“Boss lady, this outfit is absolutely no good… it shows too much…”
Yelena shyly hugged her collar and conjured three more ink-black fox tails, stacking them in front of her to form a “fur wall.”
The female tailor of the clothing shop held a light purple gauze skirt in her hands, her expression even more serious than a palace guard reading an imperial decree.
“Lady Yelena, this is already the most conservative cook’s outfit.”
“You call this conservative? It might work on humans, but don’t try it on a fox!”
Yelena lowered her head slightly, glanced at the translucent sleeves and the sheer hem that showed her skin, then her ears instantly drooped down like tiny airplane wings, and her cheeks flushed even redder than before.
“Have mercy on me! If I wear this to stir-fry, even the wok would be too embarrassed to steam!”
On a bench nearby, Yiweite held a cup of black tea, her eyes lecherously scanning back and forth, her smile extremely punchable.
“It’s fine. Later, show all nine tails—convenient for me to see… ahem, convenient for the boss lady to take measurements.”
‘Convenient for you to see the tails? You’re tripping over your own words—who are you trying to fool!’
Yelena was so furious she nearly threw the clothes on the ground.
The boss lady of Marguerite’s Clothing Shop cleared her throat.
“The Sword Saint requires the fabric to be light, so it doesn’t weigh down the tails. The waist must be cinched, so it doesn’t hinder Lady Yelena’s movements. The sleeves must be short, so they don’t get stained with oil.”
Yelena braced herself and listened carefully, then gave Yiweite a dead-fish stare and said, “Translate it.”
“Looks good, shows off the waist, reveals the tail.”
Yelena fell silent, only wanting to cover her reddened face.
‘These perverted requirements are too obvious!’
Yiweite set down her black tea and tapped the table with her knuckles.
“Try it on.”
Yelena took two big steps back. “No, no, absolutely not!”
“If you try it on and wear it at home every day from now on, I’ll reward you with a hundred gold coins.”
…
‘It’s not about the money!’ Yelena thought. ‘Deep down, I still consider myself a man. Yeah, this is a matter of life and death—a matter of male dignity.’
But the system kept insisting she raise Yiweite’s affection points to unlock new secret treasure functions.
No choice… She might as well try to please her for now, so the points wouldn’t drop instead.
A quarter of an hour later, the rustling sounds from behind the fitting room stopped.
Yelena stepped out wearing the custom light purple cook’s dress. The steam rising from her head could almost boil water.
The hem was short, just past her knees, perfectly showing off her fair calves.
A silver-white apron tied at her waist, with naturally adjustable tightness, perfectly accentuated her curves.
Yelena channeled her magic, making all nine black tails appear. The nine tails spread out from the specially designed back opening, swaying freely, with a gradient of crimson at the tips—like the finishing touch to a painting, eerie yet harmonious.
Her ink-black hair hung at her shoulders, her shoulders well hidden by the shoulder ornaments, but her collarbone and the not-so-tightly wrapped curves beneath were still visible.
The unique rose fragrance of Yelena spread, and her eyes were full of shame and annoyance.
The room fell silent. The maid Anna also blushed. The tailor’s eyes lit up as she circled Yelena with a measuring tape.
“All I can say is, the nine-tailed celestial fox is too stunning. I don’t know what words to use…”
“Boss lady, you’ve already been paid ten times the usual fee. Remember to keep this a secret. I don’t like those who betray me—you should know the consequences.”
Yiweite warned the tailor in a cold voice while giving instructions.
“Understood… Lady Sword Saint.”
After the tailor lady took her pay and left the Sword Saint Mansion, Yelena stood there thinking, the world of the rich is truly filthy.
But Yiweite still stared at her intently, unable to get up from the bench for a long time.
“Stop staring… If you keep it up, I’ll dig a hole and hide!” Yelena felt a chill and broke the silence.
“I was thinking, what would Ai Sha’s reaction be if she saw this beautiful sight?” Yiweite said lazily.
“What do you mean?” Yelena’s tone turned impatient at the mention of Ai Sha.
“Such a beautiful fox, and she just threw you away. I think she must be truly blind.”
Yelena felt a pang in her heart. The memory of her curled up in an alley corner under the cold rain seemed to replay in her mind.
Her heart didn’t ache, but it was annoying.
Yelena pouted and turned her head, her fox tail swishing. “Don’t mention her, okay?”
Yiweite gave a faint smile. “Alright, I won’t.”
So easy? Yelena was stunned for a moment.
[Ding, current status: Yiweite Affection Points increased from 30 to 40. Emotion Menu function unlocked.]
In the midst of their flirting, Yelena successfully heard the system notification, so her dignity hadn’t been wasted in vain.
Time to cook. She looked at Yiweite, then toward the kitchen.
Time to test the new function.
“Haven’t you rested? Have some tea?” Yiweite had already guessed her thoughts. “I’ve had the kitchen renovated according to the chef’s instructions.”
“I can’t freeload off your room, board, and money. The kitchen is my battlefield—don’t you get it?”
Eagerly, Yelena followed Yiweite to the kitchen.
She excitedly picked up the Chinese-style wok that had been made according to her blueprints, gave it a light toss to feel its weight—it was perfectly balanced. She was satisfied.
She set the wok down and gently touched the stove. This renovation was no simple thing.
“What exactly did you renovate? I only said I needed a special wok and a magic stove.”
“Soft cushions under the stove, non-slip wooden knife racks, a temperature-control magic array carved into the oven, purification stones in the water tank, and a magic refrigeration unit for the palace.”
Yelena was stunned into silence. Money really was nice.
The game lore did say the Astreia Family was wealthier than a nation, completely beyond the Parisio Family’s reach…
But she also appreciated the rich woman’s care. It was indeed warm.
Just then, Yiweite suddenly approached and hugged Yelena from behind.
“You smell so good.”
Her fiery red hair fell down, carrying the intense heat of her fire element. Then she whispered in Yelena’s ear, “My personal chef—if you cut even a layer of skin off your hand, it’s my fault as the Sword Saint.”
Yelena was so startled that all but one of her tails disappeared, and she bristled like a spooked fox.
Why is this woman so close?
Doesn’t she know foxes are naturally timid?!
But after a moment of thought, Yelena didn’t hold it against her. The empty place in her heart seemed to be filled with something warm.
The warmth that had been stuffed in was hot enough, but it wouldn’t hurt her—just like the magic stove here, which wouldn’t burn her fingers.
…
In the kitchen.
Yiweite sat at the dining table, chin propped on one hand, smiling as she watched Yelena work.
Soon, a plate of perfectly colored and fragrant Blast Flame Roasted Wings was complete!
The wings were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the hot air filled with an appetizing spicy aroma.
Yiweite’s care for Yelena today had already become the seasoning of this dish, blending into the cooking. This was the function of the Emotion Menu, and also the special emotion Yelena had captured today.
She checked the system. The Blast Flame Roasted Wings were rated as Good • Mid-tier High-level Breakthrough.
“Miss Yiweite, please have a taste.”
The moment Yelena spoke, Yiweite immediately picked up one wing and bit into it.
It was a farm-raised chicken. As she chewed, the crispy skin crackled, and the juices burst in her mouth. The spiciness turned into a warm fire that rushed straight to the top of her head.
Behind Yiweite, the nodachi trembled slightly, and the temperature around them began to rise. Her internal magic had finally broken through its bottleneck!
[Ding, current status: Yiweite Affection Points increased from 40 to 50. Emotion Menu full activation progress: 12%. Please collect more intense emotions from the host until it is fully unlocked.]
“How does it taste, Miss Yiweite?”
Yiweite didn’t answer. She finished one wing, then picked up a second, then a third.
When the sixth wing on the plate was gone, she finally looked up and spoke. “Is there more?”
Yelena finally understood. The silence meant she was too hooked to talk.
“Oh my, you’re proving it’s good with your actions, huh? But leave the farm chicken’s main body for me.” Yelena raised an eyebrow and smiled. “There’s more, don’t rush. Please wait a moment. I’ll change the marinade—instead of red pepper powder, I’ll use honey and malt beer. I’ll make a sweet version for you to try.”