[A Beautiful Begonia Flower: What are you “?” about?]
[Fox Doesn’t Eat Pears: Staying close to the team.]
[Aaaa Yongfeng Hotel Manager Huang: So what exactly happened? And Fox, why haven’t you come to work for several days?]
[Fox Doesn’t Eat Pears: It’s a long story…]
[Aaaa Yongfeng Hotel Manager Huang: Then give us the short version.]
Ning Qi’an squeezed out a summary, keeping it brief.
[Fox Doesn’t Eat Pears: I’m working at my boss’s son’s house.]
[A Beautiful Begonia Flower: … ]
[Aaaa Yongfeng Hotel Manager Huang: … ]
Human nature is to be a broken record, and monsters are no exception.
[A Beautiful Begonia Flower: That’s pretty good. At least you don’t have to stand outside in the wind anymore.]
[Aaaa Yongfeng Hotel Manager Huang: “When one fox attains the Tao, the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.” From now on, the two of us are riding on your coattails.]
[A Beautiful Begonia Flower: You’re a real dog, but I’m not a chicken.]
[Aaaa Yongfeng Hotel Manager Huang: What’s the difference? Aren’t you both birds?]
[A Beautiful Begonia Flower: The difference is huge!]
What is even going on?
Ning Qi’an rolled over and crossed his legs. The two in the group chat started a long debate about the difference between peacocks and chickens. Ning Qi’an couldn’t make heads or tails of it, so he muted the notifications, exited the chat, and opened up some short video clips, happily enjoying his “me time.”
It wasn’t until his phone flashed a “low battery” warning that Ning Qi’an scrambled up, looking around in a panic.
He’d remembered to bring his phone but forgotten his charging cable. What now?
Ning Qi’an looked at the closed door—that was Qin Suixi’s room; there was definitely a charging cable in there. But…
He shook his head, dismissing the idea of sneaking in. He was a fox with principles and manners; he wouldn’t enter Qin Suixi’s room without permission when he wasn’t home.
The phone showed only 10% battery left. Ning Qi’an frowned at that short sliver of red, pressed the screen hard, and his reflection stared back from the black mirror.
So what if it dies? I’ll just leave it off and keep the battery where it is. I can’t use it anyway until Qin Suixi gets back.
Ning Qi’an had a good attitude about it. He shoved the phone under his dog bed. Through the glass door, he saw that night had fallen at some point; outside, the city lights were scattered, while inside, the room was cold, quiet, and dark.
He vaguely remembered the last time he checked the time, it was 7:00 PM. Ning Qi’an wasn’t sleepy yet. He picked up the silly little yellow chicken doll, rubbed his fingers over its back, and soon found a button and pressed it.
The little yellow chicken sprang to life after a long time, moving its short legs and letting out funny chicken chirps as it approached him.
Ning Qi’an’s lips curled upward. He set the chicken down in a different direction. In the darkness, he fumbled for the remote on the table, turned on the TV, picked a random movie, and watched it with great interest.
Qin Suixi found the movie boring and long, but Ning Qi’an found it absolutely brilliant. He had just come down from the mountain and entered the human world; he was curious about everything.
The chirps of the chicken doll were drowned out by the TV. Ning Qi’an stayed immersed in the film until the toy ran out of battery and the movie ended. After turning off the TV, he curled up in his spacious bed, tail tucked under his head.
The room was silent, and the moonlight spilled halfway across the floor through the glass door.
The work originally scheduled for two days had been ruthlessly completed by Qin Suixi in a single day. Only a small bit of finishing work remained, which would likely be done by tomorrow morning.
It was already night, and he was still fully dressed, sitting before a tablet that was connected to someone on the other end.
“I’m very pleased to be working with Mr. Ouyang in the future. I hope we have a pleasant collaboration.”
On the other side of the screen was a refined man. Perhaps because the business was finished, his demeanor softened. He smiled and said, “Then I must work hard to keep you pleased.”
Qin Suixi smiled as well, his cold brows relaxing. “I heard Mr. Ouyang is preparing for a wedding recently. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness and unity.”
Ouyang Feng seemed to think of his partner, his eyes softening. “Thank you for your kind words, President Qin.”
Qin Suixi: “As it happens, Tianqin is gifting you a property in Mingjiu City as a wedding present.”
Ouyang Feng was slightly startled. Properties in Mingjiu City weren’t cheap, yet Qin Suixi gave it away as easily as if it were nothing. He didn’t know whether to call him generous or just accustomed to luxury. But anyone who would turn down such a perk would be a fool, so he smiled and said, “Thank you, President Qin.”
The face on the screen vanished. Qin Suixi couldn’t help but rub his temples and let out a low sigh.
Warm yellow light slowly bathed the room, casting a shadow before the desk. He heard the faint sound of ocean waves and looked toward the scenery outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The moonlight, like silver gauze, gently draped over the sea. Waves rolled forward one after another, lapping against the wet sand on the shore.
Peaceful and gentle.
Sleep early tonight.
He sat on the bed and pressed a button. The lights went out, leaving only the cold white moonlight outside the windows.
Perhaps because he’d slept early the night before, Ning Qi’an woke up just as the sky was beginning to brighten. He stared at the ceiling, letting his mind go blank. After a long while, he climbed up, turned on the TV, and navigated to a nature documentary, specifically looking for the Red Fox segment.
When the reddish-brown fox appeared on the screen, Ning Qi’an looked down at his own snowy-white chest fur and black paws. His expression turned serious as he listened carefully to the explanation of the Red Fox’s lifestyle.
Case closed: I’m a Red Fox, a national second-class protected animal.
Ning Qi’an beamed with joy, feeling extremely noble. Qin Suixi can’t bully me now.
He’d had a nightmare last night: he dreamt that Qin Suixi was holding a huge platter of carrots and pears, hugging him with evil intentions, and trying to shove a piece of pear into his mouth. Just as that hateful pear was about to touch his clean mouth, he woke up.
Ning Qi’an was still shaken. That was close; my mouth almost lost its innocence.
Thanks to his day at the “zoo” (the documentary), he had confirmed his identity. If Qin Suixi dared to threaten him in the next ten days, Ning Qi’an would flash his “National Second-Class Protected Animal” status and demand that Qin Suixi serve him chicken at every meal.
He wasn’t sure when Qin Suixi would be back, so to be safe, he prepared to turn off the TV. Just as his paw touched the remote, he paused. Wait, this isn’t right. Qin Suixi already knows I’m a smart fox who uses the toilet. What does it matter if he finds out I can use a remote?
I’ll have to reveal that I’m a monster eventually, so I might as well give him some psychological preparation now. Plus, it guarantees I can watch TV to kill time openly for the next little while. It’s a win-win.
With that in mind, Ning Qi’an lost all desire to hide it and watched the nature documentary with a clear conscience.
After finishing lunch and two hours of travel, Qin Suixi returned to the company first to hand over the follow-up matters to Li Xin before heading back before sunset.
He had done well this time and had even persuaded a talent that Qin Yuan had admired for a long time. As a result, Qin Yuan granted him two days off as a reward.
Qin Suixi appeared cold and indifferent, but he was actually beaming on the inside. Who doesn’t love a vacation?
As soon as he opened the door, Qin Suixi kicked something soft. Looking down, he saw the little yellow chicken doll.
He picked it up and pressed the button on its back, but there was no response. The chicken had been fluttering for hours and was out of battery.
A man’s voice drifted faintly from the living room. Qin Suixi’s eyes sharpened, and he slowed his pace as he approached.
Contrary to the scene he had imagined, there was no burglar in the house. Instead, the TV was on, and the strange male voice was coming from a drama. His gaze landed on the fox, who was lost in thought on the sofa.
Looks like, on top of using the toilet, my fox has now mastered the feat of turning on the TV.
Is this even a fox?
The fox didn’t seem to notice him at all. With a flick of a paw, the TV changed to the news.
“Recently, a pet dog belonging to Ms. Zhang has become an internet sensation. It is understood that this dog can share most of the housework…”
In the video, a Border Collie was holding a mop, scrubbing the floor clean, and would even carry the trash bag out of the house, press the elevator button, and dump the garbage in the bin outside the complex.
After witnessing the content on the TV, in that moment, Qin Suixi suddenly felt that a fox who could turn on the TV and use the toilet seemed quite normal—just a bit smarter than the average pet.
Seeing the fox, which usually greeted him at the door, now guarding the TV without even noticing he’d returned, Qin Suixi gave a cold laugh and turned the TV off.
“I’m home.”
Qin Suixi enunciated each word, then waited a second, watching with satisfaction as the little thing’s eyes lit up and it leapt off the sofa to run toward him.
Ning Qi’an sighed inwardly, resigning himself to putting on a display of affection. His ears flattened (airplane ears), his tail wagged frantically, and he hummed, rubbing against Qin Suixi’s leg.
What else can I do? He’s Uncle Qin’s son; I’ve just gotta suck it up.
At least he didn’t forget me. Qin Suixi was both angry and amused. It was fortunate he’d returned a day earlier than planned; if he’d really gone on a two-day business trip, who knew if this fox would’ve forgotten him.
“Little heartless thing.”
Qin Suixi said these words, put the chicken doll in the dog bed, picked up a reddish-brown hair from the remote, and fell into deep thought. He shifted his gaze to the fox, which was standing tall and proud a meter away.
Ning Qi’an held his head high: So what? I’m just that smart.
Qin Suixi’s expression was unreadable. “Looks like you had a pretty good time while I was away.”
And here I was, worrying the fox would be bored every time I left.
Ning Qi’an’s eyes darted around: Does he know I snuck out to play? That shouldn’t be right; I didn’t get caught, did I?
The fox didn’t know that the worker to install the fence was coming tomorrow. He was feeling guilty, wagging his tail while thinking to himself. He finally concluded: If he had really discovered I went out, I’d be forced to eat pears right now.
Qin Suixi had no idea about the mental gymnastics Ning Qi’an was going through. He tossed the shaky fox hair into the trash can, turned to Ning Qi’an, and said, “Come out with me.”
Ning Qi’an grinned: Yay! I love going out!
But Qin Suixi took him to a pet hospital.
As soon as a furry head poked out from the backseat and saw the shop sign, it immediately shrank back in.
What is going on? Why is Qin Suixi bringing me to a pet hospital?
Could it be… neutering?!
Ning Qi’an shrank into the corner, gnawing on his paw: Qin Suixi promised he wouldn’t neuter me! How could he go back on his word? Men’s words are truly deceitful!
Ning Qi’an swore that if Qin Suixi dared to touch his “eggs,” he would target Qin Suixi’s as well. And then we can both be sisters!
Even if he is Uncle Qin’s son, it won’t save him!
Ning Qi’an pressed his head against the car door. Suddenly, the resistance against his head vanished, and he tipped forward uncontrollably. When he looked up, he saw Qin Suixi’s face.
Qin Suixi was wearing that form-fitting black trench coat today. With the soft light behind him, looking down, Ning Qi’an locked eyes with those handsome eyes. Time seemed to flow backward, returning to the scene of their first meeting.
Ning Qi’an was stunned, but quickly came to his senses and scrambled to the other side of the car, screaming.
No! I don’t want to be neutered!!!
Qin Suixi was helpless. “It’s just for a bath and vaccines, not…”
He paused for a second, a smile appearing in the depths of his eyes. “…not neutering.”
The high-pitched fox screech stopped instantly. Ning Qi’an looked at Qin Suixi cautiously, swallowing hard.
Oh… it’s not neutering.
The embarrassment that arrived after his “narrow escape” was worse. Ning Qi’an gave a sheepish, awkward grin and let Qin Suixi carry him out of the car.
His head rested against Qin Suixi’s chest, and the strong, rhythmic heartbeat was transmitted through the skin and fabric into his ears. Ning Qi’an turned his head, feeling a bit uncomfortable. This was the first time Qin Suixi had held him, rather than grabbing him by that sorry patch of skin on the back of his neck.
An arm lay across his belly, the smooth, firm muscles slightly poking him. In a daze, Ning Qi’an remembered the scene he’d bumped into in front of the bathroom door.
Water droplets flowing down those lines, the power suggested by the shadows and ridges under the room’s lighting… he looks like he could kill ten foxes with one punch.
Ning Qi’an shivered and gently stepped his paws onto Qin Suixi’s arm, trying to find a bit of security.
Feeling the negligible weight on his arm, Qin Suixi looked down at the nervous fox and said, “Just here for a bath.”
He added, “You stink.”
Ning Qi’an: … The second part was completely unnecessary.
I showered yesterday! Although it was in human form, the human and original forms should be the same. Ning Qi’an sniffed his paw suspiciously—no smell.
That means something is wrong with Qin Suixi’s nose.
Ning Qi’an looked at him with pity: The one who should be going to the hospital isn’t me, it’s Qin Suixi.
Qin Suixi didn’t have mind-reading abilities and didn’t know Ning Qi’an’s train of thought had veered into another extreme. He weighed the animal in his hands—it wasn’t as heavy as he’d imagined.
He’s lost weight. I should feed him more meat from now on.
The pet hospital was bright; the floor was spotless, without a speck of mud or fur. The clean environment put Qin Suixi at ease.
The pet hospital Secretary Chen screened—reliable.
Because they had an appointment, someone greeted them as soon as Qin Suixi arrived. When the staff member reached out, Qin Suixi felt an inexplicable desire not to let the other person hold Ning Qi’an. He pulled his arm back slightly and said coolly, “I’ll take him back myself.”