Zero closed his eyes for a moment and pulled out a smile no different from usual,
"I don't care."
"I didn't do any of those things, so I don't care what they say."
Jingliu frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with this answer.
Seeing this, Zero deliberately added in a light, cheerful tone, "Besides, why don't they go live off their wives? They don't want to?"
Zero held Jingliu's hand and gently kneaded her palm.
"I think those people are just jealous that I get to be with you."
"After all, you're the Swordmaster of Luofu, and also the Emanator of the 'Reignbow Arbiter.' No matter how you look at it, it's me, a Diviner, who's getting the better end of the deal, right?"
Zero talked for quite a while, but Jingliu still didn't react.
The alcohol made him almost lose his balance; under the table, he pinched his own thigh harshly.
His gradually blurring consciousness instantly sharpened.
Zero propped his chin with one hand and held Jingliu's with the other.
He lowered his eyes, thinking hard about how to shift Jingliu's attention.
Zero thought for a long time before finally finding a direction.
He smiled and said, "I wonder how long it'll take before I can save up enough for a betrothal gift?"
"It really worries me."
"It feels like no betrothal gift is worthy of my Swordmaster."
Jingliu's expression wavered slightly, but she didn't speak.
She never liked saying what she was thinking. But when it came to Zero, she could only force herself past her shyness and use the most straightforward words to express her heart.
Originally, Jingliu wanted to say that she didn't want a betrothal gift.
'Because no amount of betrothal gifts could compare to your genuine heart.'
Very quickly, Jingliu realized something was wrong and pulled her hand back from Zero's grasp.
She was supposed to be comforting him.
So how did it end up with Zero coaxing her and taking care of her feelings again?
Jingliu let out a long sigh and said, "Smooth-talker."
Zero froze for a moment, then could only assume that Jingliu simply didn't want to hear that kind of talk.
He hurriedly said, "Okay okay okay, I won't say it again."
Jingliu, "..."
She grit her teeth. "Think carefully. What did you do wrong?"
Zero thought, 'How would I know what I did wrong?'
'Come to think of it, Daiyang had taught me some dating tips.'
Like, when praising someone, be specific about a scene, add details, express your feelings and delight.
Should he use that trick? But praising Jingliu right now feels like pouring oil on the fire…
Seeing Jingliu's expression grow colder, Zero stopped hesitating and admitted, "I don't know, My Lady Swordmaster. Just tell me directly."
Jingliu stared at Zero.
Everyone has emotions.
It's just that Zero's ingrained mindset, built over twenty years, made it hard for him to care about his own feelings.
Jingliu knew well that this wasn't something that could change in a day.
Looks like it had to be taken step by step.
Jingliu didn't continue to tangle with the topic. She simply said, "Your mistake is that you bore all of this alone and didn't tell me."
"Given our relationship, shouldn't you have told me?"
Zero opened his mouth, about to say something.
But Jingliu's tone turned icy, "Just this once. Don't let it happen again."
She turned her head away, refusing to look at him, and reached out to interlock fingers with him.
Zero was silent for a moment, then quietly squeezed her hand in return.
He said seriously, "Alright. I promise you, next time anything happens, I'll tell you right away."
Jingliu paused for a moment and softly asked, "Do you really not care about those words?"
Zero propped his chin on one hand, tilted his head, gave her a smile, and said, "Don't worry, I really don't care."
Under the influence of alcohol, he couldn't control his expressions or tone; his attitude grew casual, "Why bother with people like that?"
"They think they're defending justice, but really they just judge right and wrong through narrow, one-sided views."
"People like that don't think. Even viewpoints that fall apart under scrutiny, they still believe them without question. They're easily provoked. If you don't handle them properly..."
Zero paused mid-sentence.
This Yubie brew was really getting to his head.
He was starting to speak without thinking.
Lowering his gaze, he continued, "They can't affect us anyway."
"Obviously, they're just unhappy with their own lives. They can't control anything or anyone, so they vent their emotions on others."
"No matter how nasty they talk behind my back, once they see me in person, they probably won't be able to say a single word."
"Besides, their insults aren't going to make my savings decrease even a little, so what's there to fuss over?"
Zero truly didn't care about other people's opinions.
'Let them say whatever they want.'
Zero had already decided, unless the gods fell and civilization collapsed, he would never give up this god-tier job.
He just wanted to slack off. Working was impossible, absolutely impossible for life.
But that also meant he'd have to keep living off his partner.
'Would Jingliu mind?'
Zero thought, 'Probably not.'
And even if she did, he still wouldn't work.
Zero propped his chin with one hand, feeling his cheeks burning.
He tried hard to stay steady and half-joked, "I'm very satisfied with my current position. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll stay in the archive forever."
"Looks like I'll have to keep living off my Swordmaster. Don't find me annoying."
Zero seemed unable to resist the drunkenness; supporting his head, he swayed as though he would collapse any second.
Jingliu wasn't sure he'd remember her answer later, but she still nodded seriously and replied, "Alright. I'll let you. I won't mind."
Eating soft rice… what soft rice was she even giving him?
She was a Cloud Knight, how could she help a Diviner from the Divination Commission get a promotion or raise?
If Zero wanted to stay in the archive, hold a leisure post, then he could stay.
Wasn't the reason she and her colleagues fought on the frontlines so more people aboard the Xianzhou could live peaceful and stable lives?
As for promotions, she couldn't help him, and didn't need to.
And materially… Zero had never even given her the chance to pay for anything.
Saying Zero lived off her was more like she lived off him.
The gifts he brought her must've cost effort and money.
Thinking back, she realized she had only ever given him a peach blossom branch and a flower crown.
This made her feel lost, unsure how to respond.
If Zero were truly like the rumors said, letting her spend some of her patrol pay on him… she wouldn't have to feel so troubled.
Jingliu raised her hand to his cheek, her gaze uncontrollably drawn to his eyes.
Usually gentle and calm, eyes that made others settle just by looking at them, right now, they were focused solely on her.
Zero looked at her with a half-smile, touched the reddened tip of her ear with his fingertip, and laughed, "Your ears are so red. Are you drunk too?"
He pretended to be confused, "But I remember I'm the only one..."
'...the only one who drank.'
Jingliu moved the hand on his cheek to his chin.
She leaned in and used her mouth to block the rest of his unfinished words.
Then she pulled back, covered his eyes with her hand, and said, "Remember to close your eyes in the future."
After saying that, she leaned in again.
Jingliu thought she really must be drunk.
Only when their breaths were completely tangled did she finally end the kiss.
Zero lowered his eyes and propped his head with his hand, seemingly unable to resist the drunkenness, about to fall over.
Seeing this, Jingliu cautiously asked, "You're drunk. How about tonight you just…"
Zero instinctively shook his head. "No, that's inappropriate."
They'd only been together a little over a month, how could he stay the night?
Even if they slept in separate rooms, it was inappropriate.
Jingliu asked, "Should I walk you home?"
Zero shook his head again.
Jingliu sighed. "You're drunk. I won't be at ease if you walk home alone. Let me take you."
With that, she stood up and effortlessly pulled him up from the stone bench.
Zero, "..."
No wonder she was Jingliu. No wonder she wielded a weapon weighing 3,000 pounds.
Thinking of it, when he was poisoned before and unconscious, how did Jingliu get him to the Alchemy Commission?
Zero conveniently erased that memory and forced himself not to think about it.
He absolutely didn't want to know how he entered the Alchemy Commission.
He tried to steady himself and walked with Jingliu toward his home.
After a while, Jingliu suddenly stopped, turned to him, and softly coaxed, "Call me big sister..."
Zero, "..."
'Seriously, Jingliu, you haven't given up yet!'
He slowly shook his head.
Jingliu looked disappointed, pulled him forward a few more steps, and said again, "Too slow. Let me carr, "
She paused, perhaps considering his feelings, and rephrased, "I'll give you a piggyback."
Zero shook his head again.
But this time, Jingliu refused to give in. She urged, "You're drunk. Get home quickly and rest."
Zero fell silent.
He didn't care about people calling him a freeloader.
But that didn't mean he could accept being carried home by his lover…
Just walking straight was taking all his mental strength.
He thought for a long time before finally coming up with a reason Jingliu couldn't refuse.
Zero asked, "Don't you want to spend more time with me?"
This time, Jingliu fell silent.
Zero didn't show it, but he breathed a sigh of relief inside.
Dating was so hard.
He felt like even adding up the emotional intelligence from two lifetimes wouldn't be enough.
Too exhausting.
Soon, they arrived at the gate of Zero's residence, stopping at the same time.
Zero remembered the dating tips Daiyang had taught him.
He had great faith in the abilities of the underlings of the Sea King.
First, praise someone, but be specific to a scene.
Zero quickly found something to say, "Do you remember what happened at the snack street before?"
"I remember, that time, someone suddenly fell into a demon-yin state, and you saved me."
Jingliu didn't understand why he brought this up.
Zero paused.
Next, add details, express your feelings and joy.
He drafted quickly in his mind and continued, "At first, I just thought the crowd was noisy."
"I didn't expect you to cover my eyes immediately."
"In that moment, it felt like everything around us quieted down."
"Whenever I think about it, I feel… hmm… how should I put it? Well, it was a very special experience."
Zero talked and talked but couldn't continue.
As expected from a technique summarized by the Sea King, it was something normal people couldn't use.
He sighed and urged Jingliu, "It's getting late. You should head back."
But Jingliu didn't move.
She looked at Zero, and with a solemn tone, gave her promise, "Don't worry. I will always stay by your side and protect you."
Zero said nothing, quietly meeting his lover's gaze.
He thought, 'Thank goodness I didn't make the contract.'
Thank goodness he hadn't taken out the Heart of God.
Otherwise what awaited Jingliu would be an ageless, deathless, nearly eternal fate.
And then history would repeat itself, leading to the outcome he never wanted to see.
Zero slowly showed a smile no different from usual.
He said, "Alright."
Before parting, Jingliu still felt uneasy. Zero had to reassure her repeatedly before she finally relaxed.
It was just walking from the door to the bedroom, how could anything happen?
Zero watched Jingliu leave before turning back into his house.
———
The next day, as usual, he arrived at his desk in the archive and soon received a message from Zhenzhen.
[Zhenzhen: The assets have already been transferred to Her Majesty's name as you requested. When are you free? We'll send them to you.]
[Zhenzhen: We heard you bought a lot of things for Her Majesty from company employees. Want to choose some more? There are plenty of jewels in the Xianzhou museum.]
[Zhenzhen: And one more thing… not sure if I should say it…]
Zero knew them too well.
If he didn't agree, they'd definitely start lifting the roof off the place to force him to give in.
[Xianyu: What is it]
[Zhenzhen: It's just… can we meet Her Majesty? And the ring you bought needs resizing…]
The moment Zero saw the message, he knew they were up to something behind his back again.
Judging from those two's habit of clearing out areas at the slightest provocation, they must've investigated everyone around him already.
He didn't mind. He only thought about how to explain their identities to Jingliu.
Considering his current age in this life, calling them friends seemed more appropriate.
Before he replied, Zhenzhen sent another message.
[Zhenzhen: Rest assured! We won't make Her Majesty misunderstand your character! Daiyang and I are just your housekeepers!]
Zero, "..."
Why did this feel more and more like some storybook plot?
What next, were they going to tell Jingliu, "You're the first woman the young master has ever brought home"?
Forget it. They should just have a meal this time.
As for the ring, it was better not to trouble them.
After all, Zero's credit points weren't spent for nothing.
He had to let the staff do some actual work.
Zero rejected Zhenzhen's suggestion.
[Xianyu: No need. Let's just have a meal together.]
He ignored Zhenzhen's attempt to lift the roof and instead sent an invitation to Jingliu.
[Xianyu: Are you free tonight? My friends happen to be in Luofu.]
Jingliu didn't refuse and agreed.
The meeting place was close to the Divination Commission. As usual, Zero left work early and met Zhenzhen and Daiyang.
While waiting for Jingliu, Zero asked Daiyang, "Still haven't met someone exceptional enough?"
Daiyang understood the Marshal's implication.
He was asking whether, after hundreds of years, she had ever met someone exceptional enough to make her break her usual ways.
Daiyang shook her head first, then sighed, "If I really met someone who could make me willingly stop and spend a lifetime with them…"
"Uh, for me, wouldn't that be a kind of misfortune too?"
Zero thought about it and agreed.
For someone like Daiyang, meeting someone exceptional enough to make her give up all those young men… that probably would be bad luck.
Zhenzhen suddenly lit up. "Wow, Her Majesty is here!"
Zero looked outside.
He saw his white-haired, red-eyed lover walking toward him.
Zero thought, 'For me, meeting someone who made me gradually lose reason, was it luck… or misfortune?'