Xia Bing’s POV:

Today, like usual, I went to Qiuyuchen’s house to cook dinner. I never expected that ordinary-looking guy to have such hidden depths. Even after learning my true identity, he acted like nothing was wrong. Could he really be that clueless?

“Cute Teacher, I’ve bought tonight’s dinner ingredients… Teacher Ye Zixin?”

“Yo! I’m here to mooch a meal. You’re Xia Bing from our class, right? From now on, please add one more serving.”

“It’s just an extra bowl of rice. No trouble.”

Adding another pair of chopsticks meant extra dishes. I’d better hurry.

“By the way, Cute Teacher, it’s been ages since we graduated from Harvard. We haven’t done that thing in forever.”

“True. I haven’t seen you since graduation. What, you want to do it today? But I don’t have that stuff here.”

That thing? Two girls? And they needed that stuff? My ears perked up as I listened to their every word in the living room.

What could it be?

“Haha, don’t worry! I brought sake from Japan. Here! If you hate it, I’ve got authentic Chinese erguotou. Ta-da! And Sherry! One must suit you. Worst case, regular beer.”

I peeked from the kitchen. Teacher Ye Zixin pulled out colorful bottles from her bag like magic.

“Cute Teacher, remember our midnight dorm parties?”

“Of course. You mixed red wine, beer, and cocktails. We slept a whole day after.”

Teacher Ye Zixin opened an erguotou bottle and chugged half straight from it… Wow, a real tough girl! Can you drink baijiu like that?

“Gurgle, gurgle… Ah! Refreshing! Don’t refuse the rest, Cute Teacher.”

“Hmph! Half a bottle of erguotou? Easy!”

Cute Teacher grabbed the rest and downed it. These beauties were so bold inside.

“Hehe… Not bad. But erguotou’s just an appetizer. Next: beer.”

Teacher Ye Zixin slapped canned beers on the table. Are they monsters? Even water isn’t drunk like this. I swallowed hard.

“Hehe… That girl’s been staring. Craving some too? Xia Bing, join us?”

Me? Caught? What to do? Grandma forbade drinking. Must I break that rule?

Refusing face-to-face is polite. I’ll say no and return to cooking.

But before I could speak, she pulled me into her embrace.

“W-wait!”

“Wow~~ So cute! Small and soft. Here, drink this.”

She pressed an icy beer can to my lips. The sharp alcohol smell nearly knocked me out.

“No, Little Ye. Xia Bing’s underage. She can’t drink.”

Right. Though older than humans, as a Fox Demon, I’m still underage.

“No problem. Just beer. In foreign countries, kids drink it like soda.”

Human kids drink beer as soda? Terrifying. Luckily, I’m a Heavenly Kingdom fox. I only sip rice wine.

One small can won’t hurt, right?

I sipped. Bitterness mixed with sweetness and a weird aftertaste. Not great.

“Hey! Chug it all for the real feel. Don’t stop. Down it!”

One more sip. Rice wine never got me drunk. Should be fine.

“Gurgle, gurgle… Ah~~”

Icy beer shot through my lungs. On this hot day, it felt refreshing. But drinking alone was dull.

“Here, Japanese drinking snacks and peanuts. Try them.”

Ordinary-looking, but better than nothing. I popped two peanuts in my mouth. Mmm, tasty! Another beer sip. Not bad!

“See? Xia Bing’s just like us. A little training, and she’ll be a perfect drinking buddy! Now, this Sherry—high-end stuff. Hard to find in China.”

Later, I drank Sherry, erguotou, and unnameable alcohols. My head spun, but I didn’t want to stop. Sorrows faded. My body floated. If only this lasted forever.

Time blurred. I felt burning hot and restless. Ugh! I let out my hidden tail and ears to breathe.

“Stop drinking. Rest. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

Someone snatched my bottle. I couldn’t see his face. Annoying.

“Huh? Give it back! How dare you steal my drink?”

“Sorry, thirsty. Accidentally finished it.”

I touched the empty bottle. A strange loss hit me, like my happy cloud vanished.

My ears drooped. On this hot day, I felt a trace of cold. I hugged my tail tightly, clinging to its warmth. So tired. My eyes shut. I remembered nothing after.

…………

“Ugh… Headache. Where am I? Must’ve passed out from drinking…”

Soft breath brushed my face. A familiar face lay opposite me, less than five centimeters away. I twitched my ears and sat up.

Qiuyuchen? Why’s he sleeping beside me? Did he do something beastly…? I checked my clothes. Messy, but underwear untouched.

Relief washed over me. I smoothed my slightly messy fox tail. He saw my true form yet slept here. Is he one of those beast-ear otaku?

I rubbed my aching head, feeling empty. Is this a hangover? No wonder Grandma warned me. Forgetting worries only to face reality hurts. Never drinking again.

“Sorry, thirsty. Accidentally finished it.”

Those flashes—real? No! That can’t be… But it was. He drank my half-finished wine. That’s… an indirect kiss in human terms!

Too embarrassing. I wanted to vanish into a hole.

“Huh… huh…”

He slept soundly. My anger flared. He stole my kiss—even indirect—and sleeps peacefully? Punishment time… No good ideas yet. I’ll tie him up.

I grabbed rope from storage and bound him to the bed. He slept like a log, undisturbed by my noise.

“Huh? Xia Bing, you’re awake… What the hell! Explain this!”

“Explain? It’s obvious. Accept my punishment!”

“Punishment? Why? I did nothing weird!”

“You ate and tried to slip away!”

Qiuyuchen struggled. But I’d cast a fox clan spell on the rope. He couldn’t break free.

“Then what did I do?”

“You were…” No, saying it shames me. “I punish you. No reason!”

“Seriously! You can’t bully me.”

“Choose: electrotherapy, whipping, or candle wax. I’m fair—options given.”

“Miss, these are all S&M. Are you a pervert?”

S&M? I didn’t get it. I just listed props from online. Maybe too harsh?

“Dislike them? Pick your own punishment.”

“Hmm… Must I?”

“Yes. Or my anger won’t fade.”

“How about feather tickling? Humane, effective.”

Childish, but he’s a classmate. Light punishment suffices.

I untied him and re-bound him differently…

“Can we skip this weird knot? Do you know what you’re doing?”

“Of course. To stop escape. Hanging you up.”

“What the hell, this is a turtle shell binding! Are you messing with me, silly girl!”

Turtle shell binding? So much I don’t know. But he called me silly. Asking for trouble?

I tickled him everywhere with a feather.

“Hahaha… Stop! I can’t take it!”

“Beg me. Call me Queen, and I spare you.”

“Q-Queen! Spare me!”

“No way! I love this face.”

Qiuyuchen looked like a TV comedian. My mood lifted. My lips curled into a smile.

“What are you doing!”

“Huh? Brother Nuoyan, when did you arrive?”

“I knocked forever. No answer, so I entered. What…? Do youths play like this now?”

“No, just punishing him.”

“Hmph! You reek of alcohol. Still drunk. Untie Qiuyuchen. Come to the dorm.”

Later, Brother Nuoyan dragged me away. He only warned me verbally: no drinking until adulthood. Back in my rental, I googled “turtle shell binding” and “S&M” on my phone. Then I regretted it. Deeply. I’d never face anyone again.