Li Meirong intended to resume her search for Snowball the instant Bao Li left. But just as she was about to stand, Xiao An Fei dropped to her knees before Li Meirong, and clutched at the hem of her dress.

"My Lady, this servant deserves to be punished!" Xiao An Fei cried out.

"Whatever for?" Li Meirong queried, bewildered. There must be something in the air today, she thought, because everyone around her kept acting overly dramatic.

Xiao An Fei lightly tugged on the hem of her dress. "My Ladyship being ill at ease is all this servant's fault! This foolish servant just recalled that the young fox spirit left to see the tournament with His Lordship. If you give me the chance, I shall fetch him for you right away."

"..." Li Meirong was too stunned to respond.

She couldn't help but feel like she had just suffered a massive headache for no good reason...

Xiao An Fei bobbed her head and rose to her feet.

"I'll bring him right away. Stay here and rest, My Lady! Don't go anywhere."

Li Meirong gave her a weary smile and spoke at length. "Please do, and thank you."

Without another word, Xiao An Fei departed.

Alone at last, Li Meirong leaned back against the chair and idly stared at the scenery around her.

She considered herself a rather simple person: as long as Snowball was safe, then the rest didn't matter to her.

However, she couldn't help but feel a growing need to keep a closer watch over her fox cub, at least until she'd discover the identity of those other fox spirits Bao Li spoke of.

With no one else around, the only sounds to be heard were the tweeting of birds and the leaves rustling in the whispering breeze. The warm weather was perfect for enjoying the autumn scenery.

Li Meirong, having finally acquired a small measure of peace and quiet, allowed her eyes to close slowly. Hopefully she would be able to rest for the remainder of the day.

The tall fruit trees shaded the entire balcony with their withering, sun-kissed leaves. The young woman, relaxing beneath the shade, used her forearm to cover her eyes. Her sleeve folded back as she raised her arm, revealing pale, tender skin.

A cool breeze, carrying the scent of the sea, brushed across her warm, scarred cheeks and swept over her exposed neck.

Slowly but surely, a pungent smell invaded Li Meirong's nose, stirring her back into full wakefulness.

Li Meirong's dark lashes fluttered open at the sudden feel of a slight chill. A small gasp escaped her lips – a peculiar-looking, elderly man with a thin grey beard that reached the ground had appeared from nowhere, and now sat opposite her.

The elderly man seemed relaxed, happy even. His eyes were small yet sharp, and wrinkles formed at their corners as he smiled.

"It has not been easy for this old man to find some time to meet with you. You have become quite the busy lady, have you not?" the elderly man said, chuckling deeply.