The entire afternoon passed quietly.
Outside, the weather continued to grow colder. By the time evening arrived, darkness had already settled across the sky, and the chilly wind whistled against the stone walls of the house. Winter’s arrival could almost be felt in the air.
After bathing with warm water, Su Qinglan finally stepped out of the bathhouse. Steam still lingered around her body, and her cheeks were faintly flushed from the heat. Her long hair carried the refreshing scent of herbs, making her feel both relaxed and comfortable.
The moment she pushed open the door and entered the house, a wave of warmth greeted her.
The stone house was brightly lit, and every corner reflected the efforts of the males who had worked so hard to build their home. Bamboo furniture filled the room...shelves, chairs, tables, and storage cabinets. Everything looked simple yet surprisingly cozy.
At the center of the room stood a large bamboo dining table, and it was already crowded.
The cubs occupied nearly half of the seats. Their little faces were filled with excitement as they stared eagerly at the food arranged before them.
Hu Yan and Han Jue had prepared a feast. Roasted meat, meatballs, bone soup, stewed vegetables, and a large roasted lamb leg sat on the table, filling the room with an irresistible aroma. Even the cubs’ milk bottles had been carefully placed beside their seats.
A smile appeared on Su Qinglan’s face as she took her seat. Her gaze swept across the room before she suddenly blinked in confusion.
"Where’s Rong Ye?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, sounds came from outside the courtyard followed by a familiar voice.
"Lanlan, I’m back."
Su Qinglan immediately turned toward the entrance.
The door opened, and Rong Ye walked inside. The moment she saw him, she froze slightly. Tiny white flakes clung to his hair.
She couldn’t believe snow was falling. Although there wasn’t much of it, there was no mistaking it.
Su Qinglan’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Is it snowing outside?"
Without thinking, she stood up and started walking toward the door. However, before she could take more than a few steps, Rong Ye immediately stopped her.
"Don’t go outside."
His brows furrowed slightly.
"You’ll catch a chill."
Only then did Su Qinglan notice the three prey animals lying outside the gate. Clearly, Rong Ye’s hunt had been exceptionally successful today. "I caught three prey," he announced proudly.
The obvious satisfaction on his handsome face instantly excited the cubs. One after another, they rushed toward the doorway. Even Xiao Yi and Xiao Er stood on tiptoe, trying their best to peek outside.
"Wow!"
"They’re huge!"
"Father is amazing!"
The little lion cub even bounced excitedly where he stood.
Meanwhile, the little fox cub remained seated at the table, completely unmoved by the commotion. His attention never left the roasted lamb leg in the center of the table.
A small strand of drool nearly escaped from the corner of his mouth. His expression clearly declared that nothing was more important than food. Not even his father returning home.
Food came first. Everything else could wait.

The atmosphere inside the house suddenly felt even cozier. Within the warm stone walls, the family gathered around the table and began eating dinner together.

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