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.

Serena Blake's nails dug into her palms as she stared at the tiny creature perched on Aria Bennett'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 Aria.

"Eeek!" The ink monkey suddenly shrank against Aria's neck, its furry body trembling.

Aria's sharp gaze lifted just in time to catch the malice flickering in Serena's eyes before she could mask it. With a cold smirk, Aria gently stroked the creature's back.

Damian Cross spoke up at just the right moment. "Give it a name." His quiet tone carried an unmistakable note of protectiveness.

"You like the name Onyx, don't you?" Aria 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!" Audrey Lane gasped.

Caleb Monroe 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 Serena's glare just now? Chilling.]

[Even Aria's pet is next-level amazing!]

On the helicopter ride back, the group chattered excitedly about their seven-day adventure. Jonah Pierce suddenly groaned, "My coconut chicken hotpot! I won't get to eat it once we're back!"

"I call dibs on being on Aria's team next episode!" Caleb raised his hand.

"Dream on," Damian said smoothly, adjusting his cufflinks. "First come, first served."

In the corner, Nolan Reed's expression darkened. His jaw clenched as he watched Damian's hand rest casually on the back of Aria'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," Wesley Hart asked warily.

The director smirked. "I guarantee it'll be unforgettable."

Serena cut in, "If Jonah needs time to recover, will there be a replacement guest?" Her eyes gleamed with calculation.

Jonah shot her a knowing look. "Yeah, someone's going to be disappointed."

Onyx suddenly bared its tiny teeth at Serena, making her flinch back. Aria 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 Nolan quietly snapping a photo of Aria playing with Onyx before setting it as his phone wallpaper.