Chapter 28

Ah Wan never thought there would come a day when she’d go down the mountain so frequently, let alone willingly.

She had originally imagined she would live on the mountain her whole life, passing her days leisurely and contentedly, until one day she would find a nice plot of auspicious land for herself, and that would be that.

Yet now, here she was, sitting willingly in a bright, minimalist shop. She tapped the countertop and asked the Little Snake, who was sprawled across it, her face full of indecision, “Have you chosen yet? Which model?”

Hearing this, the Little Snake slowly wrapped her arms around all five phones in a hug, beaming sweetly. “All of them.”

Upon hearing this, before Ah Wan could even open her mouth, the salesperson beside them was already grinning from ear to ear.

“No, you’re not an octopus,” Ah Wan refused flatly, urging her. “Pick one.”

The Little Snake snorted but could only obediently comply. In the end, after dawdling for ages, she chose the one that looked the prettiest on the outside.

“So, she’s decided against these other phones, then?” The salesperson sounded a bit regretful. Then, glancing at Ah Wan’s old phone, her eyes suddenly lit up. “The phone your little sister picked also comes in other colors. You could both buy one and use matching ones. I can give you a bit of a discount.”

“No need, just this one.” Ah Wan’s face suddenly darkened. She paid and took the phone box, her gaze glued tightly to the little one, who was hugging her new phone and studying it seriously. “Let’s go.”

The Little Snake had studied it for ages but hadn’t figured anything out. She proactively reached her hand out for Ah Wan to hold. While looking down at it, she obediently followed along.

But just as they reached the entrance, she saw a tablet displayed on the main showcase in the center of the store.

Her eyes immediately lit up, shockingly bright. She looked at the big tablet, then at the new phone she’d just bought. After doing this several times, she immediately stopped in her tracks.

She then pointed back at it and simply refused to move, looking up hopefully.

That one’s big. She wanted that one.

“What are you doing?”

Ah Wan turned her head back. Before she even finished asking the question, she understood. Following her gaze, she let out a small sigh.

“Wrap it up.”

The nearby salesperson was overjoyed to hear this and quickly bustled over.

After paying another three thousand-something, Ah Wan carried the two bags, held her hand, and walked out. They made a trip to the mobile service hall where Ah Wan used her own ID card to get the Little Snake a phone SIM.

While the SIM was being installed, the Little Snake watched intently from the side, unblinking, full of eager anticipation.

“Alright, here.” Ah Wan handed her the phone. “Look at you, so impatient.”

As she spoke, she gently patted her head with her hand.

The Little Snake quickly cupped the phone in her hands and eagerly began studying it. She couldn’t read, so she couldn’t play very skillfully, but her enthusiasm was high. Holding it, she just tapped randomly.

Seeing this, Ah Wan dialed a number on her own phone.

The Little Snake, who had been furiously tapping random spots on the screen, was given a huge fright by the missed call notification that suddenly popped up. She stared at it fixedly for a long time.

Ah Wan reached over and swiped up on the green answer button, connecting the call.

The Little Snake stared blankly at it, then turned her head to look at Ah Wan, seeing her put her phone to her own ear.

Seeing this, the Little Snake thought for a moment, then very cleverly put her phone to her own ear as well.

“Hello,” Ah Wan said softly.

The Little Snake heard it. She pulled the phone down, looked at it curiously, then put it back to her ear and replied quietly, “Mm?”

The two of them were too close, and there was too much static in the phones. Seeing that she had grasped it, Ah Wan didn’t say anything more. She turned her phone screen to face the Little Snake, then pressed the red hang-up button.

The Little Snake took her own phone and looked. The previous screen was gone.

“Wow, so amazing,” she marveled.

Ah Wan smiled, tilted her chin at her, and said, “You call me.”

“How?” The Little Snake held her phone and asked, eager to learn.

“Tap this,” Ah Wan demonstrated on her own phone. “Find my phone number. Call it.”

The Little Snake followed her instructions step by step and actually managed to dial the call. Instantly ecstatic, she looked up at her.

“Human!”

Seeing the incoming call display on her phone, Ah Wan slowly tapped the answer button right in front of her, then put the phone to her ear.

“Hey-o?”

The Little Snake also impatiently put the phone to her ear and spoke first, smiling broadly as she looked at Ah Wan.

Ah Wan didn’t respond, but instead said to her, “Hang up.”

“Oh.” The Little Snake pulled the phone down, stared at it for a moment, and recalled how Human had done it. Then, with one finger, she poked the red button.

Ah Wan reminded her, “Let go.”

“Oh.”

The Little Snake obediently did so, immediately releasing her finger. The call was indeed disconnected.

She was incredibly happy, quickly looking up at her and proudly saying, “Human, Snakey learned it!”

Seeing this face full of an eagerness to be praised, Ah Wan couldn’t help but laugh along. “Mm,” she acknowledged, and then praised without any stinginess, “So smart.”

“Mm! Snakey’s smart!”

The Little Snake giggled foolishly a couple of times, then lowered her head again to start researching the phone’s other functions.

Ah Wan checked the time: 11:13. After thinking for a moment, she put her phone away and said to her, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to eat something first.”

The fourth floor of this shopping mall was entirely restaurants. The two of them took the escalator up. They had only reached the second floor when they began to smell the aromas.

The Little Snake had one hand on the escalator railing and the other holding Ah Wan’s hand. She craned her little head around to look everywhere, incredibly excited.

“Watch your step,” Ah Wan reminded.

“Oh.”

The Little Snake immediately pulled her gaze back. Holding hands, she stood properly. When she saw Ah Wan step off, she also lifted her foot high and bounced off lightly.

“Don’t jump,” Ah Wan looked at her and held her hand even tighter. “It’s dangerous.”

“Oh,” the Little Snake’s voice softened a bit. She hugged Ah Wan’s arm tightly and pressed close, looking up at her with bright eyes, saying in a small voice, “Snakey will be good.”

Seeing this cautious and careful manner of hers, Ah Wan couldn’t help but laugh. She deliberately coaxed her, “Just hold onto me, then it’ll be fine.”

“Okay!” The Little Snake nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Ah Wan, hugging her even tighter. “Snakey’s holding on.”

The smile on Ah Wan’s lips grew even more pronounced. The joy in her voice was impossible to hide as she said lightly, “Take a look, what do you want to eat?”

The Little Snake couldn’t read. She could only stick her head out and sniff around. The rich smell of meat was almost intoxicatingly savory. She reached out a hand, pointed across, and said excitedly, “Human, there’s meat here.”

A fragrant breeze wafted over. She wrinkled her nose and immediately pointed her pale hand to the side, so agitated. “Human, there’s meat here too!”

As she spoke, she sniffed, her snake tongue almost unable to stay hidden in her mouth from gluttony.

“So much meat, meat everywhere.”

Ah Wan glanced and considerately explained, “That’s a Korean BBQ place.”

“Korean BBQ?” The Little Snake repeated curiously. She then pointed her hand across. “What about that one?”

“Hot pot.”

“And that one?”

“Buffet.”

They made a round, practically checking out every restaurant. Ah Wan fanned herself with a stack of flyers and asked, “Made up your mind yet? Which one do you want to eat at?”

The Little Snake was also holding two flyers, comparing them. But even though she was almost drooling, she still couldn’t decide.

What exactly to eat today? This really was an age-old dilemma.

Ah Wan waited patiently, letting her choose.

The Little Snake agonized for a long time before picking up one of the flyers, pointing at a large platter of meat on it, and saying longingly, “Human, want to eat this.”

“This one has more meat.”

Ah Wan looked down.

Time Restaurant.

She then lifted her head and scanned around. After orienting herself to the right direction, she led her there.

Time Restaurant was newly opened. Whether business really was that good, or if they were running some kind of marketing tactic, there were especially many people queuing at the door. Ah Wan and the Little Snake could only take a queue number and wait outside.

There was a row of chairs for guests at the restaurant entrance. The Little Snake walked over, plopped down on one, and then took out her phone, gleefully playing with it.

Ah Wan carried the bags over and sat down next to her. She glanced sideways; the Little Snake was long-pressing an app icon and sliding it around, very cleverly putting the ones of the same color together.

“Human,” the Little Snake had finished arranging a row and looked up happily. “This is so fun.”

Ah Wan pursed her lips slightly, unable to hold back her laughter. After her laugh faded, she held out her hand to her. “Here.”

The Little Snake looked at her curiously, but still obediently handed her phone over. Then, bracing her hands on her knees, she tilted her head and watched with curiosity.

Ah Wan opened the mini-game app and selected a match-three puzzle game. She first demonstrated by tapping twice to make a match for her to see.

“Tap the identical ones to clear them. Got it?”

“Got it, got it!”

The Little Snake quickly responded, impatiently reaching out to take it back, and began playing, mimicking what she had just done.

Ah Wan quietly watched from the side. She had to admit, the little one was really very smart. In no time at all, she was playing quite proficiently.

She didn’t even need to watch ads for extra lives; she was cruising on pure skill.

“Human, look!”

Every time the Little Snake passed a level, she would proudly show her phone to Ah Wan.

“Mm,” Ah Wan nodded, gently kneading her earlobe and letting her play by herself. But her gaze fell upon her cuffs.

The clothes, pants, and shoes the Little Snake was wearing were all hers. Over the years, Ah Wan hadn’t been particular about food or clothing. Her clothes were pilling and fraying, and she either didn’t mind, or simply never noticed.

Ah Wan rubbed her head softly and quietly watched her play her game. She waited until she finished a level before reaching out to turn her phone off and standing up.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

The Little Snake asked, tilting her head up.

“I’m going to buy you some clothes.”

After finishing, Ah Wan shifted the bags she was carrying to her other hand, then reached out toward her.

The Little Snake quickly placed her hand into her palm. As she followed along, she reminded her, “Snakey has clothes already.”

“Mm,” Ah Wan didn’t explain further. “We’ll just get a couple more.”

The second floor was the clothing section. The Little Snake liked things with brighter colors. The moment she entered a store, her gaze was captured by the roomful of pretty clothes.

“Wow, so pretty.”

The Little Snake shook Ah Wan’s hand, her eyes almost unable to take it all in.

“Come on, let’s go look.”

Ah Wan finished speaking and led her further in to browse. The new shop assistant accompanied them somewhat awkwardly.

The Little Snake browsed for a long time. She found herself torn between an outfit with a red sweater and dark blue bib pants, and a beige coat. She didn’t know which set to buy.

“Both…” Ah Wan began, but her phone suddenly rang. She glanced down, her expression souring slightly. Suppressing her irritation, she looked up and gently coaxed the Little Snake. “Try both on. I need to take this call.”

She finished speaking and strode hastily outside with her phone.

Seeing Ah Wan leave, the Little Snake instantly lost all interest in buying clothes. She stood there dejectedly, waiting for her to return, not moving an inch. Stubborn as could be.

The shop assistant kept her company for a moment and, with a robotic chuckle, started making conversation using the universal small-talk phrase: “Is that your older sister? You two sisters have such a wonderful relationship.”

“Not older sister.”

The Little Snake replied in a muffled voice. She had no siblings.

“Oh, not your sister? I just assumed you were sisters.” The shop assistant felt even more awkward and rubbed her nose. Curiously, she asked, “So, is she your girlfriend?”

“Hm?”

The Little Snake turned her head, blinking curiously. “What’s a girlfriend?”

Hearing this, the shop assistant thought she had said something wrong and immediately started apologizing. “Oh, I’m so sorry, so sorry! I just thought you two were a couple, I didn’t mean anything else by it.”

“Two… are a couple?” The Little Snake was clearly not interested in the shop assistant’s frantic apologies. She caught the keywords and murmured to herself.

She couldn’t count very well. After trying to figure it out for a while, she thought she’d sorted it out, so she pursed her lips into a smile, nodded, and replied, “Mm! We are a couple.”

Shop Assistant: …Huh?

A few minutes later, Ah Wan finished her call. But when she walked back into the store, she found the Little Snake still standing in the exact same spot, waiting for her.

“Did you try on the clothes?”

She asked.

The Little Snake shook her head and stepped forward to grab her arm, shaking it coaxingly. “Waiting for you to come back and help me put them on.”

She’d never worn bib pants before and didn’t know how.

The shop assistant overhearing this quietly turned her back.

Ah Wan checked the time, then looked at the two outfits. She roughly gauged them with her eyes and figured they would fit well enough. She said to the shop assistant, “Wrap up both sets.”

“Hm? No trying on?” The Little Snake was curious.

“No more trying things on. Our queue number upstairs might get called soon.”

Ah Wan finished speaking, held her hand without hesitation to go pay, and then picked up the clothes and left.

When they arrived back at the hot pot restaurant’s entrance, it was just their turn. The waiter led them inside and asked along the way, “Hello, how many will be dining today?”

“There are two of us—”

Ah Wan had just opened her mouth to answer when the Little Snake beside her suddenly, loudly, and proudly declared, “We are a couple!”

“Oh,” the waiter paused for a moment but recovered quickly. “So you two would like a couple’s booth, right?”

Ah Wan didn’t speak, just turned her head to look at the Little Snake next to her.

The little one didn’t even know what a couple’s booth was but nodded her head vigorously. “Mm-hmm!”

“Then this way, please,” the waiter shifted direction.

The Little Snake eagerly stepped forward to follow, but as soon as she took a step, Ah Wan pulled her right back.

“A couple?”

“Who taught you that?”

Ah Wan pinched her cheek. “Do you know what it means?”