CHAPTER 83: FLUFFY’S REAL FORM

Ling Yu crossed her arms, tapping her chin with her free hand as if deliberating their fate. "Such bold accusations... What kind of punishment do you think suits nosy children who can’t keep their thoughts to themselves?"

Nie Ziyu’s face drained of color. "Punishment?!"

Song, still with his cheek slightly reddened from her squishing, exhaled quietly. "Master, perhaps—"

"No, no," Ling Yu cut him off smoothly, her eyes glinting with playful cruelty. "A mistake must be corrected. Hm... yes, I’ve decided. Since the two of you are so curious about romantic matters, you can spend tonight feeding and babysitting Fluffy. Together."

At once, the little ball of fluff perked up from where it had been curled in Ye Qingxue’s lap, chirping with glee as if it understood perfectly. It bounced over to Nie Ziyu, rubbing against his arm affectionately.

Nie Ziyu’s expression twisted in horror. "What?! No! Why me?!"

Ye Qingxue laughed despite herself, though a faint blush colored her cheeks. "...I suppose it’s not too bad."

Ling Yu smirked, satisfied with their reactions. "Good. Then it’s settled. You two can reflect on your gossip while keeping Fluffy entertained. Consider it... enlightenment training."

Song’s lips twitched faintly at her decree, but he said nothing, his gaze flicking over Ling Yu with an unreadable softness before turning back to the others.

Meanwhile, Nie Ziyu’s outraged protests mixed with Fluffy’s happy cooing, drawing amused glances from other survivors nearby. For a fleeting moment, amidst the looming catastrophe, the air around them seemed to have lightened just a little.

Fluffy chirped again, as if eager to join the reunion, and Song’s gaze flicked to the creature curiously. He raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of surprise and amusement.

"...You’ve picked up a companion, Master."

Nie Ziyu’s eyes widened. "I almost forgot to ask, what is that?" He leaned closer, his royal bearing momentarily forgotten as his curiosity took over. "It’s... cute."

Fluffy cooed happily, puffing up like a tiny proud ball of fur, basking in the attention. Ye Qingxue reached out cautiously, her fingers brushing its side. When Fluffy didn’t resist, she smiled faintly, the tension in her shoulders easing.

"Cute?"

Ling Yu’s smile widened into a grin. She snapped her fingers, and Fluffy, who had been bouncing happily around their feet, perked up, tilting its head as though it had just been summoned for an important mission.

"Fluffy," Ling Yu said, pointing dramatically at the two culprits, "show them your true form."

Fluffy blinked its beady eyes, then let out a curious chirp.

Ye Qingxue tilted her head. "True... form?"

"Yes," Ling Yu said with mock gravity. "You really think Fluffy is just some harmless little creature I picked up on the roadside? Let me enlighten you." She crouched down beside Fluffy, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"This adorable thing is actually a dungeon monster. It hides its appearance behind a cute little shell, but in reality—" Ling Yu cupped her hands around her mouth as if she were about to tell a horror story around a campfire. "—it has razor-sharp teeth, gleaming fangs dripping with poison, and claws sharp enough to cut through steel. One wrong move, and snap! There goes your arm."

Fluffy, hearing this slander, looked utterly betrayed. It puffed up its fur in indignation, hopping twice on the ground as though protesting: Chirp! Chirp!

Ye Qingxue and Nie Ziyu stiffened, their faces going pale.

Song, ever the calm one, finally chuckled softly. "Don’t scare them too much, Master. They’ll really believe you."

Ling Yu ignored him, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she continued spinning her tale. "At night, it transforms. You’ll wake up to glowing red eyes staring at you in the dark, teeth gnashing like a saw. And if you scream—well..." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "No one will ever find your body."

Ye Qingxue squeaked and took a step back. "Y-You’re lying! Don’t forget that I’m a high school student! Such silly stories won’t scare me!" she stammered, though the way her eyes darted nervously toward Fluffy betrayed her doubts.

Nie Ziyu tried to put on a brave front, though the corner of his lips twitched. "If it’s that scary, why are you keeping it?"

"Because it listens to me," Ling Yu said smoothly, stroking Fluffy’s fur with exaggerated tenderness. "Right now, it likes me best. But who knows? If I get bored, maybe I’ll let it taste someone else..."

Fluffy squealed angrily, climbing up Ling Yu’s arm and perching indignantly on her shoulder, its fluffy cheeks puffed up. It chirped furiously, almost as if saying, How dare you slander me like this?

Ling Yu chuckled at its indignation, scratching its little chin until it reluctantly quieted down, though it still sulked with narrowed eyes.

Watching the scene, Song shook his head. "Master, you’re going to traumatize them."

"Trauma builds character," Ling Yu replied matter-of-factly. Then she gave the other two a pointed look. "Besides, maybe next time they’ll think twice before whispering behind my back."

Ye Qingxue and Nie Ziyu looked at each other, both red-faced and speechless.

Finally, unable to hold back anymore, Song let out a soft laugh, the sound low and rare. It was a laugh Ling Yu hadn’t heard in so long; it made her chest ache with nostalgia. For a moment, she let herself simply enjoy it.

But she didn’t drop the act. Smiling wickedly, she added one last jab. "Don’t worry, though. Fluffy doesn’t usually eat humans unless provoked. Usually."

Fluffy immediately chirped again, almost yelling this time, as though denying her words with all its tiny might.

This time, Ye Qingxue and Nie Ziyu laughed despite themselves. The tension broke, and even Ling Yu couldn’t stop the corners of her lips from twitching upward.

For a moment, the camp’s oppressive atmosphere seemed lighter.

The system’s voice echoed softly in Ling Yu’s mind:

[Host... they like Fluffy. See? It’s bringing them happiness.]

Ling Yu ignored the subtle nudge.

Happiness was just a fleeting emotion, after all.