"Ah! Let me down! Quickly, let me down, you sick freak!"
"If you keep yelling, I'll bring out the whip."
Zeke watched as Wendy dangled helplessly. Suddenly, a long whip materialized in the air, cracking sharply with each lash.
Wendy crossed her arms defensively, allowing her body to sway freely while pouting indignantly.
After a moment, Zeke released the chain.
With a graceful flip in mid-air, Wendy landed nimbly, displaying her practiced agility.
She then dusted off her pink nightgown, straightening its slightly disheveled hem that barely reached her thighs. Glaring at Zeke, she grumbled unhappily:
"Hmph! I'm going back to sleep! Goodbye! Sleep tight! Nyah~"
Wendy pulled a face before turning to leave.
Zeke remained standing, watching her intently, and unexpectedly asked:
"When did these feelings start developing for you? Why do you like me?"
"...Why do you suddenly care about this?"
"Understanding the problem is the first step to solving it."
Wendy fell silent, momentarily at a loss for words due to Zeke's typical STEM guy mindset.
Scratching her head, she retorted indignantly, "I'm not telling you!"
"Don't you want to address this issue? By continually avoiding it, only you will get hurt in the end."
"I..." Wendy's defiance abruptly deflated, and her eyes dimmed.
Yes, prolonging this situation might seem justified as considering the bigger picture—trying not to burden Zeke before victory was achieved. But deep down, wasn't it just another form of avoidance? Escaping from the potential rejection and failure of her feelings, evading Zeke's possible denial.
"Would talking about it even help?" Wendy walked back, standing beside Zeke, looked up at him with a dejected tone.
Zeke hesitated, stroking his chin uncertainly, replied: "Well, I have studied some psychology... How about giving it a try? We can calmly analyze the situation together?"
They locked eyes, both falling silent.
One was a titanium-grade straight man who achieved three kills through self-destructive behavior and brute force suppression.
The other was emotionally inexperienced, having only experienced one unrequited crush so far, with her handling of it displaying similar clumsiness.
These two partially knowledgeable individuals gazed at each other, ultimately nodding simultaneously.
"You're right; perhaps we should give it a try."
"Yes, let's analyze this issue thoroughly and find a solution," Wendy agreed.
After exchanging a few words, Zeke waved his hand, causing chairs to appear beside them.
He poured cups of hot water for both of them and then fixed his gaze directly on Wendy.
"Please go ahead and explain your thoughts."
"Let me think... Should I really say it? It feels quite strange. Generally speaking, do people solve emotional problems like this? And moreover, you want me to explain it to you?" Wendy murmured hesitantly.
Holding her cup, she took a sip of warm water, moistened her lips, and then, still uncertain, said:
"Okay, but you promise not to laugh!"
"I won't." Zeke nodded earnestly.
Despite her refusal earlier, he understood that one must never ridicule a girl's genuine feelings. This awareness was ingrained within him.
Wendy rubbed her water cup, looking down pensively as if carefully considering and choosing her words. After a moment, she slowly began:
"I can't pinpoint exactly when it started. It seemed like I gradually realized I had become accustomed to these strange emotions whenever I thought of you. When we were apart, I missed you terribly; seeing you made me happy yet also nervous and uneasy. The moment I understood what 'liking' someone meant, I knew I liked you. Ugh—why am I sharing such foolish things with you?! Saying it out loud is so embarrassing!" Wendy raised the water cup to hide her face, averting her gaze as the heat on her cheeks overwhelmed her with shame.
Zeke reached over, took away Wendy's water cup, and gently turned her head to face him directly, saying:
"Be serious; we're discussing important matters here."
"Important my ass! You just want to see me embarrass myself completely! You sick pervert, you twisted bastard!"
"Don't lose your temper; this is about genuinely addressing a problem."
"Are you fucking kidding me? Seriously?!?"
Wendy felt close to breaking down.
However, seeing Zeke's genuinely serious expression with no hint of mockery, Wendy eventually managed to compose herself slightly.
"Inhale—"
"Inhale—"
"Exhale—"
Taking several deep breaths, Wendy steadied her rationality, despite the unusual warmth on her face, and forced herself to sound calm:
"What should we talk about next?"
"Hmm... Since the timing isn't clear, let's discuss the root cause. Think back: since we've known each other, which actions I took left the most significant impression on you?"
"This... How am I supposed to answer that?"
"Don't rush. Take your time to recall, starting from when we first met. Just mention what stands out the most. Every situation has its causes and effects; finding the root might help us discover a way for you to overcome these feelings."
Zeke suddenly appeared more confident. Come to think of it, the superior intellect he possessed was best at analyzing the causal chain of problems and directly pointing out solutions.
Although emotional issues and scientific problems belong to different realms, where intellectual superiority might not be directly applicable, Zeke believed his intelligence could still make a difference.
Zeke's sudden confidence, coupled with his unwavering calmness, gradually helped Wendy settle her thoughts and begin earnestly reflecting on their past.
After another moment of contemplation, Wendy slowly spoke up:
"In terms of memorable moments, our very first encounter stands out significantly. Most people, upon seeing my disabled state, would either mock me or show sympathy, but you didn't. You were quite... blunt. Honestly, at the beginning, aside from the fear of being captured by Anti-Entropy, I was also incredibly frustrated with you!" A gentle smile unconsciously curved Wendy's lips as she reminisced.
Continuing her recollection, she said, "Later, when we entered the laboratory for the first time, everyone wanted to carry me onto the lab table. But you insisted that only my legs were affected, not my entire body, giving me the choice to climb up myself or be carried... Do you remember? It took immense effort for me to crawl up using just my arms, especially under the strain of the Gem of Desire—it wasn't easy at all. However, once I managed to climb up, I felt an unprecedented sense of accomplishment. I was genuinely overjoyed; so much so that if no one else had been there, I might have cried tears of happiness!"
Wendy placed both hands on her chest, her smile becoming even softer and more serene.
It was indeed a cherished memory. After enduring the failure of the Gem of Desire experiment and experiencing prolonged darkness, it marked the first time she regained self-assurance and confidence—like the first ray of spring sunlight piercing through a harsh winter.
"Later, you built me a wheelchair so I could move independently. And unlike others, you never feared the power of the Gem within me or treated me as someone needing special care due to my disability. Just like with any normal person, your attitude towards me was always straightforward, albeit gruff. But that infuriating demeanor, surprisingly, I didn't dislike at all. In your presence, I felt like an ordinary girl, neither despised nor pitied; I could simply be at ease... Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever properly thanked you."
"Hmm, well, you just did, and I heard it. Now, continue," Zeke responded solemnly.
Wendy rolled her eyes.
"Typical clueless guy!"
"Keep going, stay focused on the topic," Zeke said with a frown.
"Wait, you're slightly affecting my mood here. Let me gather my thoughts..."
Wendy lifted her hand, her expression stern as she glared unhappily at Zeke.