When Emma proposed the "unequal treaty," Fox Lian outwardly signed with reluctant grace—but secretly carved the terms onto his jade pendant:
"Goddess's Pampering Fox Clauses"
Provide tail-cushion service at least three times a month
Ears enjoy top-priority petting rights
Share childhood anecdotes irregularly (strictly confidential)
The next day in rune class, Emma was diligently taking notes when she felt something furry brush her wrist. Looking down, she saw Fox Lian's tail had snuck around from behind his chair, tip tracing circles on her skin.
"Can we redeem the clause early today?" Fox Lian whispered through sound transmission, violet eyes gleaming with expectation. "I didn't sleep well last night."
Emma saw the faint weariness in his eyes (likely self-inflicted), and sighed, gently holding his tail tip under the desk.
The result—Fox Lian's tail quivered happily in her palm, ears twitching in pleasure, even drawing curious glances from the elder on the podium.
From the back row, Gu Liang ground her teeth, whispering to Cangming: "See that scheming fox? He's loving every second!"
Cangming observed seriously, replying: "Indeed. Want me to spar with him to vent your anger?"
"…No!" Gu Liang huffed, turning away. "Emma would be upset if he got hurt!"
Meanwhile, Fox Lian, hiding behind his textbook, guided Emma's hand toward his ears: "Here's itchy too…"
By the time Emma realized, she had already spent seven nights sleeping with his tail as a pillow, petted his ears dozens of times daily, and finished Fox Lian's Childhood Embarrassment Anthology, Volume One.
"Wait!" One morning, Emma lifted her head from his tail. "This treaty isn't right!"
Fox Lian, combing her hair, froze, tail tightening instinctively: "What's wrong?"
Emma counted on her fingers: "Tail-cushion sleep, ear-petting, childhood stories—aren't these all the things you love most? You clearly enjoy ear rubs the most! Every time I touch them, your tail wags like a fan!"
Fox Lian's tail stiffened.
"And tail-cushion sleep! Last night I said I was hot and wanted to let go—who wrapped me back up?"
"And those 'embarrassing stories'—you were bragging! 'Other fox kits fought to hand me handkerchiefs'—how is that embarrassing?!"
Fox Lian's ears burned red, forcing composure: "The treaty was your idea…"
"Yes, but," Emma tugged his guilty, twitching tail tip, "a certain fox faked being pitiful to trick me!"
Truth revealed:
"Three times a month tail-cushion" → actually 100% execution rate
"Ears free to pet" → Fox Lian's daily privilege
"Childhood embarrassments" → entirely his humblebrag showcase
Emma, fuming, tried to snatch back the memory stone, but Fox Lian wrapped her up with tail and arms. "Fine," he chuckled at her ear, tail rubbing her in appeasement, "I'll give you another compensation."
The next day, the academy witnessed a shocking sight—aloof Fox Lian strolling the corridor wearing a fluffy fox-ear headband. The faux ears twitched realistically with his steps, begging to be touched.
"Is… is that a new type of artifact?" students whispered.
Fox Lian walked straight to the stunned Emma, bent down, and placed her hand on the headband ears: "From now on, you can touch ears anytime." "Real or fake—it doesn't matter."
Emma stroked the soft faux ears, gazing at the fox who had shed all pride for her, and suddenly thought—
Even if it was an unequal treaty… Maybe she was the one who won.