"Why wouldn't she let me turn around? Why was her background so bizarre? Why was she always afraid I would despise her? Why did Ruan Hongling call her a siren?"

Li Yundong's mind roared, countless thoughts surging through him in an instant, finally coalescing into one: So Su Chan really was a fox spirit?

How could he never have considered it?

Li Yundong stared intently at the fluffy fox tail, his mouth opening as if to speak a thousand words, yet every syllable lodged in his throat, preventing him from uttering a single sound.

Su Chan also stared blankly at Li Yundong, her expression a mixture of terror and fear: The secret she had hidden for so long was finally discovered. He finally knew she was a wild, otherworldly fox. He finally knew she had been hiding and deceiving him all this time!

Yundong... why couldn't you just listen to me and not turn around?

Su Chan gazed soulfully at Li Yundong, a pain like needles piercing her heart. Gathering her courage, she trembled, "Yundong..."

Li Yundong snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream, raising his head sharply. He couldn't process it immediately, staring blankly at Su Chan, unsure how to face this fox spirit with whom he had shared every day and night.

Humans and demons were different, after all. Li Yundong instinctively stepped back, stammering, "I, I..."

Li Yundong's bewildered expression and involuntary action were like a cruel, sharp knife, instantly tearing open Su Chan's soft and ** heart.

"He loathes me, he loathes me!" Su Chan's mind went completely blank, her heart feeling as if it were violently clenched and squeezed, leaving her breathless with agony.

Li Yundong's mind was a chaotic mess. He stared dumbly at Su Chan, and she stared blankly back. Their mutual gaze, once so familiar, now felt utterly alien.

Li Yundong grew increasingly flustered under Su Chan's sorrowful, desolate eyes. Catching sight of the bloodstain on her chest, he hastily fabricated an excuse and retreated into the washroom: "I, I'll go get you a towel..."

Li Yundong burst into the washroom, bracing his hands on the sink, as if without the support, his body would simply collapse. This young man, who had displayed astonishing strength battling Lin Youfa moments before, now felt every ounce of his power drained away.

He was flustered, terrified, and utterly lost.

Li Yundong turned on the tap, letting the water gush out, and repeatedly splashed the cold water onto his face, as if this ritual could prepare him to face this familiar stranger.

"What... what should I do?" Ruan Hongling's fierce words echoed relentlessly in Li Yundong's mind.

Didn't you know the woman in your arms was a fox spirit? Weren't you afraid she would eventually drain your vital energy and leave you a withered husk? Didn't you know that humans and demons travel different paths and cannot coexist; those who defy this violate celestial law!

In the past, Li Yundong would have dismissed such talk as nonsense, scoffing at it. But after witnessing the fox tail Su Chan had revealed with his own eyes, how could he possibly continue to disbelieve these things?

Li Yundong tugged violently at his hair, pacing restlessly in the washroom like a trapped beast. He muttered to himself, "Why didn't she tell me sooner? Why did she hide it from me? Does she really intend to drain my yang as Ruan Hongling claimed?"

"Calm down, calm down..." Li Yundong repeatedly commanded himself internally. He slapped his own cheeks hard, then raised his head to look at his reflection in the mirror above the sink, murmuring softly, "Li Yundong, don't overthink it. The reason Su Chan didn't tell you must be because she was afraid you would reject her, afraid you would leave her. Think about it, has she ever harmed you? Has she ever scorned you, this useless failure? Right, go ask her. Su Chan will tell you!"

Li Yundong made up his mind; his gaze gradually hardened, and his expression became much more natural. As he walked out, he took a deep breath, a gentle smile forming on his face: "Su Chan, you..."

But before Li Yundong could finish speaking, he found the room empty—the inn chamber deserted! The room was vacant!

In that instant, Li Yundong's heart felt hollowed out, as if his very soul had departed!

"She... she left?" Li Yundong’s eyes widened, his body frozen in place as if struck by a paralysis spell, motionless. The smile on his face instantly solidified, his heart plummeting into icy depths.

People only recognize the true preciousness of something once they have lost it.

"Su Chan!" Li Yundong turned icy cold, suddenly realizing he had committed an unforgivable error!

"She was so fragile, so terrified of my scorn, she even repeated it to me while severely wounded—why couldn't I grasp that point! Where would she go? Where could she possibly go?" The more Li Yundong thought, the more frightened he became, consumed by anxiety, too terrified to articulate his thoughts or actions, as if the world had suddenly gone dark.

Li Yundong frantically searched the room once more and noticed Su Chan hadn't taken anything with her. Her little pink piggy bank lay obediently by the corner of the bed, untouched.

"Hmph, all your money is in my hands now, Master. You better behave for your little girl!" The young girl seemed to be right before him, smiling coyly, then foolishly tucking the key into the piggy bank.

Li Yundong tilted his head back, forcing back the tears, but through his blurred vision, he distinctly saw the young girl clutching the hem of his robe, forcing a weak smile despite her severe injuries: "I was afraid you would take the piggy bank one day and leave me. Then, I could use this money to find you..."

Li Yundong's lips trembled, tears rapidly welling up. He muttered, "The little girl wouldn't leave me. She wouldn't leave me. Right, she must have gone home..."

With this thought, Li Yundong immediately rushed out, hailed a taxi outside the inn, and headed straight for the home he shared with the girl.

"She has to be there. She definitely is. She has nowhere else to go..." Li Yundong desperately tried to reassure himself, his eyes burning red, his heart frantic with worry.

He finally reached the Hongsheng New District, leaping out of the taxi without even paying the fare. The driver leaned out, shouting curses, but Li Yundong didn't hear a word.

Li Yundong burst into his apartment, threw open the door, and shouted, "Su Chan!"

His voice echoed through the rooms, but there was no reply, only shards of broken glass scattered everywhere, a scene of desolation.

Li Yundong's heart turned to ice, his hands and feet trembling uncontrollably. He searched room after room, shouting Su Chan's name loudly in each one, half-expecting her to suddenly appear behind him, just as she had before.

"But why did she talk later? Why wasn't she afraid of being discovered then?"

Images of the little girl’s face and laughter flooded Li Yundong’s mind again.

"Because I was afraid you'd worry about me. Seeing you unable to find me made my heart ache, so I couldn't help myself for a moment..."

At that time, the little girl’s eyes were full of naive charm, hiding deep anxiety, afraid he would cast her aside, willing to expose herself rather than let Li Yundong suffer worry and fear.

"Silly girl, where on earth are you!" Li Yundong sighed deeply, his eyes brimming with tears, murmuring to himself.

Li Yundong stood stunned in the spacious living room, like a statue carved from stone. He vividly recalled a stubborn girl shouting at a crowd of indifferent people and a calculating landlady: "Li Yundong is the kindest person in the world to me, and he will definitely become a great hero in the future! I won't leave him!"

He also clearly remembered the little girl collapsing into his arms, weeping uncontrollably, vowing between sobs, "I believe you will become a great hero someday! I just believe it!"

Even more unforgettable was the vision of a devastatingly beautiful girl pointing at him while declaring with unwavering confidence to a wealthy man: "You must remember his name—it is Li Yundong, and he is my companion. He might be a nobody now, but I guarantee you, within two years, his name will be known throughout the realm! Everything you can do, he will achieve effortlessly then, but everything he can achieve, you never will!"

Lost in these memories, Li Yundong could no longer hold back his tears: Li Yundong, oh Li Yundong, you are the most ungrateful wretch under heaven! How could you suspect Su Chan of wishing you harm? She treated you so devotedly, and this is how you repaid her? Have you let a dog eat your conscience?

Regret and pain, memory and longing crashed over him like a violent tide, drowning him instantly, squeezing his heart until he couldn't breathe, his whole body shaking.

Standing in that vast, empty living room—what used to be a warm and bright home now felt cold and dim—Li Yundong's mind replayed scene after scene. Every trivial detail of their shared life bound him with countless fine threads, forcing him to finally understand one thing.

So what if she was a fox spirit? Were all the daily laughter, intimacy, and sweet affection a lie? Was her true sincerity towards him also false?

"Su Chan, where are you!! I don't care who you are, I only know you are my girl, my forever girl! Please come back!!!" Li Yundong suddenly cried out, his voice soaring with grief and passion, carrying far into the distance.

But Su Chan’s voice never answered him there.

Li Yundong was nearly in despair. He bolted out the door, running aimlessly through the streets like a headless fly, shouting Su Chan's name everywhere, like a trapped animal, like a madman, drawing stares from passersby.

After searching for an unknown duration, Li Yundong suddenly stopped dead in the middle of the street, something clicking in his mind. His eyes began to brighten, and then, with a sudden burst of speed, he sprinted toward one specific location.

"That's right, she must be there! She must be there!" Li Yundong shouted, sounding like a hysterical lunatic.

Su Chan transformed into a streak of azure light leaving the inn. When she reappeared, she found herself on an unfamiliar street, surrounded by surging crowds and roaring traffic; the towering buildings looked severe and indifferent.

Just moments ago, Su Chan had only thought of escaping that place, of avoiding Li Yundong’s gaze that offered no shelter, but she hadn't known where to go or where she could go.

Su Chan stood frozen on the street, suddenly realizing she was utterly alone and without anchor, adrift in a world too vast to offer her refuge.

The little girl regretted it. She wanted to go back, but then she remembered what Li Yundong had told her: "In the future, don't hide things from me, or I'll despise you!"

The little girl couldn't stop the tears flowing: "He found out I was deceiving him. He despises me. He doesn't want me anymore! Your little girl will have no one to dote on her, no one to love her!"

With that thought, the little girl burst into loud sobs, walking aimlessly down the street, wiping away the constant stream of tears. She didn't know where she was going, merely drifting along the pavement.

Unknowingly, Su Chan found herself arriving at the amusement park she and Li Yundong had visited before. She couldn't even recall how the guard at the gate had allowed her to enter alone.

Seeing these familiar sights, Su Chan's tears flowed even harder, drawing the attention of the surrounding crowd.

Unwilling to let these strangers see her weep, Su Chan hid in the thicket of bushes until the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving the area quiet. Only then did she emerge and walk alone to the massive support structure of the Space Shuttle ride, climbing aboard.

It was late now; the moon was bright, the surroundings silent and swallowed by darkness. The small figure of the little girl sitting in the seat looked especially solitary and lonely.

Su Chan clutched the hard, cold armrest as if it were Li Yundong’s arm. She tilted her head back, staring blankly at the starry sky. Each star seemed to transform into a scene, filled entirely with the minutiae of her life with Li Yundong.

"There will never be anyone as kind to me again..." The little girl’s face was streaming with tears before she knew it. She cried with a heart-wrenching pain that made it feel as though the heavens themselves were collapsing.

Li Yundong rushed into the amusement park, heading straight for the Space Shuttle. His eyes were fixed on the ride, running closer and closer, his anxiety mounting. He couldn't bear to imagine what would happen if he didn't find the little girl here.

But as he approached, Li Yundong suddenly spotted a familiar silhouette sitting on the Space Shuttle’s landing strut—so lonely, so pitiable, so heartbreakingly lovely!

"It's her! It's my girl!" Li Yundong felt an intense surge of joy threatening to explode from his chest. He couldn't help but quicken his pace.

But after only a few steps, Li Yundong stopped again. He approached slowly, gently, as if afraid of startling this fragile, vulnerable girl, terrified of scaring away his beloved.

Li Yundong crept up behind Su Chan. He heard her wiping her tears and murmuring softly, "Master, I miss you. I didn't mean to deceive you, I..."

Li Yundong couldn't hold back the surge of emotion and spoke before she finished, "I know. I'm here. I miss you too!"

Su Chan’s body jerked violently. She instinctively wanted to turn her head to look at Li Yundong behind her, but she forced herself to stop. She was terrified of seeing that look of horror and disgust in his eyes again.

Su Chan leaned slightly forward, wanting to flee quickly, but her attachment and love for Li Yundong entangled her like ivy, preventing her escape.

The little girl was both shocked and overjoyed, trembling like a frightened lamb.

Li Yundong stood behind Su Chan, daring not to reach out and embrace her, fearing he would frighten the startled girl away. His voice was slightly unsteady as he said, "Little girl, don't run. Listen to me. I don't despise you, truly! Do you remember what I told you? No matter what, you are my girl. Have you forgotten?"

Su Chan turned her face, trembling. Her delicate features were covered in crystalline tears. She whispered tremulously, "You really don't despise me? I only bring you trouble, I can’t help you with anything, and I’m a fox spirit hated by everyone in the cultivation world. You don't despise me?"

Li Yundong nodded vigorously, tears streaming down his face. He laughed through his tears and said, "Aren't I just a broke college student with no car? You see, I can’t even buy you clothes you want, yet you never scorned me, did you?"

Su Chan gazed at Li Yundong through her tear-filled eyes, her lips quivering slightly.

Li Yundong wiped his tears and continued with a smile, "Didn't you say you wanted to stay with me and watch me become someone great? How could you forget? Whether you are a fox spirit or not is unimportant; what matters is that I like you. Do you like me?"

Su Chan could bear it no longer. She threw herself into Li Yundong's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, and burst into a heart-shattering wail that shook the heavens and earth: "Master, please don't despise your little girl. She'll be good!"

Li Yundong felt his chest swell, a mixture of sourness and sweetness. He fought back his tears, stroking the little girl's hair, and promised, "I won't. Your Master won't despise you!"

With that, he held the little girl tightly, as if afraid that the Su Chan in his arms might vanish the very next second.

The most agonizing thing in this world is failing to cherish something precious until it is lost, realizing its worth only through pain.

But the most wonderful thing in this world is when, in your moment of pain and despair after losing something cherished, she returns to your side—regained after being lost.

Embracing the little girl, Li Yundong felt that the heavens and the earth suddenly expanded again, and the starry sky seemed bright once more. With her, he felt he possessed everything, the whole world; even if the apocalypse struck the next second, he would have nothing to fear.

==================================================== When I got home tonight, I suddenly couldn't get online, and the house phone was completely silent. I called Telecom's 10000 service, and they promised a technician would come for repairs, but no one showed up by ten-thirty. I had to come to an internet café with my USB drive to update. Sorry for the slight delay, everyone~ Although there are two chapters today, they are both substantial, totaling over 9,000 words—the equivalent of my usual three chapters~ Tomorrow is Saturday, so there will still be three chapters!