My name is Xia Bing. I’m a Snowy Fox from Greenhill who’s lived over a hundred years. In human terms, I’m sixteen today—my first day studying in the human world.

"Xia Bing," Granny had said, handing me an enrollment form, "it’s time for your mortal-world training. Report to Nalanmude Middle School."

Life in Greenhill’s Peach Garden was peaceful, but staying too long got boring. I couldn’t disobey Granny’s orders anyway. Besides, human schools sounded kind of fun.

"Remember," she’d warned before I left, "avoid using magic in the mortal realm. You might attract rogue sorcerers."

By "rogue sorcerers," she meant unscrupulous Taoist Path practitioners—those who dabble in dark arts to hunt powerful demons. To them, every part of an Azurehill Fox Clan member is treasure. My parents were killed by such sorcerers, leaving me orphaned. I grew up with Granny in the village. The neighbors were kind, so I never felt unlucky. It’s been so long since I lost my parents that I don’t even hate humans. I barely remember them.

"Oh my!" A sharply dressed young man greeted me outside my new apartment. "Xia Bing, you’ve grown so lovely! How is everyone back in the village?"

This was Mo Yan—formerly Xia Yan—my old neighbor. He’d been stripped of his surname and banished from Greenhill for loving a human woman. He couldn’t return home, so he changed his name. Though exiled, he still helped our clan. He’d arranged my housing here and acted as my guardian, though we didn’t live together—he had his own family now.

"Everyone’s well," I replied. "You can call anytime if you’d like."

"Hmm. You’ve blossomed into quite the fox spirit," he teased. (In our clan, "fox spirit" isn’t an insult.) "You’ll have every boy at school wrapped around your finger."

"Don’t mock me, Big Brother Mo."

"Enough joking. I’ll show you to your place. From now on, you face life alone. If trouble comes, find me. I’ll do all I can."

After a brief chat, Mo Yan left. It was late, and I had an early start tomorrow, so I went straight to bed.

I woke super early the next day—but misread the clock. I’d risen a full hour too soon. Despite that, I got lost in the huge human city and arrived half an hour late. Why are mortal cities so enormous?

Luckily, the teacher didn’t scold me. But two troublemakers cornered me.

"Hey! You’re the violent girl who stepped on my face!"

I vaguely remembered rushing out that morning and accidentally treading on one guy’s face. But calling me "violent" on my first day? That was harsh.

"Prove your innocence—take off your skirt!" he sneered.

Humiliated on day one? If no one was watching, I’d have blasted this creep into orbit. When had I, Xia Bing, ever been treated like this? Are Azurehill foxes really so unwelcome here?

I covered my mouth and let out soft, trembling sobs. Granny taught me this trick: when logic fails, tears win over 80% of people. Anyone with a heart would side with a fragile girl. (This only works for us ladies, of course.)

"What a jerk! She just entered class, and he’s accusing her of stepping on his face? Lame excuse."

"Ugh, stuck in the same class as him? Gross."

"I’m calling 911 to arrest this creep."

"Better call Qingshan Mental Institute first."

"Or just punch him before the ambulance comes. For our new friend’s sake."

...

The classmates rallied behind me. Not all humans were awful, it seemed.

At lunch, I slipped onto the school rooftop alone. Many girls invited me to join them, but as an Azurehill fox, blending in felt impossible. Maybe time would help.

The weather was perfect—gentle breeze, mild sun. Like adding tiramisu to afternoon tea. Pure bliss.

I slipped off my clothes and set them aside, cheeks flushing. Granny had warned me never to reveal my true form here. But how could I waste such gorgeous sunlight?

I’d sealed the rooftop door with talismans—no ordinary human could enter. A shimmering rainbow light flared, and I shifted into my six-tailed Snowy Fox form. I curled up in a cozy spot for a nap.

The warm sun felt heavenly, like napping on Greenhill’s slopes back home. Sadly, this peace wouldn’t last two hours. Human classes were so strict.

Just as I drifted deeper asleep, something pressed down on my tail. Uncomfortable. Fox tails are super sensitive.

Ugh, I really didn’t want to open my eyes. Probably just a bird resting there. It’d fly off soon.

*Ding-ding-ding!* The bell rang, ending lunch break. Still, I kept my eyes shut. So lazy!

The weight on my tail hadn’t moved. I flicked it sharply—but nothing flew away.

Fine. I opened my eyes to scold the bird daring to nest on my silky tail.

Instead, I found a human. A boy. Worse—he was using my tail as a pillow! Unforgivable! I was Greenhill’s most promising young fox. No one treated my tail like furniture!

I wanted to throw him off the roof. But Granny forbade killing. At least get up! How could I transform back for class with him pinning my tail?

"Ugh! Who dares wake me?" he grumbled, not moving. "Disturbing my nap is a death sentence!"

This blond punk was tiny but had a huge attitude. Using my tail as a pillow? He should’ve thanked his lucky stars!

I glared fiercely. Any normal human would faint or flee at the sight of a giant fox, giving me time to shift back. Who’d believe a story about a human-sized fox anyway?

One minute passed. He just stared. Was he sleepwalking? I bared my sharp teeth, snarling harder. (Showing teeth felt embarrassing, but desperate times...)

Five minutes. No reaction. Was he a mannequin? Give me something! Posing like this was exhausting.

Ten minutes. He hadn’t budged. Was he trying to drive me insane? Fine. I’d leave—but my clothes were behind him. Transforming naked wasn’t an option.

As I lunged to grab my clothes and bolt, the boy grinned eerily. What? Had I scared him mad? No. My instincts screamed he was dangerous. Was he one of those rogue sorcerers? Hunting my pelt and Demon Core?

No time to lose. I snatched my clothes, leaped off the roof, and bounced off a lower wall into an empty bathroom. Phew—no one saw me in my underwear.

Dressed, I called Big Brother Mo. "Xia Bing, stay calm," he soothed. "We don’t know if he’s a rogue sorcerer. But he’s no ordinary student. I’ll excuse you from class today. Rest at home. We’ll talk tonight."

I left school early, claiming illness. That boy’s face... I’d seen it before. He sat right beside me! Could this get any worse?

Just thinking about sharing a classroom with him tomorrow made my fur stand on end. Was heaven playing a cruel joke on me, Xia Bing? Why send a sorcerer to ruin my life?