Ever since Fox Lian publicly declared that "his tail already has an owner," Emma found the fox growing ever more brazen.
He now treated "being managed by Emma" as a badge of honor, flaunting it at every opportunity.
When invited to an evening poetry gathering, he would shake his head regretfully: "Sorry, Emma set a curfew."
When asked to spar late into the night, he would flick his tail: "Can't. Someone would worry if I came back late."
Even when the dining hall introduced new spirit fruits, he would first ask: "Emma, am I allowed to eat this?"
Each time he said such things, his violet eyes sparkled at her, tail wagging happily like a large dog awaiting praise. Emma could only laugh helplessly, nodding in response: "Mm, yes, I set the rule."
Then his ears would twitch in satisfaction, tail wagging even harder.
One day after class, Fox Lian mysteriously pulled Emma toward his dorm. "What is it?" she asked, puzzled. He only smiled, tail curling around her wrist, leading her inside.
Emma froze at the sight. His bed, desk, even windowsill were piled with fabrics of every kind— Snow-white cloud blankets, fiery red fox pelts, soft rabbit-fur cushions, and even a priceless silver cloak woven from moonlight spider silk.
"These are…?" Emma looked at him in surprise.
Fox Lian hugged her from behind, chin resting on her shoulder, tail curling around her waist. "For you."
"For me?" Emma was even more confused. "You know I don't need so many…"
"You do." He interrupted, voice tinged with nervous anticipation. "Touch them."
She brushed her fingers over the cloud blanket—soft and fluffy, like touching clouds. "Very comfortable, but…" "Try this one." He guided her hand to the fox pelt, sleek and sun-warmed.
Emma touched each in turn, all exquisite, clearly chosen with care. But she still didn't understand—until her fingers brushed the moonlight spider silk cloak.
The texture… was familiar. Soft yet resilient, smooth yet warm—exactly like…
Emma turned sharply to him.
Fox Lian's violet eyes gleamed with triumph. His tail tip brushed the cloak. Identical sensation.
"You…" Emma was speechless.
"I gathered every material closest to my tail's feel," he said, proud yet earnest. "So even when I'm not with you, you can touch something 'similar.'" He paused, voice dropping, tinged with jealousy. "So you won't… touch anyone else's scales, or admire anything smoother."
Emma's heart melted. He was secretly jealous of the merman prince!
She cupped his face, laughing at his "praise me" eyes. "Silly fox!" She kissed his trembling ear tip softly. "These may be similar, but they're not you." "What I want…" Her hand slid down, catching the restless silver tail trying to sneak into her palm. She gripped it firmly. "…has always been the original."
Fox Lian's ears shot upright, violet eyes blazing. He lifted her joyfully, spinning her around, tail wagging so hard it stirred the air. "Say it again!" he demanded like a child with his favorite toy.
Emma hugged his neck, smiling at his unrestrained delight. "I said—" she drew out the words, rubbing the tail in her hand, "My favorite is your jealous, petty, but softest-in-the-world—fox tail!"
Fox Lian sighed in bliss, laying her gently on the bed piled with furs, silver hair cascading, violet eyes deep. "Then… shall we check more carefully if your favorite tail has other places… even softer?"
Moonlight spilled gently across the room, over the piles of plush fabrics, and over the entwined pair.
As for those expensive materials? Rumor had it the jealous fox turned them into a nest—to keep his goddess captive.