Hearing this, the man was initially unwilling to back down and wanted to say something more. But the moment he looked up and met Ah Wan’s gaze, he instantly cowered.
Her naturally reddened eye tails were intimidating even without rage, her voice carrying a chill.
“Still not leaving?”
The man didn’t dare say another word. Grabbing his things, he scurried away in defeat.
The Little Snake in her arms stirred, lifting her small face to smile at Ah Wan.
Ah Wan’s expression wasn’t good. She looked at her grimly, her tone a bit heavy. “Still smiling?”
The Little Snake immediately wiped the smile off her face. She pouted and whined, “You’re scolding me?”
Ah Wan didn’t speak. She just pinched her cheek as a lesson. Then her hand slid down and unhesitatingly grabbed hers.
The Little Snake’s hand was slender and soft, feeling exceptionally nice in her palm. Ah Wan rubbed it with her thumb from time to time, leading her toward the Bubble Tea Shop, watching her more closely than she’d watch her own eyes.
The tea shop was quite crowded at the moment. Ah Wan sheltered her by her side and pointed up at the menu board. “Which one do you want to drink?”
The menu board only had a few featured items; it couldn’t possibly list all the flavors. Usually, it showed the bestsellers or new products.
The Little Snake craned her neck to look for a while, then pointed at a purple drink right in the center. She turned to Ah Wan, “I want that one.”
Ah Wan looked up—
Taro Bobo Coconut Milk.
The people in front of them bought their drinks and left. Ah Wan brought her up to the counter and ordered one. She paid in cash, taking the receipt slip and waiting off to the side.
Caught firmly by Ah Wan’s hand, the Little Snake couldn’t go anywhere. Unfortunately, she was an incredibly curious snake. Her big eyes darted around eagerly, taking in the shop’s interior decoration.
Curious to touch something but too scared to actually do it, she kept a finger’s width distance and pointed, asking Ah Wan, “Human, what is this?”
It looked a bit like Crispy Noodles.
Ah Wan glanced down. A bag of melon seeds. She said offhandedly, “Ghost Claw.”
“Ah!”
Hearing these three words, the Little Snake instantly yanked her finger back, putting it in her mouth. A moment later, she reacted and quickly put it down, pulling Ai Wan’s hand open, trying desperately to stuff her fist inside to hide it.
“Order 118, your tea is ready…”
Ah Wan handed over the receipt with one hand, slightly loosening her left hand to let the little one place both hands into her palm. She then closed her fingers around them, holding tight, and led her out again, carrying the tea.
After leaving the tea shop, she found a less crowded spot. Ah Wan let go, took the tea out, and handed it to her.
The Little Snake, whose original anxiety at losing the warmth of Ah Wan’s palm had made her whine and chase after her hand to hold it, was instantly distracted by the fragrant cup held before her.
The Little Snake smacked her lips greedily, flicking her tongue, and quickly accepted it with both hands.
“Hehe.” She even giggled foolishly while holding the tea cup.
Ah Wan’s expression had improved considerably. The corner of her mouth held a faint, gentle smile as she tenderly watched this hopeless little creature. She then lowered her head to take the straw from the bag to poke it into the cup for her. But just as she tore open the wrapper, she heard a crisp pop right by her ear.
Turning, she saw the Little Snake holding the tea, having bitten right through the plastic lid with one chomp—and her two venomous fangs were now stuck tight.
“Mmph~”
The Little Snake couldn’t speak, too afraid to yank them out forcibly for fear of damaging her teeth. She could only hold the tea and look up at Ah Wan, whimpering pitifully for help.
Ah Wan frowned slightly. She pressed a hand on the plastic lid and gently pulled the fangs out, then carefully inspected them.
Thankfully, they weren’t broken.
Ah Wan withdrew her hand and said nothing, just staring at the young girl before her with a stern face.
The Little Snake slowly closed her mouth. Her sharp fangs poked into her soft lower lip, the corners of her mouth drooping downwards. Her big eyes instantly grew teary.
“Wah~ scared.”
She leaned toward Ah Wan as she spoke, wanting to nuzzle.
Ah Wan raised a hand to push against her forehead, stopping her approach. “Why weren’t you scared when you were biting it?”
Only after saying this did she poke the straw in for her. She even casually pinched the girl’s chubby cheek, her tone softening a little. “Suck.”
The Little Snake understood. Holding the tea, she took a huge gulp through the straw. Tasting it, she immediately narrowed her eyes in bliss. After two chews, she held the cup up to Ah Wan’s lips and eagerly said, “Tasty. Human should have some too.”
Ah Wan tilted her head slightly, dodging. She pushed the girl’s hand back. “I don’t want it. Drink it yourself.”
The Little Snake impatiently took another big gulp, smacking her lips in delight.
“Human, this little sweet water is so, so delicious.”
She was impatient and drank hastily, her lip beads scraping against the straw and leaving a tiny smear of milk tea. She herself was completely unaware.
Ah Wan looked down, watching her. Seeing her only know how to grin foolishly at her, she couldn’t help but reach out and wipe away the smudge on the girl’s mouth with her thumb.
Then she brought her hand to her own lips and lightly licked it with the tip of her tongue.
The Little Snake stared blankly, hugging her tea. Though her mouth was empty, she swallowed hard, lifting her small face to gaze longingly.
She wanted to lick that so badly.
Ah Wan lowered her eyes, her crow-feather lashes sweeping delicately. The reddened corners of her eyes were the ultimate in bewitchment. Her tone was light and airy, with a teasing quality that tickled the heart.
“Is it? Then you owe me another eighteen yuan.”
After speaking, she laughed a couple of low, crisp, almost lazily lilting laughs, not taking her eyes off the bewildered girl before her.
The Little Snake held her cup and drank her tea. Hearing this, she slowly nodded, but her eyes were fixed tightly on the tips of her own shoes.
Blushing, she secretly took a huge breath, wondering who knows what.
“Let’s go.” Ah Wan crooked her finger and lightly knocked it on the Little Snake’s head, raising the corners of her lips smugly. “Little Lecherous Snake.”
“Oof!” The Little Snake yelped in pain, rubbing her head with her hand.
Ah Wan chuckled, her mood vastly improved. She grabbed the girl’s hand. While walking toward the Pirate Ship Ride, she said, with an air of great benevolence, “Just one time.”
The Little Snake was led forward in a daze, raising her tea with one hand to drink. Hearing this, she couldn’t contain her excitement. She scampered a couple of steps to catch up and walk side-by-side, her cheeks flushed as she went to hold Ah Wan’s hand.
“Human, you’re so good. Snakey likes you.”
Ah Wan didn’t speak, but the corners of her lips lifted even higher.
The ticket booth wasn’t crowded; most people bought tickets on their phones. When Ah Wan and the Little Snake walked over, there were few people in line, and it was soon their turn.
“Two tickets.” Ah Wan said, handing over a cash note.
The Ticket Seller took the money and quickly printed two tickets.
With tickets in hand, they had to go queue up elsewhere. The Little Snake stood obediently beside Ah Wan, drinking her tea noisily, sucking the empty cup with a loud slurping sound that made the people waiting nearby turn their heads repeatedly.
Seeing this, Ah Wan pointed to a nearby trash can and taught her, “Throw it in there.”
The Little Snake didn’t listen right away. She first held the cup up to her ear and shook it, confirming there wasn’t a single drop left. Only then did she reluctantly drop it into the trash can.
Then she stood properly next to Ah Wan. After looking up at the swinging Pirate Ship for a while, she still couldn’t resist turning to Ah Wan and tentatively testing the waters in a whisper: “Is little sweet water also only allowed one cup?”
The snake radiated a kind of silly, clever energy.
Hearing this, Ah Wan smirked and looked down at her. She squeezed the hand she was holding slightly and asked back, “What do you think?”
The Little Snake’s gaze evaded hers. She gave a small huff, lowered her head, and muttered stubbornly, “Snakey knows. Snakey was just asking.”
As she spoke, she scuffed the tip of her shoe on the ground.
Ah Wan, of course, knew what she was trying to do but still pretended not to understand.
The previous round’s riders finished, and it was Ah Wan’s group’s turn to board.
The Little Snake was even more excited than Ah Wan had imagined. She directly pulled her toward the very back, the endmost seat, and sat down with a plop.
A little girl in a small dress who’d been in front had taken a middle seat and was about to call her parents over. Suddenly, a chubby boy sat right down next to her with a thud, squeezing her forcefully. It looked like he was trying to steal the spot.
The little girl lost her balance and started to fall sideways, her head about to hit the railing. Ah Wan reached out in time and cushioned the blow.
“Thank you, Older Sister.” The little girl thanked her shyly, then turned and went to sit somewhere else.
Having snatched the seat, the chubby boy didn’t even seem to want it anymore. Seeing the little girl leave, he got up and followed her.
The Safety Officer came around to check the safety bars, confirming each one before exiting.
Ah Wan calmly watched the overly excited girl beside her, who was gripping the bar in front with both hands, looking around left and right with fresh curiosity.
After a moment’s thought, Ah Wan still took the girl’s hand and held it in her own palm.
The Pirate Ship began to move slowly. Some people were already shrieking softly.
The swinging arc grew wider and wider. People sitting in the back row felt the weightlessness much more acutely.
The girl next to Ah Wan was timid, burying herself in her boyfriend’s arms in fear.
Ah Wan turned her head and silently watched them for a moment, not knowing what she was thinking. Then she turned her head to look at the human on her left—
The little one was completely fearless, shaking her head against the wind, her mouth wide open, shouting “Ahhhh” non-stop.
After watching for a moment, Ah Wan suddenly laughed. She silently squeezed the Little Snake’s fingers, then spread her own hand, interlacing their fingers and holding on tight.
When the stern of the ship swung to its highest point, more than half the riders screamed.
Ah Wan also clearly felt a tightening grip on her hand. The Little Snake was holding onto her tightly, her mouth opened wide.
Her slender, pink snake tongue, not properly coiled, suddenly slipped out and fluttered in the air in a wavy pattern.
“Ahhhh~~”
The chubby boy sitting opposite spotted it by accident. He instantly blanched in terror. Pointing at the Little Snake, his voice trembling, he shouted: “Ah! A snake…!”
“AAAAAAAAH!” The ship-wide chorus of screams perfectly drowned out his words.
Ah Wan pulled her hand free and wrapped her arm around the Little Snake’s shoulders, her other hand covering the girl’s mouth.
The snake tongue licked wildly in her palm, causing the pulse at her wrist to seem both itchy and hot.
Yet she couldn’t scratch the itch.
When they finally managed to disembark, Ah Wan immediately took her hand and left. The chubby boy followed behind, so scared when the Little Snake turned around that he dove behind his parents to hide.
But driven by curiosity, he still peeked out with one eye.
The Little Snake looked around, and seeing no one really paying attention to her, bent down toward the chubby boy and flicked her tongue. He was scared stiff, his face ashen, his body instantly rigid. He couldn’t move, and even forgot to cry.
“Scaring people?”
Ah Wan caught the Little Snake’s little trick behind her back. She turned around and gently pinched her cheek, making her retract her tongue. “What did I tell you? How should you behave outside?”
“Outside…” The Little Snake, her cheek pinched and her tongue curled up deep inside, spoke with difficulty, slowly and laboriously. “No… flicking tongue.”
“Then why did you flick it.” Ah Wan threatened her. “Don’t want it anymore?”
Listening, the Little Snake scrunched her nose and gave a little huff, acting like a pampered brat. “Of course I do.”
“Have I been spoiling you too much?”
