Free Web NovelChapter 186: Chapter 184: Snakes Also Have Two Faces
Bai Xiaolang yawned and nudged Bai Xiao Zhu beside him with his foot. "Is it time yet?"
Bai Xiao Zhu didn’t even turn his head. "Not yet."
Bai Xiaolang raised his hand to glance at his smart device and pulled the little rabbit to his side. "Let’s go. Kindergarten should be getting out now. We’ll walk you home."
Wen Xiaobao reluctantly hugged Bai Xiaolang’s arm. "Aww..."
’She really liked these three big brothers. They were so nice, and they would patiently take turns playing with her.’
’They even protected her at school.’
’If only they were her real brothers.’
’Then she could even score a pretty auntie for a mom.’
The little one sighed wistfully.
Bai Xiaolang patted her little head. "Do you want to learn how to fight? I can teach you."
Wen Xiaobao shook her head. "My sister won’t let me learn..."
Bai Xiaolang was surprised. "You have a sister?"
A flash of panic crossed Wen Xiaobao’s little face. "Oh... no, I mean, a big sister in my neighborhood. My dad won’t let me learn, either."
Bai Xiaolang didn’t press the issue. ’After all, such a cute little female would be a deeply cherished treasure in any family. It’s only natural they wouldn’t want her learning how to fight.’
The group walked Wen Xiaobao home, only to discover her house was right across the street from Bai Su’s restaurant.
Wen Xiaobao saw the second-floor curtains were drawn and knew someone was home.
She quickly turned to the three big brothers and said, "I... I’m home now. Thank you, big brothers. I can go in by myself."
Bai Xiaolang nodded, watching the little one go inside.
「The next day.」
Unwilling to accept defeat, the Mermaid Princess returned to stir up trouble.
She came to the restaurant in person, demanding to see Bai Su by name.
Bai Su was in the middle of a cooking livestream and completely ignored her.
Yan Qingya gave Bai Su a troubled look. "What should we do? She’s stormed right into the restaurant. As a princess and a female, it’s not like we can just throw her out."
Bai Su said, "If she orders something, serve her like any other customer. If she doesn’t, kick her out. Don’t be afraid to be firm; it’ll be fine."
Yan Qingya was a little hesitant. "Can we really do that?"
’She is a foreign guest, after all. If she’s treated rudely in our restaurant, won’t it really affect relations between our two countries?’
Bai Su nodded. "Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal."
’She might be the Mermaid Princess, but I’m the Duke of Snow Country.’
’Accepting her previous challenge was already more than polite of me.’
’If she goes too far, there’s no need for me to be a pushover and embarrass Lu Tingyan.’
’It’s not like I don’t have powerful backing myself.’
The Mermaid Princess sat at the counter and tapped impatiently on the surface. "Well? Where is she?"
Diners all around couldn’t help but be captivated by her ethereal beauty, discreetly keeping an eye on the situation.
After all, who doesn’t enjoy looking at a beautiful woman?
A nearby server hurried over. "Hello, how may I help you?"
Rosa Meiya stared at the server in disbelief. "You, a female, are waiting tables in a restaurant? You bring shame to all females!"
The smile on the server’s face froze.
Yan Qingya stepped forward at the right moment, dismissing the server and approaching the princess herself. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Rosa Meiya sized up her refined, expensive-looking clothes and guessed she was no ordinary person. Her arrogant expression softened slightly. "I’m here to see your boss."
Yan Qingya smiled slightly. "I am the boss."
Rosa Meiya frowned, displeased. "I’m looking for your boss, Bai Su. Not you."
’She really disliked Yan Qingya’s fake smile.’
Females are especially sensitive to hostility from one another.
She asked, somewhat annoyed, "Who are you? And why aren’t you bowing to this princess?"
Yan Qingya took a deep breath. ’With her old fiery temper, she would have already rolled up her sleeves and started a fight.’
’But after managing the restaurant for so many days, her temper had been worn down considerably.’
Yan Qingya put on a professional-looking fake smile. "My apologies, but this is Snow Country. According to international convention, when you Sea Clan People are on Snow Country soil, you are expected to abide by our nation’s laws."
"As you are aware, Snow Country has advanced by leaps and bounds under the leadership of our Leader. Those kinds of feudalistic, ritualistic systems were abolished long ago."
"After all, none of us are feudal relics or savages from some remote mountain, are we?"
Rosa Meiya’s expression instantly darkened. "Are you insinuating my country is full of mountain savages?"
Yan Qingya looked at her in mock surprise. "Of course not! Why would you ever think that? The whole world knows you’re fish, not savages."
Furious, Rosa Meiya slammed her hand on the table. "State your name! You insolent commoner!"
Yan Qingya proudly puffed out her chest. "Yan Qingya, daughter of the leader of the Lion Beastman branch. You’re welcome to visit our tribe anytime."
Upon hearing this, an unreadable light flickered in Rosa Meiya’s eyes. After a long moment, she said, "Regardless, I’m not here for you. Get Bai Su out here!"
Yan Qingya replied, "I’m sorry, but our restaurant is very busy. If you aren’t here to place an order, I’ll have to ask you to leave. Please don’t occupy a seat for paying customers."
Rosa Meiya grew anxious. "I’m just here for Bai Su! I’ll leave after we talk for a minute!"
She threatened angrily, "If Bai Su doesn’t come out, I’m going to make a scene!"
Having finished her task, Bai Su finally came out, streaming equipment in tow. "Miss Rosa Meiya, I’m in the middle of work and very busy. Could whatever this is wait until I’m off the clock?"
Rosa Meiya’s eyes lit up upon seeing her. She rushed forward. "Yesterday’s PK doesn’t count! Let’s have a rematch this Saturday!"
The corner of Bai Su’s mouth twitched. "I don’t have time to play house with you."
Rosa Meiya grabbed her hand. "It’s best two out of three! We’ve only had one round!"
Bai Su stared at her flatly. "You really have this much free time?"
’Even without Li Chenlin’s help in yesterday’s PK, I still wouldn’t have lost.’
’I haven’t even pulled out the pile of cheats from my System Mall yet...’
’This fish seems to be a stubborn one. She won’t be easy to get rid of.’
Bai Su narrowed her eyes. "Alright, let’s settle this once and for all today. What do you want to compete in? How many rounds? Just say it all at once."
Rosa Meiya hadn’t expected her sudden boldness. She arched a brow sharply. "You’re not setting a trap for me, are you?"
"If we don’t settle this today, don’t come looking for me ever again. I don’t have this much free time to play house with you."
At that, Rosa Meiya quickly grabbed her arm. "Fine, fine! Let’s talk!"
The slender, smooth texture of the arm beneath her hand made her pause. She leaned in, suspicious.
Bai Su asked, "What are you doing?"
Rosa Meiya gave her arm a deliberate stroke. "Oh, nothing. Am I not allowed to touch?"
Bai Su: "..."
Rosa Meiya gave a flirtatious toss of her hair. "How about this? I haven’t decided what I want to compete on yet. Give me two days, and I’ll come tell you when I’ve figured it out."
Bai Su said, "Mm."
Only then did Rosa Meiya seem somewhat satisfied.
She turned to leave, her hips swaying, and came face-to-face with Li Chenlin entering the restaurant.
Li Chenlin met her gaze and fell silent.
Rosa Meiya fell silent, too.
After a long moment, she frowned. "How are you shorter than me?"
In her human form, Rosa Meiya was over six-foot-three, nearly six-foot-seven if she stood up perfectly straight.
Li Chenlin, in his human form, was only a little over five-foot-eleven, not quite reaching six-foot-three.
Li Chenlin: "..."
Rosa Meiya clicked her tongue in irritation. "Forget it. It makes no difference."
She turned to leave.
Li Chenlin transformed into his snake form and, with a single whip of his tail, slammed her into the street outside the restaurant. His massive body towering over her, he looked down imperiously. "Who the hell do you think you are? You dare question me?"
In his snake form, Li Chenlin was over thirty feet long, completely dwarfing Rosa Meiya.
Yan Qingya, who was still by the counter, was so frightened she nearly fainted.
’Having only seen Li Chenlin acting as docile as a kitten around Bai Su, she had almost forgotten this was an underworld leader whose name struck fear across the globe.’
The other diners were terrified as well, diving under their tables for cover and watching Li Chenlin’s terrifying rage in horror.
People on the street screamed and scrambled to get away.
The Spiritual Suppression unique to Li Chenlin, a Level 9 Snake Beastman, instantly enveloped the entire area. The sky itself seemed to darken, creating an intensely oppressive atmosphere.
The area fell deathly silent. No one dared to make a sound, terrified of attracting Li Chenlin’s attention and getting violently smashed into the pavement by his tail.
"Li Chenlin, don’t be so rough on a girl." A young woman’s clear, melodious voice rang out like a heavenly melody, piercing the gloomy, oppressive atmosphere.
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice to see Bai Su with a hand on her forehead, looking exasperatedly at the giant snake by the restaurant entrance.
The giant snake at the entrance instantly became docile, shifting back into his Beastman form. Standing beside the large crater, he looked at Bai Su with an aggrieved expression. "But... she said I was short..."
Everyone: "..."
’You’re the one feeling aggrieved?’
’The Mermaid Princess is smashed into the pavement and barely breathing!’
Bai Su said, "I don’t mind."
Those three words completely melted away the gloomy atmosphere.
Li Chenlin’s mood instantly went from cloudy to sunny. The corners of his mouth curled up in a smile he couldn’t suppress. In high spirits, he sidled up to Bai Su and followed her into the kitchen.
"Susu, you’re the best."
"I’m not actually short at all, right?"
Everyone: "..."
’So snakes can be two-faced, too???’
Rosa Meiya: "..." ’So... is nobody going to worry about whether I live or die?’
