Wagging My Tail in the Ice Queen CEO’s Embrace - Chapter 87

Ming Ying didn’t hear any sound at all.

But she believed the woman in green must have heard it.

The woman who called herself “Lan Ting” was still murmuring to herself, the chains wrapped around her body slowly moving with her words, like a friendly metal snake.

Ming Ying felt a little afraid. It was the first time she had learned that there existed a magical artifact in this world capable of turning a living person into cold metal.

“This is my dearest friend, Rong Linxiao, once a demon hunter of the human race.” Sensing her gaze, Lan Ting stroked the chains and introduced them to Ming Ying. “While I was in slumber, I could always hear Linxiao’s voice and sense her presence. I thought… I truly thought she was still alive.”

She paused and sighed softly.

Ming Ying nodded. “I heard about your story from Elder Rong’s younger sister. She even renamed the villa ‘Linlan’ in memory of you both.”

“Is that so?” Lan Ting merely smiled faintly. “If she truly cared to remember us, why would she invite outsiders to take us away?”

“Ah…” Hearing the sharpness in her words, Ming Ying felt her earlier suspicions about Elder Rong might have been correct.

If Elder Rong had truly cared about her deceased sister and her sister’s closest friend, she would never have turned the villa into a tourist attraction.

“Never mind. If Linxiao were still alive, she wouldn’t hold it against that girl.” Lan Ting looked at the chains, which coiled around her wrist once. “Now, tell me, how do the humans of today plan to deal with me?”

Ming Ying remembered that Lan Ting was also a time traveler from ancient times and, by race, a great demon. After careful consideration, she relayed the two options Fu Anyu had told her.

Upon hearing them, Lan Ting replied without hesitation, “The only demon hunter who could form a Soul-Body Contract with me was Linxiao.”

“Senior, you mean, you choose to wear the Spirit-Binding Ring for life?!” Ming Ying was shocked.

Lan Ting nodded, transforming into her true form as a flood dragon. Her massive head gently touched one end of the chains.

“That artifact is a forbidden relic of the Rong family, it can turn people into objects, but the process is irreversible. Now that Linxiao can no longer return to human form, even if I can transform and speak, it’s meaningless.” Her voice softened. “I must stay with her.”

When Ming Ying woke from this dream, she instinctively called for Fu Anyu, wanting her to check on the flood dragon’s condition.

But there was no response. She opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar room, sunlight filtering through the curtains. Only Du Yunxin sat on a nearby couch, dozing off with her eyes closed.

Ming Ying checked her surroundings warily, relieved to confirm she wasn’t in a hospital ward. She got out of bed and shook Du Yunxin awake.

Du Yunxin was a light sleeper. A few gentle shakes later, she mumbled, “President Fu…” before opening her eyes and seeing Ming Ying. Immediately, she blurted, “Wait here!” Without waiting for Ming Ying to ask, she dashed out the door, shouting as she ran, “President Fu! The little fox is awake!”

Ming Ying: “?”

Xiao Du’s reaction gave her the strange illusion that she had been in a car accident and had been unconscious for days.

Without Fu Anyu around, Ming Ying felt uneasy. She returned to the bedside, found her phone intact, and tucked it into her pocket. Just as she was about to go look for Fu Anyu, the door curtain was pulled aside, and Fu Anyu walked in.

Their eyes met, and Ming Ying instinctively asked, “How long was I asleep?”

“Less than eight hours.” Fu Anyu replied. “How do you feel?”

Ming Ying couldn’t answer immediately. She closed her eyes to sense her condition and found that the spiritual energy she had used to contain Lan Ting had been returned, and her strength had mostly recovered. She opened her eyes, nodded, then spread her arms to hug Fu Anyu, pouting as she asked, “Why didn’t you sleep with me?”

The faint scent of jasmine filled her nose, bringing her comfort.

She heard Fu Anyu chuckle softly. “I just finished my work. I’m here to stay with you now.”

Ming Ying knew that Shengwei Group’s team-building event was still ongoing today. Fu Anyu had never attended in previous years, preferring to rest at home, so her absence wasn’t an issue. She then asked, “Were you busy with Senior Flood Dragon’s matter?”

“Mm. She’s been settled in the deep pool at the back mountain. I’ll take you to see them later.” Fu Anyu took her hand and led her out. “Let’s eat first.”

“Last night, I dreamed of Senior Flood Dragon,” Ming Ying said as they walked. “She said… she chose to wear the Spirit-Binding Ring because Senior Rong Linxiao can’t return to human form. She wants to stay with her.”

Fu Anyu acknowledged with a hum, seemingly unsurprised by this outcome.

Ming Ying blinked in confusion. “Did Senior Flood Dragon mention this to you all?”

“She hasn’t woken up yet,” Fu Anyu answered. “Hu Xiuliu is working on freeing her from the artifact’s restraints. We should be able to speak with her by noon.”

Du Yunxin had been keeping Ming Ying company and hadn’t cooked. Breakfast today was takeout for everyone.

Used to Du Yunxin’s homemade meals, Ming Ying found the congee lacking as she scooped it with a plastic spoon.

At this hour, Fu Anyu would normally have already eaten breakfast. Yet, she sat beside Ming Ying now, leisurely eating a bowl of wontons.

Ming Ying suspected she had waited for her to wake up so they could eat together, but she had no proof.

Halfway through the meal, she asked, “Are we still going to the villa?”

Truthfully, she hadn’t had her fill of fun yesterday. The promised hot springs and swimming were canceled, and even sharing a bed at the homestay was disrupted by the flood dragon incident.

Despite the successful rescue, Ming Ying felt listless.

“If you’d like, we can visit another villa after this matter is settled,” Fu Anyu said.

Ming Ying nodded absentmindedly, finishing her congee before hesitantly asking, “Can I visit the hospital today to see,”

“No.” Fu Anyu shook her head. “Lady Su still needs rest.”

“But I’m worried about how Third Sister will stay behind.” Ming Ying grew anxious. “She can’t really marry Dr. He, can she? Third Sister isn’t like me, I can accept same-sex relationships, but she seems averse to them.”

Even when she saw the chat logs, Ming Ying had thought, “At least it’s better than a Soul-Body Contract.” But considering Dr. He’s outgoing and overly familiar personality, she felt it wouldn’t be fair to Third Sister. And, her usually serious and composed Third Sister might not accept it either.

“Lady Su is an adult fox now,” Fu Anyu reminded her. “Since she’s decided to stay long-term, these matters should be left to her.”

Ming Ying supposed that was true. Her ears drooped as she handed Fu Anyu the last soup dumpling, forcibly changing the subject. “These dumplings are pretty good. Try one.”

Fu Anyu accepted the bite, chewing slowly while watching her.

Ming Ying grew flustered under her gaze. Wanting to ease the awkwardness, she reached for more food, only to realize she had already finished her portion. Left holding her chopsticks and spoon, she hesitated.

The next moment, Fu Anyu pushed half a bowl of steaming wontons toward her.

“If you’re still hungry, have this,” Fu Anyu said.

Ming Ying thanked her and mechanically scooped up a wonton.

The dining area was empty except for the two of them. Wondering if she should say something, Ming Ying couldn’t think of anything and silently continued eating.

As she neared the end, she finally spoke. “What’s the plan for today?”

It was Saturday. Normally, she would spend the day gathering spiritual energy, reading novels, watching dramas, or studying romance through animations.

Oh, and now there was also sketching. She remembered Fu Anyu saying that if she was interested, she could arrange one-on-one lessons for her.

“Xiao Du and Xiao Chen will return,” Fu Anyu said. “I have no plans. It’s up to you.”

Ming Ying had lost count of how many times Fu Anyu had said “it’s up to you” since her confession. It seemed that after she confessed, Fu Anyu often left decisions to her instead of making them unilaterally.

After some thought, she asked, “Then, after we settle Senior Flood Dragon’s matter, can you hold my hand and take me for a walk outside?”

She couldn’t recall ever strolling outside in human form with Fu Anyu. The few times she had gone out, she had been carried in fox form.

She remembered that in every story she’d read, couples always had a shopping or walking scene. Though she wasn’t sure if it was just a trope, she wanted to experience it too.

And, incidentally, confirm whether walking around openly in human form would draw the attention of the Management Bureau.

Ming Ying realized her thoughts had grown more complex. Before, she had only wanted to stay by Fu Anyu’s side. Now, she also considered whether staying together could bring them both peace.

Her identity as a great demon was indeed an unstable factor. If only the human world could change its rules…

“Alright.”

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Fu Anyu agreed. “But you must conceal all traces of your demon form, including your demon eyes.”

Demon eyes referred to their pupils, which differed from humans’ and were easily recognizable.

Ming Ying had nearly grown accustomed to going out in full human form. Since her transformation was stable, she nodded without hesitation. Sipping the wonton broth, a question suddenly occurred to her.

Why did demons have to conceal their true forms when outside?

Was it because the authorities wanted demons to assimilate into human society, making humans forget that demons existed?

She couldn’t help but voice these questions to Fu Anyu.

“Your guess isn’t wrong,” Fu Anyu said. “This is an era of peace. Humans and demons have reached a temporary harmony, in fact, demon hunters aren’t even necessary anymore. But if too many humans knew demons lived among them, their worldviews would be shaken, and social order would be disrupted.”

“So… the authorities want most humans to forget about demons?” Ming Ying ventured. “As if demons never existed, or as if they’ve all returned to the demon realm?”

When Fu Anyu nodded, Ming Ying fell silent, staring at the seaweed floating in her soup.

“I was thinking,” she said after a long pause, “if many humans entered the demon realm, and one day the portal to the human world suddenly vanished, what would happen to those left behind? Would they be treated as invaders, or would they be accepted?”