"So let me understand this correctly."
Cāng Jì sat on a hastily assembled stool near Bai Yue's bed, his golden robes carefully arranged to avoid touching anything "primitive" (by which he meant everything).
The cubs had finally been pried off him, mostly, though Yòu Lín had claimed his left knee as a permanent perch, and Ruì Xuě was leaning against his right leg like a tiny, furry guardian.
"The bear king showed up."
"Mmhmm," Bai Yue nodded, feeding Zhēn.
"He tried to fight everyone."
"Yep."
"He got hit by two grandmothers."
"Three, actually. Wēn Jìng hit him with a spoon first, but no one saw it because she's 'the calm one.'"
Cāng Jì's eyebrow arched. "The woman with the snacks?"
"That's the one."
"Remarkable." He shook his head slowly. "And then your snow leopard mother showed up and hit him again."
"With ice. It was very dramatic."
"The grandmothers formed an alliance."
"They're terrifying together."
"The dragons left."
"And came back." Bai Yue smiled. "Obviously."
