When the two arrived at the port, Wang Biao was negotiating with a few crewmen. The little cubs were locked in a cage, huddled together, their small faces pale with fright.
There were no injuries on their faces; he had likely avoided harming them to fetch a better price.
Little Wolf frowned with worry. "What do we do?"
Bai Su said, "What do you mean, 'what do we do'? We go in head-on!"
Little Wolf: "?"
Before he could even react, Bai Su had already charged forward.
"Stop!" Bai Su stood in front of the little cubs' cage. "Well, well, Wang Biao. You dare to engage in human trafficking? Did you get my permission to sell my children?"
When Wang Biao saw her, he sneered. "Well now, you've walked right into the trap, have you? You owe me money and you think you can skip out on the debt! These few Little Beastmen aren't even enough to cover what you owe!"
With that, he moved to push Bai Su aside.
Bai Su clung desperately to the cage. "These are my children! I'm not selling! Wang Biao, if you dare lay a hand on them, I'll fight you to the death!"
She shot Little Wolf a meaningful look while rolling up her sleeves and rushing forward to scratch at the faces of Wang Biao and the two crewmen, acting like a complete shrew.
Little Wolf took advantage of the chaos, quickly rushing over to untie the hemp rope on the cage and free the little cubs.
Seeing the Little Beastmen about to escape, Wang Biao flew into a rage out of humiliation. He shoved the screeching woman in his arms to the ground. "Get lost! Bai Su, you damn bitch, what's gotten into you? It's not like you haven't sold them before. If you don't fucking sell the kids, where are you going to get the money to pay back my debt?"
Bai Su threw herself on the ground, making a scene to block their path. "I'm not selling, and that's final! These children are my life! Don't even think about touching them!"
She latched onto Wang Biao's leg like a leech. When the crewmen tried to give chase, she tripped them up too.
The few Beastmen were tall and brawny; it wasn't that they couldn't overpower her, but they hesitated to use force because she was a female.
After all, even an exiled female was still a female.
Females were the rarest and most precious beings in the galaxy. Harming a female was a serious crime; a prison sentence was the least one could expect.
With their hands tied, they were actually held up by Bai Su.
The children were about to get away.
Humiliated and enraged, Wang Biao went to kick her hand away, but he was caught off guard when Bai Su suddenly threw her entire body forward.
His kick landed squarely on her chest.
Bai Su was thrown backward, her head hitting a metal bollard at the port. A large gash opened on her forehead.
Seeing this, the two crewmen quickly took several steps back, looking as if they wanted to wash their hands of the situation.
Panic flashed across Wang Biao's face. He roared in a mix of anger and alarm, "This has nothing to do with me! You bitch, you threw yourself at me!"
Hearing the commotion, Little Wolf turned to look. He saw Bai Su's plump body shielding the way in front of several tall, imposing males. She had fallen to the ground, a large gash on her forehead, her face deathly pale.
Bai Su slowly came to, shaking her head. She swayed unsteadily but still blocked their path. "I don't care... You're not touching my children..."
She was too weak, her voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
Little Wolf pursed his lips, a flicker of conflict in his eyes.
He stopped abruptly and looked at the younger children. "You guys go find a safe place to hide. The police will be here soon, and you'll be safe. I'm going back to save her!"
Little Wolf rushed back and stood protectively in front of Bai Su, glaring at Wang Biao with a dark expression. "Get lost! You big oaf who only knows how to roar!"
Wang Biao was already seething with a pent-up fury that Bai Su had ignited.
Seeing Little Wolf present himself as a target, he erupted in rage. His broad palms transformed into sharp ape-like claws as he lunged at the boy.
"Little Wolf!" Bai Su cried out in alarm. She yanked the little one into her plump embrace, spinning around to block Wang Biao's attack with her own back.
"Ngh..." Bai Su felt a searing pain spread across her back. Her face went deathly white, and she slowly collapsed.
"Matron!" Little Wolf's pupils contracted sharply.
The Federation Police finally arrived, witnessing Wang Biao attacking a female with their own eyes.
Wang Biao was scared stiff.
He never imagined the woman would throw herself in the way.
The Federation Police apprehended him.
Terrified, Wang Biao frantically shook his head. "It wasn't me! I didn't do it! She ran into it herself!"
"I wasn't trying to hit her! I was aiming for that little cub!"
But it was too late. Harming a female in front of Federation Police was grounds for immediate conviction.
Wang Biao was taken away.
Bai Su and the little cubs were sent to the hospital.
By the time the whole ordeal was over and they returned to the orphanage, it was three days later.
It was a blessing in disguise for Bai Su; she received compensation money from Wang Biao and used it to buy more supplies.
System: [You could have just waited for the Federation Police to arrive before making a move. Then you wouldn't have gotten hurt.]
Bai Su curved her lips into a small smile but said nothing.
She had deliberately used Wang Biao to stage a self-injury ruse.
'I was just worrying about how to clean up my reputation, and then Wang Biao delivered himself to my doorstep. It would have been a shame not to use him, wouldn't it?'
That was why she had deliberately rushed out to provoke Wang Biao at the docks, intentionally making a scene.
When Wang Biao shoved her, she had purposefully fallen backward to crack her head open.
When she was discharged from the hospital and returned to the orphanage, she found the four little ones standing nervously and cautiously in the living room.
The Federation had already sent people to repair the damaged areas.
The little ones stood in the living room, not daring to sit, and stared at Bai Su with wide, expectant eyes.
She glanced at them, amused. "You must be hungry. I'll go make you all some food. Do you still want that lotus leaf chicken?"
"Yes!" Little Tiger couldn't help himself and shouted loudly.
The other three shot him a death glare in unison.
Little Tiger shrank back. "No..."
Bai Su froze for a second, then couldn't help but raise her eyebrows high.
'Even after all that, these little brats are still on their guard?'
One of the little cat cubs looked at Bai Su fawningly and wiped down the sofa. "Matron, please, sit down!"
Another little cat cub cautiously and awkwardly offered her a glass of water. "Matron, have some water..."
Bai Su looked at them and quickly understood what was happening.
She couldn't help but laugh, accepting their goodwill openly.
Little Wolf watched her awkwardly, looking like he wanted to say something but was too embarrassed.
Bai Su looked at the little cubs. "Alright, if you're not hungry, I am. I'll go start dinner."
The little ones could only follow her with their eyes fixed on her.
Bai Su knew this was a good opportunity. As she washed vegetables and prepared the ingredients, she said, "You must be curious why I've been so different lately, right?"
"I know I wasn't very good to you before, but lately, I've come to regret it."
"You're all very sweet and well-behaved Little Beastmen, and I want to live here peacefully with you."
"Whether you believe me or not, you have to allow a bad person to suddenly see the light and want to become good, right?"
The younger children listened, only half-understanding.
Bai Su didn't expect them to understand. Her words were meant for Little Wolf. He was the oldest of the bunch and was capable of understanding.
Sure enough, Little Wolf's voice soon sounded from behind her. "Matron, thank you for saving them the other day."
Bai Su smiled and waved her hand. "Alright, let's live peacefully from now on and build this orphanage into a good home, okay? I promise, as long as you behave, I'll never hit you again."
Little Wolf remained silent, but the younger children were thrilled.
"Matron isn't going to hit us!"
"We're the best-behaved Little Beastmen!"
Bai Su knew that as long as the scars on Little Wolf's body hadn't healed, he would never be able to let go of his resentment.
Saving the others had only earned her a temporary reprieve from his hostility.
That was enough for now.
Bai Su didn't want to live every day on guard, as if against a thief, worrying that the little one might call the police on her again.