The evil female is weak and the males of the whole continent are out of control and fall.

Chapter 734 Testing
Bai Wanwan's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly as she gripped the spoon, her heart suddenly trembling as if she had been gently pricked by a very thin icicle.

Why... even these small gestures are so similar?

When Fu Jinshen is pondering difficult problems or feeling complicated, he often makes these unconscious little gestures.

Sometimes it's stroking the cap of a fountain pen, sometimes it's turning a ring that doesn't actually exist on the ring finger, and more often than not, it's like now, gently stroking the rim of a teacup or coffee cup with the thumb.

That was one of the few subtle traces that revealed the turmoil in his heart.

She had seen his profile and gestures like this countless times in the study, the living room, and under the lights of the dining room.

His gaze back then was perhaps like that of Jin Ying now—deep, focused, and with a hint of elusive melancholy, as if isolated from the surrounding hustle and bustle.

so similar!
The expression of being immersed in one's own world, the habitual, subtle gestures used to calm the mind or aid thinking...

If the previous similar expressions could be attributed to a chance overlap in temperament, what about these almost instinctive little gestures?
A chill, mixed with a deeper confusion, crept up her spine.

She quickly looked away, glancing at Jin Yi who was laughing and talking, trying to blend into the jubilation, but her peripheral vision seemed to be fixed on that corner, on that thumb rubbing the rim of the cup.

The laughter and chatter at the dinner table continued, celebrating the tribe's prosperity.

However, a shadow of doubt and suspicion loomed over Bai Wanwan's heart.

She picked up the goat milk cup, using the act of drinking water to cover up her momentary loss of composure. The sweet, warm liquid slid down her throat, but it couldn't dispel the inexplicable chill in her heart.

Who exactly is Ember Shadow?
Was all of this just a ridiculous illusion she had, or something else entirely?
Since that breakfast, Jin Ying has been like a seed that has taken root in Bai Wanwan's heart and has begun to grow uncontrollably.

All the details that she had ignored or forced to explain surged up.

His profile when he was silent, the curve of his furrowed brows, the unfathomable depths of his eyes when he occasionally gazed at her, seemingly carrying the complex emotions of a thousand mountains and rivers, even the subtle preferences in some of his eating habits...

Could he be Fu Jinshen?
Once the thought appeared, it began to creep uncontrollably into her mind.

She was able to travel from modern society to this bizarre beast world and even got bound to a child-rearing system, so why couldn't Fu Jinshen also come to this world?
In another identity, with another appearance?
Over the next few days, Bai Wanwan began a process of observation and probing that bordered on self-torture.

She began to approach Jinying, watching him plant the wildflowers he had dug up by the door. She spoke casually, her tone carrying a hint of reminiscence: "I know a... male. He's really bad at taking care of plants, but he's kept a... precious plant. I wonder if that plant is still alive?"

As she spoke, she gently plucked at the branches and leaves of the wildflowers with her fingertips, her gaze like the finest ruler, measuring every inch of Jin Ying's reaction.

Ember Shadow paused noticeably, seemingly lost in memories.

She continued, "He was so busy that he couldn't even breathe, but he still insisted on taking care of it. As a result, that precious pot either wilted because he forgot to water it, or it rotted from overwatering, or it got too much sun by the window and the leaves fell off one after another. He could never keep it alive and it was always half-dead."

She paused, as if recalling an interesting past event, her voice carrying a deliberately feigned lighthearted laugh, "But the strange thing is, every time he was about to die, he could find a way to save him, and then the cycle would continue... Isn't that interesting?"

As she finished speaking, Jin Ying's knuckles turned slightly white as she gripped the hoe.

Bai Wanwan wanted to get closer to observe him, but felt it would be too deliberate.

But then, Jin Ying suddenly looked up and their eyes met.

"Is he... someone very important to you?"

Bai Wanwan met his gaze and smiled gently, "How could that be? He's just an insignificant person."

Such a beautiful mouth, yet it uttered words that pierced the heart; Fu Jinshen felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart.

He quickly lowered his eyelashes and continued planting flowers with his hoe without making a sound. Even after she had completely finished speaking, he added in a normal tone, "It's quite interesting, they're half-dead, yet they can still be kept alive."

The sound, though rough, remained steady.

But Bai Wanwan caught the subtle pause, and the dazed look in his eyes as he subconsciously looked away, as if struck by an unexpected electric current.

It wasn't a question about an unfamiliar story, but more like the pain and disorientation of having a corner of a long-sealed memory suddenly pried open.

That potted plant... was something she bought on a whim and gave to Fu Jinshen.

It was also the only thing he took from their shared home when he left.

Her heart, with that fleeting moment of distraction, sank abruptly to the bottom of a cold lake.

The last remaining flame was completely extinguished by the icy lake water.

Fu Jinshen's calm demeanor was merely a facade; he was afraid of revealing inappropriate emotions in front of her, so he quickly found an excuse to leave.

Watching his seemingly calm but actually hurried back, Bai Wanwan stood still, her fingertips digging deeply into her palms.

A voice inside her stubbornly struggled, unwilling to accept the answer that was already on the horizon.

But a different, stronger anger and chill, ignited by a sense of deception and absurdity, surged in his chest like a storm.

She wants to try again!

We must test until the truth comes out, we must obtain solid "evidence," even if that evidence will pierce her and draw blood!

The opportunity will come soon.

On a bright and sunny afternoon, it was Xin Feng's turn to look after a bunch of noisy cubs at home, while Jin Ying was in charge of the security of the courtyard and surrounding area for the day.

Bai Wanwan carried a pile of clothes and walked to the designated drying area outside.

Jin Ying stood in the shade of a large tree not far away, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his eyes taking in everything around him to ensure that no potential threat was approaching.

She seemed completely oblivious to his presence, and began hanging the clothes to dry on her own.

Soft animal skin blouses, colorful cloth skirts, and adorable onesies for the cubs...

She unfolded each item, carefully smoothed them out, and hung them on the drying line.

His movements were unhurried, even carrying a deliberate slowing down, as if he were enjoying the afternoon sun in a lazy manner.

After all the clothes were hung out to dry, she did not leave immediately.

Instead, he leaned against a sturdy wooden pillar, tilted his head back slightly, and gazed at the distant, bluish-gray mountain ranges bathed in sunlight, lost in thought.

Sunlight shone on her face, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyelids, making her look somewhat vacant.

After a moment of silence, she softly and intermittently hummed a melody...

(End of this chapter)