"I'm sorry for troubling Master Chu today. It's late, so I won't disturb you any longer. I'll come to apologize tomorrow morning."
Guan Xu Xu decided to go back and take care of the little fox.
She would definitely make sure that the big boss saw a clean and tidy Hu Piaopiao tomorrow.
Chu Beihe looked at her earnest expression. His face still held little emotion, and he merely nodded lightly before instructing the butler beside him.
"Send Miss Jiang home."
The butler nodded and politely escorted Guan Xu Xu out. Even though they were in the same neighborhood, he kindly arranged for a patrol car to drive her and her little fox all the way to the Jiang family gate.
Upon hearing the news, the butler was left dumbfounded.
He didn't even know when Miss Jiang had gone out!
And... was that a fox in her arms?
"Miss, this is..."
After sending off Chu Beihe's bodyguards, the butler hesitated, not knowing whether to ask about the fox or Guan Xu Xu's sudden departure. He also noticed that she was dressed lightly, so he quickly ushered her inside.
As soon as they entered, they saw Jiang Huai standing at the foot of the stairs, clearly waiting for her.
Meanwhile, Jiang Su was peeking from the corner on the second-floor landing, looking like he was ready to watch a show.
The moment Guan Xu Xu entered, Jiang Su noticed the little fox in her arms and couldn't help but lower his voice, pointing at her and questioning,
"What is that thing in your arms? We don't allow pets with fur in the house!"
Guan Xu Xu glanced at the ever-present troublemaker and replied seriously,
"If pets with fur aren't allowed, then how come you're here?"
Jiang Su froze, looking utterly confused, while Jiang Huai, standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle.
Jiang Su, realizing what was happening, flushed with embarrassment and was about to blow up when—
"It's late. Grandpa and the others should be asleep by now," Guan Xu Xu said lightly, instantly defusing his anger.
Although he was reckless, Jiang Su knew well enough when to pick his battles.
No loud noises after dark—that was the Jiang family rule.
And Grandpa, being elderly, needed to rest early for his health.
So even though he was seething, Jiang Su could only suppress his rage and, huffing angrily, turned and headed upstairs, tiptoeing to avoid waking anyone.
Guan Xu Xu watched as Jiang Su left before turning to look at Jiang Huai, her earlier sharp demeanor gone.
She gently cradled the little fox in her arms, pursing her lips.
"This is the pet fox I raised. It knew I had moved, so it came to find me."
After a brief pause, she added,
"I rented a place for it outside. It'll stay here tonight, and I'll send it away first thing tomorrow."
The implication was clear—she didn't want to cause trouble for the family.
Jiang Huai listened, but his heart stung.
The little fox was clearly one she had raised before, yet it had always been kept elsewhere. That must have been because the Guan family didn't allow her to keep it.
Now that she was finally back in her own home, she didn't even think of keeping it by her side.
Seeing her cautious demeanor, Jiang Huai's heart ached. The more he thought about it, the more his anger toward the Guan family grew.
His sister, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family—his own flesh and blood—should have been pampered from a young age, able to have whatever she wanted. Yet here she was, so beaten down by the Guan family that she didn't dare even mention having a pet.
"This is your home. You can keep whatever you want here," Jiang Huai said, pushing down his feelings of frustration. He walked over, his handsome face breaking into a gentle, refined smile. His voice was warm and reassuring.
Guan Xu Xu was visibly taken aback.
"But Jiang Su said... no pets with fur allowed..."
"You just said it yourself—if he's allowed to be here, then why can't your fox?" Jiang Huai raised an eyebrow with a smile, playfully echoing Guan Xu Xu's earlier words as he lightly tapped the little fox's head, his gesture elegant and intimate.
When Guan Xu Xu continued to stare at him in silence, Jiang Huai gave her a gentle smile, his peach blossom eyes sparkling with certainty.
"Don't worry. Your brother is here."
His words seemed to sweep through her heart like a warm current, a familiar subtle feeling washing over her.
Guan Xu Xu opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to say thank you, but then she remembered his earlier words: "For your brother, no need to say thank you."
She swallowed the words, instead nodding obediently.
"Okay."
With the little fox in her arms, she made her way upstairs, and as she closed the door to her room, she suddenly realized she had been smiling faintly.
Looking down, she saw the little fox still staring at her, its eyes full of curiosity.
Guan Xu Xu quickly wiped the smile from her face, straightened up, and asked sternly,
"Didn't we agree that you weren't supposed to run around? You almost got electrocuted into a crispy fox tonight. Do you know that?"
The little fox seemed to understand her words. It jumped off her lap, did an innocent little spin, and then pointed to the backpack on its back.
Its actions seemed to say: "You moved, I came to find you. No problem."
Guan Xu Xu snorted lightly and bent down to take off its backpack. When she saw what was inside, she couldn't help but smile.
In the backpack was a can of food for the little fox, as well as some of her cinnabar yellow talisman paper and small tools.
After her accident, she had stayed in the hospital for three days. Though she had arranged for someone to care for the fox, the little guy must have been worried that she didn't have any "supplies."
As a reward, Guan Xu Xu gently patted the little fox's head before putting the items away.
Since she had started learning the ways of magic with her master, she had rented a small place outside. Not only did she want to keep her practice secret from the Guan family, but she also needed a place for her things.
When Bai Shuqin had kicked her out, she hadn't taken any luggage.
Because all the important things weren't with the Guan family.
Originally, she planned to go back and check on the little fox once she got settled. She didn't expect it to chase after her so eagerly.
Though it had gotten the address wrong.
Even though it was already late, Guan Xu Xu took the little fox into the bathroom of the room and cleaned it up from head to tail before hugging it back into bed.
Perhaps it was because the night had been so eventful.
The next morning, Guan Xu Xu woke up late, feeling a little disoriented as she looked around her new, dreamy pink room. It took her a while to adjust before she finally remembered.
This was her new room.
As she tried to adjust to the pink, princess-style room, she suddenly heard a loud scream from downstairs.
"Ah! A fox!!... Butler, come quickly!"
Then another voice joined in, "Where did this wild fox come from?!... Hurry up, catch it!"
Guan Xu Xu immediately snapped awake, sitting up in bed with a start. She looked around the empty room, but when she heard the shrill cries from downstairs, her face changed instantly.
Hu Piaopiao!!!