Chapter 5

Ah Wan took Little Snake back with her and gently set her on the table.

Little Snake was severely wounded, hovering on the brink of death. She couldn’t even lift her head. Her black, bean-like eyes were open, but they had lost all their luster.

Ah Wan glanced at her, then stood up and walked into the poison creature room. She looked around for a moment, grabbed a centipede with her bare hands, and tossed it into a medicine mortar.

A moment later, a tiny medicinal ball was stuffed into Little Snake’s mouth.

Immediately after, the wounds on Little Snake’s body began to heal at a visible rate. Her spirit improved considerably, and she could lift her head now.

Ah Wan used her large bowl—the one she usually used for instant noodles—to prepare a bowl of herbal water. She placed it on the table, then picked up the little white snake and threw her straight in with a plop.

Sinking to the bottom, Little Snake choked on two mouthfuls of water and immediately began writhing around in the bowl. Then, she suddenly burst through the surface, draping her head over the rim of the bowl, hissing and flicking her tongue. She looked full of energy now.

Ah Wan sat down, resting her chin on one hand while lightly tapping the tabletop with the other. She looked down at the little white snake in the bowl and said coldly, “I saved you.”

The little snake, clinging to the bowl’s rim, actually managed to nod her head vigorously. Though her reptilian features held no real expression, you could somehow see a hint of ingratiation there. She flicked her pink tongue lightly.

The corner of Ah Wan’s mouth twitched upwards; her mood inexplicably improved. She poked the little snake’s head and continued, “Do you know the market price for a single Regeneration Gu?”

The little snake stopped nodding and ceased her tongue-flicking. She just stared blankly at Ah Wan.

“One million.”

Ah Wan bent her finger and flicked her right on the forehead, sending her tumbling back to the bottom of the bowl.

Watching bubbles gurgle up from the water’s surface, her smile deepened. Every time Little Snake poked her head out, she would push it right back down.

After playing for a while, Ah Wan grew tired. Only then did she move her hand away, letting Little Snake crawl back up. With a cold face, she said, “You owe me. And you’ll pay me back double. Either return two Regeneration Gus to me, or—”

Ah Wan paused, fixing her gaze on Little Snake. Her tone was unkind as she enunciated each word: “Stay here and work off your debt.”

“Two million.”

Little Snake stared with her two bean-like eyes, unblinking. She didn’t understand the concept of “two million” at all. She only understood the word “stay.”

She was so happy. Her tail stirred tiny ripples in the water; she was absolutely delighted.

Ah Wan let out a soft laugh and continued, “Your daily wage—”

“Fifty cents.”

Little Snake flicked her tongue and nodded her head firmly.

She didn’t know how much fifty cents was. All she knew was that she could stay. Overjoyed, she drank half the bowl of herbal water in one go, then spat it back out like a fountain.

“Stupid snake.”

Ah Wan looked at her with disgust, picked up the bowl, and went to empty the water, leaving a soaking wet snake behind.

“I’m going to sleep. You sleep too. Early to rise tomorrow to start working.” Ah Wan said, planning to leave her in the kitchen. But just as she turned around, the little snake in the bowl also tried to climb out.

Ah Wan stopped in her tracks. After a moment’s thought, she broke off a piece of a vegetable leaf from the basket and tossed it over, draping it over her.

“If it gets cold at night, cover yourself. If you get hungry, eat this. Don’t bother me.”

Little Snake lay at the bottom of the bowl, only her tiny head peeking out, like a little pearl resting on a cabbage leaf. Hearing this, she flicked her tongue twice, signaling that she understood.

Ah Wan hesitated no more. She closed the kitchen door and left without looking back.

She slept dreamlessly and very comfortably that night.

The next day, Ah Wan woke up early. Her first act upon rising was to open the door and go outside. Seeing Little Snake still obediently in the bowl, she couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

Noticing that half the vegetable leaf covering her was gone, she couldn’t suppress a smile. Then she cleared her throat and declared: “You need to learn to make breakfast, working snake.”

Little Snake, covered by the tattered leaf, nodded her head in a daze. Yet after that, she showed absolutely no sign of moving, still anchored in the bowl like the Pillar of Heaven.

Ah Wan saw this. She tilted her head slightly and looked at her. “Hmm?”

Little Snake raised the tip of her tail and gently tugged at Ah Wan’s hem. With an expectant look, she said, “Human, change.”

Ah Wan froze for a moment, then suddenly understood. “You want to change clothes?”

“Mm!” Little Snake nodded her head vigorously.

Ah Wan let out a soft “ha,” revealing a mischievous smile. “Fine. Wearing my clothes once costs you one hundred yuan.”

Saying this, she reached out, pinched Little Snake’s head, lifted her up, and headed straight for the bedroom. She opened the wardrobe and held the snake up, quickly sweeping her past the row of loose short-sleeved shirts. “Which one do you want?”

Little Snake looked at the pile of black, white, and gray clothes. Her tail drooped limply. She flicked her tongue and uttered two perfectly pronounced words: “No want!”

“Ha, you’re quite picky. No wonder you’re so good-looking,” Ah Wan said. She turned Little Snake’s head back towards her, subconsciously holding her a bit further away.

Little Snake’s tongue barely grazed Ah Wan’s chin, but it still sent a wave of goosebumps across her skin. Ah Wan’s brow furrowed, and she was just about to toss her away when a slender tail suddenly slipped in from under the hem of her shirt.

“Human, take off,” Little Snake said, coiling her tail in a circle over Ah Wan’s stomach. She flicked her tongue, then withdrew her tail and pointed it at herself. “Give to Snakey.”

“You want the one I’m wearing?” Ah Wan’s eyes narrowed halfway. After a moment of silence, she suddenly lifted her eyelids, a shrewd glint flashing in her eyes. Her voice came out cold: “Sure. Trade me your snake gall for it.”

Hearing this, Little Snake’s head slowly retracted. Though her scale-bound face held no expression, terror and fear were unmistakably clear.

Her tiny body trembled violently. The tip of her tail curled up to protect her own abdomen. She voiced a small protest: “Human, you bad. You bully Snakey.”

“Oh?” Ah Wan’s eyes lit up for a second. “You can talk now?”

Little Snake drooped her head, refusing to answer her. But Ah Wan just laughed and flicked her on the forehead. She mocked, “Doesn’t look like you have much gall anyway. It’d be useless to me.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she tossed the snake in her hand directly onto the bed. Then she turned her back, crossed her hands in front of her, grabbed the hem of her shirt, and pulled it up and off.

She tossed it casually, and the shirt landed perfectly over the little creature, which was coiled up, smaller than a palm.

The shirt was inside-out, the side that had been against her skin now resting right on Little Snake’s head.

It carried Ah Wan’s body heat and a faint, fresh, delicate fragrance.

Little Snake tilted her head back and inhaled deeply. She liked it so much. Delighted, she stuck out her tongue and touched it, then burrowed with all her might, wriggling out from under the shirt. She blinked her eyes, staring unblinkingly at the human in the room.

Ah Wan had her back to her. The smooth, delicate skin of her back was dazzlingly white, a shallow dimple gracing each side of her lower back.

Her bra was a tie-back style. The goose-yellow straps hung right in the groove of her spine, swaying gently with her movements as she searched for clothes.

Little Snake was transfixed.

Ah Wan casually found a loose, linen-colored short-sleeved shirt and pulled it on. The bra straps vanished in an instant, retreating like a nimble snake’s tail.

Panicked, Little Snake propped herself up, craning her neck, hissing frantically.

Ah Wan flicked her on the forehead, sending her toppling backwards, sprawled out on the discarded shirt.

“Didn’t expect you to be a little lecherous snake.”

Hmm?

Little Snake lifted her head to look at her, flicked her tongue, and processed this for a slow moment. Then, happily slapping her tail against the bed frame, she cheered clearly: “Mm! Little Snakey!”

Ah Wan: …

“You have one minute. Put on some clothes and come out to make breakfast.” The woman finished speaking and turned to leave without any expression, tossing out a breezy remark. “I’m hungry.”

Little Snake didn’t dare delay any longer. She quickly burrowed into the shirt and, with a whoosh, transformed back into a human.

Ah Wan was leisurely lounging on the rocking chair in the courtyard, sunbathing. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the girl walk out wearing her clothes.

The short-sleeved shirt was too big. It hung loose and baggy on the girl, barely reaching her upper thighs, revealing skin like white porcelain. Her long hair looked like it hadn’t been cared for in ages, a messy, tangled cloud around her.

“Human!” Little Snake saw her and wanted to rush over joyfully, but Ah Wan stopped her.

Because it was cheap, the quality wasn’t great. In the sunlight, the white short-sleeved shirt was frighteningly transparent.

The girl’s firm breasts were faintly visible. Ah Wan’s face flushed, and she turned her head away, her voice strained as she said, “Go cook.”

“Huh?” Little Snake tilted her head, looking at her curiously, then honestly confessed, “Don’t know how.”

After speaking, she even flicked out her transparent tongue.

Ah Wan looked at her and asked, “Then what do you know?”

“Know… eat!” Little Snake replied happily, her face full of pride.

“Heh,” Ah Wan snorted lightly. “Do you think I desperately need a freeloader here?”

Before Little Snake could respond, she ordered directly: “Go cook. I want three dishes and a soup, both meat and vegetables.”

But Little Snake stood still, tugging at her own shirt hem. She looked at Ah Wan pleadingly and said softly, “You teach Snakey.”

Ah Wan glanced at her. After a moment of silence, she still got up from the chair and led her towards the kitchen.

Cooking rice and washing vegetables were manageable. But chopping vegetables was a bit challenging for a snake.

Ah Wan knew this was difficult, so she just stood behind and watched. The little creature held the cleaver and gestured for ages, still clueless about how to start. She turned her head, face crumpled, and whined: “Human, Snakey can’t.”

“Stupid.” Ah Wan was full of disdain. She stepped forward, coming up from behind and enclosing the girl in her arms.

One hand covered the girl’s right hand, guiding the cleaver. Her other hand slipped under the girl’s arm to help hold the carrot in place.

“Just like this, a gentle push downwards…” Ah Wan bowed her head, teaching earnestly.

Little Snake managed to slice off a piece. Delighted, she turned her head to find Ah Wan, but they were so close that her mouth brushed against Ah Wan’s cheek.

“Human,” Little Snake looked at Ah Wan’s profile in pleasant surprise and said happily, “smells good.”

Ah Wan turned her head to look at her, pursed her lips, and her eyes darkened. “The dish isn’t even cooked yet. What smells good?”

She immediately pulled her hands back.

Little Snake didn’t want her to leave and instinctively clamped her arms down. As Ah Wan pulled away, the back of her hand naturally brushed across the girl’s chest.

A light, airy softness, but it left behind a burning, scorching heat.

Ah Wan’s face darkened as she strode out of the kitchen. Little Snake, still holding the cleaver, looked at her curiously, wanting to follow.

But Ah Wan immediately returned, throwing a colorful cookbook in front of her.

“Follow this. Make me stir-fried carrot and pork slices.”

She turned to leave after saying that.

Little Snake put down the cleaver and bent over to pick up the cookbook. The collar of the shirt, washed too many times, was severely stretched and hung wide open.

Ah Wan couldn’t retract her gaze in time. She saw everything very clearly.

For a long moment, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Looking at the girl in front of her, she spoke almost through gritted teeth: “Follow me.”