The Top Scholar's Fox Tail

All chapters currently posted have been heavily revised, with many changes from the original. You can reread them to avoid any gaps in the plot. Thank you for your understanding! (bows)

[Gentle, refined top scholar gong x cold-faced, adorable fox demon shou]

The newly crowned top scholar, Tang Songyu, was a brilliant talent, elegant and gentle. After placing first in the imperial examinations, he became the talk of the town, with callers and invitations crowding his doorstep.

One day, a child suddenly appeared at his residence.

The moment the child saw him, he set down his back basket. Three fox cubs were huddled inside, looking up at him with big, bright eyes.

Tang Songyu: "What are these?"

The child lowered his hood, revealing a pair of fluffy, snow-white fox ears. He looked down at the cubs, then looked up and said, "Babies."

Then he added, "Yours."

Tang Songyu: |ʘᗝʘ|

The child was named Fushi. Half human and half demon, he had neither a heart nor a mother. Those were the two things he wanted most.

They say foxes eating scholars is only natural.

The first time Fushi saw the scholar, he licked his lips and thought, I wish I could keep this person by my side forever.

He got his wish: before long, someone delivered Tang Songyu right to him.

Beneath the red bridal veil, Fushi glimpsed a handsome face fragrant with beauty. He climbed into the scholar's arms of his own accord and burrowed his head beneath the veil

The next moment, his hand was clasped tightly.

Fushi looked up in shock. Through the hazy red light, the other man smiled, his eyes curving. "Hello, little fox."

"What do you want?"

Fushi stared at him and swallowed.

The top scholar had a heart of extraordinary acuity, making countless demons covet him.

When the emperor heard that Tang Songyu had an exceptional gift and could sense the presence of demons, he ordered him to join the demon-catching mage in hunting down the demons in the capital.

Tang Songyu nodded and accepted.

The demon-catching mage couldn't understand why the clues about this fox demon grew stranger and stranger, until they finally led him into the top scholar's bedchamber.

Demon-catching mage: "Editor Tang, care to explain?"

Tang Songyu lowered his eyes to look at the little fox before him, as beautiful and delicate as carved jade, and suddenly smiled. He took the flower from his hair and tucked it beside Fushi's ear, then scratched under his chin and praised him gently:

"Little top scholar."

1. Of course Fushi didn't give birth to the fox cubs. Actually, they're not even cubs (looks away). Read on to find out.

2. Because of his unusual heartless condition, Fushi's fox form stayed as it was when he was young. He first appears as a child, but later grows up again.

3. Both are virgins, 1v1, happy ending.

4. This story was inspired by Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.

Premise: I wonder if the green mountains would see me as I see them.