After the Soul Swap Between Love Rival AO - Chapter 38

Cheng Luanxin gave Song Qiuchi a strange look. “You seem a bit off today… Why aren’t you interacting with the animals?”

Song Qiuchi adjusted her collar awkwardly. “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m a little tired.”

This wasn’t a lie—thanks to Cheng Luanxin, Song Qiuchi had indeed spent most of the night tossing and turning.

Cheng Luanxin didn’t question it further and took Song Qiuchi’s hand. “Then let’s go to the second floor—the reptile section. Guaranteed to wake you up in seconds!”

Song Qiuchi stiffened, feeling the warmth from Cheng Luanxin’s fingertips, and realized she was already much more awake.

When they reached the second floor, Cheng Luanxin’s eyes widened in shock.

Though she had expected the reptile area to have many exotic pets, seeing these vividly colored creatures in person was still astonishing.

The customers who came to play were all bold and daring. Some had pythons thicker than their arms coiled around their necks, others had giant lizards wrapped around their waists, some held tiny tree frogs in their palms, and a few even had massive snapping turtles resting on their legs.

There were also some reptiles that could only be observed but not touched, kept in display tanks—like large, hairy spiders and pitch-black scorpions. Just the sight of them was enough to give anyone goosebumps, yet many customers still gathered around to take photos.

A staff member approached the two warmly: “Welcome to the reptile experience zone! Which little creature would you like to interact with?”

Cheng Luanxin was already nervous: “I’ll just… look. Just looking is fine.”

Live comments:

There are so many types—I’m totally sold!

Bet Qiu Chi doesn’t dare touch any

LMAO Song Qiu Chi is already tactically retreating

The staff member chuckled. “Since you’re already here, why not give it a try? We have a new batch of corn snakes—small, beautiful, and easy to handle. Would you like to come over and try?”

“I…” Cheng Luanxin turned to Song Qiu Chi. “I already had my turn downstairs—now it’s your turn!”

Song Qiu Chi: “…”

This kind of professional teammate-selling behavior was indeed Cheng Luanxin’s style.

Another not-so-admirable trait added to the list.

She sighed helplessly. “Then please take us over.”

Inside the corn snake enclosure were over a dozen small snakes, and a keeper was giving a demonstration to a group of curious children.

Cheng Luanxin hid behind Song Qiu Chi, gripping her sleeve tightly, yet unable to resist peeking out with curiosity.

The keeper picked up a pink snake no thicker than a thumb from the enclosure. “Corn snakes are very gentle and won’t bite. Is there a brave little one who’d like to try?”

A tall little girl raised her trembling hand. “I want to try.”

Pursing her lips, she stepped forward, extended her arm, and stared intently at the little pink snake.

The snake flicked its tongue, then slithered onto her arm, leisurely winding between her fingers.

The girl’s face lit up. “It’s so cool and cute!”

The other children watched enviously, chiming in:

“You’re so brave!”

“I want to try too—can I touch it?”

Cheng Luanxin watched longingly but was too embarrassed to ask the kids to share. Instead, she poked Song Qiu Chi’s waist repeatedly. “Hey, brave big kid, why don’t you pick up a snake too? I’ll take pictures of your cool moves and send them to your grandma, okay?”

Song Qiu Chi almost laughed in exasperation. “Then I’d better pick the biggest, thickest one—maybe wrap it around my waist.”

Cheng Luanxin nodded eagerly. “Yeah! Or around your neck—super edgy!”

Song Qiu Chi shot her a glance, then, in the next second, reached into the neighboring enclosure and pulled out a thick, lazy golden ball python, holding it right in front of Cheng Luanxin.

Cheng Luanxin jolted in fright, stumbling backward, her words stuttering. “Y-y-you—how are you so bold?! I thought you were scared of heights?!”

“Fear of heights is a psychological barrier, not cowardice,” Song Qiu Chi said. “My turn’s over. Now it’s yours. Want me to wrap it around your neck and make you the edgy girl you dream of being?”

Cheng Luanxin waved her hands frantically. “No, no, I’m not as edgy as you think.”

Live comments:

“LOL, Song Qiuchi refuses to join the hot girl squad.”

“But Luanbao is really bold—that ball python is so thick and scary!”

“I noticed Luanxin is kinda sweet on the outside but dark on the inside, lol.”

This was Song Qiuchi’s first time touching a python like this, and the texture was unexpectedly nice—like leather, soft yet substantial. Plus, the ball python was well-behaved, so she couldn’t resist giving its head a little pat.

Just then, a high school-aged AO couple walked over. The Omega stared intently at the golden ball python coiled around Song Qiuchi’s waist, clearly fascinated but too timid to approach, clinging to her Alpha while whining softly.

The Alpha stepped forward politely. “Hey, sis, is this snake well-tempered? My baby wants to touch it, but she’s too scared to try. Could you show us how?”

The Omega behind her nodded timidly.

Song Qiuchi paused. “I don’t really have a technique—I just picked it up. Maybe you can touch it first to get a feel? It’s pretty heavy, though.”

“Come on, baby,” the Alpha coaxed, taking the Omega’s hand. “She said you can try touching it.”

The Omega hesitated. “I’m not sure I dare…”

The Alpha encouraged her. “Be brave, don’t be scared. I’m right here with you.”

With the Alpha’s persistent reassurance, the Omega finally reached out and brushed her fingers against the python’s skin. Her eyes lit up. “Ke Yun, it’s actually cool to the touch!”

Ke Yun grinned. “See? I knew you could do it, A Yan!”

Live comments:

“…The stench of romance is overwhelming. Why does it only now feel like I’m watching a dating show?”

“So were we just watching stand-up comedy before? LMAO.”

“Then which one’s the straight man and which one’s the funny one?”

“Season 2 of Romance for You’s best CP: Ke Yun × A Yan!”

With Song Qiuchi and Ke Yun’s joint efforts, the golden ball python was successfully transferred onto A Yan’s waist. Delicate and petite, A Yan froze, unsure where to put her hands, looking utterly nervous.

Seeing this, Ke Yun knew A Yan wouldn’t last long and turned to Song Qiuchi. “Sis, could you take a photo of us?”

She quickly stood behind A Yan, wrapping an arm around her waist to help support the python. At the same time, she pressed her cheek close to A Yan’s, the two looking inseparable.

After the photo, they thanked Song Qiuchi and went off to try other activities.

Cheng Luanxin, who had been sitting sourly on a chair the whole time, slowly made her way back to Song Qiuchi.

“Done resting?” Song Qiuchi side-eyed her.

“Yeah,” Cheng Luanxin muttered. “Those two were way too sweet. Might as well just let them film the dating show and send us home.”

When Song Qiuchi didn’t respond, she tugged at her sleeve. “Hey, you know, if you’d coaxed me that gently earlier, maybe I would’ve dared to touch the python too.”

So now it was her fault? Song Qiuchi teased, “They’re a couple. What are we? Why should I coax you?”

Cheng Luanxin widened her eyes. “We’re a CP too! What’s wrong with you being a little sweet to me?”