Chapter Nineteen: Honeyed Nectar

“Lou Dalang?”

With a nimble twist, Lou Dalang vaulted onto the courtyard wall. Perched above, he looked down at Wang Heng, a faintly mocking smile on his lips. “Chubby girl, why don’t you call me ‘brother’ anymore?”

He recalled that day at the Lou family manor—the chubby girl clutching that foolish snake, a silly grin on her face, her voice soft and sweet as she called, “Brother.” It had only been a few days, and now she addressed him differently upon their next meeting?

What was this? Did she think that without elders present, she no longer needed to act obedient and simple?

“Brother!”

Wang Heng was nothing if not adaptable. The moment Lou Dalang finished his sentence, she didn’t hesitate for even a heartbeat before correcting herself and greeting him anew.

Lou Dalang was taken aback. This chubby girl certainly knew how to recognize the situation and yield—she changed her tune with remarkable speed!

“So you just change how you call me like that? Don’t you have any backbone?”

Lou Dalang had met many who, even when frightened into trembling, insisted on stubbornly declaring, “One must have backbone.” He’d come across plenty of people who yielded, but their eyes still brimmed with shame and resentment, as if he were some heartless bully and they the pitiable, downtrodden victims.

But Wang Heng was different. Her submission was genuine, through and through—there was not a trace of grievance or defiance.

“You really are older than me,” Wang Heng replied. Although she hadn’t asked Lou Dalang his exact age, he was half a head taller than herself. In her straightforward logic, height meant age.

“Brother, since you’re older, of course I should call you brother.” Wang Heng tilted up her plump little face, pure sincerity shining from her fair, delicate features.

Looking at this innocent, soft-hearted chubby girl, Lou Dalang felt a rare pang of reluctance to tease her further. He fell silent, awkwardly sitting astride the wall. Wang Heng, unaware of his inner turmoil, noticed his silence and cocked her head in thought.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. “Brother, have you come to fetch your little snake?”

Ah, that little snake originally belonged to Lou—no, to her brother. If he wanted it back, he only had to say so; there was no need for embarrassment.

“…Even though you gave it to me, Brother, I know that little snake must be dear to you. I cannot take what you love!”

“Brother, wait just a moment—I’ll have someone bring the snake to you!” The more Wang Heng considered it, the more convinced she became that Lou Dalang had come for the unfortunate snake. What a coincidence—she didn’t want to keep it anyway.

Compared to such slippery, squirmy creatures, Wang Heng much preferred furry, chubby cats.

Alas, ever since she’d taken in the little snake, the plump orange tabby that had followed her all the way from Yizhou to Hedong and now to the manor, no longer dared come near! Wang Heng knew the snake’s fangs had been removed, but the cat did not. Animals had an instinct for danger, and the tabby avoided both the snake and its new owner.

Wang Heng sighed—she hadn’t petted her beloved cat in days, and missed it terribly. If her brother could just take the snake away, everyone would be happy.

She mulled this over, her round cheeks betraying a hint of longing.

Lou Dalang, meanwhile, was debating whether to jump down and give the chubby girl a good scare, when he heard her words.

Snake?

What snake?

Oh, right—the foolish snake he’d kept for a while. He’d nearly forgotten it, and even if he hadn’t, he had no use for it anymore. Before Wang Heng, that snake had helped him frighten many, even causing a great commotion among the Lou family’s servants, bringing him much satisfaction.

But this chubby girl hadn’t been afraid at all—she’d simply picked it up. Lou Dalang’s interest vanished instantly. When she later claimed it as a gift from him, he hadn’t bothered to correct her.

And now, she was eager to return it—

He studied Wang Heng’s little face and realized she seemed to find the snake distasteful, as if it were a hot potato she couldn’t wait to be rid of.

You don’t want it? Well, I insist you keep it—and take good care of it, too!

“I told you that day—Little Green is a gift for you.”

“Since I gave it, it’s yours now.”

“Chubby girl, this is the first gift I’ve ever given anyone. It’s from the heart. You won’t disappoint me, will you? You’ll take good care of Little Green, won’t you?” Lou Dalang fought to keep his lips from curling in amusement, forcing himself to sound earnest.

Wang Heng: …

I don’t want it!

I don’t want to keep it at all!

She only wanted her tabby cat, not Little Green. But Lou Dalang’s reasoning was hard to refute: Little Green was a heartfelt gift, and she couldn’t turn it away.

Pouting, cheeks puffed, Wang Heng nodded reluctantly, “Don’t worry, Brother. I—I’ll take good care of the snake.”

To prove she wouldn’t let down his kind intentions, Wang Heng vowed, “Yes, I…I’ll feed it until it’s plump, just like…just like Little Flower.”

Little Flower?

What Little Flower? Was that some type of plant? Lou Dalang was faintly curious, but it wasn’t important. Watching Wang Heng’s reluctant but obedient expression, he was filled with satisfaction.

At last, he’d managed to get the better of her. She hadn’t cried, but she certainly wasn’t happy.

When others were unhappy, Lou Dalang was delighted! Such was his mischievous nature—petty, vengeful, never forgetting a slight.

Thinking of “revenge,” Lou Dalang suddenly recalled the matter he’d attended to that morning.

He rummaged in his sleeve and pulled out half a honeycomb.

“Chubby girl, I brought you another gift today,” he announced, tossing the honeycomb toward Wang Heng.

Her heart skipped a beat—what new mischief was this little tyrant up to? First it was a toad, then a snake, and now—

“What a sweet fragrance! Brother, what is this?” Wang Heng instinctively dodged. The honeycomb grazed her clothes and landed at her feet.

She backed up two steps, then, seeing nothing alarming emerged from the strange object, timidly approached and examined it.

A familiar scent reached her nose. “Is this…honey?”

She drank honey water every day but had never seen an actual honeycomb before.

“That’s right! It’s a honeycomb—full of honey inside.”

“This half is for you, and the other half—I gave to your mother!”

At this, a cold and cruel glint flashed in Lou Dalang’s eyes. What he didn’t mention was that, when he “gifted” the other half to Madame Cui, he’d also tossed some leftover bee larvae and bits of comb into her courtyard.

And then…buzz, buzz—a swarm of bees descended upon Madame Cui…