Chapter 102: Wingman

Lin Du froze, the glass of milk hovering above the counter.

The last drop of milk fell from the pot’s spout into the glass, sending a small ripple across the surface.

“Hey, hurry up… I don’t have anything to wear…”

White Li’s voice carried a hint of impatience, “Just lend me anything.”

Lin Du snapped back to reality, wiped his hands with a paper towel, and turned to cross the living room.

“Alright…”

He walked into the bedroom.

A series of closet doors opening and closing followed, hangers clattering against one another.

He was quick, emerging from the bedroom with a folded white shirt in his hands.

A cotton shirt, the tag on the collar still uncut.

“This one’s new.”

Lin Du said, holding the shirt out, “I haven’t worn it yet.”

“Thanks.”

White Li reached through the crack in the door and took the shirt.

Her fingers brushed against his fingertips in the process, and she jerked her hand back, the door closing again.

“Hey… White Li…”

Lin Du knocked on the door, his voice muffled through the panel.

“What is it?”

He stumbled over his words, pausing for a moment:

“Look, you don’t have any clothes to wear, and my size is way too big for you… Tomorrow’s Sunday, so… how about we go buy some clothes?”

White Li shook the shirt open and tore off the tag from the collar.

She draped the shirt over herself, slowly buttoning it up with her fingers.

The fabric hung loose and empty, making the fox look like a kid wearing adult clothes.

The hem reached halfway down her thighs.

The collar gaped open, revealing the entire curve of her collarbone.

It really was way too big—could practically pass for a sundress.

The shoulder seams sat far past her own shoulders, and the cuffs swallowed her fingers.

White Li leaned against the door, holding the shirt up to compare.

“But… I’m still a wanted person. I can’t go out looking like this, you know? Don’t forget, Li Ya’s wanted poster is still plastered all over the streets. If someone recognizes me, I won’t even have a place to run.”

She rolled up her sleeves, “You should know what the shelter is like, right? It’s not a place for people.”

“That wristband of yours—can it change you into a different appearance?”

Lin Du said flatly, “Since it can turn you into a boy, it should be able to turn you into a different girl, right?”

“!”

White Li’s movements halted.

She jerked her head up, staring at the shadow cast on the frosted glass from outside the door.

“Damn, why didn’t you say that earlier.”

She thought it over carefully.

The form the wristband took largely depended on her imagination.

If she simply wanted to remove the tail and ears, the wristband could do that too.

She’d never tried it before because she’d never imagined she’d need to go out looking like a “human girl.”

“Okay, but…”

White Li bit her lip, “I might need to borrow some money from you.”

She unlocked her phone, glanced at the pitiful balance, and pursed her lips.

It had been a long time since Madam last handed out a bonus, and the remaining money wouldn’t last past next week.

“I’ll pay you back once I earn some money.”

White Li added.

“Alright.”

Lin Du nodded, “The milk is heated. Don’t forget to drink it later.”

“Okay.”

“Oh.”

The sound of the bedroom door closing.

White Li hummed in acknowledgment, heard the footsteps outside turn and walk away, followed by Lin Du settling into his room.

White Li leaned against the door, waiting until she was sure the hallway was quiet before pulling the door open a crack.

The living room light was still on—the spotlights above the dining table, the ones Lin Du had left on for her.

The bedroom door was shut tight, the sound of a mattress compressing drifting from inside.

White Li tiptoed to the dining table and downed the glass of milk in one go.

She smacked her lips, the faint sweetness of the milk lingering on her tongue.

At first, he’d just taken it straight from the fridge and given it to her cold.

But after she got a stomachache from drinking cold milk once, Lin Du started heating it up for her.

He’d kept it up ever since—almost half a month now.

Why is he so good to me?

White Li couldn’t help but wonder.

Most of the time, Lin Du played a role more like a parent, taking care of her daily needs, tutoring her with homework, and cooking her meals.

If she counted every meal by its cost, White Li had no idea how much she owed him.

And tomorrow, Lin Du was taking her out to buy clothes.

This can’t go on.

The debt keeps piling up.

She’d been living in this house scot-free for half a month, and every single thing she used was bought by Lin Du.

White Li had thought about pitching in for household expenses, but the little money in her pocket wasn’t even enough to fill her teeth.

She carried the empty glass into the kitchen and turned on the faucet to rinse it.

The water rushed over the glass, washing away the last traces of milk.

She set the glass upside down on the drying rack, wiped her hands, and turned off the living room light.

The folding bed sat beside the sofa, the blanket folded into a neat square.

White Li kicked off her slippers, lifted the blanket, and slipped underneath.

Because Lin Du slept on this folding bed on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, it had naturally picked up his scent.

An ordinary person might not notice it, but White Li was of the Fox Clan.

A fox’s nose is ninety times more sensitive than a human’s, and she could catch every faint wisp of his presence.

That layer of scent wrapped around her, and her heartbeat began to quicken.

Taking her to buy clothes… does this count as a date?

White Li wasn’t stupid.

Lin Du being this good to her definitely meant he wanted something in return.

But she only wanted to treat him as a good friend, a good buddy.

“Ugh… so annoying…”

White Li rubbed her head and pulled her phone out from under the pillow.

She scrolled through her contacts and spotted a black cat avatar.

That was Xiao Yu’s account, her signature reading “Working hard for that paycheck.”

White Li tapped her avatar and opened the private chat.

The cursor blinked, waiting for her to type, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Should she invite Xiao Yu along?

Xiao Yu was a beast-eared person, just like her.

They had similar builds and heights, so Xiao Yu could help her pick out clothes.

She didn’t understand sizes or fits.

If it hadn’t been for Xiao Yu’s recommendation last time, she wouldn’t have given that dress a second glance.

Plus, having a companion around would make going out with Lin Du less awkward and keep people from pointing and whispering behind their backs.

More importantly…

Xiao Yu was a cat girl with a legal identity.

If Lin Du really was a beast-eared lolicon, Xiao Yu would be a pretty solid choice.

She was cute, had a good personality, and, most crucially, wouldn’t bring him any trouble.

White Li bit her lip, and a scene of Lin Du and Xiao Yu living together flashed through her mind.

She felt a strange pang of bitterness in her chest.

But there was no helping it.

She wasn’t a normal girl, so she couldn’t respond to Lin Du’s feelings.

And she wasn’t even from this world.

Give it a little more time, and maybe she’d complete her mission and return to her own world.

Sure, she’d have no one to rely on over there either, but at least she could live as a human.

Xiao Yu was a good girl.

Sure, she’d made mistakes before, but that was a moment of foolishness, and she’d been punished severely for it.

Recommending her to Lin Du might actually be a good thing—at least better than letting Shijo Shizhi have her way.

White Li clenched her fist.

She couldn’t let Shijo Shizhi steal Lin Du away.

That Young Lady always got what she wanted.

If Lin Du ended up with her, he’d get bullied sooner or later.

He was so quiet and reserved—even if he got bullied, he wouldn’t say a word.

White Li took a deep breath and started typing.

[Xiao Yu, wanna go shopping for clothes together tomorrow?]

A reply came in less than half a minute.

[Sure thing meow! I’m off tomorrow anyway!]

[What time? Where? Need me to help pick? I’ve got great taste, you know~]

[By the way, why the sudden invite? Don’t you have that guy classmate of yours to keep you company?]

White Li hesitated for a moment, then typed back:

[It’s better with more people, right? And you have more experience. You can help me check sizes when I try things on—I don’t really get that stuff…]

Xiao Yu quickly replied with a cat nodding sticker, then added:

[Then should I come find you tomorrow? Or meet at the mall entrance?]

White Li thought for a moment and typed a line:

[Let’s meet at the mall entrance, ten o’clock. I’ll be with that guy classmate of mine—good chance to introduce you two.]

Xiao Yu sent back an “OK” hand gesture, followed by one more line:

[Sure thing, see you tomorrow meow~]