Zero had originally thought that Zandar would spend the time ahead focusing on scientific research. What he never expected was how much attention the other man would pay to his relationship with Jingliu.
The next day, his Jade Communicator was bombarded with messages from Zandar.
Zero stared at the papers Zandar had sent across multiple fields and was speechless for a long time.
'Zandar, fine, I won't say anything about you sending psychology papers, but why are there economics and biology ones too?!'
Zero didn't understand it, but he was deeply shaken.
Using psychological effects to bring yourself closer to your lover, that at least made sense.
But what do dating and economics or biology have to do with each other?
Zero couldn't hold it in and directly called Zandar.
"Zandar, I won't comment on the psychology part, but why are you sending economics and biology papers too?"
Zandar explained it all with great confidence, linking economic terminology to relationships between men and women.
Things like making the other party invest costs that can't be recovered in the future…
Only by making the other person invest enough money, time, and energy could you interfere with their judgment when problems arose in the relationship, to the point that they couldn't bring themselves to let go of it, this way, they'd be unable to leave you.
The more Zero listened, the more wrong it sounded.
Even someone like him, who already had mental issues, felt that Zandar's views were morally skewed… which meant there really was a problem.
Then Zero thought about it again, how normal could a teacher who managed to pull him back really be?
Considering that Zandar was his teacher, Zero gave him plenty of face and didn't directly argue back. He simply skipped the topic and asked about the biology papers instead.
Zandar answered righteously, "From an essential perspective, love is a biochemical reaction. Look at this paper, the research team conducted an experiment. They chose prairie voles that practice monogamy, "
Zero, "..."
With a blank face, he listened as Zandar went from prairie voles all the way to dopamine, the chemical that makes people feel happy.
After listening for a long while, Zandar used biology to explain why some people lose their rationality when they're in love.
Then Zandar suddenly changed the subject,
"Of course, my student naturally wouldn't let romantic feelings affect his judgment. I'm only saying this so that you, someone who's never had contact with women, can understand the nature of love."
Zero, "…You sound very experienced?"
There was a hint of mockery in Zandar's tone, "I'm not like you. Back when I took you to those social dance events, you didn't even look at the girls, just stood by the dessert table eating…"
He chuckled and said proudly, "I've danced with lots of girls and gone on plenty of dates."
Zero was unimpressed. "That's just dancing and dating."
Just hearing Zandar's name, you could tell that the customs on his home planet were very different from those of the Xianzhou.
Their "dates" weren't the same as being in a relationship.
Usually, men and women would go on many dates until both felt they could officially be together, that was when the relationship was confirmed.
There were even cases where people dated for years without ever confirming a relationship.
Most likely, Zandar's relationships with women always stopped at dating.
If Zandar had really been in love before, why would he only talk about dancing and dating?
Just as Zero thought, Zandar didn't answer his question and instead changed the topic, bringing up another paper.
"Studies show that after conflicts, couples actually grow closer."
Zandar spoke at length, and after finishing that paper, he gave Zero some advice.
"Speaking of which, do you want to try… showing weakness to her?"
The words "showing weakness" left Zero stunned, unable to speak for a long time.
He said in disbelief, "Zandar, what are you talking about?"
Zandar was very patient and repeated himself.
"I mean, show weakness to her."
Zandar knew his student had strong self-esteem.
When he served as the Xianzhou Marshal, he must have experienced many things that hurt or saddened him.
But given his position, he wasn't allowed to indulge in negative emotions, nor did he have time to waste.
Those in power fear emotional instability the most.
With Eric's pride, so what if he was deeply hurt?
He wouldn't shed tears, and he certainly wouldn't allow himself to show vulnerability in front of others.
Of course, across the entire Xianzhou, no one was qualified to see his vulnerability.
If subordinates saw it… given Eric's personality, he'd probably rather die…
Oh, Eric had always liked death.
If you put losing his pride and working nonstop for ten thousand years in front of Eric, he would only choose to work.
Was this what people called "dying for pride and living in suffering"?
Eric would only soften his tone toward people he cared about, but even then, his student might not truly accept his own words. Taking the initiative to yield was, to some extent, just a way of soothing others.
His student was slow when it came to emotions. Even if he truly liked someone, even if the other person was about to leave, he wouldn't be able to say anything to make them stay.
Things like "I can't live without you," "It would hurt too much if you left," or "I can't bear to part with you"…
Eric would never say such things. At most, when he was sad, he would say, forget it.
Zandar thought that now that his student was in love, at least he'd finally have someone he could confide in.
In front of a lover, he could relax just a little, right?
Of course, Zandar wouldn't tell his student what he was really thinking.
Who couldn't stir up trouble, after all?
Since he wanted his student to relax more in front of his lover, he naturally had to exaggerate things a bit.
Zandar had originally wanted to tell Eric to cry in front of his lover, but after thinking it over, he felt that wasn't stirring things up, that was digging out the foundation.
So he changed his wording, replacing crying with showing weakness.
While thinking, he casually made things up to his student, "Your partner is a Cloud Knight who's been on the battlefield. She's surely different from other women."
"Why not try showing weakness to her? You might get an unexpected surprise."
Zero replied mercilessly, "Zandar, no wonder your relationships with women always stop at dating."
Who would show weakness to their lover? No wonder Zandar had never been in a relationship.
Wait, why was he even talking about dating techniques with Zandar?
Zandar had been single for who knows how many years, what useful advice could he possibly give?
Zero wrapped up the conversation in a few words. Just as he was about to hang up, Zandar added a few more lines, "Dating is simple, nothing complicated about it. Just give the other person a sense of crisis at the right time, and cut off opportunities for others to get close to her."
"That way, you become her optimal choice."
"You only need to make it so that her eyes can see no one but you."
Zero, "..."
'Zandar, don't you think that sounds way too weird?'
'What do you mean, her eyes can only see me?'
Zero silently hung up the call, found the most authoritative psychological test on the StarNet, and forwarded it to Zandar.
Very quickly, Zandar began arguing logically, refuting the idea that he had any mental illness.
Zero directly ignored his messages.
Now, he had already given up on ascending dimensions.
After all, no one knew what he would face once the fourth wall was broken.
If humanity's fate was no longer constrained, then what about the Aeons?
Even if the Aeons were still bound by their Paths and couldn't act against Zero…
Once the traits on his body disappeared, once he could no longer kill Aeons, then the only thing waiting for him would be death.
What a headache.
But for him, it could also be considered a release.
Before Zero could pull his thoughts back, a short, white figure suddenly appeared.
He focused his eyes, it was Jade, temporarily being fostered at Jingliu's home.
The once solid, chubby gas-can-like body had slimmed down considerably.
Without hesitation, Jade smoothly jumped onto the bed.
Zero reached out to pet it and was startled to find that the fat had turned into muscle.
He understood immediately.
Looks like Jingliu had come as well.
Zero held Jade in his arms and got up, walking outside.
Just as he expected, Jingliu was there, carrying a bag of fruit toward the kitchen.
Holding the cat, Zero hadn't even reached the kitchen when Jade started meowing and struggling desperately in his arms.
He ignored the cat's resistance and quickened his pace to Jingliu's side.
Jingliu, completely at ease in his kitchen, found the fruit knife.
Her movements were quick. She soon peeled the fruit, lifted her hand, and brought the cut pieces to Zero's mouth.
Zero cooperated very well, eating the fruit. As soon as he swallowed, Jingliu fed him another piece.
She seemed to enjoy feeding him, and only stopped after all the fruit was gone.
She glanced at Jade struggling in Zero's arms, chuckled softly, then turned to wash her hands.
After washing, Jingliu looked at Jade and said quietly, "You and Jade haven't seen each other in a long time. She really missed you."
Zero let go and allowed Jade to leave.
"She's lost quite a bit of weight. Thanks to Sword Master."
Jingliu didn't speak, only looked at him.
Zero didn't understand why. Thinking back to their last conversation, he said nothing and let her look.
After a long silence, Jingliu sighed and said, "I received orders today. Tomorrow, the Cloud Knights go to battle, to exterminate the abominations."
Zero was startled and instinctively said, "Tomorrow? So soon?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he'd said the wrong thing.
As a diviner, he shouldn't know internal Cloud Knight matters.
He should have expressed surprise at the suddenness, not at the speed.
Jingliu nodded calmly.
From that tone… it seemed Zero had already expected it. He wasn't surprised, only felt it was too fast.
So he'd known early on.
It sounded like Zero's relationship with that person… was quite good?
That person even proactively mentioned military affairs to Zero.
Then there was no need to worry too much about their relationship.
Jingliu reached out and took the hand of the person beside her.
She gently held Zero's left ring finger.
When Yingxing had delivered forging tools to her, she had already begun making a ring.
Unfortunately, even after two days, she still hadn't been able to make one she was satisfied with.
As she rubbed Zero's finger with her fingertips, she searched her memory.
She seemed to have… spent one hundred thousand patrol tokens in advance at some flower shop?
One hundred thousand patrol tokens, just enough to buy flowers for a proposal.
Jingliu turned her head and looked at Zero's profile, suddenly asking, "What kind of roses do you like?"
Zero slowly lowered his head, looked at how Jingliu was holding his left ring finger, and instantly understood.
Jingliu really was planning to propose to him…
Zero's emotions were complicated.
He secretly felt relieved that he had already ordered a proposal ring long ago and kept it in his system inventory.
Pulling his thoughts back, Zero chose his words carefully and spoke his preference.
"I think champagne roses look nicer. The colors of other varieties… aren't very appealing."
Jingliu nodded thoughtfully, then let go and interlaced her fingers with his.
Zero was someone who valued ceremony. Even if he planned to propose to her, it wouldn't be today.
No matter what, he'd pick an auspicious day and prepare flowers and surprises.
Jingliu let out a breath of relief.
She no longer had to worry about being beaten to it.
Just then, Zero tugged her along, as if about to head outside.
Jingliu heard him say to her in an especially lighthearted tone, "In that case, let's do something meaningful."
Her emotional side made her feel a bit shy.
Her rational side told her that Zero must be coming up with another idea beyond her expectations.
She let him lead her. Step by step, they walked outside. Once they reached the courtyard, that bit of shyness completely faded, replaced by helplessness.
The two sat down by the stone table.
In a good mood, Zero looked up at the crescent moon in the night sky.
Jingliu followed his gaze and looked up as well.
Zero held Jingliu's hand with one hand and propped his chin with the other, speaking softly, "I remember you once said that compared to a full moon, you prefer a new moon."
"Tonight happens to be a new moon."
Jingliu froze for a moment, seemingly surprised that he remembered a conversation they'd had while drunk.
Her red eyes were bright, her tone light, "…You still remember."
Zero smiled.
"Of course. I have a good memory."
Before the two had confirmed their relationship, he had once subtly rejected Jingliu.
He had said that diamonds, dazzling as they appear, are actually the most ordinary substance, revealing their true nature once exposed to high heat.
After hearing that, Jingliu had responded in kind.
She said it wasn't the most ordinary substance, but a divine weapon tempered over time in some unknown place.
Besides that, Jingliu had also said that compared to the full moon, symbolizing reunion and loved by all, she preferred the less perfect new moon.
But no matter how much one liked the moonlight, wouldn't there come a day when one discovered its dark, unclear, and unsightly side?
Zero looked at Jingliu and suddenly asked, "Will you like the full moon more in the future?"
Hearing this, Jingliu couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
When Zero hugged and kissed her, he looked completely at ease…
But in truth, he was someone with no sense of security.
Dan Feng had been right, people like this would always reject others again and again.
Jingliu needed to give firm answers over and over to put Zero at ease.
She shook her head and smiled softly. "How could that be?"
Jingliu leaned closer, raised her hand, and placed her palm against Zero's cheek, rubbing gently.
Her tone was firm as she made a promise to her lover, word by word, "My favorite is the new moon."
"When I see it, joy rises in my heart."
"No matter how dark and unclear the moonlight becomes, I still like it."
"I like it today, I'll like it tomorrow, and in the years to come, I'll always like the new moon before my eyes."
Jingliu leaned in, closed the distance, and kissed him.
Zero raised his hand, pressed it to the back of her head, and returned the kiss.
He thought, 'This moonlight need not linger for me.'
'It once shone upon me, illuminated me, and that is already enough.'