Beast World: From Villainess to Cub-Raising Chef

With one cooking and the other assisting, and the lamb chops already roasted, the meal was ready in no time.

A look of excitement on her face, Bai Su asked Lu Tingyan to get two wine glasses from the fridge. She was going upstairs to change.

Amused, Lu Tingyan told her to slow down. He did as she asked, taking the glasses from the fridge and pouring wine.

Bai Su rustled around upstairs for a bit before coming down in a little slip dress, her long hair let down.

She often wore her long hair in braided buns, so when it was down, it fell in natural waves.

Her rabbit ears drooped on either side of her head, looking cute and coquettish.

Bai Su had only freshened up a little; she wore no makeup. Thanks to the nurturing of her Healing Ability, her body was in excellent condition from the inside out. Even without makeup, her complexion was far more beautiful than any cosmetics could achieve.

As Lu Tingyan watched her slowly descend the stairs, his gaze softened. "Susu..."

Bai Su felt a little shy. She walked up to him and looked at him expectantly. "Do I look nice?"

Lu Tingyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. "Beautiful."

Bai Su pulled him to sit down across from her.

The only light in the entire dining room came from the flickering flames of the candelabra on the table.

The heating was on full blast, filling the room with a warm, romantic ambiance. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The sweet fragrance of a honey peach seemed to bake in the warmth, taking on a tempting quality.

The roasted lamb chops on the table exuded a rich, complex aroma. The creamy scent of butter mingled with the fragrance of rosemary and other herbs, enveloping the lamb and making one’s mouth water.

They clinked their glasses, took a few sips, and began their meal.

Lu Tingyan had always had a large appetite, but his table manners were elegant and refined.

He used to only eat canned food and only knew how to use a spoon.

But after many meals with Bai Su, she had taught him how to use chopsticks, as well as a knife and fork.

He loved meat, always cutting off sizable chunks. He would put a piece in his mouth and chew it gently, making almost no sound.

He would always wait until he had completely swallowed before taking another bite.

He was methodical and composed, not at all like someone who had just learned table manners, but rather like someone who had been strictly trained and cultivated since childhood.

Bai Su had to admit, some people are just inherently attractive. This attractiveness wasn’t just about looks, but a composite impression emanating from their appearance, voice, and temperament—a beauty that shone from the inside out.

Finding the sight of him so pleasing, Bai Su couldn’t help but take a few extra bites herself.

She had also prepared an after-dinner dessert.

Once the table was cleared, she brought out two glasses of a frozen lemon dessert.

There was nothing more delightful than eating a cold dessert in a warm room.

She had made a lemon yogurt sorbet. Its dense texture was more like a soft paste, cool and refreshing, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour.

Bai Su had just popped a spoonful into her mouth, not even giving it a chance to melt, when she was suddenly pounced upon and pushed down onto the table.

"Hey—" she yelped, startled, instinctively placing her hands against Lu Tingyan’s broad chest.

Lu Tingyan’s voice was thick with huskiness. "Susu, how much longer are you going to make me endure?"

Bai Su looked at him shyly. "Are you that impatient?"

The tip of Lu Tingyan’s nose nuzzled the crook of her neck. "You’re already enjoying your little treat. Can I have mine now?"

Bai Su’s heart began to race. She lowered her head and murmured, "But... I haven’t finished my yogurt sorbet yet..."

A glint appeared in Lu Tingyan’s eyes. "One little mouth is too slow. Let me help you."

"Ah..." Bai Su looked at him, bewildered.

As she was laid back on the table, she still didn’t quite understand what he meant.

Until...

She was turned into a human platter, laden with cold yogurt sorbet, which he then began to eat.

*

The Yan Family’s birthday banquet was an exceptionally grand affair.

Rumor had it this was not just because the Yan Family’s youngest daughter was pregnant, but because she was pregnant with quadruplets.

This was a joyous event of monumental proportions.

After all, conception was extremely difficult for Lion Beastman females. The number of cubs born in the past two years could be counted on one hand.

The Lion Beastman leader, Yan Hongyi, had been staring at the birth rates at home so much that his mane was about to turn white with worry.

Thus, when word got out that the Yan Family’s youngest daughter, Yan Qingya, was pregnant with quadruplets, it wasn’t just Yan Hongyi who was too excited to sleep. The entire Lion Beastman populace of the Imperial City erupted in celebration.

That was why the youngest daughter of the Yan Family was having such a lavish birthday celebration.

Before she went, Bai Su placed a video call to Yan Jiu.

"Miss Bai, what can I do for you?" Yan Jiu answered quickly. He appeared to be busy arranging the venue, with servants bustling and bouquets of fresh flowers being moved around in the background.

Bai Su said, "I’ll be attending with Lu Tingyan tonight. The invitation doesn’t list a time. What time does it start?"

On the other end of the video, Yan Jiu suddenly stumbled, and the camera feed shook violently. "What?! Leader Lu is coming?!"

"H-h-he... Are you serious, Miss Bai?! The Leader himself is coming?"

Yan Jiu’s voice was high-pitched with excitement, and it was hard to tell if his expression was one of pleasant surprise or sheer terror.

Bai Su stole a glance at Lu Tingyan beside her. He was sitting cross-legged, a look of grim determination on his face as he clumsily braided her hair.

The crooked braid looked like a frizzy foxtail weed, and there was more than one of these lopsided "foxtails" hanging down the back of her head.

Bai Su looked at Yan Jiu on the screen, a little uncertain. "What’s wrong? Didn’t you send him an invitation?"

Yan Jiu’s expression was a bit odd. "It’s just... the Leader never attends these kinds of banquets. We just assumed he wouldn’t come."

"Thank you for the heads-up, Miss Bai! We understand! I’ll go make preparations right now!"

Yan Jiu hastily ended the call, leaving Bai Su completely bewildered.

’A heads-up? Preparations?’

’Am I overthinking this, or did Yan Jiu completely misunderstand something?’

She turned to the solemn-faced great Snow Wolf beside her. "Lu Tingyan, do you really never attend banquets?"

Lu Tingyan looked up from his "monumental" task to glance at her. "I think I have."

Then he went back to wrestling with the braid.

The corner of Bai Su’s lip twitched. She had already given up any hope of rescuing her hair. "Then why did Yan Jiu look so terrified?"

"Mmm..." Lu Tingyan grunted distractedly, finally reaching the end of the braid.

He took a deep breath, secured the braid with a small pink hair tie, and attached a little bow to the bottom.

Each of her "foxtail" braids now had one of these little bows at the end.

Bai Su’s expression darkened. "Did you really have to use the bows?"

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Lu Tingyan insisted, "It’s cute! It suits you!"

Resisting the urge to kick him off the bed, Bai Su decided to message Yodel and ask.

She messaged Yodel: [Does your leader normally not attend banquets?]

Yodel: [He doesn’t.]

Bai Su: [Never?]

Yodel was silent for a moment before replying: [He attended your coming-of-age birthday banquet once. He was drugged. After that, he refused all invitations. That was the only one he’s ever attended.]

Bai Su: [Ohhh, that explains why Yan Jiu looked so weird when I told him.]

Yodel: [...Miss Bai Su, you told Yan Jiu?]

Bai Su: [Yep. I saw the invitation didn’t have a time, so I asked.]

Yodel: [You may not be aware of how popular the Leader is among the Federation nobility, Miss Bai Su. I wish you the best of luck.]

Bai Su: [...?]