Lu Qiancha focused her thoughts and put the comforting Stuffed Lamb into her Storage Space.
She turned around once more, preparing to leave.
“Shixiong, wait.”
Gantang reached out to stop her again, her voice carrying a hint of barely noticeable nervousness.
Lu Qiancha halted, looking at Gantang with confusion, waiting for her to continue.
Gantang took a deep breath, her bright apricot eyes staring straight at Lu Qiancha, filled with cautious inquiry and sincere confusion: “Shixiong… did I do something before that made you unhappy? Could you… tell me? If it was my fault, I’ll definitely change and make it up to you.”
Her tone was almost pleading.
“…No.” Lu Qiancha shook her head, the movement making her furry ears sway gently.
“Then… then why were you avoiding me before and wouldn’t let me hug you?”
Gantang’s voice was tinged with grievance as she looked at Lu Qiancha, eyes wide as if trying to find the answer in those blue eyes. “Shixiong, can you please tell me? I… I really care.”
“Mm…” Lu Qiancha let out a soft sound, falling briefly into thought.
The previous distance and that inexplicable sense of aversion… actually weren’t directed at the Shimei Gantang before her.
It was more like…
The pain experienced in the Illusory Realm, and the lingering resentment from Chabao, a shadow that hadn’t dispersed, had unconsciously been projected onto her Shimei in reality.
But Lu Qiancha understood… the Gantang before her, who worried about her and sewed her stuffed toys, was entirely different from the Gantang in the Illusory Realm.
So… after venting her anger by stepping on Gantang’s feet twice, Lu Qiancha’s resentment, which didn’t belong to this world, had long since faded away.
Therefore, Lu Qiancha simply explained to Gantang, “I was in a bad mood at the time, so I was a bit harsh with you.”
“Oh, I see.” Hearing this, Gantang’s tense shoulders clearly relaxed, and she let out a long sigh of relief. As long as Shixiong didn’t hate her, it was fine.
With the gloom lifted, her energy returned.
She immediately took out her treasured pastry box like she was presenting a precious offering, opened it on the table with a “pop,” and said spiritedly, “Shixiong, you should eat something sweet when you’re down. Here, have some Night Snack, don’t be polite with me.”
The table was filled with all kinds of exquisite pastries, every one of them Lu Qiancha’s favorites.
The Wolf Cub, who had been planning to slip away, was instantly captured by the delicious food, scrambled up onto the chair in three quick steps, picked up the chopsticks, and started eating, her cheeks quickly stuffed full.
Gantang sat across from her, hands propping her chin, her eyes full of admiration as she watched her Shixiong eat with such focused and adorable intent—it was the greatest enjoyment.
While chewing the fragrant pastries, Lu Qiancha mumbled unclearly, “Shimei, aren’t you eating?”
“I’m not eating, I’m not eating.”
Gantang shook her head. Eating too much at night without exercising would make her gain weight.
“Oh.”
Lu Qiancha nodded, completely unfazed, and continued to eat with her head down, occasionally taking a sip of the warm tea beside her.
The satisfaction showed as her little feet, wrapped in White Silk, gently swung under the table without her realizing it, looking incredibly comfortable and leisurely.
Gantang watched for a while, unable to resist reaching out to gently pinch Lu Qiancha’s soft cheek.
She looked so skinny, yet felt so soft to the touch—how was that possible?
“Mm…”
Lu Qiancha originally wanted to bat away the mischievous hand on her face, but thinking of Gantang generously sharing food, she endured it silently, merely puffing out her cheeks and glancing at Gantang.
Gantang, knowing when to stop, withdrew her hand contentedly after one pinch.
She propped her chin up with both hands again, eyes unblinking, continuing to enjoy the happiness of watching her Shixiong savor the food.
Before long, the entire box of pastries was polished off.
“Mm… I can’t eat anymore…”
Lu Qiancha let out a satisfied sigh, her small hand pressing on her slightly bulging belly, her whole body going soft as she collapsed onto the table like a piece of melting milk candy.
Gantang stood up with a smile, quickly tidying up the cups, bowls, and chopsticks as she reminded, “Shixiong, don’t lie down right after eating, get up and walk around a bit—it’s good for digestion.”
“Mm… got it.”
Lu Qiancha replied lazily, then muttered quietly, “Why does Gantang feel more and more like an old nag…?” Despite her words, she obediently hopped off the chair and made a token effort of wandering around the room twice.
However, whether it was the overwhelming satisfaction from the food or the carpet looking especially soft and warm, Lu Qiancha, while walking, suddenly toppled over onto the carpet, lying on her side, her little head tilting as her breathing quickly became steady and even—she actually fell asleep on the spot.
So full… too lazy to walk back… Won’t catch a cold anyway.
That was her last thought before sinking into darkness.
A while later, Gantang, having washed the dishes, returned to the room, and the first thing she saw was the Wolf Cub curled up on the soft carpet, sleeping soundly.
“Shixiong?!” Gantang walked over in surprise, crouched down beside Lu Qiancha, and softly called by her ear, “Why are you sleeping on the floor? The floor’s cold, you’ll catch a chill, and it’s dusty—it’ll get your clothes dirty.”
Lu Qiancha didn’t respond at all, only twitching her little ears in a dream and rolling over, sinking even deeper into sleep, even pulling her little paws closer to her face.
Gantang sighed helplessly, though her eyes were full of doting affection. She carefully bent down and gently lifted Lu Qiancha up, then softly laid her on her own warm, soft bed, tucking her in with great care.
She herself quietly went to wash up. When she came back, the fresh scent of bath beans lingered around her as she lifted the quilt and lay down beside Lu Qiancha.
In the darkness, Gantang turned to the side, using the faint light from outside the window to quietly watch the serene sleeping face beside her.
That utterly defenseless and sweet look made her lips curve involuntarily in a gentle smile.
“Good night, Shixiong.” She whispered softly, then closed her eyes contentedly.
To be able to sleep like this next to Shixiong, even without doing anything… is already the greatest happiness.
Yet, this peaceful happiness was broken at dawn. In her sleep, Gantang frowned, first sensing a bit of heaviness pressing down, then a strange sensation at her front.
“Ying—wu~”
A soft whimper slipped from Gantang’s lips.
Hm? What is this…
She groggily opened her eyes—
And saw Lu Qiancha lying on top of her, looking intensely focused.
“Shi… Shixiong?!” Gantang woke up instantly, her heart skipping a beat and her face burning uncontrollably.
Her feelings were a mix of shock, shyness, and a trace of secret anticipation. “You… what are you doing?”
Could it be that Shixiong was finally taking the initiative?
“Mm… kneading.”
Lu Qiancha paused her movements, tilting her little head as she gazed at Gantang with utterly frank, natural eyes, earnestly explaining.
This was what Xun Xue had told her: it was an instinctual behavior of the wolf clan and didn’t need to be suppressed.
When she’d heard Xun Xue’s words, Lu Qiancha had actually been quite happy, because whenever she did this, a warm and joyful feeling would rise from the bottom of her heart.
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