Chapter 168: Reunited Again

In the days that followed, Gu Mian remained by Wen Qian’s side at all times.

Wen Qian, unwilling to accept her confinement, tried to escape several times. However, each attempt ended in failure as the man ruthlessly dragged her back.

She hadn’t expected his seemingly isolated residence to have so many of his eyes and ears. It was as if the moment she left, the man could pinpoint her exact location.

During her most recent escape attempt, while frantically trying to evade Gu Mian, Wen Qian unwittingly stumbled into the basement.

A damp, musty smell permeated the basement, and the dim light made it nearly impossible to see the path ahead. Her heart pounded like a drum as she cautiously felt her way forward, taking each step with extreme care.

But when she reached the end of the basement, the sight before her made her freeze on the spot. A moment later, a chill crept up her spine...

Outside, the world was a dreamlike paradise, with butterflies flitting about and birds singing their clear, crisp songs.

And yet, inside the basement, a snake pit had been constructed!

Countless black snakes writhed and coiled in the five-meter-deep pit, their cold scales scraping against one another with a skin-crawling, rustling sound.

Wen Qian felt her scalp prickle and her legs go weak; she was on the verge of fainting from sheer terror. Just when she was at the height of her despair, a familiar figure appeared. Gu Mian was silhouetted against the light, and his strong hand found her waist in the darkness, unerringly steadying her.

He had meant to be angry, but seeing Wen Qian’s terrified expression, a flicker of concern crossed his face. He pulled the deathly pale Wen Qian into his arms and held her tight, his low, soothing words and gentle tone seeming to banish all fear from the world.

"Shh, it’s okay. They won’t hurt you..." he murmured, gently stroking the crown of her head. Then, in a lighter tone, he added, "Next time you try to run away, just use the front door. At least you won’t get scared."

Wen Qian trembled in his embrace. She didn’t answer, her fingers just clutched his robes tightly. Gu Mian didn’t have the heart to scold her. Even though she had tried to escape countless times these past days, he wouldn’t say a single harsh word to her. At most, he would just become more possessive and initiate intimate moments.

Wen Qian could tell he wasn’t a patient man by nature, yet with her, he was impossibly gentle. The only exception was the first day, when she had called another man "husband" right in front of him.

The ways of the Snake Clan were vastly different from those of the Wolf Clan. During her days at the Gu Family home, Wen Qian saw almost no outsiders.

On a typical day, the only people she ever saw were Gu Mian and his shadow-like guard.

Lately, however, Wen Qian had wised up. Realizing escape was futile, she stopped tormenting herself with attempts.

Of course, the main reason was the pit in the basement... ’Who knows what other horrors this place hides?’

The afternoon sun was warm and pleasant. Just as she always did, Wen Qian gently lifted the Bone Whistle hanging from her neck and began to play.

Gu Mian had once told her with absolute certainty that every blade of grass and every tree in Infinite Valley was under the Snake Clan’s control; the sound from this Bone Whistle could never travel beyond its borders. But deep in her heart, Wen Qian clung to a sliver of hope...

’What if a miracle happens?’

The sound of the whistle echoed through the quiet space, a single, simple melody played over and over. She continued until the man appeared behind her, stepping forward to firmly grasp the hand that held the whistle.

His gaze was as deep as an abyss, betraying no hint of his mood. After a long moment, he ruffled her hair and asked softly, "Why are you so desperate to leave?"

Wen Qian stiffened for a moment before quickly composing herself. She answered without hesitation, "I’ve been gone too long. Ah Heng will be worried."

Upon hearing this, the corners of Gu Mian’s lips curled into a faint, barely-there smile. He retorted, "He took you away for so long. Did he ever consider that *I* might be worried?"

"That’s different," Wen Qian said adamantly.

A flicker of curiosity appeared in Gu Mian’s eyes. He raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Wen Qian took a deep breath and, steeling herself, uttered four words: "He’s the primary husband."

The words had barely left her lips when, with a sharp CRACK, the teacup in Gu Mian’s hand shattered. He instinctively narrowed his eyes, trying his best to keep his voice calm. "Primary husband? Who told you that?"

"D-doesn’t that go without saying...?" Wen Qian gulped, and at the same time, she seemed to realize something. Chi Heng had never actually used the term "primary husband" or any similar words to describe their relationship.

’It seems I was the one who made assumptions, who ranked them...’

"’Go without saying?’" Gu Mian was so incensed by her words that he let out a bitter laugh. "What did he say to you to make you think he’s so important?"

The laugh was quiet, but Wen Qian saw the bitterness in his eyes.

As if sensing her hesitation, the man turned to stare into her eyes and said, word by word, "Qianqian, I was your first Beastman."

From their very first meeting to... everything that followed. It had always been him.

Even after Yin Zhi, Qi Ke, and Chi Heng came along... his place in her heart had always been unshakeable.

’Just because she’s forgotten doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.’

And yet, despite knowing this, a tightness still gripped Gu Mian’s chest.

Chi Heng, who had been the most insignificant one on Blue Star, was now her so-called "primary husband." That title was a sharp knife stabbing straight into his heart.

"It’s always the quiet ones," Gu Mian said, his face and voice cold.

An image of Chi Heng’s calm and steady demeanor flashed in his mind. He’d never expected that Chi Heng, without making a single wave, had quietly taken such an important place in Wen Qian’s heart.

Even though he knew this was all a misunderstanding, Gu Mian was still furious. He snaked an arm around Wen Qian’s waist and pulled her directly into his arms.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Wen Qian struggled instinctively, but in the next second, Gu Mian’s lips were on the nape of her neck.

"You still haven’t been punished for that last escape attempt..."

Wen Qian’s first thought was that he was actually bringing up old grievances. But she was powerless to refuse. The moment his snake tail coiled around her, she instantly gave up the struggle.

...

Unlike Chi Heng, Gu Mian didn’t "hide" Wen Qian’s existence. Once their relationship had softened and Wen Qian had successfully established a degree of trust with him... he summoned Li Jiu.

Li Jiu informed Yin Zhi and Qi Ke of Wen Qian’s whereabouts, and the two of them rushed over the very moment they got the news.

No one could find their way to the Gu Family estate without a guide from the Snake Clan, so Gu Mian specially sent a guard to bring them.

Yin Zhi and Qi Ke arrived at the Gu Family estate at the same time. Yin Zhi, his eyes red, stared at the woman sitting in Gu Mian’s lap, momentarily stunned into silence. But just as he was about to speak, Qi Ke suddenly lunged forward... Ignoring Gu Mian entirely, he buried his face in Wen Qian’s arms.

He whimpered and sobbed, leaving Wen Qian completely at a loss.

"Hey, wait a minute... you?" Wen Qian frantically tried to push him off but couldn’t. Instead, it was Yin Zhi who grabbed Qi Ke by the back of his collar and hauled him away.