It was past midnight.
The rain had just stopped.
I sat on the couch, staring at the sleeping fox.
It was curled into a small ball, breathing steadily.
The bandaged back leg twitched slightly, like it was dreaming.
Maybe…
This was the only right thing I'd done all day.
Saving it.
Suddenly—
A violent knock slammed against the door.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound hit my chest like a hammer.
I didn't move.
For a second, I thought I imagined it.
But the knocking grew louder.
Rough voices mixed with it.
"Lin Han! Open up! Stop pretending you can't hear me!"
My uncle.
Lin Guodong.
The gambling addict who lost everything the family ever had.
Every time I saw him,
I wished I could run to the edge of the world and disappear.
"Not opening…"
I muttered, hugging my knees.
But he wasn't leaving.
"Open the damn door, or I'm kicking it down!"
His voice was soaked in alcohol and anger.
And I knew—
He meant it.
I forced myself up
and opened the door.
A wave of alcohol stench rushed into my face.
He stood there, swaying.
A thick neck.
Greasy face.
Bloodshot eyes.
He stretched out his hand.
"Give it to me."
"…Give what?" I froze.
"The property deed."
His voice was cold and greedy.
"That house. Hand it over."
"What?"
My heart dropped.
"Your parents' debt. Now it's yours,"
he spat.
"That house belongs to me."
"No way," I snapped.
"That's their legacy. It's mine!"
"Legacy?"
He sneered.
"You think things are still the same? Their debt needs to be paid.
If I hadn't blocked them before, you'd have starved to death already!"
"That's your problem," I growled.
"It has nothing to do with me!"
I stood my ground, gripping the doorframe.
His face twisted.
"You little bastard.
Don't toast when offered wine."
He stormed inside and shoved me to the floor.
Pain shot up my shoulder.
But I didn't even have time to react.
He stood over me, looking down with pure contempt.
"Hand it over.
Or don't blame me when things get ugly."
"Get out!" I yelled, forcing myself up.
He didn't answer.
He kicked me straight in the stomach.
My body folded in half.
Cold sweat drenched my back.
"Not giving it?"
He laughed darkly.
"Fine. I'll find it myself."
He staggered toward the room.
I lunged to stop him.
He slapped me across the face so hard
I crashed to the ground again.
"You—!"
My voice came out hoarse.
My head buzzed.
My vision blurred.
I couldn't hold on much longer.
Then—
A low growl came from the corner.
The fox.
It had woken up.
Slowly,
It stood up.
Its eyes had changed.
Cold.
Sharp.
Its fur bristled.
Tail stretched straight like a bowstring.
"What the hell is that?"
My uncle snorted.
"A wild fox? You gone crazy? Keeping that as a pet?"
He hadn't even finished speaking—
The fox's eyes lit up.
A deep, unnatural green glow.
It was eerie.
Dangerous.
Like swallowing light itself.
"You… what the hell are you doing?"
My uncle stepped back, his voice shaking.
The next second—
The air exploded.
An invisible force slammed through the room.
Cups toppled.
Curtains thrashed wildly.
A sharp, metallic stench filled the air.
The fox let out a low roar—
And leaped at him.
So fast.
Not even a shadow could be seen.
"AAAAH—!"
My uncle screamed as he crashed onto the ground.
He crawled backward like a desperate animal.
His face drained pale.
Sweat streamed down his forehead.
"A monster!
A demon!"
I stood there, frozen.
Heart pounding so hard it felt like it'd tear through my chest.
Hands icy cold.
Mind completely blank.
The fox stood between him and me.
Its body tense.
Eyes burning.
It didn't move.
Not until my uncle scrambled outside…
Tripping…
Vanishing into the night.
Silence fell.
Only the two of us remained.
Me.
And the fox.
"Thank you…"
My voice trembled.
It didn't respond.
Just looked at me.
That same complicated look.
Not beastlike.
Not human either.
Something in between.
Then it turned around…
Went back to the couch…
And lay down again.
As if nothing had happened.
As if it had only swatted away a fly.
I stood there.
Completely stunned.
But I knew…
That wasn't even the most shocking thing.
Not yet.