This Fox Is Working Hard Today Too

Thank you, everyone! My new novel, Reunited, Then Tangled Up with My Childhood Friend, is open for pre-orders. I'm working hard to build up a stock of chapters. Here's the blurb. If you're interested, please add it to your favorites!

Zheng Zetang has known Tang Nian for as long as he can remember.

Every year, the little boy would go to the hospital in Haishi for checkups and medicine. He wore the little padded jacket Zheng Zetang had outgrown, lifted his small face, and softly called, "Brother Zetang."

In Zheng Zetang's eyes, Tang Nian was a fragile, well-behaved, sensitive child.

Every year, Zheng Zetang had one week to be friends with Tang Nian at the hospital. He looked forward to the day they could stay together all the time.

So when they became classmates in elementary school, Zheng Zetang willingly became Tang Nian's "knight," protecting him as he grew up.

Twelve-year-old Zheng Zetang was afraid of two things. First, his mother's occasional episodes frightened him. Second, Tang Nian's asthma left him helpless. When Tang Nian coughed, it sounded like an exhaust fan running in his chest. That's why Zheng Zetang hated illness more than anything.

Tang Nian occupied sixteen of Zheng Zetang's twenty-two years. After that, they went their separate ways and lost touch.

Six years later, when they meet again, Tang Nian leans on his umbrella and says awkwardly, "Hi. Long time no see."

Six years later, Zheng Zetang is wearing a white coat, with a composed, untouchable air. He simply returns the report Tang Nian left at the hospital and says nothing.

When they meet again at Tang Nian's follow-up appointment, Tang Nian works up the courage to say, "Hi, fancy seeing you again."

Zheng Zetang only asks, "Do you need a caregiver for your leg?"

A new tenant moves in next door, and Tang Nian and Zheng Zetang become neighbors again, just like they were as children.

Tang Nian wants to eat, and Zheng Zetang says, "You should lie down and rest. I'll feed you."

Tang Nian's friend comes to visit, and Zheng Zetang says, "It takes a hundred days for an injury to heal. He can't move around easily. Do you mind if I help him?"

Tang Nian needs to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Zheng Zetang follows him in without changing expression. Tang Nian breaks down: "Why do you have to sleep in my bed at night, too?"

Zheng Zetang replies with a straight face, "I'm carrying out my duties as your caregiver."

"No caregiver sleeps with their patient."

"Then can I carry out my duties as your husband instead?"

"What did you say?" Tang Nian exclaims.

"When you were little, you said you wanted to marry me. We pledged ourselves to each other when we were eighteen. If you hadn't run away, we'd be married by now." Zheng Zetang kneels by the bed and holds his hand.

"I'm finally mature enough now, so can you please stop leaving me behind?"

Reader's guide: Both leads are virgins. Zheng Zetang is the pursuer, Tang Nian is the pursued. Zheng Zetang is one year older.

A sweet story with no particular realism.

A refined, germaphobic, mildly narcissistic pursuer x a cute, dazed, carefree fox-like pursued

Guan Rong is a fox spirit. His friend, a cat, tells him that the human world has lots of delicious food and that humans dote on them like family.

Guan Rong is tempted. He asks his cat friend to find him a job so he can try delicious fried chicken and experience human affection. The job includes five types of insurance, two housing funds, and meals. He'll work hard to survive in human society and find himself the best owner!

He doesn't rely on his looks or figure, and dutifully takes a job as a cleaner.

His boss, Yan Chuan, is tall and handsome, though he seems to have a bad temper. Guan Rong once made a mistake and nearly got fired, so now he timidly keeps his distance every day.

Yan Chuan thinks Guan Rong is like a little fox spirit, flirting with everyone. When a man texts him asking to see his legs, Guan Rong even innocently asks what it means. Yan Chuan knows Guan Rong is poor and short on money, but that doesn't mean he should do just anything. In the end, unable to stand by and watch other men trick him, Yan Chuan "kindly" offers to keep him.

Human society is amazing! After just two months, Guan Rong gets a promotion and a raise, going from cleaner to secretary's assistant.

Guan Rong is thrilled. Now his work consists of pouring coffee instead of cleaning, though it's strange that his cold boss keeps telling him to study and read books, and says things he doesn't understand. But it doesn't matter. Once he's earned enough money, he'll go somewhere else to find his soulmate.

Yan Chuan is furious. You couldn't find a sponsor as good as him with a lantern, and Guan Rong still wants to run away? He doesn't ask Guan Rong to drink with him or sleep with him. He even pays for classes so Guan Rong can learn new things, and Guan Rong thinks he can just turn around and leave? What kind of kept lover is this spoiled? How can anyone get such a good deal?

Guan Rong finally admits the truth, unable to bear it any longer.

"You're a good person, rich, and handsome. You're the kind of owner I'm looking for. But you don't like me at all."

"Wait, what? Owner?"

"Mm-hmm. I want to find an owner who loves me, dotes on me, and doesn't think I'm a nuisance."

Yan Chuan falls silent. So... so that's the kind of thing Guan Rong likes.

He says, "I can be your owner."

"Really?"

"I'll cherish and love you, and I'll never think you're a nuisance."

Guan Rong believes him and moves closer, resting his head against Yan Chuan's chest... then turns into a fox.

Yan Chuan stares at the fluffy little bundle in his arms, its tail sweeping across his face, and freezes. What? So this wasn't role-play? His darling is actually a fox?!

Theme: Work hard, live well, and enjoy raising your pet