Chapter 108 - 5.9 First Violet Star - Hotpot
When Xuebao and Meizhou arrived in the Tribe's territories. The scene of their arrival towards tribe's entrance while dragging a dead dinosaur behind them caused a commotion none of them expected. The reaction from their tribesmen was astonishing at least for the three of them.
People gathered, especially the warriors in front of the entryway, with weapons ready for battle. Few more tribes men waited at the side intending to give support to the front line warriors if needed. Seeing this scene even Meizhou was surprised. Tuzi who only got a huge basket on his back was panting like a tired dog as he dragged his trembling legs to its fullest.
On their way back Tuzi had fallen on the road more than once due to fatigue. Even as a former modern man he only used to be someone who works behind a table and after transmigrating into a female beastman whose strength isn't that much different from his original body, this kind of overload work is too much for him. He didn't even notice Xuebao and Meizhou leaving the area and all the things they've collected for him to manage.
After collecting the dinosaur meat Tuzi decided to drop by his house first to place the basket and the rest of things with him and Lang. Then he prepared a change of clothes for Xuebao and brought his spare clothes as well. He prepares a few large clothes just in case Meizhou really chooses to take a bath as well. Then he had Lang carry the stone pot big enough for an 8 person meal. He placed the available ingredients inside the pot as well some apples for snacks.
"Let's go to the Tribe Leader's food warehouse next," said Tuzi.
As the two left his place and went to another family's warehouse and got more ingredients for the hotpot.
"You are really that close to the tribe leader's female son?" asked Lang. "Well you're both females so you should be close."
"Xuebao is my closest friend!" replied Tuzi.
"I see." said Lang as he smiles. "By the way how did you bump into that creature? Unless who went inside the boundaries of their territory it shouldn't be possible to see those things."
"Well~ we entered the boundaries of their land in the far north. I got lost there once and found this kind of fruit. This fruit is called apple. It has a slightly sour taste when not completely ripe but tastes sweeter when picked at the right time. You can eat a few and taste it but don't eat everything or we won't have any snacks after the meal" said Tuzi as he passed a scarlet fruit to Lang.
Wolf Warrior Lang had accepted the apple and took a bite of it. After chewing it for a few times his mouth was full of sweetness from the juiciness of the fruit.
His eyes sparkled in joy. "Hmm! Not bad. This is quite nice. By the way you still haven't told me about that event with that creature."
"Oh~ That dinosaur we met accidentally in the place where those fruits grow. I was digging some plants when it suddenly appeared in front of me. I was so shocked when its huge face came before my face. Haha~" storied Tuzi.
Lang showed concern upon hearing such a dangerous life threatening event Tuzi had experienced.
"Are you hurt!? Did you break something? It looks so heavy. It didn't stomp you or something!?" asked Lang while worrying.
"Nothing happened. Xuebao saved me before I got stepped on. Meizhou also restrained its movement for a few seconds and got out of its reach before something bad happened~" answered Tuzi.
"That's good. Nothing happened." murmured Lang as he even sighed in relief.
Tuzi, who felt Lang's concern smiled timidly. After being transmigrated to this unknown world all of the sudden and into this body with ugly most people in the tribe had either ignored him or scorn him secretly. Even knowing that he didn't mind as food and shelter is still provided as he is a female that could give birth.
The tribe provides necessities to unmarried females. But the body he is in, was not of noble birth like Xuebao. The resources he received are only minimal. Adding the fact some females even look down on him because of his weird hobby of fanboying his life in the tribe is not good enough for him to eat a proper 3 meals a day.
This is also the reason why he sneaks into the forest looking for another source of food. That apple fruit is the prize of his hard work after looking round the forest alone. He was lucky to pass by that day and meet a newly transmigrated Xuebao. After Xuebao and the tribe leader, Lang was the third one to treat him this well. Meizhou doesn't even need to be mentioned, that person would even care if he existed or not, if not for Xuebao becoming his friend.
"You are so kind, Lang! I will try my best to convince Xuebao and allow you to join our meals in the future!" said Tuzi with an innocent smile on his face.
Lang felt the attraction even more evident this time after seeing a smile of Tuzi that was made for him. The blushing on his face is brighter than before.
"I-In the future Xuebao would surely join the hunting team I-If you follow him then I... Can I protect you then? No wrong words. I will definitely protect you at that time Tuzi!" annunciate Lang.
Tuzi chuckles and says, "Okay then I will leave it to Lang when that time comes!"
Lang bumped a fist on his chest and said, "Leave it to me. I will definitely protect you!"
While these two new pairs started to get along, the other two who separated with others before are now standing by the edges of the river. Xuebao watched as Meizhou dipped his hand in the river to check the temperature.
Meizhou, "The temperature is slightly cold. You shouldn't be soaked in it for too long."
"I won't. I just wanted to wash my sweat." said Xuebao as he was intending to take off his clothes one at the time only to see Meizhou staring at him with no expression on his handsome face.
"What is it? Are you going to join me?" asked Xuebao with a teasing tone.
But for a thick faced Meizhou this low level teasing would not really work. This is not the first time this man showed his shamelessness so clearly.
"I can join you?" Meizhou asked with delight, sprouting within those golden orbs was eagerness.
This unashamed man! "Of course you can't! Hmph! Go leave for a moment. I don't want to see you have another nosebleed after watching me take a bath!" said Xuebao.
"I can't (want) leave! (to watch) I must (closely) protect (this) you (time)!" said Meizhou while his real thoughts were only said in his mind. What he didn't know was that his eyes showed obvious hints of his desires.
[Pfft!!!] His system's voice suddenly resounds in his mind. He clearly just got back.
Xuebao responded in his mind. "Yue this Lord God of yours is so shameless!"
[The host isn't that much different though.]
"What did you say, Yue?"
[This Yue didn't say a thing!]
The conversation between the host and his system was done in the mind as Meizhou is around. Seeing that this man had no intention to leave Xuebao had no choice but to compromise. He still hasn't allowed his husband to reach the final plate as soon as possible. He wanted to tease him more until the latter could no longer hold back his beastly desires.
Xuebao glared at Meizhou and replied to his words. "Turn around! If you don't want to leave then turn your back at me and you can stay here. Don't you dare look back!"
Meizhou gave him a pleading gaze the same expression of a kicked puppy but Xuebao didn't get fooled this time. He gazed at him icily, the same as his voice.
"Don't give me those eyes! I will send you away if you don't turn around." said Xuebao. 'Shit! I could almost see downright ears on his head just now.'
Meizhou who looked depressed reluctantly faced his back at Xuebao. He indeed comprised but instead of putting distance at each other, he sat closer at the edge of the river bank. Xuebao turned a blind eye to these obvious actions. He carefully cast off his clothes one at a time and threw it at Meizhou who caught it reflexively. At the sounds of the clothes rustling Xuebao could see his husband's reddening ears twitch.
'Pervert~' Xuebao murmured in heart. After removing all his clothes he slowly soaked under the river scrubbing the dirt, soil and sweat on his body. Totally ignoring the fidgeting figure not far from him.
"When Tuzi arrives tell him to start cooking the hotpot. I've taught him how to before." said Xuebao
"Un. I will inform him." answered Meizhou still didn't dare to look back. Xuebao smiled a bit when he saw this seriousness from his husband. This man has always been like this, he only needs to ask and the latter would follow his words without question. It is because this man is like this that Xuebao always acted spoiled in every world they spent a lifetime.
Meanwhile in Xuebao's mind, his conversation with his system continued.
"Yue, how's the silly rabbit's love life going?"
[The first fish got hooked so easily. The Protagonist Halo of this star is quite powerful.]
"Then how about my husband. He is still one of the supposed Male Leads in this world. Would he get affected by Tuzi's halo?"
[That might be impossible. The moment he chose to become your guardian his fate string connected to Tuzi had completely broken.]
"That's good then. Are those two on their way here?"
[They should be as they just left the host house before I came back here. Actually Tuzi plans to ask the host to allow Male Lead Wolf Lang to join the group at every meal time.]
"If they prepare the ingredients I don't mind allowing him to bring his lovers with him for meals."
[Then I'll inform him later.]
"Hum~ you know how to cook hotpot right? Teach the silly rabbit instead."
[Okay]
Xuebao hummed as he closed his eyes to nap for a few minutes. He leaned on Meizhou's back tiredly. It didn't take while for his breathing to become low and rhythmical. Hearing this kind of breathing Meizhou knew that Xuebao had fallen asleep. He looked back and saw Xuebao's sleeping face. He joins him inside the water after taking off his dirty clothes. After cleanly washing the grime and sand on him he pulled the sleeping figure on his chest letting Xuebao sleep on top of him.
Meizhou didn't do anything other than that. He only hugs him in his sleep, letting him have a better position to take a nap. It's not that he didn't dare but he doesn't want to make his beloved angry. Not only that, it is usually normal for females to have weaker physiques than males. They get tired so easily. That's why Xuebao, who is a female despite being able to fight the same way as males, knew that every time he fought twice the energy in his body is consumed. It is normal for Xuebao to suddenly fall to sleep due to over fatigue.
"Sleep well Bao'er." said Meizhou while looking at the serene yet exquisite face of his beloved.
An hour later. Tuzi and Lang finally come over bringing all ingredients for the hotpot. Few meters away from the river bed they've seen Meizhou seating at the edge. wet hair and slightly dry clothes. This time Xuebao is using Meizhou as his lap pillow.
Noticing the arrival of the two, he called on to their attention when they were still a few meters away from him. "Lang, stay where you stand. Tuzi, pass the change of clothes for me and Bao'er to Lang and have it thrown over here!" said Meizhou.
The two did what they were told and threw the spare clothes from the distance. Then once again heard Meizhou's voice.
WHOOSH!
He caught the clothes and towel firmly, "Turn around. I need to dress Bao'er." said Meizhou while giving them an intense warning gaze. His eyes were fierce and cold as if he would kill them if they come any closer than what they were allowed to.
Tuzi hurriedly asked, "Do you want me to help you dress Xuebao?"
A colder voice replied, "No need. I would do it myself. Turn around now!" said Meizhou.
"Why is he angry? It is better for females to help other females with their clothes than a male helping an unmarried female with his clothes!? Buh~ I will tell Xuebao what you did when he woke up. Hmph~" grumbles Tuzi as he turns his back from the river's direction.
Warrior Lang didn't question his boss' orders and just turned his back on him as he wanted. It wouldn't be a nice scene if a male offended another male for looking at the latter's chosen female. Meizhou would definitely kill him if he saw Xuebao's naked appearance. As Xuebao's Protector Meizhou had every right to fight off all males for his female.
After seeing Lang and Tuzi turned their backs on him, Meizhou pulled out the sleeping Xuebao carefully from the water. Then covered him with a clean towel. He used the other towel to wipe him out dry and put on the spare clothes on him. It was light grey long sleeves with an attached hoodie paired with pants. After changing Xuebao's clothes, Meizhou changed into a normal black shirt and pants. After wrapping the dirty clothes like a black, he placed the sleeping Xuebao on his lap allowing the latter to sit on him sideways and lean his head on his shoulder with Meizhou's right hand wrapped around Xuebao's flexible waist to avoid the latter from falling off him.
"You can come over now." said Meizhou.
Hearing Meizhou's words, the other pair finally looked their way. Seeing that both are dressed in new clothes. The two approached them as they were now allowed to. Catching a glimpse of Xuebao's sleeping figure, Tuzi sighed in relief that he brought an extra mat with them. After laying the huge square shaped mat on the grassy ground and gesturing to Meizhou to put down his sleeping friend on it. Meizhou understood his intention and placed Xuebao on the mat.
He then looked at them, "You two could go take a bath first. Bao'er wouldn't allow you to join the meal if you're dirty as you are." said Meizhou as he started a small fire near the mat where Xuebao is asleep. They will use this bonfire for cooking.
Meizhou, "Bao'er said he had taught you how to cook hotpot before, so he told me to inform you that you could start cooking first,"
A bit startled and confused Tuzi said, "But I didn't..." he wasn't able to complete his words as a monotonous voice resounded in his head. It was System Yue's voice.
[Tuzi I will teach you how to cook it. For now boil some water for the soup base. Then take a short bath before you continue cooking. Don't worry~ I will guide you on how to cook the tastiest Hotpot!]
"Ah! I remember now." said Tuzi as he placed the huge pot over the fire and boiled some water first. "Please look after it for a moment until it boils over, Meizhou."
Meizhou just nodded his head on him once before returning his gaze on the sleeping Xuebao on his lap. He let him use his lap as a pillow for the second time this time. Meanwhile Tuzi gently pulled over Lang towards the river to take a bath. They didn't take the whole hour to be soaked into the water. After thoroughly washing themselves, they immediately change their clothes to new ones. It only took a few minutes for them to take a short bath.
After returning to the riverbed, Tuzi started cooking with Lang's help. The latter only helped with holding the ingredients and passing it to Tuzi when he needed it. After over an hour of waiting, the hotpot was made the same time the rice Tuzi got from his friend's place.
Lunch was finally made. Xuebao woke up on time and ate lunch with the rest of them. He allowed Lang to join them as he helped in cooking it while he was asleep. Tuzi vouched for him for this. They've enjoyed a delectable lunch that day.