...
Zhu Zhuqing looked completely bewildered. "You...aren't you angry?"
She had always been hesitant to get involved in Xuan Hao's chaotic battles.
Besides feeling embarrassed, a large part of the reason was that she didn't want to ruin her friendships with everyone, because she felt that these relationships would inevitably cause problems.
Hearing Zhu Zhuqing's innocent yet somewhat conflicted question, Na'er couldn't help but chuckle, her purple eyes sparkling with a wisdom and insight beyond her years.
Whether you get angry or not depends on your perspective.
Na'er held Zhu Zhuqing's hand and said, "We have to admit one fact: Xuan Hao is definitely not the kind of 'good man' defined by the world. In fact, in the eyes of most decent people, he is a complete bastard and a scumbag."
"But, Zhuqing, you can't deny... this bastard has a strong, fatal attraction for you, or rather for all of us, right?"
Na'er tilted her head slightly, looking at Zhu Zhuqing's somewhat evasive gaze, and continued, "I don't deny that my brother is a complete scumbag in relationships.
He has many, many flaws that make people grit their teeth.
He's extremely greedy; whatever he sets his sights on, he wants it all, wishing he could possess all the good things in the world. But at the same time..."
Na'er's voice softened: "Besides the worldly concept of 'one love for one lifetime,' he can give you anything, even his own life and the highest power on this continent. He can offer them to you without hesitation."
"It's precisely because of his rare generosity and carefree nature that you can't really hate him," Na'er smiled.
"On the contrary, his flirtatious and promiscuous nature, always surrounded by various outstanding girls, makes you subconsciously feel that he is extremely important and precious.
Because you will have a strong sense of crisis—if you are not careful or take a step back, he will be completely snatched away by someone else."
At this point, Na'er stopped and looked at Zhu Zhuqing seriously:
"Don't you think this logic is strange, even absurd, or has a masochistic tendency?"
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned. She remained silent for a long time before finally nodding honestly.
Yes, she has always had this conflicted feeling.
Xuan Hao is the kind of person who, if you watch him from afar causing trouble and flirting with women, you'll think of him as a "beast" to be avoided at all costs, and instinctively want to stay as far away from him as possible.
But once you get close to him and truly enter his world, you'll find... that he's a jerk you just can't bring yourself to hate.
Even though he behaves so badly, talks nonsense all the time, and has almost all the flaws of a scumbag, you still think he's good, so good that you're willing to put aside all your pride and bottom line.
"This is actually a very typical cognitive paradox."
Na'er took her hand again and explained as they walked:
"Because Xuanhao is definitely not a good man in the conventional sense.
He is completely unrelated to that word.
So, when you stand outside the circle and see him being so promiscuous and shameless in bringing everyone together, you will be influenced by conventional morality and instinctively feel awkward and repulsed."
"But once you're really tricked and lured into this circle by him, and truly integrated into our group…" Na'er winked mischievously, "you'll feel that it's actually quite good this way."
"Have you ever thought about why? Why is it that even though it's a pit of fire, everyone jumps in so willingly and happily?"
Na'er asked softly.
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head blankly; this was precisely what had always puzzled her the most.
"Because you won't feel any pressure when you're with him."
Na'er succinctly revealed the secret, her purple eyes sparkling with gentle light:
"No matter if the sky falls or you encounter the biggest and most terrifying problem, as long as he is by your side, you will feel an inexplicable yet unwavering sense of security.
Surrounded by this sense of security, you will unconsciously relax completely, shedding all pretense and defenses, and purely experience the vibrant joys and sorrows he brings you."
"So even if you rationally think he's a jerk and a scumbag, you just can't hate him emotionally, and as time goes by, you may even feel that your world has gradually become inseparable from him."
Na'er squeezed Zhu Zhuqing's palm.
"This sense of security isn't just something you say; it's a special kind of infectious power. My brother has this magical charm.
He always has someone to rely on. Even if he seems carefree and unreliable, and sometimes even makes a mess of things, you still trust him without reservation, feeling that as long as he's there, there's always a way."
"Is that so?" Na'er asked with a smile.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression became extremely unnatural, and a blush appeared on her usually cool face, as if her secret had been exposed.
She bit her lip and admitted softly, "It seems... that's really the case."
"This is the most crucial and essential point."
Na'er put away her teasing expression and her tone became somewhat sentimental:
"At the core of everyone's heart, there is bound to be a vulnerable side.
Therefore, whether it is a god high above or a mortal struggling to survive, everyone will instinctively yearn to get close to someone who can give them an absolute sense of security."
"But it's a very strange and discerning feeling. This sense of security doesn't necessarily come from 'strong people' in the conventional sense.
In fact, many times, those who hold great power and have immense strength simply cannot give people this feeling.
On the contrary, the extremely oppressive power and strength they exude can make you feel a deep sense of unease and fear, like walking on thin ice."
Na'er turned her head and looked at the bustling streets of Tiandou City.
"But your brother is different. Whether he's lying in a hotel sleeping soundly without a care in the world, or he's outside transforming into a giant dragon and displaying terrifying power that could destroy the entire continent… you won't be afraid of him."
Na'er turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing and smiled mischievously: "Because you know better than anyone else that no matter how powerful he becomes or how high his status becomes, deep down he will always just be that protective, gentle, and lecherous bastard."
Na'er looked at Zhu Zhuqing's thoughtful expression and a clear smile appeared on her lips.
"To put it bluntly, Zhuqing, in your heart, your brother has already trampled his bottom line to pieces. Subconsciously, you also think,
'This is all he can get, how much worse can he be?'"
"At most, he was just a womanizer who picked up two pretty young girls on his way out, and even went so far as to pick up two mature and pretty older women.
This is the worst thing he could do."
"But what else? Think about it carefully, you don't need to worry about anything.
He won't betray you, he won't scheme against you, he will always treat you well without reservation.
He can even drop everything and shamelessly come to make you laugh and make you happy whenever you need him."
"Moreover, you were actually fully prepared for this bastard's womanizing and promiscuity from the very beginning. So, even if he really does show up in front of you with a new girl one day, you'll just give up completely. You won't even bother to be jealous or scold him, or you'll find it too much of a waste of energy, right?"
Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth, wanting to retort that she would never be so indulgent towards him, but the words stuck in her throat and she swallowed them back.
Because she discovered in despair that Nar was absolutely right!
If Xuan Hao really brought another girl back now, besides rolling her eyes and cursing him as a "pervert who never learns," she actually couldn't muster any anger that would make her want to break up with him.
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