf cub in the future.

“This… isn’t this provoking a civil strife in the Wolf Tribe?” Roger looked at him in surprise. Such a big thing, and Lei Jin decided it so easily?

“Not even this is okay?” Lei Jin frowned, “Then there is only one way left, Moya goes to threaten him about how he betrayed Berg.” Not many people had seen Berg at that time, yet Lan Qi was able to find the Leopard Tribe so accurately. It was likely that Yu Qi played a significant role in it. He betrayed Berg and got benefits. No matter what the original reason was, it would be shameful for a tribal leader to do such a thing behind the scenes, right? It wouldn’t be good if this reputation got out. And looking at Berg’s timid behavior in the Wolf Tribe, Yu Qi might have even known everything about the relationship between Berg and Lan Qi. He should have known that once Berg found out that he was the one who betrayed him to Lan Qi, Yu Qi would be in a difficult situation.

Lei Jin analyzed the situation to everyone, and the more they thought about it, the more they felt it was a good idea. However, the people who listened to it were sweating profusely, and they all secretly made up their minds to avoid provoking Lei Jin in the future. He was full of devious ideas, and each of them could make people suffer a lot.

There was only one person who nodded with satisfaction, and that was Roger. He understood that it was precisely because of his love and worry that Lei Jin tried so hard to find a solution. Otherwise, with his lazy nature, he would not bother about irrelevant people. He felt relieved to leave his three children to this man.

How could Xiya and Moya not know this as well? This person was protecting them in his own way. How could anyone bear to let go of such a person?

Naturally, they couldn’t just talk about these things at home, they still had to be discussed in the tribe. There were naturally opposing opinions, but support was in the majority after all, so it was finally decided that Xiya, Moya and two other werebeasts would go to the Wolf Tribe to discuss an alliance.

The days passed one by one in busyness, and Xiya and Moya returned safely from the Wolf Tribe. Yu Qi was indeed a smart person. He agreed without them needing to resort to threats and took the initiative to propose to gather at the Wolf Tribe.

Tomorrow was the day of departure. Xiya and Moya had packed all the things they needed for the journey. Grapes would sleep with Roger tonight. Mingya was still not in good spirits. Lei Jin sat at the head of the bed with a handful of chestnuts in his hand, peeling them and feeding him while trying to make him laugh.

Xiya grabbed Lei Jin’s waist from behind, and caressed him all over in a manner that was full of suggestiveness.

“Stop messing around, go to bed early. Aren’t you leaving tomorrow?” Lei Jin was a little nervous, but he didn’t forget that there were two other people in the room. It was one against three, and he didn’t want to break his waist.

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Xiya smiled mischievously and whispered in his ear, “You probably don’t know that werebeasts never sleep the night before they set out. If they can’t see each other for so many days, they naturally want to spend some time with their females.”

No sleep all night? Lei Jin looked up at Moya who was walking towards him for help, but saw that the latter’s hand was already on the knot of his clothes, and he was about to untie it.

“You didn’t think that we would have easily forgiven you for drugging us and leaving, right?” Xiya picked him up and covered his lips with a chuckle.

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At this point, there was no need to delve deeper into the topic. Lei Jin knew better than to pry too much into Roger’s affairs. Though curiosity gnawed at him, he understood the importance of restraint—especially since this matter clearly wasn’t a pleasant memory for Roger. Turning it into gossip would be too cruel.

The family had always suspected, but suspicion and confirmation were two very different things. Today, Grapes’ appearance had abruptly bridged that gap, catching everyone off guard—especially Roger, the one most directly involved.

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Lei Jin sent Moya and Xiya off to bed and lay down with the baby in his arms. Before leaving, Xiya had even changed Grapes’ diaper. Lei Jin reached down to check—yep, dry and clean. Chunji had prepared these in advance.

Little Grapes, thinking Lei Jin was playing with him, wriggled excitedly, his bright eyes wide open—clearly not ready for sleep.

Lei Jin had no choice but to hold him close, patting and coaxing until the baby finally drifted off. By then, Lei Jin was sweating despite the winter chill.

“Such a little troublemaker,” he murmured, lightly kissing Grapes’ eyelids. “Sleep, sleep, little grape.”

As Xiya had said, the baby was too thin. Only when playing did his cheeks flush pink; otherwise, his complexion remained pale. Born prematurely and having endured so much, it was a miracle he was even alive. How could I have ever thought of abandoning such a precious little thing?

The stillness of night always stirred emotions. Even if Lei Jin tried not to dwell on it, too much had happened in such a short time—losing and regaining the baby, failing to leave, Mingya’s injury—no one could ignore these events, no matter how thick-skinned.

Let it go. It’s all in the past. Stay here and live well. With so many people by my side, and now the baby… what more could I want?

Yet, there was something else—something he couldn’t quite define. Even if he eventually accepted being their mate, he couldn’t spend his days confined to the bed, waiting to bear children.

But Baby… thank goodness you came back. Otherwise, I would never have forgiven myself. Forever unable to enjoy all of this with peace of mind.

“Second Brother…” Mingya whispered, nudging Moya, who was sleeping on the outer edge of the bed. Why did he feel that Lei Jin was crying?

Moya turned over, pressing Mingya’s head against his chest and patting him in silent reassurance.

Lei Jin wasn’t making a sound—just stifling quiet sobs in his throat.

His grief over losing the child had always run deeper than he let on. After all, he had blamed himself for the baby’s death. Now, finally being able to cry meant he could finally release that burden. Moya resisted the urge to gather both Lei Jin and the baby into his arms.

Xiya, lying with his hands behind his head, also caught the faint sounds from the inner room. This time, he’s really staying—willingly, without regrets, right? Unlike his papa, who had hidden years of pain and resentment, perhaps Lei Jin’s choice was genuine.

Maybe Moya and Mingya were right. A brief separation doesn’t mean letting go.

It was just that Xiya had been too afraid of loss. When his papa left, Moya was still young, and Mingya hadn’t even been born. Only Xiya remembered his papa’s resolute departure—the feeling of being abandoned. He never wanted to experience that again.

The next day, Roger still didn’t come out for meals. An Sen and An Luo stayed by his side the whole time. Lei Jin, as usual, took Mingya to Chunji’s place.

When he heard about Grapes’ condition, his heart sank. Fortunately, the old man in black—who called himself Tian Qi and boastfully claimed to have been the most renowned physician on the continent fifty years ago—assured him that since the baby was still young, he could be cured.

Lei Jin inwardly rolled his eyes at the man’s shameless self-praise but outwardly maintained a respectful demeanor, nodding along and even throwing in a few flattering remarks. After all, his baby’s life was in his hands.

Tian Qi instructed Lei Jin to hold the baby steady before inserting needles into Grapes’ head—turning the poor child’s scalp into a pincushion. The baby wailed uncontrollably, and Lei Jin, rarely one to show vulnerability in public, nearly broke down. At one point, he almost snatched Grapes away and stormed off, refusing further treatment.

It was Chunji who snapped him out of it, scolding him into submission. Lei Jin gritted his teeth and held the baby tightly until the session ended. Meanwhile, Mingya, heartbroken at seeing Grapes suffer, cried along with him.

Later, Lei Jin mentioned the naming matter to Chunji. The latter, who had been moping like a condemned criminal, instantly perked up. First, he mocked Lei Jin’s naming sense—”Green eyes, so you call him ‘Grapes’? If his eyes were black, would you name him ‘Pebbles’?”—nearly earning himself a punch.

Then, without hesitation, Chunji suggested his own name: Han Xi, which meant winter dawn.

Lei Jin reluctantly accepted, refusing to admit that Chunji’s choice of name was far more meaningful than his own. But he knew Chunji must have thought of it long ago—otherwise, he wouldn’t have answered so quickly.

Chunji’s personality was much like Lei Jin’s—the more he cared, the more he pretended not to. The fact that he had a name ready proved just how much he adored the baby.

“Baby, little grape, eat a little more,” Chunji coaxed, feeding Grapes milk fruit juice.

Having more people love the baby wasn’t a bad thing. Of course, everyone would adore his child. Lei Jin smirked proudly.

Jia He was the tribe’s carpenter, skilled in crafting doors and stools—even many of the odd furnishings in Chunji’s home were his handiwork. Lei Jin commissioned a crib, knowing his own terrible sleeping habits. Before, it hadn’t mattered, but now, the thought of accidentally crushing the baby terrified him.

Jia He had made cribs before, but never one with wheels. After some animated explanations from Lei Jin and Jia He’s quick comprehension, they managed to attach four solid wooden wheels to the crib’s base.

The only downside? It could only move straight—no turning. Still, Lei Jin was thrilled. He planned to use it as a bed at night and take the baby for walks on sunny days.

Jia He, though a tall and burly werebeast, was meticulous—especially since this was their family’s child. The crib was made of smooth, oiled bamboo slats, with a raised frame and a flat base. He even designed it with two layers—the lower one for storage and ventilation, ensuring the baby wouldn’t overheat in summer.

After thanking Jia He profusely and leaving him a frozen deer as payment, Lei Jin proudly wheeled the crib home, drawing envious stares—especially from the tribe’s females. Many, despite their own worries, couldn’t help but admire the convenience of such a crib and asked Lei Jin how it was made. He answered them all without holding back.

As Grapes’ health gradually improved, Lei Jin’s worries shifted to two other matters.

First, Mingya’s leg. He had asked Chunji repeatedly, but the answer remained the same—it would never fully recover. Lei Jin didn’t care how Mingya looked, but Mingya was barely just an adult. How could he bear Mingya ending up disabled, especially because of him?

Second, the family’s current situation. While food was usually plentiful in this world, with tribes spaced far apart and rarely clashing, exceptions existed. Now, at the start of spring, with snow still unmelted and winter stores nearly depleted, many families were on the brink of starvation.

The werebeasts were preparing for a large hunt, but with most animals still hibernating and migratory herds yet to arrive, food sources were scarce. During such times, even normally peaceful tribes would fight viciously over resources, leading to countless deaths.

If only the tribe had more food reserves… But planting now wouldn’t yield anything in time.

Their own household was still well-stocked, thanks to the family’s five werebeasts’ winter hunts. But this time, aside from Mingya (who was injured), An Sen, Xiya, and the others would all be going.

What if something happens?

Lei Jin had just resolved to stay and build a life with them. He couldn’t afford to lose any of them.

These issues were very headache-inducing. Rubbing his temples as he walked, Lei Jin couldn’t help but grumble. One husband would’ve been enough trouble. Now he had three—triple the worries. Could his life get any harder?

The answer came immediately: Yes.

Because right then, he saw An Bu—the person who gave Roger headaches.

An Bu was leading a group of werebeasts, discussing something in low tones, his demeanor calm and composed. Tall, handsome, and dignified, he was undeniably attractive. But if Roger didn’t like him, even divine charm won’t help.

Spotting Lei Jin, An Bu dismissed the others and approached.

“May I see the child?” His gaze had been fixed on Grapes since they crossed paths.

“Go ahead.” Lei Jin was magnanimous. After all, he was technically the baby’s grandfather.

Grapes was sprawled out in the crib, sleeping with unrestrained abandon—much like his good ol’ dad.

An Bu lifted the baby with practiced ease, smiling faintly. “This is your and Moya’s child?”

As if you don’t know. The tribe wasn’t that big, and as chief, An Bu was surely aware. Still, Lei Jin nodded. “Yes, mine and Moya’s. His eyes are emerald green, so we nicknamed him ‘Grapes.’” That’s what you really wanted to confirm, isn’t it?

Sure enough, An Bu’s face lit up. “Grapes is good. A fine name.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Since Lei Jin had introduced grapes as edible, the whole tribe now knew what they were. An Bu naturally knew as well.

But Lei Jin knew it wasn’t about the name—it was about the baby’s eyes. Finally, proof that Roger bore him a son too.

That night, Lei Jin tossed and turned, unable to sleep—worrying about Mingya’s leg, Xiya and Moya’s upcoming hunt, and the future ahead.

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The last trace of a smile finally faded from Lei Jin’s lips. His dark eyes, devoid of emotion, fixed on Chunji for a long moment, as if making a final confirmation.

Chunji thought he still didn’t believe him and was about to explain further when Lei Jin silently stretched out his arms. Clutching the child tighter for a brief second, Chunji ultimately handed the baby over without a word—into the embrace where he rightfully belonged.

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The moment the baby was in Lei Jin’s arms, his tiny fists waved excitedly, his face breaking into a delighted grin. In that instant, Chunji felt a pang of guilt. No matter how many reasons he had, keeping the truth from the child’s birth parent for nearly three months was undeniably cruel.

Lei Jin kissed the baby’s cheek. Before leaving, he turned back and said, “Thank you, Chunji.”

Chunji froze for a second, then hurriedly ran back inside to fetch the baby’s belongings. As he handed them over, he finally uttered the long-suppressed words: “I’m sorry.”

Mingya was still in a daze, completely baffled by the situation. Though Xiya also didn’t understand how their supposedly lost child had come back to life, he knew Chunji wouldn’t joke about something like this.

What he hadn’t expected was that the baby’s eye color would unravel a mystery that had lingered in their family for nearly two decades.

Moya really is Uncle An Bu’s child.

Now, who knew what kind of storm this would stir up at home? Since there was no stopping it, all they could do was hope things would settle quickly.

“You’re back? Lunch will be ready soon—just wait a bit.” Roger emerged from the kitchen carrying a stack of bowls and utensils. When he saw the child in Lei Jin’s arms, he smiled and asked, “Is that Chunji’s baby? Why did you bring him back?”

“He’s not Chunji’s. He’s mine.” Lei Jin’s tone was calm.

“What?” Roger’s eyes widened in disbelief, thinking he had heard wrong.

Lei Jin briefly explained what had happened.

Roger was immediately overjoyed. “Really? How could such a thing happen? But it’s wonderful that the baby is alive! Come inside—it’s cold out. Let me see him.”

Lei Jin had been cradling the baby against his chest the whole way to shield him from the wind. Now, hearing voices, the curious little one turned his head and, upon seeing Roger, giggled without a trace of shyness.

But the moment Roger saw the baby’s eyes, his face paled. He staggered back two steps, the bowls in his hands shattering on the ground.

“I—I have a headache. I won’t eat lunch. Don’t wait for me. I’m going to rest.” With that, he turned and fled to his room, swiftly bolting the door behind him.

Xiya and Mingya, who had just entered behind Lei Jin, witnessed the scene.

“I didn’t do anything,” Lei Jin immediately defended himself—something he’d been doing a lot lately. What’s wrong with Roger?

“Don’t let the baby catch a cold. Go inside.” Xiya, carrying Mingya on his back, urged them to hurry in.

Later, when the rest of the family returned and heard the news about the baby, they were both shocked and overjoyed. The happiest was undoubtedly Moya. Lei Jin thought he looked like he might burst into tears at any moment—a rare sight.

Xiya was happy too, though a hint of worry lingered between his brows, his gaze frequently drifting toward Roger’s room.

As for Mingya, he just grinned foolishly, thrilled for no particular reason. Due to his injury, he had to remain in beast form to conserve energy. Lying nearby, he kept urging, “Second Brother, Second Brother!” demanding that Moya place the baby on his front paws for a closer look.

The baby didn’t seem afraid of him at all. When Mingya licked him, he giggled happily.

An Sen and An Luo knocked on Roger’s door several times with bowls of food, but received no response. After pressing their ears to the door for a while and confirming nothing out of the ordinary as well as adding to the fact that the children were present, they didn’t push further.

Everyone was happy, and Lei Jin played along, showing no signs of discomfort.

That night, Lei Jin suggested that Mingya share a bed with Moya while he slept alone with the baby. Understanding his feelings, none of the three objected. Moya even dug out the small animal hides they had brought back earlier and changed the baby into them.

While bathing, Lei Jin wondered if he should wash the baby too, but since he wasn’t sure how and Roger was in no state to ask, he decided against it. No need to risk making the baby sick.

“Baby, Baby… we should give you a name.” Lei Jin wiggled his fingers, and the baby swung his tiny fists to grab them. The two played back and forth on the bed, thoroughly entertained.

“What name should we give Baby?” Lei Jin asked the other three. Mingya was already in bed, Xiya was adding charcoal to the brazier (and tossing in a couple of sweet potatoes), and Moya—the proud new father—was pointlessly rearranging things in the room, seemingly unable to keep still.

Hearing this, Mingya perked up. “Oh, right! The baby doesn’t have a name yet! What should we call him? He’s our first baby!”

Xiya finished with the brazier, washed his hands in a wooden basin, and came over to stroke the baby’s cheek. “Baby, Naby, look at Daddy Xiya.”

The baby had been excited all day and still showed no signs of sleepiness, giggling at everyone he saw.

“Our baby is the prettiest,” Xiya said, clumsily lifting the child. Then, to Lei Jin, he added, “He’s just a bit thin. We’ll fatten him up—make him a chubby little baby.”

“You should name him. You’re his papa,” Moya said, pulling up a stool and placing a warm cup of milk fruit juice within Lei Jin’s reach.

Hearing the word papa, Lei Jin shuddered. “Don’t call me that.”

“Then what should we call you?” Moya sat on the edge of the bed, his mood visibly brighter than it had been in a long time. His fingers idly twirled a lock of Lei Jin’s soft hair.

Lei Jin lay on his side, propping his head up as he pondered. Call me ‘Dad’? But that might invite ridicule—the whole tribe knew the baby was his. ‘Father’? Roger had already claimed that. ‘Mother’? He’d rather die.

“It’s taking you this long to think of a title?”

Lei Jin snapped out of his thoughts to find Moya dangerously close, his warm breath brushing against his neck. His body instantly felt weak. Instinctively, he raised a hand to push Moya’s face away, but the moment his fingers brushed against the other’s mouth, he yanked them back as if burned, clenching his fist.

Damn it. If you’re going to be an ice block, then stay an ice block. Since when did you learn to act like this?

“Have you decided yet?” Moya pressed, deliberately leaning closer.

“Back up a little.” If you get any closer, I will have a reaction. Lei Jin inwardly cursed himself. Since when am I this desperate?

Moya’s lips curved into a quiet, tender smile, his eyes crinkling with warmth.

Trying to seduce me? Not a chance. Lei Jin glared defiantly but slowly faltered under that gaze. Clenching his fists, he fought the urge to punch something.

Fortunately, Xiya intervened before tragedy could strike. “Have you two settled on a name? Why are you fighting already?”

“I’ve decided,” Lei Jin announced loudly. “From now on, the baby will call me old Dad.”

“‘Dad’ is ‘Dad.’ Why ‘old Dad’?” Xiya, having dealt with Roger’s preferences before, had expected Lei Jin to reject papa. But old Dad?

“Because I like it.” Lei Jin waved a hand, as if that settled the matter.

“What about the baby’s actual name?” Mingya was still scratching his head in thought.

“I have a suggestion,” Lei Jin said.

“Let’s hear it,” Moya prompted.

Lei Jin wrapped himself in a blanket and sat cross-legged before declaring, “Chunji saved the baby’s life. I think he should name him.” Mostly because it was obvious how much Chunji loves this child.

Xiya glanced at Moya, who nodded. “That’s fine.”

“But before that, I’m giving the baby a nickname. His eyes are green—green like… like…” Lei Jin tugged at his hair. Like what?

“Grapes!” Mingya blurted, latching onto the first edible thing that came to mind.

“Perfect! The baby’s nickname is Grapes!” Lei Jin clapped his hands in delight. “Little Grapes, come to ol’ Dad!”

Xiya and Moya could only sigh inwardly, already foreseeing the future. Only Mingya cheered enthusiastically, further fueling Lei Jin’s inexplicable confidence—directly leading to the eventual fruity nicknames of all their subsequent children.

“By the way,” Lei Jin suddenly said, belatedly realizing the key issue, “the baby’s eyes are emerald green. Who does that come from?”

Moya’s expression instantly turned complicated.

“If you don’t even know who the baby resembles, how could you be so sure he’s ours? Weren’t you afraid Chunji was lying?” Xiya tried steering the conversation away.

“I can’t explain the feeling.” The moment Chunji had spoken, Lei Jin had believed him—he just hadn’t dared to. Would fate really be so kind? To return the child he’d thought lost forever, giving him a chance to make up for his mistakes?

But it had never crossed his mind that the baby wasn’t his. It felt right, as if the empty space in his heart had finally been filled.

“The sweet potatoes are done.” Lei Jin, still holding the baby, caught the rich, sugary aroma.

Moya fished them out of the brazier, dusted them off, peeled them, and handed half to Lei Jin. “Don’t eat too much at night—it’ll upset your stomach tomorrow.” The rest he placed in front of Mingya, who had been begging for them earlier. As a werebeast, Mingya could handle more food without issue.

“So sweet!” Mingya took a big bite.

“With less rain this year, the potatoes are naturally sweeter.” Lei Jin took a bite, and the baby’s eyes followed the movement curiously.

“Want a taste?” Grinning, Lei Jin dabbed a bit on his finger and held it to the baby’s mouth.

The toothless little one sucked eagerly, drooling all over.

“Don’t feed the baby random things. He’s too young,” Xiya chided, taking the child and wiping his mouth. “Baby, don’t eat whatever your papa gives you. You’ll get a stomachache.”

“It’s Grapes. And don’t ruin my image in front of my son!” Lei Jin protested vehemently.

“Fine, Grapes. We got it.” Moya popped the last bit of Lei Jin’s sweet potato into his own mouth and wiped his hands clean.

“Ah!” Mingya suddenly exclaimed.

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“What’s wrong? Does your leg hurt again?” Lei Jin asked anxiously.

“I just remembered! Baby—no, our little Grapes—his eyes look just like Uncle An Bu’s! Right, Eldest Brother? Second Brother?” Mingya sought confirmation.

The moment he said it, Lei Jin finally understood what was going on.

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Lei Jin didn’t know why, but the sound of this child crying twisted his heart with an unbearable ache, making him long to hold the little one in his arms and soothe him. And in the end, that was exactly what he did.

Ever since accompanying Mingya to Chunji’s place to change his bandages a couple of days ago, Lei Jin had begun noticing something strange about himself. One of the signs was that he couldn’t control his ears, which kept perking up involuntarily, especially when filtering out the sounds of the child. Whenever he heard the child’s voice, his heart would feel at peace for the entire day. But if he didn’t, his mind would grow restless, unsettled. Lei Jin concluded that he must have lost his mind—perhaps losing his own child had made him overly sensitive to other people’s children, to the point of irrational longing. To test this theory, he deliberately wandered around the tribe for a while. Given the cold weather, no one was foolish enough to take their children out for a stroll. Yet, as luck would have it, he did come across a few. However, no matter how adorable, clever, or beautiful those children were—whether werebeasts or young females—none left a lasting impression on him.

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It must be an illusion, Lei Jin kept telling himself. For the past two days, he had forced himself not to dwell on it. But today, the moment he heard the crying, his resolve crumbled. His mind was consumed with the desire to see this child who had so thoroughly disrupted his thoughts. If this continued, he feared he might develop some sort of unhealthy obsession—why else would he be so inexplicably fixated on Chunji’s child?

This should have been their first meeting, yet the child gave him an uncanny sense of familiarity—the soft, dark hair, the bright, lively green eyes—as if the child had always been a part of him, natural and intimate.

He had heard that Chunji had found this child while gathering herbs, and that the baby was barely three months old. No wonder he was so tiny, so delicate. Thanks to his prior experience with Bubbles, Lei Jin now held the child with practiced ease.

“Good baby, shhh, shhh,” Lei Jin murmured, his mind blank except for these words as the child’s cries sent his heart into turmoil.

But the moment he spoke, the child only cried harder, as if someone had pinched him mercilessly. His breaths came in uneven gasps, coughing between sobs.

“Lei Jin, what are you doing in there?” Chunji called from the yard.

“I swear I didn’t do anything!” Lei Jin hastily defended himself to the window. He was innocent.

“Brother Chunji, is that your baby? Don’t worry, Lei Jin wouldn’t bully him.” Though the pain from the medicine on his leg made Mingya gnaw at his own claws, he still found the breath to defend Lei Jin.

“I know. No one could love that child more than he does.” Chunji’s tone was strangely subdued as he said this.

Mingya found the statement odd—why would Lei Jin be the one who loved Chunji’s child the most? But he didn’t dwell on it. Besides, his leg hurt too much to think deeply about anything.

“Baby, your throat’s going hoarse. Stop crying.” Lei Jin’s heart ached helplessly, but he had no idea how to soothe the child. He turned to Chunji for help, only to be told to figure it out himself. Never in his life had Lei Jin felt so utterly at a loss.

Yet the baby showed him no mercy, continuing to wail.

“Shhh, good baby, don’t cry. Who are you crying for? Even your papa isn’t paying attention to you. Are you hungry?” The belated realization struck Lei Jin. Spotting a jug of warm milk fruit juice on the table, he managed to coax the child into a brief pause, feeding him a couple of sips before the baby refused more.

Tears and snot covered the little one’s face, but for once, Lei Jin didn’t mind the mess. Normally rough and careless, he now mustered every ounce of patience he had, wiping the child’s face with meticulous care. Seeing the baby clean and pretty again filled him with inexplicable pride. Unable to resist, he leaned down and planted two loud kisses on those chubby cheeks. And still he didn’t forget to insist on his innocence.

“It’s not like I’m taking advantage of you,” he reasoned shamelessly. “I fed you, so it’s only fair you repay me a little.” Then, unable to help himself, he gently poked the baby’s soft cheeks, marveling at how wonderfully smooth and tender a child’s skin could be.

The baby seemed to realize this was playtime, waving tiny fists and giggling.

“No wonder people say a child’s mood changes as fast as the weather in June. So true.”

After a while, the baby yawned, clearly ready for a nap. Lei Jin laid him down on the bed and settled beside him, thinking he’d just rest on the edge for a bit. Surely Chunji wouldn’t kick him out.

By the time Moya arrived to pick them up, only Mingya was in the yard. Chunji was busy in the kitchen, likely preparing lunch, but there was no sign of Lei Jin. After greeting Chunji and asking Mingya, Moya learned that Lei Jin had been in the room all morning without coming out.

When Moya stepped inside, he was met with a heartwarming scene—two heads resting close together, the figures on the bed, one large and one small, both fast asleep. Lei Jin lay on his side, one hand resting protectively over the baby’s swaddled form. Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing them in warmth, the harmony of the moment almost too precious to disturb.

Yet Moya’s nose stung with suppressed emotion. If their own child had lived, wouldn’t it have been just like this?

That lost child wasn’t just Lei Jin’s pain—it was a knot in all their hearts that would never fully loosen.

Lei Jin was distracted during lunch. When Moya had woken him to leave, the baby had stirred too, tiny fists clutching his clothes as he cried pitifully. Normally averse to trouble, Lei Jin had nearly blurted out a request to Chunji—Let me take care of him for a couple of days. But seeing Chunji’s somber expression, he held back. After all, this wasn’t his child. He had no right to make such a request.

Xiya glanced between Lei Jin and the silent Moya, unsure what had happened. It wasn’t the time to ask, so he simply focused on his meal.

“Whose child is this?” The old man in black emerged from the medicine room, eyeing the baby in Chunji’s arms—the same one who had been crying nonstop since that female left earlier.

“Mine.” Chunji didn’t look up, still soothing the child.

“You think you can fool me? Do I look like I can’t tell whether you’ve given birth or not? Brat, do you take me for a senile old man?”

Chunji pressed his lips together stubbornly, refusing to answer.

“Not only have you never borne a child, you’ve never even taken jade mugwort, have you?” The old man sat heavily on a stool, sighing. “When I helped you escape that damned place back then, what did I tell you? To live a good life, find someone, and never go back. But ten years—ten years!” His finger trembled as he pointed at Chunji. “In all that time, you never took a liking to anyone?”

Who says I didn’t? But after waiting nearly a decade, that person never once turned to look at him.

“And now you’ve outdone yourself—stealing someone else’s child! What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I didn’t steal him. I found him.” Chunji reflexively defended.

“Nonsense! Don’t tell me you didn’t know whose child this was. Even if you didn’t at first, after what happened this morning, how could you not know? Children of the werebeast tribes—whether male or female—have an instinctive bond with their papa. Babies especially can recognize their own bearer. That black-haired female and this child were clearly close. Don’t pretend you didn’t see it.”

Chunji was his own apprentice, raised by his own hands. Of course he cared for him. But that didn’t mean he could let him commit such a grave mistake, tearing a family apart.

“Master is right. It’s his child.” After a long silence, Chunji finally admitted, watching the now sleeping baby in his arms.

“Then explain everything to me.” Seeing Chunji’s admission, the old man’s expression softened slightly beneath his black hood.

The tribe knew Chunji was a skilled healer, but few were aware of one area where he was utterly inept—pregnancy and childbirth. Back when his master had taught him, Chunji had harbored an instinctive aversion to the subject, learning only half-heartedly. Fortunately, the tribe had dedicated physicians like Qing Qiao, and given Chunji’s already questionable reputation, no pregnant females sought him out anyway. He had been perfectly content with that arrangement.

So when Lei Jin had been pregnant, Chunji hadn’t hidden it—he simply hadn’t known.

It wasn’t until he encountered the banyan fruit during a herb-gathering trip that he recalled Lei Jin’s unusual condition at the time. If Lei Jin had been carrying a child, the acupuncture he’d administered would have directed the herb’s effects onto the baby. The dosage, negligible for an adult, could be devastating for a fetus—slowing its heartbeat, even inducing a temporary death-like state. That was why, despite being months along, Lei Jin had never sensed the child’s presence.

It had nothing to do with Qing Qiao’s initial diagnosis. Qing Qiao hadn’t known about the banyan fruit, so his assessment had been speculative at best.

Realizing this, Chunji had rushed back. By sheer chance, he had witnessed Moya placing the child on the hillside. Without hesitation, he had taken the baby.

The child had woken that very night, but between premature birth and the herb’s lingering effects, he was dangerously frail. For over two months, Chunji had mixed finely ground herbs into his milk fruit juice. There were moments when the baby’s suffering grew unbearable, and Chunji had nearly confessed everything to Lei Jin. But each time, he held back—not out of cowardice, but because he couldn’t bear to make Lei Jin lose the same child twice.

That kind of heartbreak… once was enough.

Especially after seeing Lei Jin lying pale and lifeless in bed that day, Chunji had wanted to strangle himself.

“If the child recovers, will you return him to them?” The old man asked, his voice steady, not commenting on anything else.

After a pause, Chunji nodded firmly. “I will.”

That had always been the plan—to heal the child and return him safely. He wanted to make up for his mistake.

“Then go call them back now. Tell them the truth.” The old man wouldn’t give Chunji room for second thoughts. Though they hadn’t seen each other in ten years, he knew his apprentice too well. That reluctance in his eyes? He still couldn’t let go.

“Master… are you certain you can heal Baby?” Chunji bit his lip, needing this one last confirmation. If the answer was yes, he would truly… let go.

The old man glared. “What do you think I’ve been locked in the medicine room doing all this time? You think I’m like you?”

Chunji huffed. “Now that’s the master I remember. Quit pretending to be all righteous.”

“You brat, complaining about me under your breath again?”

“Nooo.” Chunji pouted childishly, but inwardly, he felt a strange warmth. In the decade since the old man had left, no one had scolded him like this. As a child, he’d hated these lectures. Now, hearing them again… it wasn’t so bad.

Maybe it was time to straighten out his life—take care of this old man, live simply. No one else. Just the two of them.

“Let me keep him for two more days. After that… I’ll personally return Baby to Lei Jin.”

The old man nodded. For all his recklessness, once Chunji gave his word, he kept it.

“Baby, soon, you’ll be back with your papa. Will you still remember me?” Chunji murmured that night, pacing the room with the awake baby in his arms. Then he laughed at himself. “You’re too young. You’ll forget quickly. But… maybe that’s for the best.”

If he claimed to have no selfish feelings for this child, he’d be lying. The moment those green eyes had first opened, staring up at him, a traitorous thought had flickered through his mind—what if Lei Jin never knew this child existed?

After all, even without this one, Lei Jin could have others.

But after coming back to his senses, the thought had horrified him.

“Baby, when you go home… Roger’s going to have a heart attack seeing your eyes, huh?” The idea lightened his mood slightly. Rationally, he wanted to get along with Roger. But emotions weren’t so easily untangled.

The next day, Lei Jin returned with Mingya for another bandage change. He had meant to restrain himself, but his heart kept drifting toward the inner room. Ah, well. I’ve never been one for shame anyway.

Just as he opened his mouth to ask after the baby, Chunji spoke first.

“I’m busy here. Since you’ve got nothing to do, go watch the child.”

Lei Jin didn’t need to be told twice. In a flash, he was inside, and soon, laughter spilled from the room.

Chunji listened for a moment, then snorted. “Who cares? He’s been keeping me up all night. Good riddance—I’ll finally get some sleep.”

“Brother Chunji, what are you mumbling about?” Mingya asked. Also, you’re squeezing my injured leg.

“How about I gift you a son? Want one?” Chunji released his grip, teasing.

“No.” Mingya’s furry face was dead serious. Then, brightening, he added with a sweet smile, “Mingya only wants babies born by Lei Jin! If Lei Jin doesn’t want to, then Mingya will have his baby!”

Chunji stared speechless. This kid… just how naïve is he? Still believing that werebeats can bear children.

But that kind of unwavering devotion… once Mingya set his heart on someone, it was for life.

Lei Jin really made one envious—to have three werebeasts so utterly devoted to him.

So Lei Jin, this is fate’s way of punishing you. You’ll never go back. You’re stuck here, living as a female, bearing children.

The thought eased something in Chunji’s chest.

By tomorrow… he’ll truly be ready to let go.

But when the moment truly came, Chunji’s hands trembled as he held the child. The old man placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Thank you, Master,” Chunji whispered.

Winter had passed, but the air remained chilly. The courtyard, once vibrant with summer blooms, now held only a few evergreen shrubs, their stubborn leaves clinging to life.

“Lei Jin.” Chunji called out just as Lei Jin was helping Mingya climb onto Xiya’s back.

“What’s up? Did your baby miss me again? Can’t be helped—I’m just too charming. Irresistible to all ages.” Lei Jin sauntered over, playfully nibbling the baby’s fist. “Uncle will visit tomorrow, okay? Be good for your papa.”

Chunji took a deep breath. “He’s not my child.”

“Oh? Then whose is he—mine?” Lei Jin raised a brow, joking.

That solemn look… as if he’s serious. But Chunji doted on this child like it was his own. Lei Jin wasn’t blind.

“He is yours.”

Xiya and Mingya both turned to stare.

Lei Jin froze, then scoffed. “Not funny.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“He’s the child you carried for seven months. The one you thought had died. I found him on the hillside, in the snow. Pei Ning can vouch for it.” Pei Ning was the werebeast who accompanied him while herb gathering.

Lei Jin’s expression became solemn, his tone still calm. “You’re telling the truth?”

Chunji met his gaze steadily. “Yes.”

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