Ever since the "nightmare incident," Fox Lian's tail seemed to have developed a small "aftereffect."
During rune studies class, when Emma habitually reached out to play with the tip of his tail, the silver tail suddenly darted away, flicking teasingly in front of her—refusing to be touched.
Emma: "?"
She looked at Fox Lian in puzzlement, only to find him sitting upright, eyes fixed solemnly on the elder at the lectern, as if nothing had happened. Only the twitching of his ears betrayed his thoughts.
Emma raised a brow and tried again—
The tail dodged once more, even curling smugly into a loop.
Now Emma understood. This fox was still sulking over being teased at breakfast!
She stifled her laughter, pretending to listen attentively, but secretly drew a doodle of a puffed-up little fox in her notebook, adding the words: "Petty brat."
Then she slid the notebook toward Fox Lian.
He caught sight of it from the corner of his eye, ears twitching harder. He forced composure, but under the desk, his tail brushed lightly against Emma's leg.
Hmph, serves you right for spreading my embarrassment.
Emma squirmed at the ticklish touch, nearly laughing aloud. Thinking quickly, she scribbled another line: "Want me to groom your fur tonight?"
Fox Lian's tail froze instantly, then slowly, reluctantly, inched back toward her hand. The tip even rubbed against her palm in appeasement.
…Deal.
Emma finally got to touch the soft tail she'd missed, happily kneading it. Fox Lian kept his face serious, eyes on the lecture, but his betraying tail swayed in delight, tip unconsciously curling around her wrist.
On the podium, the rune elder glanced down at the two "attentive students" and shook his head.
Young people these days… even in class, they have to hold tails.