Chapter 42

Bai Ying went straight back to Wenxiang Mountain.

He had naturally reported this matter to Qin Juanshu, who had been checking on his injury every few days lately. Qin Juanshu wanted Bai Ying to rest a few more days and not return to the mountain afterward, since the conditions there were harsh and he might run into danger again like last time.

But Bai Ying insisted on continuing his work. The little snake, which hadn’t left the hospital yet at the time, used its mostly healed tail to tap out letters one by one, arguing logically with Qin Juanshu: 【The work on the mountain has always been under my charge. If another colleague takes over, they’ll have to start from scratch getting familiar with it. I’m the most suitable person to go!】

Qin Juanshu: 【I’m afraid you’ll run into danger again.】

The little snake continued typing: 【Getting hit by a mudslide is a low-probability event. It won’t happen a second time. Besides, if there’s risk for me going into the mountains, it’s the same for the other colleagues!】

Qin Juanshu fell silent for a good while on the other end.

He must have been convinced by the little snake’s sound reasoning! Bai Ying smugly flicked his tail.

Then he saw Qin Juanshu reply: 【Alright, but I’m going into the mountains with you.】

Bai Ying: …Huh?

Bai Ying was baffled. Wasn’t Qin Juanshu super busy? How was he squeezing out time to go up the mountain with him? But what shocked Bai Ying even more came later. After Zhong Qian dropped him off at the crew’s temporary lodgings on set, Bai Ying not only saw Qin Juanshu but also Yun Ze!

Meeting Bai Ying’s bewildered gaze, Yun Ze smiled and explained, “Yun Xin invested in this movie. I’m here to check on how the filming’s going.”

Bai Ying said dumbly, “Is that so?”

Qin Juanshu snorted coldly from the side. The movie’s investments had been secured long ago, led by the Qin Family. They didn’t owe the Yun Family a dime. Yet Yun Xin insisted on throwing money in without expecting anything in return. This wasn’t about the movie at all—it was clearly about a certain someone connected to the project.

Zhong Qian stayed on as well. He said it was Mr. Liu’s instructions: after delivering Bai Ying, he was to stick by his side, protecting and taking care of him until the mountain scenes wrapped.

As for why he could stay just because he wanted to, it was naturally because the Zhong Family had also invested in the movie.

Besides these three who had suddenly popped up, Xiao Lu rejoined the team too. His ordeal on the mountain had scared the Lu Family half to death, and they hadn’t wanted him to come back at first. But Lu Family parents couldn’t win against their only son, so they resorted to every trick in the book to funnel money into the production. They didn’t ask for any returns—just that their son have a slightly better time up on the mountain.

The producer was utterly perplexed. Why were people lining up to throw money at them lately? Which actor had hooked up with a big shot backer?

He racked his brains but couldn’t figure it out. These funds had nothing to do with the actors—they were all aimed at a certain low-level employee from a partner company. And that employee hadn’t even tried to snag any backers; these people wanted to pamper him, but they couldn’t get close enough right now.

The number of people on the mountain inexplicably swelled.

It was just three more, but Bai Ying felt like a whole crowd had shown up. He suddenly found himself swamped—one person calling for him here, another there. Though most of them were just using excuses to stuff him with food, after polishing off the treats, Bai Ying still felt inexplicably drained.

So busy. He couldn’t even spare a moment to get close to his prospective future owner.

Bai Ying sat on a little stool, propping his cheek as he watched Xie Jin acting not far away. His free hand absentmindedly rubbed the edge of his phone. His phone’s gallery currently held a photo of his true form, but he still hadn’t sent it to Xie Jin.

Bai Ying hesitated a bit.

If Xie Jin saw the photo and agreed to keep the little snake, there would be no turning back… Beyond his anxiety about the future, Bai Ying’s hesitation carried a sliver of doubt about his prospective owner.

Before the mountain disaster, Xie Jin had been Bai Ying’s top pick for owner. But things were different now. Xiao Lu knew he was a snake. This made Bai Ying’s heart itch—he couldn’t help wanting to ask Xiao Lu if he’d be willing to keep a little snake, even though he already knew Xiao Lu liked big snakes.

Bai Ying figured that with his intelligence, pretending to be an ordinary little snake perfectly would be tough. His snake demon identity would be exposed sooner or later. Instead of agonizing over how to gradually reveal the truth to an owner, why not go all-in and find one who already knew?

Among humans who knew he was actually a little snake, aside from the Zhong Family folks, there was only Xiao Lu!

Bai Ying would never go to the Zhong Family. For one, they already enshrined a powerful big snake with high magic—they probably wouldn’t look twice at a little snake like him who was only good for eating. For another, he didn’t want Mr. Liu to find out he was looking for an owner. After all, that big snake had humans as its underlings, while he was out here trying to be a human’s pet. If the big snake found out, wouldn’t it think he was utterly useless?

Sorry, he’d embarrassed all demonkind!

For the Nth time, Bai Ying apologized to his demon predecessors in his heart. Sorry, he’d do it again next time!

The little snake was dead set on finding himself an owner and enjoying the life of a pampered pet cat or dog. Some ideas just grew stronger the more you dwelled on them. As for how long such days would last, he’d worry about that later.

After much deliberation, Bai Ying decided to hold off on sending the photo for now and ask Xiao Lu first. After all, Xiao Lu’s internship was ending soon. The world would soon lose one student and gain another corporate drone. If he didn’t ask now, who knew if they’d stay in touch later.

But how should he broach it?

Bai Ying didn’t figure it out even after leaving Wenxiang Mountain.

Once Bai Ying returned, filming on Xia Dao progressed at lightning speed. Lead actor Xie Jin seemed possessed by his role—even the picky Yang Dao could rarely find fault and often passed takes on the first try. On the fifth day after Bai Ying’s return, a light rain fell in the mountains. Thanks to the prior massive storm, every drop from the sky put the whole crew on edge. But the rain stayed gentle, lasting a mild four hours. Taking advantage of the weather, Yang Dao finally shot the most challenging night rain scene they’d been delaying.

Two days later, with all mountain scenes wrapped, the crew descended. The remaining shoots would be at the film city. Since the sets there were still prepping and the long mountain stint had worn everyone out, they got a week off as a group. Bai Ying headed back to Shen City.

After spending half a day on work reports, Bai Ying returned home to a rare quiet. It had been so long since he’d been back that the place felt a bit unfamiliar. The housekeeping service he’d booked online two days ago had cleaned it spotless and organized everything neatly. Once home, Bai Ying fired up the robot vacuum again, planning to give the floors another once-over.

Bai Ying shifted to his true form. The little snake coiled up and perched atop the robot vacuum, letting it carry him sliding this way and that, spinning around now and then.

The phone pressed beneath him suddenly vibrated twice.

The little snake shifted, dragged the phone out, and swiped it open to see a message from Lu Changjun. Xiao Lu’s internship had ended, and he’d just finished handing off his work to his colleagues.

Lu Changjun: 【Senior, you said you’d write my internship review.】

The little white snake used its tail to spell out letters one by one. Sorry, he typed slowly…

He wasn’t sure if Xiao Lu knew he was messaging in his true form, but no more messages came from the other side. Xiao Lu waited patiently.

Finally, Bai Ying typed a sentence: 【I remember. I also said I’d treat you to food.】

Lu Changjun: 【I’ve already decided where!】

Lu Changjun: 【Senior, senior, can you do a video call now? I want to tell you face-to-face!】

For anyone else, that would’ve been a no—he’d have to shift back to human form and get dressed first. Such a hassle. But Xiao Lu already knew he was a snake, so no problem.

Bai Ying tapped twice with his tail and sent a green dinosaur giving an OK sign sticker.

A video invite popped up immediately. Bai Ying accepted it. He’d never video-called anyone like this before. The little snake curiously poked his head right up to the camera.

The little snake looked left, then right. Seeing his magnified beady eyes, Lu Changjun on the other end clutched his heart, nearly fainting from the cuteness overload.

To avoid seeming too flustered, Lu Changjun forced his attention elsewhere.

“Senior, why is your ceiling moving?” Lu Changjun quickly noticed the shifting background.

The little snake flicked its tail.

“Hiss hiss.” Because I’m on the robot vacuum.

Unable to speak human words, the little snake puzzled over how to convey this to Xiao Lu.

“Is senior riding the robot vacuum?” Lu Changjun’s mind worked fast. “If yes, flick your tongue once. If no, twice.”

“Hiss.” The little snake flicked its tongue once.

His tongue was bright red. When he flicked it out, his mouth opened into a little gap. With his flat head, it looked super close to his two round eyes. Lu Changjun’s fondness filter for his senior was at max thickness right now—everything Bai Ying did struck him as adorable.

Lu Changjun didn’t just think it; he said it out loud: “Senior, you’re so cute.”

Being so bluntly praised by a human was sure to fluster the little snake. The white snake buried his head in his coiled body, peeking out only with his round eyes.

“Does senior have time tomorrow? I head back to school the day after. Tomorrow and the next day are free, but tomorrow’s weather is nicer.”

Bai Ying hissed once. He had time. He was on break with the crew.

“Then tomorrow at 10 a.m., I’ll come pick you up at your place!” Lu Changjun said. “I bought two tickets to the amusement park. Let’s go play there tomorrow!”

The little snake tilted his head in confusion.

Huh? Wasn’t he supposed to be the one treating?

Lu Changjun saw right through the little snake’s confusion and laughed. “Senior can just treat me to food at the amusement park!”

Bai Ying nodded solemnly. Don’t worry, Xiao Lu. Even if amusement park prices betrayed the working class, he could afford it.

The little snake could treat a human to three-scoop ice cream!

“It’s a deal then.” Lu Changjun couldn’t resist tapping the screen with his finger, as if touching the little snake that way.

The little snake flicked his tongue once.

One flick for yes, two for no—they had a date.

【