Su Qinglan soon fell into a deep sleep, her breathing soft and even, and Han Jue did not rush to rest; instead, he quietly heated the water in a simple stone bowl and carefully wiped her body clean patiently and slowly, afraid to wake her up.
After that, he wrapped her in his own large cloth, which easily covered her small body completely, and once he was sure she was dry and warm, he sat beside her for a long moment, watching her sleep peacefully.
Han Jue thought about holding her and sleeping there for a while, but just as he relaxed, he heard a faint sound near the cave entrance and instantly looked up, his body tense until he saw Hu Yan Hu Yan standing there.
Han Jue raised a finger to his lips, signaling silence, and only then did his expression calm, releasing a quiet breath, while Hu Yan looked at him without speaking and slowly stepped inside the cave.
"She just fell asleep," Han Jue whispered with slight guilt in his voice, glancing down at Su Qinglan, and Hu Yan only hummed softly, showing he understood without asking anything more.
Hu Yan then placed a bundle beside them, which contained clean clothes for her, and Han Jue gently helped Su Qinglan change while she only hummed once in her sleep and leaned closer to him, too tired to even open her eyes.
After she was covered properly, both men agreed to take her back home, knowing the cave was not as comfortable, and Han Jue carefully put her raincoat back on and lifted her into his arms without causing her any discomfort.
She rested her head against his chest naturally, sleeping soundly, and the three of them began walking back to the tribe under the quiet night, the path calm and undisturbed.
While walking, Hu Yan spoke in a low voice, warning him, "Be careful of Rong Ye, he is going mad, and I barely stopped him from coming here; otherwise, things would have turned ugly."
Han Jue only rolled his eyes slightly and nodded, his voice deep as he hummed calmly, already knowing Rong Ye’s nature, because even after reaching adulthood, that man was still like a troublesome child who loved throwing tantrums.
Both of them understood Rong Ye well enough to not take his behavior seriously, and as they continued their peaceful journey home, Han Jue held Su Qinglan closer, fully focused on keeping her safe and asleep.
***
Su Qinglan slept for a very long time, the kind of deep, heavy sleep that wrapped around her body like warm water, pulling her down until even dreams faded away, leaving only slow breathing and complete stillness.
When she finally woke up, sunlight was already filtering softly through the wooden window gaps, painting pale lines across the floor, and she slowly sat up, blinking in confusion as she realized the night had already passed and it was the next day.
Her body felt strange, not painful, just heavy and slow, as if she had been pulled back from very far away, and when she turned her head, she saw Han Jue sitting beside her quietly, his broad back relaxed as he focused on mending clothes with careful hands.
He was stitching something small and soft, clearly meant for her, using simple tools, his movements steady and patient, his expression calm, like he had been sitting there for a long time just watching over her sleep.
Su Qinglan opened her mouth, her voice barely a whisper, wanting to greet him, wanting to say good morning, but before any words could leave her lips, a loud and panicked voice suddenly echoed from outside.
"Hu Yan! Hu Yan, please help me!" The voice shouted; it was rough and shaking, filled with fear that could not be hidden no matter how strong the speaker tried to sound.
Su Qinglan froze instantly, her heart skipping hard, because she recognized that voice immediately, and before her mind could even catch up, her body already knew something was wrong.
"That voice..." she whispered, her eyes widening, "It’s Bai Ling’s bear husband."
Before Han Jue could respond, the voice outside continued, almost breaking as it spoke again, "My female is in pain; she has gone into labor. Please call someone. Please call the female Su Qinglan; she needs help now."
Even though the words were spoken outside the house, Su Qinglan heard every single one clearly, as if they were shouted directly into her chest, and her heart slammed painfully against her ribs.
Without thinking, she threw off the cloth covering her and stood up too fast, dizziness washing over her for a brief second, but panic pushed her forward, and she moved toward the door.
Han Jue immediately stood up as well, reaching out to steady her, and the two of them exchanged one quick look, both already understanding the seriousness of the situation without needing to say anything.
They stepped outside together, and there, standing near Hu Yan with a desperate expression, was Bai Ling’s bear husband, his usually strong body tense and trembling, his eyes red and wild with fear.
When he noticed Su Qinglan, his eyes lit up with a mix of relief and desperation, and he stepped forward quickly, his voice lowering but shaking even more.
"My female is in so much pain," he said urgently. "I think the babies are coming. We already called Grandma Lin, but Bai Ling keeps calling your name. Please, can you come?"
Su Qinglan nodded immediately, her heart aching so badly it felt like it might tear apart, and she was just about to rush forward when Han Jue gently but firmly pulled her back.
"Yes, go," Han Jue said calmly to the bear husband, his voice steady despite the urgency. "We will come right after."
Then, without giving Su Qinglan a chance to protest, he turned her back toward the room, his hands warm and careful as he guided her inside again without giving her any chance to refuse.