Shen Li grew up with Shen Tang as childhood friends, but he had never seen her reveal her beast form.
Shen Tang had never thought about this issue, and Shen Li’s mention of it felt quite strange.
After carefully recalling the original owner’s memories—
She instantly understood the reason.
Ahem, it’s a bit... inconvenient.
"There’s nothing worth seeing, much worse compared to you." Shen Tang quickly changed the topic, turning her head and seeing a vendor selling river lanterns not far away, so she hurriedly pulled him over to buy two river lanterns.
Shen Li felt a bit regretful but didn’t dwell on it too much.
He took the river lantern, his long fingers gently brushing the artificial petals, but seemed hesitant.
The vendor chuckled, "Your Highnesses, have you ever released river lanterns before? These are crafted by folk artisans according to ancient texts. It’s said that river lanterns are quite effective; as long as you write your wish on the lantern and let it float away with the river, your wish will come true. Would Your Highnesses like to try it?"
Adults all know whether it works or not; it’s just a way to hold onto a beautiful hope, enjoying the process is what’s important.
Shen Tang’s wish was to complete her task and go back; she was about to write down her wish when her eyes fell on Shen Li’s charming, handsome face. Remembering Xiao Jin and the others, her fingers hesitated, unable to write.
Forget it, future matters can wait for the future.
Her long eyelashes drooped slightly, and with her chin resting on the pen, she thought deeply and wrote down a line carefully—
"May people last together, sharing a boat in the Milky Way."
Shen Li’s eyebrows raised slightly, casting a subtle glance at the lantern in her hand.
Shen Tang caught his small move in an instant, and quickly covered the flower lantern tightly, looking up at him, "What did you write? Let me see."
"Haha, the shopkeeper said seeing it would make it not work."
"But you peeked at mine!"
"I didn’t see it clearly."
"..." She was speechless, unable to refute.
Shen Tang turned her head, too lazy to deal with this sneaky fox any further.
She walked to the riverbank, squatted down, and placed the river lantern into the rippling water, letting it float away slowly.
Shen Li looked down at the flower lantern in his hand, seeing the words illuminated by the firelight.
——May you have a lifetime of joy and health, even if it’s unrelated to me.
His eyes darkened slightly, his slender fingertips gently erasing the trace.
He picked up the pen and wrote another four words.
——Together with you.
He walked to Shen Tang’s side and bent down to place the flower lantern into the river.
The two flower lanterns lightly touched, separated, and eventually drifted farther apart, disappearing into the darkness ahead, not knowing where they would go.
The night was very dark, and the number of people by the river gradually dwindled. Jia Lan was anxious at the hotel and called to urge them to come back quickly.
Shen Tang was also a bit sleepy and followed the address he sent to return to the hotel.
Upon returning, Jia Lan caught a whiff of the enchanting fragrance on Shen Tang, stirring his emotions.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he suppressed his romantic thoughts, looking at Shen Li beside him with suspicion, thinking this sneaky fox had taken her to see flowers, but it was autumn now, and the flowers should have almost withered.
Shen Tang glanced around and noticed that Lu Xiao wasn’t there; that pesky leopard was nowhere to be found either.
She called him, but there was no answer.
It was really strange.
Usually, when she called him, he would pick up immediately, could something have happened?
But given Xiao Jin’s capabilities, she didn’t need to worry too much about his safety, maybe he was entangled in other matters, and Shen Tang didn’t take it to heart.
Later that night when she was asleep.
Shen Tang heard some crackling sounds outside, waking her up.
She thought there was a thief in the hotel, so wearing pajamas and slippers, she went out to see Xiao Jin rummaging through the living room cabinets.
He was covered in dust, clothes torn and tattered, and on closer look, there were some blood stains on his chest.
Shen Tang hurriedly swallowed her curse back, quickly walking over and grabbing his arm, "You’re injured!"
Xiao Jin didn’t expect to wake her up, withdrawing his hand behind his back, his ears drooping in an attempt to argue, "I’m fine, you should rest first!"
"Just because the lights are off at night doesn’t mean I’m blind." Shen Tang caught the scent of blood, stood up, and turned on the living room lights, pulling his arm from behind his back for a clearer look.
There were several claw marks on his arm, skin and flesh split open, not life-threatening, but still quite miserable to look at.
"Didn’t I tell you to behave? Who did you go out and fight with?" Shen Tang took a medical kit from her space, used alcohol and cotton swabs to clean the area around the wounds, then used her healing ability to treat him.
"I didn’t, I... I just went out of the city and got hurt in a beast tide..."
Seeing this dog of a man still arguing, Shen Tang was infuriated, pressing hard on the wound with her finger, making him grimace in pain, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, "Gentler, gentler, Tangtang!"
"You know it hurts, so have some sense next time."
Shen Tang finished treating his injuries and was about to get up when Xiao Jin flipped over, pinning her beneath him, sniffing at her neck indulgently, "You smell so good, why?"
His large hand roamed restlessly over her waist, just as he was about to do something, a silver-white snake tail lashed over fiercely!
This time Xiao Jin was smart enough to transform into his beast form, quickly winding with the snake tail, biting it! Using his four paws tightly clinging to the snake tail to avoid being thrown off, leaving several claw marks behind in the process, venting his earlier frustration!
Xue Yinzhou’s forehead throbbed with a blue vein, the snake tail exerting force suddenly, wanting to give this damn leopard a good thrashing!
Shen Tang interrupted with a headache, "Both of you stop, whoever fights again will be out guarding the door!"
Hearing this, the two immediately stopped, letting go of each other.
Xiao Jin gave a snort of grievance; it was clearly this damn snake who struck first.
Xue Yinzhou simply couldn’t stand Xiao Jin, always couldn’t help wanting to smack him a couple of times, otherwise, he’d be too arrogant.
...
Meanwhile, at the Lu Family.
Lu Xiao completed the paperwork at the military headquarters and returned home to his family.
Lu Shen, seeing him reach the Eighth Rank Beastman level and donning that uniform adorned with medals, felt him more outstanding than he was in his youth and was filled with comfort.
No matter how much Lu Shen complains, he couldn’t deny that he prioritized Lu Xiao most.
He was the most outstanding of his children, his eldest son whom he placed great expectations on as the family heir.
Lu Shen said, "Xiao’er, your father called you back this time to discuss something important."
Lu Xiao, "If it’s still about the divorce, there’s no need to say more."
"No, since your heart is set, father also has nothing to say." At first, Lu Shen wasn’t very satisfied with Shen Tang, but after observing these days, he clearly saw the changes in this princess.
If not for Princess Qingli’s prior remarkable presence, she would be a good choice for a marriage alliance.
Most importantly, his son liked her, and he had no more to say about it, counting this marriage as officially acknowledged in his heart.
Lu Shen removed the seal ring from his hand and handed it to him.
Lu Xiao looked at the middle-aged man opposite, who had similar features, with wrinkles etched by time at the corners of his eyes, yet still possessing deep, stern looks, his physique tall and imposing. Wasn’t it a bit early to hand over the family seal to him now?
Leaning against the back of his chair, Lu Xiao didn’t take it, "Father is too hasty."