The Lady Scholar and the Fox - Chapter 3

The fox’s sudden appearance startled Ruanruan. She clung to my arm and stared at him in fright.

“Who are you?”

He looked even more displeased, his eyes narrowing.

“None of your business. Get your hands off!”

Frightened, Ruanruan pressed against me, then hid behind my back.

I had to reassure her first.

“Don’t be afraid. He’s a friend with a bit of a temper. He doesn’t mean any harm.”

Only then did she peek out to examine him, before ducking behind me again.

“He’s so fierce.”

The fierce fox looked ready to explode.

He seized me and dragged me away, leaving a frightened Ruanruan alone. Once he’d hauled me somewhere deserted, he pinned me against a wall and warned me not to fall for anyone else.

“Why?”

He rapped me on the head.

“You damned man-lover, now you’re after women too? If you fall for someone else, how am I supposed to cultivate a second tail? If you’re going to love anyone, it can only be me!”

“That’s completely unreasonable!”

“Why should I reason with someone who falls for every pretty face? You liked her the moment you saw how pretty she was, didn’t you?”

“I only saved her life. She wanted to repay me by giving herself to me, and I didn’t even agree.”

The fox fell silent. Then his eyes turned fierce and he bared his fangs at me.

“You wanted to agree?”

I shook my head furiously.

“Wouldn’t dare. If it were you, though, I might consider it.”

He suddenly gave a huff. The corners of his mouth kept twitching up and down as he crossed his arms and turned his face away.

“In your dreams. I’m not that kind of shameless fox.”

“You just said I could only love you.”

“That’s for cultivation! I have no choice!”

“Then do you have a way to make me fall for you?”

He blushed and turned his back.

“I’ve already tried everything! If you won’t take the bait, what else am I supposed to do? I’ve got nothing left!”

“That knock on the head really hurt. Could you rub it better?”

“Get lost.”

“Gladly.”

But when I actually started to leave, he suddenly called me back. “I’m coming with you.”

He said he needed to keep an eye on Ruanruan and me. He wouldn’t give me the slightest chance to get involved with someone else.

In fact, even if he did give me a chance, nothing could happen between Ruanruan and me.

She was still wary of him. Even when I said he was a fellow student, she didn’t dare get close to him.

Because when Ruanruan poured tea for me, he drank it.

When she put food in my bowl, he ate it.

When she made my bed, he was the first to lie down in it.

After several days, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She came to me in private, looking troubled.

I was worrying about how to explain my relationship with the fox when she said something completely unexpected.

“Sir, does he like me?”

Huh?

“I… don’t think so,” I said hesitantly.

She leaned closer and whispered:

“But his behavior is so strange. If he doesn’t like me, why does he drink the tea I pour, eat the food I serve, and sleep in the bed I make?”

That was admittedly hard to explain.

But I couldn’t very well say the fox was doing it to keep her from getting close to me.

“I’ll have a proper talk with him. It won’t happen again. Don’t worry.”

“That’s a relief. After all, the person in my heart…”

Ruanruan looked shyly up at me, then ran out.

Not long after she left, the fox jumped down from a roof beam. Watching her retreating figure, he was red in the face with anger.

“Who likes her? I was only trying to stop the two of you from interacting!”

“Well, she’s clearly misunderstood. Better stop doing that.”

“Then kindly stop giving her opportunities.”

“Are you that afraid I’ll fall for her?”

He turned his head away, then instantly turned it back. His ears were scarlet.

“I’m only doing this for cultivation!”

“Why cultivate?”

“Tails represent power. Obviously, the more the better.”

“Come to think of it, my name is Shen Nian. I still don’t know yours.”

It was a little late to ask.

He sat down with a disgruntled expression.

“You’re the one who gives me my name.”