After Si Lu finished eating, she leaned against Cheng Mo, feeling content. The others looked at her with affectionate smiles.
"Lulu, open your mouth and have another shrimp," Hei Yao said, holding a peeled shrimp in his hand.
"Okay, but you should eat too. Don't just focus on feeding me. I'm almost full," Si Lu replied, opening her mouth to accept the shrimp Hei Yao offered.
It tasted delicious!
"You need to eat more. Just a little more with every bite is good for you," Hei Yao insisted.
Si Lu was pregnant now, and eating more was crucial. If she didn't, the cubs growing inside her would start drawing nutrients from her body, which wasn't good.
That was what worried Hei Yao the most. That's why he had given her the crystal core earlier. He wanted her to be strong and healthy.
"I know," Si Lu said with a smile, fully aware of his concerns. Still, she was already feeling full.
As they chatted, Si Lu leaned against Cheng Mo and eventually fell asleep, lulled by the warmth of their company.
…
The next morning, it was still drizzling outside. As soon as Si Lu woke up, Cheng Mo gently lifted her into his arms like a princess.
Bai Di covered them with animal skins to shield them from the rain as they hurried to the river, where their bamboo house was waiting.
Without wasting any time, Cheng Mo carried Si Lu inside, while the others followed close behind.
The bamboo house was already stocked with pots, bowls, and daily essentials. A pot of food was already simmering, evidence that preparations had been made while Si Lu slept.
Si Lu blinked in surprise, seeing how everything had been taken care of. She thought she had woken up early, but apparently, they had been up long before her, getting everything ready.
"Did you start preparing all this before dawn?" Si Lu asked, still cradled in Cheng Mo's arms.
"Yes. I couldn't sleep, so I got up early and started arranging things. You were sleeping so soundly that we didn't want to disturb you.
Besides, now that you're pregnant, it's important that you rest as much as possible." Cheng Mo replied with a gentle smile. He set her down on a pile of soft animal fur, his eyes full of affection as he brushed a hand through her hair.
"We're here to take care of everything, so you don't have to worry about anything. You just focus on resting and enjoying yourself in the bamboo house," he added.
"Well, I feel like I'm not doing anything at all. You won't even let me walk on my own—you're always carrying me. If you all weren't around, I don't think I'd be able to take care of myself." Si Lu said with an embarrassed laugh.
It was true—she had grown so used to being taken care of by them that she didn't know if she could live independently anymore.
"It doesn't matter. We'll always be by your side, and even if you can't do anything, we'll take care of you. That's our job as your partners. Don't feel embarrassed that we're taking care of you—just accept it and enjoy it," Cheng Mo said firmly.
Taking care of Si Lu was his responsibility, especially now that she was carrying their cubs. To him, it wasn't hard at all compared to what Si Lu was going through.
Carrying cubs was difficult for a female, and it was up to the male partners to ensure their well-being.
"Alright, I won't argue with you. I know I won't win this debate anyway. You're all so stubborn when it comes to this," Si Lu sighed, giving in.
It was true—they were all very firm about taking care of her, and there was no convincing them otherwise.
"Now, do you want vegetable and shrimp soup or meat soup? Both are ready, so I can serve you whichever you like," Cheng Mo asked, smiling at her.
"I'll have the meat soup, please," Si Lu said. She had shrimp soup the day before, and she wanted something different today to keep from getting tired of the same flavors.
"Got it. We still need a little more time before we set off. Bai Di and the others are packing up the rest of the things we need, but I wanted to get you settled here first so you could eat and rest.
That way, you won't get hungry waiting," Cheng Mo explained as he ladled the soup into a bowl.
Si Lu nodded in understanding. She knew they had a lot to prepare, and she wasn't in any rush.
It made sense to let them finish packing everything properly, especially with Nan Si in the group. They had to be careful not to reveal certain secrets, like the fact that Si Lu had special powers.
While Si Lu sipped the broth Cheng Mo fed her, she gazed outside at the others. Song Zhan, Hei Yao, Bai Di, and Nan Si were busy moving things into the bamboo house, ensuring everything was securely stored.
Some items, like food and firewood, were placed downstairs where they cooked and ate, while others were left outside where the rain wouldn't damage them.
Seeing them working so hard made Si Lu feel a little guilty. "If you're tired, take a break. Have some soup, then continue moving things," Si Lu called out to them.
"We're fine! Don't worry about us," Song Zhan said with a grin, waving her off. They all seemed content to work while Si Lu rested.