At this moment, Si Lu's beastmen husbands returned. Naturally, they brought back quite a lot of prey. Without needing to say much, they skillfully went to the outer riverbank to start processing the meat.
Si Lu obediently sat by Bai Di's side, warming herself by the fire. Once the men were done, they called Si Lu over. This time, it was Cheng Mo who went to fetch her.
"Hug me," Si Lu extended her arms and playfully said to Cheng Mo, a soft, coquettish tone in her voice. Her gaze overflowed with tenderness as she looked at him.
Cheng Mo gazed deeply at her, his eyes filled with affection as he gently lifted her off the ground. His movements were incredibly soft.
"Ah, Mo, I missed you," Si Lu snuggled into his embrace, rubbing her cheek against his chest; her face lit up with a warm smile as she looked up at him.
Indeed, these past days, Cheng Mo had been distant, always busy. Ah, her first beast husband had been working so hard, it made her heart ache.
"I missed you too," Cheng Mo rubbed his cheek against Si Lu's, his eyes brimming with tenderness and warmth.
His little female clearly still loved him. These days, he had been either scouting the path ahead or out hunting, leaving him with little time to get close to her. But to think Si Lu had noticed and missed him—it filled his heart with joy and warmth.
"Mmhmm, how about staying with me tonight?" Si Lu asked with a smile, gazing up at Cheng Mo.
She truly missed him. These days, he had been working so hard.
Although she hadn't said it out loud, she had seen everything clearly. Sometimes, words weren't necessary as long as one kept things in their heart and mind. Si Lu understood Cheng Mo's temperament.
Unlike Bai Di and the others, Cheng Mo never vied for attention, never acted spoiled, never got jealous, and never played the pity card. But that didn't mean he didn't have feelings. After all, who wouldn't feel a bit sad seeing their beloved interact with others? Si Lu knew this well.
Cheng Mo's calm demeanor and his refusal to fight for attention only made her care for him more deeply. She could never ignore his feelings.
"Alright," Cheng Mo's smile grew even brighter.
Though he never fought for her attention, he, too, enjoyed and longed for her closeness. He adored her. Moreover, she was carrying his cubs.
He loved their unborn children deeply, but because he was her first husband, he felt a sense of responsibility to maintain the dignity and composure of a leader.
He couldn't afford to act as spoiled as Bai Di or the others.
So, hearing Si Lu request that he spend the night with her filled him with joy and satisfaction.
He had been afraid she might forget about him, that she might not love him as much anymore. He was also missing their babies dearly.
Gazing at Si Lu's slightly rounded belly, his eyes were filled with love.
"Have the cubs been behaving?" he asked with a smile.
"They've been very well behaved, not causing any trouble at all. They've been so good inside my belly," Si Lu replied with a smile, gently stroking her stomach. Her eyes were soft and full of warmth.
This was her first pregnancy, and she was filled with anticipation.
"That's good. Through the beast mark, I can feel the vitality of the cubs. They're strong and healthy," Cheng Mo reassured her.
His biggest concern had been Si Lu's condition and the health of their cubs. One of the benefits of the beast mark was that it allowed him to sense the life force of his offspring.
"Yes, but there's still more than two months before the birth," Si Lu said, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice.
To be honest, while she was excited about the little lives growing inside her, this was her first time giving birth, and it was to beastmen's cubs. Naturally, she felt some nervousness and fear.
Even with the system's support, she couldn't completely shake off the worry.
"I know you're feeling a bit nervous and scared, but don't worry. We'll all be with you. Everything will go smoothly," Cheng Mo said, easily guessing what was on her mind. He, too, was anxious, though he hid it well.
In the tribe, he had seen too many things go wrong during childbirth, and the thought terrified him.
But he knew he couldn't show that fear. Otherwise, Si Lu would become even more afraid. He had to conceal his emotions and keep them in check, for her sake.
"Mm, I'm not scared. Ah, Mo, don't be scared either. I'm lucky, and I believe everything will be fine," Si Lu said with a smile, even turning to comfort Cheng Mo.
She knew that, as a first-time father, Cheng Mo must be just as worried as she was. Despite his composed appearance, he was undoubtedly suppressing his anxiety for her sake.
How could she not love such a thoughtful and caring Cheng Mo?
"Alright, let's not be afraid or worry. Let's look forward to our cubs together," Cheng Mo said, his smile gentle as his voice.
"Mm," Si Lu nodded.
Together, they reached the riverbank, where Heiyao and Song Zhan had finished their tasks. They had caught quite a few shrimp, which were now laid out on stone slabs.
They had been waiting for the two of them.
"What took you guys so long? I thought Ah Mo got lost with Lu Lu!" The big tiger, Song Zhan, teased with a playful grin.
"Nonsense. You might get lost, but I never would," Cheng Mo shot back, casting an annoyed glance at the big tiger.
This guy really didn't know how to speak.
"Hey, I was just kidding. Don't take it to heart!" Song Zhan scratched his head with an embarrassed smile. Cheng Mo seemed a bit harsh today. He wasn't usually like this.
"Alright, let's hurry and pack up the food. We don't want to keep Bai Di waiting for too long," Si Lu reminded them.
Indeed, Bai Di must be getting bored on his own.
"Okay." Cheng Mo carried Si Lu to the stone slabs, where she could store the food in her space pocket.
Heiyao and Song Zhan kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings. Soon, everything was packed up, and the group headed back.
However, when they returned, they noticed a basket by the campfire. Inside the basket was a pink rabbit.
Si Lu looked confused.
Wasn't this rabbit supposed to be in the cave earlier?
How did it end up here?
Was Bai Di the one who brought it out?