This time, the fire-starting didn’t take too much effort—perhaps due to good luck—and Xi Yi quickly got the fire going, igniting the entire pile.
He seemed intent on learning her method of cooking meat soup. Since the fire had just been lit, he simply placed a stainless steel pot filled with water over the flames, then covered it with a large, clean round leaf before sitting quietly to tend the fire, evidently waiting for the water to heat up before adding the meat.
Seeing this, Sha Yi nudged him, urging him to lie down and rest. But he pointed at the pot and shook his head, refusing to leave. Sha Yi then gestured to herself and tried explaining in the ancient language that she would watch the fire. Again, he shook his head, stubbornly disagreeing. In the end, he even pointed at her, insisting that *she* should lie down and sleep.
Sha Yi was momentarily speechless. Feigning anger, she put on a cold expression and glared at him.
At this, Xi Yi immediately stood up, took a few large strides to the side of the round leaf, and obediently lay down—though his brown eyes kept darting toward her.
Ignoring him, Sha Yi chuckled inwardly before taking over his fire-tending duties. Happily, she added dry branches and leaves to the flames, stoking them higher.
When the water was half-warmed, she heard faint snoring behind her. Turning, she realized Xi Yi had unknowingly fallen asleep while “peeking” at her. He must have been truly exhausted—rising before dawn every day, staying up late with her, and handling countless tasks during the day, like hunting, gathering wild fruits, collecting firewood, and drilling for fire. To say he wasn’t tired would be a blatant lie.
Sha Yi suddenly felt that this life was actually quite wonderful. Gone were the dangers of the forest she had first traversed. Now, she had a lush natural environment and a community of fellow humans—this was immense happiness.
Though living conditions were harsh, compared to having someone who cherished and cared for her, modern comforts lost their appeal. After all, a man like Xi Yi would be nearly impossible to find in the modern world, even if she searched tirelessly. As for material needs, in this fair prehistoric era, as long as they worked hard, things would only improve day by day.
The morning air was still chilly. Watching Xi Yi’s steady breathing under her makeshift skirt, she worried for him and quietly draped the animal hide she had been wearing over him.
Xi Yi was too exhausted to stir even as she covered him. She remembered how lightly he used to sleep, startling at the slightest noise. Now, he didn’t even twitch an eyelid—whether from sheer exhaustion or because his trust in her had reached its peak, she couldn’t say.
Either way, her heart was content. After gazing at him for a long while, she turned to return to the fire—only to spot, beneath the vines near the scattered round leaves, several mushroom-like fungi.
Thrilled at the sight of the long-missed fungi, Sha Yi hurried over and pushed aside the hanging vines.
The clusters beneath indeed resembled shiitake mushrooms, though much larger—each cap nearly the size of her palm. Their deep brown color blended into the dense growth hidden beneath the vines. Had she not stumbled upon them, she doubted she would have noticed them at all.
The mushrooms were soft to the touch, smooth and cool. Unable to resist, Sha Yi plucked one—but hesitated immediately. No matter how similar they looked, they were still different from modern shiitakes. Moreover, this was the prehistoric era; she couldn’t be certain they were edible. If they were poisonous, one bite could cost her life.
Torn, she deliberated for a while before concluding they were likely safe. Their dull color and unblemished caps suggested they weren’t toxic—poisonous mushrooms were usually brightly colored or spotted. Plus, their growing environment, though shaded by vines, was clean and undisturbed.
Deciding to take the risk, she gathered some, washed them by the lake, and returned to toss them into the pot, lifting the covering leaf.
Just then, Xi Yi woke up. Seeing the mushrooms in the pot, he sprang to his feet, yanked the leaf aside, and shook his head at her, frowning deeply as he pointed at the boiling water.
Sha Yi understood—he disapproved, perhaps even feared them. She guessed his tribe or he himself had witnessed deaths from poisonous mushrooms, hence his strong reaction.
Xi Yi, acting on instinct, would rather discard anything uncertain than take risks. But she was determined to try, convinced in her gut that the mushrooms were safe.
Before she could act, Xi Yi snatched the pot, ready to dump its contents.
Stunned by his speed, Sha Yi only reacted when a third of the broth and mushrooms were already gone. Frantic, she grabbed for the pot—only to yelp in pain from the scalding metal.
This time, Xi Yi abandoned the mushrooms entirely, dropping the pot to seize her hands, his face etched with worry.
Sha Yi was amused and deeply touched, especially as he gently rubbed her hands between his. But instead of basking in his concern, she swiftly tore off a piece of half-cooked mushroom and popped it into her mouth.
Xi Yi saw the move but couldn’t stop her. For a long moment, he froze—then grabbed her shoulders, shouting in panic and fury:
**”Sha Yi!”**
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