Beauty and the Beasts

Chapter 1226: Leopard Cubs on the Verge of Tears

Parker leaped from his bed and surveyed his surroundings. Only after he saw Curtis coiled around the familiar blanket did he relax.

“Parker~” Bai Qingqing wanted to crawl out from the confines of Curtis’ embrace, yet she was afraid she would mess up the blanket, resulting in Curtis detecting the odor. Hence, she didn’t dare to move much and could only pleadingly gaze at Parker.

Recalling his own sneaky actions of the previous night, judging others by himself, he could guess what was going on. He ferociously glared at Curtis.

Curtis, however, wasn’t as careless as Parker. Even though they had lived under the same roof for a good few years, he never once let down his guard. Sensing Parker’s gaze, he instantly opened his eyes.

“Hmph!” Parker scoffed. He wrapped his arms around the bundled-up Bai Qingqing and said, “Rise and shine, Qingqing.”

Curtis didn’t try to keep her with him, either. After casting a reluctant glance at Bai Qingqing, he loosened his coils and let Parker take her.

Bai Qingqing heaved a sigh of relief. Towards Curtis, she still didn’t quite dare to face his rage.

She blinked maniacally in Parker’s arms and mouthed the words: “Carry me to the clothes storage box.”

It was farthest from Curtis, so he probably wouldn’t be able to detect the odor.

Seeing this, Parker was certain that Qingqing was secretly carried away by Curtis. This fellow clearly forgot about the fact that he had done the exact same thing. Scoffing, he gleefully carried his mate away.

Since even Bai Qingqing was awake, Winston and Muir also got out of bed instantly.

The leopard cubs had woken up even earlier and were already frolicking in the courtyard. Kids were indeed full of energy.

Roar! At the sight of their mommy, they excitedly sprinted towards her.

Bai Qingqing crouched down and spread her arms to grab hold of them. “Your fur is wet from the dew. Hurry up and go into the kitchen to dry by the fire. Eldest, you’re the oldest. Go and retrieve a piece of animal skin. I’ll help the three of you wipe your fur.”

Roar~ Eldest let out an aggrieved roar. Under his mommy’s resolute gaze, he resignedly went as told.

Hearing the sounds in the courtyard, Parker first started a fire. As he heated the water, he prepared the ingredients for today’s breakfast. When Bai Qingqing brought the kids over, they immediately warmed up by the fire.

Since only Bai Qingqing and An’an ate breakfast, Parker could handle the cooking by himself. Meanwhile, Winston and Muir were handling the tree for paper-making by the river.

After casually toasting himself before the fire, the gluttonous Third sneaked his way to Muir’s feet.

Even if he couldn’t eat it, even licking it would be good.

Third opened his mouth wide and started licking Muir’s calves, huffing and puffing while doing so.

Ooh… where’s the taste?

They hadn’t licked Muir ever since he started incubating the eggs. It was only today that Third discovered that Muir’s delicious taste had disappeared. He instantly widened his yellowish-orange eyes, his adorable leopard face looking like it was on the verge of tears.

Winston stared at him in surprise and said to Muir, “Seems like they’re really fond of you.”

The leopard cubs weren’t so intimate with Parker. If it weren’t for the fact that they were of different species, he would have thought that they were Muir’s offspring.

“I’ve taken care of them when they were little,” Muir said simply.

Winston said in enlightenment, “I see.”

After Third sneaked away, Second and Eldest couldn’t sit still by the fire anymore. They twisted their bodies like fried dough twists, and it took Bai Qingqing a great deal of effort before she managed to pull them back.

“Hey! Third, come back!” Bai Qingqing bellowed in a booming voice.

As though he had lost his beloved toy or his favorite lollipop, Third retreated backward as he stared at Muir’s calves, before finally turning his head with a broken heart to look for his mommy and sobbing loudly.

The perplexed Bai Qingqing poked Third’s droopy ear and asked, “What’s the matter? You were fine a moment ago.”