Chapter 21: Old Scars and Moonlit Secrets

Mo Jin’s panda paws froze mid-scrub. She turned her massive head, giving Lin Mo a look so cold it could freeze the stream outside. Before Lin Mo could even blink, a heavy (but soft) paw swatted her gently on the head. Bam! The wooden door slammed shut, leaving Lin Mo standing alone in the courtyard.

Lin Mo rubbed her slightly damp hair with a wry smile. Mo Jin hadn’t used any real force; it didn’t hurt. Fine, no back scrubbing then. But man, I really wanted to touch that panda head…

Shrugging it off, she took Mo Jin’s white shirt to the fire. She threaded her needle and began sewing the button back on. Having spent years helping the orphanage staff mend clothes for the younger kids, she finished the job with professional speed. Then, she boiled some more water, tossed in some wild berries and a generous dollop of honey, and let it simmer. By the time it was ready, it would be the perfect temperature for Mo Jin to drink.

Just as Lin Mo was sipping her own cup of the sweet broth, the cabin door creaked open.

Mo Jin stepped out, her black hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore only the bathrobe Lin Mo had bought, the cotton belt tied loosely around her waist. The robe wasn’t particularly long, leaving her slender, snow-white calves fully exposed. Steam still clung to her skin, and tiny droplets of water trembled on her half-closed eyelashes. Her red lips were plump and moist. Unlike her usual “stay away” icy demeanor, she looked lazy, soft, and—to Lin Mo’s eyes—dangerously beautiful.

Lin Mo swallowed a mouthful of the honey water, her heart skipping a beat.

Mo Jin looked uncomfortable in the robe. “I’m going to sleep,” she said curtly, leaving Lin Mo with nothing but a stunning view of her back as she ducked into the tent.

After cleaning herself up and hanging their clothes to dry by the fire, Lin Mo grabbed the water jug, the cups, and a small wooden comb, then slipped into the tent.

The sight that greeted her was a massive, round, furry back. Mo Jin had clearly found the bathrobe too restrictive and had reverted to her panda form. The tent, once spacious, now felt quite cramped. As Lin Mo walked toward her, her feet sank into the thick, white fur on the floor. It felt like walking on a carpet woven from clouds.

If only I could roll around in her fur… Lin Mo sighed internally at her own “delusions” and sat down opposite the bear.

She offered a cup with a smile. “I made some honey berry juice. It’s quite sweet. Want to try?”

Honey? The panda’s obsidian eyes flickered. She took the cup, looked at her massive claws, then handed it back to Lin Mo, staring at her expectantly.

“What is it? You don’t like it?” Lin Mo asked.

“Open it,” Mo Jin rumbled. She was terrified of accidentally crushing the only cup they had.

Lin Mo realized the problem, popped the lid, and handed it back. The panda held the cup delicately with both paws, sniffed it to confirm the sweetness, and squinted her eyes happily as she took a sip.

Lin Mo hid a giggle. Bears really do love sweets. Noticing some tangles in the fur on the panda’s head, Lin Mo gripped her wooden comb. “Your fur is a bit messy. Want me to comb it for you?”

Mo Jin, busy with her honey water, gave a non-committal glance. Taking that as a “yes,” Lin Mo leaned in. She used a towel to gently dry the damp spots first, her touch light and careful.

A wave of warmth washed over Mo Jin. In all her years, no one had ever dried her fur or cared for her like this.

As Lin Mo began to comb, she didn’t notice the small black ears on top of the panda’s head twitching rhythmically. Mo Jin felt a surge of nerves. Only mates groom each other… does the Little Bamboo like me? Does she want to be my mate? Joy was followed by a flicker of insecurity. Would she really not mind that I’m just a clumsy, slow bear?

Suddenly, Lin Mo’s warm palm brushed against one of those ears. Mo Jin’s sensitive heart felt instantly soothed. Her ears began to twitch faster in a mix of anticipation and shyness.

Lin Mo meant to comb the panda’s back next, but those twitching ears were too tempting. She tried to “accidentally” graze them, but they were so cute she ended up petting them several times. She noticed the ears were getting hotter and hotter, as if the bear had a fever. Is she okay? Her face looks the same, but her ears are burning!

She decided to trust her instincts and keep petting until Mo Jin, unable to take the embarrassment anymore, reached out a paw and caught Lin Mo’s hand.

Lin Mo stared at the pale pink meat pads in front of her. Is she… letting me touch the paws?!

She poked the pink pad. It wasn’t as soft as a cat’s; it had a slightly frosted texture, bouncy like jelly. Lin Mo was instantly hooked. I want to touch these every day!

But then, the paw was pulled away. The panda turned her back to her. “I’m sleeping.”

Lin Mo felt like a rejected “young wife” on her wedding night. She sighed and curled up next to the massive, warm bear.

In her dreams, Lin Mo returned to the valley. The little panda was older now, but lonely. She saw the panda try to befriend a white rabbit, offering her a tender bamboo shoot in exchange for a carrot. But a black rabbit came and pulled the white rabbit away, calling the panda “ugly” and “stupid.”

Lin Mo watched the little panda’s paws crush the bamboo shoot into splinters in her grief. Her heart ached for her “baby bear.”

Then, the scene shifted. A terrifying storm rolled in. Purple lightning—thick as a bowl—slammed into the valley. The little panda was being hunted by the sky itself. One bolt pinned her under a giant rock, breaking her leg.

Instead of hiding in the bamboo forest, the panda crawled in the opposite direction. She was trying to draw the lightning away from the bamboo.

As a massive bolt prepared to strike the final blow, Lin Mo screamed and threw herself over the panda. “Watch out!”

But she didn’t feel the hit. The tallest, most magnificent bamboo tree in the forest had moved. It stood over the panda, taking the full force of the heavenly lightning. The tree split in two, turning to ash, and a faint green light drifted away from the ruins. The storm vanished.

Lin Mo woke up with a pounding headache. Fragments of memory were resurfacing—was that… her?

She sat up, her bathrobe soaked in sweat. She looked to her side. Mo Jin had returned to human form, curled into a tight ball in the corner of the tent.

She was pale, her lashes wet with tears, her teeth biting into a bloodless lip. She was sobbing silently in her sleep.

Lin Mo leaned in and gently wiped a tear away. Mo Jin’s lashes trembled, and a fresh tear escaped. Still asleep, she turned and buried her face in Lin Mo’s lap, her head rubbing against her as she wept without a sound.

“Mo Jin,” Lin Mo whispered softly.

Mo Jin didn’t answer, but she gripped Lin Mo’s clothes tighter. Lin Mo gently stroked her black hair. “It’s okay. It’s all over now.”

After a long time, the grip on her shirt loosened. Lin Mo looked down and found that Mo Jin was awake, staring up at her with a depth in her eyes that Lin Mo couldn’t quite name.