Arc 3: A city where 4 clans reside in peace.

Warning: Sexual activity.

A: “Wtf is going on?” 

Q: “We’re out to play. I think he means a date.” 

A: “Why am I being dragged along too? He’s out of light bulbs* to flaunt to?” 

Q: “As if I know? He’s acting extra crazy since Muhr brought you back last night.” 

A: “Muhr and I have nothing going on! Even so, what’s it to him? …Fine. Let’s pretend it IS something, then why did he bring you?” 

Q: “Zayn wondered the same thing. So Caden flung him away, again!”

He hurts the guy for so minuscule reasons... 

QingQing was grateful to Zayn. Though he acts like a jerk, he has always taken care of her in detail. After Caden first arrived, she had asked him to leave for his own safety but he’s been stubborn. She had no choice but to let him in her heart as family step by step. It is also to be noted that they’re of same age thus got along well. At least, Caden had started to tolerate his presence, that’s progress on itself. 

Bear with it a little more, Zayn.

On the other hand, the bewildered Ash stared at the snakehead, whose tail was carrying them through layers of the woods. She knew well that he could hear her, she couldn’t care less. Moreover, after hearing her accusations loud and clear, he was still being a mime. 

“It’s not like he don’ see you romantically. Zayn gets beat up every time he’s too close. He’s always wooing you around, even kisses you very openly. Yet he bears major wooing gifts for us both in fair shares. Is he trying to become the first player of the beastmen world? Why’re you still quiet?” 

“I ...like being gifted same things as you. It feels like we’re real sisters. It also warms my heart when you accept things without fussing over paybacks. It’s only him you genuinely take gifts from- 

"What ‘accept things genuinely’? Only cause he’s a scary shit that I-Kya!” The moment slander left her mouth, the part of tail Ash was seated on curled up, causing her to fly up and land on her butt. “That snake!” 

QingQing, trying her best to hold back laughter, reached out to pull Ash up, when a weirdly continuous hissing sound reached their ears. It was like a chuckle in hisses. 

A: “The snake laughs?” 

-hence she lost it.

Through the space between the heads of the chatty pair of girls, a beastman with long and glistening vermillion red hair could be seen soaking his huge snake half inside the water and leaning his human upper half on the shore as he gobbled half boiled eggs one after another. QingQing had prepared their picnic basket with apples, peaches, boiled eggs and barbecued lamb in the shape of fingers. 

As they ate, the lack of ketchup was their sole regret.

Staying true to his humidity loving nature, Caden brought them to a natural grotto. The atmosphere was a bit dense and misty, yet so pretty, the girls wished they could take pictures. 

Correction: Not having a camera was their other regret.

“Have this, jiejie. I know you don’t like peaches, but the fruits here are too good to pass up.” Exhaling deep, QingQing looked at the back of the person silently waving his tail in the lake. “He’s acting weird since ...the 'matter' with you. Even stopped pestering me for... that. Shouldn’t I be happy? Sigh, I’ll go offer him some meat. Hope they aren’t still too hot for him.”

You’re finally developing feelings for him. 

Ash leaned against the grotto wall as she thought to herself. 

But kid, no one talks about a sexual incident between their bf and sister to the exact sister so comfortably! You- 

Splash! The loud noise interrupted her peace, as well as QingQing’s yell: “Hooligan snake!”

How did she fall into the water? 

She was about to rush there anxiously but sat back down remembering the teen can swim. Caden’s soft laugh echoed in the cave as he held the pouting QingQing with both arms and rubbed his face on her very intimately. 

Yeah, that’s how things should be. You two pale creatures look cute together. Leave me be, en, brother snake?

It was only a few minutes since then, QingQing called out, “Jiejie! Take the meat back! Caden is gonna ruin them by splashing water.” 

She watched Ash sigh and stand up, reach out to take the leaf pouch. What QingQing really wanted was to grab her outstretched hand and yank Ash into the water, using the momentum to come up to the shore herself as she doubled over in laughter. 

However... 

A full minute passed. Another. But Ash didn’t return to the surface. 

“Jiejie! I know you're pranking me too.” Neither came an answer. “Hey, this isn’t funny, you-” 

The thought struck her. Maybe... 

Sh*t! Can’t she swim?!

Before she began to wail, Caden’s tail dove in to pulled the unconscious Ash out. He looked panicked but she was more. Rushing to her side, QingQing tried pressing on her chest a few times but to no avail. So she held Ash’s nose shut, sealed her mouth and started to blow without any hesitation, face red with shame. 

I didn’t know! I swear, I didn’t! 

Thankfully, Lady luck had some grace left in her, as Ash started coughing after a few hard blows, her body convulsing in the impact.

Q: “Why did you never tell me you can’t swim! You’re skilled in so many random things how come you couldn’t at least struggle underwater? Why the hell did you collapse so easily!” 

Calming her fervent coughs, Ash meekly responded, “I never saw a natural water source before coming here. I got confused when the water put pressure on me. I couldn’t move upwards no matter how...” 

“You bath in a lake all the time!” 

“I only use a bowl to pour water on me as I sit on the shore...” 

"I always thought you were just being classy! Oh my God!"

With a gearter exhale, QingQing pulled Ash in a light hug, fearing she might hurt her again. 

“Swimming lesson starts tomorrow. No excuses!”

Their sweet girl time couldn’t last long because of the chill yet dazed voice floating to their ears, “Snow... wants to mate... Honey? ...Never knew... 2 females could...” 

Shocked, Both females sprang away from each other, QingQing’s face now flushed for a whole different reason. 

Q: “No! This is CPR.” 

A: “Just first aid!” 

Q: “Not a kiss! It’s basic mouth to mouth...” 

A: “And a kiss doesn’t make mates!” 

Caden, however, remained dazed. “Didn’t imagine… Snow... with a female... could look so...” 

Ash was dumbfounded. 

Q: “What? Even if I have a big crush, I didn’t kiss her!” 

Now Ash was ultra-dumbfounded. 

A: “Xiao Bai! We’re not lesbians!” 

Q: “Eek! No, I-I didn’t mean it like that! It’s a-uh-I panicked, ok!” 

Silence fell over the grotto. 

After 10 whole minutes, Caden was the one to finally break it, “You’re wet, don’t catch cold. Let me take measure. I’ll make you new clothes.” 

He was quite indifferent because he didn’t understand what the females were talking about. 

Ash sighed: Bai already said she was talking nonsense out of panic. So... I’m the fl’s girl crush? I feel honored.

Convinced, she changed to a much calmer tone: “How‘re you going to make clothes here? Let’s head back.” 

A reddish-white roll of fabric appeared on his arm out of the blue, causing QingQing to finally surface to reality, 

“Hey-you! I told you snakeskins give me the ick! Did you plan this ambush in advance so you can get me to wear that?” An idea suddenly poked her mind as she saw Ash. She swallowed her fear and added, “...However, I may consider if you make jiejie a set too...” 

Caden gently smiled, nodding, “Was going to anyway.”

I have to admit, the 3 of our relationship is nowhere near normal. Many things are going differently than the novel. The quiet-clueless QingQing seems more mature and open. The Caden I know is cold-hearted by nature. All the considerably good things he does in life are for his snow. To her he’s gentle, straight forward and excessively possessive. But the Caden before me is secretive and confusing. He’s still cold but seems to own a natural soft heart. He’s more indulgent to me than QingQing. Even when I cuss at him, he smiles gently. Wasn’t he always hurt whenever QingQing just frowned or put a little physical distance? ...Whatever. I don’t want to understand them anymore. 

Ash was more worried about the soreness she got just from lying down a bit. 

Ah, waist hurts. Is it because I was soaked for too long?

While Ash stretched, Caden used his sharp nails to cut open QingQing’s tube top. With a flick of his wrist it was thrown outside the grotto. Terrified, QingQing tried to run away, but his tail restrained her. 

“Snow, be good.” 

Her shrill cry echoing reminded Ash of ‘The b**b poking scene’ from the novel.

Finally! I can witness one of the ‘moments’! 

She watched eagerly as Caden reached a slender finger out to poke the flesh that, in order to hide, was squeezed such they looked like steamed buns. Unlike the plot, QingQing managed to escape him and hid behind Ash, whose small form did nothing to hide the taller girl. 

-where I obviously wasn’t supposed to be.

A: “Oi Caden, take the measurements already.” 

He was having too much fun to comply. He twisted his body to find openings as QingQing swayed around Ash. A scream sounded every time he poked, as if a button was being pressed on a doll. Annoyed, Ash halted the play by holding his wrist. 

“Stop it! Look how red her skin...” she trailed off. The puffed up pair of breasts really looked like they were calling for it. 

“Tch Bai… how’ll you cover those D-cups with your small hands? They look sexier.” In the end she too couldn’t help but join Caden in having a whale of a time. 

Q: “Not you too! Waah~” Only after her skin turned really red did guilt finally kick in. 

C: “I hurt you?” 

A: “I’m so sorry, you’re just so big and plump-” 

Q: “Pair of hooligans!”

“What’s hooligan?” Caden whispered to Ash, the air coming out of his mouth so cold she wondered if her ears froze over. 

“She’s calling you 'evil' in Ape language.” 

His expression instantly changed. Though his stony eyes remained the same, the lengthy time they spent together helped Ash catch the fleeting emotion that flew by. 

He was hurt. 

See? This is your reaction when she didn’t even use any cussing words. Why do you seem happy when I do?  

Anyways, seeing the teen crying up a river, Ash chose to ignore Caden, kiss QingQing’s cheeks and coax her.

To her surprise, the teen froze up, even forgot to sniff. 

Umm... did I do something wrong? 

Caden also stopped fooling around, tore a strand of his hair and started making a new tube top. He altered the misfits while QingQing still had it on. QingQing didn’t even protest as she stood stiff, touching the spot she had been kissed on. 

Bai… you’re scaring me. Just cuz' I kissed your cheek? Are you turning into a lovesick man from this world?

After sewing only a top, Caden turned his nail to Ash, the tip glinting under the sun. 

“Don’t you da-” She couldn't even voice her warning before- Snap. He cut her blouse into half, exposing her plainer bosom.

Ash briskly snatched the fabric before he could toss it away. “That off-shoulder was fucking hard to make! Have you traded your brain for all your bones to become such a bone head?” 

He was spooked silent for barely a while, before chuckling out quite loudly. 

There he goes laughing at my outburst, again. How come the novel never mentioned he laughs so carefree?

The mellow feeling inside her chest disappeared with the realization of Caden not taking the measurement as he ought to. Instead, she caught him scanning her chest, then her eyes, then QingQing’s and back to her. 

Is he comparing? I worked so hard to grow my As into Bs. Don’t compare them to a natural D, dude! 

Thankfully he was quick to cup one. 

Q: “You pervert! Take measurements!” 

Ash replied in an apathetic tone, “You finally woke up? This is how they usually measure a female’s chest.” 

Q: “He didn’t do that to me!” 

A: “That’s because you’re too big.” 

Ash was only trying to tease when Caden added, “Yours don’t even fit my palm.” 

Soon after, they were gifted the sight of QingQing turning into a super ripe tomato.

A: “Hoho, you’re blushing.” 

Q: “How can YOU not? Don’t you feel weird?” 

“I’m not as much sensitive- Ah!” A moan involuntarily escaped because Caden suddenly squeezed her, hard. His fingers could be seen denting her skin as he chuckled darkly. 

“You are sensitive- to pain.” 

Ash sure didn’t know the pleasures of her body herself. Nonetheless, it’s pain. Shouldn’t everyone be? 

“What do y- uhu! It hurts, damn it!” 

A few moments of staring into her eyes later, the half snake slithered away, laughing to himself. Unable to wrap her thoughts around his actions, Ash spat her rage on QingQing, “What are YOU staring at?” 

Q: “ I-umm-I was just wondering how, unlike I’m… so… you know… pink, and you’re dark brown like... It’s eye catching because of your contrasting beige white skin... they might fit in MY palm just right...” 

What the hell...

Defeated, only her pupils shook ever so slightly when Caden returned. 

“I made yours like the one I ripped.”  

In the background, QingQing was heard complaining, “Hey, that’s unfair! Alter mine into that too!” In response, he silently patted her head. 

But then, a starngely sweet aroma hit his nose.

Following, his gaze found Ash.

Huh?

He didn’t notice, but he had left some marks on her. The more he looked, the more dangerously misty his eyes turned.

Gently pushing QingQing aside, he wrapped an arm around Ash’s waist and pulled her closer. She could feel the cold air that surrounds him like a 2^nd skin in her bones. 

"Eh? What're you- hey! HEY!"

Bowing down, he gobbled up the whole thing, making her feel as if that one brea*t was put inside a freezer. A flick from the slim icy tongue elicited a shameful moan from her. 

"Caden! S-sto-"

He tilted his head enough to look into her eyes. Familiar black, somewhat similar to him in coldness, were glaring back, making him want to punish her. 

The flicks were like whips of ice on her nipple. Ash couldn’t help but groan in pain as the pair of stony red kept curving in amusement. 

"Hey... you... idio-"

But was it only pain? 

Putting her hands on either side of his head she pulled herself out. His mouth left with a wet pop, cold saliva dripping on her body. 

Ash took the top out of his grip and proceeded to put some distance between herself and the 2 people who's clearly lost their minds.

“Thanks for this. I’ll make my own skirt and act this whole nonsense just now didn’t happen.” 

I must’ve eaten something weird to let them have their way with me to that extent! 

Caden’s tail, however, was quick to drag her back. He rubbed his face gently against her cheeks, like he often does to coax Bai. 

"No pranks again. Stay. I have to copy. Your designs are beautiful, Honey.” Both females chocked on their saliva hearing him call Ash that. Even though it’s a nickname based on her scent, it was a bit...

The combination of pleated skirt and Bardot top felt fashionable and comfortable to Ash. 

The elastic like snakeskin wraps around my body snugly. The coolness is relaxing. I heard its waterproof too. Let’s check it out at the riverside! 

But the moment she tried to stand, her back felt like tearing apart. 

Argh! Why’s my body so sore today?