Xiao Xiao headed down a secluded path.
The campus was always a little quieter on weekends.
There was hardly any noise.
Branches crisscrossed overhead, and sparse sunlight filtered through them, casting shifting, hazy patterns of light and shadow before him.
Now and then, a breeze stirred, and he could hear the faint rustle of leaves.
"A Jiu."
As Xiao Xiao walked beneath the dappled shadows, he said, "You fox spirits seem to like getting close to humans."
Whether that closeness was well-intentioned or not.
He thought of the two-tailed fox spirit he had first met, as well as Hu Yingying.
Unlike most demons, they were both keen on appearing before humans.
The Little White Fox didn't open his eyes. He only lazily swished his tail. "Don't lump me in with them."
His tone was languid, his pride innate.
"...Sure, sure."
Xiao Xiao chuckled. "A Jiu is a Nine-tailed Fox, after all. Naturally, no ordinary fox spirit can compare."
The Little White Fox half-lifted his eyelids and shot Xiao Xiao a sidelong glance, then withdrew his gaze, now tinged with satisfaction. "Most humans are boring."
"But some humans are interesting."
"Besides, most fox spirits need contact with humans to cultivate."
"That's true."
Xiao Xiao smiled and stepped out of the Small Forest. The library came into view.
The library was quiet, and the air was filled with the old, pleasant scent of books.
Bright sunlight streamed through the large glass windows. Xiao Xiao could see tiny specks of dust rising and falling like points of light.
He went up several floors and had to look around for quite a while before he found a seat by the window.
Time always passed quickly when he was reading.
Xiao Xiao glanced at his watch. It was time