Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Stealing kisses from Su Qinglan
When Hu Yan returned to the cave, his eyes immediately fell on Su Qinglan.
She was leaning against the cold stone wall in a strange position, her head tilted and her arms loosely resting by her sides. Her face looked pale from exhaustion, and there was a faint trace of tiredness between her brows. It was clear she had fallen asleep.
Hu Yan’s chest tightened. A soft sigh escaped his lips. He walked closer and crouched down beside her. For a moment, he just looked at her calm sleeping face and the faint rise and fall of her chest. Then, without a word, he slipped one arm behind her back and another under her knees, gently lifting her into his arms.
Su Qinglan stirred a little at the movement. Her lashes trembled, and she mumbled something faintly. But when she heard his low, soothing voice near her ear, she relaxed again and sank back into sleep.
Hu Yan held her securely and patted her back lightly. "Sleep, Lan Lan... you’re safe," he whispered softly.
She seemed to hear him because her body melted into his hold, her head resting against his chest as if it was the most comfortable place in the world.
When he turned, Zhao Mu was standing near the cave entrance. The man’s eyes were full of gratitude and worry as he looked at Su Qinglan. Hu Yan met his gaze and gave a small, firm nod. Zhao Mu understood and stepped aside.
Hu Yan carried Su Qinglan out. He walked slowly so his steps wouldn’t jostle her. Every now and then, he glanced down at her peaceful face. Her hair brushed against his arm, soft and slightly damp.
After they reached the cave, Hu Yan placed her carefully on the stone bed and covered her with a thick, warm beast hide.
Su Qinglan frowned the moment she was separated from his warmth. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to complain, and she scrunched up her nose. The small expression made Hu Yan chuckle softly. He reached out and patted her head.
"Alright, alright... I’m not going far," he said gently.
She quieted again, her breathing evening out. Hu Yan sat beside her for a while, just watching her sleep. His expression softened. Her face looked peaceful now, almost glowing in the dim light.
He leaned down and pressed a light kiss on her lips, but just as he pressed them, he once again realized how soft they were, and before he realized it, he pecked them once again, almost wishing to stay like this forever.
But he knew it was not right, so he pulled back and stared at her reluctantly and then planted another peck on her forehead.
"Sleep well, my Lan Lan," he whispered.
After that, he stood up quietly and walked to the stone table. Her basket was sitting there, filled with herbs and other small items she had collected. He stared at it for a long moment, completely lost.
There were too many strange things—roots, leaves, and seeds—and he didn’t know what to do with any of them. In the end, he decided to just leave them there for her.
Hu Yan looked at the meat laid out on the stone table. It was a good piece of prey, fresh and thick, and he decided to cook it for Su Qinglan.
He took the meat and began slicing the meat thinly. Each cut was steady and careful. The soft sound of the sharp claw against the meat echoed quietly in the cave. After he was done, he set the slices aside and turned to the vegetables.
There were a few things he knew: onions, ginger, and rummaging through the basket to take something Su Qinglan had once called garlic.
He took the onions first, peeled them, and chopped them into small pieces. Then he moved to the ginger, cutting it into thin strips just the way he had seen her do before.
When he picked up the garlic, he frowned. He didn’t really know how to handle it. The round bulbs looked strange and too small to cut properly. He stared at them for a while before deciding to just crush them the same way he did with the ginger. Using the flat side of the stone dagger, he pressed them hard until they broke apart, releasing a strong smell.
"It should be fine," he muttered quietly to himself.
Then his eyes fell on the large green leaves Su Qinglan had called wild spinach. He remembered how she said she liked them, especially when they were cooked with meat. So he washed them carefully and decided to add them too.
After following Su Qinglan for so long, Hu Yan had learned a few simple cooking steps. He knew that the food had to go into the pan at different times. He organized everything neatly...the chopped ginger, garlic, onions, spinach, and sliced meat.
When everything was ready, he walked to the outer part of the cave and started a small fire. The crackling sound filled the quiet night. He placed the flat stone pan on top and added a small amount of fat to heat it.
When the fat started to sizzle, he tossed in the chopped onions, ginger, and garlic. A rich, spicy aroma filled the air immediately. He stirred them with a wooden stick until they turned golden and soft.
Then he added the thin slices of meat. The pan hissed loudly, and smoke rose with a mouthwatering smell. Hu Yan stirred the meat quickly, watching it change color and release its juices.
Once the meat turned golden brown, he added the spinach on top. The green leaves wilted fast, mixing beautifully with the meat and the spices. The scent became stronger, warm, and savory.
Hu Yan leaned closer and took a small bite to taste. His eyes widened slightly. It was really good...better than he expected.
A small smile appeared on his face. He stirred it one last time and removed the bigger burning wood so it would stay warm and not get burnt.
"Lan Lan will like this," he said softly, looking back toward the cave where she was still sleeping.