Chapter 46

“The She ethnic group?”

Chi Li nodded thoughtfully, continuing, “Then your Mandarin is a bit average, your accent is pretty heavy.”

After speaking, she thought for a moment and added kindly, “You’re young, you should still study it properly.”

Little Snake’s head didn’t move, but her gaze slowly shifted sideways. She glanced at her from the corner of her eye and replied, “I’m trying very hard to learn.”

“It’s just a bit slow.”

In the kitchen, Ah Wan saw through the glass window that the two were talking, separated by less than a meter. Her face instantly darkened.

When Ah Wan carried two bowls of meat over, Chi Li was busy interrogating Little Snake about her family background. Ah Wan directly wedged herself between them, her face full of displeasure.

Little Snake even tilted her body, seemingly trying to lean past her to talk to Chi Li.

Without hesitation, Ah Wan shifted sideways, completely blocking her, then asked, “What do you want for lunch? Chicken or beef?”

Hearing this, Little Snake finally brought her attention back. She first looked at Ah Wan, keenly noticing her expression wasn’t very good, then looked down at the two bowls in Ah Wan’s hands.

After thinking for a moment, Little Snake sensibly replied, “Anything is fine. I’ll eat whatever you make.”

“Hey, little moe-girl, what’s your name actually?” Chi Li leaned her body to look at Little Snake, enthusiastically introducing herself. “My name is Chi Li. Chi as in ‘arriving late’, Li as in ‘dawn’.”

Ah Wan discreetly pulled back, raising the bowls in her hands, her voice not too loud, not too soft, just enough to cover Chi Li’s words. “If you want chicken, I’ll make mushroom braised chicken. If beef, celery stir-fried beef.”

“Which one do you want?”

Little Snake was very busy, hearing Chi Li speak one moment and Ah Wan the next. She wanted to answer both, getting flustered for a moment.

But ultimately, she chose Ah Wan. She looked up, her face well-behaved, and replied, “I’ll eat chicken, but I don’t want mushroom braised chicken. I’ll eat beef, but I don’t want celery stir-fried beef.”

She didn’t like eating mushrooms or celery.

The corners of Ah Wan’s lips lifted slightly, revealing a triumphant smile. She looked down and said, “Then come to the kitchen and see how to cook it.”

Knowing full well Little Snake disliked vegetables, she had deliberately given such choices.

“Now?” Little Snake turned her head to look at the TV, somewhat unwilling. “But I haven’t finished watching TV yet.”

“Watch it later, let’s go.”

As she spoke, Ah Wan bent down to pick up the remote and pressed pause, then signaled with her eyes to the little one still seated on the sofa.

Little Snake had no choice but to put on her shoes, dilly-dallying for a moment before turning and heading to the kitchen.

Ah Wan followed her for a few steps, but suddenly stopped and looked back. She found Chi Li craning her neck, curiously peering at Little Snake’s back. Her expression darkened abruptly, and she said coldly, “Stop prying into her affairs.”

Chi Li immediately pressed her lips tightly together, not daring to utter another word.

Only then did Ah Wan turn and walk toward the kitchen with assurance, even kicking the door shut, creating two separate spaces.

Little Snake stood obediently, reaching out to touch the unfinished meat on the chopping board, then put her finger in her mouth to suck on it, savoring the taste carefully.

Ah Wan walked over, set down what she was holding, stood behind her, and naturally wrapped her arms tightly around her. Possessively, she rested against the top of her head, speaking softly, “Didn’t we agree to eat less raw meat?”

“I didn’t eat it,” Little Snake mumbled with her finger in her mouth, then pulled it out and held it up to show her. “Snakey was just tasting.”

Ah Wan was amused. Pinching her plump cheek, she shook her head and replied, “You always have an excuse.”

Little Snake proudly stuck out her tongue, just grazing Ah Wan’s tiger’s mouth—tingly, numb, with a slight cool sensation.

Ah Wan took a shallow breath, her gaze firmly locked onto those tender red lips. Uncontrollably, she moved closer, but then heard the little one mutter sullenly, “When is that human outside leaving?”

Hearing this, a flash of joy crossed Ah Wan’s face. She asked back, “Do you dislike her?”

But Little Snake shook her head and replied earnestly, “I don’t dislike her.”

That human was very noisy, but she was Human’s sister. Little Snake didn’t dislike her.

Not getting the answer she wanted, Ah Wan’s face instantly fell.

“But Snakey doesn’t like her either.” Little Snake added slowly. Only then did the gloom on Ah Wan’s face dissipate somewhat.

“She’s just a bit noisy. Snakey doesn’t like that. If only she could be quieter.”

“Alright,” Ah Wan laughed, dotingly replying, “Got it.”

“Hm?” Little Snake blinked curiously and asked, “Got what?”

Ah Wan was about to speak when a knock suddenly came from behind the door, followed immediately by Chi Li’s loud voice. “Sister, why are you two closing the door to cook? Need any help?”

The banging on the door felt like it was striking their eardrums directly. Little Snake pouted in displeasure and huffed.

Ah Wan held her face and bent down to kiss her, soothing her. “It’ll be fine in a moment.”

With that, she turned and walked out, shutting the door behind her.

Chi Li hadn’t expected her sister to actually open the door and didn’t step back in time, nearly colliding with her.

Ah Wan glanced at her without saying much more. She sidestepped past her and walked ahead, tossing out a light command. “Come here.”

Chi Li, who had frozen on the spot for a moment, immediately followed after recovering. She wore a fawning smile and called out, “Sister, what do you need me for?”

Ah Wan stood before the medicine rack. After careful deliberation, she picked up a small wooden box, turned around, and looked at Chi Li seriously. “What exactly do you want by coming here?”

At this, a flash of panic crossed Chi Li’s face. She lowered her gaze, composed her expression, and then forced calm as she replied, “I… didn’t I tell you? I missed you, came to see you.”

But her voice still held a trace of panic.

At this point, Ah Wan didn’t say another word to her. Opening the box, she ordered, “Open your mouth.”

Chi Li hesitated but eventually obediently opened her mouth.

Ah Wan closed the box. A tiny, perfectly round medicine pill was held between her fingers. She tossed it precisely down Chi Li’s throat, then turned and left.

“Drink some water if you find it bitter.”

Chi Li choked, covering her mouth as she bent over and coughed a few times. Then she turned toward Ah Wan’s retreating back and shouted: “…”

Chi Li: ?!

Ah Wan re-entered the kitchen. The moment she pushed the door open, she saw Little Snake flusteredly trying to hide something, her hands behind her back, wearing an ingratiating smile.

“What are you doing?” Ah Wan closed the door behind her and walked over, looking down at the un-wiped meat residue at the corner of Little Snake’s mouth.

Little Snake pressed her lips together and shook her head firmly, flatly denying it. “Nothing. Snakey didn’t eat anything.”

Hearing this, Ah Wan’s gaze slowly moved to the piece of meat on the chopping board—a clearly visible half-moon-shaped bite mark.

She let out a small laugh and turned to Little Snake, gently raising an eyebrow. “Did a puppy gnaw on it?”

Little Snake licked her lips, glanced at Human once, then lowered her head, puffing out her cheeks without a word.

Ah Wan sighed, reaching out to pull Little Snake’s hands out from behind her back. Sure enough, her palm clutched a lump of bright red raw meat, only it had been gnawed into a mess.

The little one, afraid of punishment, stretched her hand straight out, her head shrinking back. She pleaded timidly, “Human, Snakey was wrong. Snakey will hold back next time. Can we just forget about it this time, okay?”

“Don’t hit Snakey.”

Ah Wan held her hand without speaking, silently looking at her for a moment. Then she took the uneaten lump of meat and set it aside before leading her toward the sink.

“No hitting. Just wash your hands.”

She wasn’t determined to stifle someone’s natural instincts, to forbid the little one from eating raw meat. It was just that there was an outsider today, and she feared it being seen would cause trouble.

The water gushed noisily. Little Snake secretly grabbed at it, catching a handful of water and then releasing it.

Ah Wan helped her scrub, turning to look at her. She noticed the little one’s large eyes had shifted slightly in her direction. The moment their gazes met, they flicked back immediately, staring straight ahead without moving, her little eyes looking pitiful and aggrieved.

“Alright, once she leaves, you can eat it.”

Ah Wan finished speaking, turned off the water, took a dry cloth from the wall to wipe her hands, then bent down and lifted her onto her usual spot on the counter.

“So can Snakey go out and watch TV for a bit?” Little Snake had been sitting on the cooking counter for too long and was swinging her legs somewhat bored.

Ah Wan was making braised meat for her. She poked the meat in the pot with chopsticks and covered the lid, then turned to look at her and replied, “We’ll go out together once the meal is ready.”

“Oh.” Little Snake obediently complied, but still seemed a bit down, lowering her head to pick at her own fingers.

Seeing this, Ah Wan took out her mobile phone and handed it to her. “Play a game, wait for me.”

“Okay!”

Little Snake gleefully took the phone. She loved playing with Human’s phone the most.

Because some time ago, her own phone and tablet had been set to teen mode. Apart from watching a bit of TV and learning to read every day, there was practically nothing fun to do.

She dreamed of playing with Ah Wan’s phone.

Lunch was soon ready, and the kitchen door could finally be opened.

Ah Wan was carrying the food and asked Little Snake to open the door. The little one immediately jumped off the counter and ran over, only to find Chi Li standing stiffly right in the doorway, holding a large stack of paper.

Seeing the two come out, Chi Li raised the papers in her hands high in protest:

【Chi Wan!!!】

【You! Are utterly deranged!!!】

【What did you give me? Why can’t I speak?】

【Chi Wan!!! Come out here!!!】

…

After flipping through over a dozen sheets, the words on the paper changed.

【Sister, I was wrong. Please, I beg you, let me go.】

【Sister, I’m suffocating. Really, I’m truly suffocating. Please let me speak.】

Ah Wan glanced at her. For once, her facial expression loosened as she rolled her eyes very visibly and sighed under her breath, “You really are too noisy.”

After that, she ignored any further antics from Chi Li. Carrying the food, she walked straight to the table, with Chi Li immediately following.

Little Snake looked curiously at the floor. It was covered with her practice writing paper.

She glared at Chi Li with some displeasure and quickly pocketed the phone, dashing over to pick up the papers from the floor one by one. Carefully, preciously, she dusted them off.

The top sheet had Ah Wan’s name on it. Holding it, she looked it over but couldn’t read it, only recognizing the three exclamation marks. Nevertheless, she carefully stored them all away in her little bookcase, then pattered over, ready to eat.

It was the all-meat feast again. She was so tempted just looking at it that she leaned on the table and let out a loud “Wow”.

Ah Wan ladled out two bowls of rice and set them down, pulling Little Snake by the arm to sit beside her. She looked up to see Chi Li about to sit down too and, without hesitation, kicked the nearby stool over to the opposite side. Then, with an unchanged expression, she picked up her bowl and served food to Little Snake.

Chi Li froze for a moment but still turned and walked to the other side. After sitting, she glanced at the dishes on the table, frowned, and scribbled a few large characters quickly on paper, holding it up.

【All meat. I’m not eating.】

Ah Wan glanced up and uttered an “Oh” as if suddenly realizing something. She replied indifferently, “Didn’t cook your portion.”

Saying this, she lowered her head and concentrated on mixing the rice in the bowl, stirring until the braised meat and sauce coated every grain. Only then did she hand it to Little Snake, using a completely different tone than before as she instructed, “Finish it all.”

“Mm!” Little Snake nodded obediently, reaching out to take the chopsticks and eating properly on her own.

Witnessing this, Chi Li threw a tantrum. Unable to speak, she simply stood up and started gesticulating wildly.

Little Snake, holding her chopsticks, stared blankly over. The more she watched, the more it looked like the High Priestess of her clan performing a ritual. She couldn’t help leaning closer to Ah Wan and said fearfully, “Scared.”

With that, she buried her face in Ah Wan’s embrace, not daring to look anymore. Meanwhile, the human opposite suddenly stopped moving, staring at the two of them in shock.

Her sister actually let someone hug her?

A certain someone not only allowed the hug, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t stop lifting, feeling utterly delighted inside.

But when her gaze shifted to Chi Li, it became extremely stern again. Then, she picked up the ceramic soup spoon and lightly tapped it against the rim of the bowl, producing a clear, resonant ring.

Ah Wan set down the spoon, holding Little Snake in her arms. She didn’t even look at Chi Li, her voice cold.

“To the same human, I never give a third chance.”