Chapter 26: Whimsical Fancies

The night was beautiful, with a silver moon hanging high in the sky, surrounded by stars that shimmered like a vast, sparkling galaxy.

In the post-apocalyptic world, air pollution had been so severe that the sky was perpetually gray, making stars and such breathtaking night views a long-lost memory. Su Xiyue soon arrived at the tribal plaza.

A bonfire crackled in the center of the square, its flickering flames illuminating the surroundings. The men, women, and children of the tribe sat in small groups, eating roasted meat, laughing, and chatting about various trivialities. The young beastmen and females danced around the fire, their movements enthusiastic and untamed, filling the air with a joyful atmosphere.

A few young beastmen were playing nearby, but upon seeing her, they scurried away in fright, as if she were some kind of terrifying beast. However, a few others peeked at her with curious eyes, clearly having noticed her changes and heard rumors of her awakening a special ability.

She paid them no mind, intending to forage for some suitable bones to boil into soup. Suddenly, a piece of fragrant roasted meat was held out before her.

Su Xiyue looked up to see Bai Qi standing there. His features were so androgynous and stunningly beautiful that it was almost excessive. He was the one offering the meat.

"Take it." Bai Qi's voice was flat, yet slightly gentler than before.

"Thank you." With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she didn't refuse, reaching out to accept the meat.

Just then, Yeling, sitting not far away, fixed his gaze on them. His silver eyes shimmered with a captivating luster under the glow of the fire. Watching Su Xiyue with a look that was neither a smile nor a frown, he taunted, "I recall someone promising me they would lose fifty pounds in a month. If you eat a chunk of meat that large, do you really think you'll be able to shed that fat?"

Su Xiyue’s hand paused at his words, and the smile on her face dimmed slightly. This insufferable man was everywhere.

She cast a faint glance at Yeling, but instead of engaging in their usual bickering, she smiled brightly at Bai Qi and accepted the meat. "Thank you."

Bai Qi gave her a profound look and a slight nod, saying nothing more, before turning to return to his original spot.

Watching Bai Qi walk away, she flicked a glance at Yeling and deliberately took a bite of the meat right in front of him. She chewed with exaggerated flair, shaking her head while savoring it. "Bai Qi’s cooking is truly excellent. The meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, it’s just delicious..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a piercingly cold gaze land on her. Su Xiyue didn't need to look up to know who it was; who else could it be but that annoying man, Yeling?

Feigning ignorance, she took another massive bite, letting the grease coat her lips and deliberately making loud smacking sounds.

The meat was indeed quite tasty; seasoned with salt and herbs, it was far superior to the cold, hard scraps she had eaten in the cave earlier. However, her exaggerated performance was merely to provoke Yeling. She wanted to test if this man had a masochistic streak, which would help her determine the best strategy to win him over.

Yeling watched her display, his thin lips pressed into a tight line, his gaze as cold as ice. *This fat woman is truly asking for trouble.* He scoffed inwardly, but held his temper, turning his gaze away to continue eating his own meat with a detached expression, all while secretly plotting how to deal with her.

Seeing his lack of reaction, Su Xiyue pouted, feeling a bit bored. The man’s self-control had improved; he hadn't even blown a fuse.

"System, has the favorability rating changed?" she asked internally.

The system replied promptly, "Yes, it increased by 5 points. The favorability is now -55. Keep up the good work, host."

She paused, casting a glance at Yeling, who sat alone eating in his cold, aloof manner. Suddenly, it clicked: this man was the classic type who rejected those who threw themselves at him, but the more you ignored him, teased him, or opposed him, the more he became intrigued. In short, he was a glutton for punishment.

In truth, most men were like that deep down. They didn't value what was handed to them on a platter; they only craved what they couldn't have.

Su Xiyue’s lips curled into a faint smile. She decided to provoke him more often; perhaps it would help farm some favorability. Of course, she would have to be careful—she couldn't let the hard-won reduction in his hatred spike back up.

In a corner of the plaza, Mo Lin sat in the shadows where the firelight couldn't reach. He held a piece of roasted meat, eating it slowly and elegantly. His eyes rested on Su Xiyue, and as he watched her provoke Yeling, his lips curved slightly. He seemed to be in a good mood; she was becoming increasingly interesting.

He glanced at a piece of saber-toothed tiger meat nearby, intending to send it over to her. But then, recalling Yeling’s remark about her losing fifty pounds in a month, he quietly abandoned the idea. She had already eaten the meat from Bai Qi, so she wouldn't starve if he didn't provide any.

Bai Qi remained indifferent. He had given Su Xiyue the meat only because she was his nominal partner. Even if he disliked her, he would still fulfill his obligations. Furthermore, her performance today had truly impressed him, and he was curious to see what else she might do. As for the bold claim of losing fifty pounds in a month, he didn't take it seriously. Losing fifty pounds in a month? How could that be possible?

Qing Zhu sat among the crowd, looking at Su Xiyue with cold disdain. He was a callous and detached person who despised such petty, manipulative behavior, finding it incredibly childish. With a body as fat as a sow, he couldn't fathom where she found the confidence to believe she could lose fifty pounds in a month. It was sheer fantasy.

Xuan Ming sat not far away, his deep gaze fixed on Su Xiyue. For some reason, watching her deliberately provoke Yeling felt highly entertaining. He even felt a flicker of anticipation—hoping she would push Yeling even further, ideally making that bastard lose his cool entirely. He thought this with a wicked, playful smile.

Su Xiyue was naturally aware of the several gazes fixed upon her, but she paid them no mind. She walked to a corner where a pile of bones—discarded by the other beastmen and picked clean of meat—lay. She selected two leg bones that looked decent, and having no container, she simply cradled them in her arms.

She noticed a pile of animal organs on the ground, which none of the beastmen wanted. Organs were a delicacy—the liver, heart, and lungs were all edible. Especially the large intestines; stir-fried with chili and garlic, they were incredibly fragrant. There were no chilies here, but if prepared correctly, they shouldn't taste half bad. It was a pity the tribal beastmen didn't know how to process them and viewed organs as dirty, tossing them all away.

She picked out a few organs that looked like they came from a wild boar, along with a set of intestines, intending to take them back to stir-fry tomorrow.

Feeling quite pleased, she was about to leave with her haul when a mocking voice reached her ears. "Su Xiyue, what are you doing clutching a pile of bones and disgusting trash? Don't tell me you're planning to eat that?"

Su Xiyue turned to see Mia walking toward her, looking at her with a sneer. She cast a glance at her, knowing she was looking for trouble, and a cold glint flickered in her eyes. However, she couldn't be bothered to engage and simply turned to walk away.