Jiuli Xue sped along swiftly, and it was easy to imagine that, had Vanessa not fitted her with a pet collar, she might have already run away.
Knowing that she was bound by the black circle, unable to escape, and that being pulled back was merely a matter of a word from someone else, Jiuli Xue had no intention of running away.
This fox spirit was indeed quite aware of her situation.
"Pfft~ Miss Jiuli Xue is really quite disgraceful in her struggle to survive, isn't she?" Vanessa, held in Jiuli Xue's embrace, enjoyed the soft and bountiful hold, stroked Jiuli Xue's large tail, propped her cheek in her hand, and chuckled teasingly.
"If it pleases you, mistress, I am completely satisfied," Jiuli Xue responded to the humiliating tease without any emotional fluctuation, instead smiling charmingly.
Vanessa glanced at her Virtue counter; there was no increase, indicating that such remarks no longer had any effect on Jiuli Xue. She had become desensitized to them.
Alright, it seems like humiliation alone won't squeeze out ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) any more Virtue.
It looks like Miss Jiuli Xue is no longer worth her effort and time.
The lesson in ladylike behavior is over.
Finally, she stroked Jiuli Xue's large tail one last time, the only thing that she felt nostalgic about; it was softer and more luxurious than the finest velvet, along with those fox ears.
Although it felt somewhat disrespectful to think this way, this was probably the only value Jiuli Xue held in her eyes.
Riding in the fox carriage, Vanessa arrived near the gates of the royal capital in just half an hour.
"Thank you for your hard work." Vanessa signaled Jiuli Xue to let her down, but the other party, as if she hadn’t heard or understood, remained motionless.
Vanessa looked at Jiuli Xue amusingly. "Miss Jiuli Xue, have you become addicted to holding me?"
"With Miss Vanessa feeling so nice to hold, becoming addicted isn’t strange, is it?" Jiuli Xue admitted with a laugh.
"Miss Jiuli Xue really remembers the carrot but forgets the stick." Vanessa narrowed her eyes and poked Jiuli Xue's large tail, plucking a few more fox hairs. "Forgetting the lesson so quickly isn't good, is it?"
"Put me down." Vanessa commanded forcefully, making Jiuli Xue put her down. She glanced at the fox hairs in her hand and then at the unchanging Virtue counter, losing interest when she realized that this form of humiliation also had no effect on Jiuli Xue.
She estimated there were about five minutes left.
Glancing at Jiuli Xue, Vanessa had two choices now; she could go back, or...
Since they wouldn't meet again, why not try to squeeze a little more out of the situation? To see if there would be any reaction?
Oh dear, how could she think like that? Besides, it would be quite rude, wouldn't it?
Vanessa held her cheeks, staring deeply at Jiuli Xue with a gentle yet slightly eerie demeanor that sent shivers down one's spine.
"Miss Jiuli Xue, you've performed well tonight. As a reward, you may leave on your own later."
"Ah? Are you abandoning me, mistress?" Jiuli Xue suddenly looked dismayed, putting on a pitiful act.
"Stop acting, Miss Jiuli Xue. I've told you I'm not interested in anything to do with you, and I don't want to have any further relations with you in the future." Vanessa tilted her head, her tone shifting. "However..."
"Every wrong has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor."
Although memories of a past life are just that—a past life—and as far as now is concerned, it never happened, the original Winnie wasn't her.
But still.
Somehow, knowing this plot that should have happened, Vanessa was inexplicably annoyed.
Compared to her willingness to let her off for the greater good after knowing her identity, this fox lady completely disregarded decorum in her previous life, manipulating her and literally playing her to death.
Even though that Winnie wasn't her, just the thought of a parallel universe version of herself being unjustly played to death was somewhat irritating.
Vanessa narrowed her lovely peach-blossom eyes.
Let it be known, Vanessa Aeciphysis is definitely not petty—this is entirely justifiable, and only meant to vent her displeasure.
"Miss Jiuli Xue, your strength should recover substantially by tomorrow, right?"
"You must have guessed, this black circle has its boundary limitations. Indeed, I can tell you responsibly, as you've guessed, this black circle cannot control beings above the level of a spirit demon."
"No, to be precise, it can't even control humans or demons, because..."
Vanessa lightly closed her beautiful eyes, moving close to Jiuli Xue, whispering mischievously near her temple and ear.
"It is only for use on little pets~"
'Virtue +10'
'Current Virtue: 764'
Pfft.
As expected, like time, Virtue can always be squeezed out a bit more.
Getting close to Jiuli Xue's ear, Vanessa could somewhat feel the subtle trembling of the other's body from before.
She smiled silently, pretending not to notice, and stepped back.
"You don't need to pretend not to know, the black circle indeed has a time limit, you guessed it early on, right? Now, there's still some time left for this black circle." Vanessa played with her slender jade fingers, feigning nonchalance.
"It's a pity, Miss Jiuli Xue, such an obedient appearance, we won't see each other again after today. What a pity. Why not leave a keepsake? You wouldn't mind, would you~?"
Jiuli Xue maintained her smile, silent.
"Miss Jiuli Xue, you performed quite well tonight. Although you emphasize that you are a fox, on our side among humans, foxes are still part of the canine family, and you've really been as obedient as a little doggie tonight~"
"How about this, in these very last moments, would you actually learn how to bark like a little dog~?" Vanessa smiled charmingly.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, that was really inappropriate of me, how could I say such things? I'm sorry, Miss Jiuli Xue, just pretend you didn't hear what I just said." As if realizing the offense in her words after speaking, Vanessa quickly corrected herself, covering her mouth and apologizing repeatedly.
However...
Was it really like that?
The first part was commanding, but the retraction wasn't enforced.
Meaning, the black circle was only activated by the command for Jiuli Xue to imitate a little dog.
Vanessa Aeciphysis.
This woman...
Jiuli Xue hummed this name to herself, and then...
She crouched down, mimicking the pawing of a little dog.
The enchanting white fox maiden blinked her crimson eyes like jewels, and there, in front of Vanessa, she acted out a little dog.
"Woof, woof~" Jiuli Xue looked at Vanessa with a giggly gaze, barking a few times at her.
"Woof, Jiuli Xue lost, so Jiuli Xue is the mistress's little doggie, woof, the little doggie is not content now~"
"Woof, the little doggie is not content, woof~ wants to win back."
"Ah, Miss Jiuli Xue, don't take it seriously, didn't I tell you not to do that?" Vanessa quickly advised, clearly having no intention to stop her.
After the role play, Jiuli Xue stood up, looking at Vanessa with a silent smile.
'Vertue +20'
'Current Virtue: 784'
"Well, it's time to say goodbye~" Vanessa waved at Jiuli Xue, then as if she remembered something, turned around and pulled out a spherical object from her four-dimensional pocket.
Jiuli Xue stared at the sphere silently as if realizing something.
"Ah, I almost forgot to tell Miss Jiuli Xue." Vanessa held her cheek with one hand, her smile charming. "From noon today, this memory sphere has been in operation~"