He’s a Fox Ch 36

Chapter 36

“Then… later tonight, Moong-moo Oppa will sleep together with Yuri.”

Since being together forever wasn’t permitted, the cub cleverly offered a “second-best” solution. It was a shining display of the Beom family’s early education: if you cannot obtain exactly what you want, then secure the next most valuable alternative.

Unsurprisingly, the tiger’s den erupted at such words. No with Oppa, no with Mother, absolutely not with Father. This little cub, who had firmly refused to share her bed with anyone ever since she began eating solid food—rejecting even beloved family as “bed companions”—had suddenly declared she would sleep with a fox she’d only met recently. Chaos was only natural.

Even the alligator, usually indulgent, shook his head, followed by Kangwoon. Of all things, sharing a bed? Any sane guardian knew a three-year-old girl was never to be left to sleep with an outsider. Yuri’s brazenness was one side; what about the poor fox? Was he to become a living replacement for her comfort plushie?

But Yuri refused to withdraw. Her little eyes sharpened as she snarled softly in frustration. If she couldn’t go out with him, and couldn’t have him by her side all day, then at least she would cling to him at night. To deny even that—was cruelty in the eyes of a stubborn three-year-old.

At this point, the only ways to block her plan were to either imprison the fox, or else allow her outside freely—since her confinement was a result of Father’s fights with her elder sister, solving the “problem” would require eliminating one of them. And that, of course, meant murder.

Rather than contemplate such absurdity, Kangwoon pressed his lips thin and suggested an alternative.

“…Do you absolutely have to sleep with Mong-moo?”

“Yes!”

“Then I’ll be there too.”

If they slept together, he himself would act as a human buffer.

It made no difference to Yuri—so long as she could sleep beside Moong-moo. She nodded quick as lightning. The fox, however, flinched as though struck by thunder. Before he could protest, the decision was sealed.

With her brother’s permission secured, Yuri cheered and scampered away, her little voice shouting from the hall:

“Yuri will get ready first!”

She had even slipped into polite speech, something she only did when fantastically excited. The alligator followed swiftly after her, carrying in one arm the giant plush tiger she had abandoned on the floor. Kangwoon heaved a sigh, shaking his head—what earnest dedication, when the sun hadn’t even set yet.

Reclining heavy against the sofa, he accidentally met Hohyun’s dazed eyes. Seeing the fox blinking like a startled rabbit, guilt—a feeling almost never directed at outsiders—pricked faintly in Kangwoon’s chest.

“Sorry. I should have asked you first.”

“Oh, n-no… I’m fine. But… is this really okay?”

Hohyun stammered. To be honest, he had expected the guardians to shoot down the idea outright. But Kangwoon replied carelessly:

“I’ll be there too. Think of it as overtime. Don’t worry—we pay for overtime, remember?”

Just an hour ago, Kangwoon had explained that overtime hours earned extra compensation. Never had the fox expected to qualify for it this soon. One way or another, the decision stood: he would sleep in the tiger’s den.

From that moment on, Yuri buzzed with giddy excitement. She ran all around the house, repeatedly entering and leaving her room, unable to sit still at dinner, wiggling in her chair until Kangwoon gently scolded her more than once. Finally, after brushing her teeth, she dragged Hohyun eagerly toward her bedroom.

“Mong-moo Oppa, hurry!!”

Her little hand was tiny even by toddler standards—spread wide, it could barely clutch just one of his fingers. Still, her grip was surprisingly strong, pulling Hohyun forward with each step. He bent slightly so she wouldn’t have to strain, falling into a pace that matched hers. Watching from behind, Kangwoon followed at his own measured pace.

The fox had been in this room many times before in his animal form, but tonight, things were different.

Where once the bedside had always been littered with toys, now all of them had been carefully packed away into the chest. In their place, several children’s books filled the shelves. The room had been tidied meticulously.

Before Hohyun could comment, Yuri scrambled onto the wide bed and claimed the center spot. She smacked the sheets beside her eagerly as if to say this is your place.

Kangwoon, feigning ignorance, coolly claimed that “reserved” space himself. Yuri’s eyes widened with betrayal, her little lips curling in protest.

“This place is Mong-moo’s!”

“Oh? Too late—I sat here first. Mong-moo can sleep over there.”

He patted the space at his own side—on the far end from Yuri. With a bed that massive, there was still plenty of room, but it wasn’t the spot she wanted.

Her little eyebrows furrowed. Quietly but fiercely, she began climbing over Kangwoon’s broad chest, trying to crawl directly across him.

He held her back firmly. “No way, little one.”

The skirmish quickly grew intense. She wriggled and pushed, trying to climb over, giggling and growling with equal force, while he calmly foiled her efforts, returning her always to her first position. After several rounds, the sibling rivalry turned into a quiet but fierce wrestling match.

All the while, Kangwoon flicked his striped tail against the sheets beside him—straight toward the fox. “Lie down here.”

The tail brushed Hohyun’s thigh deliberately.

The fox hesitated. In a bed this large, why did he need to lie right there? Still, he slipped into place obediently.

To Yuri, seeing Mong-moo draw closer only deepened her resolve. Her eyes burned with determination. Interrupting sheepishly, he whispered:

“Um… should I fetch a pillow?”

“That’d be nice,” Kangwoon answered casually.

But before he could grab one, Yuri stiffened and released a battle cry—a shrill, high-pitched squeal. Abandoning her attempts to climb, she instead grabbed her brother tight around the neck, grappling with all her toddler might. Her ferocity froze everyone in place.

Grateful that Yuri owned only two pillows, Hohyun quickly slipped out to fetch one.

By the time he returned with the fluffy cushion tucked in his arms, the contest was over. Yuri had successfully wrestled her brother off center-stage and claimed victorious possession of the middle. She sat smugly in triumph, tail high, adding her beloved plush tiger beside her. Kangwoon, his arm damp with toddler slobber, slumped in irritated defeat.

So it was true: no parent can win against their child… and no brother against a little sister.

Laying down the pillow, Hohyun found the jubilant victor already pushing her plush to the side, eyes sparkling.

Satisfied, she pulled for one last ritual. From her shelf, she dragged out a familiar children’s book. On the cover was a cartoon tiger cub and a black puppy playing together. Hugging her plush, she touched Hohyun’s arm.

“Read for Yuri, please!”

“Alright. But only one story.”

Better to set terms from the start—otherwise, “one more, just one more” could last all night. Both guardian and fox knew that.

Though her face pouted briefly, Yuri nodded. She could save her demands for tomorrow. Snuggling tight against her plush, she nestled closer beside them.

As Hohyun prepared to read, Kangwoon glanced sidelong and mumbled softly: