Bad women are always eyeing me covetously.

"...So, are you leaving tomorrow? With that Toppa?"

She paused for a moment, seemingly surprised that Xing would be troubled by this issue.

"If nothing unexpected happens, I will indeed be leaving tomorrow..."

Then, seeing Xing's reluctant expression, Xi Lan seemed to remember something and recalled what had happened between Topa and Xing in those two days.

Originally, I wanted to comfort Xing, but my plan was disrupted by Kafka who suddenly appeared. I even had to avoid the poor little guy in front of me because of her appearance.

As she thought about it, her guilt grew stronger and stronger, and it even started to overflow.

But isn't it a bit strange for the two of them to be standing here talking in the middle of the night?

Although it wasn't very cold.

"I'm sorry, Xing, I've been so busy these past few days... I forgot to apologize." Xi Lan reached out her hand apologetically and took Xing's hand.

"In a sense, Toppa was someone I brought up back then... and he's been with me ever since. He's very wary of the people around me."

"I'm really sorry about what happened that day. I've already talked to her about it when I got back."

Xing's mind was filled with the hand that Xi Lan had taken, and she clearly didn't care much about Topa's matter.

Clearly, I'm still her favorite little raccoon, aren't I?

"No, it's okay."

She scratched her cheek, hesitated for a moment, and then took out two crumpled opera tickets from her pocket.

"I wanted to ask you to go to the opera with me today, but I waited for you at the hotel for a long time and you didn't come out."

Xing discreetly observed Xi Lan's expression, trying to make herself look innocent enough: "This was given to me by someone else, and I wanted to go with you to see it..."

"But if you're leaving tomorrow, does that mean... you won't have time?"

Xi Lan looked at the crumpled ticket in Xing's hand, then at Xing's expectant eyes, and her lips moved as if she wanted to say something.

There was no way to refuse.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that she couldn't bear to refuse Xing's offer.

“...Really…” Xi Lan smiled. Although she wasn’t very interested in opera, she readily accepted the opera ticket Xing was holding.

The gray raccoon's golden eyes sparkled as it watched Xi Lan take the other ticket. It jumped up happily and then hugged Xi Lan without saying a word, spinning her around a few times.

I had only promised her to go to the opera, but I didn't expect it to make her so happy.

"Great!"

Isn't this a kind of date too?

Sambo's idea was really good! We'll treat him less harshly next time!

"Alright, alright, let's be quiet this night, you'll disturb others." Feeling a little embarrassed, Xi Lan still reached out and patted Xing's head: "Put me down quickly."

It's spinning so fast it's making me dizzy.

Xing chuckled a few times before putting Xi Lan down from his arms, like a happy child.

But I'm still a little reluctant to leave Xilan.

"...What's wrong?"

Xi Lan was about to say that she wanted to go back, but when she saw Xing's hesitant expression, she couldn't help but speak up.

"Is there anything else?"

"Um, do you still have that goodnight kiss or stuff that we used to have?"

Xing's usually indifferent face flushed slightly, and she looked at Xi Lan with some embarrassment.

"...Are you a little kid?"

Xi Lan really couldn't understand what this guy was thinking about. How come he always used such a pitiful expression to soften her heart?

Just like that guy, Kafka.

Looking into those eyes, Xi Lan twitched her lips, but in the end, she leaned in, brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead, and kissed her forehead.

"It's getting late, you should go back. I'll contact you again tomorrow." Xi Lan patted her shoulder, looking at Xing who seemed to be in a daze. Xing seemed to sense some gaze and turned her head slightly to look at the window of her room.

Nothing strange was found.

As for that gaze, perhaps it was just her strange illusion. Surely there wouldn't be someone who wasn't sleeping at this hour and had nothing better to do than peek over here?

Or perhaps the commotion that Xing and I made was a bit too big, attracting other people's attention.

Anyway, it's time to go back and rest.

It makes it seem like she came out specifically to meet with the astrologer.

"Ah, okay...hehe."

Little flowers emanated from Xing's surroundings. After waving to Xi Lan, she stood there awkwardly for a moment before turning away with an air of nonchalance.

Meanwhile, Xi Lan, who was being extremely cautious, like a wife returning from an affair, put the opera ticket in her coat pocket after returning to her room.

Toppa, who was sleeping on the bed, seemed to have subtly changed his position, but in Xi Lan's eyes, he seemed to be sleeping soundly.

Is that really the case?

As Xi Lan looked at the other person who had fallen asleep with their back to her, this thought suddenly popped into her mind.

------------

Chapter 163 How can this be considered stalking?

A dreamless night.

When Xi Lan got up, she found that Topa, who was used to getting up early, was lying in her arms and looked like she was sleeping quite well.

It was rare to see the other person so lazy, so Xi Lan couldn't resist reaching out her finger and poking the chubby cheek of the person in front of her, and she found it rather addictive.

Perhaps he had poked her a little too many times, because Toppa frowned, looking rather unhappy, and hummed a few times.

But he still couldn't open his eyes.

Xi Lan could only withdraw her hand, but seeing that the other had fallen asleep peacefully again, she still wrapped her arms around Topa's waist. No matter what, she noticed the dark circles under Topa's eyes caused by fatigue.

Of course it hurts.

Whether it's Jade Lady, Toppa, or Sand Gold, the three of them give Xi Lan the feeling that they've gone too far.

Although Toppa enjoys his work, shouldn't he balance work and rest?

Moreover, Lady Emerald is already a complete workaholic. Even if Xi Lan takes the stage, all she can do is let her rest for a little while.

Compared to this, Sand Gold seems to be the one who makes Xi Lan the least worried. He knows how to balance work and rest. The only downside is that he still can't shake his gambling habit.

However, Xi Lan didn't insist. After all, it was a habit that had been there since then, and now whenever the topic of "gambling" came up in the company, the first person that came to mind was this Mr. Sand Gold.

Compared to her, she was actually the most leisurely person.

No matter what, she was just a debt collector under Jade, not an employee of the company.

After all, there were so many assessments... It was just too much of a hassle for a little fox like her to handle. Even with the protection of Lady Emerald, she still followed the procedures obediently.

It's fine as it is.

Xi Lan's hand unconsciously caressed the collar around her neck, and she recalled the things that Ms. Emerald had ordered her to do on the phone yesterday.

Her tail unconsciously slapped against the bed a few times, the sound of which forced Xi Lan to pull herself out of those pink memories.

It feels like something strange has been gradually discovered.

Xi Lan lowered her eyes slightly.

Forget it.

If it were a lady named Jade, I would be willing.

Despite these thoughts, an unknown star core hunter with purple hair also appeared in her mind.

She then forcibly dismissed the thought, pretending nothing had happened, and let out a deep sigh.

Why don't we think about how to get Elena to agree to let her go to the opera with Xing today?

...I agreed on a whim.

Even if she hadn't acted impulsively at that time, she still couldn't bring herself to say no to Xing.

Oh well, I'll just go with the flow.

As for the relationship between Yelena and Xing, Xi Lan naturally hopes that the two children can become good friends.

"Waaah... Sister Xilan?"

Topa mumbled and called out to Xilan, wrapping his arms and legs around her body, bringing the two even closer together.

Warm breaths brushed against her neck, and she could now feel Toppa's cheek pressed against her shoulder, as if he were inhaling Xi Lan's scent.

"wake up?"

"Let's wait a little longer... Anyway, there's not much work to do today..." Topa murmured softly, snuggling in Xilan's arms like she did when she was a child.

Of course, as someone who always liked to pamper children, Xi Lan let Topa lean against her chest and patiently coaxed her, patting her back gently with her palms as if she were coaxing a baby.

This scene only lasted for a short while. After waking up, Toppa, who was no longer sleepy, laughed and affectionately wrapped his arms around Xilan's neck, pressing his face against hers.

"Sister Xilan is like a mother to me, she's always comforting me."

"Am I already considered a mother figure?" Xi Lan chuckled softly, looking into Toppa's eyes, and then lowered her head to nuzzle her nose. "It's getting late, time to get up."

The person in her arms chuckled a few times, kissed Xi Lan on the cheek, and then quickly broke free from her embrace, jumped off the bed, and dashed into the bathroom.

Only Xi Lan, who hadn't fully reacted yet, slowly covered her cheek where Topa had kissed her, and stood there stunned for a moment.

"Ha...he's still just a kid."

Xi Lan, who herself was a minor among the fox people, uttered such a sigh.

In the bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror, Topa pursed her lips tightly, but couldn't stop thinking about the intimate scene between Xilan and Xing.

“So annoying…”