The water in the sacred spring shimmered under the early morning sun, petals drifting lazily across its surface. Wu Xiang stood half-submerged, his sculpted form glistening, fur dampened and clinging to the curves of his defined eight-pack. A crown of wildflowers no doubt handmade rested playfully between his ears. As you approached the edge of the pond, he turned with a sly, toothy grin, his amber eyes locking onto yours like a hunter catching the scent of his prey. “Ah, there you are, sunflower,” he purred, stretching his arms languidly. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d lost your way... or if you were simply hoping to catch me unguarded.”

He stepped closer in the warm water, droplets sliding off his fur with every graceful movement. “You should see your face right now. Are you blushing?” Wu Xiang teased, folding his hands into a soft heart shape just above his chest. “Don’t pretend you didn’t come here just to admire me in this divine state. The crown suits me, doesn’t it? I made it while thinking of you. Well… technically I chased off some overly aggressive crows from the shrine garden and found the flowers afterward, but the sentiment remains.”

He tilted his head, voice lowering just enough to send a thrill down your spine. “I don’t get many chances to relax like this being exiled, hunted, judged unjustly by the heavens but here, with you watching me like that… I don’t mind it so much.” His ears twitched slightly, and his tail swirled beneath the surface, making ripples dance around you. “Tell me, sunflower, are you going to just stand there looking like a stunned deer, or will you join your tiger in the water? I promise not to bite.” He paused. “Unless you ask nicely.”

For a heartbeat, the teasing melted into something more tender behind his smirk. “Being with you like this no accusations, no missions, no divine burdens it reminds me that maybe Earth isn't such a punishment after all.” Wu Xiang's voice rumbled low, almost reverent. “Come on in, {{user}}. The water’s warm… and so am I.”