Chapter 56

“Mmph~” Little Snake was kissed so thoroughly her whole body turned to jelly. When they parted, she panted, her small face bright red as she looked at Ah Wan. Hands braced on her shoulders, clamping her legs together awkwardly, she said, “You go out. Snakey needs to wash.”

Ah Wan wrapped her arm around her waist, leaning in besottedly to nuzzle the tip of her nose, then tilted her head to use her lips to gently graze her cheek.

“I’ll help you.”

So saying, her fingers hooked the edge of the little underwear and nimbly wormed their way inside.

“Mm~ no~”

Little Snake blocked her hand, refusing in a coquettish, lilting voice.

Ah Wan’s eyes darkened slightly. She frowned. “Why?”

“Snakey wants to wash herself.” Little Snake removed her hand, slid slowly from the vanity down to the floor, stood up, and lightly pushed the human before her. “Go out. Snakey will wash alone.”

Before Ah Wan could even react, she’d been pushed all the way to the bathroom door. She immediately turned and braced a hand against the door, preventing it from closing. She rarely spoke up like this: “Together?”

“No. Human said Snakey has to learn to bathe and dress herself. No washing together.”

Little Snake shook her head with definitive little bobs and, with a bang, shut the door.

Ah Wan got a faceful of fragrant breeze. Facing the tightly shut bathroom door, she ground her teeth in profound displeasure.

Why the hell had she ever taught such a damned stupid lesson?

She stood outside waiting for a bit. Hearing the splash of water running inside, she sighed and prepared to leave.

Just as she turned away, the sound of the door opening caught her.

She spun around immediately but saw the bathroom door had opened only a sliver of a crack. A pale, tender arm poked out, clutching a phone and waggling it up and down twice. A soft, muffled voice came through the door.

“Human, help Snakey take the phone out.”

Ah Wan closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Easing her breath, she still took the phone.

Little Snake instantly let go, the arm retracting in a flash as the door slammed shut again.

Hearing that sound, Ah Wan froze, then looked up: Just who the hell taught her to be this guarded?

The phone detected the fingerprint and unlocked automatically. Ah Wan looked down. The wallpaper was still a picture of herself bustling in the kitchen. That settled her heart, if only slightly.

She climbed the stairs, phone in hand, about to wash up in the master bathroom. But just as she reached the door, the phone rang. Picking it up, she saw the caller ID was a Big Duck Pear emoji.

Jealousy pricked Ah Wan. She frowned and answered, but didn’t speak first. Immediately, a shrill wail blasted from the other end.

“Sister-in-law, where did you go?! I’m sorry, wuwuwu, it’s my fault for not holding onto you tight. It’s all my fault! Where did you go? Are you okay? I’m sorry, my mind just went haywire. I couldn’t reach you, was looking everywhere, nearly called the cops, and only just now remembered to top up your phone credit. Where are you? Pleeease send me a location on WeChat, I’ll come pick you up right now. I’m begging you, please, please, don’t tell my sister—”

“Chi Li,” Ah Wan suddenly spoke. “Let’s find some time to discuss this face-to-face. Don’t call again recently. She’s very busy.”

She pulled the phone away, ready to hang up, when a rooster-like wail burst from the speaker, as if the caller was telling someone nearby: “Totally screwed! My sister’s gonna kill me.”

Ah Wan listened without a shred of sympathy and decisively ended the call. She set the phone on the counter, grabbed her clothes, and walked into the bathroom.

But the bathroom door had barely been shut for long before it abruptly opened again. Ah Wan strode back out, scooped up Little Snake’s phone, unlocked it, and without hesitation blacklisted Chi Li. She put it down and turned to go.

Yet after a single step, she halted, visibly wracked with conflict and struggle.

Ah Wan stood rooted for a long while. A pained, complicated emotion surfaced in her eyes. Finally, she picked the phone back up and pulled Chi Li out of the blacklist—then viciously set her to Do Not Disturb.

Only after all this did she feel secure enough to go shower.

—

Forty minutes later, Ah Wan stood on the stairs looking down at the living room. Little Snake was sprawled obediently on the sofa, legs kicked up, playing a game.

Walking closer, Ah Wan saw her hair was still wet, draped over her shoulders and dampening her shirt.

“Why didn’t you dry your hair?”

As she spoke, Ah Wan pulled the hair dryer from the cabinet, plugged it in, and sat beside her, patting her lightly on the waist. “Sit up.”

Little Snake didn’t look back. Propping herself on her elbows, she scrambled up in one smooth motion, then turned with her tablet and expertly straddled Ah Wan’s lap, leaning against her chest to focus intently on her game.

On screen, a host of sunflowers swayed heartily. Zombies were nearly breaching the defenses, yet she was completely unflustered, just patiently waiting.

Ah Wan didn’t disturb her. She switched on the hairdryer, tested the temperature, and then began gently blowing Little Snake’s hair ends dry.

The zombies on the screen clustered together. Calmly, Little Snake dropped a Cherry Bomb on them, blowing up a whole group. Then she kept waiting as the zombies shambled slowly forward again.

With this method, she blew up wave after wave of little zombies. She was feeling quite smug when the screen suddenly warned of a second zombie wave. Almost instantly, her yard was surrounded, and the Cherry Bomb was still on cooldown.

Ah Wan turned off the hairdryer and tilted her head, wondering what she’d do. Instead, she saw Little Snake silently tap the exit button with one finger.

A prompt box popped up, asking if she wanted to quit the game.

Little Snake didn’t move at that moment. Her large eyes slid slowly sideways, as if knowing her Human was watching. She pursed her lips, a bit sheepish.

“Why not keep bombing?”

Ah Wan ruffled her fluffy hair, a hint of schadenfreude in her smile.

Little Snake frowned, let out a huff, and decisively pressed the quit button. Hugging her tablet, she replied, “Snakey got bored with it. Doesn’t like playing anymore.”

“Is that so?” Ah Wan’s tone was light. Her chest pressed against Little Snake’s back as she rested her chin on her shoulder, amusedly mimicking her speech. “I thought maybe you were about to lose.”

Little Snake instantly retorted at that, stubborn as anything. “How could that be? Snakey just got bored. Doesn’t like playing anymore, that’s all.”

“Fine, don’t like playing this. Let’s play something new then.”

Ah Wan plucked the tablet from her hands, set it on the sofa, then turned her around and scooped her into her arms, heading straight upstairs.

The sudden weightlessness made Little Snake instinctively clamp her legs around her waist. Wrapping her arms around her neck, she asked curiously, “What are we doing?”

“Sleeping.” Ah Wan answered offhandedly, only to hear her yelp anxiously, “Snakey forgot the schoolbag.”

Ah Wan had to turn around and grab the bag too.

Entering the master bedroom and closing the door, Ah Wan set the schoolbag on the small sofa, then lowered the little one she carried gently into the soft bedding. She bent to kiss her, but Little Snake dodged.

“What’s wrong?”

Little Snake looped her arms around her neck, blinking her watery, big eyes. She thought for a moment, then replied, “Let’s stop kissing, okay?”

Ah Wan was a little upset at that. Her voice tightened with dryness. “Why?”

No sooner had she spoken than something occurred to her, regret flooding her face. She answered lowly, “Mm, I understand.”

She moved to get up, but Little Snake hooked her neck and pulled her back down. Her bright eyes were full of shyness. “Whenever you kiss Snakey, Snakey gets all wet. It’s so embarrassing~”

Her tone even lifted at the end, lilting and sweet, scratching at the heart.

“Snakey didn’t go into heat for no reason, you know! It’s only because Human kissed Snakey. Snakey just gets like this.” She explained carefully, afraid her Human might think she was improper.

Hearing that, the tension in Ah Wan’s face finally relaxed. She leaned down to kiss her forehead, then worked her way down. Even while kissing her, she murmured soothingly, “Baby didn’t go into heat. I know.”

Little Snake was kissed breathless, her chest heaving violently. Her fingers clutched Ah Wan’s arm, pushing her back a little. Blushing, she said, “Human, you called Snakey ‘Baby’ again.”

Straightening her small, serious face, she explained firmly, “Snakey’s not a baby snake anymore.”

“Not a baby snake, I know,” Ah Wan replied before taking that already kissed-red, gorgeous lip into her mouth, mumbling, “But still my little snake baby.”

In the dim light, a nimble tongue lapped at the sensitive inside of Little Snake’s mouth. Fingers pinched the bathrobe tie and tugged gently—the already loose robe fell fully open.

Ah Wan buried her face at Little Snake’s chest, feasting. Her palm pressed against the small of her back, feeling that waist that alternately collapsed and arched. Fragmented hums and cries fell around her ears, sensual and alluring.

“Eat this side too.”

Little Snake placed her hands in Ah Wan’s hair, eyes half-closed in comfort as she whimpered softly. A thin sheen of sweat glazed her smooth, delicate skin.

Ah Wan’s fingers were long, of perfect thickness, regularly trimmed and cleaned. She’d just cut them before going out today—the nail edges were smooth and rounded, no risk of scratching.

Calloused fingertips stroked Little Snake’s body, kneading and teasing tenderly. It stimulated her into light shivers, her long, shapely legs unconsciously tangling together.

Her chest was flushed a vivid red, and her pale body had turned a tender pink, like a little peach just ripening on a branch—utterly tempting.

Ah Wan rose up, pressing her down to kiss her, nibbling and licking that tiny lip bead on her mouth. Bit by bit, her fingers pushed aside the edge of the little underwear.

Just a light touch, and the little one trembled fiercely, tangling her legs and curling into her arms with an uneasy hum.

Ah Wan could barely move. She laboriously withdrew her hand, rubbing her fingertips together at the slick, sticky feel. Then, slowly, she raised them to her lips and extended the tip of her tongue for a slow lick.

Little Snake stared, transfixed. Her breathing grew heavier and heavier, her body gradually burning hotter.

“So sweet.”

“Baby’s taste is even sweeter than I imagined.”

Ah Wan’s voice dripped with allure. Her thick, dense lashes swept twice, her eyes hook-like as she gazed at the one in her arms.

Little Snake swallowed. As if unable to bear it anymore, she wrapped her arms around her neck and pressed close, kissing her face wildly, biting at her mouth with her sharp teeth. She whimpered, anxious and restless, like she’d found no outlet for release.

“Don’t rush,” Ah Wan gathered her up to sit face-to-face in her lap. She brushed aside her hair, nibbled her ear, and rained delicate kisses down as she asked gently, “Can I kiss you elsewhere?”

…

Ah Wan scrubbed the blue-and-white little underwear clean and hung it up, then rolled down her sleeves and walked out.

Little Snake was on the bed, head down, rummaging through her schoolbag on the floor. Ah Wan crossed over and sat beside her. Before she could say anything, she saw the little one pull out a carton of milk and wiggle toward her.

“What’re you up to?”

Ah Wan reached out, gathering her into her arms as she asked.

Little Snake thrust the milk up before her eyes and bossily commanded, “Want to drink. Open it. Snakey got sucked and now has no strength left.”

“Can’t even take it through your little underwear? What are we going to do in the future then?”

Ah Wan’s voice was full of fond indulgence as she took the milk, peeled off the straw’s wrapping, pierced the carton, and brought it to her lips.

Little Snake shot her a glance, huffed, and only then grabbed her hand, biting down on the straw and gulping the milk down in big mouthfuls.

“I thought you didn’t like drinking this. Why bring the last two cartons anyway?” Ah Wan gazed down at her, not missing a single glance.

“Because Human said drinking this gives nutrition.” Little Snake answered earnestly, blinking up at Ah Wan. “Human told Snakey to drink, so Snakey drinks.”

As soon as she finished, the rattling sound of an empty straw rang out. Little Snake took up the milk carton and shook it. Empty.

Ah Wan reached out to take it, turned, and lobbed it cleanly into the trash bin. Then she flipped Little Snake over and slept on the bed.

“Splash!” Little Snake held her belly with exaggerated sound. “Human, did you hear the milk sloshing around in Snakey’s tummy just now?”

“Nope. Let me listen.” Playing along, Ah Wan lifted her pajama top and pressed an ear against her belly, listening intently.

Little Snake looked down at her. An indescribable tingling spread through the tip of her heart. Without a second thought, she spoke: “Human, Snakey picked a name for herself, you know.”

Ah Wan lifted her head at this, her eyes crinkling in a smile. “What name?”

“Chi Xiaoshe!”

…

…

T/N: She(蛇) means Snake