The Brat
"Is it really alive?"
Someone's hand twitched.
They really wanted to touch that snake...
"Can I—"
Someone finally couldn't hold back any longer.
They were interrupted by a child's shriek.
"Ah!"
"Snake!"
At the first word, everyone thought the child had been frightened by the snake.
When they heard the second word...
They were surprised to realize...
They could actually hear excitement in the child's voice?
Everyone turned around.
A little boy came running over.
His eyes shone brightly.
"Snake!"
The boy ran straight up to Xiao Xiao.
As he jumped, he reached out.
He looked as though he intended to snatch the snake right away.
Xiao Xiao took a step back.
The boy grabbed at empty air.
He landed unsteadily.
He wobbled a few times.
The boy flailed his arms, then fell backward onto his bottom.
"Bao Bao!"
A woman shrieked as she rushed toward the boy.
Only then did everyone snap back to their senses.
"What's he doing?"
"Did I see that right?"
"He seems to have..."
"Run straight over and tried to steal someone's snake?"
"That's what it was, right?"
"I didn't imagine it, did I?"
"No."
"I thought he was trying to steal it too."
"My God."
"What a brat."
"Even if he likes it, he should ask nicely..."
"How can he just come over and grab it without saying a word?"
"Exactly."
"Good thing that young man reacted quickly."
"Otherwise, the kid would've gotten away with it."
"...And the kid was so rough..."
"Wasn't he afraid of hurting the white snake?"
"It's such a small white snake..."
"It couldn't withstand much force, could it?"
"Are you okay?!"
The plump woman looked the boy up and down.
At the same time, she reached out and pulled