Chapter 23

Little Snake’s face was adorably pudgy, and being pinched by Ah Wan didn’t annoy her. Instead, she narrowed her eyes in comfort, leaned in to nuzzle her, and clung to Ah Wan’s arm, acting all cutesy as she asked curiously, “What does ‘spoiling’ mean?”

“It means to spoil someone.”

“Huh?” Little Snake looked troubled, scratching her head. “Human, what are you talking about? Snakey doesn’t get it.”

Ah Wan used a bit more force, pinching that plump little face with a light scold, “Forget it if you don’t understand.”

“Stupid snake.” Her words carried a tone of fond affection.

After saying that, she took her hand and continued walking forward.

Little Snake, led firmly by the hand, followed behind. She stared at Ah Wan’s reddening ear, completely puzzled, and muttered under her breath, “What does ‘spoiling’ mean?”

Just then, a couple dragged a child past them. The child wanted a toy, the woman said no, and the child kept crying and wailing.

The man raised his palm high and landed a solid smack right on the child’s bottom.

“Buy, buy, buy! All you know is ‘buy’ every single day! Have I spoiled you too much, is that it?”

Startled by the slap, the child immediately stopped crying, shut their mouth tightly, and looked at him with hiccuping sobs, utterly pitiful.

Ah Wan paid no mind to other people’s business, her sole focus on strolling slowly along, holding Little Snake’s hand.

When she saw someone selling cotton candy, she remembered how incredibly greedy this little creature was. It might be fun to buy one and tease her later, so she stopped walking.

Little Snake’s attention had been entirely on that family. She didn’t notice Ah Wan stop and bumped right into her with a muffled thud.

Ah Wan slowly turned around, frowning a reminder: “Watch where you’re walking.”

“Oh, got it.”

Little Snake rubbed her forehead and immediately stood up straight, her little face tense. Her big eyes stared wide and unblinking, looking incredibly serious.

The more Ah Wan looked, the cuter she found her. Unable to resist, she pulled Little Snake’s hand, yanking her closer to her side.

Then, leaning past her shoulder, she bent down slightly and pointed at the cotton candy stall, asking by her ear, “What flavor do you want?”

“Huh?”

Little Snake’s pupils suddenly constricted. She took a sharp breath and then waved her hands repeatedly. “No, no.”

“No?” Ah Wan was shocked. “Are you sure?”

“Mm.” Little Snake stared unblinkingly at the cotton candy being spun in the vendor’s hands, so hungry she was swallowing her saliva, yet still said with a serious face, “I’ve never liked this stuff since I was little.”

The human next to them finished buying their cotton candy and left, and Little Snake’s head followed them away, craning her neck as if she wanted to go over for a lick.

Laughing, Ah Wan grabbed her and pulled her back, holding her against her chest. She said to the vendor, “One Little Snake Cotton Candy.”

“Big or small?”

“Big.”

“Twenty.”

Ah Wan pulled a twenty-yuan note from her pocket and placed it in the money box, then waited patiently.

“I don’t want any,” Little Snake, seeing this, grew anxious. She grabbed Ah Wan’s arm, humming and whining, “Don’t buy it.”

She was afraid of getting spanked.

“Really don’t want it?” Ah Wan looked down at her, a little surprised.

Little Snake hurriedly nodded her head forcefully, replying with a straight face, “Snakey never eats this.”

Ah Wan watched her talk, all the while gulping down saliva from hunger, and knew she was putting on a brave front. It instantly seemed even more amusing. In a great mood, she replied, “Fine, I will eat it.”

She added deliberately, to provoke her, “And when the time comes, you’re not allowed to eat mine.”

Hearing this, Little Snake puffed up her cheeks and pouted, clenching her teeth as she spoke insincerely, “I won’t eat it. Snakey said she won’t, so she won’t.”

“Heh,” Ah Wan looked at her and chuckled, nodding in agreement. “Alright, I’ll remember that.”

There were still three or four people in line ahead, and the shapes they wanted were relatively complex, so it took a while. By the time it was Ah Wan and Little Snake’s turn, over twenty minutes had passed.

“The little snake you wanted, right?” the vendor confirmed again.

Ah Wan nodded. “Yes.”

“What color?”

Ah Wan glanced at the fair young girl beside her, a faint smile on her face. Her tone couldn’t help but soften.

“Pink.”

“Alright, wait just a moment.”

The vendor said this, scooped a spoonful of sugar into the machine, then picked up a long wooden stick and began to spin.

The vendor made the snake-shaped cotton candy very quickly and with good aesthetics—a pinkish-white color, a big, round head perched on the tip of the stick.

The cheeks were also round and plump, dusted with a bit of pink blush, and a pair of bright, beady little eyes were stuck on.

The snake tongue was long, red cotton candy, hanging outside the mouth. When the wind blew, it swayed gently back and forth, looking quite realistic.

Its chubby body was wrapped twice around the wooden stick. The vendor seemed very satisfied with his own craftsmanship. After admiring it for a moment, he held it up and asked, “Eat it now, or later?”

Ah Wan looked at the human beside her, thought for a moment, and replied, “Wrap it up.”

“Alright.”

The vendor swiftly slipped a clear plastic bag over it and handed it over—a big, puffed-up package.

Ah Wan reached out to take it, deliberately holding it high to pass it over Little Snake’s head.

The little creature’s neck followed, tilting back until she was looking straight up. She pursed her lips.

“Want some?” Ah Wan looked down, meeting her eyes.

Little Snake looked expectant and let out an “Mm,” staring fixedly at the cotton candy in Ah Wan’s hand. But she quickly caught herself, hurriedly stiffening her little face and shaking her head. “No, no, no, Snakey won’t eat it.”

Snakey said she wouldn’t eat it, so she absolutely wouldn’t. She was just looking.

Ah Wan said nothing. She rubbed her head and pushed her upright, then handed over the cotton candy in her hand.

“Wow!” Little Snake’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement. She took it without the slightest hesitation.

Looking at her overjoyed expression, Ah Wan hooked her lips into a smile. Only then did she bend down and say slowly by her ear, “It’s mine. You’re just holding it for me. No sneaking bites, Working Snake.”

The moment the words fell, Little Snake’s radiant, smiling face instantly crumbled. Holding the cotton candy with both hands, she looked up at Ah Wan, forcing a smile. “Human, I’ll just help you hold it like this, okay?”

As she spoke, she walked stiffly down the street, holding the cotton candy snake up like a placard.

Ah Wan chuckled, grabbing her arm and pulling her to walk on the inner side of the path, shielding her on the outside. She glanced down from time to time, a smile always in her eyes.

The whole way, Little Snake walked carefully, holding the cotton candy high with her head up and chest out. She didn’t twist her head around looking left and right anymore and walked exceptionally fast. Before she even realized it, they were already at the foothills of the mountain.

Ah Wan lifted her eyes to look at the cotton candy held high above, then tenderly glanced at the silly little creature and suddenly said, “So it was like dangling a little carrot.”

“Huh?” Little Snake turned her head, her big eyes blinking. “Human, what did you just say?”

“Nothing.” Ah Wan didn’t repeat it. She gently supported Little Snake’s lower back with her hand, pushing her forward. “Up the mountain. Time to go home.”

The two had spent too much time at the amusement park, and the sky was already darkening by the time they were only halfway up.

Little Snake charged ahead with her head down, while Ah Wan followed right behind, not losing pace at all, not even breathing heavily after climbing for so long.

The mountain forest on an autumn evening held a desolate, bleak air. Withered grass and fallen leaves rustled noisily in the wind.

After walking forward a couple of steps, Ah Wan suddenly stopped, her expression dark and gloomy.

“Human, what’s wrong?” Little Snake turned her head to look. “Why aren’t you walking?”

Ah Wan didn’t answer. Instead, with her back turned, she asked in a cold voice, “How long do you plan to follow?”

“Huh?”

Little Snake thought she was talking to her and was about to respond, but when she turned her head, she saw a blurry figure emerge from behind a large tree.

“The road’s wide open; everyone walks their own path. Who’s following you?”

The man spoke sarcastically. Having been angered by Ah Wan during the day, he held a deep grudge, only daring to show himself now that it was dark and deserted.

“Does this whole mountain belong to you? Mind your own business.”

Ah Wan ignored his words, even less inclined to waste time on him. She directly plucked a leaf, brushed off the dust, and placed it to her lips, blowing softly.

In an instant, dense clusters of Gu insects, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, burrowed out from the earth, crawling rapidly towards the man.

The man tried to flee, but a rattan vine as thick as a baby’s arm burst from the ground, firmly entangling his ankle and dragging him to the ground. A knife also fell out of his clothes pocket.

Ah Wan saw it. A cold light flashed in her eyes. Countless Gu insects, large and small, instantly swarmed over his legs, gnawing at his flesh and blood.

“Ah~” The man screamed heart-wrenchingly, his whole body trembling like a sieve, begging bitterly.

Ah Wan paid no heed. Only when the Gu insects had devoured his legs did she stop playing.

Then, slowly raising her chin, she looked down icily at the man struggling in the dirt and let out a cold shout, “Who do you think makes the rules here?”

“Ungrateful wretch.”

As her words fell, Little Snake also opened her mouth, baring her venomous fangs, and charged forward, roaring fiercely as if she wanted to swallow that human whole.

Ah Wan, with quick eyes and swift hands, grabbed her arm and pulled her back into her embrace. She smoothed the stray hairs by her ear, cupped her face, and asked, “What are you doing?”

Little Snake opened her mouth and gnashed her teeth, replying, “He’s bad. Snakey will eat him.”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Ah Wan pressed her head against her own shoulder and patted it gently, coaxing, “Eating any kind of filthy thing? I’ll go home and cook you some meat.”

So saying, she took her hand and led her towards home.

After walking a couple of steps, Little Snake still glared resentfully at the man, utterly furious.

Arriving home, after putting their things down, Ah Wan immediately rolled up her sleeves and hurried into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

In the past, when she lived here alone and came back late, she never ate. She would just wash up and go straight to bed.

But that clearly wouldn’t do now. She was raising a Little Pig Snake at home who could eat; three meals a day had to be fully satisfying.

After entering the house, Little Snake sat primly at the table, staring at the cotton candy in her hands with sparkling eyes.

Holding it the whole way had driven her wild with its fragrance.

Ah Wan brought the dishes over, placed them on the table, and then plucked the cotton candy from her hands.

Little Snake was so anxious she stood up on the spot, but meeting Ah Wan’s eyes, she wilted, standing there listlessly without speaking.

Seeing her like this, Ah Wan wanted to laugh. She took the cotton candy, sniffed it lightly, and deliberately raised an eyebrow to tease her: “It really smells amazing. I’ll savor it slowly after I finish my meal.”

“Then Snakey will keep holding it for you.” Little Snake hurriedly extended both hands, trying to curry favor, but Ah Wan withdrew her hand, dodging. Smiling brightly, she said, “You’ve been burdened with it this whole journey. I won’t trouble you now. I’ll just stick it on the table.”

“Snakey isn’t tired at all.”

Little Snake quickly declared.

But Ah Wan acted as if she hadn’t heard, casually sticking the cotton candy into a crack at the corner of the table. Then she glanced at her. “Wash your hands and eat.”

“Oh.”

Little Snake stared at the big cotton candy for a while before reluctantly going to wash her hands.

After eating and cleaning up, Ah Wan prepared to wash up. She glanced at the little creature still sitting at the table, chin resting on her hands, gazing lovingly at the cotton candy. After a moment’s thought, she leaned against the doorframe and called out, “Stupid snake, go wash up.”

Little Snake heard the voice and turned her head, her eyes rolling cleverly. She replied, “Snakey won’t wash.”

Ah Wan didn’t speak, only frowned and let out a questioning “Hm?”

Little Snake immediately, sensibly, corrected herself: “Snakey will wash in a bit. Human wash first.”

Ah Wan knew what she was up to. Unable to suppress her amusement, she nodded, pretending nonchalance. “Fine, I’ll wash first then.”

She added, with very deliberate emphasis, “Absolutely do not eat my cotton candy.”

“Mm!” Little Snake nodded vigorously, replying earnestly, “Human, rest assured, Snakey will guard it for you. Definitely won’t sneak a bite.”

Ah Wan smiled slightly and turned, going into the bedroom.

Little Snake craned her neck to watch. Only when she saw her truly leave did she eagerly yet cautiously lean in, even sniffing gently with the tip of her nose.

Sniffing through the plastic bag couldn’t satisfy her craving no matter what. Little Snake tilted her head, circling around it, sniffing every which way, but it was useless. So she quietly undid the plastic bag.

So fragrant.

She was so greedy she kept flicking her tongue.

She was only told she couldn’t eat it, not that she couldn’t lick it. One little lick shouldn’t be noticed, right?

She could just put the bag back on after licking.

Little Snake slowly leaned closer, sticking out her snake tongue and carefully licking the snake’s head once.

Oh no!

One lick left a huge dent.

Little Snake blinked, leaned in to stare disbelievingly—sure enough, she had licked it into ruin!

“Wah, it’s over. I’m gonna get spanked.”

She hurriedly reached out to pinch and mold it, trying to restore its original shape, but it only became more of a mess, her hands covered in sticky sugar strands.

Sticky and gooey. Licking it off her fingers—it was actually pretty tasty.

Little Snake finished licking her hands clean, then went back to pinching the cotton candy. The cotton candy snake’s head was directly squished flat, no matter what, it couldn’t return to its original shape.

Wah~

Every pinch brought a handful of sticky sugar strands. Eating fearfully, by the time Little Snake came back to her senses, the stick stuck on the table had been licked completely clean, not a trace left.

The sound of water from the bathroom stopped. Ah Wan opened the door and walked out, shrouded in steam.

Suddenly, her steps halted. She took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing slightly as she quietly observed the young girl kneeling on the bed.

Outer pants couldn’t be worn on the bed; Little Snake remembered that.

So she had directly taken off her pants, wearing only her blue strawberry shorts. She was sprawled on the bed like a cat, bottom sticking up high, waiting obediently.

Seeing the human emerge, she swayed her hips from side to side in small movements and pleaded in a soft voice, “Human, can you spank Snakey’s bottom lightly?”

Ah Wan was stunned for a moment, then the laughter in her eyes fully rippled outward. She strode over in two large steps and stood by the bed.