Chapter 32

“I’ll be back soon.”

“There’s food warming on the stove. Remember to eat it.”

“No eating snacks.”

After Ah Wan finished her instructions, a new voice message quickly arrived from the other end. It was still that slow, lazy tone. “Okay~”

Immediately after, another one came. “Come back quickly. Snakey doesn’t want to be home alone.”

Ah Wan’s heart softened hearing this. The cold expression on her face couldn’t help but soften too. Yet, looking at her phone, her reply was still indifferent. “Mm, got it.”

She then put away her phone, opened the Gu jar, and grabbed all the bees in front of her with her bare hands, stuffing them inside.

The mid-mountain cabin was covered in snow and wind. The little snake stood at the door holding her rice bowl, pleading in a soft voice, “Help me.”

She also held a pack of Crispy Noodles. “Help me tear this open too.”

The Flower Vine obediently raised a thin tendril. It first tore open the Crispy Noodles for her, then diligently helped pick the green peppers out of her bowl, tossing them into the Poison Creature Room.

Destroying all evidence of the peppers.

Two Lily of the Valley plants stood guard by the entrance, watching for wind. Seeing Ah Wan approach from afar carrying the Gu jar, they immediately swayed frantically, making a clear jingling sound.

The Flower Vine, in the middle of picking out peppers, instantly burrowed underground to hide. The little snake also hurriedly carried her bowl and ran inside.

When Ah Wan reached the courtyard gate, she raised her hand to push it open but suddenly stopped. She turned her head to look at the courtyard wall beside her, smiled knowingly, and then pushed the door open to enter.

Inside, the little snake was panickedly hiding her unfinished Crispy Noodles behind a sofa cushion, pressing her butt against the cushion and holding perfectly still.

She then hugged her big rice bowl and sat primly on the sofa, eating while watching TV.

“I’m back.”

Ah Wan deliberately made a sound to announce herself.

“Human! You’re finally back!”

The little snake was incredibly excited to see her, but didn’t put down her bowl to pounce on her like usual.

“Mm.”

Ah Wan responded indifferently. She glanced at her, closed the door behind her, and went to warm herself by the stove. Only after she had warmed up did she walk over.

She glanced down at the rice left in the little snake’s bowl and let out a soft scoff. “Why is there so much meat left uneaten?”

“Mm,” the little snake also looked down at her bowl, her eyes darting around nervously, too afraid to look at her human. She scrambled to lie, “Snakey didn’t feel like eating today.”

“Oh? Why? Was it not good?”

The pepper and shredded pork rice, with sauce coating the distinct grains of rice, looked incredibly tempting. It was one of the little snake’s favorite dishes—there was no way it could taste bad.

Ah Wan knew the truth perfectly well inside. She leaned her upper body slowly over, supporting herself on the sofa with one hand, tilting her head to look at the little snake’s face.

Her index finger gently wiped the sauce from the corner of the girl’s lips. She placed it in her own mouth and licked it, raising an eyebrow. “It’s pretty good.”

“Or did you secretly eat snacks at home?”

Hearing this, the little snake instantly straightened her back, sitting ramrod straight. She took a deep breath and glanced at Ah Wan from the corner of her eye, stammering in a small voice, “No, Snakey never secretly eats snacks.”

“Is that so~”

Ah Wan’s voice was soft and light. She leaned closer and closer, resting her head gently on the little snake’s shoulder, and chuckled lowly by her ear.

“Then this pack of Crispy Noodles must have opened itself, I guess.”

With that, she reached out and snatched the Crispy Noodles from behind the cushion.

The packaging rustled loudly. The little snake’s eyes widened as she looked at it. Then, she started whining and acting cute towards Ah Wan.

“Human~”

“No use calling me anything. The snacks are confiscated. Eat your food properly.”

Ah Wan took the Crispy Noodles and tapped her on the head with it, then stood up and walked away without looking back.

The little snake, clutching her bowl, scrambled to put on her shoes and chased after her. She buzzed around Ah Wan like a bee, circling her non-stop.

“Human, give it back to Snakey.”

“Snakey will never secretly eat snacks again, Human.”

“Human, Snakey promises you…”

“Human…”

Ah Wan was so harassed by her she had no choice but to give it back. She then added, as if casually, “Going down the mountain tomorrow. Want to come?”

“No.”

As soon as the little snake got her Crispy Noodles back, she immediately flipped and refused to acknowledge her. Holding her bowl in one hand and the snack in the other, she went back to the table and sat down.

One spoonful of shredded pork rice, followed by a bite of the crispy noodles. She was utterly blissful.

Ah Wan folded her arms over her chest and leaned against the doorframe watching her, then spoke slowly and confidently, “Then I’ll go by myself.”

“It’s Miao New Year tomorrow. There will be lots of delicious food down the mountain. I won’t eat breakfast at home. Just find something to eat yourself.”

She turned to leave as soon as she finished speaking.

“Human!”

The little snake didn’t hesitate to throw down her Crispy Noodles and spoon. She ran over and grabbed the hem of Ah Wan’s clothes, looking up expectantly. “Snakey will go down the mountain with you.”

“But you just said you weren’t going.” Ah Wan turned back to look at her, feigning difficulty. “I didn’t plan on bringing you along.”

Hearing this, the little snake’s brow furrowed bit by bit. Her small face looked pitiful as she gazed at Ah Wan, and she muttered unhappily, “Are you going to leave Snakey home alone again?”

As she spoke, she twisted the fabric of Ah Wan’s clothes tightly in her grip.

Like a child denied candy, clinging tightly to an adult’s hand and refusing to let go, throwing a silent tantrum.

Hearing this, Ah Wan raised an eyebrow. She bent down slightly to meet the little snake’s eyes, then smiled softly. “Beg me, and I’ll take you.”

The little snake’s big eyes darted around. She moved a little closer to Ah Wan until their foreheads touched, and in a sweet, clear voice, pleaded softly, “Please, Human.”

Ah Wan smiled contentedly after hearing that. She straightened up, tilting her chin slightly upward, her smile bright and unrestrained. She drawled lazily, “Mm, I agree.”

The little snake looked up and was suddenly stunned.

The next day, Ah Wan got up before dawn to wash up and prepare to go down the mountain.

She found clothes from the wardrobe, dressed neatly, and only then went to wake the little snake.

The little creature was sleeping on her pillow, her small face flushed. Ah Wan walked over, bent down, and gently patted her round bottom. “Wake up.”

The little snake opened her eyes groggily. What she saw was Ah Wan in full festival attire, wearing the Silver Flower Crown and a Silver Necklace. Her enchanting eyes were gazing at her gently, like water.

She was wearing the same outfit from the first time they met.

The little snake was dumbstruck. Her eyes snapped wide open, fixed firmly on Ah Wan. She hissed, flicking out her tongue, and stretched out her arms to Ah Wan, wanting to be held.

“Wake up, Little Lazy Snake.”

But Ah Wan didn’t pick her up. Instead, she took new clothes out of the wardrobe and placed them on the bed.

It was a winter hanfu set: a pink embroidered jacket with butterflies and small flowers. It was exceptionally beautiful.

Ah Wan had seen it online last month and thought it suited the little snake perfectly, so she bought it. But since winter started, the little snake hadn’t wanted to leave the house. After the clothes arrived, they were washed and dried once, then just sat in the wardrobe with no chance to be worn.

The little snake, having failed to be held, slumped onto the bed in disappointment. But her attention was immediately captured by the beautiful new clothes. She hugged them, looking them over again and again, utterly unable to put them down.

“Human, so pretty.”

Ah Wan’s lips curled up, but she still bent her finger and lightly flicked her on the forehead. “Change quickly and come out.”

She then turned and left.

In the kitchen, Ah Wan filled a small pot with water to prepare breakfast. She opened the fridge, took out a pack of minced meat, and also grabbed a small bok choy.

She peeled off the outer leaves to keep for herself, picked out the tender heart in the middle, and minced it. All of it would go into the pot to cook together.

The congee in the small pot was bubbling, the room filled with the aroma of rice. Ah Wan put the chopped tender greens in. Just as she was stirring it while looking at her phone, she suddenly heard a crisp call from behind.

“Human!”

Ah Wan turned her head to see the little snake, dressed in her new clothes, standing at the doorway, smiling brightly at her.

The pink color perfectly complemented her skin—so fair and tender, translucent like a peeled lychee. Her shiny black eyes were bright and alert. Holding the doorframe, she took two deep breaths and exclaimed in surprise, “It’s meat!”

Then she ran over impatiently, looking down at the small pot, drooling with hunger. “Human, are you cooking meat for Snakey again?”

“Mm,” Ah Wan lowered her eyes. She reached out and pushed the little snake’s head back. “Wait outside.”

“Okay.”

The little snake, after hearing this, flicked her tongue out hungrily, almost turning back three times with each step as she walked out.

Ah Wan silently watched her figure disappear around the corner of the door. Only then did she swallow hard.

After breakfast, they went down the mountain. They strolled through the market, and at noon they had a sour soup hotpot. When they came out, the sky was already dark, and the streetlights were on.

These past few days, there were especially many tourists coming to this area, a large portion drawn by the Miao New Year. The roads were so crowded it was hard to move.

Ah Wan held the little snake’s hand tightly, protecting her in her arms. A roadside vendor was selling Moon Rice Cakes, the aroma tempting and rich.

The little snake poked her head out from Ah Wan’s embrace to sniff around. Locking precisely onto the target, she pointed with her hand and shouted, “Human, want to eat that.”

Ah Wan glanced at it and said to the human in her arms, “That one has no meat. Are you sure you’ll eat it if I buy it?”

“Mm mm.”

The little snake agreed immediately. She tilted her head back to look at her, mouth slightly open, her two small fangs faintly visible. She looked charming and adorable.

Ah Wan knew it was more out of intense curiosity; she might not actually like eating it. But she still couldn’t bear to refuse. She had to bring her over to stand in line and buy one.

The little snake hastily reached out to take it, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Ah Wan. She grinned, then lowered her head and took a big bite of the Moon Rice Cake.

“Is it good?” Ah Wan asked.

“Mm, delicious.” The little snake was too busy eating to spare time for a proper reply.

The Moon Rice Cake was delightfully glutinous. The flavor was indeed good, but after two bites, the little snake didn’t want it anymore. She just held it in her hand, no longer putting it in her mouth.

Ah Wan didn’t say anything, she just looked at her sternly.

The little snake felt a wave of guilt. Her eyes darted away, too shy to look at her human, and she muttered to herself, “Snakey will save it for tomorrow.”

“Will you eat it tomorrow?” Ah Wan pinched her cheek, looking at her with eyes that saw right through everything. “You wouldn’t secretly throw it to those little creatures inside, would you?”

“Snakey wouldn’t,” the little snake said, her voice weak, still pretending. “You know, Snakey is afraid of them.”

Ah Wan watched her with great amusement, let out a light laugh, and then said “Mm,” before mercilessly exposing her. “You’re afraid, but there are always those who aren’t.”

As she spoke, Ah Wan suddenly leaned in. The silver ornaments on her flower crown clinked together, ringing crisply. The curve of her lips was just perfect, and her eyes were seductive as she looked at her.

“What have you trained my Flower Gu into? They do whatever you tell them. When I’m not home, they’ve handled plenty of food you don’t like, haven’t they?”

“No.” The little snake turned around, clutching the Moon Rice Cake tightly in her hand. She secretly glanced at Ah Wan from the corner of her eye, incredibly guilty.

Ah Wan chuckled softly, a sound like silver bells. She grabbed the little snake’s arm and turned her back around. Then without hesitation, she lowered her head and took a bite of the unfinished Moon Rice Cake.

Her gaze shifted upward, staring fixedly at the human before her.

The little snake watched that stunningly beautiful face, lowered beneath her, looking up at her. Her heart thumped loudly twice. After a deep breath, she suddenly felt her whole body burning hot.

Ah Wan took a bite, then took the cake and held it herself. She straightened up, looking at the little creature who had suddenly turned red in the face, and smiled knowingly. Her lips were slightly upturned, and her voice seemed to carry a hook, inch by inch scratching at the heartstrings.

“So sweet.”

“This one especially.”

Although it was Ah Wan doing the eating, the little snake pursed her lips and swallowed with some difficulty.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she slowly turned away.

Seeing this, Ah Wan whispered teasingly by her ear, “Why is your face red? Are you hot?”

“Huh?” The little snake instinctively covered her face with her hands and replied in a fluster, “No, not at all.”

Then she hastily pointed somewhere at random to change the subject. “What’s that over there?”

Ah Wan lifted her head and narrowed her eyes, looking over. Her tone was indifferent. “Lusheng dance.”

“Th-th-then let’s go watch.” The little snake spoke guiltily, tugging Ah Wan’s hand and heading that way. “Snakey loves dancing the most.”

Ah Wan didn’t speak. Watching her being flustered and confused, she indulged her, allowing her to hold her hand and run free. The silver bells on her attire produced a pleasant, ringing sound as they gradually merged into the crowd.

Seeing the lively scene, the little snake was so excited she bounced up and down. She shook Ah Wan’s hand and pointed. “Snakey wants to play too.”

“Can you dance?” Ah Wan asked.

“No.”

“Then stick close to me.”

Ah Wan finished speaking and tightened her grip on the little snake’s hand, running with her towards the very back of the line.

This was a tourist area where visitors and locals interacted to celebrate together. So the two of them suddenly running over wouldn’t seem out of place.

The little snake was incredibly excited, clumsily following Ah Wan’s dance moves, yet still proudly showing off. “Human, Snakey knows it now!”

Ah Wan lowered her head, saying nothing, just looking at her with eyes curved in a smile.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang in the sky. The little snake looked up. It was brilliant fireworks.

“Wow!”

She pointed up, exclaiming in astonishment, “Human, the sky is blooming!”

Ah Wan’s gaze remained entirely on her. The affection in her eyes was as dense and impossible to dissolve as ink. Without hesitation, she took off her own Silver Necklace and gently draped it around the little snake’s neck.

Then, she cupped her face, lowered her head, and captured her lips. Her breathing was rapid. She pushed her tongue out, assertively parting the seam of those lips, drawing the pink, translucent snake tongue to entwine with her own.

Gorgeous fireworks bloomed in the sky. Under the night sky, they embraced deeply.

The snake tongue was wet, smooth, cool, soft, and wonderfully elastic, carrying a hint of sweetness.

Ah Wan excessively invaded the little snake’s sensitive territory. She used the tip of her tongue to nimbly tease the snake’s forked tongue, patiently wrapping it around and licking over her tiny venomous fangs.

Amidst the exchange of lips and teeth, fragmented, suppressed moans the little snake couldn’t swallow in time spilled out. But as soon as they mixed with the transparent saliva flowing from the corner of her mouth, Ah Wan would tenderly and lingeringly kiss them away.

It seemed she was unwilling to let go of anything that belonged to the little snake. She kissed the human in her arms with an almost paranoid madness, kneading her until her waist went soft, until she couldn’t stand on her own power and could only lean in her embrace. Yet, she still wouldn’t let go.

“Mm~”

The little snake’s entire body felt weak and limp. She hooked her arms around Ah Wan’s neck and instinctively pressed closer into her embrace. Time and again, she indulged her, opening her mouth and allowing her human to run wild in her most sensitive place.

Ah Wan sucked on her snake tongue, wrapping and circling around it. Her fingers lightly tapped on the little snake’s cheek, like a silent reassurance—

reassuring herself.

The fireworks briefly illuminated Ah Wan’s profile. She was restrained yet frenzied, drowning in this long-planned touch, openly stealing the kiss she had coveted for so long.

Her throat rolled gently. She swallowed everything of the little snake’s, including those staccato little whimpers, as if doing so would make them more intimate from this moment on.

Reluctantly, Ah Wan released the human in her arms. She lowered her eyes and gazed at her silently, her gaze dark with palpable, intense desire. Her index finger rested on the little snake’s red, glossy lips, pressing and kneading them gently.

A smile spread from the corner of her mouth. She lowered her head and pecked the little snake’s lips twice, unwilling to part. Then she touched their foreheads together, rubbing the tips of their noses.

Her gaze was burning, the tender affection in her eyes seeming as if it would melt the little snake entirely.

Ah Wan grabbed her hand and placed it on her own heart. She gazed at her intensely, her slightly swollen lips parting.

Her voice was low and husky, the ending drawn out, carrying a hint of post-kiss languor. It sounded lazy yet exceptionally seductive as she spoke:

“Niangx hvib ghangb hvib.”[Miao language for “I like you”]