Chapter 1

I had been expecting the man with tiger stripes on his forehead.

Looking guilty, he shoved all the food he was carrying into my arms.

Don’t mistake this for courtship. It was compensation for breaking his promise to me, nothing more.

“Jiang Ling, I’m sorry. Let’s forget about what we agreed. I’ve… met a very special girl. I only want to be her mate, for the rest of my life.”

I nodded and promptly took the food.

“Understood. Go on, then. Follow your heart.”

His eyes went wide. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to agree so readily.

To keep him from blocking my cave entrance and droning on, I jerked my chin toward the exit. “You’d better hurry, or someone else will beat you to your girl.”

I had arrived here three months ago.

I’d entered a book called A World of Beastfolk Husbands as Jiang Ling, a serpent woman.

I had read it and still remembered the broad outlines.

It was a transmigration romance set among beastfolk.

By a strange stroke of luck, the heroine was transported bodily into their world, where all manner of handsome, powerful males developed an intense interest in this unusual, fragile girl.

In beastfolk novels, males vastly outnumbered females. Females were precious, and one woman generally had several husbands.

The males greeted the sudden arrival of a female with cheers, believing her a gift from heaven.

Between her human traits and the author’s design, the newcomer attracted endless suitors. Some of the native females grew jealous and began plotting against her, only to have their schemes backfire and get themselves banished from the tribe.

And I was the serpent woman who tried to kill the heroine out of jealousy and ended up in exile.

The moment I finished speaking, the woman walking outside gave a little cry. She had apparently stepped on something, and pain crossed her face.

The tiger-striped man’s expression changed. He hurried out of the cave.

I paid them no more attention. With a sweep of my tail, I gathered the food back inside.

Vague promises of love couldn’t compete with something as useful as a meal.

I had no intention of competing with the heroine. Quite the opposite: I hoped she would keep as many of the males infatuated with her as possible.

Flicking my tail, I swayed my way farther into the cave.

In the corner, the little patterned snake I’d ruthlessly tied in a knot flicked its tongue at me, wriggling as it tried to crawl over. It looked ridiculous.

I went to untie it, and it tried to bite me.

Dodging quickly, I caught it at its vulnerable spot and smiled in warning. “Try it. I dare you.”

The little snake wilted at once, patting my wrist feebly with its tail.

Furious, but helpless.

Seeing how desperately it wanted to throw itself at him, I scolded it in exasperation. “He’s just one man. Once I conquer this jungle, you’ll have your pick of the males!”

The little snake went still and stuck its head out in defiance. It seemed to be saying: Fine. Strangle me, then.

I had no words.