I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: Seven Kill Shock the World
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"Mmm~"
Just as Liu Erlong was caught in her internal struggle, Dai Chengfeng's lashes suddenly fluttered slightly.
Then, he slowly opened his eyes.
The morning light fell into his still somewhat hazy eyes. He instinctively blinked, as if adjusting to the brightness or dispelling the last remnants of sleepiness.
Almost at the same moment that Dai Chengfeng's lashes trembled, Liu Erlong—who had been gazing at him and whose fingertips still retained the warmth of his cheek—felt a sudden panic.
It was as if she were doing something wrong and about to be caught red-handed. Instinctively, with surprising speed, she abruptly turned her body away from Dai Chengfeng, presenting only her elegant back and her jet-black hair scattered across the pillow.
She tightly shut her eyes, deliberately steadying her breathing to appear slow and even, striving to mimic the posture of deep sleep.
'He's awake… he's awake! Hurry, leave on your own...'
Liu Erlong silently prayed in her heart, hoping that Dai Chengfeng would tactfully and quietly get up and leave, allowing this awkward morning to pass unnoticed.
After all, she truly didn't know how to face him now, especially after those vague yet blush-inducing moments from the previous night...
On the other side.
Dai Chengfeng looked at Liu Erlong, a fleeting smile crossing his eyes, but he quickly masked it, merely raising an eyebrow silently.
His mind was crystal clear; he had already woken when Liu Erlong, suffering from a hangover headache, unconsciously furrowed her brows and rubbed her temples.
However, he chose to continue feigning sleep. He wanted to see how this dragon, who had retracted all her sharp edges and become vulnerable and fragile last night, would handle this slightly embarrassing and ambiguous situation in the morning light.
Ultimately, she chose the most direct yet clumsy method—pretending to sleep, hoping that Dai Chengfeng would tactfully leave on his own.
For a moment, Dai Chengfeng chuckled inwardly, finding Liu Erlong much more interesting and adorable now than when she was in her fiery, sober state.
Therefore, he wasn't in a hurry to expose her. Instead, he felt a playful urge to see how long she could keep up this act.
Thinking this, Dai Chengfeng casually turned over to face her back, propping his head up with one hand, his gaze unreservedly falling on her.
The morning light outlined the gentle curves of her shoulders and the slimness of her waist. Even through the quilt, one could imagine the beauty beneath.
His gaze carried undisguised admiration, traveling from her slightly exposed fragrant shoulder, to her disheveled hair, and finally to the faintly visible, fair and delicate nape of her neck...
In fact, Dai Chengfeng deliberately let his gaze linger for a while until Liu Erlong felt the intense gaze on her back. Then, in a voice just loud enough for her to hear clearly, yet seemingly muttering to himself, he murmured:
"Ah, they say beauty is best admired under lamplight, but a beauty in the morning light has its own unique charm..."
"Especially in this sleeping pose, quiet and docile, far more pleasing than the fiery version when awake."
"Particularly this perfect figure..."
"Tsk tsk! I haven't seen many women in my life whose figures can compare with Liu Erlong's..."
Dai Chengfeng's voice carried the slight hoarseness of someone just waking up, his tone lazy, as if these were unconscious murmurs of admiration.
Hearing Dai Chengfeng's 'self-talk,' Liu Erlong, who was facing away from him, stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Her tightly closed eyelashes trembled violently for a moment before she forcibly suppressed them.
Her heart raced involuntarily at his sudden "praise," and an inexplicable sense of pride, which she herself was unwilling to admit, quietly surfaced.
She inwardly cursed herself, warning herself to stay composed, but her lips uncontrollably curved into a tiny smile.
Fortunately, she was facing away from him, so no one noticed.
But alas, since Dai Chengfeng knew Liu Erlong was pretending to sleep, he naturally observed her extremely subtle reactions.
For a moment, the amusement in Dai Chengfeng's eyes deepened.
This woman seems... quite pleased?
But she's still pretending to sleep, huh? Let's see how long you can hold out.
Thinking this, Dai Chengfeng sat up very gently, causing the silk quilt to rustle as it slid down.
He didn't leave the bed but instead leaned down, his gaze falling on her slightly curled, barely visible feet at the end of the quilt.
Liu Erlong's feet were exquisitely beautiful, fair and slender, with pearl-like toes and a delicate ankle, seemingly glowing softly in the morning light.
Dai Chengfeng reached out, tentatively and gently grasping her ankle.
"!?!"
Instantly, Liu Erlong's heart tightened, all her pride and shyness completely replaced by panic.
She felt the warmth on her ankle, the sensation incredibly clear, making her almost jump in shock!
D-Dai Chengfeng... what is he going to do?!
Liu Erlong's mind went blank, then a flood of random thoughts rushed in!
For instance, she had accidentally heard some sordid rumors among the nobility about certain men having peculiar preferences... foot fetishes?
Could it be that Dai Chengfeng... he wants to...
Thinking about Dai Chengfeng possibly doing such and such things with her feet...
Liu Erlong bit her lower lip hard to suppress a scream, already cursing Dai Chengfeng countless times as a "little bastard" and "pervert" in her heart!
At the same time, she didn't know whether she should continue pretending to sleep in this situation.
However, the anticipated spine-chilling kissing and sucking did not come.
Instead, a warm fingertip mischievously tickled the extremely sensitive sole of her foot.
"!!!"
Instantly, a strong wave of laughter mixed with tingling itchiness surged from the sole of her foot straight to the top of Liu Erlong's head!
She nearly burst out laughing, her body uncontrollably trembling violently!
She almost used all her willpower to forcefully swallow the laughter that had reached her throat, leaving her chest feeling stifled and her shoulders slightly shaking.
She tightly shut her eyes, already imagining Dai Chengfeng being subjected to a thousand cuts in her mind!
That damn, despicable little bastard!
He actually... actually tickled the sole of her foot?! What kind of childish trick is this!
Meanwhile, Dai Chengfeng, unaware of Liu Erlong's internal complaints, found great amusement in watching her desperately suppress her laughter, her whole body trembling, and her toes curling tightly as if resisting torture, nearly bursting into laughter himself.
"Interesting!"
Soon, Dai Chengfeng, holding back his laughter, deliberately traced a few circles on her tender sole with his fingertip, neither too lightly nor too heavily.
For a moment, Liu Erlong felt as if she were about to go crazy from the itchiness, her toes wriggling, almost cramping, relying solely on sheer willpower to endure.
Stop! Bastard! Just leave already!
After playing for a while, seeing that Liu Erlong could still stubbornly "stay asleep," Dai Chengfeng genuinely admired her self-control.
He released her foot, "Looks like it's time for the ultimate move."
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