Green Tea

I'm Not That Kind of Little Snake

Besides that, Tan Xiang'e repeatedly promised not to reveal Xing Yue's real information. She had strict medical ethics, so Xing Yue could rest easy.

If she could help more people with the same condition, Xing Yue had no reason to refuse.

Seeing that Tan Xiang'e seemed to know quite a few experienced medical professors, she suddenly wanted to ask on her best friend's behalf. "Doctor, I have a friend. Whenever she sees her python head in snake form, she gets... strange."

Xing Yue searched for the right words before continuing, her expression awkward. "She gets physically aroused. She's completely transfixed. Even if someone's right beside her, she doesn't notice them. All she can see is her big python head in the mirror. She licks the glass with her Snake Tongue, coils that long tail around herself, and rubs against it like crazy..."

Xing Yue could hardly go on. She had accidentally walked in on the scene once. After her initial shock, she hadn't thought much of it; she'd assumed it was just an adult taking care of her needs. Once she recovered, she'd even teased the girl a little. But Bo Wuxue had acted as though she couldn't see her at all.

That was when Xing Yue realized something was wrong. By chance, she tossed a piece of clothing over Bo Wuxue's eyes, and the girl gradually came to her senses. The moment Xing Yue removed it, though, she was gone again.

After trying several times, Xing Yue finally found the culprit—the mirror.

It wasn't just mirrors. Water and anything reflective enough to show her face had the same effect. Bo Wuxue couldn't look at her own python head without becoming utterly entranced. No one else existed in her eyes; she saw only herself.

Xing Yue had never heard of an illness like this. She didn't know whether it would harm Bo Wuxue's health, and Bo Wuxue was too embarrassed to talk about it, let alone seek treatment.

"Do you think my friend... needs to see a doctor about this? Or is it nothing to worry about?"

Tan Xiang'e loved the challenge of rare diseases. From Xing Yue's first description, she had already guessed most of it.

"In all my years of practice, I've only seen one case like this. Medically, it's called Compulsive Perfect Snake Persona. Most patients have faced constant rejection and, as children, were forcibly taught views opposite to their own.

"For example, she likes a little black dress, but her parents tell her black is ugly and pink dresses are pretty. She likes beautiful butterflies, but the people around her keep dismissing what she likes, insisting that butterflies come from caterpillars and are ugly and disgusting. Things like that."

"Patients like this have trouble seeing beauty in anything. They only feel attraction toward themselves, believing that only they are perfect enough to stir their desire."

"Most suffer a great deal psychologically. We're social creatures. If she can't accept anyone but herself, marriage and children become very difficult. She'll feel no physical desire for a partner, and there's a good chance she'll never fall for anyone else in her life."

For someone who could love only herself, seeing her face in snake form magnified those thoughts without limit: I'm so beautiful. I'm gorgeous. I want to marry myself. I can't stand it. Why is there only one of me in the world?

That could leave her deeply unhappy. Some patients suffered so much, wishing the version of themselves in the mirror could step out, that they even took their own lives.

Xing Yue thought back over all the years she had watched Bo Wuxue grow up. No wonder the girl had never taken a liking to anyone. Other kids muddled through puberty with secret crushes; Bo Wuxue had never even shown the first hint of interest.

The illness might not sound serious, but the more Xing Yue thought about it, the more frightening it became. Being engaged to a woman she barely knew was hard enough. With Bo Wuxue unable to fall for anyone else, any chance of love growing after marriage was gone.

This wouldn't do. Her best friend was even sicker than she was!

"Can't medication help?" Xing Yue asked, clinging to a sliver of hope, her face grave.

Tan Xiang'e shook her head. "There's no treatment available at present. First, cases are so rare worldwide that there hasn't been enough medical research.

"Second, Compulsive Perfect Snake Persona has one advantage. Because patients love themselves so deeply, they keep improving themselves and often develop extraordinary talents. In our country, eighty percent of the people who have won awards in biology, science, literature, and music have Compulsive Perfect Snake Persona. There's a directive from above telling us not to research the condition too extensively... I'm being clear enough, aren't I? We're only ordinary people."

Tan Xiang'e was putting it mildly. Many advanced devices had also been invented by such patients, and the government had secretly established centers to cultivate their talents.

Her veiled explanation was meant to spare Xing Yue a wasted effort. No matter which hospital she went to, the answer would be the same: there would be no treatment.

It wasn't that the condition couldn't be treated. The people above wouldn't allow it.

*

Xing Yue was distracted the whole way back. Her happiness had barely lasted before she learned about Bo Wuxue's illness. How could she still feel happy?

She didn't go home. Instead, she drove to the Bo Family's palace.

When Xing Yue first met Bo Wuxue, the girl had been only four. She'd come toddling over, hugged Xing Yue's leg, and called her "Cousin" in a sweet little voice.

The Bo Family had laughed and teased her. Only when the little girl looked up did she realize she'd hugged the wrong person. Blushing, she scurried behind her mother and peeked out at Xing Yue.

It was a Bo Family gathering. They had come down from the city to spend a day at a countryside resort, while Xing Yue had been sent to stay with Maternal Grandmother for summer vacation. The mix-up should have been nothing, but the Bo Family observed every courtesy. That evening, they invited Xing Yue to join them as an apology.

Xing Yue hadn't been offended. The little dumpling was adorable, and she saw no reason for an apology. Still, it was the little dumpling herself who came to invite her.

"Do you want something yummy?" Bo Wuxue patted her belly. Her little snake tail slapped against the floor as she looked up at Xing Yue expectantly.

Her eyes were a color with a poetic name: Yushi Qing.

Her cheeks were round with baby fat, and she wore a purple dress with a gorgeous, billowing skirt and a little hat. She was so, so cute, as delicate as a doll. Xing Yue's heart melted.

Xing Yue's disability had made her withdrawn and afraid to make friends. Bo Wuxue had appeared like a little angel. They got along wonderfully despite their age difference. Every summer vacation during Xing Yue's school years, they went to the countryside together to ride bicycles, fly kites, pick strawberries, and gather river snails.

Even now, Xing Yue had never made another friend. She had only ever spent time with Bo Wuxue.

Remembering what the doctor had said hurt Xing Yue more than the prospect of living with her disability for the rest of her life.

When the Bo Family's servants saw Xing Yue, they opened the door warmly without needing to ask the head of the family.

"Will you stay for lunch, Miss Xing? Shall I have the cook make some of your favorites?" the butler asked.

"No need to trouble yourselves. I'm taking Little Snowflake out to eat."

Little Snowflake was Bo Wuxue's childhood nickname. Only those closest to her could use it.

Xing Yue headed straight for Bo Wuxue's room. At the entrance, two servants each pulled open half of the door. The bedroom was so enormous that Xing Yue spent two minutes walking through the wardrobe alone.

Bo Wuxue was playing a game at her computer. Her mechanical keyboard rattled away, and the match was so intense that she didn't even notice someone enter.

Xing Yue suddenly pulled Bo Wuxue up and hugged her tightly. "I start closed-door training tomorrow. I won't see you for two months. Let's go out for a meal."

She felt miserable. Her eyes had grown damp.

Bo Wuxue barely listened before quickly pushing Xing Yue away. "Esports have no room for feelings. We can talk after I finish this match."

Xing Yue sat to one side and waited while Bo Wuxue returned to her game.

Xing Yue had given her that mechanical keyboard. Bo Wuxue's parents didn't allow her to play games, so she only dared to do it when they were away on business.

All her life, Bo Wuxue had been told she was the pride of Greenstone House. She had to study fragrances, jewelry design, and dress design because those were the family's businesses.

She owned no everyday clothes; every outfit she wore had to be a dress. Every birthday gift was jewelry. She wasn't allowed to like video games, horseback riding, or fencing. She couldn't wear pants or sneakers, or cut her hair short.

For her entire life, Bo Wuxue was only allowed to like perfume, gemstones, and dresses.

The time she spent playing with Xing Yue in the countryside had been the freest part of her childhood.

After finishing her game, Bo Wuxue turned and found Xing Yue looking ready to cry. Startled, she said, "What's with you? Is this because I didn't pay attention to you while I was gaming? Come on, it's not that bad. Hold it together, okay? Don't cry."

Xing Yue said nothing. Heavyhearted, she rested her head on the desk and watched Bo Wuxue.

Bo Wuxue's scalp prickled under her gaze. Unable to sit still, she got up, moved away, and wrapped her arms around herself. "Why are you looking at me like that? It's weird... I think of you as a sister. You don't have feelings for me, do you? Because that won't work. I'm not that kind of little snake."

Things had always been easy between them. They'd never felt like this before.

Xing Yue had been wallowing in misery, but those words snapped her right out of it. The doctor hadn't mentioned that the illness made people imagine everyone was in love with them.

"You need some herbal medicine to sort yourself out," Xing Yue said disdainfully. She collected herself. "Come eat with me. It'll be two months before we see each other again."

Maybe more than two months. If she went straight from training to filming, it could easily be four or five.

Bo Wuxue changed into an English court-style gown and spent nearly an hour on her makeup.

Sometimes Xing Yue felt exhausted on Bo Wuxue's behalf. Clothes like that were complicated to put on, and the wide skirt made going out inconvenient.

But Bo Wuxue had no choice. She had to dress extravagantly before she could leave the house.

"I went to see Tan Xiang'e today," Xing Yue said as they chatted on the way. "After a few courses of treatment, I should get better."

"Really?" Bo Wuxue's face lit up. "Then I can see your tail when you get back!"

Before she learned Xing Yue's secret, Bo Wuxue had never seen her snake tail. She'd thought Xing Yue didn't like spending time with her and had secretly felt hurt.

Learning Xing Yue's secret had hurt her even more.

Xing Yue wasn't sure whether she could be cured. Seeing Bo Wuxue so excited, she didn't want to dampen her spirits, so she said nothing more.

They went to a Western Restaurant they often visited. Wherever Bo Wuxue went dressed like that, she drew every eye. People kept turning to look.

"When you're in snake form, could you spend less time looking in mirrors?" Xing Yue asked. She ordered several steaks to Bo Wuxue's taste, worry weighing on her. "I've never met anyone so full of herself."

Bo Wuxue didn't care. "I can't help being pretty. If I weren't, would I look at myself every day?"

"How are things with your fiancée?" Xing Yue asked, changing tack. She wanted to find another way to protect Little Greenstone.

Bo Wuxue hadn't slept with her fiancée yet. Once she did, she would discover she felt nothing for anyone else and desired only herself.

Married life would be miserable then.

Xing Yue turned it over in her mind, still unsure how to broach the subject with Bo Wuxue...

Maybe she should just break off the engagement.

"I think you and that woman aren't a good match."

The moment Xing Yue said it, guilt washed over her for no reason. It felt as though she were doing something wrong.

"Then who do you think would be a good match for Miss Bo?" A cool voice suddenly cut between them.

Bu Yao had appeared in the restaurant at some point and heard every word Xing Yue said. Anger touched her cold, beautiful face.

She pulled out the chair beside Xing Yue and sat down. "You cheap little homewrecker. Do you even know her fiancée? You've never met her, and you're saying they aren't a good match. You just want your best friend all to yourself, you bitch!"

Xing Yue hurriedly covered her mouth. They weren't in a private room, and she was afraid the neighboring tables would hear. "What are you saying?! Why were you following me?"

Bu Yao pulled Xing Yue's hand away, took out several résumés, and slapped them on the table. Her voice was low and aggrieved. "I wasn't following you! I went looking for work. I wanted to earn enough to build a home with you, and you were here trying to steal another woman!"

Her accusations drew repeated glances from the surrounding tables. To them, Xing Yue had become a woman who chased after anyone who caught her eye while her wife worked hard to scrape together a living.