Free Web NovelChapter 162: Chapter 162: A Weakened Body
Shi Lan swiveled her chair to face the two of them. Seeing they had finally quieted down and stopped fighting, she asked, "Can we eat in peace now?"
This time, she didn’t blame either of them. First, she could sense that Mu Tangfeng hadn’t wanted to fight Jiang Xia initially. Second, a large part of the reason they fought was that Jiang Xia was affected by his susceptibility period.
The reason this period was called the susceptibility period for males was that their emotions and desires were easily stirred. Shi Lan had learned about this online, so she was quite calm when she saw this scene, simply pulling them apart to prevent any real injuries.
Mu Tangfeng lowered his head slightly, his eyes still flashing with anger as he glanced at Jiang Xia. When he looked at Shi Lan, however, he became docile and obedient again. "Mm, we can."
Jiang Xia glared at him unwillingly. The susceptibility period had only amplified what he usually wanted to do; in truth, he had long wanted to fight Mu Tangfeng. Of course, he normally wouldn’t have thought of dealing a lethal blow.
Thinking about the fight just now, he felt a little guilty and sheepish. He just snorted in dissatisfaction and didn’t argue further.
Worried that restraining them was uncomfortable, Shi Lan first let go of Mu Tangfeng. Seeing that Jiang Xia seemed to be getting upset again, she quickly walked over, gently patted his head, and said in a soft voice, "Go back to your room to eat. Just hang in there a little longer. There are only two days left."
As soon as she came over, Jiang Xia felt a little comforted. The small flame of anger that was about to ignite was quickly extinguished. He clingily and forcefully rubbed his head against Shi Lan’s palm, reluctant to see her go.
In the end, Shi Lan personally walked him back to his room. At his pitiful and insistent coaxing, she petted his head and body a few more times. She felt his scorching breath grow closer to her palm before he brazenly stuck out his tongue and licked her hand. The wet trail it left behind and the tingling, ticklish sensation of his barbed tongue scraping her skin wasn’t painful, but it seemed to seep into her bones, making her scalp tingle.
She was once again reminded that males in their susceptibility period were not to be provoked.
Lowering her gaze to see Jiang Xia in his beast form constantly rubbing against her ankles, Shi Lan felt like she was facing a formidable enemy. She hastily locked the door and fled.
In the room, Jiang Xia sensed her presence gradually fading. He could only listlessly curl up in the spot where Shi Lan had just been, letting out hot, muffled growls from his throat from time to time.
After coming out, Shi Lan stood in the hallway for a moment to cool down. ’I can genuinely accept them becoming my Beast Husbands in the future. For the time being, however, I’ll probably still find it difficult to cross the mental barrier when it comes to intimacy between partners. And that’s not even mentioning I might have five Beast Husbands later on.’
But Shi Lan knew that this sort of thing would happen sooner or later. Still, she hoped to delay it a bit longer to fully prepare herself mentally. Some worries were best left until after marriage.
She let out a long sigh. Feeling the hunger in her stomach, she decided to go downstairs and eat first.
...
After seven days, Jiang Xia finally made it through his susceptibility period. Generally, Beastmen in their susceptibility period tend to lose their appetite. However, Shi Lan found all sorts of ways to give Jiang Xia extra meals each day, feeding him small, frequent portions—five meals a day. After the susceptibility period was over, Jiang Xia could feel that his belly in his beast form had become quite round.
He carefully examined himself in the mirror. ’Good, I haven’t gotten fat,’ he thought, ’but the definition of my abs is fading.’
Jiang Xia had never worried about this kind of thing before, but he’d heard other males online say that females preferred strong males with eight-pack abs.
And so, after his susceptibility period, he picked up a new activity: working out.
During the day, besides finding various ways to take Shi Lan to tourist planets in the holographic game, he would also find time to go for a run and work out.
Of course, the holographic game was the activity he looked forward to most each day. Mu Tangfeng, that third wheel, wouldn’t be there, and he could find secret chances to sneak a kiss from Lanlan. She wouldn’t even blame him for it. However, Jiang Xia didn’t dare to do anything more than that; he limited himself to just kisses.
Shi Lan rarely saw him work out so proactively and diligently. She asked in surprise, "Jiang Xia, why have you been running every day recently?"
Afraid that Shi Lan would dislike his out-of-shape body, Jiang Xia didn’t dare to admit he was worried about getting fat. He deliberately made an excuse, "Working out is good for your health."
Mu Tangfeng, who was standing nearby, scoffed. As soon as Jiang Xia’s susceptibility period was over, he had stopped torturing himself and moved back to the large bed. So, he had easily noticed that Jiang Xia was looking in the mirror more often lately, even though he was usually the one who frequented it.
Mu Tangfeng subtly glanced at his stomach and seemed to understand something. He straightened his back smugly. ’Hmph, gotten fat, have you?’
His abs were still there, after all.
With a mocking look, he said, "I don’t recall you working out during your years in prison. Don’t tell me you’ve gotten weak now?"
’Weak?’
Being called weak was the biggest taboo for a male, especially in front of a female he liked.
Jiang Xia was immediately embarrassed and enraged, but he retorted with confidence, "Aren’t people who *don’t* work out the ones who get weak?"
As he spoke, he deliberately looked Mu Tangfeng up and down, a sarcastic smile appearing in his eyes.
Mu Tangfeng gritted his teeth. "Fine. Let’s see who’s faster. We’ll race ten laps around Chang’an Village. We both have to stay in human form—no using our beast forms."
"Deal!"
A male is never afraid of a challenge, especially from a rival in love.
The two of them immediately made a bet: "Whoever loses has to sleep on the floor for a month."
They were both careful not to mention Shi Lan, afraid the other might demand that the loser stay away from her. In the end, they settled on the conventional prize of rights to the large bed in the guest room.
Mu Tangfeng had wanted the large bed all to himself for a long time.
Shi Lan watched from the side, not expecting things to develop this way. Her house had become the starting line, she had become the referee, and Uncle Gao, Aunt Gao, and some of the other Chang’an Village villagers had become the cheering squad.
After the specific race route was decided, some villagers even volunteered to act as monitors at certain checkpoints, waiting for the two to start running.
There really weren’t many people on Yaoxing, and villages like this were mostly populated by middle-aged and elderly people. Life was usually quite boring, with little entertainment. Now that these young people were here to liven things up, everyone happily gathered together.
Shi Lan even handed out some snacks to everyone before telling Mu Tangfeng and Jiang Xia to get ready to run.
Soon, she blew a whistle, and the two of them instantly shot off like the wind.
"Whoa, incredible! These two young men are so fast."
An old man patted down his wig, which had been lifted by the breeze, quickly pressing it tight.
Aunt Gao knew, of course. They were males with Double S Spirit Power, so it was normal for them to be this fast.
Uncle Gao swooped her up onto his back. "Wife, want to go watch? Shall we track them in real time?"
Aunt Gao eagerly agreed. How could she miss such an exciting scene? At her words, Uncle Gao immediately transformed into his beast form and carried her up into the sky.
Shi Lan’s jaw dropped in secret. She never knew that someone as gentle as Uncle Gao had a beast form as famously sharp and formidable as an eagle. ’So cool!’
Watching the great eagle disappear into the distance, Shi Lan also felt a stir of excitement.
Xiao Du sensed its master’s thoughts and immediately said, [Master, I have a way too!]
