Du Ziqian’s sudden voice startled everyone, making the already strange atmosphere even more tense.

 

“What do you mean Yu Sisi is not Yu Sisi?”

 

Yu Sisi put down her fork, tilted her charming big eyes toward Du Ziqian, pouted her red lips slightly, and said aggrievedly, “Ziqian, what are you talking about? Just because I changed my makeup and style today, does that mean I’m no longer myself?”

 

“Are you grown men really going to bully a weak woman?” Her eyes blinked with tears as she looked pleadingly at Zhang Liang across the table. “Brother Liang, are you just going to let Ziqian slander me without defending me?”

 

Zhang Liang hesitated.

 

Among them, he had the most interaction with Yu Sisi. She was a beautiful woman—who could resist her when she acted coquettishly?

 

It was precisely for this reason that he could sense the changes in Yu Sisi the most. She was usually delicate and beautiful, but today she radiated all kinds of charm…

 

But when his eyes met Yu Sisi’s, his chest warmed, and he immediately turned his anger toward Du Ziqian: “Are you sick?!”

 

“I…” Du Ziqian blushed, pointing at Yu Sisi. “She… she has a pair of terrifying eyes in her hair!”

 

Yu Sisi stood up and lifted her hair. Her long black hair was soft and smooth. Nothing was there. With this gesture, she proved that Du Ziqian’s words were completely false.

 

Du Ziqian was speechless. “I… I just saw it.”

 

He clearly saw it—it couldn’t have been an illusion. That pair of malicious eyes was definitely not Yu Sisi’s!

 

He looked to Tang Jizhi for help, only to find Tang Jizhi seemingly unaware of their argument, lowering his head to speak to Little Red Riding Hood.

 

Du Ziqian didn’t dare disturb the two of them. As for Lan Tong, he didn’t even look in his direction, let alone disturb him.

 

Lou Yu, now extremely annoyed with Du Ziqian, sneered, “Du Ziqian, can you not startle everyone first thing in the morning? Let’s not even talk about whether Sisi is fine. If she really had a problem, wouldn’t Brother Tang notice?”

 

He flattered Tang Jizhi skillfully. Although he didn’t understand why Little Red Riding Hood called Tang Jizhi “Daddy,” one thing was clear—Tang Jizhi could even control Little Red Riding Hood. How powerful must he be?

 

With a boss like that, couldn’t he walk through this world unhindered?

 

Du Ziqian had to be pushed aside, no matter what.

 

“Brother Tang hasn’t even spoken yet, and you say this in front of him? Do you think you’re better than him?!”

 

Du Ziqian: “….”

 

“No! I… I…” His timid and introverted nature made him utterly tongue-tied.

 

Yu Sisi continued wiping her tears.

 

Zhang Liang and Lou Yu were on the same side; Liu Zhongyuan remained silent.

 

Just when Du Ziqian felt he might burst into tears, Tang Jizhi finally finished his conversation with Little Red Riding Hood. While having Lan Tong put her down, he picked her up into his arms and said, “Breakfast time. Sit down and eat.”

 

“Little Princess, look—she’s the original Yu Sisi, right?” Little Red Riding Hood’s monstrous anger, which had been ignited by Blue Eyes earlier, vanished under Tang Jizhi’s comfort—after all, her father was no longer angry and was still holding her!

 

She lay obediently in Tang Jizhi’s arms, glanced meaningfully at Yu Sisi, curled her lips, and said, “It’s her.”

 

“Du Ziqian, apologize to Sisi!” Zhang Liang breathed a secret sigh of relief. Looking at Yu Sisi again, her dark and gloomy face had softened.

 

Lou Yu also agreed: “Yes, apologize quickly.”

 

He smiled flatteringly at Tang Jizhi, but was met with Little Red Riding Hood’s sharp gaze.

 

Lou Yu swallowed hard and obeyed.

 

“It’s okay, I don’t mind.” Yu Sisi wiped away her tears and smiled generously. “So much has happened these past two days. Ziqian was probably just too nervous and misunderstood.”

 

Everyone resumed their seats. Du Ziqian didn’t dare sit next to Yu Sisi, but this time he was smart and switched places with Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang immediately glared at him warningly.

 

At the end of breakfast, Little Red Riding Hood slid off Tang Jizhi and said, “I’m going to visit my neighbor, Sister Bai Xue. Everyone come with me. We’ll meet here in ten minutes.”

 

No one dared to object, and they went upstairs one by one. Yu Sisi was the last to go up, casting a glance at Tang Jizhi before leaving.

 

Little Red Riding Hood looked at the motionless Blue Eyes and abandoned the idea of driving him away, simply pretending he didn’t exist.

 

“Daddy, why did you ask them to go with me to Sister Bai Xue’s house?” she asked. “They’re weak and will slow us down.”

 

“Not necessarily,” Tang Jizhi replied casually. “Many hands make light work.”

 

Little Red Riding Hood understood this as Tang Jizhi using Du Ziqian and the others as buffers. Yes, if she and Sister Bai Xue ran into trouble, these people could buy time.

 

“Where does Snow White live?” The distant wooden houses had disappeared, but Tang Jizhi suspected they hadn’t vanished—they just couldn’t see them for some special reason.

 

“Snow White lives in the forest to the south, not far away,” Little Red Riding Hood replied.

 

Tang Jizhi asked again, “Do you know who your neighbors are?”

 

She tilted her head and counted on her fingers. “Snow White, the Cinderella family, Kara, Ello… These are close. I don’t know about the ones farther away; I’ve never been in contact with them.”

 

“Aiello is always sleeping. I’ve visited Snow White, but the women at Cinderella’s house are all annoying. I haven’t been there. Kara’s wife turned her into a big frog and she hides from people. Her wife was buried underground by Snow White.”

 

Tang Jizhi: “….”

 

“There were no neighbors around before. Later, they suddenly appeared, and then guests came.”

 

The fairy tale characters had been trapped here for an unknown amount of time, living through soft reincarnations again and again. Eventually, outside humans arrived—how would they react?

 

Of course, they would be caged for entertainment, then devoured when the humans grew bored.

 

“But…” Little Red Riding Hood frowned, then fell silent.

 

Tang Jizhi: “What is it?”

 

She shook her head cutely. She had felt she remembered something, but the memory quickly became blank.

 

“Daddy, when I get to Snow White’s house later, I’ll speak with her first. She’s really awesome.”

 

“Good.” Tang Jizhi patted her head.

 

Ten minutes later, Du Ziqian and the others went downstairs. Yu Sisi had changed into a new skirt, removed her heavy makeup, and applied light makeup, looking like a young college student.

 

She leaned against Zhang Liang, as if she were his girlfriend. Her previously gloomy face had softened, and the corners of her mouth and eyes curved upward.

 

He probably didn’t like to smile, so it looked stiff and slightly unnatural.

 

Lou Yu curled his lips in disgust. He really couldn’t tolerate it.

 

He didn’t despise Du Ziqian but was disgusted by Zhang Liang and Yu Sisi’s clingy display. He had a grudge against Liu Zhongyuan and decided to stay close to Tang Jizhi.

 

The group left the cabin, led by Little Red Riding Hood, heading south toward the Sea of Flowers.

 

Little Red Riding Hood held Tang Jizhi’s hand, jumping lightly among the flowers. After a while, the bushes on the right shook violently, and a large Big Bad Wolf leapt out.

 

Du Ziqian comforted himself: as long as Little Red Riding Hood was present, the wolf wouldn’t dare attack.

 

The wolf only stared at them with violent, hungry eyes, following at a distance, clearly waiting for an opportunity to strike when she wasn’t looking.

 

Lou Yu got scared and bumped into Du Ziqian. “Look at your cowardice!” he scolded.

 

Du Ziqian retorted: “You—you’re scared too, aren’t you?”

 

Yu Sisi held Zhang Liang’s hand, stretched out her fingers, and slowly rotated the ancient, tattered bottle on her wrist.

 

“It smells so delicious… I want to eat it.”

 

The Sea of Flowers was quiet. Only Little Red Riding Hood put a pink flower behind her ear.

 

“Daddy, do I look pretty?”

 

“Very pretty.” Tang Jizhi replied and placed the flower wreath he had twisted on top of her head. “Even better now.”

 

“Thank you, Daddy.” The little girl was overjoyed.

 

Everyone looked confused—was this a family outing?

 

Next, the previously silent Lan Tong reached out, removed the wreath from Little Red Riding Hood’s head, and put it on his own.

 

“…Seriously?!”

 

Even knowing Little Red Riding Hood was terrifying, stealing a child’s wreath was audacious.

 

Tang Jizhi caught Lan Tong’s gaze, cleared his throat, and soothed the nearly furious girl: “I’ll make you an even prettier one.”

 

Little Red Riding Hood couldn’t contain herself.

 

Tang Jizhi quickly made a new wreath. Little Red Riding Hood compared it carefully and confirmed it was prettier than the previous one. To prevent Lan Tong from stealing it again, she placed it around her neck.

 

After walking quietly for a while, their vision suddenly changed, as if they had passed through an invisible barrier and entered a forest.

 

The Sea of Flowers was gone. The gray wolf trailing them also vanished.

 

Tang Jizhi stopped and listened carefully. He heard ethereal, strange singing—not from a human.

 

“Who’s singing? It sounds awful.” Lou Yu covered his ears.

 

Little Red Riding Hood glared at him. “Shut up! Who allowed you to speak?”

 

Lou Yu paled and fell silent.

 

“Guests are coming.”

 

“It’s Little Red Riding Hood.”

 

“She brought many guests; go inform the princess.”

 

“The princess is still sleeping. Let them wait.”

 

“No! It’s Little Red Riding Hood!”

 

…

 

Seven dwarfs wearing socks of different colors jumped out. They were only a few dozen centimeters tall, reaching a human knee. Their faces were human-like but wrinkled like tree bark, each older than the other.

 

The dwarfs focused on Tang Jizhi. The green-socked dwarf stared at him and said, “He’s the guest the princess saw last night. The princess likes him very much.”

 

They surrounded Tang Jizhi. The purple-socked dwarf pinched his leg. “Muscles too soft, no strength. Weak.”

 

Little Red Riding Hood stepped forward and drove them away. “Go! I’m looking for Sister Bai Xue. Last night she studied some new dishes and told me to visit her today.”

 

The dwarfs were kicked away one by one but quickly got up and went toward the forest, unbothered.

 

“Brother Tang, look at that.” Du Ziqian pointed quietly into the distance.

 

Tang Jizhi raised his eyebrows. Several rows of neatly arranged large trees appeared, each with a small bag at its base—like a grave bag.

 

Yu Sisi covered her lips and smiled coquettishly. “Those dirt bags look like small tents. Maybe people can stay inside.”

 

Tang Jizhi turned to her with a smile. “Do you want to go in and try?”

 

Yu Sisi, surprised that Tang Jizhi spoke to her first, froze. She said shyly, “If a handsome guy like you would try it with me, I’d be very hap

 

“That is not a place for living,” said the dwarf in yellow socks with a smile.

 

If such an expression appeared on a cute face, it would look childish and amusing.
But on a wrinkled face like tree bark, it carried an indescribable sense of terror.

 

“However, if the guest really likes it, we can help. The Princess said that we must fulfill all of our guests’ requests.”

 

After speaking, the dwarf turned around and continued to lead the way with the others.

 

Before long, the view ahead suddenly opened up, and Tang Jizhi saw a familiar pool.

 

It was the same pool he had seen in his dream.
The only difference was that there was now a low wooden cottage beside it.

 

The cottage was mainly green in color, covered with creeping vines. Small flowers were scattered among them, adding a touch of cuteness.

 

On both sides of the house were fenced vegetable gardens, full of fruits and vegetables, all growing luxuriantly.

 

Tang Jizhi exchanged a glance with Lan Tong. Lan Tong subtly glanced toward the pool.

 

Suddenly, something touched Tang Jizhi’s waist.

 

“Hee hee, this guest has a very slim waist.”

 

It was the dwarf in cyan socks. One of his front teeth was missing, so his speech leaked slightly.

 

His eyelids narrowed into thin slits. His dry fingers rubbed against each other, as if savoring the sensation from just now.

 

The next second—

 

A small hand grabbed the sock on top of his head.

 

The dwarf was lifted straight into the air, his feet leaving the ground, legs flailing helplessly.

 

Little Red Riding Hood casually threw him aside.

 

She called out loudly, “Sister Snow White!”

 

A moment later, the wooden door creaked open.

 

Snow White, dressed in a white gown, slowly stepped outside.

 

She had clearly just woken up. She was barefoot, her snow-white skin still faintly tinted with a rosy glow. Her long eyelashes fluttered gently, like those of a beautiful elf who had just emerged from sleep.

 

She was not wearing a crown. Her soft hair hung loosely behind her head, perfectly still in the air.

 

“So it’s Little Red Riding Hood,” Snow White said apologetically.
“I’m sorry for receiving your guests so early. I only just woke up.”

 

“Xiao Liu, Xiao Qi, go prepare some morning tea.”

 

The two dwarfs in blue socks and purple socks hurried into the house.

 

“Everyone, please come in,” Snow White said gently, stepping aside.
“It’s rare to have so many visitors. We can finally have some fun today.”

 

Du Ziqian and the others were completely stunned.

 

From the moment Snow White appeared, they had frozen in place.

 

Since entering this world, they had never gone anywhere else, let alone encountered Snow White herself. Now, standing in the forest and seeing her in person, they suddenly realized—

 

Such a beautiful girl could actually exist in this world.

 

Beautiful… and utterly unreal.

 

“She’s… so beautiful,” Lou Yu murmured blankly.

 

Du Ziqian had met Snow White the night before. He knew how overwhelming her presence was—so much so that he had lowered his head after only a single glance.

 

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Lou Yu’s expression.

 

Liu Zhongyuan and Zhang Liang looked the same—both completely stunned by Snow White’s beauty.

 

Wait.

 

Suddenly, Du Ziqian realized something.

 

One person was missing.

 

Where was Yu Sisi?

 

She had been walking with Zhang Liang just now.

 

Du Ziqian’s scalp went numb. He was about to speak—

 

When he suddenly discovered that Yu Sisi was walking at the very front of the group.

 

When did she get there?

 

He instinctively looked toward Tang Jizhi.

 

But Tang Jizhi and Lan Tong’s expressions remained unchanged.

 

As for Little Red Riding Hood—she was already holding Snow White’s hand.

 

“May I ask this guest’s name?” Snow White asked softly, looking at Yu Sisi standing before her.

 

Yu Sisi showed no fear at all and looked at Snow White calmly.

 

“Hello, Snow White. My name is Yu Sisi.”

 

Yu Sisi was not unattractive.
But standing beside Snow White, whether in temperament or appearance, she was clearly on a completely different level.

 

Snow White smiled in admiration.

 

“What a lovely name. It suits you perfectly.”

 

“Th-thank you…”

 

Before Yu Sisi could finish her sentence, she suddenly lunged toward Snow White.

 

Her movement was extremely fast and violently abrupt.

 

At the same moment, her hair lifted on its own.

 

A pair of blood-red eyes opened within it.

 

Or rather—

 

It was not just eyes.

 

An ugly face emerged from the back of Yu Sisi’s head.

 

The face laughed, producing a hoarse voice that sounded neither fully male nor fully female.

 

“What a beautiful piece of skin… Let me wear it.”

 

Lou Yu’s entire body stiffened.

 

His face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled uncontrollably.

 

He suddenly remembered what Du Ziqian had said earlier—

 

“Yu Sisi is not Yu Sisi.”

 

And he had defended her.

 

He remembered standing close to her several times. She had spoken to him as well.

 

If Yu Sisi had already been silently eaten and replaced by this monster—

 

Then wouldn’t he be next?

 

And Zhang Liang…

 

He didn’t even dare to look at Zhang Liang.

 

His limbs went numb. He could not move.

 

All he could do was watch in horror as the monster tore itself free from the back of Yu Sisi’s head.

 

Half of its body was coated in disgusting slime as it lunged straight toward the beautiful and holy Snow White.

 

Tang Jizhi took a step back.

 

The others unconsciously followed.

 

Snow White’s expression did not change at all.

 

Her face was still gentle, as if she were looking at a naughty child.

 

She sighed softly.

 

A beautiful woman’s sigh sounded like weeping—it stirred pity in anyone who heard it.

 

“After being sealed inside a bottle for so many years…
It must be pitiful, finally gaining freedom and wanting to survive by borrowing someone else’s skin.”

 

The monster froze in midair.

 

It was suspended only a few centimeters away from Snow White by an invisible force.

 

Snow White showed no disgust at its grotesque appearance.

 

She gently extended her pale fingertips and placed them on the top of the monster’s head.

 

“I understand you. It’s all right. I can give you freedom… and I can give you another body.”

 

She removed the battered bottle from Yu Sisi’s wrist.

 

With a light brush of her fingers, her petal-like lips parted slightly, and she murmured an unknown spell.

 

The bottle’s lid popped open by itself.

 

A thin wisp of black mist appeared.

 

The monster screamed unwillingly.

 

“No—!”

 

It was sucked straight into the bottle.

 

The lid snapped shut again.

 

Inside the previously empty bottle, there now lay a small red bead—like a red bean.

 

No one would have imagined that such a tiny red bead had been the monster just moments ago.

 

With a dull thud, Yu Sisi’s body collapsed to the ground.

 

Her once full and elastic skin shriveled at a visible speed, becoming dry and cracked like bark deprived of moisture.

 

Yu Sisi was dead.

 

She had already died from the scream in the room the night before.

 

The Yu Sisi who appeared afterward had only been a monster wearing her body.

 

She had probably found that bottle somewhere, accidentally released the monster inside it, and became its very first meal.

 

Another heavy thud followed.

 

Zhang Liang fell to the ground.

 

Liu Zhongyuan was closest to him. He glanced at him briefly and said in a pale voice,

 

“He’s dead.”

 

Blood slowly spread on the ground behind Zhang Liang’s head.

 

At the moment of death, his face was completely blank.

 

He never even knew how he died.

 

Two people had died in an instant.

 

The air grew suffocating.

 

“Humans believe in returning to the soil. The soil here is very good,” Snow White said gently.

 

As soon as she finished speaking, a chilling sound followed.

 

Du Ziqian and Lou Yu stared at each other in horror.

 

They felt the ground beneath them tremble.

 

Then, right before their eyes, the earth beneath Yu Sisi and Zhang Liang split open and swallowed both bodies.

 

The ground soon closed again, restoring itself as if nothing had happened.

 

The two of them swallowed hard.

 

At a moment like this, no one had the right to mock anyone else.

 

They unconsciously moved closer together.

 

If not for their fear of Lan Tong, they would have rushed over and clutched Tang Jizhi’s clothes.

 

If the ground were to crack open—

 

As long as Boss Tang was nearby, they felt they might still survive.

 

“Little Red Riding Hood, I’m very sorry,” Snow White said regretfully.
“You brought guests to my home, and two of them died the moment you arrived.”

 

“It’s fine, Sister Snow White,” Little Red Riding Hood replied indifferently.
“I have many guests at home.”

 

“And besides, it wasn’t your fault. It killed people.”

 

She pointed at the bottle.

 

“Give it to me. This monster killed two of my guests. I have to settle accounts with it.”

 

“You’re still too young,” Snow White said softly.
“It’s dangerous for you to carry it around. You might get hurt if you’re not careful.

 

“In a few days it will behave itself. Then I’ll send it to Mullis as a companion.”

 

Little Red Riding Hood did not know how to respond.

 

She could only look toward Tang Jizhi.

 

Just now, she had clearly heard her father’s voice in her mind, telling her to get the bottle back.

 

“Does this guest want it?”

 

Snow White’s gentle gaze shifted to Tang Jizhi.

 

“Of course not,” Tang Jizhi replied with an innocent expression.
“I’m not that kind of person.”

 

“But I am curious,” he added lightly.
“How can such a small bottle contain something so strange? It’s truly amazing.”

 

“Your Highness, may I take a look?”

 

Snow White walked closer to him.

 

Instead of answering his question, she smiled softly.

 

“May I ask what this guest is called?”

 

Little Red Riding Hood instantly grew nervous.

 

She had reminded her father not to tell Snow White his real name.

 

“You can call me Xiaobai,” Tang Jizhi replied solemnly.

 

Little Red Riding Hood blinked in confusion.

 

She clearly remembered that her father’s name was Tang Jizhi.

 

The others were equally bewildered.

 

“…What about him?” Snow White asked, pointing at Lan Tong.

 

“His name is Xiaoleng.”

 

White and Cold—together forming “Snow White.”

 

Lan Tong, apparently understanding Tang Jizhi’s intention, cooperated calmly.

 

“Yes. My name is Xiaoleng.”

 

At that moment, the live chat exploded with laughter.

 

Snow White fell silent for more than ten seconds.

 

“…Is that really your name?”

 

“Beautiful Princess, Your Highness, do you doubt me?”
Tang Jizhi looked at her gently.

 

“What reason would we have to lie to you?”

 

Snow White was speechless.

 

If they had not clearly resisted her spell and maintained perfect human behavior, who would doubt such words?

 

Before she could reply, Tang Jizhi spoke again.

 

“May I see the bottle now?”

 

Snow White steadied herself and restored her gentle expression.

 

“Of course.”

 

She handed the bottle to Tang Jizhi.

 

Naturally, he could see nothing special inside.

 

The true purpose of asking for the bottle had been a test.

 

Snow White’s willingness to let him hold it meant—

 

Either she did not care about the bottle very much,

 

Or the bottle and the monster inside it posed no real threat to her.

 

Tang Jizhi gently shook it.

 

The small “red bean” inside rolled with it.

 

His gaze shifted subtly to the ground where Yu Sisi and Zhang Liang had vanished.

 

He had long suspected that Yu Sisi was not herself.

 

That was why he had insisted on bringing everyone along to Snow White’s place—

 

to prevent Yu Sisi from attacking others.

 

It was the basic choice of an ordinary person.

 

However, given Liu Zhongyuan’s group’s personalities, he had not forced anyone.

 

He had given them a choice.

 

Who Yu Sisi would target had always been random.

 

So he allowed them to experience what “random” truly meant.

 

Still, Yu Sisi revealing herself and attacking Snow White immediately had exceeded his expectations.

 

Snow White’s effortless suppression of the monster made the situation even more delicate.

 

No wonder Little Red Riding Hood had repeatedly emphasized how powerful Snow White was.

 

This was Snow White’s territory.

 

And she was clearly the strongest fairy-tale entity here.

 

A direct confrontation was not an option.

 

The best solution—

 

was to outwit.

 

Tang Jizhi returned the bottle politely.

 

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

Snow White seemed pleased with his courtesy. She tossed the bottle to a dwarf and smiled.

 

“Let’s not stand at the door. The tea is ready. Please come inside.”

 

The living room was bright and elegant in a pastoral style.

 

Several cups of steaming tea sat neatly on the table.

 

“A group of guests came here before,” Snow White said.
“These teas were left by one of them. You may try them.”

 

“Little Red Riding Hood, come with me to the kitchen. We’ll get some fresh fruit.”

 

Little Red Riding Hood looked at Tang Jizhi.

 

He nodded.

 

She followed Snow White into the kitchen.

 

After Snow White left, the seven dwarfs began to sing and dance in the living room.

 

The lyrics were unclear, but the melody was cheerful.

 

From time to time, they smiled at the guests.

 

The entire scene was eerily unsettling.

 

Lou Yu had not yet recovered from the shock of the deaths.

 

Suddenly, he looked down—

 

A dwarf was lying right by his feet, grinning at him.

 

His scalp exploded.

 

“Fuck! That smile is like Sadako… Get away from me!”

 

He shouted in his local dialect.

 

Of course, the fairy-tale creatures had no idea what Sadako was, nor could they understand his dialect.

 

Even though he cursed fiercely, his body remained frozen.

 

He could only look pitifully toward Tang Jizhi.

 

He did not want to compete with Du Ziqian.

 

He just wanted to survive.

 

But when he looked up, the scene before him nearly made him lose his mind—

 

Tang Jizhi had actually picked up two dwarfs.

 

For some unknown reason, no dwarfs approached Lan Tong at all.

 

It was as if he had an invisible barrier around him.

 

“I just wanted to ask,” Tang Jizhi said kindly,
“are the socks on your heads sewn on? Can they be taken off?”

 

He reached out and gently tugged at the sock on a dwarf’s head, examining it carefully.

 

There were no signs of stitching.

 

The dwarfs fell silent.

 

They were confused as well.

 

It was the first time they had encountered a guest who seemed genuinely interested in them.

 

The dwarf in orange socks answered hoarsely,

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Tang Jizhi nodded.

 

“The song you were singing is very nice. What is its name?”

 

Everyone else: …

 

How could something so creepy be called nice?

 

“It has no name. Her Royal Highness taught it to us.”

 

Seeing that Tang Jizhi was willing to talk to them, and even seemed to like them, the remaining dwarfs all swarmed toward him.

 

Though short, they were many.

 

They climbed over Tang Jizhi like monkeys.

 

If they were cute, it would have been fine.

 

Unfortunately, they were not.

 

Lou Yu numbly tugged at the sweat-soaked clothes on his back.

 

He noticed Du Ziqian beside him doing the exact same thing.

 

The dwarf in green socks spoke first.

 

“Her Royal Highness is kind and lovely. She teaches us many things.”

 

Tang Jizhi looked deeply moved.

 

“Your Highness is noble and beautiful. You are capable both in public affairs and in daily life. It is truly admirable.”

 

“That’s right,” a dwarf said, staring straight at him.

 

“Do you like Her Royal Highness?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Tang Jizhi nodded without hesitation.

 

The instant he nodded, he felt a burning gaze at his side.

 

He paused and turned his head.

 

Lan Tong was looking at him silently.

 

Those ice-blue eyes were completely emotionless.

 

As if asking:

 

Don’t you like her?

 

Tang Jizhi: …

 

The dwarf in red socks lay on Tang Jizhi’s shoulder.

 

Compared with the others, his face had fewer wrinkles and looked younger—much less frightening.

 

“You said your name is Xiaobai. Don’t humans have surnames? You don’t?”

 

Tang Jizhi answered smoothly, smiling gently and harmlessly.

 

“Her Royal Highness and Little Red Riding Hood are sisters.

 

“We are guests of Little Red Riding Hood, so we are also guests of Her Royal Highness.

 

“Since Her Royal Highness kindly invited us into her home and introduced us without surnames, adding one would only create distance.

 

“How could I bear to be so rude to such a kind-hearted Princess?”

 

Dwarfs: “……”

 

It sounded reasonable.
Yet it also felt wrong.
But no one could quite tell what was wrong.

 

Tang Jizhi did not give them time to think further. He continued asking,

 

“Have you always followed Her Royal Highness the Princess?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I heard that the Princess was once harmed by her stepmother, who gave her a poisoned apple out of jealousy—and that it was you who saved Her Royal Highness.”

 

“That’s not true,” said the dwarf in red socks.
“Her Royal Highness the Princess is very smart. How could Francesco possibly hurt her?”

 

Lou Yu suddenly realized something and whispered to Du Ziqian,

 

“Is Brother Tang… testing Snow White?”

 

Du Ziqian looked confused.

 

“Huh… yes? Maybe?”

 

Lou Yu: “……”

 

Only then did Lou Yu realize that Tang Jizhi had never truly regarded him as someone on the same level.
Now, desperate to prove his value—to show that he could be useful and worthy of protection—he forced himself to act.

 

He suddenly remembered the bottle Snow White had taken and then tossed to a dwarf.

 

What color were that dwarf’s socks?

 

Lou Yu thought hard, and finally recalled—

 

Purple.

 

He fixed his eyes on the dwarf in purple socks.

 

That dwarf was the thinnest and ugliest among them. Because all the dwarfs were crowding around Tang Jizhi, the smallest one could not squeeze in and remained on the outer edge.

 

Lou Yu whispered to Du Ziqian,

 

“Switch places.”

 

Du Ziqian obediently shifted aside.

 

After changing position, Lou Yu took a deep breath, steeled himself, and cautiously poked the dwarf.

 

The dwarf turned around.

 

Lou Yu tried his best to imitate Tang Jizhi’s relaxed and gentle smile.
However, his expression was stiff beyond control as he blurted out,

 

“I know a secret about Her Royal Highness the Princess. Do you want to hear it?”

 

The dwarf in purple socks immediately hopped over.

 

Out of the corner of his eye, Tang Jizhi noticed Lou Yu’s movement.
His brows lifted slightly, and two seconds later, he glanced back.

 

From the fragmented information gathered from the dwarfs, he had already realized something—

 

This version of the story had completely diverged from the original fairy tale.

 

The seven dwarfs had not saved Snow White.

 

In fact, they had been created by Snow White herself.

 

More precisely, the seven dwarfs were not human at all, but tree spirits.
That was why their faces looked so old—like bark.

 

It was not easy to get information out of the dwarfs.

 

They were not simple-minded at all. In fact, they could even be considered shrewd.

 

However, there was one thing—

 

They loved Snow White deeply.

 

So as long as he praised Snow White and centered all his questions around her, obtaining information became much easier.

 

“What does Her Royal Highness usually like to do?”

 

“Many things.”

 

The dwarfs answered one after another, as if everything Snow White liked were sacred.

 

Then came Tang Jizhi’s real objective.

 

He lowered his hands, softened his voice, and asked gently,

 

“So… what does Her Royal Highness dislike?
Is there anything she fears?”

 

“If we know, we can avoid it. We wouldn’t want to accidentally make Her Royal Highness unhappy.”

 

The dwarfs fell into thought.

 

The dwarf in cyan socks suddenly lit up, as if he had found the answer, and was just about to speak—

 

“Really, Sister Snow White, you’re so amazing!”

 

Little Red Riding Hood ran out carrying a plate.

 

Snow White followed behind her, also holding a plate of freshly washed fruits and vegetables.

 

Snow White placed the fruit on the coffee table and said calmly to the dwarfs,

 

“Go and play. Don’t stay here.”

 

The dwarfs obediently left.

 

Lou Yu’s heart was pounding wildly.

 

He had lured the purple-socked dwarf over, racked his brain to fabricate a “secret” about Snow White, and, at the same time, had not been idle with his hands.

 

At the very moment Snow White came out, he had snatched the battered bottle from the purple-socked dwarf’s chest pouch.

 

He clenched the bottle tightly.

 

The mouth of the bottle cut into his palm, making it sting.

 

He did not know whether it was his imagination, but when Snow White placed the fruit plate down, he felt that she glanced at him.

 

At first, he had been stunned by Snow White’s breathtaking beauty.

 

But now that his life was on the line, no matter how beautiful she was, he could no longer feel even the slightest attraction.

 

He wanted to give the bottle to Tang Jizhi immediately.

 

Earlier, Tang Jizhi had specifically asked Snow White for the bottle and said—