Su Ningyan sprawled across the bed, sleeping soundly.
It was midnight in the manor. Music drifted faintly through the walls, carried by the night air, accompanied by the rich scent of food.
Even in sleep, the melody threaded softly into his dreams.
Then the chain around his neck materialized.
It tugged sharply.
Ningyan jolted awake with a gasp, shooting upright as the cold metal nudged his collarbone. His heart pounded as he stared down at the long chain, stretching outward like it was pulled by an unseen hand.
The moment he touched it, it vanished.
He frowned deeply. "That bastard."
He slid off the bed, dressed only in loose pants and his inner robe, hair disheveled as he rubbed sleep from his eyes. Padding toward the window, he pushed it open and leaned out.
A quiet courtyard greeted him. A tree and a few guards stationed in the distance.
"Hmm." Frowning, Ningyan turned away and followed the music.
He didn't bother fixing his robe, chest half-exposed as he wandered through the manor.
With every step, the sound of laughter grew louder, the air warmer, richer, until he stepped into a vast chamber bathed in lantern light.
The sight stole his breath.
Men and women dressed in elegant robes filled the space, their faces adorned with delicate makeup and the crimson nine-tailed sigil painted on their foreheads.
Some lounged across glittering silks suspended like swings, moving with effortless grace, while others danced barefoot across polished floors, tails swaying, laughter bright and unrestrained.
It was beautiful.
This was the Vermillion Fox Clan.
Ningyan remembered the novel's descriptions well, especially Yan Wuhen. They were foxes who lived for indulgence, for pleasure, for endless celebration born from boredom and excess.
There were no guards in sight.
He stood there, openly staring, until a light tap landed on his shoulder.
He gasped and spun around.
Tu Lanyin smiled at him, dressed in flowing white, her silver eyes gentle beneath the lantern glow.
"Ningyan, are you okay?"
He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh… what's going on? Why is there a celebration?"
Tu Lanyin giggled softly, her eyes crinkling. "There's always a celebration here." She tilted her head. "Do you want to join us?"
Ningyan looked back at the dancers, the music, the warmth.
Book Su Ningyan never did things like this.
But he wasn't book Ningyan.
And even if he was bound to Yan Wuhen, he refused to let that chain steal every small joy he could grasp.
He turned back to Tu Lanyin and gave a wide, genuine smile. "Yes! But I want to dress up."
Tu Lanyin laughed. "Come on."
She turned and led him to another chamber. Unlike the room Ningyan had been staying in, this one was clearly lived in with weapon racks lined one wall, a sword resting neatly among them, personal ornaments arranged with care.
It made Ningyan realise that the chamber he had been sleeping in… wasn't Yan Wuhen's personal quarters after all. That made sense. The fox prince was rarely there... rarely anywhere, really.
Tu Lanyin retrieved a set of robes from a lacquered chest.
They were deep crimson, threaded with shimmering gold, accompanied by a delicate veil meant to drape across the face.
She dressed him with ease while Ningyan watched his reflection in the mirror, delight warming his chest as the fabric settled against his skin.
He noticed her gaze linger on the scars. On the faint gashes traced across his exposed flesh... the old wounds, poorly healed.
Tu Lanyin's eyes flickered with curiosity, but she said nothing. She simply continued dressing him, fastening gold-beaded anklets around his ankles, painting the crimson nine-tailed sigil onto his forehead, brushing his hair smooth.
Then she spoke.
"Why did you cut your hair?" she asked softly. "It was really pretty, you know. Not that this isn't... but it's strange. You cut it so suddenly."
Ningyan pressed his lips together as she finished the mark, then smiled at his reflection.
"It was too long."
That answer made her pause.
"Too long?"
"Yes."
She blinked, then laughed quietly. "I thought it was symbolic. Like chasing away karma."
Ningyan nodded, touching his cheek, admiring the unfamiliar beauty staring back at him. "Honestly… that works too."
Tu Lanyin stared at him for a moment, as if he were an anomaly.
Then she smiled.
Ningyan found himself wondering why someone like her was here at all. He was about to ask when a woman peeked into the chamber. She was a fox as well, and her eyes widened slightly when she spotted him.
"Young Mistress," she said, bowing. "It is time for your dance."
Tu Lanyin smiled. "I'll be right there."
The woman nodded and hurried away.
Ningyan glanced at Tu Lanyin. A dance?
She was clearly more important to the Vermillion Fox Clan than he'd assumed.
"How fast can you learn a dance?" Tu Lanyin suddenly asked.
Ningyan stared at her with wide eyes, then straightened, rising slightly over her.
Fast?
He nodded eagerly. "Fast."
Tu Lanyin beamed and lifted her hands, swaying gracefully. "Look at me."
Ningyan watched with complete focus as she moved, her body flowing effortlessly through each step.
The dance was elegant, precise every motion careful. He mirrored her instinctively, testing the movements as she demonstrated them.
She was good. Very good.
And yet, to his own surprise, his body followed without resistance. This body was flexible, agile, perfectly suited for movement. His muscles remembered what his mind already knew.
He had been a contemporary dancer in college. He participated in competitions. He was used to stages and applause.
That part of him hadn't disappeared.
Minutes passed quickly. Just as Tu Lanyin finished the last sequence, the fox woman from earlier returned, stepping into the chamber.
"It is time, Young Mistress."
Tu Lanyin nodded. "Let's go."
She turned to Ningyan, smiling brightly. "Are you ready?"
Ningyan grinned beneath his veil. "I was born ready."
She laughed, and together they left the chamber.
The party hall was vast, alive with music and movement. Men and women assembled in formation, elegant and poised.
Ningyan took his place among them while Tu Lanyin stepped to the front.
His throat tightened.
So many eyes...
Invited beasts from various clans watched from elevated seats, their gazes sharp and curious.
And then... He saw him.
Yan Wuhen sat lazily among the honored guests, his twin sister Yan Qinghe beside him.
Ningyan stiffened.
He had almost forgotten about her.
In the original story, Yan Qinghe had despised Su Ningyan for intruding into Yan Wuhen's life. That hatred had eventually cost her everything. She had died by her brother's hand because of him.
Her presence made Ningyan nervous.
Yan Wuhen's eyes, however, were focused solely on Ningyan, locked onto the sliver of violet visible beneath the veil.
Ningyan swallowed.
The music began.
He exhaled slowly, pushing every thought aside. "Just dance."