Chapter 21: Hang Him Up to Dry
“Ahhh!” Yuan You’er shrieked.
At that moment, a fierce wind swept through.
No one noticed when Chi Qian had darted in front of the bear, blocking its path to the fallen Yuan You’er, and grabbed hold of that massive furry paw.
The paw was about to come crashing down.
“Chi Qian!” Chi Fengxiao’s face drained of color. He rushed forward without thinking.
[Aaaah, why is Chi Qian trying to play hero?! Is she offering herself up as a snack?!]
[And Yuan Yaya! How shameless can you be, shoving a kid out like that!]
Amidst the screams, something unbelievable happened—
The black bear scooped Chi Qian up into its arms, like a human cradling a baby, then lifted her onto its back as if ready to carry her away.
“No way, put me down.” Chi Qian tugged at its ear. “I’m not your cub, you’ve got the wrong bear!”
Everyone: !!!
That was a real bear! Not a giant teddy bear!
And she dared to pull its ears?!
Yet the bear didn’t get angry. Its dark eyes fixed on Chi Qian, sniffing her all over.
Hmm… not quite the scent of its cub.
But why did it really, really want to bring her home?
Chi Fengxiao’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest as he crept closer, planning to snatch her back.
But before he could act, the black bear gently set Chi Qian down, reluctant, glancing back at her over and over before disappearing into the forest.
[Wha… what the hell…]
[Did that bear just mistake little Qian for its baby? The way it hugged her looked like my mom carrying me…]
[That’s supposed to be the fiercest animal in the wild, but it turned into a live-action teddy bear in front of her!]
[Forget calling her little Qian. From now on it’s sister Qian—she’s badass!]
Chi Fengxiao strode over and grabbed Chi Qian by the shoulders. “Are you hurt anywhere? Did it bite you?”
“Third Uncle, you were worried about me, huh?” Chi Qian’s eyes curved as she smiled.
Hadn’t he just been acting like he couldn’t stand her before?
And yet here he was, so anxious over her.
Chi Fengxiao’s expression stayed rigid. “I was just worried I’d have to answer to the old man if you got hurt.”
Speaking of which, the old man still didn’t know he had brought Chi Qian onto a variety show.
…Good thing the old man didn’t watch variety shows.
“Wuuuu…” sobbing rose from the ground.
Yuan Yaya was crying so hard she could barely breathe. She tried to hug Yuan You’er, who had narrowly escaped death, only to be shoved away.
“You’er, I didn’t mean it just now, my foot slipped…”
But Yuan You’er, who had actually almost been killed, was glaring, nose red. “Stop pretending! You’re no sister of mine!” She darted behind Chi Qian.
Yuan Yaya immediately cried even harder.
No one else said a word—only Gu Hua went over to comfort her.
[Yuan Yaya’s fake ‘sweet white flower’ persona just collapsed. No way to spin this one.]
[It wasn’t intentional! She already said she slipped! Yaya loves her sister, she’d never hurt her on purpose! Don’t make her out to be so evil!]
[And Yuan You’er is the real brat! She’s been nitpicking Yaya this whole time, acting like a spoiled princess. Having a sister like that is the real misfortune.]
[Yuan-fans… don’t you miss living in the daylight realm?]
Maybe because Chi Qian had saved her, Yuan You’er became glued to her side, following her everywhere.
Meanwhile, Yuan Yaya sat off to the side in a panic, terrified that what had just happened would ruin her reputation. She didn’t even bother putting on her ‘tea art’ act anymore.
“What are you doing? How can you waste food like that!” Shen Jing’s scolding voice suddenly rang out.
Qin An had taken all the bananas the monkey gave Chi Qian, and instead of just eating them himself, he had them dropping all over the ground.
At this rate, the bananas would spoil if they weren’t eaten quickly.
Chi Qian’s heart ached—those were her after-meal fruits!
She rushed over to pick them up, but Qin An deliberately made a face at her.
Chi Qian grabbed the back of his collar, hauled him up the tallest tree in a few steps, and threaded his jacket through a branch.
Now he dangled there, flapping in the wind!
Qin An was so terrified he dropped the banana in his mouth. His hands were stuck, only his legs kicking helplessly, his chubby face pale.
“Help! Bro! Get me down!”
“I’m scared of heights!!!”
Qin Yue came running over, frowning. “Chi Qian, why are you picking fights with a kid? Hurry and put my brother down!”
“Why should I give in to him? We’re all living our first life here.” Chi Qian said coolly. “If you want him down, fine—but first pay me back for the bananas he ruined.”
People who waste food deserve nothing less than being hung up to dry.
Qin Yue glanced at the mess on the ground and knew they were in the wrong. He could only give in.
“I don’t have any bananas. Can I trade something else?”
“Depends on your sincerity.”
Grinding his teeth, Qin Yue pulled out the only box of self-heating hotpot from his backpack. “This is all I’ve got. Will you take it?”
Chi Qian raised a brow. “One hotpot for an entire bunch of bananas? Your abacus must’ve gained sentience, you calculate that well?”
“Then what do you want?!”
“One self-heating hotpot, plus a knife and two containers.”
“That’s extortion! Don’t you have a shred of morality?”
“Morality? Sorry, I only know how to be shameless.” Chi Qian answered without blinking.
Qin Yue’s face turned dark, but with the “hostage” in her hands, he had no choice but to hand everything over.
Chi Qian accepted the goods with a sigh. “Ah, Teacher Qin, you were right after all.”
“Bringing too much food is useless except to stuff yourself, but bringing tools… those always end up becoming someone else’s property sooner or later.”
Qin Yue nearly spat blood.
How could anyone be this infuriating!
The supplies he’d lugged with so much effort were all turned into Chi Qian’s dowry! He even suspected she’d been planning to rob them from the start and was only waiting for an excuse!
Taking a deep breath, he forced a smile. “Qian Qian, I’ve given you everything. Can you put Qin An down now? On his behalf, I apologize for his behavior—please don’t take it to heart.”
“I don’t mind.” Chi Qian leaned lazily against the tree. “Do as you like.”
“…What?”
“You can climb up and bring him down yourself. I never said I’d stop you.”
Qin Yue: “…” Don’t get mad, don’t get mad. My fans will curse her for me.
[HAHAHA this is so satisfying! This is the proper way to handle a brat!]
[I’ve always wanted to hang my little brother on a ceiling fan but never dared. So tempting!]
[Wait WTF—the bushes behind Qian Qian are moving!]
Qin Yue climbed up the tree, passed Qin An down to Shen Jing, and slowly started to descend.
Just then, rustling came from the bushes.
A massive bear head pushed through.
It was that same black bear from earlier!
“Sh*t!!” Qin Yue, halfway down, scrambled right back up and clung to the tree trunk like his life depended on it, face pale with terror.
The other guests fled in panic, but only Yuan You’er tried to pull Chi Qian away with her.
Chi Qian stood still, watching the black bear.
The bear pushed a dripping honeycomb and two freshly caught salmon toward her.
