Lian Muxiu noticed the faint silver glow on Xiao Jiu's tail, as if tiny stars were twinkling. The light was so subtle that if he hadn’t been watching her so intently, he might have missed it.

  Xiao Jiu seemed to sense the discomfort, her body shifting restlessly in Lian Muxiu's arms, but her eyes remained closed.

  Could it be Xiao Jiu?

  Lian Muxiu stared at Xiao Jiu, lost in thought.

  Xiao Jiu's unease grew, and her movements became more pronounced. Lian Muxiu finally released his hold on her, allowing her to move freely.

  Xiao Jiu, who had been resting in Lian Muxiu's arms, now sprawled across his entire lap. Her large tail, sensing her agitation, swept around her, circling her body. Then, silver light enveloped her entire form, lifting her off the ground to hover at eye level with Lian Muxiu.

  Lian Muxiu thought to himself, what he was about to witness could very well be something he had never seen before.

  Sure enough, Xiao Jiu’s body began to change. The silver-white fur became even brighter, with each hair meticulously aligned across her body. Lian Muxiu could almost count the individual strands with his eyes.

  Then, her tail—starting at the tip—began to separate, the silver glow spreading inward. It was as though Xiao Jiu's tail was being divided in two.

  Two tails?

  Lian Muxiu raised an eyebrow. Could it be that Xiao Jiu’s uniqueness lay in her having two tails instead of one, unlike ordinary foxes?

  The silver glow gradually faded, and Xiao Jiu’s tail returned to its normal form. Just as Lian Muxiu thought her transformation had ended, Xiao Jiu's body suddenly expanded, growing several times larger. Lian Muxiu instinctively raised his hands, about to act, but Xiao Jiu quickly returned to her original size and gently landed back onto his lap.

  Lian Muxiu relaxed his hands and began to gently stroke her freshly brightened fur. As he continued, his hand moved to her tail.

  Xiao Jiu, still half-asleep, felt someone touching her tail. She shifted slightly, but as soon as she recognized the familiar scent of Lian Muxiu, she stopped resisting. She knew he would never harm her.

  Lian Muxiu smiled at Xiao Jiu’s response. He was relieved to see that she could recognize his presence even in her sleep. He had no intention of letting her down and decided that when they returned, he would prepare more treats for her.

  He held her tail, examining it carefully. At first glance, there didn’t seem to be any difference. But after looking more closely, he saw that the tip of her tail had indeed split into two. Her tail was so fluffy and soft that it appeared as one unless observed closely.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Lian Muxiu gathered her tail back together, gently shaking it to return it to its normal form. Once it looked perfectly fine again, he let go and continued to watch over her.

  Outside Tai Bai Restaurant, Ying San had been waiting for a while. When he saw Lian Muxiu emerge, he hurried over, "Master, shall we head directly back to the estate?"

  "Let’s go back," Lian Muxiu replied.

  "Yes."

  Ying San lifted the carriage curtain and helped Lian Muxiu inside. Lian Muxiu patted Xiao Jiu, "Xiao Jiu, be good, it’s time to return to the National Master’s estate."

  "Chi chi, chi chi chi." Xiao Jiu shook her little rear end and wagged her tail, refusing to come down. She gripped Lian Muxiu’s collar tightly, not letting go.

  Ying San found it strange, "Master, what’s going on with this little fox... no, this little ancestor?"

  Ying San let slip calling Xiao Jiu a little fox, and Lian Muxiu shot him a sharp look. "You dare call her a little fox?" he muttered, causing Ying San to quickly correct himself. It was clear that this little fox was highly regarded, and he, like everyone else, had to lower his head in her presence.

  "Xiao Jiu, if you don’t come down, I’ll get on the carriage first. Be careful not to bump into anything."

  "Chi chi."

  Lian Muxiu felt Xiao Jiu nodding her head against his neck, knowing she would be careful. He stepped onto the small stool while protecting her head with his hand.

  Ying San, observing how cautiously Lian Muxiu treated Xiao Jiu, was puzzled. "Isn’t she just a fox with some intelligence? Why is the master being so cautious?"

  "Master, why is this little fox... no, this little ancestor staying on your shoulder and not getting up?" Ying San asked curiously before pulling down the curtain.

  Lian Muxiu had already settled in the carriage. Hearing Ying San’s question, he smiled softly. "Xiao Jiu, look, Ying San is curious about why you're not getting up. If you don’t come down, I’ll tell him."

  Xiao Jiu grumbled softly and, when Lian Muxiu glanced at her, she saw her big eyes were closed, her face relaxed and comfortable as she had fallen asleep.

  Lian Muxiu smiled, and silently mouthed to Ying San, "Xiao Jiu is shy."

  Ying San, who had learned lip reading, immediately understood. His eyes widened in shock, staring at the sleeping Xiao Jiu, his mind racing. This little ancestor? Shy? Did she even know what being shy was? Wait a minute, why is she shy all of a sudden? What happened?

  Seeing Ying San holding the curtain and standing still, Lian Muxiu, with one hand holding Xiao Jiu, grabbed a piece of pastry from the plate and tossed it at Ying San’s head.

  Ying San, caught off guard, instinctively hissed and then quickly covered his mouth, glancing at Lian Muxiu. Seeing that Lian Muxiu wasn’t angry, he awkwardly dropped the curtain and went to sit at the driver’s seat, driving the carriage out of Tai Bai Restaurant.

  On the road, Lian Muxiu, concerned that Xiao Jiu might be uncomfortable, gently shifted her from his shoulder into his arms. Xiao Jiu opened her eyes and looked at him with a dazed expression, making Lian Muxiu’s heart melt.

  "Sleep well, we’ll be home soon."

  Lian Muxiu’s voice was soft and filled with unique tenderness. Xiao Jiu obediently closed her eyes, smelling the refreshing mint scent from Lian Muxiu’s clothes, and drifted back to sleep.

  Xiao Jiu was very quiet when she slept. Every time she did, her long, large tail would naturally curl under her head, serving as both a pillow and a blanket, killing two birds with one stone.

  Lian Muxiu watched her sleep, thinking to himself that he could just watch her forever, with no need to do anything. With Xiao Jiu by his side, all his troubles seemed insignificant.

  As Lian Muxiu stared at Xiao Jiu, her tail moved slightly.