Chapter 205: Shadows of Jealousy

Dyeing hair takes about two hours.

During this time, the little fox sat in the milk tea shop across the street, sipping her drink and watching for any signs.

She watched without complaint.

Though she couldn’t see inside the hair salon, as long as they didn’t go to a hotel, Han Wenwen could handle it.

To her surprise, after Lin Zheng Ran and Lily left the hair salon, they didn’t go for a meal but bought some food from a fast-food place instead.

Han Wenwen trailed behind quietly, hiding around the corner and concealing her nine fox tails.

Don’t let those fox tails show.

She was puzzled: “Buying fast food? Why not find a place to eat on a date?”

Her fox eyes fixed on Lily’s golden-yellow twin tails draped over her shoulders, and she paused, genuinely admiring: “Lily’s yellow hair looks amazing—it’s boosted her looks by several levels.”

She glanced at her own shoulder-length hair and thought: “Should I dye mine too? But I don’t think any color suits me. I’ll ask Brother Zheng Ran when I get the chance.”

As she muttered to herself, Lin Zheng Ran and Lily finished buying their food, held hands, and hailed a taxi to leave. Han Wenwen followed and discovered where they were headed.

It was a hotel!

The little fox tailing them saw the pair get out of the car and head straight for the hotel.

In the taxi, she bristled like a cat: “Is this for real? A hotel?”

Panicked, Han Wenwen jumped out and watched them enter, then quickly pulled out her phone to message Lin Zheng Ran.

It was a string of fox baring teeth and clawing at the screen emojis.

Followed by: “Brother Zheng Ran, what are you and Lily up to? Where are you on your date?”—hoping to turn things around.

In the hotel lobby, Lin Zheng Ran heard his phone buzzing nonstop with messages, still holding Lily’s hand.

He checked it and smiled.

Lily blushed as she saw him on his phone and asked curiously: “What’s up, Zheng Ran? Who messaged you?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied casually: “A very fine-looking canine creature.”

At that moment, half of Lily’s brain felt foggy; she couldn’t follow his roundabout comment about a canine.

It never crossed her mind that he meant Han Wenwen.

Lin Zheng Ran sent a quick reply to Han Wenwen.

Outside the hotel, the little fox saw his message: “I’ll come out and chat with you soon. Wait outside for now.”

Han Wenwen, hiding outside, was both surprised and confused, muttering: “What does this mean? Does Brother Zheng Ran know I’m following them? No way—I’ve been so stealthy.” She shook her head: “Doesn’t matter.”

She was about to message him again.

But Lin Zheng Ran beat her to it: “I’ve booked a room with Lily. I’ll talk to you later. Find a place nearby to grab a drink and wait. I might be a while.”

Han Wenwen’s fox eyes widened in distress!

But no matter how upset she was, as Brother Zheng Ran’s little fox, she couldn’t burst in and interrupt—or he’d be furious.

What could she do?

Jealous, the little fox turned to stare at the hotel, her fox eyes brimming with envy, brows slightly furrowed.

“Brother Zheng Ran wouldn’t really give his first time to Lily, would he? It should be with me first…”

In the hotel lobby, Lin Zheng Ran put away his phone as the receptionist asked: “A king-size room? For how long?”

Lin Zheng Ran said smoothly: “One king-size room, just for now. Here’s my ID.” He turned to Lily: “Do you have yours?”

Lily nodded shyly and pulled her ID from her pocket—she’d brought it that morning just in case.

Though she hadn’t expected to use it, she figured Zheng Ran might have plans.

And now it was coming in handy!

The receptionist took their IDs, registered the room, and handed them a key card: “Room 207 on the second floor.”

Lin Zheng Ran took the key card with a thank you and led Lily upstairs.

This was Lily’s second time sharing a room with Lin Zheng Ran, and with the first experience under her belt, the hotel setting felt less unfamiliar.

But she worried about what might happen next.

As they walked, her free hand clenched tight, her lips pressed together, and she could clearly hear her own heartbeat.

She glanced up at Lin Zheng Ran’s handsome profile, as calm as ever.

“Zheng Ran…”

“Hmm?” Lin Zheng Ran glanced back, their steps uninterrupted.

Lily stammered: “I-I’m a bit nervous. Not scared, just nervous… Are you?”

Lin Zheng Ran felt her palm sweating and smiled: “Don’t worry, we’ll take it slow and enjoy it.”

His words and smile made Lily’s heart race; she looked away: “Enjoy… what kind of word is that?”

They reached the room, and Lin Zheng Ran swiped the card to open the door with a click.

This hotel was a step up from the one near the school gate.

Inside, it was cozy, with a large bathroom, and instead of a sofa, just a big bed adorned with rose petals and a remote control.

Lily, who had seen her share of steamy scenes, entered and closed the door behind them.

Spotting the remote on the bed, her face turned bright red: “A remote!”

Lin Zheng Ran noticed it too and said: “We’ll use that later. That’s why I came.”

“Huh,” Lily’s ears burned red to the tips—what did Zheng Ran have in mind, and what would he do to her?

Lin Zheng Ran set the clothes he’d bought aside; Lily stood frozen.

He had to remind her to put the food on the table.

Lin Zheng Ran let go of her hand, slipped off his jacket and shirt; Lily stared at his defined muscles, her breathing quickening.

She turned to the bright window, unusually bold, and drew the curtains, dimming the room.

Lin Zheng Ran found her stiffness amusing.

“You showered this morning, right? You smelled great when I saw you.”

Lily mumbled: “Yeah, I always shower before seeing you and get really clean.”

“I didn’t shower last night. I’ll hop in quick—ten minutes tops.”

Lily swallowed hard.

“Okay, no rush… we have four hours, should be plenty for you to have fun.”

“For me to have fun?”

Lily clapped a hand over her mouth, embarrassed: “I didn’t say fun!”

Lin Zheng Ran stepped closer, touched her face; Lily felt like her body wasn’t her own anymore.

Instinctively, she tilted her head up, eyes trembling as she looked at him.

He stroked her golden twin tails: “It really suits you. I’ll make sure to enjoy it properly later.”

With that, he turned and headed to the bathroom, locking the door.

Once he was inside, Lily sat on the bed, hands covering her face in shyness.

She leaned back on the bed.

Her hands gripped the sheets, a mix of anticipation and excitement, words spilling out fast:

“So nervous! So nervous! What will it feel like? It won’t hurt, right?”

She swallowed: “It shouldn’t, I looked it up online a bunch of times—says if the girl isn’t scared, it’s just pleasure… and the guy enjoys it too.”

From the bathroom, Lin Zheng Ran turned on the shower: “This bathroom barely has any soundproofing—I can hear everything you’re saying.”

“Ah?!”

Lily on the bed wanted to vanish from embarrassment, bolting upright in mortification.

“You big idiot! Zheng Ran, you big idiot! Why didn’t you say something earlier?”