Saint Lorenzo Academy wasn't far from the Falmore Family estate, so Lenna quickly arrived home. Opening her bedroom door, she saw the little Fox Maiden sprawled asleep on the floor. Lenna tiptoed over and stroked the golden tail plush as a mattress.
"So... ticklish..."
The tail lifted weakly, swayed in the air, then flopped down—perfectly covering Lenna’s palm braced on the floor.
Lingling hadn’t slept all night. After finishing her duties, she’d waited eagerly for the person she longed for. Without touching a single item in the bedroom, she’d spent hours scrubbing Lenna’s private quarters spotless. Neatly folded bedding and dust-free tiles revealed the room owner’s obsessive cleanliness—but Lingling had perfectly grasped Lenna’s habits. Not a speck of dirt remained.
*Huu... huu...*
Faint, childish snores filled the air.
Unconsciously curled up, the Fox Maiden used her thick tail to block all "intruders"—including Lenna’s mischievous hand.
Lenna stared dumbly as her hand sank into cloud-soft fur. Too late to pull away. *"How can this little one’s fur feel this good?"*
Like an electric blanket, warmth flooded her palms in seconds.
*"This’d make perfect insulation material. Pluck a bit to study—guaranteed bestseller."*
Lenna teased the sleeping Fox Maiden.
Her wicked thoughts hadn’t faded under Angela’s influence. If anything, they’d grown stronger, surfacing every so often to remind her. Lenna’s willful nature remained untouched by anything—or anyone.
Except with Angela. There, she’d agreed to loosen her grip. She’d given Angela time to change her. In return, Lenna offered measured tolerance—a down payment. The more she gave now, the greater the return later.
Like a high-interest loan disguised as collateral.
Lenna sat back, doing nothing, watching Angela scramble to scheme for her, even offering herself up—reshaping herself into Lenna’s mirror image while trying to change her...
*Utterly fascinating.*
Just imagining it could make her eat three huge bowls of rice.
*"You called me an idiot? Who’s the real fool here."*
Lenna lifted the Fox Maiden’s skirt hem. Snow-white compression bodystocking worn exactly as instructed. Her tail poked through a hole in the dress, free for daily movement.
*"Hmm. Healthy. Bones growing fast. Even gained a tiny bit of height since yesterday..."*
Seizing the chance, Lenna thoroughly checked Lingling’s physique. Magic made it easy—just don’t wake her. After working all night, she needed rest. Lenna refused to let Lingling become a night owl like herself, not before witnessing her growth.
Before seeing Lingling all grown up, Lenna would stay alive.
It was her second most important goal—after revenge.
"Young Mistress?"
Lashes fluttered. The Fox Maiden drifted awake from sweet dreams.
She sensed Lenna’s return instantly. Her dormant tail rebooted at impossible speed, bursting with energy.
*Whoosh!*
Like a five-speed fan, it whipped Lenna’s ash-gray hair into a dance with its radiant gold—a breathtaking painting of beauty.
Tail wagging furiously, Lingling sat up straight: "Young Mistress! You’re back!"
"Mm. You cleaned the room? Well done."
Lenna lifted Lingling’s chin, rewarding her gently.
Afterward, Lenna left the dazed Fox Maiden behind, flopping onto the double bed and rumpling the neat sheets.
Minutes passed...
"Something troubles you, Young Mistress? You don’t seem happy." Lingling crept closer, bending over Lenna’s view.
Golden strands spilled like sun-dappled leaves, brushing Lenna’s cheek like falling autumn foliage.
Lingling’s pure, wide eyes blinked unceasingly. Lenna’s brewing scolding melted into tenderness. "What makes you say that..."
"You look tired. Dark circles. Lingling thought... maybe things went wrong with Sister Angela? That’s why you sigh..."
"Nonsense."
Lenna almost snapped that she never failed—then her face darkened:
*"...Who said I went on a date with Angela?!"*
"No? Hmm..." Fingers pressed against flushed cheeks, Lingling’s fox ears twitched thoughtfully. "Then Professor Agnes? Lingling remembers you care about her too... Your heartbeat sped up just now. Yep! Young Mistress definitely has worries."
Lenna gently pushed Lingling off her chest, rolling onto her side. Her mind was a tangled mess.
Having a mind-reading Fox Maiden was awful. Lenna could hide her words, but Lingling’s supernatural hearing caught every clue—heartbeat, blood flow—exposing lies and tension.
Ordinary detectives studied micro-expressions. Lingling tore through disguises by monitoring your pulse. No lie survived this human lie detector.
*Annoying.*
If only Angela were here to spar with, to kill the boredom.
Lenna would never admit craving touch. Beautiful bodies were everywhere—she lacked for nothing...
"Young Mistress, can Lingling help?"
The Fox Maiden sat on the bed, adorably blank, kneading Lenna’s slender waist. Her tail fanned like a palm-leaf fan—a silent palace maid serving her supreme sovereign.
If her master had physical needs, she’d offer herself without hesitation.
Foxfolk logic was simple: seek pleasure or grow stronger. Grow stronger to seek more pleasure. Grow stronger *through* pleasure. Cling to the powerful. Bear their offspring. Blood ties made bonds unbreakable.
Even the mightiest heroes fell to this pure, earnest way of life.
Including Lenna...
"You really are..."
"Lingling can do it! If Young Mistress wishes." The Fox Maiden shed her extra clothes. Skin blindingly white, dewy and smooth as peeled egg. "Lingling can’t bear your children... but Lingling’s love is real. Seeing Young Mistress happy makes Lingling’s heart overflow..."
The Fox Maiden sounded the charge.
Lenna signaled full retreat, typing "GG" in the public chat—but couldn’t stop the passionate little vixen.
Finally, Lingling embraced the person she’d yearned for day and night. Treasuring her like jade, she kissed from the back of that flawless hand...
"Lingling can make Young Mistress feel good too. Just like Sister Angela. Lingling won’t lose to anyone."
"Ridiculous! What did Angela *do* to me?!" Lenna buried her face under the quilt like an ostrich in sand.
"Don’t speak, Young Mistress. Look into Lingling’s eyes."
Amber-gold pupils flooded with pink—a haze of indescribable allure.
Unconsciously, the Fox Maiden’s surging emotions triggered her innate gift.
The Foxfolk’s legendary one-on-one control skill: **Charm Shadow**.
