Chapter :15Â
Borrowing Fortune from the Great and Powerful
Guan Xuxu hurriedly ran down the stairs, and as soon as she reached the first floor, a snow-white shadow darted toward her feet and deftly climbed up her legs until it nestled snugly in her arms.
The butler and guards chasing the little fox froze at the sight.
At the same time, the other members of the Jiang family also noticed the small fox in Guan Xuxuâs arms.
âXuxu, donât tell me you brought that fox here?â Yao Lin was the first to react, her face filled with shock. âThatâs a fox! There are children in the houseâwhat if it bites someone?â
âThatâs right! I said it last nightâno furry animals in the house! And this one never listens!â Jiang Su, who had come down after hearing the commotion, immediately poured oil on the fire.
âThis fox belongs to me,â Guan Xuxu said firmly, holding the little creature close. âBut it wonât hurt anyone.â
âFoxes are wild animals; they canât be tamed. How can we trust you when you say it wonât bite?â
The one interrupting was Jiang Han from the second branch of the family, a boy around Guan Xuxuâs age. His cold gaze made it clear he was far from welcoming her return.
Jiang Su immediately echoed him. âYeah, exactly!â
Sensing Jiang Suâs hostility, the little fox lifted its head from Guan Xuxuâs chest and bared its teeth at him in warning.
âSee? SEE?â Jiang Su yelled, jumping back and pointing accusingly.
At that moment, another childish voice, trembling with fear, rang out.
âMom, Iâm scared! Get rid of it! Please!â
It was Jiang Ying, the six-and-a-half-year-old daughter of the second branch, clinging to Yao Linâs leg in terror.
When Jiang Huai entered the house, this was exactly the scene he walked in onâGuan Xuxu standing at the bottom of the stairs with a fox in her arms, surrounded by onlookers as if she were being publicly tried.
The usual smile on his lips turned cold as he stepped forward.
âI gave Xuxu permission to keep this fox. If anyone has a problem with it, take it up with me.â
Everyone froze, disbelief written across their faces. Jiang Huaiâs approval carried weightâtoo much to challenge.
Lu Xuexi stepped forward, her tone gentle.
âCousin, weâre not blaming Xuxu. Itâs just⊠this fox appeared so suddenly, and you know about Grandmotherâs conditionâŠâ
Her words trailed off, but everyone understood the implication.
The Jiang familyâs matriarch despised furry animals. None were ever allowed in the house. Her health was frail, and no one dared to go against her wishes. She was currently recovering at a mountain resort, but if she returned and saw a fox here, her condition might worsen.
Lu Xuexi was subtly reminding Jiang Huai: You canât make decisions for everyone.
Still smiling faintly, Jiang Huai gave her a brief glance.
âIâll explain it to Grandmother myself,â he saidâhis tone leaving no room for argument.
Then he turned to the servants behind him.
âSet up a pet house in the east garden. Make sure it has a proper roof.â
Only then did everyone notice the two craftsmen standing quietly behind him, carrying wood and toolsâit seemed he had even prepared a home for the fox.
Last night, Guan Xuxu had heard Jiang Huai say she could keep the fox, but she hadnât expected him to go as far as arranging a house for it by the next morning.
Her arms tightened around the fox, Hu Piaoliang. She completely abandoned the idea of returning it to her old rental.
This wasnât mere kindnessâJiang Huaiâs authority acted as a shield. With his backing, Jiang Su and the others could do nothing but wait for the old matriarch to return and see how far Jiang Huai would go to protect his sister.
Unaware of their scheming, Guan Xuxu carried the fox back to her room, changed her clothes, ate breakfast, and brushed the animalâs fur until it gleamed. Once satisfied, she left the house with it in her arms.
Sheâd slept late and it was already 10:30 a.m. Chu Beihe was probably at work by now, but after causing so much trouble last night, she decided to visit first to apologize.
To her surprise, Chu Beihe was still home.
Dressed impeccably in a suit, he radiated a golden aura so dazzling it seemed as if he were wrapped in gold leaf.
Guan Xuxu blinked, adjusting her eyes to the brilliance, and stepped forward with the fox in her arms.
âMr. Chu, youâre still home?â
He narrowed his eyes slightly at her playful tone, his expression cool and unreadable.
âYou said youâd come early in the morning.â
She blinked again. Wait⊠was he actually waiting for me?
Every minute of his time must be worth millionsâwas he really that free?
While she was focused on the âvisit,â Chu Beihe was focused on the âappointment.â One of his compulsive traits was that he always honored his wordâand expected others to do the same. She had said sheâd come âearly,â and so he waited.
However, his definition of âearlyâ was not 10:30.
âIâm truly sorry about last night,â Guan Xuxu said, bowing slightly. âMy fox caused you trouble. This is a protective talisman I carved myselfâplease accept it as an apology.â
She offered him a small pouch containing a jade token engraved with the words âWelcoming Fortune and Blessings.â
Chu Beihe didnât need charmsâhis fortune was already overflowing. That was precisely why she chose this one: a charm meant to âborrowâ some of his golden luck for herself.
He accepted the pouch but didnât open it, handing it instead to his butler.
âYou should wear it for it to work,â Guan Xuxu quickly reminded him.
He paused, then gestured for the butler to return it. He slipped the pouch into his suit pocket himself.
Seeing that, Guan Xuxu smiled in satisfaction.
The apology done, Chu Beihe stood to leave. Guan Xuxu followed with her fox in tow.
As they walked side by side, she subtly reached out and made a scooping motion toward the golden aura surrounding himâand to her astonishment, two specks of gold light fell into her palm.
Her apricot eyes widened in disbelief.
It actually worked!
âWhat are you doing?â His deep voice broke the moment. There was no way he could miss such a movement.
Keeping a straight face, Guan Xuxu replied calmly, âMr. Chu, youâre heading out, right? Could I catch a ride?â
His gaze lingered on her face before flicking briefly to the talisman in his pocket.
âApology and free transportation, both for the price of one charm.
He said nothing, simply nodded.
Guan Xuxu climbed into the car with the fox in her lap.
Chu Beiheâs eyes shifted to the animal, an inquisitive gleam in their dark depths. She hurried to explain,
âI gave it a bath last night as soon as we got home. Itâs clean.â
He pressed his lips together. âWhere to?â
Guan Xuxuâs eyes darted playfully.
âTo the Song residence,â she repliedâon her way to earn some extra money from her side job.






