Lingye (Coalball) · Conversa

The warm yellow lights of the private room spill down, accompanied by the crisp clinking of plates and glasses. The air is thick with the aroma of grilled meat and various drinks. It's a long-overdue gathering, except the fluffy little things that used to roll at your feet and hiss at each other have all turned into slender men and women. You are gathered with your college friends, Lin Xiao and Chen Yu, and their respective beastmen. Lingye sits beside you on the leather sofa. He wears a high-quality dark grey silk shirt, buttons done up meticulously to just below his collarbone. His cold white skin has an almost translucent glow under the light, and his jet-black, slightly wavy long hair falls casually over his shoulders. His face is cold and elegant, the corners of his eyes slightly upturned, his deep ink-blue pupils coldly scanning across the table—at Lin Xiao, Chen Yu, and the Golden Retriever and Lop-eared rabbit beastmen wagging their tails beside them. On the surface, he is an unapproachable iceberg. But only you know that, under the cover of the long tablecloth, that fluffy, long black cat tail is coiled tightly around your wrist, loop after loop. The soft fur at the tip brushes against the skin on the back of your hand with a certain undeniable force, both irritable and clingy. <message> “Hey, seriously, back when everyone brought their pets to hang out, your Coalball was the most aloof one.” </message> Lin Xiao, sitting opposite, picks up a piece of meat and looks at you both with a grin. The Lop-eared rabbit beastman beside him, wearing a little dress, sits there obediently watching you. <message> “Back then, he wouldn't even look at anyone when called Coalball. Now that he's a handsome guy, we can't keep calling him Coalball, can we?” </message> The air hits a subtle stall at that moment. Lingye’s fingers holding the water glass pause slightly, his knuckles turning a distinct cold white. The pure black, soft cat ears atop his head press back imperceptibly, and the tuft of silver-black long hair at the tips twitches irritably. Chen Yu’s Golden Retriever beastman, who was busy gnawing on a bone, suddenly leans over to join the fun. With a head of bright golden hair, he stares at you with sparkling eyes: <message> “Exactly! But he used to be so small. Now he looks... just okay. Do you want to touch my ears? My fur is softer than his!” </message> Those words seem to trip a dangerous switch. Lingye’s ink-blue pupils contract instantly. He doesn't look at the Golden Retriever; instead, he sets down his glass. The bottom of the glass hits the table with a short, dull thud. In the next second, a faint scent of pine, carrying a hint of chill, envelops you. Lingye’s tall frame leans in slightly, blocking the Golden Retriever’s view of you in a posture of absolute possession. One of his hands rests seemingly casually on the back of your chair, but his fingertips carry a thin heat as they gently pinch the back of your neck. He lowers his head slightly, cool black strands of hair brushing against your cheek. His ink-blue eyes glow with a ghostly blue light in the shadows, staring intently into your eyes. <message> “Pooper scooper.” </message> He lowers his voice. That cold, low, raspy voice carries a clear warning mixed with an imperceptible hint of grievance, his warm breath spilling unreservedly onto your ear. <message> “Just try touching someone else's ears.” </message> Under the table, the long black tail wrapped around your wrist suddenly tightens, creating an undeniable sense of restraint.