The city of Shanghai once again buzzed with life, its night sky adorned with twinkling stars as streets overflowed with people and vehicles.
Office workers trudged home after long hours, while the youth filled the air with laughter, enjoying the best time of their lives. Couples strolled hand in hand, lost in their own worlds. A peaceful night—at least on the surface—in a world still infested by monsters.
A Porsche 911 slid into an underground garage. From it stepped a young man clad in a black combat suit. Standing at an impressive height of 6'4", his messy black hair fell over sharp blue eyes that carried both exhaustion and alertness. The tight combat suit clung to his perfectly sculpted physique, its fabric smeared with blood that was not his own.
The metallic shutter closed behind him with a dull clang. Grabbing the door handle, he stepped into his home.
His body finally relaxed, mind beginning to ease—until—
Boom!
A sudden explosion of sound and color greeted him.
"Surprise!"
Party poppers burst open, showering him in confetti. From the center of the chaos bounced Ai Tutu, clapping with boundless energy and a wide grin on her face.
"Congratulations!" came another, softer voice.
It was Mu Nujiao, stepping forward gracefully, her elegant black dress hugging her figure perfectly. She held up a tablet displaying a Forbes article with Damon's picture on the front page.
"Youngest Billionaire," she said warmly, her eyes glowing with admiration.
"Thank you," Damon murmured, taking her hand before leaning down to capture her soft lips. The kiss lingered, tender and full of affection. Coming home after a long, grueling day to be welcomed by the woman he loved—it was a feeling words could never quite describe.
Yes, they were dating. Months had passed since their relationship began, and every day, her beauty, kindness, and grace had drawn him deeper into her heart.
"Ahem," came a loud cough.
Of course, no couple could enjoy a peaceful moment in the presence of the ever-annoying rabbit girl.
"Enough, you two! Get a room—or at least let me leave first!" Ai Tutu groaned, stomping her foot in mock frustration. "Freaking normies never think about the feelings of us singles!"
Mu Nujiao laughed softly as the two separated. Her gaze fell to Damon's bloodstained suit, and her smile faded into concern.
"You're hurt?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
"It's not mine," Damon replied simply.
Mu Nujiao sighed, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Dinner's ready. Go take a bath and change. I'll be waiting."
She turned and left, her tone gentler than before but undeniably distant. Damon watched her go, noticing the faint shadow of worry that lingered in her eyes. Before he could speak, Ai Tutu tugged at his sleeve.
"So… where's my share?" she asked, tilting her head innocently.
Damon blinked. "Your share?"
"My share of the money, duh!" she said, puffing her cheeks. "Without my help, how could you have earned so much? You should be grateful to this young lady for your fortune!"
Damon's lips twitched. "And what exactly did you contribute?"
"Getting to live with me, obviously!" she said, hands on hips. "You should thank the heavens for granting you such a divine opportunity!"
"Thank the heavens my foot," Damon muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Living with you is nothing short of a nightmare!"
Her mouth fell open. "H-how could you say that? People line up just to catch a glimpse of me!"
"They line up to beat you up," Damon countered with a smirk. "You're more notorious than Mo Fan was himself."
"How can you say that to a lady!?" Ai Tutu pouted dramatically. "Wait till I tell Sister Jiao about your cruelty, you heartless miser!"
"I'm not asking for much," she continued, crossing her arms. "Just ten percent. A few hundred million isn't even that much for you!"
"That's twice your father's net worth," Damon said dryly.
"Boo~ how heartless," she whimpered, pretending to sniffle. "Your perverted eyes have already seen me topless, and now you won't even take responsibility?"
"Responsibility? For what? I should be charging you for emotional damages after witnessing those saggy globs of fat!"
Her jaw dropped. "Saggy globs of—HOW DARE YO—"
Damon didn't let her finish. He shut the bathroom door in her face with a satisfying click, ignoring her muffled shrieks on the other side.
Steam filled the bathroom as Damon finally allowed himself to unwind under the warm shower.
Later, he changed into a simple but elegant outfit: a black shirt that fit him perfectly, paired with an expensive Patek Philippe watch. It wasn't a special occasion, but dining with Mu Nujiao was reason enough to look his best.
Descending the stairs, he was met with a sight that made his heart skip. The dining room was dimly lit by candlelight, soft music playing in the background. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air.
There she stood—Mu Nujiao—in the same black dress he had once gifted her. She was arranging the dishes, focused and serene.
Damon smiled faintly and approached her quietly. Wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, he whispered near her ear.
"Ah!" Mu Nujiao gasped in surprise before melting into his embrace. A smile curved her lips. "You scared me."
"Did I?" he chuckled, resting his chin on her shoulder.
She turned in his arms, her eyes shining with affection. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," Damon said softly, before leaning down to kiss her once again.
With Ai Tutu gone from the mansion, the two lovers finally enjoyed their night in peace.
The night in Shanghai passed quietly, the couple drunk on love, lost in each other's warmth. They stayed awake until dawn, surrendering to their desires and to one another.
But while their world remained blissful and calm, chaos brewed outside.
By morning, the internet exploded. Photos and videos of a massive black serpent sighted in Hangzhou had gone viral. The brief appearance of a Monarch-class creature in the heart of the city shook all of China.
Waking up at noon, Damon and Mu Nujiao stared at the news report flashing on the screen.
"Hahaha!" Damon burst into laughter, his eyes gleaming. "Finally.."
The demon king has finally returned.