Chapter 35
W-what did the little female just say?
She—she was going to bathe him?
Had he heard that right?
Sal squirmed shyly, struggling lightly. No—no, you can’t bathe me!
Nina held him firmly so he couldn’t escape. “Be good, Little Flower. We’re going to be a clean, well-behaved kitty. Regular baths are a must. Look at you—you’ve been running around outside all this time and never washed p>
Nina knew some cats disliked baths and assumed he was simply resisting because of that.
Sal kept struggling. I bathe all the time. I’m very clean!
“Be good,” Nina coaxed, half sweet, half threatening. “If you behave and take your bath nicely, your owner will hold you while we sleep tonight. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep sleeping with Mino p>
Sal froze.
This… is very tempting.
Fine—he’d bathe.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t touched him before.
Nina carried the suddenly obedient “kitty” to the next room, had Mino bring over a basin of water and set it on the stand, then placed the “kitty” into it.
She wetted his fur with her hands, took out some bath soap, lathered it up, and began scrubbing him.
Sal felt a pair of soft, gentle hands rubbing over his body—not just his nape and back, but also his limbs, chest, and belly p>
His whole body went tingly and numb, heat creeping up as his strength seemed to melt away.
Then those tender hands accidentally brushed that spot.
Sal stiffened instantly, his body trembling.
S-she—she touched him there.
W-waaah… he was completely tainted now.
His ears burned as he buried his head in embarrassment.
Seeing his reaction, Nina found it hilarious. Teasingly, she said, “Oh? Is Little Flower feeling shy? Ah! Did your owner accidentally touch your ’little bell p>
She lifted him slightly and took a look, then laughed. “So you’re a little male cub after all p>
Hearing that—and seeing her look there—Sal nearly turned into a pink leopard.
How could this little female be so shameless? How could she look there?
He wriggled again, curling his hind legs and wrapping his tail over himself to cover up. Don’t look anymore.
Seeing how shy he was, Nina stopped teasing him. Smiling, she set him back into the stone basin and continued washing him. “Alright, alright—your owner won’t look anymore p>
Mino watched from the side, green with envy, angrily gouging at the stone wall. This stupid “cat cub” had it way too good—Nina was actually bathing him.
Waaah… he wanted to be a cub too. He wanted Nina to bathe him as well p>
After the bath, Nina gently dried his fur with beast hide, placed him on the bed, and went to wash up herself.
She returned in her sleepwear, picked up the freshly bathed, sweet-smelling “kitty,” and launched into an enthusiastic cat-petting session.
Haha—now that his injuries were healed, she could pet him as much as she liked!
Sal resisted a little at first. Some of the places Nina petted were… a bit much for him. But resistance was futile. Red-faced, he eventually gave in, spreading himself out to be petted—and even leaning in on his own.
He felt like he was floating.
How could this feel so good p>
And then Nina kissed him several times.
Sal shyly buried his head against her chest.
Only after she’d thoroughly enjoyed herself did Nina prepare to sleep. She kissed Little Flower’s forehead again, hugged him close, and said, “Alright, Little Flower—time to sleep p>
She closed her eyes happily.
Once Nina had fallen sound asleep, Sal slowly lifted his head and gazed at her without blinking. A tender, inexperienced affection welled up in his eyes.
Little female… you’ve touched me everywhere and kissed me all over. From now on, I’m your leopard. You’re not allowed to be a heartless female and abandon me.
He leaned in and gently licked Nina’s cheek, then bashfully burrowed into his favorite spot and fell into a sweet sleep.
The next day, Nina was outside playing with Little Flower when three females arrived with several of their beast husbands. Seeing Nina, they came over to greet her.
“Hello, Nina. My name is Leah. We met yesterday—I came especially to play with you today,” said Leah, a sweet-looking female, smiling warmly.
“Hello, I’m Bibi. I’d like to be friends with you,” said Bibi, who had a more heroic, straightforward look and an equally friendly smile.
“I’m Minnie. I want to play with you too,” said Minnie, petite and lively.
Nina recognized them—three of the females who had been around her yesterday.
Since they came with goodwill, she naturally welcomed them. “Hello. You’re welcome to come play at my place p>
“Where did this wild beast cub come from? Why does it keep following you?” Leah asked curiously. She had noticed it by Nina’s side yesterday too.
“I rescued it from the mountains when I went out once. I liked it, so I kept it,” Nina explained.
“Kept it?” Minnie asked. “Are you raising it to slaughter and eat later p>
Sal shot Minnie a cold look.
What’s wrong with this female? I’m the little female’s future mate, not food.
Though… if the little female wanted to eat him, that might be fine too—just a different way of eating.
Colorful images flooded Sal’s mind.
He turned his head away slightly, cheeks warming.
“No,” Nina said quickly. “It’s just cute, so I wanted to keep it as a companion. Not to eat. When it grows up, if it wants to return to the forest, I’ll let it go p>
“You’re going to let it go? Once it grows up and isn’t cute or fun anymore, wouldn’t it be better to just eat it? Letting it go is such a waste,” Minnie said, eyeing Sal like a dish.
Nina pulled Sal a little closer to herself and coughed lightly. “I don’t like eating cats p>
Well—in the beast world, wild beasts were food. There wasn’t really a concept of keeping pets.
“So it’s a cat cub? I thought it was a little leopard! But it is pretty cute,” Leah said, reaching out to pet Little Flower.
Sal immediately dodged away and bared his teeth at her. As if you’re allowed to touch me.
“Nina, why won’t your cat cub let me pet it?” Leah pouted. “It even snarled at me p>
“Maybe it’s shy because it doesn’t know you yet,” Nina said, pulling Little Flower back and rubbing his nape. “It wouldn’t let me touch it at first either p>
Only after tempting him with food did he allow it.
She pinched his little “cat face” and laughed softly. “You little glutton p>