Chapter 51: I have not been tamed

“Tame… me?”

Su Mumu murmured blankly, trying to chew over the meaning of those words.

“A smart little fox knows what to do, right?” Jiang Mengxin asked softly.

“…I, I understand.” Su Mumu swallowed hard. ‘This is a strategic retreat. First, I’ll give in…’

Jiang Mengxin smiled with satisfaction.

She stood up, pulled some hay, and threw it on the snow. Then she paced to the cave entrance to pick up some firewood, stacking it into a small pile.

Flipping her palm, a small flying sword appeared.

Jiang Mengxin used the flying sword to start a fire, much like rubbing sticks together. On this cold, snowy night, she successfully lit the flames.

Su Mumu felt a wave of emotion.

Just moments ago, to roast the rabbit, she had squatted at the cave entrance drilling wood for a long time! Her palms were nearly rubbed raw.

The firewood was intentionally increased, and warmth filled the cave. It was soft, warm, and full of security. Outside, the wind and snow roared — it was like two completely opposite worlds.

Soon, the rabbit began to sizzle with oil.

Jiang Mengxin used a branch to skewer it. She held the branch, sat by the haystack, and began to eat on her own.

The sounds of chewing, swallowing, and the crackling of the fire mixed together. As the scent of meat reached her nose, Su Mumu’s stomach rumbled betrayingly.

*Gurgle, gurgle—*

“Hungry?” Jiang Mengxin looked over.

Su Mumu muttered softly, “You eat. I won’t.”

“Tch.” Jiang Mengxin clicked her tongue in displeasure.

The next moment, a piece of fragrant meat was held to Su Mumu’s mouth.

She was confused, her face full of bewilderment as she searched Jiang Mengxin’s unhappy expression for an answer.

“You don’t have the right to choose right now,” Jiang Mengxin said coldly. “And you aren’t allowed to talk back to me.”

“Fine.” Su Mumu felt dazed and dejected.

“Eat,” Jiang Mengxin commanded.

“Huh?” Su Mumu was puzzled.

“Don’t you understand?” Jiang Mengxin’s tone grew colder.

“I… I’ll eat.” Su Mumu opened her mouth. The food was roughly stuffed in, bite after bite. As she ate, she noticed something. “Aren’t you eating?”

Almost more than half the rabbit was gone.

“I don’t eat things you’ve already touched,” Jiang Mengxin said.

“I’m not dirty! I have very good hygiene!” Su Mumu grumbled.

Immediately, her fox ear was pinched hard again. Tears instantly welled in her eyes, and a cry escaped her throat.

*Eeek…!!!*

“First warning. No talking back. Do exactly what I tell you,” Jiang Mengxin said impatiently. “Finish it quickly.”

“…Fine.” Su Mumu cursed her inwardly.

‘Stupid Xin Xin, stupid Xin Xin! Why are you acting so arrogant? All you do is bully this fox… I’ll eat. I’ll eat all the meat and leave you hungry!’

Seeing the little fox girl eat faster, Jiang Mengxin’s expression softened slightly. “Good girl.”

“…Pah.” Su Mumu spat out a piece of bone and turned her head away. ‘I can’t take this anymore!’

“Heh!” Jiang Mengxin laughed in anger and tossed aside the remaining scraps. “You fox, you’ve got a stubborn streak, don’t you?”

“I’m thirsty,” Su Mumu said.

“You reminded me.” Jiang Mengxin remembered something and took out a small storage bag. She poured out a pile of pots, pans, bottled water, and dried fruit snacks.

*Clatter.*

She set a pot on the fire and poured in the bottled water. It was time to hydrate.

***

After a while, the water warmed up. Jiang Mengxin poured herself a cup of warm water and enjoyed it elegantly. Sitting by the fire while drinking hot water to warm her body — how comfortable.

“Give me a sip too!” Su Mumu called out.

“Beg me,” Jiang Mengxin said.

“What!?” Su Mumu’s lips twitched. “Wait, Sister, do you really think I’m a pet? Don’t do this…”

“Suit yourself.” Jiang Mengxin simply continued warming herself.

“Um, Sister Jiang, I was joking just now. Can I have some water? My throat is so dry…” Su Mumu said pitifully.

But Jiang Mengxin ignored her completely.

“Did you hear me? Hello? Is my mic lagging?” Su Mumu babbled. “Don’t use the silent treatment; it’s hurtful… Answer me.”

“Tch.” Jiang Mengxin’s brow twitched.

At that, Su Mumu immediately shut up. Truth be told, she was actually a bit afraid of the current Jiang Mengxin.

‘Dammit, should I just self-destruct? If this continues, I’ll really become a fox toy.’

Su Mumu was torn. ‘But self-destructing in this situation might lead to something even worse… Argh, so annoying!’

After a long internal struggle, Su Mumu finally chose to go with the flow. As the saying goes, a wise person submits to circumstances.

“Sister Jiang, please… let me have some water.”

Her voice was so tiny it was almost inaudible.

“Hmm?” Jiang Mengxin glanced over. “I can’t hear you.”

“…Hiss.” Su Mumu bit her lower lip, feeling her cheeks burning. “Please let me have some water… I’m uncomfortable. My mouth is dry.”

“Say it again,” Jiang Mengxin said with a smile.

Su Mumu locked eyes with those amber eyes — deep and beautiful. They were the same as the eyes in that nightmare from not long ago.

A fascinating, dangerous light flickered within them. At any moment, something even worse could break out.

‘This is just part of the strategic retreat… It’s only temporary… I’m not being tamed.’

“Sister Jiang, I beg you, let me have some water…” Su Mumu’s face turned crimson. She wanted to bury her head in the ground.

‘Please! This is so psychologically uncomfortable! I feel like maggots are crawling all over me!’

“Drink,” Jiang Mengxin said flatly.

The cup was brought to her lips. Su Mumu saw the faint lipstick mark on the rim, and her thoughts raced.

“You can use this cup from now on.” Jiang Mengxin was sharp, possessing the power to see through human nature.

Since she had said it, Su Mumu didn’t care anymore.

*Gulp, gulp.* She sucked it down like a storm, greedily hydrating herself. Even after her thirst was quenched, she kept drinking.

‘This water was bought with my dignity! I have to drink as much as possible! What if I don’t get another chance?’

“Haven’t had enough?” Jiang Mengxin frowned. “That’s already the third cup.”

“Can I have… three more?” Su Mumu asked cautiously.

“So annoying,” Jiang Mengxin urged. “Hurry up. I want to sleep.”

Su Mumu thought Jiang Mengxin would refuse. It was a bit surprising.

‘Maybe she just hates foxes. Her true nature isn’t actually bad.’

After finishing the last three cups, Su Mumu’s little belly was bloated. She let out a burp. ‘Oops, almost threw up. Ugh… I feel like a capybara.’

“Don’t crowd me,” Jiang Mengxin said one last time. She turned onto her side, closed her eyes, and slowed her breathing.

They slept at the same end.

Su Mumu moved her body slightly, trying to stay further away. She was tied up like a mess anyway; no matter how bad her sleeping position was, it couldn’t get much worse.

‘Fine, fine. Let’s sleep.’

Su Mumu closed her eyes and let her nerves relax.

Time passed quickly. On the snowy night, the whistling wind felt like a blade, screeching as it scraped against the bone. The rhythm was chaotic.

It made it a bit hard to sleep… and it made her feel an urgent need to use the bathroom.

Su Mumu snapped her eyes open and began to squirm restlessly.

‘Shoot, I need to relieve myself.’