Chapter 10 — My Little Vixen

He lowered his hand, the corners of his eyes flushed red as he gazed at me. He was breathtakingly, soul-stirringly gorgeous.

I dare not.

I only wish to remind you.

The Nine-Tailed White Fox is exceptionally greedy.

Once it has tasted affection, it will never let go.

I hugged his tails tightly and whispered, Then don't let go. He froze. I added, I won't let go either. Dung Vong's tears fell anew. I reached out to wipe them away, but he buried his face in my palm instead, his voice low. This time, these are tears of joy. That evening, as I stepped out of the bathroom, I casually asked, Whose tail shall I cuddle to sleep tonight? Dung Vong sat on the edge of the bed, raising his gaze to mine. The corners of his eyes slowly reddened.

Just cuddling tails?

My footsteps faltered. Spoken from his lips, the question was feather-light, yet it instantly scorched the air in the room to a blazing heat. I deliberately feigned ignorance.

What else is there to cuddle?

Dung Vong did not reply. He merely reached out toward me. The moment I stepped closer, I was swept into an embrace by all nine tails at once. This time, he did no longer passively wait for me to approach. Neither was he like before, turning his ears fiery red and dodging away the moment he felt shy. He lowered his head and kissed me—gently, yet leaving no room for refusal. The tails supported my waist, protected my back, wrapped around my wrists, and lightly caressed my trembling fingertips. Every single tail felt like a part of him. And like the love he had finally dared to lay bare. I was kissed until my limbs turned to jelly, and I could not help softly calling out his name: Dung Vong… He rested his forehead against mine, his breath tangled and ragged.

I am here.

All nine tails are right here.

They have all missed you.

My ears burned furiously, and I wanted to hide, but he scooped me up into his arms instead. Dung Vong lowered his head to kiss the corners of my eyes, his voice raspy. Co Mien.

In the past, it was always you who bullied me.

Tonight, may I be the one to return the favor?

My heartbeat scattered in complete chaos. Yet facing his tear-filled, reddened eyes, I found myself utterly unable to refuse. I could only reach out and wrap my arms around him.

Then… please be a little gentle.

Dung Vong smiled faintly. A smile so exquisitely beautiful it bordered on perilous.

Mmm.

I will be gentle.

All nine tails tightened simultaneously. Like a snow-white tide, they gently and thoroughly overwhelmed me. Later on, the entire North City knew. The eldest miss of the Co family kept a beastman white fox so gorgeous he did not look mortal. It was said his temperament was gentle. It was said he knew how to cook. It was said he escorted his wife to work right on time every single day. It was said that if his wife lingered even a fraction too long looking at another beastman, his heart would break. Only I knew the truth. Dung Vong was not merely heartbroken. Upon returning home, he would quietly sit on the sofa. All nine tails would droop in unison. Until I proactively asked, What is wrong today? Then he would raise his eyes to look at me, his tone entirely calm. Nothing at all. By now, I understood him thoroughly. When he said nothing was wrong, it meant everything was wrong. When he said up to you, it meant he cared deeply. When he said it does not matter if I touch them or not, it meant he was on the verge of shattering. I walked over and sat down beside him.

Is it because that tribe manager shook my hand during the meeting today?

Dung Vong lowered his gaze.

No.

The third tail gave a cold flick. I stared straight at the tail.

You tell me.

The third tail immediately coiled around my wrist, swaying back and forth as if snitching. The tips of Dung Vong's ears turned scarlet.

He was talking nonsense.

I bit back a laugh.

He did not even say anything.

…

I inched closer and kissed his cheek.

It was merely a polite professional handshake.

Dung Vong muttered under his breath, He shook your hand for a full three seconds.

You were even counting?

I was not counting.

The sixth tail quietly curled itself into the shape of the number three. Me: … Dung Vong: … A silence hung in the air for two full seconds. In the end, I could not hold it in and burst out laughing. Dung Vong reached out to cover the sixth tail entirely, his ears blushing beyond description.

He was talking nonsense too.

Dung Vong.

Mmm.

Why are you so adorable?

He froze. The corners of his eyes incrementally reddened.

Adorable?

Mmm.

Not a monster?

No.

Not a tyrant?

No.

Not trouble?

My heart melted into a puddle.

Of course not.

I pulled him into a tight embrace.

You are my little fox.

Dung Vong remained silent for a very long time. Then he wrapped his arms around me in return, holding me fiercely. One by one, all nine tails converged around us. Like draping a layer of warm snow over my shoulders. I felt the skin on the side of my neck grow slightly damp. Stunned for a moment, I could not resist teasing him: Dung Vong, why are you crying again? He hugged me even tighter, all nine tails wrapping around me simultaneously. His voice was muffled, carrying a nasal twinge as he refused to admit it. I am not. The seventh tail stealthily brushed against my wrist. The eighth tail beside it honestly coiled into a large, perfect circle shaped like the letter O, as if declaring that he was indeed crying. I laughed hysterically and collapsed into his arms.

Fine, you are not crying.

It is just that my little fox is too happy.

After learning the truth, Xu Zhaozhao remained silent for a very long time. Finally, she asked me, So back then, when you 'withdrew from fur-touching,' you were just trying to save your life? I nodded.

And you almost forced him to go dark?

I nodded gravely.

And what about now?

I glanced sideways at Dung Vong, who was busy peeling grapes for me right beside me. His fox ears stood up in tranquil stillness, three of his tails resting at my feet, two wrapped around my wrists, and one stealthily pushing my phone away from the chat interface with Xu Zhaozhao. With a blank expression, I picked my phone back up. Dung Vong acted as if nothing had happened and resumed peeling grapes. I said, Now?

Now I understand.

One cannot be too extreme when living life.

Especially when facing a Nine-Tailed White Fox.

What deserves to be petted must be petted.

What deserves to be coaxed must be coaxed.

What deserves to be kissed must be kissed.

Xu Zhaozhao: … The tips of Dung Vong's ears slowly turned red. I added, Otherwise, he really will cry. Dung Vong brought a peeled grape right up to my lips, his tone gentle. I did not. The seventh tail brushed against my waist. The ninth tail gently wound around my finger. The eighth tail was still holding a grudge and refused to look at me. I sighed.

Very well.

You did not.

He was satisfied. I bit into the grape. It was exceptionally sweet. Much like this beastman world that had once made me believe I would die without a burial place. In the very beginning, there were only misunderstandings and fear. In the end, it left nothing behind except a gorgeous fox with constantly reddened eyes who would always ask me, Can I stay in the master bedroom tonight? Before going to sleep at night, Dung Vong would once again arrange all nine tails neatly across the bed. I stared at the breathtaking expanse of snowy white covering the mattress, silent for a moment.

What are you doing?

He sat on the edge of the bed, his expression serene and innocent.

To make it easier for you to choose.

Choose what?

Which tail you want to cuddle tonight.

Me: … He hesitated for a moment, the tips of his ears blushing as he added, Cuddling all nine of them is fine as well. I could not help rubbing my forehead.

Dung Vong, have you become this shameless lately?

He lowered his gaze. His voice was very soft.

Because I know you like it.

My heart softened completely. I walked over and threw my arms around him.

Mmm.

I like it.

He lowered his head to look at me.

You like one tail?

I do.

You like nine tails?

I like them too.

You like the Fox King?

I do.

You like Dung Vong?

I tilted my head up and kissed his chin.

I like Dung Vong the most.

In that very instant, all nine tails tightly wrapped around me. Dung Vong bowed his head and kissed the crown of my head. His voice was as light as falling snow: Co Mien.

Mmm?

I finally have a home.

My eye sockets suddenly grew hot. I held him closer.

Mmm.

Welcome home, little fox.

Dung Vong buried his face in the crook of my neck, letting out a muffled, aggrieved hum. Not long after, I once again felt a small damp patch against the skin of my neck. Suppressing a smile, I stroked his head.

What is it this time?

He held me, refusing to lift his head.

Tears of joy.

I chuckled softly.

Why do you love crying so much?

Dung Vong remained silent for a long time. So long that I thought he would not answer at all. Then he muttered in a low voice: Because previously, no one knew I was in pain.

And no one ever told me that crying meant I would be coaxed.

My heart melted into water, and I tightened my embrace around him.

Then from now on, anything goes.

If you are in pain, you can cry.

If you are sad, you can cry.

If you are happy, you can cry.

I am going to coax you anyway.

The nine tails wrapped around me even tighter. The moonlight outside the window was gentle. The snow-white fox tails stretched out across the entire surface of the bed. I closed my eyes in his embrace, suddenly recalling a very, very long time ago—the five-year-old girl crouching in the snow, cradling a dying little white fox, crying as she blew on its wounds. At the time, I had no idea that the tiny creature I had casually rescued was not ordinary at all. It was the one person whom, even many years later, I would still grow soft for, still adore, and still choose to protect over and over again. Some fluffy things simply cannot be picked up at random. Once picked up, you will find yourself entangled for a lifetime. But that was entirely fine. As a person, I had no other notable virtues, save for a stubborn, unwavering devotion. And Dung Vong was the exact same. He hardly had any flaws. There was only one single thing about him: he loved me to the point of life and death.

— The End —