Chapter 22: Misunderstanding Resolved

Her uneasiness didn’t last long before Xi Yi turned around again.

He still looked somewhat downcast, but no longer despondent. As if he had made up his mind, he shoved the animal hide she had handed him back into her grasp with an unyielding attitude.

Sha Yi was stunned.

Was he planning to force himself on her? If mutual consent couldn’t be achieved, would he resort to brute force?

As it turned out, she wasn’t wrong—Xi Yi meant exactly that.

Not only did he shove the hide back at her, but he also roughly and forcefully pulled her into his arms, enunciating each word clearly: “Kente Lunla!” (【Kente Lunla】: Do not leave me.)

The old phrase had been altered slightly in pronunciation. She couldn’t discern the exact difference, but judging by his tone, the modified version seemed far more commanding. If “Kenku Lunla” still carried a hint of negotiation, then “Kente Lunla” was undoubtedly an imperative—absolute and non-negotiable!

Did prehistoric men actually understand the concept of “first courtesy, then force”?

Sha Yi inwardly scoffed, though she couldn’t help but feel annoyed. With the language barrier, if he kept interpreting her actions solely through his own perspective, their relationship would become endlessly tangled…

But he remained oblivious, taking her silence as a form of rejection. With a slight lift of his muscular arm, he unceremoniously tossed her over his shoulder and strode toward the roasting meat.

At that moment, Sha Yi was furious—not for any other reason than Xi Yi’s sheer domineering attitude. How had she failed to notice just how barbaric he could be before?

Though she didn’t dislike him or reject him, his sudden brutishness made her increasingly resentful. Sha Yi began flailing her limbs, trying to disrupt Xi Yi’s movement.

But her efforts barely fazed him. No matter how much she struggled, he endured it effortlessly.

So even as she punched and kicked, he walked steadily onward.

Meanwhile, she squirmed like a hyperactive child, determined to make things difficult for him. Unfortunately, the only result was her stomach aching from being pressed against his shoulder.

She was the one causing trouble, and she was the one suffering for it. In the end, all her struggling only hurt herself.

At this realization, Sha Yi’s anger flared. Gritting her teeth, she smacked Xi Yi’s back hard.

The effect was immediate. The moment her palm landed, Xi Yi grunted and shuddered, stumbling several steps before nearly losing his balance.

In that instant, she felt her body sliding downward with his lurch. She tried to grab hold of him but was too slow. Instead, he reflexively tightened his grip on her, pressing her firmly against his shoulder before freeing his other hand to brace against the ground, steadying them both.

She didn’t fall after all.

At that moment, Sha Yi’s emotions were a tangled mess.

Even with such a severe misunderstanding, even if he had used the most unreasonable method, his care and concern for her were still genuine.

Seeing the already serious wounds on his back now oozing fresh blood from her slap, a pang of guilt rose in her heart, and her eyes grew misty.

Had she been too harsh on him?

From their first meeting until now, he had been the one saving and taking care of her. Even if he had ulterior motives, his feelings for her had always been sincere. He was willing to risk everything for her—so why was she nitpicking his roughness? That was simply the untamed nature of prehistoric men, just as she herself couldn’t completely shed the so-called civilized manners of the modern world.

They should both strive to understand each other rather than measuring one another by their own standards. After all, they came from entirely different eras and cultures—conflicts were inevitable. But if he could yield to her and try to please her, why couldn’t she be a little more forgiving toward him?

Sha Yi sniffled, only to feel Xi Yi’s body stiffen beneath her. He seemed to mistake her sniffles for tears—whenever she cried, he always panicked, utterly at a loss.

Thinking of Xi Yi’s often clueless expressions, Sha Yi couldn’t help but smile slightly. Softly, she called his name: “Xi Yi.”

Hearing her voice, he froze again, his grip tightening slightly around her, as if afraid she might slip away.

Sha Yi chuckled, reaching up to clasp the large hand pressing against her back. She wriggled slightly, signaling that she wanted to be let down.

Xi Yi understood her meaning, but he hesitated, his hand lingering at her waist, unwilling to release her.

Sha Yi sighed at his wariness, but at this point, pleading was her only option. She figured that if she softened her tone, her chances of success would be much higher.

After a moment’s thought, she spoke again: “Xi Yi…”

This time, she called his name with a deliberately nasal tone, dragging out the syllables until his name sounded unbearably sweet.

At this, Xi Yi tensed completely. Slowly, he straightened, hesitating for a long moment before finally bending to lower her from his shoulder.

Yet even after her feet touched the ground, her wrist remained firmly in his grasp. His grip fluctuated between tight and loose, as if torn between fearing she’d run and worrying he might hurt her.

Sha Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Lifting the hand he held, she pointed at his fingers, signaling for him to let go.

Xi Yi shook his head firmly, making his refusal clear.

Faced with his possessiveness and suspicion, Sha Yi felt both a faint sweetness and a sense of injustice. She wanted to explain but couldn’t—a frustrating contradiction.

In her hand, her silk miniskirt was nearly dry, but with one wrist trapped, she couldn’t put it on. She could only sigh in resignation. The cotton nightgown and the hide Xi Yi had given her, due to their thicker material, were still damp.

Now that he was holding her hand, carrying both dry and wet clothes was inconvenient, so she tossed the hide back to him.

His expression darkened instantly, his eyes widening as if facing a dire threat. Ignoring his reaction, she then threw the unfolded cotton nightgown at him before draping the now-dry silk skirt over his shoulder.

This time, Xi Yi’s expression shifted completely. He stared at the garments in stunned silence before turning to her with sudden understanding—his face filled with remorse. But the guilt didn’t last long, soon replaced by unconcealed joy.

He must have realized that her earlier return of the hide hadn’t been a rejection after all.

Still, he remained cautious. No matter how happy he was, he cupped her face and asked solemnly for confirmation: “Kenku Lunla, Kena?” (【Kenku Lunla】: Don’t leave me; 【Kena】: When used as a suffix, it means “Can you? Can you promise?”)

Gazing up into his deep brown eyes, Sha Yi thought for a moment before smiling. She tapped his nose with her fingertip and nodded, repeating: “Kena, Kenku Lunla.” (【Kena】: When used as a prefix, it’s an affirmative response; 【Kenku Lunla】: Don’t leave me.)

Sha Yi wasn’t entirely sure if this was the correct response, but judging by Xi Yi’s reaction, it seemed to be the perfect affirmation.

Now, he was practically ecstatic. Releasing her wrist, he swept her up and spun her around several times, chanting repeatedly: “Lana Ai… Lana Ai…” (【Lana Ai】: You (your promise) are good.)

—

**Author’s Note:**

**Translator’s Notes:**

【Kente Lunla】: Do not leave me (imperative).

【Kena】: As a suffix—Can you? Can you promise? As a prefix—Yes, I can.

【Lana Ai】: You (your promise) are good.

【Kenku Lunla】: Don’t leave me (softer, with room for negotiation).