Panda Cub – Chapter 1

WARNING: MTL

Bamboo Shoot Harvesting and Eating

At this moment, Jing Dan watched ahead aimlessly with her dark, glossy eyes, her four little paws being repeatedly kneaded, completely treated as if she were a dough.

A panda cub, small enough to be embraced in one arm, was cuddled against the bosom of a woman with strikingly beautiful features. The small tuft of hair on its head appeared as if it had succumbed to its master’s ennui, listlessly drooping.

Her eyes conveyed elegance, and within those shiny black pupils, a deep delight twinkled. She caressed the panda cub’s soft fur over and over, her hands unable to part with it.

“Little fellow, which family’s cub are you? Did you come here alone in search of food?” He Ying gazed at the panda cub with a brimming, joyful smile, the dark circles under its eyes contrasting sharply against its soft, white face, creating a clear distinction in black and white.

She wondered, despite being merely black and white, how they came together to create such cuteness?

Jing Dan did not speak, stretching out her short, chubby paws trying to break free from the woman’s embrace, yet to no avail.

The woman held her too tightly.

Her body twisted even more violently, unable to comprehend why her luck today was so terribly poor to have encountered such a peculiar woman?

He Ying’s eyes were filled with a deep smile, holding the little panda that was trying to wriggle free even tighter in her arms, recalling the scene she had just seen, her once somewhat melancholic mood instantly brightened.

Indeed, just by looking at pandas, one feels an upliftment of spirits.

The tiny panda, still in her cub-like appearance, was busily digging for bamboo shoots with her rump in the air, creating a picture that was sure to bring a laugh every time one saw it—making her appear even more adorably clumsy.

He Ying gazed down at the bamboo shoot partially unearthed by the cub and said with a smile, “Are those little paws of yours not so good at digging? Need me to help you out?”

Jing Dan’s struggle paused for a moment, then ceased altogether. She looked at the bamboo shoot in the pit with her round, glossy eyes and murmured “mm-mm” twice.

The cub’s voice was soft, as if it could scratch at the very tip of one’s heart.

He Ying silently broke into laughter, scooped the panda cub into her arms, and found a small stick to squat down and gently dig around the bamboo shoot. As she dug, she spoke, “You’re lucky to have met me. Otherwise, with those tiny paws of yours, who knows how long it would have taken you to get a taste?”

She could sense a spiritual energy within the panda, which indicated that this panda was a spirit. Pandas that were spirits were indeed a rare sight.

Jing Dan did not respond to her. Had she been able to transform into her human form, would she have been subject to this woman’s mockery?

But as the woman almost succeeded in uncovering the bamboo shoot, Jing Dan no longer cared about the woman’s mocking.

Her eyes were practically glued to the bamboo shoot.

He Ying naturally noticed her eager gaze, and once she had dug up enough of it, she directly grasped the bamboo shoot and gave it a gentle twist, pulling it out whole.

The little panda’s eyes grew brighter; wherever the bamboo shoot went, her gaze eagerly followed.

Seeing the panda’s foodie demeanor, He Ying was struck by a tease; she held the bamboo shoot but deliberately didn’t give it to her, swinging it left and right, thoroughly enjoying watching the little creature’s head turn in pursuit. Eventually, perhaps out of impatience, the panda opened its mouth and emitted several urgent “umm” sounds.

Listening to the little panda’s impatient hums, it seemed almost as if she was really frustrated. Her tiny paws flailed about, and if she hadn’t been held, He Ying suspected the little panda might have stomped the ground and leapt up in a huff.

He Ying’s mood improved even more. Wiping her hands, she peeled the bamboo shoot and presented it to the panda, asking, “Why can you only make ‘umm’ sounds? Can’t you talk?”

That doesn’t make sense, does it? A panda that can find food on her own – how could she not be able to talk?

“You’re not a mute, are you?”

Jing Dan had absolutely no interest in paying attention to her. With paws wrapped around the bamboo shoot, she comfortably nestled in the woman’s embrace, munching away. After all, the woman’s embrace was fragrant and soft—very comfortable indeed.

Seeing that it was only focused on eating and ignoring her, He Ying gritted her teeth and ruffled the little panda’s head with a coo, thinking to herself that this was truly a ‘cross the river and demolish the bridge’ kind of good panda.

But as she watched it eat, listening to the clear sound of chewing, He Ying couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Why are you eating alternating bites from each side? Are you worried that chewing on one side for too long will lead to your face becoming asymmetrical?”

Saying so, she lifted the little panda up in front of her, observing its small, pretty face carefully. And indeed, the face was perfectly symmetrical, adorable and cute to the point that she couldn’t resist the urge to lean in for a couple of kisses!

Reluctantly, she had to abandon the thought. This was a spirit, and apparently a young one at that. If word got out, wouldn’t she, He Ying, be branded a ruffian crane?

Hoisted up, Jing Dan was somewhat displeased, kicking her legs and opening her mouth as if to roar at her.

However, He Ying seemed to have spotted something amusing. She brought the little panda closer, inspected her teeth with a touch of amazement, and said, “You’re quite the clean one, aren’t you? Your teeth are so white!”

The roar that Jing Dan was about to unleash got stuck in her throat as she stared with her round, glossy eyes at the woman before her, frozen.

Too close for comfort, she could feel the woman’s breath on her as she spoke, generating a bizarre sensation.

She flicked her ears, visibly annoyed, and twisted her body in discomfort.

The little panda seemed incapable of wriggling free from the hunter’s grasp. He Ying cradled it back into her arms and, observing the bamboo shoot it still clutched tightly in its paw after its earlier struggles, felt she had come to understand its true nature.

A little panda glutton!

Since it was so food-driven, dealing with a glutton couldn’t be simpler.

By following its stomach, she could keep it firmly within her grasp!

“Do you want more? Do you need me to dig for you?” He Ying asked with a chuckle, hoping that satisfying this little fellow’s stomach would make her impression on it a favorable one. If she ever wanted to pet the panda in the future, perhaps this one would allow her to give it a stroke?

Jing Dan, who had resumed comfortably eating the bamboo shoot in her arms, noticeably perked up at the mention of more digging. With an audible mm-hmm, she nodded vigorously.

The cries of pandas really don’t match their size, especially the little ones; their soft calls could prod directly at one’s heart. Even when fierce, they are adorably fierce, possessing no real threat.

Later that night, she found herself holding a continuously eating panda in her arms while squatting on the ground, huffing and puffing as she dug for bamboo shoots—and she was quite particular about it.

Or rather, the little fellow was particular.

It insists on being picky, only wanting to eat the tender bamboo shoots. It will eat the older ones too, but seems a tad less cheerful doing so.

He Ying followed its preferences, which meant that unearthing those tender shoots became quite the hassle.

By the time it was late at night, He Ying was surrounded by a pile of discarded bamboo husks. She looked at the little panda, still clutching a shoot, but now dozing off, and let out a deep sigh.

This creature can really eat.

“Little one, where’s your home? Shall I take you back?” She gave the drowsy panda in her arms a gentle shake, teasing it as one would a child. Who could see that sleepily adorable face and not call it cute?

However, being out here in the middle of the night, you must live nearby, right?

Upon hearing her words, Jing Dan immediately became vigilant, wriggling out of her embrace and jumping to the ground. She landed on the fallen bamboo husks, making a rustling sound.

The moment she was free from the woman’s arms, without the faint fragrance and the soft hug that was constantly around her, Jing Dan felt somewhat bewildered, thinking to herself that the woman’s embrace was indeed quite comfortable.

But she quickly came to her senses, shook her head to discard the strange feelings from her mind, and warily eyed the woman in front of her.

The clan leader had said, when I am outside, I must not carelessly reveal my true nature as a spirit.

Now that she knows I’m a spirit, by reverse inference, doesn’t it mean that I can’t let her find out about my human form?

That way, she won’t be able to connect my human form with my spirit form, and then I wouldn’t be considered as having exposed my identity, right?

Jing Dan felt that her logic was flawless; that’s exactly how it is! So she must not let this woman know where she lives, thus preventing the discovery of her human identity!

He Ying naturally noticed Jing Dan’s wary little expression and, after a moment of bemusement, couldn’t help but start laughing.

“What a thankless panda you are. After all, I’ve been digging bamboo shoots for you all night long, and this is how you look at me?”

Shaking her head with a hint of helplessness, she nevertheless understood its actions.

These days, humans and spirits live together, and although a balance has been reached between them, it doesn’t guarantee that problems won’t occur, especially among the spirits, where some issues remain unresolved.

Just as there are good people, there are bad ones, and the same goes for the spirits.

Some ill-intentioned spirits will harm their own kind to augment their powers, thus spirits need to be cautious not just about keeping their identity hidden from humans, but also from those of their kind with malevolent intentions.

Pandas are not only a national treasure in the human world but are regarded equally in the realm of spirits, and because they are born with a more intense spiritual aura compared to other spirits, they become prime targets for those malicious spirits looking to enhance their power.

“Alright, alright, I won’t ask you anymore. You can go back on your own later.” After understanding, He Ying did not insist on asking where it lived, but before turning to leave, she felt a bit reluctant.

She crouched in front of the little panda and gently tapped its forehead with her index finger, saying with a grit of her teeth and dissatisfaction, “After all the feeding, can’t you at least tell me if you’re a male or female?”

Gender isn’t supposed to be a confidential matter, right?

However, upon hearing her words, the little panda seemed suddenly startled, dropping the bamboo shoots it was holding. It quickly curled itself into a ball, as if terrified that she would try to check its gender by inspecting it.

He Ying: “……”

Does she really look like such a hoodlum!

The ravishing beauty He Ying felt utterly deflated.

The author has something to say:

He Ying: “If you misunderstand me like this, don’t blame me for taking real action and making your misunderstandings a reality oh~”

LP: Did I choose this novel because it has pandas? Yes, yes I did <(￣︶￣)>

Also, I made a little mistake on scheduling so chapter 2 will be the day after tomorrow!