Volume One, Chapter 10: Disaster! The Young Lady Has Been Devoured!

The Gu family’s backyard was modeled after the layout of an ancient royal mansion. Various rare stones dotted the courtyard, flanked on either side by maples, bamboos, and pines. At the center of a stone table lay a jet-black chessboard.

Chacha wandered through the winding garden paths and noticed a huge white gauze draped over one wall. Just as she was about to approach it, Meixiang tugged her back.

“Miss, your hands are so cold. Playing in the backyard might give you a cold. Wait here for me a moment—I’ll go get you a pair of gloves.”

Though eager to see the cats and dogs, Chacha obediently nodded. After Meixiang left, her eyes gleamed with anticipation as she gazed at the covered cage.

“By what right are you Uncle Gu’s daughter!”

Startled by the sudden voice, Chacha turned to see a three-year-old girl dressed in lotus-pink, her hair tied into two buns, running over.

Softly, Chacha asked, “Who are you?”

Gu Yi crossed her arms, pouting arrogantly. “My name’s Gu Yi. I should be Uncle Gu’s daughter.”

The family had agreed to adopt her to become Uncle Gu’s daughter, but suddenly this other girl, Gu Cha, appeared out of nowhere.

Chacha asked in confusion, “Don’t you have a father either?”

“You don’t have a father!” Gu Yi shot back loudly, glaring.

Even more puzzled, Chacha said, “If you do have a father, why wouldn’t you be his daughter and instead want to be my father’s daughter?”

Gu Yi was at a loss for words and stomped her foot in frustration.

Her gaze then swept to the white cloth covering the cage and shifted sharply.

She was determined to give this annoying girl a good lesson.

When Chacha wasn’t paying attention, Gu Yi quietly crept over to the gauze and slipped her hand inside to open the cage.

“Hmph, Uncle Gu will be my father sooner or later. Just wait and see.”

Chacha scratched her head, watching Gu Yi dash away. Was this older girl in a hurry to use the restroom?

“Hissss.”

“Huh?”

What was that sound?

Chacha looked around, crouching low and peering about. The white cloth moved slightly.

“Found you!”

“Ah!”

---

Chacha stared in shock at the enormous creature before her, unable to utter a word.

A giant python, adorned with golden stripes, flicked its tongue. It reared its massive body upright, its cold red vertical pupils fixed unblinkingly on the little girl.

Reflected in its eyes was Chacha’s fearful gaze.

Her heart pounded as if it might leap out of her chest; her limbs stiffened, and she slowly shrank backward.

She had never seen a snake so huge. Though it gleamed like gold, it was terrifyingly large!

The golden python seemed to sense her fear and slowly slithered forward. Its massive head flicked out its tongue as it approached Chacha.

Her lips quivered, and tears threatened to spill.

But in the next moment, the python gently rubbed its head against Chacha’s, its tail tip curling softly around her waist.

Chacha timidly glanced down, as if she had noticed something, but with the snake’s head so close, she dared not move.

Stammering, she said, “C-could you… move your head away?”

Seeing her fear, the python’s cold eyes flickered with a trace of hurt, but it still withdrew its head and lay down.

Seeing how docile the snake was, some of Chacha’s fear dissipated.

She reached out her small hand and gently pulled the tail wrapped around her waist. Holding it in front of her, she examined it carefully, noticing a deep gash along the tail, blood dripping and pooling on the ground.

“You’re hurt. Did you come to me for help?”

The golden python lifted its head and nodded vigorously, its tongue flicking excitedly with a series of hisses.

Chacha laughed softly. What a pitiful snake—it must be in a lot of pain.

She gently touched the area around the wound. Feeling the pain, the tip of the tail trembled, and suddenly the snake rose and slid toward the rockery at the back of the garden.

“Hey! Wait for me!”

Chacha got up and hurried after it with her short legs. The snake was so beautiful; she wanted to help it.

Just as Chacha and the golden python slipped behind the rockery, Meixiang returned with the gloves.

She had been delayed while preparing items for entertaining guests and hurried back, but saw no sign of Miss Chacha.

Looking around, Meixiang suddenly noticed the gauze had been disturbed. Pulling it aside, her heart leapt.

The cage that once held the golden python was open, and the snake was nowhere to be seen!

Meixiang panicked when she saw a pool of blood on the ground where Chacha had been.

---

Her face drained of color, Meixiang nearly collapsed, her mind consumed by one terrifying thought:

It’s over. Miss Chacha was eaten by the golden python!

She stumbled and rushed toward the main hall.

...

Gu Yi stood at the entrance of the main hall, a triumphant expression on her face.

When she came to the second uncle’s home, she had peeked into the backyard and seen the enormous python locked inside—a sight that had scared her to tears.

Hmph, there was no way that brat wouldn’t cry upon seeing the snake.

Seeing Uncle Gu Yan sitting inside, Gu Yi tidied her clothes and smoothed her hair, confident she looked perfect. She then smiled sweetly and entered.

“Hello, Uncle Gu,” Gu Yi said, blinking her eyes and shyly offering a hibiscus flower. “I saw this flower just now, and it was so pretty I wanted to give it to you.”

Gu Yan cast a cold glance at the blooming flower. “Give it to your parents. I don’t like flowers.”

Gu Yi’s smile froze. Children cannot hide their true feelings, and a flash of displeasure crossed her eyes, noticed immediately by Gu Yan and Gu Chiyi.

That Gu Wu had truly spoiled his child.

Seeing his daughter’s warm approach met with a cold response, and realizing she was outshone by a wild girl, Gu Wu was even angrier. He snorted coldly, “Come over here at once. I am your father. Uncle Gu doesn’t need you as a daughter.”

Gu Yan’s family had only three sons. Recently, Gu Xiaxun had insisted on having a younger sister, and Gu Yan had not explicitly opposed the idea.

The collateral branches thought this was their chance. The main family was strong and treated the collateral branches almost equally, with fixed financial shares. But gaining more was nearly impossible.

However, if a daughter was adopted by Gu Yan, the benefits for the collateral branch would only increase.

Among the collateral branches, Gu Yi was the smartest and most adorable. Gu Wu was determined to secure the position of Gu Yan’s daughter for her but was unexpectedly thwarted, his plan foiled. How could Gu Wu not be furious?

Gu Yan, listening to Gu Wu’s sarcastic words, remained unruffled. He never intended to adopt a daughter. Gu Xiaxun’s childish whims were not worth his attention.

But seeing the collateral branches go into uproar over this baseless rumor, he chose silence to express his stance and investigate who was conspiring with outsiders to harm the Gu family’s interests.

He had never expected to actually adopt a daughter.

Thinking of the timid yet adorable little bundle, a smile flickered in Gu Yan’s eyes.

Suddenly, Meixiang burst in, her face pale with terror.

“Something terrible has happened! Miss has been eaten by the snake!”