Zero felt that the letter in his hand weighed a thousand catties.
He knew Jingliu well. She only seemed cold and indifferent, in truth, she was thin-skinned and easily embarrassed.
In private, Jingliu could openly praise Zero without hesitation.
When Zero tried to use vague words to persuade her to give up, she would answer him in her own way, comparing people to swords, hiding her true feelings beneath those seemingly ordinary words.
But when it came to something more intimate, more ambiguous, Jingliu couldn't say it aloud. She would only whisper her true feelings when Zero was asleep.
To Jingliu, giving him this letter, a letter that only the closest of people could ever receive,
This was her confession.
Jingliu knew Zero understood her. She also knew he would realize what this "will" truly meant.
So, the ever-victorious Swordmaster, for the first time in her life, picked up a pen before a battle. Imitating the other ordinary Cloud Knights, she sat at a desk, carefully thinking through every word as she wrote this letter that would never be opened.
How long would this battle last? No one knew. But she couldn't wait any longer.
No matter how useful that "guide" was, she didn't want to wait anymore.
Still, confessing her feelings right before battle, wasn't that a bit despicable? After confessing, she would be leaving immediately.
Jingliu stared at Zero, not blinking, unwilling to miss even the slightest change in his expression. She couldn't help but laugh softly.
So it turned out that this calm, mature man, who looked like he'd seen every storm life could offer, could also freeze up when someone confessed to him?
She felt like Zero had been a bad influence on her.
Otherwise, why would she keep wanting to see him show more expressions she'd never seen before?
Zero understood Jingliu's feelings. Instinctively, he sought confirmation, "Is it… what I think it is?"
Jingliu's eyes curved with a smile. She nodded.
Zero automatically made a small "oh," then lowered his head, glancing at the pocket of his coat. He carefully tucked the letter away, then looked up again at Jingliu.
His thoughts scattered beyond control.
So now… they were a couple?
But this wasn't how he planned it. He hadn't prepared flowers or gifts, this wasn't formal at all.
Normally, Zero didn't care about process, only results. He could handle any unexpected situation, as long as it led to the outcome he wanted.
But love… love wasn't like anything he'd dealt with before.
He couldn't read Jingliu's thoughts, and facing this completely unplanned confession, all he could do was accept it.
After all, the two of them were already mutually in love. It wouldn't make sense to reject her just because she confessed first, right?
Jingliu was heading to war, if he turned her down now, wouldn't that be cruel?
A wave of frustration rose in Zero's chest.
She beat him to it. How could he let the girl be the one to confess first?
'Wait, that kind of thinking wasn't right, that was a stereotype. Girls could confess too…'
He remembered the notes from the forum, before holding hands, hugging, or kissing, you had to ask for the other person's consent first.
But surrounded by Cloud Knights saying goodbye to their families before battle, a hug or a kiss would be inappropriate, wouldn't it?
And Jingliu, who had confessed through a will, too shy to say "I love you" directly, how could she possibly handle something as intimate as a hug or kiss? She'd be mortified.
Fortunately, Zero wasn't the type who liked public displays of affection either.
He tightened his hold on the fat cat in his arms and stretched out his free hand, gently asking, "Can I hold your hand?"
Jingliu let out a soft laugh and, without hesitation, stepped closer, lacing her fingers tightly with his.
The two of them clearly heard the sharp intake of breath from those around them and felt the burning stares on their backs. They kept holding hands, neither speaking a word.
Zero unconsciously brushed his thumb over the back of her hand.
To be honest, he still didn't quite feel that this was real. But the moment he held her hand, it finally sank in, he was in love.
It was like an empty, hungry stomach finally filled with warm food.
The exhaustion from staying up for an entire week vanished instantly.
Jingliu took the initiative to say, "Wait for me to come back."
Zero nodded.
She continued, "Don't worry. Just treat that letter as something meaningless."
The Swordmaster knew that Zero often overlooked his own good qualities, convinced that he wasn't someone worth liking.
Like a scarred stray cat, wounded too many times, always on guard, a type that lacked a sense of safety.
Fortunately, Jingliu had slowly eased away his fears and finally earned his trust.
She squeezed his hand firmly.
She would cut down every abomination, lead her troops, and bring victory to the Xianzhou. When the war was over, she would return to Luofu.
So, she wouldn't give Zero the chance to open that letter.
Zero stroked the cat in his arm and said lightly, "Mm. After all, you're the great Swordmaster."
Jingliu turned her face toward him, eyes steady. "Still calling me Swordmaster?"
Zero thought for a moment, she was right. They were dating now; how could he still use that title?
But he couldn't think of any affectionate term to replace it, so he tried, "Then… Jingliu?"
Jingliu raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Didn't you used to call me 'sister' through Jade? You seemed to enjoy it."
Zero, "…"
He suddenly didn't know what kind of expression he should make.
His emotions were a mess.
That "sister", he'd only ever said that in the cat's voice. Things like, "Does Sister Jingliu like me?" or "Don't let Sister Jingliu down", that was Jade's line, not his.
He had never called her "sister" himself.
He never imagined that this would turn out to be Jingliu's favorite form of address…
Seeing his silence, Jingliu let him off the hook, smiling slightly. "Alright, I'm teasing you."
He was young, thin-skinned, she knew that.
It was fine. When they were alone someday, she'd make him say it again.
Jingliu couldn't suppress the joy in her heart, her lips curving in a faint smile.
Before she could say anything more, Zero's fat cat seemed to sense something. Suddenly, it struggled violently in his arms.
Taking advantage of Zero's unguarded moment, the chubby creature braced its hind legs, kicked hard, and launched itself forward, surprisingly fast for its size, charging straight toward a nearby corner.
The next instant, a person was suddenly shoved out from that corner, not walking out, but practically pushed.
Cat and man collided head-on.
The cat rolled onto the ground, flopped on its back, and started meowing loudly.
Zero and Jingliu's eyes followed it, and then they saw who it was.
Jing Yuan.
Jing Yuan, "…"
The white-haired lieutenant barely managed to regain his balance, steadying himself. When he lifted his head, his eyes met his master's, who was looking at him with an expression that was halfway between a smile and not.
Instinctively, he forced out an awkward laugh toward Jingliu and Zero, whose hands were still clasped together.