The woman instead took the child's hands.
"I'm sorry, Bao Bao."
"Did Mommy hurt you?"
The child shook his head.
"I'm okay."
"It's just a little hard to breathe."
"Oh, oh."
The woman smiled with relief.
"Do you feel better now?"
The woman gently smoothed the child's somewhat messy hair.
The dampness and chill beneath her hand made her frown.
But before the child noticed, a gentle smile returned to her face.
"Mm."
The child nodded.
Mommy had let go of him, and now he felt better.
"Mommy!"
The child grasped her hand in return.
His eyes curved into crescents as he smiled.
"Look!"
The child's smile left the woman momentarily dazed.
This child...
She couldn't help feeling a little "resentful."
He'd nearly scared her to death earlier.
And now look at him, smiling at her so "carefree and unconcerned."
But...
A smile gradually spread across the woman's eyes and brows.
Then it spread across her whole face.
It was so wonderful to see the child smiling like this.
The woman followed the child's gaze.
Hm?
This was...
"A pretty little snake!"
The child's sweet, childish voice rang in the woman's ears.
His excitement made her feel even more helpless.
Just as she thought.
It was a snake.
But it really was just as the child had said...
It was a beautiful and rare white snake.
It was practically a work of art.
The woman was amazed.
But...
No matter how beautiful it was...
It was still a snake.
The woman instinctively felt a little uneasy.
Without even realizing it, she edged back slightly.
Xiao Xiao noticed the woman's subtle movement.
He lowered his eyes.
His fingertip gently brushed the white snake's head.
However, the child's words reminded the woman.
Her