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 sight almost made Su Qinglan laugh. Sometimes she genuinely wondered if the little fellow had inherited all of Rong Ye’s love for food.

Rong Ye finally stepped fully inside and shut the door behind him. The cold wind was immediately blocked outside, allowing the warmth of the house to settle once more.

Su Qinglan quickly handed him a warm towel.

"You’re freezing."

Standing on tiptoe, she gently brushed the snow from his hair. The moment her fingers touched him, she gasped. "Your face is so cold!"

Rong Ye grinned. The next second, he deliberately pressed his icy hand against her warm cheek.

Su Qinglan nearly jumped. "Rong Ye!" The sudden chill made her entire face go cold.

Rong Ye burst out laughing. "I’m just teasing you." His eyes curved into crescents, clearly pleased with his successful prank.

Su Qinglan glared at him before lightly smacking his arm. Unfortunately, that only made him laugh harder.

Soon, everyone returned to the table. After securing the door, Rong Ye glanced outside through the window and quietly said, "It’ll definitely snow tonight."

Everyone instinctively followed his gaze. The sky outside was dark and heavy, as though countless snowflakes were gathering above, waiting for the perfect moment to descend.

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.

Hu Yan and Han Jue took their seats, each holding the wolf cub while Shi Feng sat beside the older cubs to help take care of them. The wolf twin sisters were already yapping excitedly, desperately wanting to eat solid food like everyone else.

Unfortunately for them, no one agreed.

"No. Milk first."

The wolf twins immediately wilted. Even so, they obediently accepted their milk bottles. The little lion cub, on the other hand, had no complaints whatsoever.

To him, food was food. Milk was food. Meat was food, and everything belonged inside his stomach.

Without hesitation, he grabbed his milk bottle and began gulping it down.

Shi Feng watched in alarm. "Slow down! Drink slower!" The little lion cub completely ignored him.

Within moments, the bottle was empty. Immediately afterward, he pointed at the plate of meatballs. His golden eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Shi Feng couldn’t help laughing. He picked up a meatball and carefully fed it to him. The little lion cub accepted it happily.

At the same time, a loud protest erupted nearby. The little fox cub had once again refused to drink his milk. His expression was filled with disdain.

Why would he drink something so boring when real food was sitting right in front of him?

Only fools would choose milk over roasted meat. Su Qinglan let out a long sigh before taking him from Rong Ye’s arm.

"No meat until you finish your milk."

The little fox cub looked utterly horrified. This was tyranny. Absolute tyranny.

Unfortunately, his opinion carried very little weight. Despite his resistance, he was still forced to drink.

Across the table, Rong Ye watched the scene unfold and shook his head.

"Don’t spoil him so much. He’s already spoiled enough."

"He probably thinks he’s some beast king of the world."