Lin Huahua sat on the thick fur beside her mother, still feeling a little proud after sending Feng Yiren away to fetch the herbs and spices, and because the fox’s red tail had looked so offended when he left, she could not stop the tiny smile that kept trying to crawl onto her lips.

The fire in front of them burned with a steady orange glow, and the scent of plain roasted meat still floated heavily around the open cooking space.

Her mother’s side of the tribe looked much bigger and warmer than her own cave house.

Smooth flat stones had been placed around the fire for sitting, thick animal hides covered the ground, baskets of roots and dried fruits were stacked near the wall, and several clay pots stood beside a low stone shelf.

There were also hanging strips of dried meat, bundles of herbs, bone tools, and polished shells that seemed to be decorations her mother liked. Everything was still primitive, still rough, and still completely different from Lin Huahua’s clean sci-fi world, but there was something alive about it that made her heart feel strange.

Her mother, Bai Ruyue, sat close to her with one hand resting lightly on Lin Huahua’s shoulder, as if she was afraid her daughter would disappear if she stopped touching her.

Bai Ruyue’s white rat ears were soft and pretty, decorated with small beads, and her long tail curled neatly beside her.

She was beautiful in a warm way, not sharp or cold, and whenever one of her males came too close, her tail would move lazily, brushing their hands or legs as if she was used to being loved like this.

Lin Huahua watched quietly.

Her mother’s males were all around her, and every single one acted like serving their female was the most natural thing in the world.

Xiong Han, the bear beastman, sat near the fire with his broad bare chest glowing in the light, his thick arms turning the meat slowly so it would not burn. He was huge, heavy-shouldered, and powerful, with small rounded bear ears and scars across his arms, but the moment Bai Ruyue looked at him, his rough face softened like roasted fruit.

Ying Zhe, the hawk beastman, stood behind Bai Ruyue and used his sharp eyes to check the area again and again, his dark wings folded neatly at his back while his fingers rested lightly near her shoulder.

Bao Xun, the black panther beastman, moved quietly around them, his dark tail swaying behind him, and every time Bai Ruyue reached for something, he was already placing it in her hand before she could ask.

There was also Shui Lang, an otter beastman with a playful face, slick dark hair, and a long flexible tail that kept curling near Bai Ruyue’s feet as if he wanted her attention.

He had brought her a cup of warm water three times already, and each time Bai Ruyue gave him a look that said she was not a thirsty river beast, but she still drank because he looked too pleased with himself.

Lin Huahua stared at them and slowly smiled.

So this was what love looked like in this world.

It was not quiet. It was not neat. It was not the kind of love that sat far away and pretended not to care.

It was touchy, clingy, shameless, protective, and so obvious that even a blind person would trip over it.

These males were already older, strong, respected, and powerful in the tribe, but they still leaned closer when Bai Ruyue spoke. They still watched her face to see if she was hungry or tired.

They still wanted her touch, her praise, her attention, and even a small smile from her could make their beast ears move like they had won a hunt.

Lin Huahua’s heart squeezed.

In the sci-fi world, her family loved her too. Her father loved her in that terrifying ruler way where he would throw her into a simulation for her own good and still call it parenting.

Her brothers spoiled her so badly that she used to believe the universe was built to serve her snacks. But this kind of mating bond was different.

It was warm in a way that wrapped around a person. It was the kind of love that stayed even when people got older. It was the kind of love where a female only had to frown slightly and several males would immediately start looking for the thing that offended her.

Lin Huahua looked down at her own hands.

Maybe staying here was not so bad.

That thought came suddenly, but once it appeared, it did not leave.

She had been telling herself again and again that she would return to her sci-fi world, that this place was only a simulation, and that one day her father would let her leave.

But the more she stayed, the more this world touched parts of her heart she had never used before.

Here, the food was rough, the ground was rude, the rivers apparently had seductive fish-men lurking inside them, and snake beastmen were roaming somewhere like moving nightmares, but here she also had males who carried her when her feet hurt, warmed water when she was cold, fed her fruit when her throat was sore, fought because they all wanted to protect her, and looked at her like she was not too much.

She wanted that.

The thought made her ears turn pink.

Bai Ruyue noticed immediately, because of course mothers noticed the most annoying things first.

"What are you smiling about?" her mother asked softly.

Lin Huahua quickly looked up. "Nothing."

Shui Lang laughed from beside the clay pots. "That is not a nothing smile. That is the smile of a female thinking of her males."

Lin Huahua’s whole face heated. "I was not."

Xiong Han gave a low bear-like chuckle, and the sound was deep enough that one of the small clay cups near him shook slightly. "If she denies it that fast, then it is true."