168: Chapter 168: Wang Dong'er: Do you have feelings for Sister Xue, or do you like her?

The night was as dark as ink, and everything was silent.

Inside the residence, the lights in most rooms had already been extinguished, with only a few lamps in the corridor emitting a dim, soft glow.

In Lu Jing and Wang Donger's bedroom, only a small bedside lamp was lit.

The soft, warm light bathed the bed, yet it could not dispel the subtle tension in the air.

Wang Donger had finished washing up and had changed into a comfortable, silk camisole nightdress.

She stood by the bed, slipped off her soft-soled slippers to reveal her fair, delicate feet, then nimbly climbed onto the soft, spacious bed, slipped under the covers, and snuggled up to Lu Jing.

She could clearly feel that the aura of the person beside her was somewhat different.

Lu Jing was lying flat on the bed, his eyes fixed on the shadows of the bed canopy, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he were pondering something or troubled by some matter.

The aura about him, which usually made her feel at ease with its steadiness and composure, now betrayed a trace of imperceptible irritation and hesitation.

This was very unusual.

The two had been together for several years and were long familiar with each other's temperament.

Lu Jing was usually decisive and deep-thinking; rarely did he have moments where his concerns were so clearly written on his face.

Especially at such a quiet, late hour when they were alone together in private.

Ordinarily, having changed into this specially selected, thin, form-fitting nightdress and actively approached him, he would have already taken action.

Either by pulling her into his arms for affection, or by looking her over with a teasing glint in his eyes, or simply getting straight to the point, starting those intimate interactions that made her blush and race with heart-pounding excitement, yet which she willingly indulged in.

She had sufficient confidence in her own body and appearance, and she knew full well how great an attraction this held for Lu Jing.

Yet tonight, he was actually... indifferent?

Wang Donger turned on her side, reached out her arm to gently wrap around Lu Jing's waist, pressed her face against his solid arm, and raised those beautiful eyes that appeared exceptionally clear and moving in the warm light, asking softly and with concern:

"Lu Jing, what's wrong with you? Since this afternoon, I've felt that you... seem a bit off, like you have something on your mind?"

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of worry and a touch of probing.

Lu Jing's body stiffened imperceptibly.

He lowered his eyes to look at Wang Donger, who was in his arms with her little face upturned, full of concern.

That breathtakingly beautiful face appeared even more lovely in the warm light, and the unmasked worry in her eyes warmed his heart, yet it also made the hesitation and heaviness in his heart all the more distinct.

He was silent for a moment, then reached out, gently caressing Wang Donger's smooth, delicate cheek with his fingertips, his gaze complex, his voice low:

"There is something... Donger. I'm wondering whether or not I should tell you about this."

His tone was rarely as grave and uncertain as this.

This caused Wang Donger's heart to tighten as well.

She knew that when Lu Jing wore this expression, it meant that this matter was definitely not trivial, and it was very likely... related to her, or to their small group, and might even bring about some... changes she did not wish to see.

She blinked her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, suppressing the unease in her heart, and asked in as calm a tone as she could manage: "What is it? You... tell me. Is there anything between us that cannot be said?"

Lu Jing looked at Wang Donger's crystal-clear, trusting eyes, and felt even more unsettled inside.

He sighed softly, as if having made some kind of decision, and spoke slowly, his voice very light:

"You... also noticed it today, right? The Snow Empress... she is very off."

Hearing that it was about the Snow Empress, a string in Wang Donger's heart twitched slightly, but she did not immediately think deeply into it.

She nodded and followed Lu Jing's lead, saying: "Mm, I noticed. When we were eating this morning, she was acting strange, especially when she looked at you... That look in her eyes, it didn't seem like the usual Snow Empress. It was more like... like she was a bit embarrassed, a bit awkward, or as if... she was hiding something on her mind and didn't dare to look at you."

Her description was very accurate; this was precisely the Snow Empress's most obvious abnormality that morning.

Lu Jing nodded and continued to guide the conversation: "What do you think... given the Snow Empress's personality, and her seven hundred thousand years of experience and state of mind, why would she suddenly have such a reaction? This kind of... shy and flustered state almost like that of a young girl?"

This question caused Wang Donger to fall into a brief moment of thought.

That's right, what kind of person was the Snow Empress?

The Ruler of the Far North, having experienced countless storms, her temperament was long as firm as black ice and as steady as a mountain.

What matter could make her display such an almost helpless expression?

In her mind, she quickly flashed through the various details of the Snow Empress today—the evasive eyes, the flushed cheeks, the posture that was almost like fleeing in panic when faced with Lu Jing's questioning...

These all seemed to point to one possibility, a possibility... that she was somewhat unwilling to think about deeply.

Unless...

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Wang Donger's mind like lightning!

Before, she had only thought the Snow Empress was acting abnormally, but had never connected this abnormality with any specific emotion.

Now, being pointed out by Lu Jing like this, combined with the Snow Empress's extraordinary trust and reliance on Lu Jing, and Lu Jing's multiple life-saving graces and re-creation favors toward the Snow Empress...

"Unless..." Wang Donger subconsciously opened her little mouth, her azure eyes instantly widening, her pupils slightly constricting, filled with shock, disbelief, and a trace of realization that it was exactly as she had suspected!

She seemed to have finally understood something, yet she was also somewhat dazed by the impact of this understood truth.

Seeing this expression on Wang Donger's face, Lu Jing knew she had already guessed it.

He didn't say anything more, but just sighed helplessly and deeply.

This sigh seemed to contain a thousand words and also confirmed Wang Donger's conjecture.

The bedroom fell into a brief, somewhat suffocating silence.

Only the two of them's slightly hurried breathing sounds intertwined in the quiet air.

The shock on Wang Donger's face gradually faded, replaced by a complex, indescribable expression.

She slowly lowered her head, her long eyelashes drooping, veiling the emotions in her eyes.

After a good while, she finally raised her head again, looked at Lu Jing, and in a voice that was very light yet carried a hint of imperceptible trembling, asked that most crucial question:

"Then... what about you?"

"Do you... have feelings for the Snow Empress? Or rather... do you like her?"

She asked directly, her gaze tightly locked onto Lu Jing's eyes, not letting a single subtle change on his face escape her.

This was the question she cared about most, and it was the core that would determine the direction of everything.

Lu Jing met Wang Donger's gaze without flinching.

He knew that any prevarication or lie at this moment would be a hurt to her.

He was silent for a moment, then asked in return: "Donger, do you want to hear the truth, or... a lie?"