Wagging My Tail in the Ice Queen CEO’s Embrace - Chapter 67

Fu Anyu didn’t move, merely looking at Ming Ying.

“Do you truly not know what it means to actively offer your tail for someone to stroke?” she asked.

Ming Ying froze, instinctively wanting to lie: “I-”

“I want the truth,” Fu Anyu cut her off.

She knew perfectly well that Ming Ying’s intense reaction the first time her tail was touched wasn’t solely due to its sensitivity. Considering the little fox’s family traditions and clan rules, her tail was likely only meant to be touched by spirits of a specific status.

Lately, the little fox had been growing increasingly proactive, which actually made Fu Anyu somewhat uncomfortable. There were things the little fox didn’t understand, but Fu Anyu couldn’t claim the same ignorance.

Meeting her serious gaze, Ming Ying grew timid, hugging her tail to her chest and averting her eyes.

Fu Anyu didn’t press her, waiting for her to speak.

“I know, but,” After a long pause, Ming Ying murmured, “I just wanted you to stroke it. Please don’t be angry.”

“I’m not angry,” Fu Anyu shook her head. “I just wanted to remind you to understand self-respect and self-love, and not to give your heart away so casually.”

In Fu Anyu’s own view, unless a sufficiently intimate relationship was confirmed, such as a romantic one, one had no right to touch a fox’s tail.

Beyond that, even if they were nominally family, her doing so would still be considered an offense.

Ming Ying looked at her in disbelief, biting her lip and tugging at her tail fur as she asked, “Do you think I’m too frivolous?”

Though they hadn’t known each other long, she had indeed thought it over carefully, even willing to break clan rules to convey her feelings to the one she loved.

Yet the one she loved was advising her not to give her heart away so easily.

Ming Ying didn’t understand. After Xiao Du had analyzed so much for her that afternoon, and given that Fu Anyu clearly had feelings for her too, why would she say such things just as Ming Ying mustered the courage to confess?

Just as she was feeling disheartened, she suddenly felt Fu Anyu’s hand rest on her head, gently stroking.

“I don’t think that,” Fu Anyu said. “On the contrary, I’ve always thought you were quite reserved. But I don’t understand why you’d be so thoughtless about this matter.”

“I’ve thought it through clearly!” Ming Ying grew anxious, a hint of irritation in her heart. “And right now, I only allow you to touch it! Whether it’s Xiao Du, Xiao Chen, or that ‘sack man,’ none of them are worthy, only you are!”

She didn’t understand why Fu Anyu was being so difficult about such a small matter.

Truth be told, her courage still wasn’t enough. Some things she dared to speak honestly about, but others she couldn’t bring herself to say outright, preferring to express her feelings subtly.

Caught off guard by the little fox’s outburst, Fu Anyu was momentarily stunned.

This little fox, though innocent, still knew how to be alluring, yet not overly seductive or bewitching. Usually well-behaved, she occasionally showed a bit of temper. Even if she was a bit spoiled, when it came to serious matters, she was surprisingly reliable and willing to learn new things, which Fu Anyu found quite endearing.

She wanted her dearly, yet didn’t dare to take her, afraid that if she let her guard down and fell in, she wouldn’t want to let the little fox return home. She would find ways to keep her by her side forever.

Having already lost her beloved parents, she couldn’t bear to experience another permanent separation.

Thus, although she deeply cherished the already altered “familial bond” between herself and the little fox, she didn’t wish to bring it into the open.

To speak of it would mean taking a step forward, and they would inevitably form more ties.

But once those ties multiplied, she would resist parting even more.

At this moment, Fu Anyu actually felt somewhat unable to meet Ming Ying’s gaze.

She also began to regret it, regretting that she hadn’t kept her emotions in check. The little fox was now like a cat that had caught the scent of fish; seizing the slightest opportunity, she immediately pinned her down and sniffed her carefully, determined to confirm that she was the prey she wanted.

“Ming Ying,” Fu Anyu finally spoke, “I promise you.”

Ming Ying, who had been so angry that her mind had wandered, was startled by these words and blurted out, “Wh-what did you promise?”

Fu Anyu didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped forward and reached out to grasp the snow-white tail that the little fox was holding in her arms.

A tingling, electric sensation instantly overwhelmed Ming Ying. She stared wide-eyed at Fu Anyu, wanting to speak, but the strange feeling that surged after her tail was stroked disrupted her ability to form words. All she could manage were simple, indistinct sounds like “Mm” and “Wu.”

They had already moved to a spot far from the door, surrounded by jasmine trees as tall as a person. At this time, Du Yunxin wouldn’t come to the backyard.

Ming Ying never expected that Fu Anyu, after coming to her senses, would bully her just like in her dreams. The silent, cold beauty slipped her fingers into the fox fur, twisting and stroking it, occasionally using her nails to lightly trace the roots of the fur.

Fu Anyu’s initiative left Ming Ying utterly defenseless. She could barely stand steady and had to lean against Fu Anyu, tightly covering her mouth, afraid that she might let out sounds too embarrassing, which would make Fu Anyu too self-conscious to continue stroking her tail.

She realized that having Fu Anyu stroke her tail was truly addictive. Even though her entire body felt uncomfortable, she didn’t want her to stop.

Moreover, Fu Anyu had only stroked one of her tails. Her other three tails drooped listlessly beside them, either stretching out or curling back under her skirt as her sensations shifted.

Ming Ying was drenched in sweat, one hand covering her mouth, the other clutching Fu Anyu’s clothes. When Fu Anyu finally withdrew her hand, Ming Ying felt her own clothes sticking damply to her skin, and the part of Fu Anyu’s clothes she had grabbed was crumpled beyond recognition.

To make matters worse, Fu Anyu lowered her head, lifted Ming Ying’s folded fox ears, and leaned in close to ask, “Do you still want me to stroke your tail?”

Ming Ying trembled. When she opened her mouth to respond, she realized her voice was choked, and her vision had blurred.

She was crying, though she didn’t know why, whether it was because she felt too overwhelmed or because her wish had been granted, bringing tears of joy.

Afraid that Fu Anyu would see her tears, she immediately buried her face in Fu Anyu’s chest and said in a muffled but resolute voice, “Yes.”

She could hear Fu Anyu’s heartbeat racing, so fast that it seemed as if she had just sprinted from a great distance. The next moment, Ming Ying was pulled into Fu Anyu’s embrace, held tightly.

“You, don’t hug me so tightly.” Ming Ying stammered, “I’m all sweaty and dirty, you,”

“If you’re dirty, then go take a bath,” Fu Anyu said. “Didn’t you even prepare the flower petals?”

Ming Ying’s heart skipped a beat, and this time she quickly understood what Fu Anyu meant.

“I’ll go get the petals right now!” she exclaimed, turning to run back into the house. But after taking only a few steps, her tail was tugged.

Startled, she turned around, thinking Fu Anyu had playfully grabbed her tail. To her surprise, she found that her own tail had wrapped itself around Fu Anyu, though she had no idea when it had happened.

Ming Ying withdrew her tail in embarrassment and annoyance, returning to the dining room. When she went to retrieve the flower petals stored in a cool place, she gave her troublesome tail a hard tug.

Serves you right for being so unruly!

Carrying the freshly washed petals, Ming Ying went upstairs and headed straight for Fu Anyu’s bedroom.

The curtains in the bedroom were already drawn, and the bathroom connected to the bedroom was lit. Fu Anyu was inside, tidying up the bottles and jars arranged around the bathtub.

Ming Ying was no stranger to this bathtub, but tonight would be the first time she would bathe in it in her human form.

Before she had taken human form, Fu Anyu would fill the tub with warm water, place her inside, and let her splash around freely.

The bathtub was already filled with water. Ming Ying reached out to test the temperature and, finding it just right, scattered the jasmine petals into the water.

The snow-white petals, preserved by wood-element spiritual power, quickly turned brown upon touching the water. The fragrance of jasmine spread throughout the bathroom along with the steam.

Fu Anyu brought two bathrobes and two towels, hanging them in the wardrobe near the bathtub.

Afraid the little fox might feel shy, she arranged all the bathing supplies, drew the bathtub curtain, and undressed to step into the water first.

Ming Ying set down the basin and stood outside the bathtub curtain, feeling a bit dazed.

Although she knew they were merely bathing together, for some reason, the novel scenes she had mostly skipped over before now resurfaced in her memory. Recalling Fu Anyu’s actions in the backyard earlier, she suddenly felt a little afraid, afraid that Fu Anyu might take the opportunity to do something to her.

But as soon as this thought arose, another voice in her mind immediately suppressed it: What’s there to be afraid of? If Fu Anyu really dares, I have the ability to drain her spiritual power and render her immobile.

Ming Ying was startled by her own conflicting thoughts. In human terms, she hadn’t expected herself to be so bold as to even entertain such ideas.

Even if they liked each other, their relationship needed to progress step by step.

Especially for someone as reserved as Fu Anyu, if she rushed things, it would only backfire. While it might not lead to outright disgust, Fu Anyu would surely think she was too forward and might even become wary of her in the future.

While telling herself not to be impatient, Ming Ying untied her hair ribbon, neatly arranged her clothes, and stepped barefoot onto the cool, dry floor. She pulled open the bathtub curtain, closed her eyes, and stepped inside.

Once she sat down in the bathtub, she realized the water was already up to Fu Anyu’s shoulders. With the petals obscuring the view, there was no way to see the parts that would make her blush with shyness.

After she settled in, Fu Anyu drew the bathtub curtain closed.

They sat in silence within the small bathtub space for a while before Fu Anyu asked proactively, “Should I scrub your back for you?”

These past few days, Ming Ying had only been wiping herself down instead of bathing properly. Having someone help scrub her body was something she would gladly welcome, especially since it was Fu Anyu. A little more physical contact would bring them closer.

That was what Ming Ying thought in her heart, but what came out of her mouth was, “No need.”

She knew very well that she was being stubborn with Fu Anyu again. But if she didn’t act this way, she wouldn’t feel satisfied.

Since Fu Anyu had rejected her proactive goodwill, she would return the favor by rejecting her once.

Faced with the little fox’s immediate refusal, Fu Anyu more or less guessed what was on her mind.

Of course, she wouldn’t get angry with such a childish creature. With a faint smile, she glanced at the four fox tails, now damp and dotted with petals, and asked Ming Ying, “What about your tails? Do they need washing too?”

Ming Ying hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to let her touch her tails. After a brief pause, she turned her back and, this time, declared with full confidence, “Yes, they do.”