Chapter 9: You Say It Doesn’t Matter

A Heated Morning

“It’s so hot… and heavy…”

The black-haired girl murmured, her brows furrowed and sweat beading on her face, looking pained with her eyes still closed.

Instinctively, she reached toward the source of the heat, her hand brushing against something furry and alive.

Yu Li, roused by the warmth, grabbed the creature by its scruff and held it up.

It was a small black fox.

[Yah! What’s that for?! I was sleeping so comfortably!]

The awakened Liuli flailed its paws, complaining at Yu Li.

“I’m saying… haven’t you been a bit too bold lately?”

Yu Li narrowed her eyes, staring at the groggy Liuli.

“Who told you to sleep on top of me?”

[Oh, come on! Your body’s all cool and comfy. I’m just a tiny, cute fox—how could I possibly bother you?]

“You don’t know how hot you are? And…”

Yu Li lifted the fox and held it in front of the floor-length mirror.

“You’ve been letting yourself go, eating and sleeping all day. Look at you—you’re practically a fat fox now!”

[You—you—you! Who’re you calling fat?! I’m clearly a tiny little thing!]

“Open your eyes before you say that, you dumb fox! Stop dodging reality!”

As the girl and fox bickered, the bedroom door swung open.

“Yu Li, get up! It’s the first day of school…”

Ai Xinglan walked in, freezing at the sight of the girl and fox, clearly surprised.

“Oh… crap.”

Yu Li instinctively tried to shove Liuli back into her space, but she was too slow.

Ai Xinglan swooped in and scooped up the fox.

“You’re bullying little Liuli again.”

Ai Xinglan shot Yu Li a disdainful look, as if scolding her for picking on a small animal.

“No, it’s not…” Yu Li started to explain.

Before she could finish, Liuli put on a pitiful expression, nuzzling into Ai Xinglan’s arms.

“Still trying to deny it! Hmph! Come on, Liuli, let’s go eat something tasty and ignore this dummy.”

Without giving Yu Li a chance to respond, Ai Xinglan carried Liuli away.

[That’s what you get for calling me a fat fox! Pfft!]

Nestled in Ai Xinglan’s arms, Liuli knew Yu Li couldn’t touch her.

It poked out its head, smugly sticking out its tongue before quickly ducking back.

Yu Li watched the smug fox being carried off.

“…Heh.”

After a long silence, she let out a cold chuckle.

A Fox’s Feast Interrupted

[Eek!]

At the dining table, ready to dig into a feast, Liuli suddenly shivered, startled enough to pause eating.

“What’s wrong, little Liuli? Not to your taste today?”

Ai Xinglan looked at the fox with concern.

Liuli shook its head.

[Just scaring myself. With Xinglan as my ally, what can she do to me? Nothing to fear!]

After a mental pep talk, the reassured fox dove into the pastries Ai Xinglan had prepared.

It had been a week since their heart-to-heart.

The once-skittish Liuli, who’d hide at the sight of Yu Li, was now completely at ease, even sleeping on her.

To keep Liuli from hiding, Yu Li had come clean to Ai Xinglan and Feng about the fox’s existence, spinning a tale that she’d awakened a summoner’s talent and Liuli was her spirit beast.

In hindsight, that was her biggest mistake.

Ai Xinglan didn’t question the sudden “awakening” at all.

Instead, she became obsessed with petting the fox.

Her enthusiasm for cute things had turned Liuli’s once-slim frame into a chubby one in just a week, thanks to her constant feeding.

Struggling with the Uniform

Meanwhile, Yu Li was still in her room, wrestling with her school uniform.

The ornate girls’ uniform was proving tricky to put on.

“Phew… what a hassle.”

Finally dressed, Yu Li looked at the striking girl in the mirror and shook her head helplessly.

The thought of returning to school as a girl stirred complex feelings.

“Yu Li, hurry up!”

Ai Xinglan’s voice called from outside.

“Got it!”

Yu Li stepped out and joined them at the dining table, where Liuli was still eating and Ai Xinglan had finished her meal.

“Hmph… always rushing me. Does Xiao Ai like that stinky fox more than me?”

The girl pouted, giving Ai Xinglan a pitiful look.

“What, jealous of your own spirit beast? You’re such a dummy, Yu Li…”

Ai Xinglan sighed helplessly, stepping closer.

“You need to wear your clothes properly. I don’t want us to look bad together—after all, you’re kind of… mine.”

She reached out, adjusting Yu Li’s awkwardly worn uniform.

“Hmm~”

Yu Li’s lips curved into a pleased smile as Ai Xinglan fixed her clothes.

Leaning close to her ear, she whispered, “See? Xiao Ai does like me more.”

“W-What are you talking about?!”

Ai Xinglan froze, her ear tips turning red. “Hurry up and eat! Don’t be late!”

She turned and fled.

“Got it, got it~”

Yu Li called after her, then glanced at Liuli, still munching away.

A sinister grin spread across her face.

“My dear… little Liuli?”

[Eek! Cough, cough! Why’re you talking like that all of a sudden?!]

Choking on a pastry from Yu Li’s eerie tone, Liuli coughed violently.

Yu Li ignored it, smiling as she crouched down and snatched the plate of unfinished pastries.

[Hey! What’re you doing?! Give those back!]

Desperate, Liuli lunged, but Yu Li easily caught it by the scruff.

“Heh, weren’t you all smug just now?”

[Let… let me go!]

Yu Li held Liuli up, watching it squirm.

[You—you—you! Kill me or whatever, but don’t torture me bit by bit to satisfy your twisted desires!]

“What nonsense is that? You fat fox… you’re so heavy my hand’s getting sore.”

Yu Li rubbed her aching wrist.

[What?!]

Liuli’s eyes widened, its fox face full of human-like disbelief.

[How can you say something so mean?! I have feelings, you know! Can’t you be a bit gentler?]

Yu Li stared at the flailing fox, utterly unimpressed.

It didn’t look hurt in the slightest.

“Until you slim down, I’m banning them from feeding you. And you’re sleeping in your space at night—because you’re really heavy.”

[Huh?! No way! It’s pitch-black in there at night, and you never answer when I call!]

“Oh? Well, nothing I can do about that~”

Yu Li feigned helplessness, staring at Liuli.

[No, no, no! I’m sorry, okay? Give me one more chance—I’ll do anything!]

“You said it.”

Yu Li’s demeanor shifted, a sly grin forming as she pulled out a piece of paper from nowhere.

“Then just follow this daily, and I won’t meddle in your life.”

Liuli grabbed the paper like a lifeline, only to see a densely packed training schedule.

[What is this?! Daily post-school coordination training, then fire control and agility training? You’re trying to work this fox to death!]

“You’ve been too relaxed lately. You haven’t actually become a carefree pet, you know?”

Yu Li’s expression turned serious.

[What do you mean…?]

“Don’t you remember? You’re part of the Yu family’s ‘Yu Li’—part of my power.”

Yu Li stroked Liuli’s fur, continuing.

“We can’t just dump everything on Xiao Ai. Maybe not now, but we’ll have to face it eventually. We need to get stronger, don’t we?”

Her serious tone softened into a gentle smile as she looked at the silent fox.

“But don’t worry. I’ll take on everything as Yu Li. I just need your help. Will you be my strength?”

She extended her hand to Liuli.

[Ugh… fine, I’ll train every day.]

With a reluctant agreement, Liuli reached out and shook her hand with its paw.

[So… can I have my pastries back? I wasn’t done…]

It eyed the plate still in Yu Li’s hand.

“Sure.”

Yu Li held out the plate, and Liuli reached eagerly—only to find it stuck fast in her grip.

[Mm?]

Yu Li smiled, her grin carrying a hint of menace.

[Let… let go…]

“Next time, don’t use Xiao Ai against me.”

Yu Li popped a pastry into her mouth and walked away.

[…?]

Liuli froze, staring at the empty plate, unsure how to react.

You say Xiao Ai doesn’t matter, yet you’re jealous of a fox! Liuli thought.

Shaking its head helplessly, it vanished back into its space with a swish.