Chapter 39: Qiuqiu

[System, hurry, the little snake is going to die.]
Liu Qiu urged anxiously.

The system replied: [Host, find somewhere without people. Don’t let anyone see.]

Liu Qiu bit her lip lightly and crouched down, lowering her head.
Her soaked hair slid forward, blocking part of her vision.

She wrapped one arm around her knees, and with the other hand placed the little snake onto her lap.

[System, is this okay?]
She was afraid Bai Qingqing wouldn’t make it back home.

[It’ll work.]
It was already late at night with no one around, and now that the host had curled herself into a small ball, completely hiding both her face and the snake, even if someone noticed a glow, they would probably assume she was just playing on her phone.

[Host, I’m starting.]

[Okay.]

As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Qiu suddenly felt warmth spreading in her abdomen.
The heat rose from her stomach, then spread into her chest, her throat, and finally her mouth.

She couldn’t help parting her lips.
Her vision brightened, and when she looked down, she saw a red pearl floating in that narrow little space, glowing faintly.

The bead seemed almost conscious.
It trembled slightly, then drifted toward the little white snake’s mouth, transforming into a streak of light that slipped inside.

‘This is really fantasy-like.’
That was Liu Qiu’s first thought.

Her second thought was that when Bai Qingqing woke up, she absolutely had to tell her that humans and demons had reproductive isolation and couldn’t have babies.

[Host, it’s done. Her bodily functions are gradually recovering. She’ll wake up soon.]
The system’s electronic voice carried a hint of pride.
[I’m pretty amazing.]

Liu Qiu picked up the fallen umbrella from the ground and stood up, praising sincerely: [System, you’re really amazing.]

The little white snake showed no sign of waking yet, but since the system said she was fine, then she should be out of danger.

Liu Qiu reopened the umbrella, cradled the limp little snake in her hands, and walked back toward the residential complex.

Liu Xia was still standing where she had been, the umbrella casting shadows across her face and blurring her expression.

Liu Qiu jogged over and said softly, “Liu Xia, let’s go back quickly.”

Liu Xia’s gaze fell on the little snake in Liu Qiu’s hands before she slowly nodded.

The atmosphere along the way was suffocatingly silent.

Liu Qiu stole a glance at Liu Xia’s refined profile.
Liu Xia seemed unhappy.
Was it because she had seen her kissing Shi Ran?

Liu Qiu lowered her head and walked slightly behind Liu Xia.
She hadn’t expected Shi Ran to kiss her like that.

She hadn’t even had time to react, and by the time she did, she couldn’t push Shi Ran away.

Shi Ran was about the same height as her, but much stronger, so she had been forced to endure that overwhelming kiss.

In the original host’s heart, Liu Xia probably held more weight than anyone else.
Using the original host’s identity to do something like that, and letting Liu Xia see it—
it was nothing but awkwardness layered upon awkwardness.

Whether from past memories or present ones, Liu Xia had always treated the original host purely as family.

Seeing someone you consider family kiss another person so casually—
it would definitely feel unpleasant.

“L-Liu Xia…”
Liu Qiu called out stiffly.

Liu Xia lowered her long lashes slightly, a faint smile curving her lips.
“Liu Qiu, is that omega someone you like?”

“She seems quite good. She looks better than Bai Qingqing.”

Liu Qiu answered honestly, “No.”

Liu Xia fell silent.
Only after they returned home did she speak again.

“Then why didn’t you reject the omega’s kiss?”
The question carried too strong a tone of accusation.

Liu Xia paused, then added, “Sorry. If that question makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer.”

She placed a towel over Liu Qiu’s head and gently began drying her hair.
“Next time it’s this late, I’ll go with you.”

“Your hair and clothes are soaked. You’re not a child anymore. Are you copying those romantic rain-kiss scenes from TV dramas?”
There was a light teasing tone in Liu Xia’s voice that wouldn’t make people uncomfortable.

But Liu Qiu still felt something was off.

After finishing, Liu Xia went to the bathroom to run hot water.
“Liu Qiu, go shower immediately, or you’ll catch a cold.”

Her every action made it seem like she was caring for a child.

There was only one bathroom in the house.
Liu Qiu placed the little snake on her desk in her room, grabbed clean clothes, and went to bathe.

The bathtub was already filled with steaming hot water.

Liu Xia was nowhere to be seen.

Only then did Liu Qiu realize something strange—
Liu Xia had been deliberately avoiding eye contact with her the entire time.

After washing up and returning to her room, it was nearly midnight.

Liu Qiu was exhausted.
Shi Ran’s kiss had only strengthened her resolve to distance herself from Shi Ran.
She wouldn’t dwell on it.

As for Liu Xia…
she would ask tomorrow whether she was angry.

Before sleeping, Liu Qiu glanced at the little white snake whose body no longer bore scars and slowly closed her eyes.
It was good.
Bai Qingqing was fine.

The night completely enveloped the city.
Heavy rain poured down, pattering loudly against the ground.

Liu Xia slept deeply and wasn’t woken by the rain, but by a trace of coldness.

She sat up groggily.

It was the little snake.

Liu Qiu’s sleepiness vanished instantly.
The snake had woken up?

That was great—

She reached out to stop it from moving forward, careful not to use too much force, unsure whether Bai Qingqing had fully recovered.

“Bai Qingqing, you’re awake.”

The little white snake gave no response.
It slipped free from her hold, its cool head pressing into a narrow gap.

Liu Qiu’s expression froze.
She grabbed the snake again and tried pulling it back.

“B-Bai Qingqing, don’t do this.”
Her voice trembled.

The snake’s body was cold and slick.
Without enough strength, she couldn’t pull it away.

How could this be happening?

Heat spread across Liu Qiu’s cheeks like rouge brushed on thinly.

Her skin was already pale, and any emotion showed easily—especially now.

The little snake refused to behave.
If anything, her pulling only made it thrash harder, whether from tension or fear.

The system woke up.
It did enter dormancy sometimes.

The moment it woke, it saw the white snake writhing, and ahead of it was a blur of mosaic censorship.
From the posture alone, it wasn’t hard to analyze what was happening.

The system clicked its tongue.
[Host, your hobby is really perverted.]

Liu Qiu: […Get lost.]

She refused to talk to it further.

Looking down at the little snake, the harder she pulled, the more exaggerated its twisting became.

She couldn’t let go.
All she could do was keep pulling.

The cold snake coiled between her fingers, stirring strange sensations in her heart.

“D-Don’t—”
Her voice turned hoarse and broken.

She wiped her tears with her arm, her toes curling tightly.

Suddenly, her eyes widened.
Her body went limp.
This time, she truly had no strength left.

“Bai Qingqing! You—”

Fine sweat formed on her forehead.
She had to control her grip constantly to stop the snake.

But the snake was too slippery.
She was afraid that pulling too hard would hurt it.

So she kept tugging intermittently.

S-So perverted.
Could Bai Qingqing even hear her?

Outside, the rain poured endlessly.
Inside, only a small warm nightlight was on.

Heavy breathing was drowned out by rain striking the windows.

No one could hear.

Her lowered eyes reddened as she clutched the snake.

Her other hand gripped the bedsheet tightly.

Her pale knuckles trembled faintly.

Her toes scratched against the bed, the arch of her foot tensing into a taut line.

She bent forward, long hair falling to cover her face, hiding her tear-stained lashes and her lips bitten bright red.

Something wasn’t right.

Her heart felt as if a raindrop had fallen into it, ripples spreading outward through her limbs and affecting her entire body.

Unable to endure it, Liu Qiu forcefully pulled the little white snake away.

Bai Qingqing didn’t know what she was doing.
She just wanted to find somewhere warm.

She had found it.
Soft and damp.
But before she could stay long, she was chased away.

Her body felt the tugging.

“Bai Qingqing, stop doing this!”
Someone was calling her.
It was Qiuqiu.

It was Qiuqiu’s voice.

Liu Qiu didn’t dare let go.
The moment she did, the snake would burrow forward again.

A dark stain had already spread on the bedsheet from the moment she had pulled the snake out.

After wiping it with tissues, Liu Qiu pulled down her skirt, hugged a pillow, and tossed the snake onto the bed.

She couldn’t stay here.
She would sleep in the living room.

Closing the door to completely isolate Bai Qingqing, Liu Qiu collapsed onto the sofa.
It was small, but just enough for her to lie on.

Her cheeks were flushed, tears clinging to her eyes.
So perverted.
Even though she knew it was Bai Qingqing, the body was still a snake—slick and cold.

But she had actually found it very comfortable.
The shame was overwhelming.

She buried her face in the sofa.
[System, scan my body quickly. Something feels wrong. That was way too comfortable. I even leaked a lot.]

The system replied: [Host, your body is very healthy. There’s no need to worry about something like that.]

[Humans naturally feel pleasure during such acts. Just treat it as normal release.]

The system was artificial intelligence and had no concept of shame.

Liu Qiu didn’t know how to explain it.
In that instant, the sensation had been overwhelming, as if her soul had reached the peak of comfort, almost leaving her unable to walk.

After thinking for a moment, she got up and walked to the bathroom.
Something had to be wrong.
She would test it herself.

She closed the door without turning on the light, using only her phone’s flashlight.

The faint glow was just enough to see.

It was still a little embarrassing.
If it weren’t so dark, she wouldn’t even use the flashlight.

After washing her hands, she sat on the toilet.
Since she was wearing a skirt, it was convenient.

[System, don’t peek.]

The system replied: […Host, there will be mosaic censorship protecting your privacy. Besides, I’m not human. I don’t have human desire.]

[Got it.]

Liu Qiu always approached research with rigor.

She tentatively pressed once.

Her body trembled.
She parted her lips, nearly letting out a sound.
How could she be this sensitive?

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, lingered for a moment, then pushed in gently.

She moved lightly.

[System, it’s not the snake. It really is my body’s problem.]

Tears filled her eyes.
How could she shudder from just a touch?

The system soothed her: [It’s fine, Host. When you switch worlds, your body will be new again. These strange changes will disappear.]

While speaking to the system, the bathroom door suddenly opened.
Bright white light flooded in.

Liu Qiu, sitting on the toilet, was illuminated completely.

Meeting Liu Xia’s gaze, Liu Qiu froze.
She couldn’t react at all.
She was completely exposed.

Liu Xia’s eyes fell on where Liu Qiu’s fingers were inserted.
Her eyes slowly widened, her face flushing red.
“Sorry, Liu Qiu. I didn’t know you were in here.”

Liu Qiu abruptly withdrew her fingers.
A soft popping sound echoed in the bathroom—quiet, but unmistakably clear.

Liu Xia saw the pink flesh slowly closing in her view.

Liu Qiu clamped her legs shut and lowered her head, placing her hands on her thighs, mortified beyond measure.
“L-Liu Xia, y-you… go out first.”

The system said: [What is true despair? This is it. Host, I’m embarrassed for you.]

If the system had a physical body, Liu Qiu would definitely punch it.

The door closed.

But Liu Xia didn’t leave.
Instead, she walked slowly toward Liu Qiu.

Liu Qiu’s toes curled tightly.
She didn’t dare raise her head.
Being seen kissing someone was bad enough.

But this—

If she said she was just researching why her body had become so sensitive, would Liu Xia believe her?

Liu Xia approached and said hoarsely, “Liu Qiu, has your rut arrived?”

Liu Qiu’s lashes trembled.
She nodded.
“Y-Yes. My rut has arrived. That’s why I… was doing that.”

Liu Xia chuckled softly, kneeling on one knee.
Her hands rested on Liu Qiu’s flushed knees.

“Do alphas also want to be entered?”

Warm fingers touched her knees, making Liu Qiu shudder.
She looked up at Liu Xia, her voice shaking.
“Liu Xia, w-what are you doing?”

Liu Xia tilted her head slightly, narrowing her eyes.
For a moment, she looked just like Bai Qingqing.
“Liu Qiu, I can help you.”

“You can treat me as Bai Qingqing.”

Liu Qiu’s eyes widened.
“Liu Xia, w-what’s wrong with you?”

Liu Xia slowly spread her legs apart.

“Relax. I’m just helping you.”

She hadn’t planned to do anything.
She had watched Liu Qiu being kissed so many times by that omega and felt jealous beyond words.
She wanted to kiss those pale lips too.

But she had no standing.
Liu Qiu had completely categorized her as a sister.
Crossing the line would only push her further away.

At first, that was what she wanted.
But not anymore.
She didn’t want to be a sister.
She wanted to be Liu Qiu’s lover.

She wanted Liu Qiu to call her wife again, to rub against her palm like a clingy little puppy.

She had intended to bury this desire deep in her heart, slowly seeping into Liu Qiu’s feelings, only revealing it when she was certain.

But why had Liu Qiu let her see that scene?

Her heart pounded violently.
Liu Xia could no longer remain calm.

She wanted to kiss her.

Recalling Bai Qingqing’s expression, Liu Xia curled her red lips and spoke softly,
“Qiuqiu, treat me as Bai Qingqing.”

“Don’t feel burdened.”

“You loved me so much before, and I hurt you. I avoided you for eight years. I want to help you through your rut.”

“An alpha’s rut lasts a week. Liu Qiu, I don’t want you to suffer that long.”

She had only met Bai Qingqing once, but those similar eyes had carried an innate seduction.
Even in anger, she had been dazzlingly beautiful.

Liu Xia didn’t know whether she was imitating her well.
This was the best she could do.

Liu Qiu finally understood.
Liu Xia’s thoughts were the same as Shi Ran’s.

She had no idea what she had done to cause Liu Xia’s feelings to deteriorate like this.

She felt like crying without tears.

[Green Hat Value +5]

The sudden system notification made Liu Qiu look toward the doorway.

A white little snake was there, tongue flicking, staring at them.

Bai Qingqing’s body had fully recovered.
She could hear everything clearly.

The first thing she did upon waking was search for Liu Qiu.

Following the scent, she found her—
and saw a scene that made her eyes split with fury.

Liu Qiu’s legs were spread.
Kneeling before her was that human named Liu Xia.

Bai Qingqing wanted to rush forward and kill her.
But she couldn’t.

She couldn’t hit Liu Xia either.

Qiuqiu would be angry.
She had always made Qiuqiu unhappy before.

This time, she wouldn’t.

If Qiuqiu liked doing it with others, she could endure it.

It was fine.
As long as Qiuqiu didn’t abandon her.
She didn’t want to see Qiuqiu’s back again.
That would truly kill her.

Curling her body painfully into a coil, tears fell again from her crimson eyes.

Even though the sight before her hurt beyond measure,
she forced herself to watch.

She would learn how to make Qiuqiu happy.