Bad women are always eyeing me covetously.

Did I do this before?

Xi Lan was unusually questioning the meaning of life.

Forget it, I hope I never have to go through something like this again.

-------

As for Estella, who fell asleep in Yulan's room after playing until she was exhausted, it was several hours later when she woke up to find herself back home.

She puffed up like a pufferfish, huddled under the covers.

Estella has made a decision!

I absolutely have to touch that fox's ears! As a trophy of betrayal of friendship (in my opinion)...? Forget it, that's not important!

You've succeeded if you can touch the ear!

I absolutely do not want to see her again!

------

Chapter Sixteen: What can children do together?

Xi Lan has recently been pestered by a strange girl.

No, it should be said that her fox ears were tangled up?

The silver-white fox calmly dodged Estella's attack, then helplessly glanced at the puffed-up, sulking child.

"May I ask what brings you here, Miss Estád?"

I thought the events of the past two days were long over, but I never expected to encounter this lady who was so obsessed with touching her ears again during my rare day off.

She couldn't afford to offend her, nor could she avoid her. Even Xi Lan was somewhat helpless against this Aistar, who looked similar to her but was actually a little smaller.

After measuring her own height against Estádio's with her eyes, Yulan's little competitive spirit was finally satisfied.

Then he straightened up, using his slight height advantage to look down at Estella.

Ms. Emerald smiled and said that the children should be left to their own devices, and she left the matter to Xilan.

It seemed as if the affairs between adults had nothing to do with them.

"You clearly said last time that you wouldn't tell the adults! But why did I open my eyes and find myself back in my own home! Liar!"

Estelle was puffing up her cheeks, and her chubby cheeks made you want to touch them.

"Hmm... Miss Estella, I don't think I said I was the one who contacted you. Why couldn't it be someone from your family who found my room and took you back?" Xi Lan narrowed her eyes, putting on a very innocent look as she explained to Estella.

But when he saw Xi Lan's innocent face, his anger inexplicably subsided.

This guy will definitely be able to make a living off his looks when he grows up, right?

For some reason, this thought popped into little Estella's mind.

Children get angry quickly, but they also calm down quickly.

At least that's how Estádio appeared in Xilan's innocent eyes.

I was definitely not fooled by her cute face.

I'm cute too!

With that thought in mind, Estella nodded confidently, put her hands on her hips, and for once, she put aside the etiquette lessons she had learned in front of Yulan.

"Alright then, I'll reluctantly forgive you."

Estella didn't seem to doubt Xi Lan's words at all. She changed her angry expression and sat down again on the little fox's bedside.

"...So, why did you come to me?"

Xi Lan was puzzled, looking at Estella who seemed to regard this place as her own home, and it was clear that she was not as nervous as she had been a few days ago.

More than anything, I'm still confused.

"They just want to stay here a little longer."

The pink-furred little dumpling rolling around on Xi Lan's bed was completely unlike the person Xi Lan had been when they first met.

Xi Lan didn't understand, but she didn't say anything, and in the end she just let the other person roll around on her bed.

She bent down, picked up the dog plush toy, and placed it back next to Estelle before tidying up the things she would need next.

It seems that more than a month has passed since they were abandoned by Kafka and her group and arrived at this unknown planet.

Because every day was so fulfilling, Xi Lan hardly had any time to overthink.

If it weren't for the gift Xing had given her at the end, Xi Lan would have even doubted whether what had happened during this time was a dream.

But the obsession with being abandoned still lingers in her heart; it just needs a trigger to ignite it.

At least not now.

"What's that around your neck? A little decoration?"

Estella lay on the bed, her light blue eyes observing the little fox standing by the bed, tidying something up.

Then I noticed the collar around her neck.

"It's probably just decoration."

Xi Lan gave an uncertain answer.

The next second, Estelle's hand touched Yuuka's collar with curiosity.

This made her shrink back a little, but she didn't refuse Estelle's actions.

"...It's very itchy, Miss Estella."

Judging from the book, Miss Estádio should be considered a natural social butterfly, right?

Just like that guy Xing.

It seemed to have remembered something unpleasant, and its tail, which had been wagging slightly, drooped down.

"Are you unhappy? I'm sorry... I won't touch it anymore..."

Estella could sense Xilan's low spirits and quickly withdrew her hand.

Looking left and right, she stuffed her favorite dog plush toy into the other person's arms.

"Let me let you touch my little doll, hehe, it feels pretty good, doesn't it?"

Estella, acting like a little adult, patted Xilan's head.

But the mischievous little hand still pretended to accidentally touch those hard-to-reach fox ears, in a mere instant.

By the time Xi Lan realized something was wrong, the pink-furred ball of fur had already happily withdrawn its hand, acting as if nothing had happened.

The doll, which had been stuffed into her arms, was held carefully in her embrace, its light purple eyes gazing longingly at Estelle.

"Can I hold you a little longer?"

-------

After not receiving any messages from Xi Lan today, Emerald, who could finally catch her breath and rest for a while, leaned back lazily in her chair, elegantly crossed her legs, and calmly opened the monitoring on her terminal.

As a creditor, isn't it normal to care about the mental health of the debtors under your management?

It was only at first glance that I noticed Xi Lan lying on the bed taking a nap, and the little fox holding a doll in its arms.

And then, with a second glance, she saw Estella lying on the other side, fast asleep.

When did these two little ones become so close that they can sleep in the same bed?

-----

Chapter Seventeen: I Miss You All So Much

A few days later, Xi Lan looked at the well-packaged gift box and then at the jade sitting to the side, waiting for her to open the box.

She carefully, even hesitated for a moment, before slowly unwrapping the gift box in front of her.

Inside was a pure white fox doll with red highlights.

It's similar to her hair color.

And it looks more like a custom-made piece.

Xi Lan looked at the jade sitting to the side observing with shining eyes, and asked it a question.

"Is this...is this a gift for me, Lady Emerald?"

But watching that fluffy fox tail sway back and forth, it was quite a rare sight to see someone want to tease it.

"No..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Emerald saw that the child looked disappointed, but pretended to be fine, and even his tail stopped wagging.

Emerald herself seemed to be amused by Xi Lan's appearance, her eyes narrowed with pleasure, and her smile had a touch of wickedness.

"Just kidding, this is the gift I promised you, take it."

Seeing her sitting to the side, hugging the doll tightly in her arms, looking extremely fond of it, made Emerald find it particularly interesting.

The little fox didn't seem as awkward in front of him anymore.

Even when we meet, I won't be so scared that I can't speak, and my legs won't shake.

He would even use a mobile device to send her good morning, good afternoon, and good night messages every day.

However, at night, she would still mutter the names of those Star Core Hunters in her dreams, which was the only thing that made Emerald feel uneasy.