You were peeking, weren't you?

"That's all for today's class. Dismissed."

Scattered applause, shuffling footsteps, and an instant burst of conversation filled a classroom somewhere in Rongcheng Medical College.

Su Tianqing stood and stretched. Only after the classroom had nearly emptied did she turn to Nan Jiayu, who was still taking notes beside her.

The trashy fox's tail swished as she quietly leaned close to the petite catgirl's face and looked at the densely packed notes in her book.

"Wow, Little Fish, you really take your notes seriously."

"Mm... yeah... This course feels really hard... so I have to work twice as hard..."

The catgirl was so focused on her notes that she did not notice the little fox leaning close beside her. She only caught a faint, lingering fragrance at the tip of her nose.

Perfect chance!

"Meow?!"

The trashy fox sat back in her seat with a satisfied expression.

Little Fish was not actually much taller than her. The difference of half a head was only around ten centimeters, and their builds were not that different. Compared to ordinary cat beastfolk, she still fell within the range of a little kitten.

"Don't suddenly lean in like that! At least, at least tell me first!" Nan Jiayu said awkwardly.

"Next time for sure."

Su Tianqing did not really understand why she had suddenly wanted to lean in and inhale the catgirl's scent. In the end, she could only blame it on foxfolk instinct.

Maybe it was because she was in such a good mood today.

Not only had she filmed a new video, she had also come up with a new way to pick a fight. She had even gotten Hyacinth, who had been dejected for a while, back on her feet. Now, tomorrow's and the day after tomorrow's daily missions, as well as video material, were all taken care of.

It had to be because Little Fish had brought her good luck!

The afternoon class was human anatomy.

Su Tianqing did not think this subject was difficult at all.

After all, she had been a doctor for so many years in her previous life. She might not have been a top master of anatomy, but she was certainly an expert. Handling university exams would be a piece of cake.

Nan Jiayu did not see it that way.

"Uwaaah... I'm so jealous of you, Tianqing... You can remember such difficult anatomical structures after just one look..."

At dinnertime, another catgirl's wail came from a corner of the cafeteria.

She was using the chance to eat while browsing an anatomy app on her phone, questioning how exactly she had managed to get into medical college.

"Memory is what I'm best at, you know. Hehe."

Fox Fox grinned, gently patting her with her tail in consolation while scooping small bites of food into her mouth.

"But Little Fish, you've already been working really hard. As long as you keep at it, you'll definitely get good grades."

"Waa... thank you..."

The catgirl's ears and tail drooped, though her spirits lifted a little. She turned off her phone and lowered her head to continue eating.

"If there's anything you don't understand later, you can ask me. I'm pretty confident about this."

"Really?"

"Of course!" Fox Fox puffed out her chest confidently, though the slight rise and fall was not particularly convincing.

Are you kidding? I was a proper doctor in my previous life! I supervised at least fifteen interns, if not twenty. This basic medical stuff is effortless!

After chatting for a few more moments, both of their attention was drawn to the cafeteria television.

It was perfectly normal for a university cafeteria to have a television. News programs played during meals, giving students something to pass the time when both hands were occupied with eating and they could not play on their phones.

The television was currently airing an evening program.

"Today's evening news."

"According to an official spokesperson for the Hero Association, three school attacks occurred in succession during the daytime today. The attacker has been confirmed as Heartmoon Fox, a newly active magical girl."

"The attacker released attack notices on a video-sharing website. No casualties were reported in any of the incidents, while the estimated losses are still being calculated."

"According to reliable sources, Magical Girl Hyacinth, who is still officially on leave, took part in the defense at Rongcheng No. 3 Middle School and successfully repelled Heartmoon Fox."

"Our station will continue to follow the story."

The chopsticks in their hands stopped in midair at the same time, just like those of most students in the cafeteria who had seen the news report.

Only after the report was replaced did the crowd erupt into animated discussion.

"Hyacinth took part in the defense?"

"Isn't she still on leave? And the day before yesterday, she..."

"Looks like she's completely recovered. She even managed to drive Fox Fox back."

"Fox Fox? You're a Fox Fox fan too?"

The discussion was intense.

From the reactions of those around her, Su Tianqing learned something.

After the events of that morning, her anonymous account had gained more and more followers. It would probably surpass three thousand in the next couple of days. The growth rate was simply dreamlike.

"What are they talking about? Little Fish, do you know?" Pretending not to know, Fox Fox poked Nan Jiayu beside her with her tail and asked quietly.

The catgirl froze for a moment, then turned and glanced at Fox Fox, whose clear emerald eyes were blinking innocently.

"Mm?... Oh, she's a magical girl streamer who's become very famous recently. She's foxfolk like you, Tianqing, and she's pretty popular."

"Foxfolk like me... ah..."

Su Tianqing fell silent for a moment, as if pondering something.

Yet to Nan Jiayu, that inexplicable silence carried a hint of jealousy.

Oh no, does Tianqing think I've been secretly watching other foxfolk?

The catgirl ate nervously.

She did not want to lose this friend—or rather, Tianqing was probably the best friend she had made in all these years.

Nan Jiayu barely had any friends. Even when she did, they would quickly go their separate ways because she was beastfolk, and her personality had gradually become more withdrawn and gloomy.

But Su Tianqing was different.

She was beastfolk like Nan Jiayu, yet she was not only sunny and cheerful, but also gentle and an excellent learner!

And she was adorable, too!

But someone like her seemed to have the common flaw of foxfolk as well: possessiveness.

Should she explain that she had only happened to follow Heartmoon Fox yesterday? Otherwise...

"Little Fish."

"Eh? What is it?"

"I want to ask you something. Can you answer me?"

"W-what question?"

Nan Jiayu felt as though she were facing a Shura field.

How should she answer?

Should she honestly admit that she had been following another Fox Fox streamer, or quietly pretend she knew nothing?

But the question that came from the little fox's mouth was completely unexpected.

"We don't have classes the afternoon after tomorrow, right? Are you free that day, Little Fish?"

"I am, but I have to tutor my little sister in the evening, so... um..."

"That's fine! We can go have fun downtown!"

Fox Fox suddenly became excited.

"What do you think? Little Fish, have you been to Greenheart Park? The scenery there is amazing!"

"Ah... o-okay, of course I can."

Nan Jiayu let out a sigh of relief, feeling as though she had narrowly escaped death.

But then the catgirl realized something.

An invitation to go out?

Just the two of them?

Nan Jiayu thought about it for a while, seeming to realize something.