"Father, my future bear cubs will only suffer with an incompetent female! She's just a pinkish-white stick with no appeal. What kind of wife will that make her?" Cloud muttered disdainfully before continuing with a finality.
"I'd rather trade her for some pearls and salt to the laid-back mermen. I could use them to woo a better female!" Cloud spoke firmly as if he had already established in his mind that Qin Yan would never give him a child.
"It's better to enslave myself to some clan and share a robust female with broad hips with another beastman. At least I would be certain she's capable of bearing a healthy litter of my bear cubs—"
Pak!
"Ow!" Cloud winced as his father's heavy paw smacked the back of his head with the precision of a lumberjack chopping wood.
"You scoundrel! Do you think it's so easy to woo a female? You think sharing a fertile wife is better than having a woman on your own just because she's a little frail? You fool!" Rouge spats fiercely.
"Have you already forgotten how I was cast away by your mother after she had given birth to you?!" The father roared, shaking the entire hut with the force of his voice.
"I-I..." Cloud couldn't retort and looked away. He went quiet seeing the visible hurt and uneasiness of his old man.
"Think with your brain and not with your other head. Don't be like me and regret things later." Rouge breathed heavily as though trying to calm his frayed nerves. "Remember, females are delicate! You can't just look at them like they're slabs of meat for a feast."
"Little girl, don't take his words seriously, this father will make sure to fix his attitude."
Seeing Qin Yan nod meekly, his eyes which had visibly grown softer while talking to the frail girl instantly turned brooding once he shifted to his troublesome child.
"Why do you want to ship her off to another tribe? You punk, will you only behave once I beat you black and blue? You want me to knock some sense into your skull?!"
Cloud rubbed the back of his head, grumbling as his father went on.
"This girl is the best for you," the older bear continued, gesturing at Qin Yan like she was a shiny new hammer. "She's quiet and well-behaved. She doesn't demand so much food like those other females. You won't be burdened hunting every day to feed her and you'll be able to grow intimate in a shorter period! Just treat her well. Don't act too tough and she'll follow your lead."
"If I see you glaring at her one more time, I swear, I will drag you to the quarry myself and make you work until you can't see straight!"
Cloud groaned, clearly defeated but not willing to give up entirely. "Fine. Fine. I'll treat her well. But if she—"
The father's glare intensified and gave him a warning look after he walked toward Qin Yan.
"Girl, if he tries anything and bullies you, tell this father and I will turn him into a rug and use him to wipe my feet. Don't test me, boy. Understand?"
Cloud sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "Alright. I get it. No glaring. No shipping her off the jungle. Happy now?"
Qin Yan, still strapped down like a prize turkey, took a deep breath. She couldn't believe it. Here she was, stuck in a world full of giant, grumpy beastmen, and now she was expected to be married off to one of them.
And a jerk at that!
A frustrating giant, crimson-red, fur-covered bear-man, who couldn't even recognize a supermodel when she was sitting right in front of him. She was supposed to be his bride? The same way a wild animal might claim a shiny rock as a mate?
It was all so ridiculous she felt like screaming, but she kept her cool, knowing that yelling at these beasts probably wouldn't end well. She was stuck.
This was it. Her life now.
If she wasn't careful, she might end up being some fur-covered bear-man's pet project instead of wife.
Besides, what makes her blood boil even more was that damn jerk's words! So what if she's not well-endowed and not given huge boobs?
She's perfectly capable as a woman! Who says slender figures and flat-chested girls aren't capable of childbearing?! This idiot!
Thankfully her father-in-law has better sense than the man himself.
'I'll freaking show you what sexy is and make you drool a river—wait! Waaaaait! Why should I prove him wrong? This is actually perfect! Gosh, Qin Yan are you drunk? You almost blow your chance! And... and what father-in-law?! Argh!'
Why the hell is she getting so worked up? This man doesn't like her. That means they'll probably be just a couple in name.
Ha!
Hahahahaha!
Oh goodness! This is freaking awesome!
"Yes, father. Qin Yan will be in your care," she said, forcing the sweetest voice she could muster, despite wanting to throw something sharp at them both. "I'll be a good wife to your son. I promise. No complaints. No fuss."
"Oh, so your name is Qin Yan. Good, good. Since you've given your word, I'll be at ease. Let's take those off, it must be very uncomfortable, but it was needed to." Rouge carefully unbuckled the lock wooden cuff around her wrist and patted it gently. "This father will be in the cave nearby. Just call me if you need anything, alright?"
Qin Yan nodded awkwardly, "Ah... Yeah, I will Fa-father..."
'Damn, I'm really calling a bear my father! What's next a huge lizard? Maybe a snake? Fuck my life!'
Once Rouge exited their hut, Cloud snorted, clearly unconvinced. "Yeah, I'm sure you'll be just wonderful. Good for you and your newfound father. Tsk!"
Qin Yan's face twitched. She had no idea how she was going to survive this, but at least the grumpy bear-man and his father seemed to think she was the best thing since raw fish.
Although she wasn't sure whether to be offended or to start brushing up on survival skills for life in this bizarre beast world, Qin Yan knew that on her own, she'd be as good as juicy steak that wouldn't be enough to fill the gap on these creatures' teeth.
She had seen so many ridiculous plots and knew this absurd circumstance was already her reality, thus, Qin Yan decided to take the safest route to live.
During tough times, she can only utilize humanity's greatest survival skill: Grabbing an Overlord's thigh and acting shamelessly docile to avoid impending doom!
"H-Hubby, don't be so fierce. Yan Yan will be obedient to you, so... could you please treat me gently?"
Her soft, innocent-looking eyes gazed at him intently, while fluttering her thick long lashes like a grand peacock brandishing its entrancing plumage.
Cloud gulped at the sudden gesture.
"H-How brazen!"
Intertwining her arms with his without a warning, this female is so bold!
Even so, at this time, unable to get rid of the sensation from her touch, only one word bugged his mind.
'Soft. Too damn soft!' Cloud clenched his well-defined jaw and cursed internally.
What's this? The female was clearly just as thick as his arm but why does she feel so soft and smooth?
For a moment, Cloud's thoughts muddled and left wondering.
'Are females naturally this... this pleasant to touch? She also smells good...'
The tips of his fingers began to twitch and tingle as if wanting to feel her more. His stern face flushed a pink hue, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
'No! Not even those glorified females in the city would be as fair as her! They also smell like dry weeds and dirt.'
What kind of sorcery is this? Damn it!
'Snap out of it fool! This female is not good for childbearing, don't fall for it! You must find a female with thick hips and big buckets not this little vixen!' He closed his eyes tightly and gritted.
Clearly, the man was affected but at the same time conflicted.
Compared to her pearly white skin, his chiseled, tan complexion looked like a smoldering clay. Somehow, Cloud was bugged to make more contact, afraid his rough skin would damage hers.
However, a huge part of him also didn't want to push her away. Thus, he left her be and didn't shun her as Qin Yan thought he would.
Darn, what the hell is happening to him?! This beguiling female must have done something! Cloud was still skeptical.
Meanwhile, watching his reaction, Qin Yan couldn't help but break into a mischievous smile. Confidently, she leaned closer and deliberately whispered, blowing a foxy hot breath onto the confused man's nape as if wanting to make his delirious phase worse.
"Dear husband, would you like me to scrub your back while you take a dip... or should I rub your whole body when you retire later tonight in our bed?" Qin Yan winked.