At that time, Emma was still faithfully upholding her "professional ethics" of disguising herself as Fox Lian's admirer—dutifully casting "obsessed" looks at him (or rather, at his accessories) and diligently offering strategies to Gu Liang.
That afternoon, Gu Liang mysteriously approached Emma in the library, lowering her voice: "Emma! Quick! There's a show to watch!"
Emma lifted her head from a pile of rune books, bewildered: "What show?"
"Someone's going to confess to His Highness Fox Lian!" Gu Liang's dragon tail wagged with excitement. "It's Qi Qi from the Flower Clan—the shyest one! In the maple grove behind the mountain! Let's go!"
Emma's first instinct was to refuse. She had no interest in watching confessions—especially when the protagonist was that fluffy fox she had to stay constantly on guard against.
But Gu Liang clung to her arm: "Come on! We can learn how others confess! And aren't you curious how His Highness will respond?"
Curious? Emma scoffed inwardly. That fox would surely reject with his usual polite detachment, tail not even twitching.
Yet, to maintain her persona as "equally obsessed with Fox Lian," Emma reluctantly let Gu Liang drag her along.
The two crouched behind a massive maple tree, peeking out.
The grove blazed like fire, petals drifting down. Qi Qi, the Flower Clan girl, stood among them, cheeks redder than the leaves, nervously twisting her sleeves, voice barely audible: "F-Fox Lian… I-I have admired you for so long…"
Fox Lian stood opposite, clad in moon-white robes, silver hair dazzling against the red leaves. His expression was calm, violet eyes deep as a pool, unreadable. His fluffy silver tail hung naturally behind him, not even the tip moving.
Emma nodded inwardly: as expected, standard reaction.
When Qi Qi saw him silent, she gathered courage, presenting a shimmering Flower Spirit Heart—the most sincere token of confession in her clan. "Please… accept this…"
Fox Lian's gaze fell on the offering. At last he spoke, voice clear as jade yet faintly distant: "Thank you for your affection. But…"
He paused, as if weighing his words. Gu Liang gripped Emma's hand nervously, Emma held her breath, waiting for the classic line: 'I appreciate your feelings, but cannot accept.'
But Fox Lian's eyes flicked, almost imperceptibly, toward their hiding spot. A fleeting smile glimmered in his violet gaze. His tone shifted subtly, the tip of his tail giving the slightest twitch: "But… my heart already belongs to someone."
!!!
Not only Qi Qi froze—Gu Liang and Emma, hiding, were equally stunned!
Belongs to someone?! The academy's beloved Fox Lian actually had someone he liked?! This was the most explosive news of the year!
Qi Qi's eyes brimmed with tears; she fled, sobbing.
Gu Liang shook Emma excitedly: "Did you hear?! His Highness has someone he likes! Who could it be?! Was it the snack I gave him last time?!"
Emma, equally shaken, muttered: "Ah… maybe…" Yet inside, she felt strangely unsettled. Odd—she should feel relieved. If the fox already had someone, Gu Liang might give up, and she wouldn't have to keep up her exhausting disguise…
Just then, Fox Lian began walking toward their hiding place.
Gu Liang yanked Emma down, holding her breath.
Footsteps stopped nearby. Fox Lian's cool voice, tinged with faint teasing, rang out clearly: "Seen enough?"
Gu Liang froze stiff.
Emma's heart jumped, though she forced composure.
Fox Lian chuckled softly, said no more, and his footsteps receded.
Only when he was gone did Gu Liang exhale, clutching her chest: "That scared me! We almost got caught!" Then she grew excited again: "But His Highness really has someone he likes! I have to find out who!"
Emma watched Fox Lian's departing figure, fingers brushing her inexplicably warm earlobe. That strange feeling lingered.
Odd… just now, hadn't that fox glanced in her direction?