Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off

Chapter 589: The Fear of Being Abandoned

After Su Qinglan checked a few more females under the large tree, the crowd finally slowly began dispersing. Many females still looked back at her with complicated and curious gazes while whispering softly among themselves.Some clearly still doubted her, while some had already started believing in her abilities after what had happened with Yue Lian.

Meanwhile, Old Healer Ye looked extremely proud while walking with his hands behind his back as though he himself had become ten years younger because of Su Qinglan’s performance.

"Hmph, did you all see that?" he kept muttering proudly while stroking his beard. "This is this old man’s granddaughter and apprentice. Naturally, she is extraordinary."

Su Qinglan almost laughed helplessly hearing him boast again and again, but she still obediently followed beside him together with Shi Feng.

On the other side, Yue Lian still stood under the large tree quietly after everyone had left.

Her eyes were still slightly red from crying.

Beside her stood her mate, Li Quan, a tall wolf beastman with sharp brows and dark eyes. He quietly looked at Yue Lian for a long moment before finally sighing softly.

Then he stepped forward and gently tightened his arm around her shoulder.

"Lian’er..." he called in a low voice. "You should have told me earlier about your past."

The moment those words fell, Yue Lian’s body stiffened slightly. Her fingers slowly clenched tightly by her side. After a long silence, she finally lowered her eyes and asked softly,

"So you could find another female instead?"

Li Quan froze.

Yue Lian’s voice became quieter and quieter, but every word carried bitterness buried deep inside her heart.

"If you knew long ago that I could never give birth..." she whispered shakily, "then you would not need to waste your time on me anymore."

Li Quan’s pupils instantly shrank. A hurt expression immediately flashed through his eyes.

"So in your heart..." he asked hoarsely, "you think this little of me?"

Yue Lian bit her lips tightly without speaking.

Li Quan suddenly laughed bitterly.

"You think if you cannot give birth to cubs, I would abandon you?" he asked while staring at her deeply.

Yue Lian finally lifted her red eyes toward him.

"Then what else should I think?" she asked emotionally. "In this world, females are precious because they can give birth. Isn’t that true? This is the one thing I cannot do."

Her voice slowly cracked again.

"So what value do I even have?"

Li Quan’s heart tightened painfully hearing her words.

Suddenly he realized just how much fear and insecurity Yue Lian had been carrying all these years alone.

But at the same time...

He also felt hurt.

Because after being together for so many years, Yue Lian still did not trust his feelings for her.

Li Quan’s grip around her shoulder slowly loosened. His gaze became filled with disappointment and helpless pain.

"Yue Lian," he said quietly, "I stayed with you because I loved you. Not because I only wanted cubs."

"But you never believed me."

Yue Lian’s lips trembled slightly.

Li Quan looked at her for a long moment before finally turning away. At that moment, his tall figure suddenly looked strangely lonely.

"You really hurt me today," he said in a low voice. Then without waiting for her response, he directly walked away.

Yue Lian stood there frozen. Her eyes widened slightly as she watched his departing back.

"Li Quan..." she called softly subconsciously. But Li Quan did not stop walking. Soon his figure disappeared completely from her sight.

Yue Lian’s face instantly turned pale, and she pressed her lips in indignation, but she didn’t chase him back.

***

Su Qinglan had followed Old Healer Ye for the past few days almost every morning. The old man had completely treated her like his real granddaughter now.

Everywhere he went, he dragged her along proudly while boasting to everyone that his apprentice was smarter than all the useless young people in the city.

And during these few days, Su Qinglan had also been helping Yue Lian many times.

But even until now, she still had not used her plant-type healing ability directly on her.

Because Su Qinglan understood very clearly that Yue Lian’s condition was not something ordinary medicine could completely heal. Her womb had been damaged deeply since childhood.

Normal herbs could only reduce pain and nourish the body slowly, but they could never truly repair the injury completely.

Only her healing ability could do that. The same power that could reconnect flesh and bones could naturally heal Yue Lian’s damaged womb too.

But Su Qinglan did not dare expose her ability carelessly. Especially toward someone she still could not fully trust.

The arrogant look Yue Lian had shown during their first meeting still remained in Su Qinglan’s memory.

Even though Yue Lian had become softer afterward, Su Qinglan was still quietly observing her.

Helping others was one thing.

But creating danger for herself and her cubs was another.

She was not foolish enough to reveal all her secrets so easily. So during these days, she only prepared ordinary medicines for Yue Lian and observed her carefully.

And soon, the fourth day arrived.

That morning, Su Qinglan was sitting outside the stone house while sorting herbs when suddenly hurried footsteps approached from outside.

A tall beastman rushed over anxiously. It was Yue Lian’s mate, Li Quan. His expression was pale with worry.

"Female Su Qinglan!" he called out nervously. "Can you come quickly and check on Yue Lian? She is not feeling well at all."

Su Qinglan immediately raised her head.

"What happened?"

Li Quan’s face tightened with distress.

"It is her estrus cycle..." he said awkwardly.

"But this time it became very serious. Since morning, she has been crying in pain. Her entire body is trembling."

"She refuses to come outside no matter how much I persuade her."

His voice became even more helpless.

"I really don’t know what to do anymore."

Then his ears reddened slightly before he added embarrassedly, "And... because of her estrus cycle, she also does not want to leave the house."

Su Qinglan froze for a second before nodding.

"I understand."