Wagging My Tail in the Ice Queen CEO’s Embrace - Chapter 71

Fu Anyu lowered her head to look at the fox tail wrapped around her.

It was Ming Ying’s first tail. Even if Ming Ying exhausted her spiritual power and reverted to her true form, this tail would not disappear.

Fu Anyu recalled that the little fox had mentioned before her bath last night that a tail actively wrapping around someone was equivalent to her wanting to cling to that person. When she looked at the tail again, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation, reaching out to stroke it.

The tail was sensitive, and Ming Ying quickly woke up from the stroking, turning over and opening her bleary eyes, staring at her in astonishment.

“You’re clinging to me,” Fu Anyu said, pressing down on the offending tail that was trying to retreat.

Seeing where the tail was wrapped, Ming Ying was instantly jolted awake. Just as she was about to apologize, she noticed that her other three tails had also stretched over to Fu Anyu’s side, crowding the other’s blanket completely.

“Give me an explanation,” Fu Anyu said sternly.

Ming Ying: “…”

It was the tail that acted first! She truly had no idea!!

Ming Ying felt like crying but had no tears. She had slept too soundly last night, not even dreaming.

She could only droop her fox ears, attempting to lie her way out of it. “I had a strange dream.”

Fu Anyu nodded. “Mm, tell me about it.”

“I dreamed you woke up, and the first thing you said was that you were running away from home. Then you walked downstairs in your pajamas and slippers,” Ming Ying began fabricating. “Xiao Chen even said the car was ready, and President Fu could leave anytime.”

Fu Anyu waited quietly and attentively for her to continue.

“I checked the clock and saw there wasn’t much time left before work, but you insisted on leaving,” Ming Ying forced herself to keep spinning the tale. “Xiao Du couldn’t stop you, so I stretched out my tail to wrap around you.”

She was grateful she had been reading a lot of novels lately, which had improved her storytelling skills. After finishing, she even reminded Fu Anyu, “That’s all.”

Fu Anyu pondered for a moment before commenting, “That’s quite an interesting dream.”

Feeling Fu Anyu’s grip loosen, Ming Ying quickly retracted all her tails, obediently tucking them back under her own blanket, inwardly unable to believe it.

Had she actually managed to fool Fu Anyu? Was it really that easy?

It was still early, but Fu Anyu was accustomed to arriving at the company ahead of time. After bidding Ming Ying farewell, she took her pillow, blanket, and phone back to her bedroom to freshen up before heading to work.

As soon as the guest room door closed, Ming Ying threw off her blanket, gathered all her tails, and began punishing them one by one.

Why hadn’t she realized before that her tails could be so mischievous?

Sleep was out of the question now. Ming Ying opened her phone, pulled up the document where she was writing her summary, spent some time restoring the content she had cut out the previous night, reviewed it, then picked up her tablet to continue watching animations and learning about love.

She kept watching until 8 a.m., saved the document, and then plugged in her phone and tablet to charge before heading downstairs for breakfast.

Du Yunxin was mopping the floor, so Ming Ying helped herself to a meat bun from the steamer, ladled a bowl of century egg and lean pork congee, and sat down to enjoy her meal.

“Last night, I got too absorbed in watching animations and got caught by Sister,” she said between bites to Du Yunxin.

Du Yunxin let out an exclamation. “Did President Fu say anything?”

Ming Ying puffed out her cheeks, thinking carefully. “Not really. But afterward, she brought her blanket and pillow over and slept with me.”

“Huh?” Du Yunxin was so shocked she nearly dropped the mop. “Little Fox, are we talking about the same President Fu here?”

“I’m not lying!” Ming Ying said innocently. “If you don’t believe me, you can go smell my bed, the scent of my sister is still quite noticeable.”

She quickly finished the meat bun and drank some porridge before recounting what had happened the previous night.

“Romance animations are really helpful!” Du Yunxin gave her a thumbs up, though the praise wasn’t directed at her.

“Aren’t you going to praise me for being brave?” Ming Ying sounded a little disappointed. “I really wouldn’t have dared to invite my sister before.”

“Praise what? You just slept together normally, with separate blankets, and nothing happened.” Du Yunxin shook her head and continued mopping the floor.

“Nothing did happen last night, but it wasn’t because I didn’t dare, I just felt it would be disrespectful to my sister,” Ming Ying explained. After a moment’s thought, she added, “But when I woke up, for some reason, my tail was wrapped around my sister. She woke me up by stroking it.”

Du Yunxin: ???

“You really are bold!” she exclaimed. “I remember President Fu has a bit of a temper when she wakes up. She didn’t pull your fur out?!”

“Nope.” Ming Ying proudly held up her four intact tails. “I told her I had a strange dream, and she believed me.”

“She was just humoring you!” Du Yunxin laughed. “Even I wouldn’t bother pretending to believe such a flimsy lie.”

Ming Ying was stunned. Recalling Fu Anyu’s reaction after hearing about the “dream” that morning, it did seem like she hadn’t truly believed it. Still, Ming Ying insisted confidently, “If she had the mood to humor me, it means she wasn’t angry.”

“That’s true.” Du Yunxin put the mop into the bucket. “By the way, have you considered watching TV dramas to learn about romance? Some sweet romantic shows are quite well-made. If you miss any details, we can discuss them. Plus, since dramas are acted by real people, they’re a bit closer to reality than animations. They might also help you visualize scenes from novels.”

Ming Ying was more than eager to find more romance tutorials and quickly nodded in agreement.

So, when Fu Anyu returned at noon, the first thing she saw upon entering was Ming Ying and Du Yunxin sitting on either side of the sofa, completely engrossed in a newly released urban romance drama playing on the TV.

Ming Ying was fully immersed in the plot, while Du Yunxin immediately stood up upon hearing the door open and casually asked, “President Fu, you’re back. What would you like for lunch?”

“Shrimp fried rice, with extra seaweed,” Fu Anyu replied. “Didn’t you see my message?”

“I did, I did! I’ll bring it right out!” Du Yunxin had prepared the fried rice as soon as she received the message and hurried off to the kitchen.

Only after she left did Ming Ying belatedly greet Fu Anyu. “Good afternoon, President Fu.”

“Call me sister.” Fu Anyu ruffled her head and sat down beside her, crossing her arms as she started watching the drama.

She didn’t find it odd that the little fox was watching a romance drama. After all, the animations she had picked for the little fox were all romance-themed, mainly because such works were light and easy to watch. The more the little fox watched, the happier she would be, and she wouldn’t constantly worry about whether she could return home safely.

Ming Ying, however, felt extremely uneasy. Just ten minutes ago, she had been excitedly discussing with Du Yunxin which flirting techniques could be safely used on Fu Anyu.

But now, with Fu Anyu sitting right beside her, she suddenly felt too timid to try any of them.

Du Yunxin soon returned with lunch, setting the fried rice and accompanying soup in front of the human and the fox.

“Ming Ying said she wanted to try some too, so I made two portions,” she explained to Fu Anyu as she distributed the utensils.

Ming Ying’s bowl was still an extra-large portion of fried rice. She dug in directly with a large spoon, repeatedly praising Du Yunxin’s cooking skills.

Fu Anyu silently ate half her bowl. When Du Yunxin went to clean up the kitchen, she abruptly asked Ming Ying, “Did you gather spiritual energy today?”

Ming Ying choked on her soup, inexplicably feeling as if she were a young student being asked by her tutor, “Did you memorize your lessons today?”

She honestly admitted she hadn’t, and immediately felt the temperature around her drop.

“Training should not be neglected,” Fu Anyu said softly. “Don’t you want to restore your nine-tailed form sooner?”

Ming Ying had wanted to since the day she arrived, but now more important matters had captured her attention. Immersed in them, she had unconsciously set aside her cultivation.

“I’ll gather spiritual energy this afternoon!” she hurriedly assured Fu Anyu.

“Tonight, or tomorrow,” Fu Anyu said instead. “This afternoon, I’m taking you to Zhuqing Taoist Temple.”

“Why are we going to the temple?!” Ming Ying widened her eyes. She was still a bit afraid of meeting Hu Xiuliu.

“To have Hu Xiuliu use you as a medium for another location spell,” Fu Anyu explained. “I’m worried his previous attempt was inaccurate.”

Yesterday, Hu Xiuliu had used the residual aura Ming Ying left behind as a medium for the spell, something Fu Anyu hadn’t told Ming Ying. If using Ming Ying herself as the medium still pointed to Linlan Manor, it would confirm that the entrance to the demon realm was indeed somewhere within the manor.

Ming Ying didn’t quite understand the principles of the location spell, but she obediently nodded. “Then I’ll eat quickly so we can go early and come back early. You still have work to do!”

She had long ago asked Xiao Du for Fu Anyu’s schedule and roughly knew her work and rest times.

Fu Anyu hadn’t expected her to say such a thing. Recalling the little fox’s serious mention of a “dream” that morning, she couldn’t help but curl her lips slightly.

At exactly twelve o’clock, Ming Ying and the others arrived at Zhuqing Taoist Temple.

The black cat Li Lingmao, still with a low ponytail, was sweeping the entrance, while Hu Xiuliu, now dressed in Taoist robes, sat in the courtyard drinking tea.

Over a dozen incense sticks still burned in the incense burner, indicating that many worshippers had visited that day.

Fu Anyu led Ming Ying inside. Seeing this leisurely and peaceful scene, she remained expressionless and urged Hu Xiuliu, “When are we starting?”

“Don’t rush, the time hasn’t come yet.” Hu Xiuliu said unhurriedly, pouring two cups of tea for them. He looked up and saw Chen Yanxue entering the temple as well, so he prepared a third cup.

“At least prepare the ritual tools,” Fu Anyu said coldly, dissatisfied with his casual attitude.

“The cat will bring them over once he finishes sweeping.” Hu Xiuliu replied, taking a sip of tea. He lightly tapped his cup on the table, and a magic circle appeared beneath his feet, covering half the courtyard.

Ming Ying, however, began to feel uncomfortable, her breathing growing labored. She couldn’t help but fearfully clutch Fu Anyu’s sleeve.

Hu Xiuliu naturally noticed her discomfort and said to Fu Anyu, “You should think carefully. Using a living being as a medium is accurate, but when the spell activates, your little fox will suffer.”

“After speaking, he picked up his teacup, and the magic circle on the ground instantly vanished. “You see, I just formed the circle without placing any magical tools, and she already couldn’t bear it.”

“Can’t I enter the circle and share the burden with her?” Fu Anyu frowned as she asked.

“That would use both of you as mediums, and the positioning would definitely be inaccurate,” Hu Xiuliu explained. ‘I originally planned to tell you about the side effects over WeChat, but I felt the little fox’s determination to return home was quite strong, so I let her come and experience it herself before making a decision.’

Fu Anyu’s frown deepened. “Since it makes Ming Ying uncomfortable, then…”

“It’s alright, I can endure it.” Ming Ying suddenly spoke up, looking at Fu Anyu with a pleading expression. “Let me try, sister!”