Qin Suixi didn’t yet know that a mountain of work awaited him the day after tomorrow. Right now, he was negotiating with Ning Qi’an.
“Fox,” Qin Suixi cajoled, “It’s lonely for you to sleep in the living room by yourself. How about you sleep in my room tonight? I’ll turn up the heat; it’ll be warmer than your dog bed.”
Ning Qi’an didn’t want to. Even if the heat was warm, the floor was hard, and it wasn’t comfortable to lie on.
It is easy to go from simple to luxurious, but difficult to go from luxurious to simple. Ning Qi’an had completely forgotten the days of misery he spent lying on the hard balcony, buffeted by whistling cold winds, and had gradually learned how to sleep most comfortably.
But living under someone else’s roof, one has to bow one’s head. Having no choice, Ning Qi’an was scooped up by Qin Suixi and taken into the room. As the door closed, his path out was blocked.
Excuse me, what was the point of the previous negotiation?
Ning Qi’an looked forlornly at the tall door, already formulating a solution in his mind.
He aimed for the door handle, leaped up, and dangled by it, his teeth clamped onto the lever. As he pulled it down and shifted his weight, the door slowly creaked open.
Before he could even get off the handle, a hand pressed against the door, closing it again—and locking it for good measure.
Ning Qi’an rolled his eyes and relaxed his teeth…
He was still dangling from the handle.
Ah, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts! I’m stuck, I’m stuck! Qin Suixi, help!
His sharp canine teeth were perfectly wedged into the handle. Ning Qi’an scrambled with all four limbs, whimpering.
Qin Suixi was confused: “The door is already locked, don’t waste your energy.”
The Fox: “Wuwuwuwu—“
Help me, help me, help me! Help me get down!
Qin Suixi watched him for a while before he finally realized what was happening. He quickly grabbed Ning Qi’an with both hands and rescued him.
Ning Qi’an smacked his lips; his teeth weren’t broken and were still sharp, just a bit sore.
Can’t use my teeth to open the door handle next time. Should use my paws to hold it instead.
He licked his teeth, but before he could do it more than a few times, his mouth was forced open.
Qin Suixi grabbed the fox’s snout with both hands, forcing it open to inspect it carefully against the light.
“No bleeding. Don’t do that again.”
Ning Qi’an couldn’t even be bothered to complain. The floor was clean, thanks to Aunt Liu’s careful sweeping. Seeing the slightly reflective floor, his reluctance lessened a little. He found a spot, curled his tail, and laid down.
As soon as he looked up, he saw Qin Suixi taking off his shirt, revealing a toned, muscular physique.
Tsk.
Ning Qi’an twisted his waist and turned his back on him.
Qin Suixi, wrapped in a mist of steam from his shower, came out and didn’t see the fox. He turned the door handle—it was still locked, meaning the fox was still inside. But the room was only so big; where could it be hiding?
After circling the room, he finally caught the fox behind the curtains. The reddish-brown fur almost blended into the floor, and with the shadow of the curtains, if it weren’t for a small bump protruding from under the fabric, it would have been hard to notice.
“What are you doing here?”
Qin Suixi asked. But the fox ignored him, lounging against the window with unfocused pupils.
Ning Qi’an was lost in thought, staring at the moon. Cold moonlight bathed his body, and energy—imperceptible to humans—hidden within the moonlight flowed continuously into his body.
Almost forgot I’m a spirit who needs to cultivate. Otherwise, how would I have the energy to maintain my human form?
Though I don’t have much use for the human form right now.
Do foxes daydream like humans?
Qin Suixi had thought daydreaming was a human-exclusive way to relax. Now he realized that animals also daydreamed and needed to unwind.
Not wanting to disturb the daydreaming fox, Qin Suixi gently let down the corner of the curtain. After changing into his pajamas, he lay in bed without a shred of sleepiness. He put on his headphones and scrolled through short videos on his phone.
For a time, the atmosphere was incredibly harmonious. The two didn’t disturb each other: one was selflessly cultivating, the other was immersed in the online world, both perfectly silent.
An hour later, Qin Suixi tilted his head back to soothe his slightly tired eyes. At the same time, there was a rustle of fabric from behind the curtains. He looked toward the sound and saw a fox face emerge, filled with a human-like sense of satisfaction.
An hour in the morning, an hour at night—tomorrow I’ll live to be a hundred.
So said Ning Qi’an.
Seeing that it was about time, Qin Suixi patted the empty space beside him and said concisely: “Get up here. Time to sleep.”
Early to bed, early to rise, good for the body. Three kilometers when I wake up, health and longevity will be mine.
So said Qin Suixi.
Qin Suixi’s voice wasn’t loud, but it reached Ning Qi’an clearly, making him think he had so much earwax that he must have misheard the man.
What? He wants me to come up and sleep? Not on the floor? Doesn’t he mind the smell anymore?
Ning Qi’an felt like Qin Suixi’s brain had been addled by the heat—either he was having a sudden fever or he was just fickle. But since he could sleep on a soft, large bed, why would he pass up the chance?
Facing the bed that was almost twice as tall as he was, Ning Qi’an pushed off with his hind legs and hopped onto it easily.
Qin Suixi occupied one side of the bed. Ning Qi’an assumed the other half was left for him. He eyed a pillow that looked particularly fluffy, shamelessly dominated it, rested his head on it, and didn’t even bother with a blanket. To describe it in one word: Bliss!
Seeing he didn’t want to cover himself with the blanket, Qin Suixi didn’t force him. After turning off the lights and listening to the steady breathing beside him, he felt as if he had returned to his childhood, competing with his father for a spot by his mother’s side—a sense of unparalleled peace.
Perhaps memories before sleep are prone to fermenting dreams, for he dreamt of the days before his mother had passed away.
“Mom!”
Qin Suixi lay on Xia Shi’s lap and, as if performing magic, pulled a carnation from his palm. He smiled: “Happy Mother’s Day! Wishing you eternal youth and beauty!”
Xia Shi let out a surprised “Wow,” pinched the pink carnation and sniffed it dramatically, then tweaked Qin Suixi’s cheek, saying: “Thank you, Xixi. I love this carnation; I’ll be sure to save it carefully.”
At that time, Qin Suixi didn’t have to follow the path of a cold, overbearing CEO. He beamed with a bright smile: “Then I’ll send you a pink carnation every year from now on.”
Xia Shi was moved to tears, holding him tightly: “I’ll treasure every single one.”
His mother had a wonderful scent. The young him couldn’t describe what it was—only that it smelled of sunshine and the fragrance of carnations.
“Why are you two hugging like that?”
A deep male voice appeared. Xia Shi released Qin Suixi and faced a large bouquet of vibrant red roses.
She gave Qin Yuan a playful, coquettish look: “We’re already an old married couple; why do you do this every year?”
But she took the massive bouquet nonetheless, burying her face in the flowers, only raising it after a few seconds.
The smile in Qin Yuan’s eyes was evident: “We’re an old couple, don’t I know you by now?”
Xia Shi loved flowers—or rather, she loved everything that came from nature. Compared to expensive gold or jewelry, nothing could please her more than a flower.
Qin Yuan looked at her gently: “Happy Mother’s Day, my Shi-shi.”
Xia Shi naturally didn’t distinguish between them, giving Qin Yuan a hug as well. Qin Suixi, somewhat dissatisfied that his mother’s attention had been drawn away by his father, ran up and hugged her leg, trying to divert some of that attention back.
Sure enough, Xia Shi immediately bent down and pulled Qin Suixi into her arms.
Little Qin Suixi was three years old, a bit heavier than a cat. Seeing this, Qin Yuan said: “Let me handle him.”
The young child refused, waving his hands in protest: “No Daddy, Daddy is hard and scratchy, not comfortable.”
“Are you being picky now?”
The child had no choice. He was held by Qin Yuan, looking reluctant, yet stubbornly holding onto Xia Shi’s hand.
Xia Shi joked: “You’re so dependent on me, what will you do when you grow up?”
Little Qin Suixi said seriously: “When I grow up, I’ll still hold Mom’s hand and take you out to play.”
Xia Shi giggled, saying: “So well-behaved, I’ll be enjoying my blessings when I’m old.”
Qin Yuan listened and couldn’t help but chime in: “What about me?”
Qin Suixi added: “Daddy is just along for the ride.”
Qin Yuan bounced him up and down: “You little brat, I’m not holding you anymore. Walk yourself.”
Qin Suixi was dropped to the ground. He “humphed,” refusing to yield: “Fine, I’ll walk myself.”
So he held Xia Shi’s hand and walked for a while until Qin Yuan suddenly said: “Do you want to play on a swing?”
Qin Suixi looked around: “Where is a swing?”
Qin Yuan stretched out a hand: “Here.”
Not understanding, the boy took it. Not far away, a family of three walked by; the child in the middle was pulled by his parents’ hands, his feet dangling in the air, laughing happily.
Qin Suixi understood instantly and copied them, experiencing a different kind of “swinging.”
A few days later, Ning Qi’an finished his daily exercise. He lay in his bed, belly up, with his neck resting on the edge, his head hanging off the side.
Having to run three kilometers every morning for the past few days, Ning Qi’an felt his human-form muscles were now on par with Qin Suixi’s. He decided he needed to take a good look in the mirror in a few days.
Tomorrow morning’s exercise was supposedly increasing by another kilometer. Ning Qi’an pondered whether he should bite through the leash ahead of time. When Qin Suixi took him out, he would catch him by surprise, snap the leash, and sprint four kilometers. That way, he could meet the quota without being restrained—a perfect, win-win plan.
Ning Qi’an squinted while developing his plan. His ear lay against the floor, and his sensitive hearing caught approaching footsteps.
Qin Suixi’s footsteps weren’t loud, but after all this time, Ning Qi’an was very familiar with them. He half-opened his eyes, looking up at the person above him.
What?
“Drink some water, then have breakfast.”
Qin Suixi thoughtfully brought over the water dispenser and even helped the fox roll over.
Ning Qi’an gave him a “really can’t do anything with you” look, deigning to lick a few times.
Hm? It’s warm?
Seeming to sense his confusion, Qin Suixi explained: “Ice water isn’t good for your body, so I switched it to a constant temperature mode.”
Ning Qi’an: What a healthy regimen.
He had no requirements for water temperature. Back in the mountains, when he was too lazy to go to the creek, he would even lick the snow at his den’s entrance to quench his thirst. But now that he had good conditions and someone willing to wait on him, Ning Qi’an was more than happy to indulge.
The dispenser was electric, and to accommodate animals that didn’t like to drink, it kept the water flowing—much better than the simple bowl from a few days ago.
It’s no wonder humans always say it would be nice to be reborn as a pampered pet in the next life. This life, free of toil and worry, is indeed what many people and spirits dream of.