The next day, Shen Yelan was woken up to the sound of screaming as if someone was slaughtered. She peeled one eye open, squinted at the clock on her bedside table, and then pulled the quilt over her head. Anyway, no one was dying.
Downstairs, Shen Chengwei and Feng Xin were seated at the table for breakfast when the scream tore through the house again. The two adults dropped their chopsticks and bolted towards the source, which happened to be Shen Wei's room.
By the time they arrived, a small crowd had already gathered at the open doorway, including Butler Wang. Even Shen Wanwan, who was getting ready for school, had come out to see what was happening.
Today, she had deliberately taken forever getting ready this morning because she knew something juicy was coming. So when she first heard the high-pitched scream, she was quite excited. But then she realized something was wrong. The scream came from somewhere nearby and sounded slightly muscular.
When she came out of her room, she realized it was coming from her brother's room. She peeked inside the open door to find him sprawled on the floor. A nearly three-foot-long snake that was as thick as a water hose was wrapped around his neck.
His face was deathly pale, and his eyes were full of tears. Snot ran down his nose, and his pants were wet with suspicious liquid.
"Get it off! Get it OFF!" Shen Wei wailed while he remained frozen, fearing the snake might bite him or worse, choke him.
But no matter how much he yelled for help, no one came close to help. The snake was really scary, and no one knew if it was poisonous or not.
The snake's head lifted slightly, tongue flicking in and out.
"Xiao Wei!" "XIAO WEI!" Feng Xin shrieked, lunging forward towards her beloved son. But then she skidded to a halt, eyes bugging out at the snake's fangs. "Do something! Someone help him!"
When Shen Chengwei saw him in this state, he was startled first. Then, he pushed the nearest inside. Coincidentally happened to be the same person who had helped Shen Wei last night.
"What are you standing there for? Peel that thing off of him!"
The servant, who had been caught once again with the snake, trembled. He looked at others for help, but they all looked away, trying not to make any eye contact.
"Hurry! Save my baby!" Feng Xin yelled at him.
With a look of pure misery, the servant cursed his luck and slowly stepped forward. When he tried to raise his hand to grab the snake, it suddenly whipped its head forward, hissing at him. The servant yelped and stumbled backward. His foot slipped on the wet patch on the floor and landed butt-first in it. He froze for a second and then brought his wet hand to his nose, sniffed, and immediately gagged. Others who saw this and knew what that liquid was could not help but gag as well.
The snake, apparently annoyed, tightened around Shen Wei's neck. Shen Wei's eyes bulged. "Mom! Dad! I don't wanna die!" he sobbed.
He did not understand what he had done wrong. He was sleeping peacefully in his room when he felt a suffocating presence around his neck that woke him up. When he opened his eyes, he was staring straight into the snake's eyes.
That was when he screamed.
At that moment, he seemed to have forgotten that this was the same snake he had prepared for Shen Yelan.
The chaos dragged on.
Fifteen minutes later, the old gardener, who had dealt with snakes before, was able to take it off him. But by that time, the snake had bitten Shen Wen thrice. Though it wasn't venomous, the sight of the bite marks alone was enough to make Shen Wei faint at the spot. The estate fell into another round of panic as Shen Wei was rushed to the hospital.
In all the confusion, no one noticed a maid standing quietly in the corner, recording all of this on her phone. Seeing that everyone had left, Sun Lili put her phone away and chuckled.
"Idiot."
When Shen Yelan woke up an hour later, she saw the video sent to her by Sun Lili. She played only a few seconds before her face twisted in disgust and she put her phone away.
After freshening up, she went downstairs in her wheelchair. When she arrived at the dining hall, only one person was sitting at the table. The rest had gone to the hospital with Shen Wei.
Surprisingly, this person was someone she hadn't able to meet since she had arrived.
Old Master Shen sat at the head of the table, in the very seat where Shen Chengwei had sat yesterday. He was thinner than she remembered, almost gaunt and had a strange, green tint beneath his pale skin.
Besides Butler Wang, there was no other servant in the room. Old Master Shen did not look up from his breakfast when he noticed Shen Yelan's presence.
"Grandfather," Shen Yelan greeted him, but she did not get any response, as if he had not heard anything.
Butler Wang gave her a small nod, then continued serving food to the old man in silence.
Shen Yelan observed the old man for a second. Then, she looked away and pushed her wheelchair forward. Seeing the empty bowl before her and the dishes that were placed that were out of her reach for her, she pulled her lips into a thin line. But then, she schooled her expression and sat still.
After a moment, Old Master Shen finally glanced up and took in fragil appearence on the wheelchair. He clicked his tongue against his teeth and gestured to Butler Wang, immediately stepped forward and began serving Shen Yelan as well.
Only then did she pick up her chopsticks. Before she could take a bite, the old man spoke.
"Did what happened this morning have anything to do with you?"
Shen Yelan paused and looked up to find he was already looking at her. Besides his sickly appearance and his trembling hand, his gaze and voice still held the authority of the patriarch.
"Why would you think that, Grandfather?" Shen Yelan asked, instead of answering the question.
"Just the fact that you had just arrived yesterday and this happened today,"
Shen Yelan gave a small smile. She brought a napkin to her lips and gave a small cough before speaking.
"You're teasing me, aren't you? Grandfather. I heard there was a three-foot snake found in Shen Wei's room this morning. But as you can see, I can not even stand, not to mention my fear of those things. Besides, I have to take medicines to sleep and have been in my room since last night. I didn't even hear anything and only found out on my way here because the servants were whispering about this among themselves."
Old Master Shen stared at her for a long moment, realizing what she said made sense. But it did not change the fact that it happened after she came back. Like that fortune-teller had told them years ago, she really was a jinx for this family. For a split second, he wondered if it was right for him to bring her back. But then, he shook those thoughts away. She won't be staying here for long anyway.
Shen Yelan continued her breakfast, not really caring about what the old man was thinking. However, halfway through the meal, she seemed to remember something. She looked up again.
"Grandfather, I'd like permission to go out."
"Why?" Old Master Shen asked, his gaze slightly narrowed.
"It's been ten years since I've been in a city. I just wanted to look around a little," Shen Yelan gave a pitiful look. "I was sent to the village to recuperate. For the first few years, I was too ill to even leave my bedroom. Later, when I could use the wheelchair, I could only stay in the village."
She looked down at her lap. "I'm not complaining. I know it was for my own good. It's just...I just wanted to look around. If you don't agree, it's fine. After all… I'm just a cripple."
She said the last sentence so quietly it almost sounded like she was talking to herself, but somehow, Old Master Shen heard it.
A trace of guilt flickered in his eyes. She was, after all, his granddaughter, even if he did not like her.
Forget it. It won't make any difference if she could go out.
Still, he kept his face cold, "You speak as if we've locked you up like a prisoner."
Shen Yelan's eyes lit up. "Does that mean I can go out whenever I want to?"
"Take someone with you for assistance."
"Thank you, grandfather. You are the best!"
Seeing the bright childlike smile on her face, Old Master Shen could not help but smile, though it was barely visible.
Shen Yelan lowered her gaze, continuing her breakfast. Though the smile was still on her face. But deep in her eyes, something dark and cold flickered that no one noticed.