"Xia Lun, I love you, Xia Lun... Everything I have is yours... My dear Xia Lun... My beloved..."
Xia Lun narrowed his eyes as Aina lay against his chest, whispering sweet nothings he could never tire of hearing.
"Thank you," Xia Lun murmured, stroking Aina's smooth back. "I love you too."
Aina pursed her lips, seemingly unsatisfied with his response.
"Xia Lun... You're being too cold," she pouted, poking his chest. "Just a single flimsy line?"
"Have you rested enough?" Xia Lun cupped Aina's face, his thumb gently kneading her soft cheek.
Aina's lips curled into a smile—finally satisfied. As always, actions spoke louder than words.
The Demon King's wings unfurled behind her, ready to envelop them once more.
"Wait."
Xia Lun reached out, gripping the bony cartilage of Aina's bat-like wing.
"What's wrong?" Aina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Fold your wings away," Xia Lun guided her, turning her around and positioning himself behind her. One hand steadied her wing while the other held her arm.
"It's been a while since we've done this... Your wings would block my view of your face," he whispered against the nape of her neck.
"Hmph, how bold of you, Xia Lun," Aina sneered. "Are you forcing me into this humiliating, beast-like posture for your amusement?"
Xia Lun's expression faltered. "You don't want to?"
"But since it's your request, as your wife, I suppose I can reluctantly oblige." Aina folded her wings, the crimson appendages shrinking into twin scarlet markings on her back.
"Don't misunderstand—I'm only proving that even with my back turned, I, the Demon King, can effortlessly discern your intentions..."
Xia Lun remained silent. They had done this countless times before—in fact, the first time had been Aina's idea. Clearly, she kept inventing new theatrics to keep things fresh for him.
A sharp gasp escaped Aina as Xia Lun caught her off guard.
"Tch, not bad, Xia Lun. Sneak attacking while I'm distracted..." Even after the initial stumble, Aina refused to concede.
Xia Lun smirked.
"Ngh—that last one nearly killed me... Couldn't you be gentler?"
Instead of relenting, Xia Lun intensified his assault. Aina arched forward like a drawn bowstring, her body trembling under the relentless advance.
"Xia Lun! Ah—Xia Lun, if you keep this up, I'll...!" Panic flickered in her voice—being bested so swiftly by the Hero would be mortifying.
Xia Lun ignored her protests, pressing on mercilessly. Aina's wrists remained trapped in his grasp, denying her even the dignity of muffling her own cries. Whimpers spilled from her lips, raw and unrestrained.
Finally, Xia Lun released her. Deprived of support, Aina collapsed like a snapped cord, shuddering as she lay sprawled.
"Xia Lun... You're truly a monster."
Crawling onto his chest, she purred, "So overwhelming, my Hero."
"Can't help it. You're too tempting, Demon King." Xia Lun brushed a kiss against her lips, but Aina seized him, pulling him into a deep, hungry embrace.
Reluctantly, they parted—life awaited beyond their private world.
"Let's get up." Aina waved a hand, her robe materializing to cloak her lithe figure.
"Liyana and the others seem to be back," Xia Lun noted, glancing outside.
Another flick of Aina's wrist, and fresh clothes draped over Xia Lun. Her earlier threat to banish his garments into the void hadn't been idle.
"We're hooome!"
Liyana barged in—"barged" being the operative word, as few people kicked their own door open upon returning.
"I-I'm back too..." Mo Lini murmured, avoiding Xia Lun's gaze.
"Is something wrong?" Xia Lun asked softly, immediately sensing her unease.
"Ha! I took her for green dumplings, and she overate. Now she's fretting about her figure. Xia Lun, you should bring Aina sometime—she'd love them!" Liyana scratched her head, feigning nonchalance.
Though Liyana acted normal, Xia Lun suspected they were hiding something.
But he let it slide—everyone had secrets. Back in his adventuring days, he'd never pried into his comrades' pasts, judging them solely by their present actions.
"Come, Aina."
He didn't refuse Liyana's suggestion. Aina adored sweets—except honey-glazed pancakes.
Aina cast a lingering glance at the pair but followed without comment.
"Whew... Do you think Xia Lun noticed?" Mo Lini exhaled.
"Of course not. Strong as they are, they're not omniscient." Liyana's voice wavered slightly.
"But he seemed perceptive... Liyana, if he asks me directly, I won't be able to lie."
"He won't ask." Liyana waved dismissively.
Not "won't be able to"—she knew Xia Lun's sharp eyes missed little. That eerie blue glow in the Grand Cathedral against the Twilight Apostles hadn't been for show.
If Aina found out... surely Xia Lun would protect her?
Liyana shrank into herself, already envisioning the worst.
Well, Aina probably wouldn't kill her—but punishment was inevitable.
"Blop blop—"
The slime, Little Blue, leaped from Mo Lini's head and darted away.
"Little Blue?!" Mo Lini reached out, but the creature vanished with uncanny speed.
"Wow, is that a slime or a rabbit?!" Liyana gaped.
Then again, given the enhancements Aina had fed it, perhaps the agility wasn't surprising.
"You don't think it ran away?" Mo Lini fretted.
"Doubt it." Liyana shrugged.
"Then where did it go?"
"Who knows? Probably off playing."
Liyana wasn't worried.
After all—what trouble could one little slime possibly cause?
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
u Chenyuan transmigrated into a female-oriented novel about a real and fake heiress, becoming the CEO elder brother of both. Unfortunately, the entire Lu family—including himself, the CEO—were mere cannon fodder in the story. Determined to save himself, Lu Chenyuan took action. The spoiled, attention-seeking fake heiress? Thrown into the harsh realities of the working class to learn humility. The love-struck real heiress? Pushed toward academic excellence, so lofty goals would blind her to trivial romances. As for the betrayed, vengeful arranged marriage wife… the plot hadn’t even begun yet. There was still time—if he couldn’t handle her, he could at least avoid her. "CEO Lu, are you avoiding me?" Mo Qingli fixed her gaze on Lu Chenyuan. For the first time, the shrewd and calculating Lu Chenyuan felt a flicker of unease.
