From a distance came the hum of machinery mingling with the sound of secretaries tapping keyboards and flipping through documents. These subtle noises, combined with their lack of attempts to lower their voices, allowed Hua Hua to clearly hear the conversations around him.

Monsters... a fox.

Hua Hua's head turned stiffly toward Hu Li, who was pressed against the wall, staring at the black-clad girl beside her with a mix of fear and vigilance. The normally calm and composed Hu Li, even under the daily barrage of scandals from black fans calling for her to quit the entertainment industry, now showed an unprecedented anxiety in her enchanting eyes.

“Who are you people?” Hua Hua asked, his throat dry and voice hoarse.

“I told you, we’re not human,” Jin Hong said, rolling her eyes. Her disdain for Hua Hua’s slow comprehension was evident.

Hua Hua sensed her contempt but couldn’t muster the energy to argue. His mind was a jumbled mess, feeling as if he were floating, and he barely had the strength to correct her misconception. “So, you’re a... fox?”

As he struggled to articulate the words, an idea struck him, making further questions seem redundant.

Hu Li—Fox.

Her identity was blatantly clear; he would be foolish to question it further.

But Hua Hua couldn’t resist, “You’re lying, right?”

How could monsters exist in this world? What happened to prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, and the rule of law?

“Little fox, you don’t need to be so nervous,” Ling Ji said, waving Hu Li over. “For the sake of your ancestors, I won’t eat you.”

Hu Li, who was on the verge of revealing her true form and fleeing, froze. “...”

Your words make me even more nervous. Besides, I was exiled from Qingqiu; I’m not even considered part of their clan anymore.

“Ding.” Another elevator door opened, revealing an ordinary-looking yet authoritative woman. “Hu Li, why are you standing here? Get in now!”

Ying Ning’s brows furrowed as she noticed Hu Li standing by the wall. She marched toward the president's office, stopping when she realized no one was following. “What’s wrong?”

Hu Li remained silent, her eyes fixed on Ling Ji.

Ying Ning followed her gaze, spotting the striking girl in the elegant black dress. Her eyes lingered briefly on the ancient, dignified attire before turning to Hua Hua. “Did you sign a new artist?”

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Hua Hua nodded instinctively, then quickly shook his head. “Yes—no—not exactly.”

He lacked the courage and authority to sign a monster.

“Is she or isn’t she?” Ying Ning was bewildered.

“She’s not!” Hua Hua clarified.

Ying Ning, nodding to the three beautiful girls, softened her tone. “This is the president's office area, not open to the public. Perhaps you’d like to visit the eleventh floor?”

The tenth to thirteenth floors housed training rooms for artists. On the eleventh floor, Lushu happened to be practicing, perfect for these young girls. Since Hua Hua didn’t claim them as his recruits, she’d take them in.

But first, she had to deal with Hu Li. The girls could wait.

“Why are you still standing there? Take them over,” Ying Ning reminded Hua Hua, who stood like a statue.

Hua Hua felt like crying. “My legs are numb.”

His entire body was numb, immobile, with only his heart pounding in his chest.

Even Hu Li hadn’t moved, still pressed against the wall as if frozen.

Ying Ning sensed something amiss, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the group. “Who are you—”

“Ying Ning.” The president's office door opened, revealing Yu Zhiyan. “Why haven’t you come in?”

Seeing her team on the monitor, Yu Zhiyan approached them, her high heels clicking on the floor, filling the air with a subtle fragrance. “President, stay back!”

Respect for the president overcame fear as Hua Hua yelled, halting Yu Zhiyan.

Startled secretaries looked up at Hua Hua's unexpected outburst.

Ling Ji’s gaze had settled on Yu Zhiyan from the moment she appeared. Noting her pause, Ling Ji stepped forward.

“Stop! Don’t come any closer!” Hua Hua spread his arms protectively in front of Yu Zhiyan, eyes wide in terror. “I’ll—I’ll call the police!”

Ling Ji ignored him, pushing him aside effortlessly. “Thud.”

Hua Hua felt a powerful force move him, sending him crashing into a wall, stars dancing before his eyes.

“Sorry, I didn’t control my strength,” Ling Ji apologized, genuinely surprised by the outcome. She turned to Yu Zhiyan, smiling. “Hello, I’m Ling Ji.”

“Hmm?” Yu Zhiyan blinked, then smiled warmly. “So, you’re Ling Ji.”

Ling Ji nodded. “Where’s my food?”

Yu Zhiyan, ready to compliment her, laughed at the unexpected request. “What an interesting child.”

“Your food is ready. Come with me.” Yu Zhiyan couldn’t resist patting Ling Ji’s hair, finding it silky smooth. The subtle dragon scent made her like Ling Ji even more. “You’re two days late. I almost called Jianghuai to check on you.”

“We were delayed,” Ling Ji admitted, regretting taking Zhou Cen's advice to travel slowly.

Yu Zhiyan led Ling Ji by the hand, pausing when she noticed her team wasn’t following. “Ying Ning, Hua Hua, Hu Li, come on.”

Ying Ning shot Hua Hua a glare. “Why the scare? I thought she was dangerous.” She recalled hearing about Ling Ji from the president recently.

“Didn’t sleep well?” the secretary asked Hua Hua, lowering the phone she had intended to use to call security.

Hua Hua: “...”

No, I’m not, you misunderstand. Listen to me.

But no one wanted to listen, not even Hu Li, who had revealed her true identity.

“Don’t worry,” Hu Li told him, relaxing as the oppressive aura lifted with Ling Ji's departure. “I have legal residency and won’t harm humans.”

Relieved, she released Hua Hua, who watched as she escorted him towards the president’s office. “Though I won’t harm humans, if you reveal my identity—”

“I swear I won’t,” Hua Hua promised, miming sealing his lips.

Hu Li snorted, releasing him. But as she moved away, Hua Hua grabbed her arm. “What about the black-clad girl? Does she eat people?”

He trusted Hu Li, but Ling Ji was an unknown threat.

“Guess,” Hu Li said coldly, freeing her arm. Seeing his face pale, she relented. “If you don’t provoke her, she won’t harm you.”

Hua Hua nodded vigorously.

In the spacious, bright office, a marble tea table was laden with snacks. The usually aloof president now displayed maternal affection, offering Ling Ji a bottle of water. “Drink first.”

“Help yourselves,” Yu Zhiyan invited Ling Ji’s companions.

Jin Hong and Xing Miao smiled but waited for Ling Ji's approval.

“Eat,” Ling Ji said generously, having already filled up at the Special Affairs Bureau.

“Thank you.” Jin Hong and Xing Miao each took a snack.

Yu Zhiyan’s eyes glinted, noting the dynamic. She had assumed the blue-clad girl led the group, but it was the youngest, Ling Ji.

Intriguing, she thought, liking Ling Ji even more.

“Hu Li, what happened last night?” Yu Zhiyan asked, leading the group into a meeting room.

Hu Li, having thought it a minor incident involving nosy reporters, was startled by Yu Zhiyan's tone. “I argued with a dancer at a bar. Did she bribe a reporter?”

“No, she’s dead,” Wei Xiang said coldly.

Hu Li froze, surprised. “Dead?”

The meeting room door opened, and the secretary entered, looking uneasy. “President, the police are here. They say Hu Li is a murder suspect and want to question her.”

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