She could see the apology in his eyes—he felt guilty for eating so much while she had barely touched her food, unable to bear seeing her go hungry.
A warmth spread through her heart. Sha Yi glanced at the basin and then at the bathtub before serving herself a small piece and placing the larger portion into his cup, then dividing the broth between them.
Though Xi Yi still didn’t fully approve of her actions, his resistance had softened. He stole a few glances at her before finally eating the rabbit meat she had given him, not leaving even a drop of the broth behind.
Sha Yi knew he was still hungry.
He handled nearly everything, expending far more energy than she did. On top of that, he was tall and broad-shouldered, so it was only natural he needed larger portions.
Thinking this, she set down the fruit knife in her hand, reached into the bathtub, and pulled out a bag of potato chips. Tearing open the packaging, she handed it to him.
Xi Yi stared blankly at the offering for a long moment before finally reaching out cautiously—tapping the bag once, then suddenly grabbing her hand and grinning at her.
Sha Yi was stunned. It took her a while to snap out of it before she pushed away his mischievous paw with an exasperated expression and held a chip up to his lips.
The chips were spicy, something she thought would suit Xi Yi’s taste. But he didn’t seem to realize it was food—he merely glanced at it indifferently before fixing his attention back on her, not even opening his mouth.
Annoyed, Sha Yi rapped him lightly on the head, tugged at his beard, and forcefully shoved the chip into his mouth.
Caught off guard by her sudden attack, Xi Yi flailed helplessly—unwilling to push her away but also uncomfortable with being force-fed. By the time she let go, he was coughing violently. Then… his head suddenly jerked up, his eyes blazing with excitement.
Sha Yi handed him the chip she was holding. He took it, hesitated, then pushed it back toward her. She shook her head and said, “I don’t want it.” When he still didn’t understand, she gestured that she wasn’t hungry.
Xi Yi wavered for a moment but ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation. At first, he ate slowly, one chip at a time, but soon he was devouring them like a storm.
Leaning against the bathtub, Sha Yi watched him eat with relish, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Something considered junk food in the modern era had become an unparalleled delicacy in this age where even salt was unheard of. Truly, the world was unpredictable!
But for someone from prehistoric times, being able to eat such “junk food” was probably an extraordinary privilege.
Sha Yi chuckled unkindly.
Just as Xi Yi finished the entire bag of chips, he looked up to see her smiling at him in a way he couldn’t decipher. Unable to resist, he instinctively leaned in and planted a kiss on her small, smiling face.
Sha Yi froze, staring at Xi Yi’s chip-crumb-covered stubble, torn between laughter and exasperation. Just as she was about to scold him, a low growl echoed from deep within the forest—young but mostly deep and frenzied.
She recognized that sound—it was unmistakably the juvenile saber-toothed tiger!
The man who had been teasing her moments ago suddenly stiffened, his expression darkening. He stood up abruptly, his earlier gentleness gone, replaced by a boiling rage—even a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.
Worried, Sha Yi reached out to pull him back, but he swiftly yanked a bone spear from the hide lining of his clothing and vaulted over the bathtub in one fluid motion.
As he was about to charge into the dark depths of the forest, Sha Yi couldn’t help but softly call his name—quiet but crystal clear.
The man who had been ready to plunge into the darkness halted mid-step, his momentum abruptly cut off.
Sha Yi took a deep breath and slowly stood up.
She didn’t know what grudge he held against the saber-toothed tiger, nor did she understand how prehistoric humans were supposed to react in such situations. She didn’t know why he had taken her with him, nor whether her decision to follow him had been the right one… But at this moment, bound by modern sensibilities, she wanted to force him to make a choice. Even if they were separated by time, species, and language, she was willing to gamble.
She was betting on the subtle instinct between men and women.
He had once saved her from the jaws of a saber-toothed tiger—back then, he had chosen her first. Now, she wanted to know if he could restrain himself for her again.
Because since arriving here, he was the only person she had encountered. He had his anger, but she had her fear. If she had to choose between the two, she’d rather seek closure for peace of mind.
If she was destined to stay in this ancient world and live with him, she needed to know whether he would choose her. Otherwise, no matter how much care and affection he showed, it would only ever be for the sake of mating and survival.
Staring fixedly at his tall, muscular back, Sha Yi’s heart pounded with anxiety. Time ticked by, and by the time the fire under the cooking pot had died out from lack of fuel, the man still stood rigidly with his back to her.
Her heart grew cold.
*Fine. What kind of emotional choice could you expect from a primitive man?* She had overestimated him. After all, he hadn’t evolved to the level of modern humans—how could he possibly have such awareness?
With a quiet sigh, Sha Yi turned her face away and sat down in a different spot, starting to pack up the things she had taken out before dinner.
But before she could reach for anything, a strong hand grabbed her arm. A crisp sound followed as rough palms slid under her arms and pressed against her abdomen, pulling her back against a broad, warm chest.
The next second, a deep, hoarse voice sounded in her ear.
—*Kenku Lunla.* ([“Kenku Lunla”: Don’t leave me.])
The same four syllables as by the lakeside—different setting, similar emotional weight. She felt the meaning was either “I like you,” “Stay with me forever,” or “Don’t go.”
He had chosen her after all.
Sha Yi felt her emotions gradually settle. Though she was still somewhat bothered by his hesitation, seeing this outcome, she had to admit she was satisfied—even elated.
Now, no matter why Xi Yi had hesitated, at the very least, she had come out on top. She had won everything—including his heart.
Perhaps all her defenses and reservations could finally be laid to rest as well.
Looking down at the bone spear discarded on the ground, Sha Yi recalled the sudden thought she’d had back in the cave. A faint smile curved her lips—she didn’t feel so resistant anymore.
Her slender, pale hand slowly rested atop the rough ones covering her abdomen. With a soft “Mm,” she acknowledged his words—*Kenku Lunla.*
She felt the warm body embracing her relax instantly.
She had to admit, the silent exchange of emotions was truly magical—a single glance could convey everything.
They didn’t stand there for long. The tiger’s roars grew closer, and even the marmosets perched in the treetops opened their glowing eyes wide.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage