My Little Pink Crocodile - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: I’ve Moved In

The woman had a beautiful face, her features exuding a noble and elegant tranquility. When those amber-like eyes looked over quietly, the composure within them provided a strange sense of reassurance.

The little crocodile was delighted just by looking at her, even forgetting the bleeding wound on its leg.

Seeing those eyes fixed steadily upon her, Qi Yan paused in her tracks, stopping about three meters away from the pink-crystal-like crocodile.

This was a dangerous spot. If this beautiful, exquisite beast were to suddenly go berserk, she wouldn’t be able to escape. Thinking of this, Qi Yan sighed inwardly. Her grip on her hiking staff tightened, but ultimately, under its seemingly expectant gaze, she stepped forward again until she was right in front of it.

The little crocodile wagged its tail happily, splashing water that dampened Qi Yan’s ink-blue athletic vest and her tied-up chestnut hair. As droplets slid down her skin to the ground, her expression darkened slightly. She stared silently at the culprit, her eyes as calm as a deep pool without a ripple.

The little crocodile, which had been about to open its mouth, lowered its head guiltily, looking quite aggrieved.

“Don’t move around,” Qi Yan said, wiping the water from her face and frowning.

She knew it could understand. After hearing a muffled “mhm” that sounded like it was coming from under a blanket, she turned her gaze toward the black-clad man lying nearby, his life status unknown. Qi Yan poked the man with her hiking staff. Confirming he wasn’t faking, she moved to turn him over to see his face, but as she stepped, she felt something hard beneath her foot that didn’t feel like a stone.

She used her staff to push aside the dead leaves, revealing a hunting rifle. Her eyes turned cold. This is the poacher.

Qi Yan called for Grace, who was still hiding above, to come down and watch the man in black. Then, she spoke to the little crocodile that was sulking with its face pressed against the ground. Her voice carried the tone of someone accustomed to giving orders, yet it was laced with warmth and comfort.

“Come up here.”

The little crocodile, half-submerged in the water, obediently crawled out a few steps. Qi Yan finally got a clear look at the bleeding leg. She walked to the injury, knelt, and examined it for a moment, her brow furrowing deeper.

It wasn’t that the wound was too deep, but rather that it was strangely eerie. It was a gunshot wound, but she couldn’t find a bullet lodged in the flesh—only the jagged, outward-turned skin and muscle. The wound looked like a shattered piece of art, evoking a sense of pity and heartache.

The little crocodile stole a glance at the human. She was tall and slender, and though her frowning face was as cold as mountain frost, she possessed a fatal attraction for it. It watched as those long, elegant hands removed a backpack, placed it on the ground, and unzipped it to pull out a bottle and several strange items.

The little crocodile glimpsed the label: “Medical Alcohol.”

Qi Yan skillfully used her simple tools to meticulously treat the crocodile’s wound. However, she had used her gauze on Grace and couldn’t find any more. During the disinfection, the little crocodile bared its teeth in pain. Fearing the sting, its body shook like a leaf, whimpering in pain as its tail thrashed uncontrollably.

Qi Yan spoke habitual words of comfort while her hands remained steady. “Don’t be afraid. It will be better in a moment.”

Her words seemed to hold a special magic, causing the crocodile to instinctively quiet down despite the agonizing pain. Qi Yan searched her bag again. Confirming there was no extra gauze, she looked at the teary-eyed little crocodile and felt her heart soften.

She reached up and untied the silk scarf from her hair. Her long hair cascaded down, brushed by the wind to lightly sweep against the crocodile’s body, carrying a faint scent of cold sandalwood that brought peace. The light purple silk scarf was embroidered with a flying wild goose in silver thread.

Once Qi Yan had finished bandaging the leg with the scarf, she heard the sound of voices. She looked over to see Grace waving excitedly, saying the rescue team had arrived. Qi Yan glanced at the little crocodile, which seemed to be admiring the silk scarf tied to its leg, then walked over to speak with the rescuers. She asked them to take the crocodile back for treatment and release it afterward.

The rescuers had noticed the unusual pink crocodile the moment they arrived. Hearing Qi Yan’s request, they agreed immediately and headed over with their equipment.

“Grace, can you hear it talking?” Qi Yan asked.

Grace froze, then looked at her in horror, reaching out to feel Qi Yan’s forehead for a fever. “Did you hear wrong? How could an animal talk?”

Qi Yan pushed her hand away and said nothing more, but her gaze toward the little crocodile in the distance grew deep and unreadable.

At that moment, the rescuers ran back with their tools, looking troubled. “Sorry, its aggression is too high. We can’t get close.”

Qi Yan didn’t say anything. Her eyes were already on the brilliant little crocodile, so she witnessed the entire frantic episode. Perhaps remembering the legends of skinning passed down by its kin, and having just survived a poacher’s shot, it was suddenly filled with fear and insecurity toward the outside world.

Its long tail lashed out like a whip, knocking down anyone who attempted to approach. Within moments, people were lying scattered on the ground. As it swung its tail, it cried out, “Bad people, go away!”

The rescue captain pleaded again, “It seemed willing to let you get close earlier. Perhaps you could comfort it? Otherwise, we can’t take it for treatment.”

Grace immediately objected. “No way. You saw how fierce it is right now.” Looking at the creature, Grace felt a chill—perhaps because the mountain air was cooling—and she complained about wanting to go back.

The captain was in a bind and pinned his last hope on Qi Yan. Qi Yan thought for a moment, and when she met the little crocodile’s teary, terrified eyes, her heart softened. She nodded.

“I can try.”

She didn’t take the capture tools from the rescuers; she went over empty-handed. Because she was walking against the light, the little crocodile couldn’t see her clearly through its tears, but that crisp scent of cold sandalwood told it that this was the pretty sister who had bandaged it.

Instantly, the tail stopped lashing. It watched expectantly as Qi Yan walked up to it.

“Will you come home with me?”

As if possessed, Qi Yan blurted out those words. Her expression remained gentle. Even facing this fierce creature, she was as calm and composed as burning sandalwood in a temple, soothing the soul.

She reached out tentatively. The little crocodile watched for a second, then leaned in without hesitation, letting her fingertips stroke it, acting as obediently as an ordinary pet.

It said, “I want to go home with you.”

It was as if it had been bewitched, agreeing to her request. A sharp tooth nicked Qi Yan’s fingertip, and with a sting of pain, a strange chill seeped from the bleeding finger into her body.

A strong wind swept through, swirling dead leaves and making the trees rustle. The bright sun was suddenly blotted out by dark clouds, and darkness enveloped Mount Bumian. It felt as if an unknown power was flowing through the air.

To avoid getting debris in her eyes, Qi Yan instinctively raised her arm to shield her face. In the movement, the necklace tucked halfway into her collar slipped out. Hanging from the thin silver chain was a small object, translucent and white like jade.

A few seconds later, the darkness vanished, and Mount Bumian brightened again.

Grace grumbled about the “demon wind.” Seeing that the crocodile really had no intention of hurting anyone else, she walked over. Seeing it up close, she marveled again at how dazzling the pink crystal-like crocodile was in the sunlight and tried to reach out to touch it as Qi Yan had.

Because Grace had tumbled earlier, her perfume had been replaced by the smell of earth, and she was covered in mud. Even though her hands were mostly wiped clean, the little crocodile looked at her with disgust, baring its teeth to keep her away.

“Dirty.”

Grace couldn’t hear it, but Qi Yan did. Her eyebrows twitched, and she stopped Grace’s hand. “Be careful, don’t get bitten.”

To her surprise, as soon as she spoke, the little crocodile turned its head arrogantly and said, “I won’t bite a dirty paw.”

If Grace knew her meticulously maintained hands were being called “paws,” she would probably lose her mind. Qi Yan looked at Grace silently. Confirming the other woman really couldn’t hear, she continued to soothe the crocodile.

With Qi Yan’s help, the rescue team finally managed to get close. Aside from its terrifying strength, everyone who neared it showered it with praise, calling it the most beautiful crocodile they had ever seen. Amidst the compliments, the little crocodile held its head high with pride.

“Of course. I am the most unique and beautiful one in my tribe.”

Hearing this and seeing its little attitude, Qi Yan chuckled softly. This caused Grace to look over in confusion. Qi Yan made up an excuse: “I’m just laughing because it’s so pretty.”

If anyone else had said that, Grace might not have believed them, but since it came from Qi Yan—who loved animals—she didn’t doubt it. However… this “small animal” might be pretty, but it was fierce and bit people. Grace couldn’t understand Qi Yan’s strange logic, but she respected her friend’s hobbies.

The little crocodile, hearing Qi Yan’s words, took it as a personal compliment and was overjoyed. “The pretty sister praised me!”

While it was lost in its thoughts, Qi Yan had stood up to negotiate with the rescuers.

“I am a veterinarian and know a bit about these animals. I have a private residence not far from Mount Bumian. I can take it there to treat its wounds until it’s healed, then release it.” Her voice was steady and calm, but firm—more like she was delivering a notice than asking for an opinion.

The rescue captain hesitated. “Miss, you’re making this difficult. You know this isn’t according to regulation.” A crocodile this unique would normally be taken back for experts to study.

Qi Yan knew exactly what would happen to the little crocodile if it were taken away, so she did not back down. “It belongs to nature. We shouldn’t disturb it.”

The captain didn’t budge until Grace stepped in and revealed her identity. Only then did they reluctantly help transport the little crocodile to Qi Yan’s residence. On their way out, they handed the poacher over to the police station for detention.

The little crocodile moved into Qi Yan’s home smoothly, but this caused great suffering for its kinsmen who had come looking for it. Finding no trace of it, they could only head back dejectedly to report to the tribal chief and elders.