Before Emma realized she harbored ulterior motives toward that fox, she faithfully played the role of Gu Liang's best friend and "chief strategist" in the grand Fox Pursuit Plan.
Whenever Gu Liang mustered the courage to approach Fox Lian, Emma had to shadow her like a bodyguard. Officially, she was "helping create opportunities and offering timely support." In reality—Emma knew well—her job was to rescue Gu Liang when nerves left her tongue-tied, and to whisk her away before Fox Lian's patience wore thin.
It was not an easy job.
Like now: Gu Liang was nervously presenting a box of rainbow spirit pearls from the Dragon Palace, stammering through each pearl's effects. Fox Lian listened with detached calm, violet eyes lazy, fingers idly toying with the snowy pom-pom at his waist.
Emma stood three steps away, pretending to admire the plants outside the corridor, but inwardly taut as a watchful guard. She focused on his expression—especially his ears. From long "research," she knew: when those ears pressed slightly back, his patience was nearly gone.
Sure enough, as Gu Liang repeated for the third time, "This blue pearl glows at night," Fox Lian's ear tips flicked back ever so faintly.
Alarm!
Emma stepped forward smoothly, voice natural: "Gu Liang, shouldn't we head to alchemy class? Elder Qingmu will be angry if we're late."
Gu Liang let out an "Ah," clearly reluctant, but at Emma's pointed look, she reluctantly said: "Your Highness, then… I'll take my leave…"
Fox Lian inclined his head, but his gaze lingered thoughtfully on Emma's tense profile.
Once or twice could be coincidence. But after many times, Fox Lian noticed: whenever Gu Liang approached him, Emma was always there. And always at subtle moments, she interrupted with perfectly reasonable excuses.
This goddess… seemed unusually invested in his interactions with Gu Liang.
A glimmer of amusement flickered in his violet eyes. He decided to test her.
The next day, Gu Liang came again, offering her homemade (slightly burnt) dragon-hair pastries. Emma, as usual, stood by. Just as Gu Liang blushed and held out the gift, Fox Lian suddenly reached—not for the pastry—but to gently brush away a fallen leaf from Emma's shoulder.
The gesture was light, natural.
But Emma reacted like a startled rabbit, jerking back half a step, nearly colliding with the pillar. Her eyes widened at him, as if he had tossed a living ball of fluff at her instead of a leaf.
Fox Lian's hand paused midair, violet eyes narrowing.
Gu Liang, oblivious, still held out the pastry: "Your Highness?"
Fox Lian withdrew his hand, tone even: "Thank you, but I don't care for sweets." His gaze, however, remained fixed on Emma's shaken face.
Emma forced composure, tugging Gu Liang away: "We… we should go feed the spirit beasts!" Practically fleeing.
Far down the corridor, Gu Liang finally complained: "Emma, why drag me off? I wasn't finished!"
Emma clutched her pounding heart, muttering irritably: If I hadn't pulled you away, that fox's next move would've been throwing his tail in my face!
She felt her role as "wingwoman" was unbearably suffocating. She had to prevent her friend from embarrassing herself, stay constantly on guard against the fox's sudden, heart-disrupting gestures (like brushing off that leaf—he definitely did it on purpose!), and still maintain her disguise as "equally obsessed with Fox Lian."
Triple undercover!
Meanwhile, Fox Lian watched Emma's hasty retreat, fingers stroking the pom-pom at his waist, lips curling in knowing amusement.
So it wasn't Gu Liang she was invested in… It was him.
And she played the act quite convincingly.
It seemed this game was far more entertaining than he had imagined.