Chapter 15

Ah Wan’s mind boomed, exploding into chaos.

No matter how many times she’d felt it before, at the very least, there had been a layer of clothing separating them.

But now, it was pressed tightly against her burning palm.

Little Snake flinched from the heat, but still didn’t dodge. Instead, she walked closer to Ah Wan and said aggrievedly, “Human, Snakey hurts so much.”

Ah Wan silently withdrew her hand. Her fingertip grazed lightly across, eliciting a soft moan from Little Snake.

It didn’t sound like pain.

Ah Wan sighed, opened the door fully, and then stepped aside. “Come in.”

Hearing this, Little Snake happily walked into the room. Still dressed, she wanted to climb onto the bed, but suddenly heard Ah Wan say from behind her:

“Wash up.”

“Oh.”

Little Snake agreed, then slowly backed down from the bed and obediently took her slippers into the bathroom.

Soon after, she came out covered in water droplets.

Ah Wan stood by the bed waiting for her. Seeing her come out, she casually tossed a large bath towel over her head.

Then she turned her back and said stiffly, “Remember to dry off and change before coming out in the future.”

Little Snake grabbed the large towel and rubbed it randomly over herself. Hearing this, thinking Human wanted her to wear that thing again, she instantly panicked.

She threw the towel directly to the floor, stepped forward, and hugged Ah Wan around the waist from behind, her face pressing against her back.

Summer clothes were thin. The water droplets Little Snake hadn’t dried off soaked through Ah Wan’s pajamas.

She only felt a searing heat at her lower back.

Little Snake sniffled and pleaded pitifully, “Human, can Snakey not wear that thing, okay? It hurts when I wear it.”

Ah Wan’s hands at her sides involuntarily clenched into fists. Her chest rose and fell noticeably. But after a deep breath, she relaxed them and peeled the hands clasped around her waist off. She turned to face the wronged-looking Little Snake.

Ah Wan didn’t respond directly. Instead, she casually lifted a corner of the blanket. “Get up.”

Little Snake didn’t dare delay. She hurriedly crawled in and lay in her spot, stiffly straight. Looking at Ah Wan, she asked obediently, “Human, aren’t you coming up?”

“I’ll go get you medicine.”

After speaking, Ah Wan turned, opened the door, and walked out. A moment later, she came back in, a small white porcelain bottle in her hand.

She stood by the bed and tossed the small porcelain bottle onto the pillow, instructing, “Apply it yourself where it hurts.”

Then she turned to leave.

Sensing something was wrong, Little Snake immediately kicked off the blanket and got out of bed, chasing after Ah Wan a couple of steps.

“Human, where are you going?”

“Don’t follow.”

Ah Wan walked straight away without looking back.

Little Snake pouted, chased after her in her slippers, but in the blink of an eye, she ran back in a flurry, hurriedly closing the door.

She panted, still in shock, looking terribly frightened. Only after a long while did she recover. Then she walked to the bed and picked up the small porcelain bottle.

The ointment was a white solid. Little Snake held the bottle up to her eye to look at it, then stuck her tongue out into it to taste it.

It was so bitter she retched.

The pain in her chest was almost gone, but since the medicine was from Ah Wan, she liked it, so she applied it anyway.

After lowering her head and applying the medicine, Little Snake didn’t rush back onto the bed. Instead, she lowered her head further and stared blankly.

Pink, a small round nub.

She blinked curiously, remembering how Human had accidentally touched it earlier. She cautiously extended her own finger and flicked it too.

……

Nothing.

Uncomfortable,

She just wanted Human to touch it.

Little Snake somewhat dejectedly threw aside the medicine bottle, turned, and burrowed under the covers, tossing and turning to wrap the blanket tightly around herself.

Really want Human to touch it again…

She blinked, thinking, then slowly slid down under the covers.

The blanket obscured half of her delicate face. The little one, thinking who-knows-what, had flushed bright red, steaming hot.

On the other side, Ah Wan walked into the room where she raised her toxic creatures and sat down quietly inside.

She knew Little Snake was afraid of these things and wouldn’t dare come in, so she came here to catch her breath for a moment.

The roomful of toxic creatures watched Ah Wan with a mix of fear and expectation, all edging closer to her, but stopping half a meter away, just quietly guarding her like that.

Ah Wan leaned lazily back in the chair, her eyes unfocused, not knowing where she was looking.

When she was eight years old, her parents abandoned her. She lived with her Grandma, but unfortunately, the old woman wasn’t fated for a long life and passed away just two years later.

Since then, she had never thought about living with another human, let alone a snake…

Just as this thought arose, a slight stinging sensation came from her fingertip.

Ah Wan looked down. An Orchid Mantis was perched there, swaying gently.

“You like her?”

Ah Wan asked.

The Orchid Mantis raised its body, its two forelegs waving continuously.

Seeing this, Ah Wan chuckled softly.

“I don’t.”

As soon as she spoke, the same stinging sensation came from her fingertip again.

Ah Wan guiltily turned her head away.

After thinking, she turned back to the Orchid Mantis, her voice soft and doting as she coaxed, “Alright, don’t be angry. Let me be alone for a bit.”

The next morning, the sun slowly rose. Ah Wan sat alone on the steps under the eaves, quietly waiting.

After another half hour or so, sounds finally came from the bedroom.

The door opened. Little Snake came out wearing loose pajamas, again with no pants on underneath. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, calling out groggily, “Human, why didn’t you come back to sleep last night?”

After speaking, she bent down, wanting to lean in for a nuzzle.

Ah Wan proficiently raised her hand and pressed her palm against the little one’s forehead. But the little one was bending over, and the collar of that shirt was too large. As soon as she turned her head, everything was revealed.

She thought for a moment. Her hand on Little Snake’s forehead slowly shifted down; she grabbed her shoulder and helped her stand up straight.

“Go inside and change your clothes. I’ll take you down the mountain.”

“Down the mountain to do what?” Little Snake blinked, very curious. “Do you need to sell herbs again?”

After speaking, she pointed at herself and asked, “Then turn into Snake?”

“No need. Taking you down the mountain to buy things.” Ah Wan finished, sidestepped her, and walked straight to the bedroom.

She found a pair of trousers made of relatively stiff fabric in the wardrobe. Ah Wan glanced back at Little Snake’s fair legs, hesitated for a moment, but put them back, taking a soft pair of pajama pants instead.

“Change into these.”

She threw the pants to Little Snake, then found a plain white vest and a gray, loose long-sleeved shirt, placing them on the bed.

“Come out after you’ve changed.”

Ah Wan finished speaking and turned to open the door and leave.

Little Snake watched her back disappear before taking off her pajama top and walking to the bedside.

She first studied them seriously for a while, then grabbed the clothes and pants and pulled them onto herself.

The pants were a bit too long, the shirt a bit too big, slipping off her shoulders to reveal one side.

Luckily, the vest fit and was snug against her body.

Ah Wan waited outside for a bit and heard the door open. Little Snake called her softly, “Human.”

She turned her head. The little one’s exposed shoulder was dazzlingly white.

“Human?” Little Snake reminded her again, pointing at her pants and saying, “Too long.”

Ah Wan snapped back to her senses. She looked down somewhat awkwardly, hesitated a moment, then bent down to roll up her pant legs for her. Next, she found a pair of shoes that were barely worn and gave them to her.

Then they prepared to go down the mountain.

Just before leaving the house, Little Snake was so excited she kept flicking her tongue.

It was her first time going down the mountain in human form. She was very much looking forward to it.

Ah Wan glanced at her, slightly puzzled. “Can’t you change your tongue?”

Everything else had changed to look very human-like. Why was it just the tongue that wouldn’t change?

Hearing this, Little Snake scratched her head and replied with distress, “Human, Snakey can’t do it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the little one suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Grabbing Ah Wan’s hand, she looked at her intently and said, “If Snakey eats Human’s tongue once, Snakey will be able to change.”

Hearing this, Ah Wan’s face instantly darkened. Saying nothing, she shook off her hand and turned to leave.

“Human, wait for Snakey.” The little one paused briefly before hurrying to catch up, even forgetting to close the courtyard gate.

The two Lily of the Valley plants by the doorway swayed gently. From over the courtyard wall, a Flower Vine stretched out, crawling furiously this way. It arched itself up and rammed hard into the gate, slamming it shut with a bang.

The morning market at the foot of the mountain was still very lively: baskets bumping against baskets, people shoulder to shoulder.

Ah Wan walked ahead, Little Snake followed behind, one small hand clutching the corner of her shirt, looking around with novelty and excitement.

When they reached a Baozi Shop, her stomach grumbled. Then she didn’t move.

Ah Wan noticed, stopped, and looked back. Little Snake’s fair, tender finger pointed into the shop. Her moist, red lips moved as if about to speak.

Without hesitation, Ah Wan pulled her into her arms and covered her mouth with her hand.

This action drew the attention of the baozi shop owner, who looked up and smiled. “Buying breakfast? We have baozi, steamed buns, flower rolls, everything. What would you like?”

Ah Wan didn’t speak and looked down at the human in her arms.

Little Snake also tilted her head up, blinking at her. She pointed at the big, plump baozi.

“Two meat-filled baozi,” Ah Wan spoke.

“Coming right up,” the owner replied cheerfully, but then hesitated, asking for confirmation, “Two?”

Hearing this, Ah Wan understood in just a second. She looked down; Little Snake was raising both hands, her five fingers on each hand spread wide like blooming flowers.

She even flexed them.

“She wants ten,” the owner reminded her with a smile.

Ah Wan looked at her, her eyes curving slightly.

“Give her ten.”

“Alright.”

The owner quickly switched to a larger bag.

The meat baozi were two yuan each. Ah Wan paid twenty, took the large bag of baozi, and then grabbed Little Snake’s wrist and left.

There were buses from the village to town, two yuan per human, a ten-minute ride.

After leaving the market, Ah Wan finally let go. She opened the bag and held it out to her.

Little Snake stealthily flicked her tongue, raised her head to glance at Ah Wan, then lowered it again, reaching into the bag and grabbing a big meat bun in each hand.

Then she shook her head and said she didn’t want any more.

“No more?” Ah Wan frowned. “Didn’t you want ten?”

Little Snake clutched the baozi in her hands to show her, replying, “Snakey wants one for this hand, one for this hand.”

Ah Wan: ?