As Emma and Fox Lian's relationship deepened, a surprising transformation quietly took place—Emma's long-standing fluff phobia… was cured.
It started with immunity to Fox Lian's ears and tail. Then she noticed that seeing cloud-pattern cats rolling around in the Spirit Beast Garden no longer sent chills down her spine. Passing classmates cuddling plush spirit pets didn't make her avert her gaze anymore.
And during a practical class, when a lost, fluffy snowball beast stumbled to her feet and nudged her skirt with its damp nose, Emma—after a brief moment of stiffness—found herself crouching down and gently stroking its fuzzy head.
The snowball beast purred contentedly, rubbing its head into her palm.
Warm. Soft. Alive.
No fear. No discomfort. Just a strange, heart-melting tenderness.
Emma froze.
Fox Lian stood behind her, watching with a gentle smile in his violet eyes. His tail wrapped lightly around her waist as he whispered, "See? I told you they're not scary."
Emma looked up at him, then down at the docile creature in her hand, overwhelmed. The shadow that had haunted her for years… was being healed, bit by bit, by loving this fox.
"It's because of you," she said softly.
Fox Lian's eyes curved in delight, his tail tip flicking proudly. "Of course."
From that day on, Emma seemed to step into a new world. She began actively approaching the fluffy creatures she once avoided—from gentle spirit rabbits to majestic spirit tigers. She even dared to touch Gu Liang's scale-covered dragon tail (though Gu Liang promptly swatted her hand away).
Classmates were stunned. The once aloof goddess who shunned all things fluffy was now constantly surrounded by plush spirit beasts—and wore a soft smile they'd never seen before.
"Love really changes people…" someone murmured.
"Wrong!" Gu Liang snapped, crunching on a spirit fruit. "That scheming fox used himself as bait and twisted her phobia into a full-blown obsession!"
And Fox Lian? He was the biggest winner of all.
Now, Emma could nap nestled in his fluffy tail without a hint of anxiety, play with his sensitive ears at will, and even retaliate with tickles when he teased her with his tail tip.
This complete acceptance and intimacy made Fox Lian so happy he could practically float. He clung to Emma more than ever, his tail practically grafted onto her, eager to declare to the world: This goddess who conquered all fluff… loves petting me the most!
One sunny afternoon, Emma sat in the garden cuddling a snow-white spirit cat. Fox Lian lay with his head in her lap, tail lazily brushing her arm.
The spirit cat reached out a paw, trying to swat at the swaying tail tip.
Fox Lian narrowed his eyes, tail dodging nimbly. He let out a disgruntled hum and pulled Emma's hand to his ear.
"Only mine," he declared possessively.
Emma looked down at the two fluffy creatures in her lap—one small, one large—and couldn't help but laugh.
Her fluff phobia was gone.
But this fox's jealousy?
That might be incurable.