Si Shuo let out a disappointed "Oh" and said with a sigh of regret, "Well, if it’s just a brother-sister bond, then you two definitely can’t become mates.

We were thinking, since Father Zhi Li doesn’t have a female now, and you two know each other so well and have such a deep bond, it would be wonderful if you could just stay together.

In that case, I’ll have to get Zhi Le to look around for a suitable female for Father Zhi Li..."

Xia Ming’s eyes widened, her mind momentarily failing to process what she’d heard. On the Beast World Continent, the harshness of their environment left little energy for matters of love and romance. Emotions were generally kept under control. Once you knew someone had a partner, you simply didn’t allow yourself to indulge in such fantasies. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Take her and Zhi Li, for instance. They had always had a purely platonic relationship, like that of a brother and sister. After all, Zhi Li had been engaged to Ping Mei, while Xia Ming was supposed to become mates with Yi Wan.

But now, because Zhi Li had died once, his contract with Ping Mei was automatically dissolved. Despite how long they had known each other, this was the first time Xia Ming had even considered the possibility: that they could spend the rest of their lives together in a different way, one that wasn’t just friendly, but intimate.

Her face grew even redder. Images she had desperately suppressed began to surface in her mind: Zhi Li returning from a hunt, his silver hair glittering in the sunlight, the smile on his lips more brilliant than the sun itself. ’Who could possibly resist a male like that?’

Besides, whenever Yi Wan was away from the tribe, he would entrust her to Zhi Li’s care. They were both normal, young Beastmen, and the intense hormonal pull between them was so strong they dared not be alone together.

She had tried so hard for so long to suppress such shameful thoughts.

"Don’t..." The word slipped out before she could think. Her face instantly felt like it was on fire, and she buried her face in her hands, groaning in frustration. "I’m afraid Zhi Li only sees me as a sister."

Si Shuo suppressed a smile and whispered in her ear, "How could that be? In the Central Plains, I heard a saying: for a male to woo a female is to cross a mountain, but for a female to woo a male is to part a veil.

All it takes is the light touch to part that veil, Mother Xia Ming. You have to seize this chance! Anyone can see that once Father Zhi Li commits to a female, he gives her his whole heart. He’s kind, passionate, and loyal, and he’s sharp, too. His only misfortune was not ending up with a good female.

Mother Xia Ming, you have to take the initiative. Otherwise, as dense as Father Zhi Li is, I’m afraid he’d never dare to think of you that way.

You have the advantage of proximity. Are you just going to stand by and watch another female snatch him away?

And even in the worst-case scenario, if Father Zhi Li truly has no romantic feelings for you whatsoever, at least you tried and won’t have any regrets, right?"

Xia Ming nodded vigorously. ’She’s absolutely right.’ A female’s lifespan wasn’t long, and she herself had already died once. Seeing how things were with Yi Wan now stirred up a mix of emotions in her.

’One should live in the moment and not leave any regrets for the future.’

"So... I should give it a try?" Xia Ming asked, taking a deep breath and pressing her hands to her flaming cheeks.

"Yes, go for it! And do it soon, or Father Zhi Li will get tangled up with Ping Mei again!"

At those words, Xia Ming shot to her feet and marched toward Zhi Li.

A knowing grin spread across Si Shuo’s face. She and Xiao Cheng sat side-by-side, munching on apples as they settled in to watch the show.

Zhi Li was currently learning from Zhi Le how to make delicious jerky. To him, skills like cooking and tailoring were essential for survival. Even though he had no intention of looking for a female at the moment, his instincts drove him to master this craft.

"Zhi Li, what are you two busy with?" Xia Ming shuffled toward them. Her usual poised, natural demeanor had completely vanished. The smile she managed to produce looked so strained she seemed on the verge of tears.

Zhi Li’s full attention was on controlling the heat, ensuring the stone slab heated evenly without getting too hot. He was so preoccupied with flipping the meat and adding seasonings that he could barely think straight. "Making jerky," he replied.

Xia Ming waited for him to say more, but he was completely engrossed in his task and didn’t seem to notice her at all.

She couldn’t help but bite her lip and glance back at Si Shuo, who winked and made an encouraging face, silently urging her to keep trying.

The cubs were also lined up in a row, making "you can do it" gestures at her.

"Zhi Li, you’re making so much jerky. Is... is it all for you, or...?"

"There are a lot of cubs at home, so I’m helping make some," Zhi Li replied without turning his head.

Watching this, Zhi Le had the urge to go over and physically turn his father’s head. ’Father is so dense! If we didn’t worry about him, he’d probably be single for the rest of his life!’

Si Shuo felt a headache coming on. ’One is too shy and the other is too dense. Without a little push, these two will still be at square one when the flowers have long since withered.’

So, Si Shuo pulled the defeated-looking Xia Ming aside.

"Si Shuo, he just sees me as a sister," Xia Ming said dejectedly. "If Yi Wan hadn’t asked him to, he would never pay me any mind, let alone prepare food for me."

Si Shuo chuckled and patted her chest. "Mother Xia Ming, you have to trust me. I’ll give you a few strategies. You try them one by one, and I guarantee one of them will win Father Zhi Li over!"

Xia Ming perked up, nodding repeatedly. "Okay, Si Shuo," she said earnestly. "I’m listening."

Counting on her fingers, Si Shuo began to impart her secret playbook for a woman pursuing a man. ’These are all the best techniques, distilled from countless TV dramas and novels,’ she thought. ’Against the males of the Beast World Continent? They won’t stand a chance.’

As Xia Ming listened, her eyes began to sparkle, though her cheeks were flushed crimson. She went to find Zhi Li again.

By this point, Zhi Li had finished drying a batch of jerky. When he saw her approaching, he smiled and pressed a jar into her hands. "Little Ming’er, have a taste. See if it’s any good."

Xia Ming was pleasantly surprised. She hadn’t expected him to make a portion just for her. She opened the jar and tried a piece. It wasn’t dry at all; it was spicy, chewy, and utterly addictive! She smiled and said, "It’s delicious! Thank you, Zhi Li!"

"Nothing to thank me for," Zhi Li said with a dismissive wave of his hand as he prepared to start the next batch. "Yi Wan told me to look after you, so I have to make sure you’re eating well. If you lost weight, wouldn’t he come after me with his claws out? These have chili in them. The cubs get the five-spice version..."

Xia Ming quickly set the jar aside. "Zhi Li, can I help you tend the fire?"

"It’s too hot over here; you won’t be able to stand it. It’s fine, I can manage on my own. You can help me taste-test it later," Zhi Li said, pressing a piece of fruit into her hand and pointing to a nearby stone bench.

Xia Ming held the fruit, feeling a wave of helplessness. ’So much for "warming up by reminiscing about the past,"’ she thought. ’I didn’t even get a chance to talk.’ After finishing the fruit, basking in the mottled sunlight filtering through the leaves under the eaves, Xia Ming actually fell asleep!

Si Shuo looked over at Xu Chi and couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, "Xu Chi, if I hadn’t made a move, would you have just been dense and never figured it out? Would you not have seen me as your female?"

Xu Chi smiled, plucked a flower, and tucked it into her hair. "Shuo’er, maybe I was clueless about becoming mates back then, but I liked you. I would have followed you until I figured out what these feelings were.

Watching you interact with your other Beast Husbands, I would have eventually understood. I wouldn’t have missed my chance with you!"

Si Shuo pressed her lips together and hugged his arm. "Xu Chi, after this Secret Realm trial is over and you reach Level 15, let’s go visit your clan, okay?"