Mingxi’s voice cracked softly. “If I ever… asked you to be mine… it would be from choice. Not duty. Not a clan expectation. Just… because I cannot imagine a life without you.”
Her cheeks heated, and her pulse raced.
She whispered, “I think… I’d want you to ask.”
He went absolutely still as his tails curled slowly behind him like a blooming flower.
Before he could answer, Minghua yelled from across the clearing, “Are you two getting engaged or what?”
Mingxi facepalmed.
Poppy absolutely died inside.
Lysandra, from somewhere unseen, shouted, but her voice unmistakable, “My prophecy was right!”
Chapter 88
Mingxi hadn’t slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face at the firepool— the reflection of warm foxfire in her eyes, the way her lips parted when she whispered:
“I think… I’d want you to ask.”
He’d died. Then resurrected. Then died again.
He paced the upper hall of the Shen residence, tails flicking like fractal lightning.
Mingjun watched from the doorway, sipping tea.
“You’re making grooves in the floor,” Mingjun said.
“I can’t… breathe,” Mingxi whispered.
“That’s called being in love.”
Mingxi glared. “Shut up.”
“You shut up,” Minghua shouted from somewhere behind a door.
Mingxi nearly jumped out of his skin. “Why are you everywhere?”
“Because this is important,” she roared, bursting out dramatically. “Caelan isn’t here, so I’m your best friend now.”
“No, you’re not,” Mingxi snapped.
“Yea, I am.”
“No—”
Minghua slapped a silk box into his hands. “Propose withthat.”
Mingxi froze. “What is it?”
“A foxfire engagement charm,” she said proudly. “Traditional. Old school. Classy. I absolutely stole it from Mingjun’s room.”
Mingjun choked on his tea. “Minghua.”
“What? You weren’t using it.”
