After Giving Birth, All My Beast Ex-Husbands Suddenly Want Me Back-Chapter 62: The games

Mino slammed Yanai against the wall, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Yanai, do you have improper thoughts about Nina?"

Yanai opened his mouth, but no denial came. Instead, confusion flickered across his face. "I... When you liked the little female, what did it feel like?"

He had never allowed himself to think about such things before. For years, cultivation had been the only thing on his mind. He had never liked a female, had never paused to understand what liking truly meant.

Mino’s eyes narrowed. "Do you find yourself stealing glances at Nina without realizing it?"

Yanai thought for a moment. "...I guess I do."

"When she comes close to you, does your heart start beating faster?"

Yanai nodded.

"And when she touched you today, did you feel numb and tingly all over? Comfortable? Like you didn’t want her to stop?"

The memory surged back—the warmth of her fingers, the electric thrill beneath his skin. His ears turned red as he nodded again.

"That’s it then."

Mino’s fist shot forward without hesitation. "You shameless wolf. How dare you covet Nina?"

Yanai dodged, jaw tightening. "So what if I do? You’re not her mate. What right do you have to stop me? And even if you were, you still wouldn’t."

The realization struck him fully.

So this was what it meant. He had fallen for her.

Mino’s anger flared. "How can you steal your brother’s female?"

Another punch flew.

Yanai slipped aside, hesitating only briefly before saying, "Then... fine. We won’t be brothers anymore."

Compared to the little female, what did brotherhood amount to?

Mino’s face darkened. "If that’s how it is, then so be it! I’ll beat you back into the mountains and make sure you never appear in front of Nina again!"

Friendship shattered as easily as a flipped boat.

Yanai lifted his chin. "Try it. I’m not afraid of you."

"Weren’t you the one who claimed you only cared about training?" Mino spat. "Why are you clinging to Nina? Go back to your mountains!"

"I won’t. A beast’s heart can change. I... I like the little female now. Isn’t that allowed?"

He didn’t even know when it had happened. He had seen beautiful females before. He had known gentleness before. Yet none of them had made him feel like this.

Perhaps she truly possessed some powerful beast-taming skill. In just a few days, she had turned him into one of them—before he even had time to struggle, he had already surrendered.

Yanai didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.

Before he could think further, another punch came flying.

The room erupted into crashing furniture and dull thuds of fists meeting flesh.

Mid-fight, Mino righted a toppled chair. "Outside. No abilities. We’ll wake Nina."

Yanai steadied a fallen shelf. "Exactly what I was thinking."

They moved into the courtyard, fists flying. Soon, Sal joined in, claws flashing. Yanai found himself thoroughly outnumbered.

By the time dawn arrived, the fight had long since ended.

***

The next morning, Nina stepped outside and was greeted by two even larger "pig faces."

She blinked. "How did you get like this? Is that bee venom really that strong?"

Yesterday they had only been swollen. Now there were bruises too—though the placement looked suspiciously like fist marks.

"We slipped and fell last night," Mino said smoothly. "It’ll heal soon."

Yanai shot him a dark look but remained silent. He looked worse—swollen and claw-marked besides.

"...Alright." Nina wasn’t convinced.

Rain poured from the eaves in thick curtains, drumming against stone. "Mino, with rain like this, does it mean the rainy season’s peak has started?"

"Probably. The humidity’s risen sharply. If it keeps up for a few days, then yes."

She sighed softly. "I hope it passes quickly."

"It usually lasts about a month. By then, the babies should have hatched. Once it’s over, we’ll leave."

Mino stepped closer, shielding her from the wind-blown rain.

Yanai quietly positioned himself on her other side. "During the peak, the mountains are dangerous. Floods, landslides. It’s safer to travel afterward."

Nina nodded.

***

Just after breakfast, Been arrived in the rain, arms full of leaf-wrapped bundles.

"Nina! It’s me—Been. Do you remember?"

Rain soaked half his body. He extended the bundles. "I brought you some meat. And daily necessities."

Nina stepped aside. "Come in first. Don’t stand in the rain."

She glanced at the items. "Thank you, but I don’t need these. You should take them back."

Been hesitated, disappointment clouding his face. He set them down anyway. "You’ll need them."

Before she could protest again, he dashed back into the rain. Nina frowned at the stone platform where the items rested.

"It’s fine," Mino said. "I’ll return them once the rain stops."

"Alright."

They retreated indoors.

Rainy days felt dull and heavy, so Nina decided to liven things up. She purchased a deck of playing cards from the system.

"Let me teach you a game."

Yanai’s curiosity lit up. "What kind?"

"A card game."

She shuffled expertly and dealt the cards, explaining the rules carefully. After two practice rounds, they grasped the basics.

"Now we play for real," she declared. "Whoever loses gets punished."

Yanai grinned. "If I lose, Nina can punish me however she wants. If you lose, you don’t need punishment."

She gave him a strange look. Something about him felt different.

"No. Fair is fair."

They began.

On the very first official round, Nina lost.

She stared at her hand in disbelief. Teach the students, starve the master.

"Well?" she said dryly. "What’s my punishment?"

Mino glanced at Yanai. "Have Nina slap Yanai."

Yanai immediately countered, "Then Nina slaps Mino."

Both of them leaned forward eagerly.

"Go on, Nina."

She rubbed her forehead. "Am I punishing you... or rewarding you?"

Nevertheless, she followed the rules and lightly slapped each of them once.

In the next round, the winner was Mino. Instead of punishing Nina, he punched Yanai.

Yanai retaliated in the following round.

Soon, they were using the game as an excuse to beat each other senseless.

Nina watched, bewildered.

Weren’t they supposed to be good brothers?

From the nest, the egg babies began clinking and bumping loudly, drawing her attention.

As if protesting: Mother, stop playing with the smelly males. Come play with us.

Nina suppressed a laugh. "How about this—whoever loses next gets punished by the babies."

That way, at least her little ones could join the fun.