Ruan Xingyao spent three days training the little black snake, and finally, it was ready to acknowledge a owner.
Lin Ye had already left the police station, so the bonding ceremony could only be arranged elsewhere.
Early in the morning, Xie Lin came to pick up Ruan Xingyao so they could go meet Lin Ye together.
It had only been a few days since they last met, yet Lin Ye had completely transformed into a rugged man — unshaven, with stubble covering his face, and it even looked like he hadn’t washed it in days.
Ruan Xingyao circled around Lin Ye twice and said in disbelief,
“Wow, impressive! Just a few days and you’ve managed to wear yourself down like this.”
Lin Ye chuckled. “Work requirements.”
Ruan Xingyao smiled, gave her wrist a little shake to show the little black snake wrapped around it, and said,
“Alright, let’s do the handover ceremony now.”
Although Lin Ye wasn’t afraid of snakes, he didn’t like them either — especially being face-to-face with one at such close range.
The sight made his scalp tingle involuntarily.
The little black snake was clever.
Noticing Lin Ye’s unease, it deliberately stretched its head toward him, flicking its tongue.
However, the reaction it expected didn’t happen.
Instead, its head got flicked.
And the one who flicked it wasn’t Ruan Xingyao — it was Lin Ye.
“Hiss hiss! Hiss hiss hiss hiss!”
【How dare you! Treat a snake like this! This snake will take revenge!】
Ruan Xingyao patted the little black snake’s head and said,
“Enough. From now on, this is your owner. If you dare bully him, I’ll make snake soup out of you.”
The little black snake hissed, flicking its tongue in protest, but Ruan Xingyao’s oppressive aura forced it to obediently bob its head, looking like a well-behaved baby.
Watching curiously, Lin Ye asked in doubt,
“Expert Ruan, can it really recognize me as its owner?”
Cats and dogs he could understand, but a snake…?
Ruan Xingyao lifted her chin proudly and said,
“It might be difficult for others, but for me, it’s a piece of cake.”
Her expression was smug, charmingly cute.
Xie Lin’s gaze lingered on Ruan Xingyao’s face, reluctant to look away.
Ruan Xingyao didn’t notice this, but Lin Ye caught Xie Lin’s expression perfectly.
“Here, put your hand out and get our little baby familiar with you,” Ruan Xingyao said.
Lin Ye took a deep breath before finally extending his hand.
The little black snake reluctantly slithered onto Lin Ye’s wrist, looking as if it might bite him at any moment.
However, with Ruan Xingyao there, even if the little black snake had the thought, it didn’t have the guts.
After teaching Lin Ye how to get along with the little black snake and how to give it commands, Ruan Xingyao officially handed it over to him.
“That’s all I can do,” Ruan Xingyao said.
Lin Ye stroked the little black snake’s head for a long while before finally saying, “Thank you, Expert Ruan.”
After a brief silence, he continued, “If I can make it back safely this time, I’ll definitely treat you both to dinner.”
Xie Lin raised a hand and patted Lin Ye’s shoulder. “Take care.”
After parting ways with Lin Ye and getting into the car, Ruan Xingyao slumped back into the seat, her small face scrunching up in gloom.
While fastening his seat belt, Xie Lin tilted his head to look at her.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look so good,” he said.
Ruan Xingyao shook her head, and after a long moment replied, “I just… feel a bit reluctant.”
After all, it was the little black snake she had personally trained.
This trip might be its last, and the thought made her a little sad.
Xie Lin’s mood grew heavy as well.
Without overthinking it, he reached out and gently patted the top of her head.
The fluffy feeling beneath his palm tickled faintly, making him subconsciously stroke her hair again.
Ruan Xingyao blinked, slowly raising her little face so that the top of her head and then her forehead brushed against his palm.
“Captain Xie, you have a broken palm line,” she said, staring at his hand.
Xie Lin withdrew it and asked, “What about it?”
“I heard people with broken palm lines hit very hard,” Ruan Xingyao replied.
Xie Lin let out a helpless chuckle. “What? Are you afraid I’ll hit you?”
Far from being scared, Ruan Xingyao shook her little fist and said, “If you hit me, I’ll throw small animals on you.”
If anyone wanted to bully her—
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
Xie Lin smiled. “Then I guess I’m the one who should be afraid.”
Ruan Xingyao gave a soft “hmph,” shook her head, and turned her face away.
Suddenly, the phone rang inside the car.
She took it out and saw it was an unfamiliar number.
Without thinking much, she answered.
A woman’s voice came through the earpiece:
“Hello, is this Ruan Xingyao? This is the hospital. Your younger brother has woken up. Please come immediately.”
Ruan Xingyao’s grip on the phone tightened, her eyes full of shock.
“Okay, I’ll come right away!” Ruan Xingyao said.
After hanging up, she urged Xie Lin, “Hurry and take me to the hospital—my younger brother’s awake.”
Although Ruan Xingzhuo was essentially a stranger to her, she was still looking forward to spending time with him.
Half an hour later, Ruan Xingyao arrived at the hospital.
Xie Lin originally wanted to go up with her, but just before they entered the elevator, he received a call and had to return to the police station.
Ruan Xingyao pushed open the door to the ward, but didn’t step inside right away.
She took several deep breaths before finally walking in.
Ruan Xingzhuo was half-reclining on the hospital bed.
When he heard the sound, he turned to look at her.
“Sis…”
Having not spoken for a long time, Ruan Xingzhuo’s voice was hoarse.
The moment he opened his mouth, his eyes turned red.
Ruan Xingyao walked to the bedside.
At this moment, she truly felt for the first time that this was her real younger brother.
Of course, that feeling came from the emotions of the body’s original owner.
“Xiao Zhuo, this is great—you’re okay now,” Ruan Xingyao said.
Ruan Xingzhuo reached out to hold her hand. “Sis, you’ve worked hard during this time.”
Ruan Xingyao puffed out her cheeks a little, feeling somewhat guilty.
It was the original owner who had endured all the hardship.
Ever since she came, things had started to improve.
She just didn’t know if Ruan Xingzhuo would notice that she was no longer the sister he once knew.
Ruan Xingzhuo stared at her without blinking, making her feel a little uneasy.
“I’ll go ask the doctor about your condition—see when you can be discharged,” Ruan Xingyao said.
Ruan Xingzhuo nodded, watching her leave the room.
Only after she closed the door did he lower his head, and large tears began to fall, one after another.
He wasn’t stupid—his sister’s personality had completely changed.
How could he possibly not notice?
Although he didn’t know why this had happened, since things were already this way, then this must be fate.
From now on, this would be his sister!
He would take on all the responsibilities and, together with her, pay off the family’s debts.
Soon, Ruan Xingyao returned to the ward.
Her mood was clearly much lighter.
“The doctor said your condition is pretty good—you should be able to leave the hospital in about a week,” Ruan Xingyao said.
— The end of the Chapter–
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