Su Yaoyao wasn’t about to give up. She grabbed a slice of apple and, without giving him a chance to refuse, stuffed it into Pani’s mouth. "Don’t be like that," she chided playfully. "It’s more fun if we eat together."

Pani froze, subconsciously chewing the apple as its sweet juice filled his mouth.

Just then, Su Yaoyao noticed that the apple slices had been meticulously carved into the shape of little bunnies. They were exquisite. "Oh, they’re so cute! Did you carve these?" she asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Pani’s cheeks were puffed out as he nodded obediently, mumbling an indistinct reply.

Su Yaoyao stared at Pani’s ears, the longing in her eyes no longer possible to hide. Finally, she couldn’t resist asking, "Can I... touch your ears?"

Pani’s eyes flew wide, as if he had never imagined Su Yaoyao would make such a request.

When his pink pupils met Su Yaoyao’s gaze, which was so fiery it was almost scorching, Pani instinctively recoiled and clapped his hands over his rabbit ears.

"N-No."

Pani was flustered. A rabbit’s ears were extremely sensitive and fragile.

Pani turned his head slightly, trying to evade the gaze that made him so uncomfortable, but Su Yaoyao’s eyes seemed locked onto him, following his every move.

Su Yaoyao couldn’t hold back any longer. She gazed at Pani with pleading eyes and said in a coaxing tone, "Pani, your ears are just so cute. Please let me touch them? Just for a second."

Pani sighed in resignation. He couldn’t stand up to her pitiful act, so he had no choice but to agree. "Fine, fine. But just for a second, okay?"

Su Yaoyao’s eyes instantly lit up like stars. She eagerly reached out and gently stroked those fluffy ears.

The moment her fingertips made contact, Pani’s body went rigid, and his ear twitched instinctively.

A pleasant tingle spread from the base of his ear. He squeezed his eyes shut in comfort as a blush rapidly spread across his face. His heart began to pound uncontrollably, the THUMP THUMP THUMP so loud it felt like it would burst from his chest.

He opened his mouth, wanting to stop her, but he found himself greedily cherishing the warmth of her touch.

’What a strange feeling... being touched by this young female...’

But after touching his ears, Su Yaoyao still wasn’t satisfied. Her eyes started to roam over Pani’s body again, finally landing on the area behind him. She swallowed. "Pani, I’ve touched your ears... can I see your tail, too?"

Pani’s face instantly turned beet red. His ears burned. He took a flustered step back, instinctively clamping his hands over his rear. "N-No way!" he stammered. "The tail is even... even more sensitive than my ears."

His voice trailed off, as if he were trying to hide some unspeakable secret.

But Su Yaoyao wasn’t one to give up so easily. She leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she wheedled:

"Oh, come on, Pani. Please? I promise I’ll only look. I absolutely won’t touch." As she spoke, she raised three fingers in a swearing gesture.

Pani looked at her determined expression, clear that she wouldn’t stop until she got her way, and felt deeply conflicted.

On the one hand, he couldn’t bear to refuse her. On the other, his tail was an extremely private and sensitive part of his body.

His eyes were full of conflict, his lips trembling slightly as he waged a fierce internal battle.

Just as Pani was wavering, Su Yaoyao had a flash of inspiration. She picked up one of the rabbit-shaped apple slices and said softly:

"Pani, look. You carved these apples so cutely. As a reward, how about you let me see your tail?" As she spoke, she held the apple slice to his lips.

Pani looked at the apple slice, then back at Su Yaoyao’s hopeful eyes. Finally, he clenched his jaw and said in a small voice, "O-Okay, then. But you absolutely must not touch it."

With that, he slowly turned his back to Su Yaoyao. His hands loosened, little by little revealing the fluffy tail tucked behind him.

Su Yaoyao stared at Pani’s fluffy tail without blinking, her breath hitching in her throat.

Her hand lifted slightly before she clenched it into a fist, desperately fighting the urge to reach out and touch it.

"Wow, it’s so adorable!" Su Yaoyao’s voice was filled with amazement. "It’s even fluffier and softer than I imagined." She examined the tail from different angles, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Pani bit his lower lip, his body trembling slightly. He’d never been this nervous. Her searing gaze on his tail felt like a burning flame.

"H-Have you seen enough?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mixture of nerves and embarrassment.

Su Yaoyao hadn’t had her fill, but she could sense his discomfort. "Almost," she said quickly. "Just a little longer." Even as she spoke, she continued to make little sounds of admiration.

Suddenly, as if discovering a new continent, Su Yaoyao cried out in delight, "Pani, there’s a little white tuft of fur on the tip of your tail! It looks like a marshmallow!" The more she spoke, the more excited she became.

Pani’s face was completely crimson. He wished the ground would swallow him whole. "Please, stop looking..." he begged, his body curling in on itself from the tension.

But all Su Yaoyao could see was that adorable tail. Hearing Pani’s plea, the thread of her self-control just... SNAPPED.

As if possessed, she took advantage of his distraction. In a flash, she reached out and gave it a quick stroke.

The instant her fingertips brushed his tail, Pani felt a jolt of electricity shoot through him. His body gave a violent, uncontrollable shudder.

The strength instantly drained from his legs, leaving them as weak as overcooked noodles.

If it weren’t for the wall right in front of him, he would have crumpled to the floor.

His mind went blank, filled with nothing but the tingling shock of her touch.

It felt as if an invisible hand were choking him; he tried to speak but could only manage a few broken gasps.

His eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at Su Yaoyao in utter disbelief. His expression was a mix of shame and indignation, but mostly, he was just completely lost.

Su Yaoyao was startled by her own actions. Realizing what a mess she’d made, she quickly backed away, stammering, "I-I’m sorry. I just couldn’t resist."

Pani was in no state to reply. His only thought was to escape the mortifying situation.

He ducked his head, clutched his tail tightly, and bolted for the door. In his haste, he staggered and nearly collided with the doorframe.

SLAM! The door was thrown shut. Su Yaoyao stood frozen, staring at the closed door, filled with regret. ’It’s over, it’s over,’ she thought. ’I’ve really crossed the line with Pani. He’s never going to speak to me again.’