Chapter 51: Raw Meat

Meanwhile, Bai Lianhua sat not far away, among the group of unmated or underage females.

Her face was pale, her eyes brimming with tears.

She looked at the seats where Rong Ye and Hu Yan had been.

They were performing for that woman.

Her lips trembled. Her chest ached like something inside her had cracked open.

"How... how could they betray me like this...?" she whispered pitifully.

Her tears fell, one after another, as if her world had ended.

A few soft-hearted females leaned closer, patting her back. "Don’t cry, Lianhua... it’s okay..."

"Don’t worry, you will find the mate you like one day; no need to cry."

They thought Bai Lianhua was crying because no beastmen had proposed to her and she was still single, and in just a few days, she would reach her adulthood.

If she still couldn’t find a mate, she would become a laughing stock in the tribe, just like the original Su Qinglan.

So they tried to console her, not wanting to see her crying a river in such a harmonious atmosphere.

But she only cried harder, like she had lost her entire family.

Until someone in the crowd finally whispered:

"Don’t console her. She’s only crying because she wants another female’s beastmen. She can’t get them, so she’s throwing a fit."

The voice was full of mocking; the owner of the voice was not even trying to hide the disdain in their voice.

The speaker was a short-haired female with sharp eyes. Her lips curled into a sneer as she stared at Bai Lianhua.

The pitiful tears froze in Bai Lianhua’s eyes.

She choked on a sob, her lashes wet. She looked up pitifully. "Sister... what did I do wrong for you to treat me like this...?"

But the short-haired female only looked colder.

"My mother only gave birth to one daughter. That’s me. So how can you call me sister?"

Her words were a direct slap on Bai Lianhua’s face, but she didn’t stop before adding more cruel words.

"I don’t have some fake sister who only knows how to cry for attention." The short-haired female said with an eye roll.

Bai Lianhua’s lips trembled, her eyes widening, as if the whole world had turned against her.

She wanted to fight her and prove her innocence, that she was nothing like that... But when she looked in the eyes of the short female and shuddered, she dared not say another word.

The cheers and noise around the stage were still loud, but Su Qinglan noticed something strange behind her.

A small commotion.

She turned her head slightly.

And what did she see?

Bai Lianhua.

The little white lotus was crying rivers, her face buried in her hands like she had just lost her entire clan.

Big, fat tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping one after another.

Su Qinglan’s lips twitched. Oh please. What is this, a river festival?

But her eyes flicked to the side, and she froze.

Not everyone was buying the act.

Among the group of females sat another girl. Aloof. Bright, sharp eyes. Her back was straight, her face calm, and she stared directly at the stage like nothing around her could shake her.

No pity in her gaze. No softness.

Su Qinglan’s eyebrows shot up.

Ohhh? So she wasn’t the only one who saw through Bai Lianhua’s fake pitiful act?

Now this was interesting.

Su Qinglan leaned her chin on her palm, smirking. She’d definitely keep an eye on that aloof female. She wanted to see what kind of girl she was.

But soon, the stage pulled her attention back.

More and more beastmen went up to perform.

Some wrestled with each other, showing off their brute strength.

Others showed flashy hunting skills, tossing their body in the air like circus tricks.

And some... well, they just stood there flexing their muscles until the females screamed.

Su Qinglan’s eyes sparkled like stars. Damn, this really was free eye-candy heaven.

She clapped and laughed, fully enjoying herself.

And then...

Thud.

Something heavy landed on her table.

She blinked.

Hu Yan, her big tiger was back.

He had silently returned, holding a massive stone bowl in his arms. He set it down in front of her with a loud bang.

The thing was huge, piled high with meat.

"Eat," Hu Yan said simply. His cold voice was calm, but his ears twitched just a little. "You must not have eaten for a long time."

Su Qinglan looked down at the bowl.

It was filled with raw meat. Red, bloody chunks piled up like a mountain.

Her jaw dropped.

Wait. Wait, wait, wait.

Were they really... Just going to eat this?!

She looked around quickly. And sure enough, other stone tables were also being served the same thing. Big bowls of raw meat, being happily pulled apart and chewed on by beastmen and females alike.

Su Qinglan’s stomach twisted.

Damn... These people really lived like wild animals, huh?

She slowly turned her head back to the mountain of meat in front of her.

"..."

Was she... supposed to eat this too?

Meanwhile, Rong Ye leaned casually against his seat. His violet eyes slid toward Hu Yan as he tried to probe Hu Yan.

He gave a little smirk, his gaze practically saying: Hmph. What’s this, Big Tiger? Trying to play the good mate now?

But Hu Yan didn’t understand his provocation, nor did he know that the sly fox had performed like a seductress in his absence with his mate.

Because he was too busy in his own thoughts. His golden eyes were lowered, avoiding Su Qinglan’s gaze.

Inside, he was still embarrassed from his actions. He had licked her. In front of everyone.

And then bolted away like a coward.

It had taken him time, sitting by the river, to calm his racing heart and to tell himself he wasn’t a complete fool. Neither was his act wrong; she was his female, and he had every right to do that with her. Let alone licking, he could do far more things.

So now he decided to come back when the food was being distributed so no one would suspect anything. They’d just think he had gone to fetch meat.

Only he knew the truth.

Su Qinglan, though... didn’t care about his inner drama.

Her round eyes stayed glued on the bloody pile of meat.

Her lips trembled.

"...Are they really going to make me eat this?"