The Secret of the Fox Bracelet

Chapter 6: Not for Me

His strength was overwhelming, and I staggered back, feeling the world spin around me. When I regained my senses, I found myself still seated in the chair.

I rubbed my temples, my head swimming, and my vision slightly blurred. The room was silent, and as I glanced around, I saw the bowl of dumplings still sitting on the table, and the door showed no signs of having been opened. It was as if nothing had happened.

I had been sitting here since eight, and now it was ten. I had been waiting for him for two hours! Everything that had just occurred seemed like a dream. Had I simply fallen asleep and dreamt it all?

Looking at the fox tattoo on my wrist, I whispered, "Li Fan, are you there?" The tattoo glowed softly in response. Alright, he was indeed here.

Reassured, I realized he had truly come, but I must have been in a half-dream state, unable to leave any tangible trace of his presence. I discarded the bowl of failed dumplings and prepared to go find my grandmother. As I opened the door, I saw Grandma Qin and my grandmother walking towards me.

"Xiao Ci, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Grandmother asked anxiously as soon as she saw me. Then she glanced behind me and whispered, "Did that fox demon die?"

I forced a smile and recounted the recent events. Both grandmothers were taken aback but visibly relieved.

"This is good. This outcome is the best we could hope for. That creature's willingness to cooperate is rare. Girl, you must serve him well. He is of noble status. Do not argue with him or provoke his anger," Grandma Qin admonished me, her tone laced with worry.

You keep calling him a noble, yet you address him as a beast. How disrespectful, I thought silently.

Reluctantly, I muttered, "I'm just helping him accumulate virtue, not selling myself to him..."

Though I spoke quietly, Grandma Qin heard me. She glared at me, displeased. "Girl, to put it bluntly, you have sold yourself to him. A beast is still a beast, cold and unfeeling. If he becomes displeased, he won't show any mercy!"

Sensing my grandmother's stern gaze, I lowered my head and murmured that I understood.

Grandma Qin, who never liked noise, left after making sure things were resolved. Before departing, she glanced at my tattoo and sneered, "Accumulate virtue, revive his wife, ha..."

I caught the strange tone in her voice and wanted to ask more, but she had already walked away.

That night, I slept more soundly than I had in a long time, free from nightmares and visions of the great fox. I slept until dawn.

The next day, I had classes, so I rose early and went to the living room, where I saw breakfast laid out on the table.

"Xiao Ci, you're up? Come have breakfast," my grandmother called from the kitchen, the sound of utensils clattering in the background.

A sudden wave of emotion hit me. This simple life was what I cherished, but it seemed I might never have it again.

To hide my sorrow, I quickly finished my meal. As I left the village, I saw Wang Fengzi squatting at the entrance, catching ants. When he saw me, he stopped and knelt, bowing repeatedly.

What used to puzzle me now made sense. The villagers said he had yin-yang eyes and could see spirits and gods, so he was likely bowing to Li Fan.

As I pondered this, a voice sounded in my head, "He's not bowing to me..."

Li Fan's words were so faint I barely heard them, and I chose not to question further. Just then, the bus arrived, and after bidding my grandmother goodbye, I boarded.

The journey from home to school was long. On the bus, I absentmindedly traced the tattoo on my wrist. Tattoos were forbidden at school, especially one so conspicuous. It was fine in winter, but in summer, it would be a glaring target. If caught, I'd surely be the focus of the next disciplinary meeting.

I decided to buy a bracelet to cover it once I got off the bus. At that moment, my phone rang. It was a message from the student council.

"Student Bai Ci, please go to the city hospital immediately. Your sister Bai Zhi has suddenly collapsed, and we haven't been able to reach your parents. We had no choice but to contact you."

I agreed, worry gnawing at me. Bai Zhi, my younger sister by a year, had always been healthy. How could she suddenly collapse?

Though puzzled, I was more concerned than ever. After dropping my luggage at the security office, I rushed to the city hospital. Following directions, I finally found Bai Zhi's room.

"Are you the girl's sister? You should prepare yourself. Your sister is in a vegetative state. Contact your parents immediately," the doctor informed me.

I sat by Bai Zhi's bed, her face pale. She had always been close to me, and seeing her like this tore at my heart.

A cold breeze brushed past, and I sensed someone beside me. It was Li Fan. His sudden appearance startled me, especially in a room full of people.

Before I could speak, he said calmly, "Don't look for a reason. Your sister won't live for long. Prepare for her funeral."

"What? Why?" I asked, alarmed.

In the past, I'd have argued, but now, after all that had happened, I felt a strange mix of trust and fear towards him.

"Humans have three lights. If all three are lit, they are normal. Two of your sister's lights are out, and the last is flickering," Li Fan explained.

"What can we do?" I pleaded, hoping for a solution.

But Li Fan, indifferent, replied, "Nothing can be done. Just wait for her to die."

I was speechless.

I refused to believe he had no solution. He just didn't want to tell me. Glancing around, I realized this was a shared room with other patients and their families watching me, whispering. Their suspicious glances made me painfully aware that they couldn't see Li Fan, only I could.

Understanding the situation, I awkwardly led Li Fan to the restroom. The hospital was full of surveillance cameras, but the restroom was a safe haven.

"What are you doing?" Li Fan frowned.

"People can't see you. If I keep talking to the air, they'll think I'm crazy and lock me up. How can I then accumulate virtue to save your wife?" I explained.

His expression softened slightly but remained disdainful. "Next time, find a cleaner place. This is filthy."

I covered my face in exasperation. I, a pampered girl, hadn't complained, but here he was, picking faults.

No wonder Grandma Qin advised me to serve him well. His status wasn't just noble; he was like a living deity.