What Bunny Wants, Bunny Gets - Chapter 1

My brother said Gu Xu had planted an entire field of spiritual grass just to raise him.

So my brother moved house with me.

We dug a rabbit burrow near the Gu family villa, which made it convenient for him to feed me.

Every day, I stayed obediently in the burrow, grooming my fur while I waited for my brother to bring me food.

That day, he crept out through the dog door and held a handful of spiritual grass to my mouth.

I munched away happily.

Then—presto—my brother turned from a little rabbit into a human. Stroking my upright ears, he said excitedly, “Xiyan, I found a way to help you take human form faster and cure your muddleheadedness!”

“Gu Xu is full of spiritual energy. Before dawn, you’re going to take my place in the Gu house and absorb some of it from him.”

“I’ve been holding my ears up around him lately, so he won’t think it’s strange.”

“Whatever he asks, don’t answer. Pretend you’re mute. He’ll just think I’m throwing another tantrum.”

What was he muttering about?

I didn’t understand.

Grass made much more sense. Munch, munch, munch.

The instant I finished, my brother scooped me up in both hands and pushed me through the dog door. He told me to find the best-looking person in the villa.

I always did exactly what my brother said.

I hopped around the villa’s yard, followed a delicious scent into the back garden, and—great heavens above!

There was a whole field of spiritual grass.

I forgot what I was supposed to be doing.

All I did was munch.

I munched until my belly was round. I munched until the sun came up.

A tall, handsome man stopped in front of me. He bent down, lifted me into his hands, and studied me with narrowed eyes.

“Sneaking out for a midnight snack? Didn’t I feed you enough last night?”

I stared at him blankly.

I didn’t speak.

He was so handsome. He had to be my brother’s owner.

But my brother had told me to play mute.

So all I could do was snuffle and keep eating.

The man chuckled and stroked my ears. “Are you really still angry? I was wrong. From now on, if you don’t want both, I’ll only put one in.”

“Take human form for me, hm?”

What was all this about one and two?

I couldn’t take human form.

I cocked my head at him adorably, then licked my front paw.

He froze. Bringing his face close to mine, he examined me for several seconds. Then he pressed my ears down with one hand.

The moment he let go, they sprang upright again.

His expression changed. He abruptly set me back on the grass.

I went straight back to munching in delight.

My brother’s owner left.

A few minutes later, he returned in pajamas, pouting aggrievedly.

He was still just as handsome.

“Why did you kick me in the butt? I wasn’t even awake.”

“Meanie.”

More muttering. I couldn’t understand a word.

Then he saw me. His eyes lit up, and he swept me into his arms and spun in a circle.

“I have a bunny too! Yay!”

“Little bunny, you smell so, so good. Can I eat you?”

He looked like he was drooling. He wouldn’t stop licking my ears.

???

The grass fell out of my mouth.

A beat late, I kicked out with both hind legs and scrambled away. I didn’t even care that the fall hurt. I just wanted to find the dog door.

Brother, save me!

Your owner eats rabbits!

He was terrifying.

I didn’t want to impersonate my brother anymore.

My escape failed.

My brother’s owner seemed to be an idiot too. He thought I was playing cat and mouse with him and chased after me cheerfully.

I got lost. I couldn’t find the dog door anywhere.

As I fled in every direction, he realized his human form couldn’t catch me and revealed his true shape.

His scales were beautiful—black in the shadows, but flashing silver-blue whenever he slithered into the sunlight.

I knew this kind of snake.

I liked shiny things. Back in the forest, whenever I saw a glitter-scaled snake, I wanted to go play with it. My brother always gave me a terrible scolding.

He said the snakes weren’t venomous, but they ate rabbits.

How awful!

If my brother knew this snake ate rabbits, why had he sent me to take his place?

Had he finally decided I was a stupid rabbit and didn’t want to raise me anymore?

I was heartbroken.

I couldn’t hop another step. I flattened myself on the ground and waited to die.