Chapter 137: Awakening to a New Identity

The early morning.

Su Mian stirred in the warm embrace of her duvet, her eyes fluttering open in a daze.

She had slept exceptionally soundly, exceptionally comfortably, that night.

This wasn’t merely due to the soft bed; more significantly, her body had instinctively drawn in the pure spiritual energy emanating from the person beside her during her sleep.

Xiao Moyuan’s spiritual energy held a natural allure for her.

Moreover, after their intimate contact the previous night, the contractual bond between them seemed to have tightened further.

She could now perceive even more clearly his steady, deep breathing and the rhythm of his vast, ocean-like spiritual energy flowing naturally even in sleep.

She stretched, her fox ears softly drooping from just waking, while her three tails unconsciously swept gently within the covers behind her.

“Awake?”

A deep, gentle voice sounded beside her.

Su Mian turned her head and saw that Xiao Moyuan was already awake.

He was leaning against the headboard, holding his phone, the subtle glow of the screen reflecting on his sharply defined profile.

In the morning light, his hair was slightly disheveled, shedding his usual air of detachment and replaced by a comfortable, domestic languor.

“Mmm…” Su Mian hummed in response, her voice, soft and sticky from sleep, carried a slight, hazy nasal tone.

She blinked, not yet fully lucid, but her body had already acted ahead of her consciousness.

She rolled onto her side, naturally tucking herself into Xiao Moyuan’s embrace. Her arms circled his waist, her face pressing against his warm chest as she contentedly snuggled closer.

Then, she closed her eyes again.

Xiao Moyuan looked down at the little fox nestled in his arms, a faint smile touching his eyes.

Indeed, things were different now.

In the past—even just yesterday—if Su Mian had woken up to find herself sleeping in his arms, she would have instantly bristled, scrambling off the bed in a panic.

Her ears and tails would puff out in embarrassment, her cheeks flushed like ripe apples.

But now, she was like a true little animal, naturally snuggling against him, treating him as a warm, human-shaped pillow.

Xiao Moyuan could feel that this wasn’t a pretense or a deliberate attempt at closeness, but a genuine, heartfelt acceptance and habituation to intimacy.

This change gently touched a soft spot deep within him.

He put down his phone, one hand naturally resting on Su Mian’s back, gently stroking.

The other hand brushed away the somewhat messy strands of hair from her forehead, his fingertips inadvertently grazing the fluffy tufts of her fox ears.

Su Mian’s ears twitched and rubbed against his palm, a comfortable purr rumbling in her throat.

Xiao Moyuan’s smile deepened.

“If you don’t get up soon,” he glanced at the time, reminding her in a low voice, “you’ll be late.”

His voice was gentle, not urging, merely stating a fact.

The little fox in his arms stirred, mumbled something indistinctly, and then hugged him even tighter.

Xiao Moyuan chuckled softly.

It seemed she had truly grown accustomed to him.

He was in no rush, simply holding her, his fingertips idly stroking her soft, smooth hair.

The morning light slowly shifted across the room, and an air of tranquility permeated the space.

After a few more minutes, Su Mian finally seemed to awaken further. She lifted her head in his embrace, her sleepy eyes gazing at him loosely:

“Late?”

Her eyes were still a little hazy, with a touch of physiological moisture clinging to her eyelashes.

Xiao Moyuan pointed to the clock on the wall: “Eight fifty.”

“—!”

Su Mian’s eyes snapped open, and she sprang from the bed like a coiled spring.

“I have a specialized course this morning! That teacher is so fierce!”

She made to jump off the bed, but Xiao Moyuan gently encircled her waist with his arm.

“What’s wrong?”

Xiao Moyuan watched her panicked expression, a playful smile spreading in his eyes. “Is little ‘baby’ still afraid of teachers?”

He deliberately drew out the syllables of “baby,” his tone distinctly teasing.

“Such a good little baby, indeed.”

Su Mian’s face flushed instantly.

Half of it was from being teased about being ‘afraid of teachers,’ and the other half was because…

She realized she was growing increasingly accustomed to being called ‘baby.’

She puffed out her cheeks, glaring at him defiantly: “So what? Aren’t you afraid of thunder?”

The words hung in the air, and both of them paused.

Then, Xiao Moyuan let out a low laugh.

Su Mian also realized what she had said, her face reddening further, but she maintained her defiant stance.

“And that teacher really is fierce! If I’m late, she’ll genuinely make me stand in the corner! And she’ll deduct points from my specialized course grade!”

She grew more aggrieved with each word. “I’m already an adult; how embarrassing would it be to stand in the corner!”

“And if my specialized grade isn’t high enough, I won’t even be able to graduate…”

Xiao Moyuan looked at her earnest, anxious expression, finding her both adorable and a little touched.

This little fox, even though her body had transformed into a demon, still worried about human academics and graduation.

He reached out and ruffled her hair. “You might… not have the chance to graduate.”

Su Mian froze. “Huh?”

“Have you forgotten?”

Xiao Moyuan reminded her, his voice gentle yet clear. “Once N University’s matters are handled, you’ll need to go to the Demon Academy to study.”

“As my Shikigami, you need to receive systematic training and guidance.”

“Regarding how to wield spiritual power, how to guide demons onto the path…”

“—Regarding how to control demonic power, how to deal with other demons, how to conceal your identity in human society… all of these are far more important than university courses.”

Su Mian blinked.

Oh, right.

She was no longer human.

There was no need to worry about credits, exams, or graduation theses.

Nor did she need to worry about being late and punished by standing in the corner.

Though she still thoroughly disliked the feeling of public humiliation.

This realization stirred a complex mix of emotions within her.

There was a sense of relief—after all, she was never an academic prodigy, and university life for her was mostly about drifting through.

But there was also a touch of… wistful loss.

It meant she had to completely bid farewell to the life of an ordinary person.

Farewell to classrooms, cafeterias, libraries, and those mundane yet stable daily routines.

Xiao Moyuan sensed the subtle shift in her emotions and gently took her hand. “Reluctant to leave?”

Su Mian remained silent for a few seconds, then shook her head.

“It’s not exactly reluctance…”

She said softly, “It just feels… a little unreal. Like yesterday I was still fretting over final exams, and today suddenly I don’t have to worry about any of that.”

She paused, then looked up at him. “If I go to the Demon Academy… what will I learn?”

“Many things.”

Xiao Moyuan answered.

“Basic spiritual power application, demonic power control, talisman drawing, barrier deployment, and practical combat training. You’ll also learn the history, types, and habits of demons, as well as the rules and regulations of the Demon Academy.”

He looked at her. “Of course, the most important thing is to learn how to protect yourself and how to find balance between the two worlds.”

Su Mian listened intently, nodding.

Then she suddenly flipped over, burrowing back into the covers, pressing closer to Xiao Moyuan.

“Then I’ll just lie in a bit longer.”

She buried her face in the pillow, her voice muffled. “Anyway… I don’t have to rush to class anymore.”

She paused, then added, as if making an excuse for herself: “I can’t help it, who told you to buy such a soft bed…”

And—she secretly added in her mind—who told you your abs felt so good.

At some point last night, she had been sitting on Xiao Moyuan, her hands unconsciously pressing against his abdomen, and only then truly felt the firm, distinct muscle lines.

Completely different from her own soft little belly, that touch, full of strength and elasticity…

Su Mian’s face quietly flushed again.

Her hand emerged from beneath the covers, tentatively, gently resting on Xiao Moyuan’s waist.

Xiao Moyuan’s body imperceptibly tensed for a moment.

He could feel the small hand cautiously, little by little, moving towards his abdomen.

Her fingertips carried a warm temperature, lightly brushing his skin through the thin fabric of his pajamas.

“You can touch my abs,” he said, his voice a little hoarser than usual, “but the position of your hand… don’t go too far down.”

His words, rather than deterring her, ignited a spark of mischief in Su Mian.

She hummed, deliberately sliding her finger downwards. “What? What’s wrong with me going down?”

She looked up at him, a hint of provocation in her eyes. “It’s not like you’ve never… had one.”

Though he wasn’t as… well-endowed as her.

Xiao Moyuan sighed helplessly.

“If you have one,” he looked at her, “wouldn’t you know not to move around carelessly?”

Su Mian’s mind was actually as clear as a mirror.

She understood certain morning reactions in men, didn’t she?

But she simply enjoyed being playful.

“Hmph,” she pouted playfully, “I just want to make you uncomfortable.”

She paused, then recalled something else, glaring at him with a flushed face. “Who told you last night… to disregard my feelings! I told you to stop, to let me take a breather, but you insisted…”

She couldn’t finish the rest, burying her face in the pillow.

Xiao Moyuan let out a low chuckle.

That laugh held both satisfaction and a certain profound meaning.

“It was precisely because I was considering your feelings,” he leaned in, close to her ear, his warm breath fanning her sensitive earlobe, “that I acted as I did.”

Su Mian’s ears instantly turned crimson.

“If ‘baby’ truly dislikes it,” Xiao Moyuan continued, his voice clearly teasing, “next time… should I really stop?”

“—!” Su Mian suddenly lifted her head, hitting him in exasperation. “You only know how to bully me!”

Xiao Moyuan caught her swinging little fist, then smoothly pulled her into his embrace.

“‘Baby’ like this,” he looked at her flushed face, the smile in his eyes deepening, “is truly hard to read. So, do you actually… like it or not?”

Su Mian opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.

Finally, like a cornered little animal, she struggled free from Xiao Moyuan’s embrace, jumped off the bed, and rushed into the bathroom without a backward glance.

“I’m going to take a shower!”

The bathroom door shut with a `bang`.

Xiao Moyuan looked at the closed door, the smile in his eyes lingering for a long time.

***

By the time Su Mian emerged from her shower, Xiao Moyuan had already prepared breakfast.

Simple fried eggs, toast, fruit salad, and her favorite yogurt.

They were laid out on the dining table, steaming hot.

Su Mian sat down at the table, sipping her yogurt in small mouthfuls.

After the earlier incident, her cheeks were still a little warm, but her mood had calmed considerably.

Xiao Moyuan sat opposite her, holding a cup of coffee.

“Now,” he glanced at the time, “you’re already late.”

Su Mian slurped her yogurt, shrugging indifferently. “Doesn’t matter. I’m skipping this specialized course.”

She licked the milk stain from the corner of her mouth. “Anyway, I’ll be transferring to the Demon Academy soon, so it saves me the embarrassment of standing in the corner. I’ll just go straight to the club.”

She paused, her expression growing serious.

“After all, Chen Wan’s matter is more important. If it’s not handled well… a lot of people could die.”

This was the truth.

Although she was still somewhat unaccustomed to her ‘non-human’ identity, her sense of responsibility and empathy had not vanished.

Once Chen Wan’s misfortune was broken, the teachers and students of N University would be the first to bear the brunt.

She couldn’t stand by and do nothing.

Xiao Moyuan nodded, not objecting. “Be careful. If anything happens, contact me immediately.”

“Got it,” Su Mian replied, quickly finishing her breakfast and gathering her things. Before leaving, she looked back at Xiao Moyuan one last time.

In the morning light, the man stood in the living room, tall and upright, watching her with gentle eyes.

A warmth spread through Su Mian’s heart, and she waved at him. “I’m leaving!”

“Mm.”

The door closed softly.

Xiao Moyuan stood in place, listening to her light footsteps disappear down the corridor, the softness in his eyes gradually settling into deep contemplation.

He walked back to the bedroom, picked up his phone, and dialed a number.

“It’s me. I’ve nearly finished preparing the materials regarding N University’s former principal, Zhou Rende. Yes, it involves a huge sum of money and spans a long period. Mm, we can start moving forward with it.”

He paused, then added, “Also, regarding the follow-up report on Ling Chen’s death, I need a more detailed version. Any movements from the Ling family?”

Something was said on the other end of the line.

Xiao Moyuan’s brows furrowed slightly. “Understood. Keep an eye on it. Notify me immediately if there’s any anomaly.”

Hanging up the phone, he walked to the window, watching Su Mian’s figure quickly heading towards the school gate downstairs.

The little fox was growing little by little, adapting to her new identity and world.

And what he needed to do was clear all obstacles for her before she fully matured.

***

Su Mian jogged all the way, rushing into the Supernatural Phenomena Research Club’s activity room.

When she pushed open the door, she was still a little breathless.

“Mianzi? What’s the rush?”

Lu Yang was sitting at a table eating breakfast. Seeing her rush in, he was startled. “Also, don’t you have class this morning?”

Su Mian steadied her breathing and waved a hand. “Not going. Anyway… I won’t be staying at N University for long.”

Lu Yang froze. “What do you mean, ‘won’t be staying for long’?”

“Have you forgotten?”

Su Mian sat down opposite him. “I’m a demon now. Human academics are no longer important to me.”

“Once Chen Wan’s matter is resolved, and Xiao Moyuan finishes his current tasks, I’ll be going to the Demon Academy to study.”

Lu Yang blinked, then slapped his thigh. “That’s right! Then I’m not going to my afternoon training either!”

Su Mian chuckled. “Lu-ge, are you so confident you’ll pass Xiao Moyuan’s assessment?”

“I’m not confident in myself,” Lu Yang chuckled, pointing to Qin Xuan, who was focused on working at the computer nearby, “I’m confident in Qin Xuan!”

He pulled Su Mian over to Qin Xuan, pointing at the dense tables and data on the computer screen, his voice full of admiration. “Look at Xuan! In just one night! He’s already organized all the bribery records of that beast of a principal! And—”

He switched to another page. “He even pulled up that beast of a principal’s bank statements and asset details from the past thirty years! My god, look at these numbers… how much did he embezzle?”

Su Mian leaned in to look, also shocked.

She knew Qin Xuan was capable, but she never imagined he was capable to this extent.

Old cases from over thirty years ago, most of the people involved were no longer alive, and many related paper archives were missing or tampered with.

Yet Qin Xuan painstakingly pieced together a complete chain of evidence from various peripheral records and old newspapers.

Even more terrifying, he had even clarified the flow of Zhou Rende’s funds over the years—what were legal incomes, what had unknown origins, which assets clearly exceeded normal ranges… every single transaction, every single case, listed clearly.

This already exceeded the scope of ‘student investigation,’ resembling more the work of a professional auditor or detective.

Qin Xuan noticed their gazes, looked up, and pushed up his glasses.

“These are only the visible cash flows and assets.”

His voice was as calm as ever, devoid of emotion. “The hidden ones, operated through third parties or offshore accounts, I currently don’t have the ability to investigate thoroughly.”

He paused. “However, these are enough. There’s a huge discrepancy between his own cash flow and assets and his legal income. This alone is sufficient for the prosecution to open an investigation.”

Su Mian stared at him blankly. “Then…” She swallowed, “roughly when… will it take effect?”

“If all goes smoothly,” Qin Xuan glanced at the calendar, “tomorrow, news about N University’s former principal, Zhou Rende, being suspected of massive bribery, should hit online hot searches and local media headlines.”

Su Mian took a deep breath.

Thirty-four years of injustice were finally about to be settled.

“Also,” Qin Xuan switched to another page, “I’ve located the current residence of Chen Wan’s living younger brother.”

The screen displayed a photo of a middle-aged man, appearing to be in his fifties, with a simple face and gentle eyes.

The information showed his name as Chen Ming, working as a teacher in a middle school in a neighboring province. He was married and had a daughter currently attending university.

“From public information, his life seems stable enough.”

Qin Xuan said, “But I don’t know the specific situation. We might need to take some time to visit him in person.”

He paused. “If his circumstances are indeed difficult, we can offer some discreet assistance—in the form of an anonymous donation, which would also… allow Chen Wan to put that worry to rest.”

Su Mian nodded.

This was a crucial part of the plan.

“Then…” She hesitated, “regarding direct evidence of Chen Wan’s murder…”

“Not yet found.”

Qin Xuan admitted frankly,

“The deaths of Zhou Li and others have been classified as ‘accidents’ or ‘suicides,’ and the crime scene from back then has long been destroyed.

The existing indirect evidence, such as that handwritten bribery manuscript, can only prove Zhou Rende’s motive for the crime, but cannot directly prove that Zhou Li and the others killed Chen Wan.”

He looked at Su Mian. “So, we need Lin Juan.”

Su Mian understood.

As a direct participant and silent accomplice in the events of that year, Lin Juan could provide more details to make the full picture of the incident clearer.

“That’s what I thought too,” Qin Xuan said. “So tonight, I’ll have to trouble you… to communicate with Su Mian.”

When he said “Su Mian,” he paused slightly, as if confirming whether the appellation was appropriate.

Su Mian smiled. “It’s fine, just call me Su Mian. Anyway… you all know already.”

She was now able to face her new identity with relative composure.

Lu Yang stared at Su Mian for a while, then suddenly spoke. “Mianzi.”

“Hmm?” Su Mian turned to look at him.

“Only one night apart,” Lu Yang stroked his chin, a probing look in his eyes, “I just feel like you’ve changed somehow.”

Su Mian blinked, tilting her head. “How have I changed?”

“Can’t quite put my finger on it.”

Lu Yang scratched his head. “When I first met you, I thought you were like a homebody—didn’t like going out, obsessed with games, would blush when you saw pretty girls.”

He paused. “After getting to know you better, I thought you were a cute younger brother—good-tempered, easily shy, but very loyal when it mattered.”

“And these past few days…” His gaze swept over Su Mian. “Although I know you’ve become a demon, when you put on your male clothes and glasses, you felt pretty much the same as before… still that Mianzi.”

He paused for a few seconds, his expression turning serious. “But now—I should say since we parted last night, seeing you again… I feel like you’re becoming more and more… feminine.”

Su Mian: “…”

Her cheeks began to flush at a visible rate.

Qin Xuan cast an unexpected glance at Lu Yang, pushing up his glasses. “This time… you observed quite carefully.”

Lu Yang chuckled. “Of course!”

“I’m going to be a demon exorcist! Observational skills are fundamental!”

Su Mian stood there, her face growing redder and redder, until she finally turned around, her back to the two of them, pretending to organize the documents on the bookshelf.

But the tips of her ears were crimson, and her tails behind her uncontrollably peeked out a little from beneath her clothes, swaying gently.

Feminine…

This word was like a small stone tossed into the lake of her heart, stirring ripples.

She recalled the intimacy of last night, the dependence she felt in Xiao Moyuan’s arms this morning, and her increasingly habitual playful pouting and minor temper tantrums…

It seemed… she truly was different.

Not just her body transforming into a female’s, but her mindset, behavior, and even unconscious small gestures were gradually aligning with ‘being a girl.’

And this change had actually been noticed at a glance by Lu Yang, of all people, the one with the thickest skin.

Su Mian buried her face in a stack of books, her ears twitching.

She felt a little shy and embarrassed, but deep down… there was a tiny, indescribable joy.

It was as if she had been acknowledged.

Acknowledged as a ‘female’ existence.

She took a deep breath, composed herself, then turned around, trying to make her expression appear natural. “Alright, alright, alright! Enough of that! Let’s discuss serious matters!”

Lu Yang and Qin Xuan exchanged glances, both seeing a smile in the other’s eyes.

But both were considerate enough not to continue the topic.

“Right, serious matters.”

Qin Xuan switched back to the computer page. “Regarding the specific plan for communicating with Lin Juan tonight, we need to plan it in detail. Also, as for Chen Wan’s brother, who would be most suitable to approach him…”

…

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