Chapter 44: Flustered Lion
Lin Huahua stepped into the bath slowly, and the moment her foot touched the warm water, she let out a long breath that sounded so relieved one would think she had just returned from war.
To be honest, this really could not be blamed on her.
Today had been far too much for her to handle.
She had walked outside for half the day, argued with people, picked leaves like some hardworking little forest animal, cried until her face turned red, got hugged by a giant white lion, bullied by a red fox, and then found out that her own father had no intention of saving her from this terrible primitive simulation.
After all of that, the warm water felt less like bath water and more like salvation.
Lin Huahua lowered herself further into the tub, and as the warmth wrapped around her body, the tension in her shoulders slowly began to melt.
The room was dark, the stone walls held in the heat, and the steam rose in soft curls that made everything feel quiet and hidden.
Outside, the rest of the cave still carried the rough, busy feeling of a beast world home, but in this moment, inside the dark little bath room, it was just warm water, soft steam, and her own thoughts.
Her small body relaxed more and more until she finally leaned back against the edge of the tub.
Then she let out another breath that was way longer than the last one.
Aiyaa.
If this simulation had one tiny bit of conscience, then at least it had given her this warm water.
Lin Huahua lifted one hand and scooped some water over herself, washing carefully while thinking in circles about what to do next.
Since she could not go back yet, then obviously she had to survive here for now.
That was already clear.
Her father was truly serious this time, and even though her brothers would definitely try to think of something, there was no guarantee they could help immediately.
So if she wanted to make it through this place without suffering too much, then she had to plan properly and smart.
A plan fitting for a very beautiful and intelligent sci-fi princess who had been unfairly dropped into a primitive beast world against her will.
Lin Huahua’s little brows furrowed as she thought.
First, she had to keep observing the people here.
Second, she had to figure out how this world worked more clearly.
Third, she had to learn enough basic things so that she would not look helpless every time a new problem appeared.
Fourth...
Her thoughts started to slow and then they wandered, then they slowed again.
The truth was that the warm water felt too comfortable in a way that was really refreshing, especially after being out in the hot sun all day.
Gosh this is so comfortable, I feel like my brain is becoming a soft steamed pudding.
So after a while, even Lin Huahua herself did not know whether she was truly planning or just floating in her own head.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, Hu Baiyu had gone so still that if someone did not know he was alive, they might have mistaken him for a very large white statue.
The white lion had transformed and stayed there because he was worried about his little female.
He did not feel at ease leaving his female alone, especially after he saw her cry earlier, he felt like if he left her again she would cry and his heart ached just thinking about that.
So he had quietly remained nearby, thinking only that if anything happened, if the water was too hot, if she slipped, if she needed help, then he could rush over immediately.
That had been his honest plan, and it was really pure and caring if anyone had thought of it.
Unfortunately, reality did not care about his pure plan at all.
From the moment Lin Huahua began undressing in the darkness, Hu Baiyu’s whole body had gone completely stiff.
His breathing changed first and then his ears twitched once.
Then his tail, which had been resting behind him, locked into place as if even it had forgotten how to move.
Hu Baiyu lowered his head at first. He truly did.
He did not want to look. He should not look.
He knew that.
But beastmen had very sharp senses.
Their eyesight, especially in dim places, was far too good.
In this dark room where Lin Huahua probably felt safely hidden by steam and shadow, Hu Baiyu could still see far more than he should.
He gulped seeing the pale smooth glow of her skin catching faint flickers of firelight through the curling mist, the delicate swell of her small breasts as she breathed, the gentle dip of her waist curving into soft hips, the way warm water traced slow shiny paths down her thighs before disappearing back into the pool, her fluffy white rat tail drifting lazily in the water like silk.
And that was exactly the problem.
The more he tried not to look, the more clearly he was aware of her.
His eyes traced down her small figure and he couldn’t help but notice how pale and pretty her skin was, how the steam made every curve look softer, warmer, almost inviting in the dimness.
Hu Baiyu swallowed the moment he noticed the way steam clung to her, droplets catching on her collarbone and sliding lower, and he felt like he was heating up and could not take this any longer.
A slow burning rush starting in his chest, spreading down his belly, making his powerful thighs clench tight and his claws curl against the stone.
For a moment he stopped blinking because he did not want to miss a second of watching how Lin Huahua’s slender arms washed her body, how her fingers glided over wet skin in innocent little circles, how her head tilted back with a soft sigh that sent another wave of heat straight through him.
He even bit his lip lightly in an attempt to force himself to calm down, but that did not help at all. If anything, it only made him more aware of the heat rushing through his body, the way it pooled low and insistent, tightening everything until he had to shift his hips just a fraction to ease the growing ache he refused to name.
This was very bad.
Very, very bad.
Hu Baiyu had never thought of himself as a weak-minded beastman.
Everyone always so him as calm, steady and reliable. He could endure pain, hunger, punishment.
But right now, staying still in this dark room while Lin Huahua bathed only a short distance away felt harder than enduring all of that.
The lion inside him was in complete disorder.
To be honest he wanted to turn away and leave because of the fear of Lin Huahua catching him and scolding him, but he couldn’t because of how beautiful Lin Huahua’s body looked at that moment.
Hu Baiyu swallowed again.
His face had already turned hot, and even though there was no one there to point it out, the tips of his ears had become red.
Very red.
At one point, he even squeezed his eyes shut for a second.
Then opened them again almost immediately, because he was worried something might happen if he kept them closed.
