Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting warm golden patches of light onto the sofa and floor, dispelling the chill of the night. The bedroom door creaked open as Chen Jing stepped out, yawning and dragging her feet. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her sleepy eyes gave away her groggy state as she stretched lazily.
The motion caused her loose pajamas to ride up slightly, revealing a sliver of her slim waist. Half-asleep, she mumbled to herself, "After all that chaos last night… now I have to deal with this troublesome guy."
Unbeknownst to her, Lucifer had already woken up.
He was reclining on the sofa, staring intently at the metallic shard on the coffee table, his expression distant and contemplative. At the soft sound of the door opening, his gaze shifted, landing squarely on Chen Jing's relaxed and entirely unaware figure.
Her pajamas, clearly designed for comfort rather than modesty, hung loosely on her frame. The neckline dipped slightly, revealing her delicate collarbones, and the hem swayed with her movements, offering fleeting glimpses of pale skin.
Lucifer's eyes froze for a moment before his expression stiffened awkwardly. Clearing his throat, he spoke in his usual haughty tone, "Mortal, you're finally awake."
Chen Jing nearly jumped out of her skin at the unexpected voice, her drowsiness vanishing in an instant. She glanced over to see Lucifer sitting upright on the sofa. Though his gaze wasn't inappropriate, it was clear he had already noticed her "less-than-formal" attire.
"Why are you up so early?" she asked, frowning as she instinctively tugged at the hem of her pajama top. Her abrupt movement caused her to nearly trip over her slippers, and she had to catch herself against the wall.
"The King of Hell doesn't require as much sleep as mortals," Lucifer replied flatly, his eyes deliberately fixed on the metallic shard as if to avoid looking at her again.
Chen Jing steadied herself, taking a moment to catch her breath before glaring at him. "When did you wake up? And I'm warning you—if you dared to peek—"
"I woke when you opened the door," Lucifer interrupted, raising his head to meet her gaze with a composed expression. "However, I didn't deliberately notice your attire. That's entirely your own… casualness."
"Casualness?" Chen Jing's face flushed, and she glanced down at her pajamas. Hastily pulling her neckline tighter, she grumbled, "Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"Say something?" Lucifer arched a brow, sounding genuinely puzzled. "You are the owner of this residence. Why would it be my responsibility to comment on your attire?"
"Stop!" Chen Jing cut him off, clearly unwilling to hear another word of his logic. She snatched up his ID card from the table and waved it at him. "Shen Lu, 'King of Hell,' huh?"
Lucifer's expression tightened momentarily, but he quickly composed himself. "That is the identity of this vessel. It has nothing to do with my true name. I am Lucifer, King of Hell!"
"King of Hell?" Chen Jing scoffed, tossing the ID back onto the table. "More like a wannabe sorcerer with a flair for theatrics. That monster last night? Probably your fault. And weren't you the one who almost wet your pants?"
"You—!" Lucifer bolted upright, his face a mixture of shame and indignation. "I was not afraid! I merely—"
"Tactically retreated, right?" Chen Jing interrupted with a smirk, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall. "Fine, 'tactical genius,' how about you tactically leave now?"
Lucifer hesitated, his tone dropping to a subdued note. "I have nowhere to go."
"Nowhere to go?" Chen Jing raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "What, you're playing the wandering artist now? Don't tell me you're serious."
Ignoring her sarcasm, Lucifer straightened his back and replied solemnly, "Hell's seal has cut off my return. I have no refuge in this mortal world. Thus… I must remain here for the time being."
"Remain here?" Chen Jing gawked at him, her jaw dropping in disbelief. "You're a grown man planning to freeload in a girl's apartment, and you don't even feel embarrassed? I swear, you're not a… you're not a—"
She stopped abruptly, narrowing her eyes at him. "Wait a minute. Are you some kind of creep?"
"A creep?!" Lucifer's voice shot up in sheer indignation. "I am Lucifer, the King of Hell! How dare you accuse me of such a lowly—"
"Yeah, yeah, King of Hell," Chen Jing cut him off, jabbing a finger in his direction. "Look at your situation: claiming to be 'homeless,' nearly passing out last night, now refusing to leave. If this isn't a classic creep move, I don't know what is!"
Lucifer's eyes widened in shock, and he stiffened in indignation. "You insult my dignity! I merely require a temporary sanctuary—"
"You're joking, right?" Chen Jing slapped the table and stood up, her voice rising. "Listen, buddy, I'm a single woman, and you're… you're you! You think this arrangement is appropriate?"
Lucifer opened his mouth, then paused, seemingly taken aback by her argument. After a moment of contemplation, he replied earnestly, "My existence transcends mortal concepts of gender. You have no need for such concerns."
"Don't give me that crap," Chen Jing snapped, her hands on her hips as she glared at him.
She couldn't help but notice, however, that despite his bedraggled state, Lucifer still managed to exude an undeniable charm. His sharp features and striking presence, accentuated by the soft morning light, made him look like a leading man straight out of a drama. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she reminded herself not to get distracted.
More importantly, she couldn't forget that if Lucifer hadn't intervened last night, she might not have made it out alive.
"Fine…" Chen Jing sighed, her tone softening.
Lucifer straightened, ready to explain further, but Chen Jing held up a hand to stop him. Rubbing her temples, she said, "You can stay—for now. You saved me last night, so I guess I owe you one. Besides…" She raised an eyebrow and added with a teasing smirk, "At least you're not too hard on the eyes. Could be worse."
Lucifer blinked, caught off guard, before sitting up straighter. "Mortal, you're finally beginning to recognize my value?"
"Don't push your luck." Chen Jing shot him a sharp glare. "You can stay, but under a few conditions. First, don't touch my stuff. Second, stay out of my room. Third, no funny business."
"Agreed," Lucifer said with a nod, though his proud expression remained intact.
"And one more thing," Chen Jing added, walking toward her bedroom door. She paused and turned to look at him. "You'd better get your powers back soon and get out of here. Don't make me think you're freeloading."
With that, she disappeared into her room, the door clicking shut behind her and leaving the living room in silence.
Lucifer leaned back on the sofa, his gaze falling once more on the metallic shard. His expression grew thoughtful as he picked it up, running his fingers over the etched symbols. In a low voice, he murmured, "These markings… they resemble forbidden seals…"
On the other side of the door, Chen Jing opened her laptop and began reviewing footage from the previous night's livestream. Though she appeared focused, her thoughts occasionally drifted back to the strange and infuriating "King of Hell" now occupying her couch.
Shaking her head, she turned back to the camera, flashing a professional smile as she started her stream. "Good morning, everyone! Today, let's talk about the behind-the-scenes of last night's abandoned factory exploration…"