At a time when Emma had yet to overcome her fear of fluff and was still disguising herself as "strategically obsessed" with Fox Lian, the academy's annual Three Realms Beauty Ranking began.
Unsurprisingly, Fox Lian was the favorite to win. Gu Liang, his number-one fan, not only cast her full ten votes every day but also dragged Emma into supporting "His Highness Fox Lian."
"Emma! Quick! Use your jade slip to vote for His Highness!" Gu Liang shook Emma's arm excitedly. "We have to make sure he stays in first place!"
Emma obediently pulled out her jade slip, but inside she was crying. In truth… she wanted to vote for the Elf Prince.
That prince was cold as moonlight, his emerald eyes like lakes deep in the forest, his pointed ears elegant and refined. Most importantly—he had no fluff at all! Smooth silver hair, delicate skin, perfectly within Emma's safe aesthetic zone.
But to maintain her persona as Fox Lian's admirer, she had to sacrifice her true preference.
[Voting interface opens]
Gu Liang leaned over to supervise: "Yes! Click on His Highness Fox Lian! Ten votes every day, no less!"
Emma's finger hovered trembling above Fox Lian's name, her heart torn:
Fox Lian (Fox Clan) — Dangerous! Fluffy!
Elf Prince (Elf Clan) — Safe! Smooth!
Under Gu Liang's burning gaze, Emma gritted her teeth, about to close her eyes and press down…
"Oh no! My jade slip's out of energy!" Emma exclaimed suddenly, shaking it with exaggerated theatrics. "Gu Liang, you vote first—I'll go recharge mine!"
Before Gu Liang could react, she bolted, clutching the jade slip, ducking into a corridor corner.
Once sure no one was around, she furtively pulled out the jade slip, quickly opened the voting interface, and with guilty excitement tapped the Elf Prince's name ten times in rapid succession.
Seeing the confirmation message, Emma exhaled in relief, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips.
But what she didn't know was—
On the terrace at the end of the corridor, Fox Lian was lounging against the railing. His sensitive fox ears twitched, catching the distinctive ding of a jade slip vote, along with someone's subtle sigh of relief.
He lazily opened one violet eye, glancing toward the corner—just in time to see Emma's robe hem as she slipped away, and her side profile still glowing with "mission accomplished" glee.
Fox Lian's brow arched.
Interesting.
His tail tip brushed idly against the railing.
So this goddess who pretended to be "obsessed" with him ran faster than anyone to vote, then looked guilty yet secretly delighted afterward?
He would have to see who she voted for.
Days later, the results were announced. Fox Lian, unsurprisingly, took first place. The Elf Prince ranked third.
Gu Liang was overjoyed, dragging Emma to celebrate. Emma smiled outwardly, but inside she mourned for the Elf Prince.
When Fox Lian accepted the jade plaque for first place, his violet eyes swept "casually" across the crowd, lingering on Emma, lips curving in a faint, knowing smile.
That night, Emma received an anonymous package. Inside was a finely crafted crystal statue of the Elf Prince, accompanied by a note:
"A small apology, for taking the place of the one you truly favor."
At the bottom was a doodle of a fox tail tip, drawn with a sly smile.
Emma: "!!!"
Game over. Her cover was blown!