Chapter 26

Ah Wan’s breath drew closer and closer, spilling onto her face. The heat made the Little Snake tremble slightly, and she couldn’t help but nervously close her eyes.

A clear, crisp laugh rang out, like silver bells.

Ah Wan opened her eyes to look at her, tilting her head slightly. She asked deliberately, “Why are you closing your eyes?”

“Thinking about kissing me?”

Hearing this, the Little Snake first slowly cracked open one eye for a sneaky glance. But she was caught red-handed, so she simply opened both, furrowed her brow, and puffed her cheeks out with a huff.

“Little lecherous snake.”

Ah Wan was rather happy to have teased her this much. She rubbed her head, then raised their tightly clasped hands, her burning gaze fixed on the Little Snake’s eyes.

The Little Snake’s hand still had bits of mooncake crust on it. Ah Wan slowly drew her hand to her own lips, holding her gaze as she gently kissed it.

The kiss on the fingertip was as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming the water, creating tiny, gentle ripples in the Little Snake’s heart.

“That’s what teasing is.”

“You silly snake.”

After speaking, Ah Wan patted her head. She then fished out a handkerchief from her pocket and meticulously wiped the Little Snake’s hands clean before leading her slowly onward.

“Human, look!”

The Little Snake suddenly pointed not far away, then withdrew her hand and finished the rest of her mooncake in two bites.

Ah Wan looked in the direction she had pointed, and saw it was the same two girls from earlier. They were taking photos with their phones right now.

“What are they doing?”

The Little Snake was very curious.

“Them?” Ah Wan pursed her lips slightly, thinking about how to explain it in a way that was easy to understand. In the end, she chose to say it directly, “They’re taking photos.”

“What are photos?”

“It’s recording the way two people look right now,” Ah Wan had just started when she paused, and on a sudden impulse, changed what she was going to say next. “That way, they can be together forever.”

She finished, and looked down with a touch of anticipation.

The Little Snake didn’t know what a photo was, but this explanation sounded wonderful. She let out an amazed “Wow” and said longingly, “Snakey wants to take one too.”

Hearing this, a smile naturally lifted the corner of Ah Wan’s lips.

“Wants to take one with Human,” the Little Snake added.

The smile in Ah Wan’s eyes deepened. She instinctively reached for her pocket, but suddenly remembered she hadn’t brought her phone down the mountain today.

She paused, but could only refuse.

“Can’t take one today. Next time.”

The Little Snake was a little unhappy to hear this. She shook the hand she was holding and looked up with pleading eyes. “But Snakey wants to take one right now.”

Saying this, she turned and pointed over there. “Can we borrow theirs?”

She then raised a finger to her lips and begged Ah Wan, “Just one picture, please, please.”

Ah Wan’s heart melted instantly. She couldn’t refuse. She rubbed her head and replied helplessly, “Let’s go.”

But after walking over, she didn’t interrupt immediately. She waited until the two girls had almost finished taking their own pictures before leading the Little Snake up to politely ask.

“Hello, could you help us take a photo?”

The two girls turned to look. When they saw it was them, they seemed a little embarrassed, but it only lasted a moment before they were fine.

“Sure, where do you want to take it? Is here okay?”

The curly-haired girl pointed her phone toward the left, the same spot they had been taking pictures just now.

Ah Wan glanced over, turned her head back, and replied, “No need, just take it like this.”

As she finished speaking, she quietly took a huge step sideways, her body inching closer to the Little Snake until their shoulders were touching, and they could no longer distinguish where one ended and the other began.

“Ready,” Ah Wan reminded.

The curly-haired girl opposite heard her and acknowledged with an “Oh,” raising her phone to find the angle.

“Human,” the Little Snake suddenly looked up, furrowing her brow, and quietly confirmed, “When we take this, will we be together forever?”

Ah Wan paused, looking down into her eyes. She reached out to tuck away some stray hair.

Her gaze was full of only her, but she didn’t answer.

“Okay,” the curly-haired girl aimed her phone at them, “Going to take it now.”

Hearing this, Ah Wan immediately looked up, standing up straight with a serious expression.

The Little Snake mimicked her, standing obediently by her side, looking incredibly solemn.

It wasn’t like a typical tourist photo. Both of their expressions were so earnest, it was as if they were taking a marriage certificate photo.

With a click, that solemn and sacred moment was successfully captured.

“Done,” the curly-haired girl said.

Ah Wan’s tense body only slightly relaxed then. She and the Little Snake walked over to thank them.

“Let’s add each other on WeChat, then I can send you the photos,” the curly-haired girl suggested.

“I don’t have my phone with me. You add me first, I’ll accept later.” After Ah Wan finished speaking, she paused, looked at the two girls, and suddenly spoke again, “Thank you.”

“Huh? No need to thank us, it was nothing.”

Having had their picture taken, the Little Snake was no longer curious. She held Ah Wan’s hand and continued strolling around, showing no thought of going home at all.

Not long after, they ran into several stalls selling river lanterns. Many people crowded around to buy them, then went to release them on the river not far ahead.

Looking at the glistening river lanterns on the water, Ah Wan looked down at the Little Snake. She suddenly remembered she had wanted to buy her a glowing balloon earlier, but had been sidetracked and forgotten.

“Do you want one of those?” Ah Wan asked.

The Little Snake lifted her head to look at her, full of curiosity. “What is that?”

“River lanterns. For making wishes during the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

“Making wishes?” The Little Snake murmured thoughtfully to herself, blinking. She then asked, “Lanterns can make wishes?”

Ah Wan looked at her inquiring face, thought for a moment, and said, “Maybe they can. Want to buy one and try it?”

“Really?” The Little Snake turned her head excitedly to look at Ah Wan, cheering brightly, “Human, you’re the best!”

Ah Wan didn’t speak, just quietly lowered her eyes to look at the human beside her rubbing her head affectionately against her arm. The smile on her face grew more and more evident.

“Let’s go.”

She gently swung their joined hands.

The Little Snake also raised her head, smiling sweetly as she replied, “Mm!”

The river lanterns sold at the nearby stalls were mostly similar in shape, practically all lotus-style. But Ah Wan still took the selection very seriously.

She would pick one up and show it to the Little Snake, only to find that each lantern, which had looked fine a moment before, suddenly paled in comparison.

The little one didn’t understand these things, so naturally she said everything was good. Ah Wan handed her one, and she nodded her head vigorously, smiling sweetly and saying, “Good, good.”

Ah Wan looked at her helplessly. After a doting laugh, she raised the river lantern in her hand and asked the vendor, “How much?”

“Five kuai.”

The vendor was very busy and said nothing more after replying. Ah Wan placed the money right in front of him, turned around, and led the Little Snake away.

There were many people releasing river lanterns, quite a few wearing Hanfu and carrying small flower lanterns.

The Little Snake watched the whole way, gasping in awe the whole way, her eyes fixed and staring, absolutely loving it.

“So pretty.”

Ah Wan heard her speaking and looked down, only to find the Little Snake’s gaze wasn’t on her. She frowned slightly and followed her line of sight.

After watching for a moment, Ah Wan suddenly asked, “Do you like it?”

Hearing the voice, the Little Snake turned around. After hesitating for a moment, she still nodded, letting out a small “Mm.” But then she said, very understandingly, “No buy.”

Ah Wan chuckled, squeezed her hand, and handed the river lantern over.

“Hold this.”

The Little Snake reached out with both hands and cupped it. Ah Wan lit the wick for her, and the river lantern instantly glowed.

Then, Ah Wan put her hands in her pockets and quietly watched the human in front of her.

“You can wish for a set of pretty clothes.”

She would help make it come true.

“Wish?” The Little Snake was curious. “How do you wish?”

Ah Wan gestured with her eyes towards the glowing lantern in her hand, her tone gentle. “Like everyone else, put the river lantern into the river, then close your eyes and speak your heart’s desire. If the lantern doesn’t capsize or go out, the wish will come true.”

Upon hearing this, the Little Snake carefully examined the river lantern in her hands. The wick was tiny, and the flame was fragile, as if it could accidentally go out at any moment.

She quickly and cautiously raised a hand to shield the small, bean-sized flame. She blinked, then looked up again at Ah Wan and asked, “Human, can it be any wish?”

“Mm,” Ah Wan nodded without any hesitation. “Any wish is fine.”

“Then Snakey wants to make a wish right now!”

The Little Snake finished speaking and, holding the river lantern, scurried impatiently toward the riverbank.

Ah Wan silently followed behind, watching as she looked left and right on the bank, finally finding a less crowded corner. She scurried over happily, sticking her bottom out and very carefully placing the river lantern in her hands onto the water.

“Lantern, Snakey’s going to make a wish…”

Before she could finish speaking, a splash sounded as an emotionless net scooped her lantern back up.

It seemed there was a reason this spot was less crowded.

“Ah, my lantern…”

Seeing her river lantern being taken away, the Little Snake panicked. She bent straight over, wanting to lunge forward and grab it.

Ah Wan, following right behind, had been closely watching her movements. The moment the Little Snake started to bend over, she grabbed her arm and pulled her back up.

“What are you doing?” Ah Wan asked, frowning.

The Little Snake pointed at the river’s surface and complained pitifully, “The lantern is gone. Snakey hasn’t made a wish yet.”

“If you had said a couple fewer words, you might have made it in time.” Ah Wan teased her.

“Human, you’re so mean.”

The little one threw a little tantrum, swinging her hand away with a huff. She wouldn’t hold hands anymore.

Ah Wan stared at her angry face for a while before asking, “You really want to make a wish?”

“Mm-hmm!”

The Little Snake nodded emphatically. After thinking for a moment, she very prudently reached out and hugged Ah Wan’s arm, snuggling close and cuddling up, sweetly coaxing, “Human, can you please buy Snakey another lantern?”

“Snakey will go release it over there this time.”

Ah Wan didn’t speak. She reached out and gently caressed her cheek. Then, with a twist of her wrist, a pink orchid bloomed outwards from between her knuckles.

Carefully presenting the orchid balanced on her fingertip to the Little Snake, she coaxed, “Make your wish.”

The Little Snake let go and stood there, staring blankly down for a moment before looking up and asking, “Can Snakey make a wish with this?”

“Mm.”

“And any wish will come true?”

Ah Wan replied tirelessly, “Mm.”

“Any wish you make will come true.”

Whether it was food, clothes, or toys, she would do her utmost to fulfill it.

Hearing this, the Little Snake was instantly delighted. She quickly mimicked the others, pressing her palms together beneath her chin, closing her eyes, and loudly making her wish.

“Flower, Snakey’s going to make a wish.”

“Snakey wants to be with Human, forever!”

As her voice fell, the orchid mantis on Ah Wan’s fingertip swayed a couple of times, as if the orchid itself was blossoming in an instant.

A soft kiss secretly landed on the Little Snake’s lips, grazing past like the wind, its temperature imperceptible before it was already at her ear.

Ah Wan pressed against her cheek, her lips seeming to graze the tip of her ear. In a pleasant, slow voice, her tone airy and light—

“Snake, Human heard you.”