Chapter 46: The Snake Called Huahua

Nanny Wu didn’t react immediately.

What did the young heir want from her?

It wasn’t until she noticed the young heir’s gaze fall on the socks and shoes in her hands that she quickly handed them over.

Although the young heir often helped Yao Yao change her socks and shoes, right now there were people behind the screen.

Nanny Wu was already used to the young heir’s favoritism, but the Wei family might not be.

If rumors were to spread and taint the reputations of the heir and Yao Yao, the lady of the house would surely be troubled again.

By the time she came to her senses, Xie Yixing had already finished putting on one of Yao Yao’s socks and shoes.

His slender fingers gently grasped her little white jade-like foot in his palm.

The warmth from his hand quickly dispelled the chill in the sole of her foot.

Yao Yao obediently held the pastries, waiting for Xie Yixing to finish his task.

Nanny Wu hurried off to prepare fresh warm water for Xie Yixing to wash his hands. Just as he was done helping Yao Yao and went to wash up, the little flower-patterned snake that had been sleeping on the cushion suddenly stretched.

Yao Yao’s attention was instantly drawn and she called out, “Huahua, you’re awake~”

The little snake stuck out its tongue in protest upon hearing the name.

This baby snake is a boy! How can I be called Huahua?!

The little snake strongly objected.

Yao Yao completely ignored this and continued calling it “Huahua” over and over.

The little snake grew annoyed. It jumped off the cushion, twisted its slender body around the chair leg, and tried to climb onto Yao Yao’s lap in protest.

Perhaps it got too worked up, and Yao Yao grew a little upset too.

With one hand on her chubby waist and the other pointing at the snake’s head, she said sternly, “Huahua, if you keep acting like this, I’ll send you back!”

Provoked by Yao Yao’s scolding, the little snake became even more agitated.

It stuck its tongue out rapidly as if saying, Go ahead, send me back! You don’t even know where my home is!

Then, it deliberately opened its mouth wide in an attempt to scare her.

From the corner of the room, a cold glint shot through the air like an arrow and landed precisely on the back of the snake’s head.

The little snake suddenly trembled, feeling a bone-chilling cold enveloping it.

Is there something even more cold-blooded in this room than me?

Before it could even turn around, it found itself lifted into the air.

When its eyes met those familiar, terrifying dark eyes, the little snake suddenly felt homesick.

Oh no! Why is he here?!

The little snake instantly clamped its mouth shut and behaved.

Its eyes blinked rapidly as it tried to show friendliness.

Hiss hiss~ Long time no see~
Hiss hiss~ Want to be friends?
Hiss hiss~ Please stop staring at me like that~

The little snake grew more and more anxious, its head visibly drooping.

Xie Yixing stared at it for a moment, confirming it had no ill intent.

But just a moment ago, when he saw it glaring at Yao Yao, he was still worried it might hurt her.

His dark eyes suddenly turned cold. The little snake felt like crying and turned toward Yao Yao.

Completely forgetting they had just been arguing, it desperately sent out a distress signal.

Hiss hiss~ Save me!
Hiss hiss~ I swear, call me Huahua, call me Niuniu, I don’t care, just spare me!

Yao Yao didn’t think the little snake would actually bite her. She believed it was all just posturing.

Thankfully, her anger came and went quickly.

Seeing the little snake compromise, she immediately helped, saying, “Brother Persimmon, this is my new friend Huahua.”

“Huahua, this is Brother Persimmon.”

“From now on, the three of us will live together~”

Huahua: ?!!!

Live with this snake-killing demon?

No way!

Even though it hadn’t seen him kill a snake with its own eyes, it didn’t want to be next!

The little snake suddenly regretted not going home with its mom.

Is it too late to go back now?

Yao Yao sensed its dejected mood and grew anxious.

“Brother Persimmon, is Huahua sick? Why is it unhappy?”

Xie Yixing narrowed his eyes, channeling a chill straight toward the snake’s face, and sneered coldly, “Oh? It’s unhappy?”

The boy’s cold voice poured into the snake’s ears, filled with an overwhelming pressure no snake could resist.

The little snake immediately lifted its head and shook it like a rattle drum at Yao Yao.

Not sick! Not unhappy!

Seeing the snake perk up again, Yao Yao beamed, “Then let’s go eat pastries together!”

Upon hearing the word “pastries,” the little snake licked its lips with its tongue, then sneakily glanced at Xie Yixing as if asking for permission.

Life under someone else’s roof is hard!

Xie Yixing noticed the snake’s cautious attitude and was very pleased with its awareness.

As long as it behaved and made Yao Yao happy, he wouldn’t hurt it.

Seeing the boy give a blink of approval, the little snake finally dared to jump back onto Yao Yao’s lap and waited to be fed.

Now it fully understood—only this little girl could save it from the demon boy.

It would have to be good to her from now on and never fight with her again.

Otherwise, this snake baby’s heart just couldn’t take it!

Once the snake and the girl were peacefully eating pastries again, Xie Yixing finally left the screen with ease.

At that moment, the main hall was utterly silent.

Because of his earlier words—“Let them leave tomorrow”—everyone was at a loss for words.

The Marquis of Chengming and his wife knew their son wasn’t joking.

But actually carrying it out? That was another matter.

The Wei family didn’t need to be mentioned—though the mother-in-law’s family had many faults, as the daughter-in-law, it wasn’t proper for her to go chase them out.

Especially during the New Year. She would surely be condemned for it.

The Marquis himself couldn’t do it either. He was a court official.

Filial piety was a top virtue. If someone used this against him and reported it to the emperor, his reputation would suffer.

It wasn’t until Xie Yixing walked out that everyone dared to breathe again.

Madam Wei cautiously tried to persuade him: “Xing’er, your grandmother and the others rarely come to the capital. This might be their last time.”

Besides, they weren’t even staying at the Wei residence for the New Year. Let them do whatever they wanted at the marquis’ estate.

The Marquis of Chengming said nothing, only stared at his son, uneasy as he noticed the deepening coldness in the boy’s expression.

If Xing’er was truly determined to drive them out, how would he balance his role as both a father and a son?

But Xie Yixing simply lowered his eyes and said calmly, “You don’t have to make them leave. They’ll go on their own.”

The couple was stunned.

What did Xing’er mean? Could it be—

Madam Wei suddenly remembered the big snake that had frightened her mother-in-law, and the little snake still in the house. Could they have been brought in by Xing’er to scare them?

The Marquis had the same thought.

But in the next moment, they both dismissed the idea. Xing’er was just a child—how could he have the ability to summon snakes to the capital? It had to be a coincidence!

Even if it wasn’t, they wouldn’t admit it.

They just wanted their child to grow up safe and healthy, without being labeled a monster.

If word got out that Xing’er could summon snakes to harm people, someone might report him and have him taken away and locked up.

No, no—they had to find a way to cover this up.

Before the couple could recover from their thoughts, a servant came to report, “The shadow puppet troupe has arrived. The young heir and Miss Yao Yao are requested to proceed to the lakeside pavilion.”