Z Country, Winter
The frigid sea wind cuts to the bone, the white snow is dazzling, the vast sea exuding an imposing and fascinating allure. Snowflakes fall from the sky one by one, melting into the sea water, integrating as one.
Within the sea, Chu Xi Yao is awakened by the bone-chilling cold. In an instant, seawater floods into her eyes, ears, throat, and nose frequently, choking her into continuous struggling, fighting desperately for her life.
The firmly welded iron chains resonate with clattering sounds under her vigorous resistance which seem loud, but entirely drowned out by the rolling waves.
Strength being depleted, Chu Xi Yao's conscious is gradually fading.
As life dwindles to its end, it seems like a taunting shout echoed in her ears.
"With the necklace now mine, obliterate the corpse to leave no trace, then no one will suspect me in the future, hahahaha!"
That...
That's her sister's voice.
Like a devil's whisper, Chu Xi Yao refuses to believe it.
Her sister, Chu Zi Yan, always gentle, virtuous, elegant, and soft-spoken - how could she commit such a heinous act against her own sister?
No, it can't be!
Chu Xi Yao weeps in the chilling realization and her suffering is immense.
She can't accept the facts, but everything before her leaves no room for self-deception.
The drink handed to her before she fell unconscious, the chains on her body, the terrifying laughter, and the smug satisfaction on Chu Zi Yan's face.
So, her sister had been pretending all along.
So, when Chu Ziyi said the necklace was beautiful, she didn't mean it literally.
So, their sisterly bond can't even withstand a single blow.
Only now, Chu Xiya has finally come to understand who Chu Ziyi truly is.
However, it's too late.
City S
Recently, several villa districts in the city have been mysteriously invaded. The intruders did not steal gold or silver, but specifically went to the kitchen to snack and drink. Having done their misdeeds, they didn’t clean up, leaving the houses in chaos as if they had just experienced an earthquake.
Since the news was aired, the police have intensified patrol and investigation efforts. After a few days, a lot of manpower and resources were consumed, yet there has been no progress.
Amid the public's heated discussions about these ghostly incidents, the hungry perpetrator has taken action once again, choosing the most luxurious villa in City S - The Glaze Garden.
The guilty party in question is none other than Chu Xiya, who was supposed to be dead.
Perhaps out of divine mercy, she was resurrected.
However, Chu Xiya was not reborn as a human, but as a snake. A white snake cursed and gifted with sporadic supernatural abilities. To be precise, if the curse was lifted, she should have the opportunity to return to her original form.
Chu Xiya felt pretty helpless being reported and hunted down by everyone.
Rising with her past memories, she couldn’t possibly live like a snake, lurking in damp and dark places, could she? Just the thought of eating living mice and frogs, let alone watching them crawl around, gave her creeps.
Human beings walk on two feet, with full control. As for snakes, they slither around. As a new member, moreover an acquired one, could she glide around as smoothly as real snakes?
"It's already impressive enough that they weren't causing fires in those villas. Do they know how hard it is for her?
Despite the complaints, life has to go on.
Having the rare opportunity to be reborn, Chu Xi Yao didn't want to waste it.
"I'm invisible, I'm invisible, I'm invisible!" Taking advantage of the early daylight, she carefully swam up to a villa, muttering this mantra in her mind.
She discovered this method accidentally when she was being chased, and to her surprise, her inner thoughts worked. Maybe this is the so-called special ability!
As long as humans can't see her, she doesn't care about the rest.
Chu Xi Yao's choice of this house today was not without reason, completely because the pure white interior decoration of the villa can better hide herself. If she's discovered, it would be easier to escape.
Quietly peeking out her serpent head for a look, Chu Xi Yao bumped her way over to the bottom of a window on the side of the villa.
"Damn it, if I keep bumping like this, my face will definitely get ruined." Her white snake body blended in with the wall. She couldn't help but tap her snake head with her tail, then touch the sore spot.
Fortunately, her snake scales were hard enough that they wouldn't bleed from a scrape.
Cocking her head, Chu Xi Yao used one eye to align herself with the window, a rather comical sight. Once she made sure the direction was correct, she leisurely swam into it.
She had no choice, she just wasn't used to a snake's dual vision and had to rely on one side only.
It's ok to take it slow, what matters is to be steady.
Chu Xi Yao successfully entered the villa, without thinking much.
Unexpectedly, underneath the window was not an empty space, but rather, a small fish tank."
"Splash!" Chu Xi Yao fell too quickly and went right in.
She had drowned at the bottom of the ocean in her previous life. Now, she has a mad aversion towards water. Thankfully, the fishbowl is empty and the water level is shallow. Chu Xi Yao, with a "swish", leapt out and quickly scampered onto the ground.
Her S-shaped snake body left a long watermark on the pure white glazed tile. If the water had color, she would probably have been revealed on television soon.
Based on her experiences of raiding the kitchen recently, Chu Xi Yao aimed at the kitchen, keeping her head low, she began to crawl forward silently.
As she heard increasing sounds, she found herself compelled to appear less often. Having been hungry for two days and nights, she knew if she didn't scrounge something to eat soon, she would certainly wither away like a dried up snake.
Before Chu Xi Yao managed to slither into the kitchen, she already smelled various delicious fragrances.
Braised pork, steamed fish, rib soup, along with stir-fried vegetables, and much more.
"I can finally have a meal." Chu Xi Yao flicked out her red snake tongue excitedly, letting loose unexpected drips of saliva.
Yes, saliva, not venom.
Her eyes gleaming with anticipation, she sprang into the kitchen like lightning.
Thanks to her white snake body, Chu Xi Yao brazenly moved around the pure white food dish.
Every time she saw something, she would have a taste, and when she would nab a piece, she'd take a bite.
Starvation nearly drove her mad. She didn’t care about cleanliness or germs anymore, filling her belly was the priority.
While the head chef was bustling in front of the stove, Chu Xi Yao was fighting her own battles behind him, on the table.
Half an hour passed, and she was lazily sprawled under a soup bowl, full and satisfied.
"Burp! I'm so full, I could hide away for at least three days this time before coming out again." Chu Xiyao opened her snake eyes, tilted her head, and took a look at her bulging belly, burping contentedly.
She didn't expect that the chef had such good skills. If possible, she would frequent this place in the future.
Just as she thought about it, the man in front of her suddenly turned around, shocking Chu Xiyao to instantly slither down the edge of the table to the ground.
Damn it, she'd be done for if she were discovered.
Better to be safe than sorry.
The chef bent down and took out a large tray from under the table, placing the dishes one by one on the tray. He didn't seem to realize that Chu Xiyao was there in the kitchen aside from him.
Getting everything ready, the chef didn't walk into the dining room as expected, but went out the side door towards another place instead.
Now, Chu Xiyao was puzzled.
Huh! Was he playing favorites and cooking for someone else?
Driven by curiosity, Chu Xiyao stuck to the edge of the wall, her snake tail following him leisurely.
