Hu'er is going through her things, looking for something. Someone knocked on her door. "Hu'er?" Jiu Lin's voice can be heard from the other side of the door.
She panicky yelled, "Wait! Don't come in yet!" Then it turned quiet. Only the sound of things moving can be heard in her room.
"Aha!" She finally saw it. Hu'er looks at the things she messed up and pouted.
Hu'er didn't know why she would even think of hiding the book in her mountains of things. She was too cautious back then.
She put the things on the side, so it won't look too bad. Then, look at the Diamond mirror to see if there is any dirt on her. She is clean and still pretty. She nodded in satisfaction.
Hu'er grins and looks at the door. Put the thing on her back. "You can come in now!"
Jiu Lin knocked once before opening the door, he peaked first to make sure nothing that couldn't be seen was exposed.
When Jiu Lin saw Hu'er standing there confused, he sigh relief. Hu'er becomes more confused. 'Did I tease him too much to act like that? Hmmp!'
He fully opened that door and greets her. "Hu'er… Dad said you wanted to talk to me."
She nodded and pointed at the open door. "Close the door."
Jiu Lin hesitated but still did what he was told to do. "Is there anything that I can help you with?"
Hu'er eyes flicker. She coquettishly sways her body. "Can I just miss you?" Her tone of voice was so soft and charming, asking to be spoiled.
Jiu Lin froze. She could see her muscles tighten making her eyes shine.
Jiu Lin took a deep breath and released it, calming himself before saying, "I—... Dad said you will behave."
She stopped swaying and pouted. Hu'er childishly said, "Dada is killing my joy."
Jiu Lin looks down as if thinking something. Then, she heard him say, "...It's fine… You—you can tease me if you want," so helplessly.
Beamed, "Jiu Lin is the best!" She couldn't stop her giggles after that.
Hu'er didn't expect that Jiu Lin would be so cute. Her eyes become much tender looking at him.
"Anyway~" Hu'er steps forward to come closer to him.
He hummed. Not looking directly at her. Every time Hu'er does that made him very shy.
She chuckles and happily said, "I have a gift for you~"
Puzzled, Jiu Lin looks up, "A gift?" It wasn't his birthday nor was there any event to give gifts.
Hu'er does give them gifts when it's their birthday or when it's the first day of winter to bless them.
"Yup!" Hu'er beamed and excitedly nodded.
Still confused, he hesitated to ask, "Why…?" Hu'er laughed. He looks so clueless.
She mysteriously said, "Do you want it?" Pursed his lips, Jiu Lin nods.
Then she finally explained, "I was supposed to give it to you after mating. But since you've seen it once already, it's not bad to give it in advance."
Jiu Lin was stunned. Hu'er didn't give him time to recover and presented, "Here!"
He took it suspiciously and asked, "This is?" Jiu Lin inspected the cover of the book. He even saw a 'Huli Jing' carved at the very bottom of the book.
Hu'er did put her past name on the book cover, using their language. She didn't want to forget it, that's her first name.
Hu'er gave him a very pretty book. She made the cover of the book. Shun Su has taught her how to make it. It did take a while because she put some designs and made it thick.
She's very proud of it. This was made after several tries and fails. Hu'er likes the result of her efforts.
"I made it for you! Go on, open it," she encouraged him.
She is full of smiles and excitement that Jiu Lin felt sweet. He opened the book.
He saw some paintings of females and fox beastmen. With the writings of 'The Fox Tribe's Sweetheart'. Jiu Lin looks at her.
She got to his side and stepped closer to Jiu Lin. Hu'er explained what the painting is, "That's the title and this one is our Tribe. All the characters in it aren't real. Even the scenes so don't think too much about it. I just thought of it and painted it. It's a short story. You'll like it."
Jiu Lin nodded. "Go on, you can continue to see and read it." Hu'er went to her fur blankets and sat down. She looked up, and saw him looking at her, "What?"
Jiu Lin shook his head and continued to turn to the next page. Hu'er watched him turn page after page while eating berries.
Hu'er watched him get interested in it. He even looks at her and then continues reading. However, in the span of less than twenty seconds, his expression changed so much. From being interested to admiration, gentle, stiff, and finally, his face turned all red.
She could see how tense he was. He didn't even close the book. Jiu Lin just froze there looking at the page he was on.
Hu'er couldn't help but grin. She fixed her expression and acted innocent as she asked, "Is there anything wrong? What made you stop?"
Jiu Lin looked at her. She blinks, "What?" Hu'er couldn't describe how Jiu Lin looked at her.
"You…" Jiu Lin closed the book as well as his eyes. Yet, even with closed eyes, he could see what the painting was.
"Do you want to continue reading or you'll just read it alone? There are a lot of pages after all. You will feel tired standing there while reading it." Hu'er pooped berries in her mouth.
Jiu Lin opened his eyes and saw that Hu'er didn't look embarrassed or anything. She questioned it like there is nothing wrong or embarrassing in the book. He couldn't even describe how he feels. But Hu'er is too calm and composed as if she wasn't the one who made it.
He couldn't help but ask, "Did you make this…? Is this the thing I saw back then…?"
Hu'er nods, confirming what he asked. "Keep it a secret." She winked and signaled him to shush.