Chapter 4: Baby, You Won’t Pass the Review Like This!

The system’s sudden emotional outburst made Ke Leya pause.

Her hand, holding the collar and fox ears, stopped midair.

She slowly turned back to face the empty room—or rather, the system in her mind that was suddenly threatening to go on strike.

“But we already agreed to do it, and besides…”

She paused, stating her own viewpoint.

“If we give up just because of a little difficulty, we shouldn’t have agreed in the first place.”

[ A little difficulty?! ]

The system’s electronic tone pitched even higher, almost cracking with strain.

[ Host, you call this a little difficulty? This is a matter of principle! A matter of bottom lines! It’s— ]

“It’s part of the mission.”

Ke Leya cut it off, her tone flat, but it choked off the system’s agitation.

“According to the data you provided, Ke Leya’s past year has been exactly like this. If I suddenly change now, it will arouse Elizabeth’s suspicions.”

[ Then, then we can’t…! ]

The system seemed to be stumped, but it was still making a final desperate push.

[ Host, you need to think this through. If you, if you do it this way, this part of the story might not pass the review! ]

[ Getting blocked and having all my points reset are minor issues. The big problem is we might end up getting locked in the little black room! ]

“Not pass the review?”

Ke Leya repeated the phrase, then suddenly it clicked.

She looked down at the collar and fox ears in her hands, then glanced up at her reflection in the mirror—at her current outfit.

“Then I won’t wear the tail.”

She made her decision, her tone crisp and decisive.

System: [ …… ]

It seemed to choke on its own code for a few seconds.

[ Just, just the collar and fox ears? ]

It confirmed carefully, sounding dazed.

Ke Leya looked at the cool leather collar in her hand, then at the fluffy fox ears.

“Mm.”

She hummed in affirmation, answering the system’s question.

Then she turned back to face the mirror.

This time, she raised both hands, pinched the ends of the collar, and tried to fasten it from behind.

Her fingers, through the thin lace gloves, fumbled for the tiny buckle.

After several attempts, the result was still the same as before.

She furrowed her brows slightly, a faint trace of confusion flickering in her crimson eyes—as if she couldn’t understand why such a small thing was harder to handle than it looked.

System: [ …… ]

It felt like if it had a physical body, it would definitely be face-palming right now.

[ …The buckle is at the back. There’s a small catch. Align it and press down to close it. ]

Its voice sounded drained, like it had resigned itself to defeat.

Ke Leya followed the instructions, her fingers groping behind her neck until the tip of her finger touched the tiny protrusion.

A soft click sounded, and the collar closed.

The cool leather pressed against the skin of her neck—not too tight, not too loose.

The dark red gemstone settled right into the hollow of her collarbone, rising and falling with her steady breaths.

She raised a hand to touch the smooth surface of the collar, then flicked the gemstone with her finger to check if it was secure.

Next, she picked up the fox ears.

The base was a soft, elastic band, the inner side lined with fine downy fur.

She looked at them, then at her silver hair in the mirror.

After a moment’s hesitation, she bowed her head slightly, lifted both hands, and slid the fox ears onto the top of her head.

The band slid into her hair and locked in place.

A pair of snow-white, pink-tipped fluffy fox ears now stood upright among her silver tresses.

Ke Leya lifted her head to look at the mirror.

The girl in the mirror—pale, delicate, dressed in a gothic black gown, a black collar with a ruby adorning her neck, and a pair of fox ears on her head that clashed with her cool, aloof aura—stared back.

She blinked.

Her reflection blinked too.

The snow-white ears gave a gentle little quiver with her blink.

She tilted her head slightly.

The fox ears followed suit.

Although Ke Leya didn’t understand how she could control the external fox ears with her mind, she found herself very cute.

System: [ …… ]

The system had gone completely silent, as if it had given up on thinking—or was frantically sending garbled messages to headquarters.

She leaned in a little closer, studying the pair of ears in the mirror, then carefully reached up and touched the tip of one ear with her fingertip.

A soft texture came through her touch.

She touched it.

The ear twitched lightly.

Touched it again.

Twitch again.

Oh! Fun!

“…”

She withdrew her hand, her expression blank as she looked at the ears that had been unconsciously twitching in response to her movements.

She fell into a brief silence.

But… these ears seemed a bit hard to control?

She tried to think, “Move the left ear.”

The left ear didn’t move.

“Move the right ear.”

This time, the left ear swayed slightly.

She thought, “Don’t move.”

Both ears gave a little shake together.

Ke Leya: “…”

Never mind.

She gave up trying to control the pair of ears that seemed to have a mind of their own, and instead began to assess the overall effect.

The sensation of having the collar around her neck was unfamiliar, and the extra weight and tactile feedback on her head was also strange.

But compared to the constant torment of illness that had plagued her day and night, this didn’t seem like something unbearable.

Just necessary camouflage—to avoid raising suspicion, to live, to complete the mission.

She thought this way, and her gaze returned to being calm and flat.

But paired with the fluffy ears that occasionally twitched on their own, and the ruby at her neck that glowed faintly with each breath…

Her appearance and the outfit mixed together into a bizarre scene.

And she herself was completely oblivious.

[ …Host. ]

The system’s voice rose faintly, filled with an indescribable weariness.

“Mm?”

Ke Leya responded, her gaze still fixed on the mirror as she considered whether there was anything wrong with her current attire.

[ …Nothing. ]

It sounded like it had swallowed a whole speech, finally offering a dry reminder.

[ Duke Elizabeth should be arriving soon. ]

“Okay.”

Ke Leya glanced at herself one last time in the mirror, then turned away, no longer paying attention to her appearance.