Emma found herself caught in a strange loop.
To maintain her persona as a Fox Lian admirer, she had to keep tracking his movements. But the more she watched him, the more she became drawn to his meticulously chosen fluffy accessories. She even began secretly studying different types of fur textures—comparing the flow of fibers between the pompom at his waist and the fox-tail-shaped brooch at his collar. In private, she used spiritual energy to conjure lifeless fluffy spheres and practiced touching them.
Her fingertips met soft, plush textures—not fear, but a strange, soothing warmth. Staring at the harmless fluff in her palm, Emma felt conflicted. Was this… symptom migration?
Meanwhile, thanks to Emma's "selfless" scheming, Gu Liang's pursuit of Fox Lian grew increasingly bold.
"Emma! You're amazing!" Gu Liang squealed, grabbing Emma's hand, her dragon eyes sparkling. "I followed your advice and 'accidentally' bumped into him in the secluded forest where he practices spells. I even showed off our clan's water magic a little—and he looked at me!"
Emma forced a smile, internally screaming: The secluded forest?! Dense trees, dim lighting, prime territory for fluffy creatures (read: Fox Lian) to appear out of nowhere! She needed to steer Gu Liang toward brighter, open spaces next time.
"And guess what else," Gu Liang continued, "I 'borrowed' my father's rare book on ancient illusion arrays and left it in the reading room he frequents. He found it and thanked me! His voice is so nice…"
Emma jotted down a mental note: rare book bait works—but must be placed near the entrance, not deep in the shelves where visibility is poor.
She felt like a double agent—one part devoted friend helping a love-struck dragon girl, the other part a paranoid strategist trying to avoid fluffy trauma.
Then came the practical class at the Spirit Beast Garden.
To Emma, it was a fluffy nightmare. Creatures of all shapes and sizes frolicked and bounded through the fields, their fur swaying in the breeze.
Emma turned pale, clinging to Gu Liang, wishing she could shrink into a ball. Her eyes scanned the area with high alert, terrified that some furry beast might pounce.
And then… she saw Fox Lian.
He stood beside a massive, snow-white spirit cloud leopard, which lay lazily on the ground, its long fur billowing like clouds. Fox Lian leaned down, his elegant hand gently stroking the leopard's head. The creature purred contentedly, eyes half-closed.
Sunlight bathed the pair, blending Fox Lian's silver hair with the leopard's white fur. His lowered profile radiated a gentle warmth, and his fluffy tail swayed leisurely behind him.
Around them, classmates gasped in awe.
"Fox Lian even looks good with spirit beasts!"
"He's so gentle!"
"If I could be patted like that by him, I'd die happy!"
Gu Liang was practically starstruck, unconsciously touching her dragon horns.
Emma's heart skipped a beat. Not because of Fox Lian's beauty, nor the giant fluffy leopard—but because of the way he stroked it. The motion looked… incredibly soothing. The fur under his fingers seemed obedient and soft, nothing like the terrifying, twitchy fluff she remembered.
She… kind of wanted to know what that felt like.
The thought startled her. She shook her head violently, trying to banish it.
But Fox Lian seemed to notice her gaze. He looked up, his amethyst eyes cutting through the crowd and landing squarely on Emma.
Emma's breath caught. She tried to look away—but couldn't. His gaze held curiosity, understanding, and… a faint, almost imperceptible smile?
Was he… laughing at her fear?
Annoyed, Emma forced herself to glare back, though her eyes lacked conviction.
Fox Lian's smile deepened. He turned back to the leopard, continuing to stroke it, but Emma swore his tail swayed a little more cheerfully.
After class, Emma was mentally and physically drained. She headed to the academy market to buy calming herbs.
At a stall selling spirit plants and trinkets, a tiny brooch caught her eye—a miniature bunny crafted from the softest white spirit bird feathers, no bigger than a fingernail. Its ruby eyes sparkled, and it looked… harmless. Even cute.
Emma bought it on impulse.
Back in her dorm, she placed the bunny brooch on her desk and stared at it for a long time. Finally, she reached out and gently touched its fur.
Soft. Warm. Quiet.
No fear. No panic.
Emma exhaled deeply, as if she'd won a hard-fought battle. She tucked the brooch into the deepest corner of her jewelry box.
Maybe… starting with non-living fluff was a good idea. At least, when facing that dangerously charming fox, she might be able to act more "natural"—without getting distracted by his accessories… or accidentally revealing herself.