Yao Zuizui lay obediently in the dish, motionless.
The red cloth rose slightly, covering her plump little body, which had been well-fed by the black wolf.
She breathed quietly, the red cloth rising and falling with each breath.
The sight made the black wolf’s heart twist uncomfortably. This little pig was just too obedient.
Was she really willing to be eaten so docilely?
Why didn’t she resist at all?
This little pig was truly foolish!
Even as he scorned her, the black wolf licked his lips, watching the quiet rise and fall of the red cloth.
He was about to dig in!
The little pig had tasted so delicious when he licked her—devouring her whole would surely be even more delightful!
Shaking off his fleeting sympathy, the black wolf picked up his knife and fork.
He even deliberately placed a black napkin over his chest, a sign of respect for his meal.
He polished the utensils meticulously until they gleamed like mirrors.
From start to finish, the little pig remained silent, not uttering a sound.
She knew she was about to be eaten.
Yet she waited, gentle and quiet.
The black wolf thought to himself, *I really am a beast.*
But for survival’s sake, there was no other way.
He couldn’t starve to death—he was the king of the forest.
Raising his knife and fork, the black wolf used the blade to lift the red cloth covering the little pig.
Her adorable little head emerged, her eyes clear and untainted, even carrying a hint of joy.
She blinked innocently and said, “Your Majesty, are you finally going to marry me?”
The black wolf’s descending utensils froze midair. The little pig’s misty eyes seemed to peer straight into his heart.
Suddenly, he remembered—two days ago, when he had taken the little pig past the edge of the forest, they had seen a bride outside, passing by with a red veil over her head.
The little pig had been curious and asked him what it was.
He had told her that the one wearing the red veil was a bride, and the one lifting it for her was the groom.
They would spend their wedding night together and stay by each other’s side for a lifetime.
The little pig had asked what a lifetime meant.
He had explained that it meant being together from now until they were too old to walk or chew meat—never parting except in death.
At the time, the little pig had seemed thoughtful, even giving him a look he couldn’t quite decipher.
Now he understood.
The little pig…
Wanted to spend her lifetime with him!
Did the little pig… want to be his bride?
Snapping out of his thoughts, the black wolf found the little pig still staring at him with those clear, bright eyes.
Her eyes were dark and shining, as if filled with infinite light.
And all that light was shining for him.
If he ate her, he would never see that light again.
He would never hear the little pig sweetly calling him “Your Majesty.”
He would never see her sleeping soundly, snoring softly.
He would never taste her cooking again—those inexplicably delicious fruits and vegetables.
He would never get to hold her plump little body or pinch her soft belly.
…
The black wolf thought, *Maybe I’m not that hungry after all.*
Maybe… he could find something else to eat.
If…
If the little pig became his bride, what kind of children would they have?
The black wolf suddenly pondered this question.
If you raise a hen, you can eat her eggs.
Couldn’t he raise the little pig and eat her piglets?
But even a vicious tiger wouldn’t eat its own cubs—he could never eat his own children.
Unless… he let the little pig bear another pig’s children, and then he could eat *those* piglets?
No!
The mere thought of the little pig being someone else’s bride made him unhappy.
No, not just unhappy—*extremely* unhappy!
So, under the little pig’s hopeful gaze, the black wolf nodded vaguely.
He didn’t know how to answer the question of whether he would marry her, so he changed the subject.
“Come down quickly! The dish is so hard—doesn’t your bottom hurt?” He couldn’t help but fret over her delicate skin, even worrying that the dish might be too rough for her.
Yao Zuizui’s little tail nearly wagged right off.
She had been ready to flee, but now it seemed she had almost succeeded in flirting her way into the black wolf’s heart.
Clumsily, she hopped down from the table, while the black wolf hovered protectively, afraid she might fall.
Yao Zuizui flashed him a sweet smile and transformed into her human form. “Your Majesty, from now on, I’ll be your bride!”
Bright eyes, pearly teeth, a smile that could melt hearts.
Her radiant grin burned into the black wolf’s pupils, lingering there.
Outside the window, fireworks burst into the sky.
Before the black wolf could clarify anything, Yao Zuizui grabbed his arm. “Your Majesty! Fireworks! Let’s go watch!”
The black wolf had already taken human form, and though the girl’s slender hand was separated from his skin by fabric, her touch still seared him.
This winter… why wasn’t it cold at all?
Letting himself be pulled along, he followed her outside.
The night sky was ablaze with fireworks, dazzling and colorful.
Above the forest, the most beautiful blossoms of light burst into existence.
It was so beautiful—he wished this moment could last forever.
“Your Majesty, Happy New Year!” Yao Zuizui thought, *Fall in love with me quickly, okay?*
“Little pig, Happy New Year.” The black wolf thought, *I hope my little pig is always happy—happier than me.*
Then Yao Zuizui fell silent, resting her head obediently against the black wolf’s shoulder, utterly enchanted by the fireworks.
The black wolf stiffened, as if he had lost control of his own body…
When the fireworks ended, the black wolf realized the little pig had fallen asleep!
What a sleepy little pig.
He chuckled helplessly and gently picked her up.
This time, he couldn’t tuck her into his arms, so he carried her princess-style back to the room.
Watching her peaceful sleeping face, her quiet breaths, the black wolf sat by her bedside.
Lost in thought.
His expression flickered between emotions as he sat there all night.
——————
The next day, Yao Zuizui was awakened by a clamor.
“Zhu Yiyi, you’re finally awake!” The hen flapped her wings, lifting her head with a cheerful “cluck-cluck!”
“Zhu Yiyi really lives up to being a pig—sleeping so much!” The monkey shot her a disdainful look as it peeled its banana.
“Yiyi, you’ve suffered!” Zhu Erer clung to her legs, hugging her waist and bursting into tears.
“Zhu Yiyi, are you hungry? Want some grass?” The giraffe lowered its long neck, offering a mouthful of saliva-drenched grass.
Yao Zuizui looked up at the sky—so clear, so blue.
She looked down at the ground—so clean, so green.
How… had she ended up in the animal paradise?
Last night, hadn’t she been watching fireworks with the black wolf, ringing in the New Year?
“How did I get here?” Yao Zuizui sat up, rubbing her bleary eyes.
“We don’t know either!” The monkey scratched its head.
“I was crowing at dawn when you suddenly appeared,” the rooster strutted proudly.
“Didn’t you escape here yourself?” Zhu Erer looked at her curiously.
Yao Zuizui fell silent.
If she had mysteriously appeared here at dawn, there was only one explanation.
The black wolf had dumped her here.
She looked beneath her—sure enough, she was lying on a thick quilt.
Probably, the black wolf had wrapped her up carefully before tossing her over, afraid she might get hurt.
How had she slept through *that*?
Had she really been discarded just like that?
Had the black wolf decided she wasn’t edible and thrown her away to avoid wasting his food?
Yao Zuizui couldn’t make sense of it.
Then she noticed a small cloth bag hanging from her.
Well, not that small—it was half her size.
Opening it, she found it stuffed with her favorite treats—carrots, apples, bananas, and the like.
Buried deep inside was a little red envelope.
She dug through the pile of fruit with her chubby pig hooves and pulled it out.
A red packet!
A hastily made one, its edges unevenly glued together.
On it, the words “New Year’s money” were scrawled messily.
Had the black wolf given her lucky money because he thought she was still a child?
If he was just going to abandon her, why bother with the red packet…
Yao Zuizui scoffed and opened it.
This was a fairy-tale world—there was no real money. What could the black wolf have given her?
The moment she pulled out the contents, the animals around her exchanged odd looks.
It was a stack of IOUs.
The debtors were all creatures from the animal paradise.
Turns out, back when the black wolf ruled the forest, he had captured so many animals that he couldn’t eat them all at once.
Sometimes, he’d let them go in exchange for IOUs—promises to fetch water, clean, or serve him in some way.
Now, the black wolf had handed all those IOUs to her.
Probably to ensure she wouldn’t be bullied in the animal paradise.
Tch. He abandons her but gives her snacks and IOUs—what was he thinking?
But Yao Zuizui decided to make the best of it.
She’d stay in the animal paradise for now and figure out her next move…
With these IOUs, Yao Zuizui naturally received the best treatment in the animal paradise.
Creatures volunteered to feed and care for her, just to get their IOUs back.
Every day, she swung on swings, napped under trees, watched clouds drift by, and pondered life.
The animals often got up to antics, filling the paradise with laughter and freedom.
But she didn’t know that on a nearby mountain peak…
A black wolf lay there.
Weak and barely able to move, he had dragged himself up to the summit just to gaze down at her napping under the trees.
The animal paradise was peaceful and joyful, brimming with freedom and fairy-tale charm.
A stark contrast to the desolate loneliness of the mountaintop.
All he had for company were bare branches, howling winds, a growling stomach, and endless hunger.
Yet even so, the black wolf smiled faintly as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage