111: Chapter 111: You're trying to seduce me this early in the morning, get out!

The newly awakened girl's eyes still held a hint of hazy moisture, like a blue lake shrouded in mist—bewildering and alluring.

She didn't seem fully awake yet, but instinctively sensing the heat source beside her was about to leave, she subconsciously reached out and grabbed Lu Jing's arm as he was about to pull it back. With a thick, nasal, and languidly hoarse voice, she mumbled softly:

"Hmm... why are you getting up so early... it's not even light out yet... sleep a little longer..."

Her voice was like a kitten's claws, scratching at Lu Jing's heart.

He turned his hand over to grasp her slightly cool little hand, rubbing it in his palm. He leaned down, pressed a gentle kiss to her smooth forehead, and coaxed in a low voice:

"You go back to sleep; I need to go see Senior Poseidon." Lu Jing replied softly.

"Senior Poseidon?"

Wang Donger blinked her still-dazed eyes, her thoughts seemingly running half a beat slow, and asked, "What... what do you need to see her for?"

"We've lived on Sea God Island for four years now, and she has taken great care of us."

Lu Jing explained patiently, his fingertips gently stroking the back of her hand. "Now that you've passed your seventh trial and have ten years to prepare for the eighth, I intend to let her know. It's time for us to prepare to return to the mainland. We can't just leave without saying anything, right? That would be too impolite."

"Oh... back to the mainland..." Wang Donger seemed to finally fully understand. She let out a soft "oh" and nodded, then, as if feeling relieved, a wave of heavy sleepiness washed over her again.

She released Lu Jing's hand and, like a lazy kitten, subconsciously burrowed deeper into the warm quilt. Only half of her exquisite little face and her beautiful, slowly closing eyes remained visible. She mumbled in response, "Then... go ahead... I'm going to sleep a little longer... so sleepy..."

Before she had even finished speaking, her breathing had already become steady and deep; she had fallen back into a deep sleep while still talking.

Clearly, last night's "intense battle" and the extreme emotional fluctuations had exhausted her.

He tucked the blanket around her and gazed quietly at her sleeping face for a moment before straightening up and dressing himself with light, careful movements.

Just as he fastened the last button and prepared to turn and leave, a sudden thought crossed his mind. He couldn't help but stop and walk back to the bedside.

He crouched down, his gaze tracing the sleeping girl's face inch by inch, like the finest paintbrush.

The morning light grew brighter, illuminating her fair, delicate skin until it was almost translucent. A faint flush from last night's passion still lingered on her cheeks, like newly bloomed peach blossoms, tender and enticing.

Her long eyelashes cast gentle shadows beneath her eyelids, and her straight, delicate nose and slightly parted, glistening lips were all breathtakingly beautiful.

Perhaps it was because Lu Jing's gaze was too intense, or perhaps he had lingered too long, but the girl's eyelashes trembled again, and she slowly opened her eyes.

This time, Wang Donger was fully awake.

As she opened her eyes, she was met with Lu Jing's gaze, which was just inches away and filled with tenderness and admiration.

She was slightly stunned at first, then subconsciously reached up to touch her face, asking with some confusion, "What's wrong? You keep looking at me... is there something on my face?"

Her voice still carried the soft, sleepy lilt of someone who had just woken up, making it sound incredibly cute.

Lu Jing looked at her dazed yet earnest expression and couldn't help but chuckle. He shook his head, his tone teasing yet filled with sincerity. "No. There's nothing on it."

He paused, his burning gaze locked onto her eyes as he said, clearly and slowly, "I just wanted to get a good look at my wife. I can't seem to get enough of looking at you."

"Boom!"

The word "wife" seemed to carry magic; it instantly made Wang Donger's pretty face flush a deep red at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The blush spread from her cheeks to her ears, and even her fair neck was stained with an alluring shade of pink.

She suddenly remembered her own bold initiative from last night and those embarrassing scenes, and a wave of intense shyness washed over her.

"You... what nonsense are you spouting!" she exclaimed in a mix of shyness and annoyance. She subconsciously tried to sit up to retort, but as she moved, the quilt covering her slid down...

Instantly, a large expanse of snow-white, delicate skin—smooth as mutton-fat jade—was exposed to the cool air and Lu Jing's burning gaze.

Her exquisite collarbones, rounded shoulders, and... that breathtaking curve... all glowed with an alluring luster in the morning light.

"Ah!"

Wang Donger gasped, only then realizing she was barely covered!

She scrambled to grab the fallen quilt, pulling it quickly to her chest and wrapping herself up tightly. Only her face, red enough to drip blood, and her large, watery, flustered eyes were visible as she glared at Lu Jing in embarrassment and anger, as if that could shield her from his "ill-intentioned" gaze.

Seeing how cute she looked, trying to cover herself up in her uncontrollable shyness, Lu Jing finally couldn't help but chuckle, his tone full of mischief. "Know how to be shy now? I wonder who it was last night, acting even more..."

He intentionally drew out his tone, his gaze sweeping ambiguously over the quilt she was clutching so tightly.

"Don't say it! You're not allowed to say anything else!"

Wang Donger completely lost it, so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a hole. Forgetting all about her image, she grabbed another soft pillow from beside her and threw it at Lu Jing's smirking face without even looking. "Lu Jing, you jerk! Playing lewd tricks on me first thing in the morning! Get out!"

Lu Jing laughed heartily, easily catching the "weapon" before placing it back on the bed.

He knew that if he teased her any longer, this thin-skinned little kitten might actually start scratching.

He straightened up and took one last look at the girl who had wrapped herself up like a silkworm cocoon, with only her large, shy, and angry eyes peeking out. Satisfied, he turned and strode out of the room, carefully pulling the door shut behind him.

"Click."

With the soft click of the door closing, the room returned to silence.

Confirming that Lu Jing had truly left, Wang Donger's tense nerves finally relaxed.

She slowly released the corner of the quilt she had been clutching so tightly, emerging slightly from her "cocoon," but the flush on her face refused to fade.

She stared blankly at the closed door, her mind uncontrollably replaying snippets of last night, along with Lu Jing's pampering and teasing smile from just moments ago, and that phrase, "My wife." An indescribable, overwhelming sense of happiness and satisfaction washed over her like a warm tide.

There was no shyness, no unease—only the steadiness and sweetness of having everything settled and her wishes fulfilled.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the corners of her mouth curled up. The arc grew wider and wider, finally blossoming into an incredibly brilliant, incredibly happy smile.

The smile was like the brightest sunshine of spring, dispelling all gloom and causing her stunning face to glow with a breathtaking radiance.

She buried her burning cheeks back into the pillow that still held Lu Jing's scent. Feeling that reassuring aroma, she felt as if she were soaking in a jar of honey, with the very air around her filled with a sweet fragrance.

From this moment on, she was no longer alone.

She had found a sanctuary—someone she could trust completely, rely on without reservation, and share all her joys and sorrows with.

He was Lu Jing.

He was her... husband.