Beauty and the Beasts

Curtis glanced at the wooden rod, thinking that there were insects upon it. But there was nothing.

Just then, Bai Qingqing ran into the house. Seeing Curtis coil his snake’s tail around An’an, she immediately reached out to support An’an’s bottom. “You’re making her feel uncomfortable this way.’

“No, she isn’t,” Curtis replied earnestly.

How could that be? Half of An’an’s body was hanging below, and the weight of her body was fully reliant on her arms and her chest. An’an only didn’t make any noise because she was obedient. If it were the leopard cubs, they would definitely kick up a fuss.

Bai Qingqing lifted An’an and stroked her soft curls. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Curtis, I’d like to bring An’an to Flame City.”

The harmonious atmosphere instantly turned stiff.

Curtis slammed his tail heavily upon the floor, bringing about a slight tremor to both the ground and her body.

Stroking An’an’s little head, Bai Qingqing summoned her courage and looked towards Curtis’s face. “I feel that something is really off with An’an. Also, Winston worries me. Let’s make a trip to Flame City.”

The warmth on Curtis’s face faded in its entirety. He pursed his lips tightly and stared intently at An’an. “You’ll be in danger.”

“Who could harm me with you around?” Bai Qingqing said with her chin raised, exuding a hint of arrogance.

Curtis froze. Tickled by her response, he revealed a faint involuntary smile. However, very quickly, that smile was replaced by a solemn and stern expression again.

“However strong you are, there’s always someone stronger. I’m not invincible. The desert is territory I’ve never set foot in. It’ll be too dangerous for you to go.”

As Curtis spoke, he cast a glance at An’an. “Back then when I said I was going to kill her, I truly had the intent to do so.”

It was only when he saw Snow in such great torment because of her little snake whom she was separated from for a long time, did Curtis waver in that intent.

An’an was the baby Snow gave birth to after ten months of pregnancy and after experiencing all sorts of hardships. There was no doubt that An’an, who she had been attentively taking care of for more than half a year and cherished as a treasure, would have a more significant position in Snow’s heart than one of the many snakes in a nest.

He merely wanted to kill one of her little snakes, and already Snow was nearly driven insane by it. He dared not imagine what she would be like if he killed An’an.

Bai Qingqing’s eyes heated up, and she blinked to force back the tears. “But how can I bear to sit by and wait while An’an is in this state?”

Just then, Parker ran back with the food and acutely sensed the change in atmosphere. One look at the way Curtis was staring at An’an, and he understood everything.

“Give way. I’m going to prepare the food. You two go to the side,” Parker said in a carefree manner, pretending he didn’t notice that.

His voice dispelled the stiffness of the atmosphere. Bai Qingqing pulled Curtis to the grass pile and made him sit down with her.

“Please?” Bai Qingqing tugged at Curtis’s hand and gazed at him with a pleading look.

As her eyes were lively and innocent, to begin with, with the intense worry in them right now, it had an even greater effect.

Curtis turned his head sideways to avoid her gaze. However, as he stared at the withered grass on the ground, his head was filled with the image of that pair of pleading eyes.

“Curtis.”

Bai Qingqing’s soft voice rang in his ears. He closed his eyes and sharply inhaled a breath of air. “Okay. As you wish.”

Bai Qingqing bolted upright in disbelief. Curtis agreed to it so readily? Were her ears playing tricks on her?

The more she thought about it, the more she suspected so. But she didn’t dare to ask, so she merely grabbed Curtis’s hand and waited for his response.

Hearing no response from her for some time, Curtis turned his head towards her. “When are we setting off?”

Bai Qingqing’s breathing halted. She widened her eyes, and only then did she dare to believe what she had just heard.

She immediately looked towards him with a beaming smile. “As quickly as possible!”