Chapter 24: That Dream, That Beloved

Su Rouxue hurriedly sat up. Noticing that her fox tail was exposed, she instinctively put on a frightened look herself.

She crossed her arms over her snow-white chest, her fluffy fox tail shielding her front, and those long, jade-like legs hooked the fallen quilt from the floor to cover herself as quickly as possible.

Her cheeks flushed red, and she found herself completely unable to meet Xia Shu’s eyes as he stood in the doorway.

“Why didn’t you call before coming in?!”

Su Rouxue’s head felt hot with embarrassment—she could already picture how she must have looked to Xia Shu just moments before.

The “suggestiveness” of that scene utterly crushed any of the risqué manga heroines she’d ever drawn.

“Ah, well, I…”

Xia Shu was also left speechless at Su Rouxue’s panicked and bashful display.

He had only wanted to let her sleep in and not disturb her—never had he expected to walk in on something like this, let alone be so thoroughly rewarded for his trouble.

“Turn around! Close your eyes!”

Su Rouxue bit her lip, her usually melodious voice now raised several pitches.

“Alright,” Xia Shu replied with a wry smile.

He dutifully turned around, secretly thinking to himself that he’d already seen everything he shouldn’t have—what difference would a few more glances make?

A soft sigh came from behind him. “You can turn back now.”

When Xia Shu looked again, Su Rouxue had changed into her pajamas.

She was curled up on the bed, those beautiful eyes gazing up at him with a look of fragile innocence.

“You didn’t take any photos, did you?” Her lips pouted slightly, all trace of her usual graceful maturity gone; she looked more like a wronged young maiden than ever before.

“I didn’t take any photos, though I did consider starting a live stream to commemorate the moment,” Xia Shu teased with a chuckle.

“Xia Shu!”

Whoosh!

A pillow flew straight at his head.

“Alright, alright, I was just joking!”

“Don’t be so nervous,” he reassured her with a smile as he approached the bed. “Honestly, I should be the one who’s startled, shouldn’t I?”

Their eyes met, emotions tangled between them. Su Rouxue’s brows lifted as she spoke softly, “You’re the first person to discover my secret.”

“Even your family doesn’t know?” Xia Shu’s brows furrowed as well.

“No,” she replied.

“Are there others like you in this world?” he asked.

“There shouldn’t be. After all, I’m not originally from this world.”

“I see…”

“So, what do you think of me now?” Su Rouxue’s gaze was filled with uncertainty—what was done was done, but she desperately wanted to know how he truly felt.

“It’s thrilling!”

“…What?”

“And I’m proud, too!”

“Why’s that?”

“Because my girlfriend is truly one of a kind! This is the sort of thing that only happens in novels or movies. For it to happen to me…it feels lucky, almost unreal!”

Grinning, Xia Shu reached out and pinched her cheek.

Though she looked normal now, the image of her true form was already deeply etched in his mind.

“Aren’t you even a little scared?” Su Rouxue asked, searching his eyes.

“Why would I be scared?”

Without hesitation, Xia Shu kicked off his shoes and lay down beside her, wrapping an arm around her petite frame.

“Because I’m a fox!” she protested.

“Are you going to eat me?”

“If you ever push me too far…I just might!”

“Would you really bear to?”

“…Well, that question hardly matters, does it? After all, I’ve already delivered myself right to your mouth—how could you refuse such a convenient meal?”

Xia Shu’s lips curled into a smile, his gaze soft and indulgent as he lowered his head to kiss her deeply.

He sensed that this was exactly what Su Rouxue needed—a calming reassurance. Otherwise, she might remain trapped in embarrassment over what had happened.

“Mmm…”

Su Rouxue’s eyes widened, her senses overwhelmed by his fiery breath. The boy before her was becoming more assertive than ever…

Like a dragon swimming through water, her soft cries echoed in the room.

Autumn had already arrived, yet in this moment, it was as if life itself had been rekindled.

A fateful meeting—everything had come together at last.

Su Rouxue felt fulfilled; her heart gradually returned to peace.

She clung tightly to Xia Shu, her eyes shining.

“I’m curious about something,” Xia Shu suddenly said.

“What is it?”

“Did you have a dream this morning?”

“Huh? Um…”

“Was I in it?”

“…Yes.”

Blushing deeply, Su Rouxue buried her face in Xia Shu’s chest—a simple question, yet it left her feeling mortified all over again.

“Am I the male lead?” Xia Shu grinned.

“Guess!” she replied.

“How could I possibly guess?”

“Do you really want to see the dream?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, I’ll show you.”

With a playful smile, Su Rouxue bit her lower lip. Then her eyes shifted to a beautiful, deep crimson.

As Xia Shu looked into her gaze, he suddenly felt a mysterious power drawing him in. It was as if his very soul had been pulled from his body and transported into a wondrous space.

The dream began to reshape itself. Amid laughter and joy, Su Rouxue nestled contentedly in his arms.

They were surrounded by a bamboo forest, and behind them stood a small wooden cabin.

Here, Su Rouxue had revealed her true form, and three fluffy fox tails swayed behind her.

One tail curled around Xia Shu’s waist…

One gently brushed across his face…

And the last was cradled between his hands.

“Xia Shu, do you really love me?”

“Of course I do!”

“But I’m a fox!”

“So what? That only makes me fall for you even more!”

Su Rouxue couldn’t help laughing, her radiant smile impossible to contain.

And in this dreamscape, Xia Shu was far bolder than usual.

“Xia Shu, are you truly insatiable?”

“Yes—because my love for you overflows.”

“Mmm…”

Thus began the simple, shamelessly sweet life between a man and his fox.

In a flash, the vision faded.

Back in reality, Xia Shu’s eyes flew open wide.

It was confirmed—his older, foxy girlfriend really had just had a “spring dream” about him!

Thankfully, he was the male lead!

“Damn, why can’t dreams turn into reality?” Xia Shu sighed, a touch of regret in his voice.

“Dreams are born from our deepest desires,” Su Rouxue said with a gentle smile. “But thinking it over, that dream might not be so good if it were real.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because if it were real, wouldn’t it mean I was limiting your freedom, keeping you from the life you deserve? Rather than a secluded, hidden existence, I much prefer the way things are between us now.”