The next few days were too mundane and boring for Shen Minyao's liking. Although her engagement with Su Yin had been finally dissolved by the Shen family, Su Yin had been persistently trying to talk to her. However, how could she allow that man to ruin her day by making her look at his face? The fox woman made sure that Su Yin wouldn't be able to find her anywhere she went within the school premises.

Meanwhile, Li Fei'er didn't dare to come and speak to her, but the fox woman could sense the lingering stare the young woman was giving her. The thick scent of confusion and despair was coming from Li Fei'er, and Shen Minyao briefly thought of why Li Fei'er couldn't accept that she had already burned the bridge between them.

Li Fei'er was a human and a shaman, a natural enemy of a demon like her. If Li Fei'er chose to stay by her side once again, there was no assurance that Li Fei'er wouldn't lose her life because of the fox woman again.

"Aren't you bored by following me around like a puppy?" She asked Mu Qing, who had taken it upon himself to make sure that wherever they went, demons were at a constant distance from them.

Right now, he was up the tree with Shen Minyao. Mu Qing had taken a seat on one of the lower branches, while the fox woman admired the clear sky from another that she took.

If someone managed to see them right now, they would think that they were such an odd pair.

"I'm annoyed to see you slacking. You think I want to watch over you?" His handsome face contorted with a hint of annoyance. "Even if you have nothing else to do, don't pick a fight with me."

Mu Qing realized that the fox woman was waiting for something; as to what it was, he had no idea. However, he could only surmise that Xuan Yanrui was related to it. He knew that the fox woman didn't like being threatened. Her pride wouldn't allow her to do so.

If anything, Mu Qing wouldn't be surprised if she was already conceiving several ways to kill the man with her own hands. It made him wonder just what kind of person Xuan Yanrui was before the man turned into a demon like what the report said.

He glanced at Shen Minyao's face, and immediately, he figured out no one knew Xuan Yanrui the best, if not this fox demon.

"You want to ask something?" Shen Minyao broke the silence between them.

Mu Qing raised a slender brow at her, but he reckoned that it was pointless to lie to her.

"Xuan Yanrui.. what kind of person is he?" He asked.

"An annoying person, what else? If you want to know more about him, why don't you pick up history books and read them instead of annoying me like this." Shen Minyao brushed off the invisible dirt on her skirt before jumping down to the ground.

Xuan Yanrui was enough to piss her off. To think that, even to this day, the man could annoy her just from the thought of him. This was enough for the fox woman to think of several ways to get even with him.

As she took a turn at the next corner to return to the classroom, she found Li Fei'er still standing in the same place where she had seen the human earlier. Shen Minyao met her gaze, while Li Fei'er's remained troubled. It seemed that the human still didn't have the courage to say anything.

"W-wait!" Li Fei'er called after her when Shen Minyao walked past and ignored her.

The fox woman turned around and faced her.

"You want to tell me something?" She crossed her arms over her chest and noticed that Li Fei'er wasn't wearing her outer coat on such a windy day. Li Fei'er looked distracted these days, but Shen Minyao didn't want to think that she was the reason behind it.

Shen Minyao saw that Li Fei'er's lips quivered as she tried to gather all the courage she had to say whatever she wanted.

"If you aren't going to say anything, I'm leaving." The fox woman sighed.

"No, wait. I just want.."

"You just want what?" Shen Minyao questioned her, not daring to look away.

"Can't we really be friends?" Li Fei'er was almost at the point of crying.

"Despite the fact that I'm a demon?" Shen Minyao didn't dare to hide her curiosity over Li Fei'er's choice.

Li Fei'er took a deep breath and looked Shen Minyao straight in the eyes. This was 'now or never'. She didn't think Shen Minyao would give her another chance like this to clear up the situation between them.

"Yes, I don't care." She decided. So what if Shen Minyao was a demon?

Even if she was a demon, Shen Minyao had clearly taken priority of her safety right from their very first meeting. How could Li Fei'er think lowly of her friend? Moreover, Shen Minyao was the first person she befriended since coming back to Jiang City.

"I still don't know what kind of person—no, demon you are, but I would like it if I learn more about you." She paused. "Shen Minyao, I thought we were best friends."

"Aren't you afraid of me?" Shen Minyao continued to probe. She wondered if she was once again failing to take control of the situation. Heck, she would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy Li Fei'er's company at all.

"I'm sure I'm not. There's no doubt about it." The human let out an awkward laugh. If Shen Minyao was truly a demon, then she would really be in grave danger if she stayed close to Shen Minyao. It's just.. so what?

She didn't want to be a sanctimonious person, but how could she judge Shen Minyao? It wasn't her place to tell and judge the demon's way, since she barely knew anything about how the demons live their lives.

"Do you mind?" She asked the fox demon in return. She had no idea why Shen Minyao was keeping her distance.. when it was clear that the demoness was also concerned about her wellbeing. historical

Was this Shen Minyao's way of protecting her?

"Do you really think I care what people and you, humans, think about me?" Shen Minyao scoffed, resuming her stroll. She was also aware that Li Fei'er followed her back inside the school building, where they would be protected from the biting coldness of the wind outside.

"No, I guess not," Li Fei'er replied, finally relaxing a bit upon hearing Shen Minyao's answer. She suddenly felt that it had been a long time since she and Shen Minyao had a conversation like this.

Seeing the way that Shen Minyao's expression softened a bit, Li Fei'er tried to suppress the smile that was about to spread on her lips. However, the fox demon already knew it from her scent.

"So, does this mean I can still be your friend?" Li Fei'er felt her chest tighten a bit from nervousness as she did a side glance at Shen Minyao.

The fox woman remained silent. She also couldn't tell what the right answer to that question was. The only thing that was stopping her from letting Li Fei'er stay in her life and get involved with her.. was her fear that she would commit the same mistake she made in her past life.

But, heck.. she was a pompous, arrogant demon. Since when did she care about others' opinions over her choices? If she wanted it, she wanted it. However, keeping Li Fei'er next to her would mean that she needed to get stronger to be able to protect this weak human.

Those humans and demons who insulted Feng Jiu in the past had met their untimely deaths anyway. If someone dared to harm Li Fei'er again, then she only needed to make them silent forever, right?

Li Fei'er had no idea that Shen Minyao was having such a dangerous thought. It was better for it to stay that way anyway. The fox woman wasn't sure how the human next to her would take it if Li Fei'er knew how wicked and dark she was. She was a demon through and through, and it wouldn't change anything.

Shen Minyao took a deep breath for the umpteenth time. Why were Mu Qing and Li Fei'er so determined to annoy her today with their questions? Couldn't they just leave her alone for a moment?

"Do whatever you want. I don't care." Shen Minyao shrugged and entered the classroom, leaving Li Fei'er behind. She needed not to explain more of her answer, as she was sure that Li Fei'er wasn't that dumb not to know.

Li Fei'er's face brightened up as she understood what Shen Minyao's words meant.. She was being given the chance to decide for herself, without anyone forcing her into it.