Beast World: From Villainess to Cub-Raising Chef

Chapter 161: Chapter 160: Just Call Me Dad

Li Chenlin saw that she was truly full of life. Her complexion was much better than before, she was more cheerful and talkative, and her eyes shone brightly. The weight in his heart finally began to lift.

It was just that he had just emerged from the bloody slaughter within the Southern Country Royal Family and hadn’t had a chance to recover. When he saw the news, he had assumed Bai Su and the Lanton Family had teamed up to use his mother as a publicity stunt, which was why he had flown into a momentary rage.

Seeing he had calmed down, Hua Hua put on a stern face and chided, "Cub, that was rude. Mommy doesn’t like you anymore."

Seeing his mother so full of life, Li Chenlin’s eyes reddened. He pulled her into a tight embrace again. "Mother..."

"Mother, I’m sorry."

’What right did I have to be so harsh with Bai Su?’

’Bai Su took better care of Mother for one month than I have in decades.’

Hua Hua sensed his dejection, and her stern expression instantly gave way to panic.

’I just wanted to scare my cub a little, to tell him not to be so rude to Susu. Susu is a good girl!’

At a loss, she patted his back. "Don’t cry, Cub. Mommy was wrong. Mommy likes you, of course I do. Mommy will always like my cub."

Hearing his mother’s gentle reassurances, Li Chenlin’s eyes reddened further. "I’m sorry... I’m sorry... It’s my fault I didn’t take good care of you. I made you suffer for so many years. I thought..."

He thought Li Fengjue truly loved his mother and would take good care of her.

He never imagined he was just sending her into the lion’s den, that he was the one who caused her harm.

Hua Hua heard the sob in his voice and was instantly at a loss. "Don’t cry, Cub! Mommy’s okay. Mommy is having a very good time at Susu’s place."

"Susu is so nice to me. She makes my favorite sweet and sour pork ribs. They’re so perfectly sweet and sour."

"She even lets me sleep in a super-soft little bed."

"I don’t know how to write, but Susu is teaching me how to read. She even lets me watch cartoons for an hour every day."

"Susu’s cubs are really nice too. When a servant in the house secretly bullied me, the little cubs would punish them and kick them out."

"I’m so, so happy. I’ve never been this happy before. So, you see, Cub, you don’t have to blame yourself. Mommy is perfectly okay."

Hearing this, Li Chenlin broke down even further, overwhelmed by the joy of having her back and the intense guilt that came with it.

He couldn’t help but sob out loud. "I’m sorry... It’s all my fault. I was too domineering, too arrogant, and it ended up hurting you..."

’His mother should have enjoyed a much better life, but because of me, she suffered needlessly for so many years.’

Hua Hua gently hugged him, clumsily but sincerely comforting him. "It’s okay, Cub. It’s because Mommy is a dummy that my cub has to be a little bossy and decide everything for me."

"It’s not your fault. You’ve already done a very good job."

"You’re a very good boy."

After a long moment, Li Chenlin finally got his emotions under control and composed himself. "Let’s go, Mother. I’ll take you home."

’He had already purged the Southern Country Royal Family.’

’Since those idiots dared to lay a hand on his mother, they should have known the consequences.’

’He had swept through the entire Southern Country Imperial Palace, shattering and rebuilding the power structure with lightning speed, all to create a safer and more comfortable home for his mother.’

Hearing this, a panicked look crossed Hua Hua’s face. "Cub... aren’t we going back to find Susu?"

Li Chenlin fell silent for a moment. "I don’t think we should..."

Hua Hua looked sad. "But Susu is so nice. I want to stay with her."

A bitter taste filled Li Chenlin’s throat. "She probably doesn’t want to see us now."

’Even if she didn’t know Hua Hua was my mother before, she knows now.’

’Bai Su despises me so much. She would never want to take in my mother.’

Hua Hua tugged on the corner of his sleeve. "Cub, I saw you and Susu fighting on TV. You made her angry."

"Go and apologize to Susu, okay? Susu is a good girl. She’ll forgive you."

’That way, I can go back and stay with Susu!’

Li Chenlin’s lips twisted into a bitter smile.

’He knew the "TV" she was talking about must have been the cruise ship surveillance footage that Li Fengjue had stolen to monitor him.’

’She must have seen clips of me and Bai Su on the ship, which is why she wanted to help me win Bai Su back before she died, right?’

’Mother isn’t in her right mind, and the Southern Country and Snow Country are so far apart.’

’He couldn’t even imagine how she had stumbled all the way from the Southern Country to the Snow Country and managed to find Bai Su.’

He was filled with both heartache and sorrow. "Mother, just forget it... She will never like me."

Hua Hua didn’t understand. "Why? Susu is a good girl, and you’re a good boy. Why wouldn’t she like you?"

Li Chenlin didn’t know how to explain the world of adult relationships to his mother.

In fact, even he didn’t know why Bai Su detested him so much.

’Even though I’ve done so much for her, wholeheartedly wanting to protect her and do what’s best for her.’

’Perhaps it’s just because I’m a Snake Beastman.’

’Bai Su... she doesn’t like snakes. She even loathes them.’

’I can feel it.’

’Some people are born hating snakes, others are born hating reptiles. No matter how hard I try, I can’t change that fact.’

With a bitter expression, Li Chenlin pulled her toward the car. "Let’s go. I’ll take you home first..."

Hua Hua was reluctant. "Cub... please go back and apologize to Susu first. Susu, she..."

"Enough!" Li Chenlin’s eyes blazed scarlet. "She doesn’t like me! And she never will! She was only nice to you because she didn’t know you were my mother! Now that she knows, she’ll hate you too! Don’t you dare mention her again!"

"Besides, didn’t you see all those males surrounding her? She’s a Level 8 Female and a Federation Duke now! All she has to do is crook her finger, and countless males will show up on her doorstep for her to choose from, just like they did moments ago!"

"So what am I to her?!"

His uncontrolled tone was laced with hurt and despair, his anguish clear for anyone to hear.

Hua Hua stared at him, stunned. Her eyes grew redder and redder, and tears began to fall like beads from a broken string.

Finally, her mouth crumpled, and she burst out with a loud "WAAAAH!" "Bad Cub! You’re a liar! I want Susu..."

Li Chenlin’s eyes were bloodshot, his body rigid. A bitter taste flooded his mouth.

"Tsk... Sigh."

A sigh came from nearby.

Li Chenlin instantly grew wary, unleashing a wave of aggressive spiritual power. "Who’s there?"

Lu Tingyan emerged from behind a tree, nonchalantly regarding Li Chenlin. "It’s me."

He looked over at Hua Hua, his sharp gaze softening slightly. "Auntie Hua Hua, come to me."

With a wail, Hua Hua threw herself into his arms, sobbing her heart out like a bullied child.

Li Chenlin’s expression turned frigid. "Give my mother back!"

Lu Tingyan said, "Can’t you see she’s crying?"

Li Chenlin glared at him, displeased. "This is between my mother and me. It has nothing to do with you."

Lu Tingyan’s lips curved. "Pardon me, but I accepted a gift from Auntie. Anyone who bullies her has to answer to me."

Li Chenlin gritted his teeth. "Lu Tingyan, what the hell are you trying to do?"

Lu Tingyan crossed his arms, looking completely at ease. "Help you."

As if he’d misheard, a mocking expression crossed Li Chenlin’s face. "You’d be that kind?"

Lu Tingyan simply stared at him. "Give me one month. I can help you. Want to give it a shot?"

Li Chenlin was silent for a long moment, still suspicious. "What’s your objective?"

Lu Tingyan replied, "There’s no way Susu will only have two Beast Husbands, just me and Yelias. Since she’s bound to have more, I’d rather have a say in who they are."

"Rather than let some outsider push a few duds on her, I’d rather it be you. At the very least, I approve of your combat strength."

Li Chenlin stared at him, the suspicion in his eyes gradually fading. "Fine. I’ll trust you this once. If you can really help me, I’ll acknowledge you as my big brother."

Lu Tingyan smiled. "No need. Just call me ’Dad’."