Chapter 103
The appearance of the ink monkey instantly electrified the atmosphere. These legendary creatures were nearly extinct, making this encounter a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Lily Green's nails dug into her palms as she stared at the tiny creature perched on Lucy White's shoulder. A quick search on her phone had revealed just how rare and intelligent these animals were. What stung even more was how obedient the little beast was to Lucy.
"Eeek!" The ink monkey suddenly shrank against Lucy's neck, its furry body trembling.
Lucy's sharp gaze lifted just in time to catch the malice flickering in Lily's eyes before she could mask it. With a cold smirk, Lucy gently stroked the creature's back.
Ethan Smith spoke up at just the right moment. "Give it a name." His quiet tone carried an unmistakable note of protectiveness.
"You like the name Inklet, don't you?" Lucy teased, scratching under the monkey's chin.
The little creature immediately nuzzled her fingers, letting out an adorable chirp in response.
"Oh my god! It actually understands her!" Olivia Davis gasped.
Robert Lee adjusted his glasses. "Ancient texts say ink monkeys are highly perceptive. Seeing it in person is truly remarkable."
The livestream chat exploded:
[OMG what kind of magical creature is this?!]
[Did anyone else see Lily's glare just now? Chilling.]
[Even Lucy's pet is next-level amazing!]
On the helicopter ride back, the group chattered excitedly about their seven-day adventure. Daniel Miller suddenly groaned, "My coconut chicken hotpot! I won't get to eat it once we're back!"
"I call dibs on being on Lucy's team next episode!" Robert raised his hand.
"Dream on," Ethan said smoothly, adjusting his cufflinks. "First come, first served."
In the corner, Michael Johnson's expression darkened. His jaw clenched as he watched Ethan's hand rest casually on the back of Lucy's seat, bitterness spreading from his chest to the tip of his tongue.
"Director, please tell me the next episode won't be another disaster," William Jones asked warily.
The director smirked. "I guarantee it'll be unforgettable."
Lily cut in, "If Daniel needs time to recover, will there be a replacement guest?" Her eyes gleamed with calculation.
Daniel shot her a knowing look. "Yeah, someone's going to be disappointed."
Inklet suddenly bared its tiny teeth at Lily, making her flinch back. Lucy chuckled as she scratched the monkey's chin, though her gaze remained icy.
The helicopter skimmed over the azure sea, carrying its passengers—each lost in their own thoughts—back to civilization. No one noticed Michael quietly snapping a photo of Lucy playing with Inklet before setting it as his phone wallpaper.