Ever since Qingqiu Nine Calamities appeared, Qingqiu Zili had been fiercely resistant.

Yet no one had ever stood by her side.

Though Moling Qingqiu vowed unwavering support, as a black fox, she held no standing to defy the noble male azure foxes.

Even the elders—who had always doted on Zili—refused to indulge her whims on such a grave matter.

The one cherished by the entire Azurehill Fox Clan would inevitably shift from Qingqiu Zili to Qingqiu Nine Calamities.

A sorrowful truth.

Zili believed this was her ultimate fate.

But now—Mulan had appeared!

She stood with her, a fellow noble azure fox, eager to expose Qingqiu Nine Calamities’ true face!

Mulan’s arrival granted her a chance to defy fate—a truly romantic notion.

Overwhelmed with exhilaration at gaining a comrade, Zili’s three tails swayed vigorously, thumping softly yet audibly against the plush bedding.

"May! When do we move?"

Mulan watched Zili, whose excitement shimmered like an eager puppy, and fell into thought.

"Hmm… no rush. Sleep first."

After all, it was the dead of night.

On such a pitch-black, windy night, nothing beat a good rest.

Zili’s boundless energy didn’t mean Mulan could frolic anytime.

Late already—time for bed~

If she didn’t sleep soon, she’d tumble right off the Peak of Koala Realm.

Gradually, Zili calmed; her tails swayed slower.

"Then let’s sleep!"

With Mulan’s promise, hope bloomed in Zili’s heart, worries fading fast.

She moved closer, arms opening to pull Mulan into an embrace.

Mulan raised a hand. "Wait—what are you doing?"

"Hold you while sleeping, of course."

Zili wore an innocent, utterly earnest expression, as if it were perfectly natural.

Mulan’s mind went blank.

"Why must you hold me?!"

"Among azure foxes, it’s normal! Second Month and the others always huddle close when sleeping. In human form… isn’t that just holding each other?"

A conflicted flicker crossed Mulan’s face.

Fox-form cuddling? Acceptable. Human-form embracing? Awkward.

The clan saw nothing odd—but Mulan, with perfectly normal human sensibilities, minded boundaries deeply.

Wait.

She currently looked like a loli. A little closeness between girls… no big deal, right?

No! Inside, she was still a hot-blooded young man!

Mulan’s gaze hardened; her golden eyes radiated pure propriety.

Ribbit! Damn these wicked thoughts—I’ll blast them away!

But then she met Zili’s eyes—filled with longing, a hint of pleading…

"Mm. Lie down."

"Oh."

Zili obeyed, confusion flickering in her mind.

Mulan lay down back-to-back, deliberately placing her three tails into Zili’s arms.

"I don’t sleep well being held. But you may hold my tails… *reluctantly*. Reward me with extra Violet Crystal Grapes tomorrow."

*Sigh.* Too soft-hearted again.

As a responsible adult, she couldn’t bear seeing that pitiful look on an innocent girl’s face.

Guess tonight’s sleep standards had to drop.

Zili stared at the tails, momentarily dazed.

"May… this princess has been meaning to say: in the Azurehill Fox Clan, willingly offering your tail is a courtship gesture."

"Ribbit! Take them back! NOW!"

Too late. Zili seized the tails like a hunter claiming prey.

"Too late! This princess sleeps with your tails tonight—they were *given*! No take-backs!"

"Mmph!"

Regret. Profound, utter regret.

No turning back… Nah. Just sleep it off.

Silence settled. Light faded.

Mulan played dead.

Zili cuddled the tails, nuzzling gently, inhaling their intoxicating scent until dreams carried her away.

Tonight’s sleep? Surely top-tier.

...

...

Dawn broke. Mulan woke.

Last night’s sleep? Solid 80/100.

Couldn’t sleep on Zili’s tails—and her own were monopolized by the "insatiable" fox princess.

Ugh. Infuriating.

"Mmm…"

Mulan sat up, watching Zili still clinging tightly to her tails. Complex emotions swirled in her eyes.

Never imagined sharing a bed with a young girl.

Not that she felt *anything*… just deeply annoyed about the tail situation.

Worse? She couldn’t even hold Zili’s tails back.

Damn it!

"Huff~"

She shook Zili’s shoulders.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead! Sun’s roasting your butt!"

"No… let this princess sleep longer~"

Zili murmured, utterly unawake.

A noble princess’s lazy mornings were never disturbed.

Even Moling Qingqiu, her attendant, waited till noon.

But Mulan? Zero patience.

Sleeping in?

*While hogging my tails?!*

Unbelievable! I barely slept well last night!

How dare you enjoy it so much?!

Damn it!

Even responsible adults have limits!

"Mmph."

Mulan leaned close to Zili’s fox ear, took a deep breath—

"I’M AWAKE! Anyone still asleep is a lazy dog! A good-for-nothing fox! A useless glutton! Rotten fish and spoiled shrimp! An escapist lost in the void! A flatterer half-drunk on reality! A cockroach shunned like a street rat! The scorn of all beauty and goodness!"

Zili jolted awake, eyes flashing faint shame and anger.

"SO LOUD! Can’t you let this princess sleep? Even if you’re my cute little sister, don’t tease your elder sister!"

Mulan retracted her messy tails, scowling.

"Who’s your sister? Don’t get too into character."

"This princess doesn’t care! You’re in the Azure Fox Realm, an azure fox named May—you *are* my little sister!"

Zili’s face brimmed with grievance.

"Hmph. I’ll never admit it."

"Don’t ignore your elder sister’s dignity!"

Outside the door, Moling Qingqiu—awake long ago—smiled faintly at the lively sounds.

"Seems they’re full of spirit… Time to report to the elders?"