Thousands of Love

Hearing Ling's gentle voice, Yu Zhizhi couldn't help but smile. Thinking of his words, "Maybe we'll meet soon," she softly echoed, "Probably."

If she works a little harder and completes two or three more tasks, she'll have enough points for the travel scroll.

If she gets back, she will definitely contact Zero immediately.

Unfortunately, there's no way to tell him the specific date right now, and there's no [voice transmission] item available when preparing to return.

As Yu Zhizhi watched the light in the room gradually become clearer, it was just like her emotions, rising little by little. All the gloom was swept away, and those uneasy and anxious thoughts turned into a wisp of morning breeze and quietly slipped away.

The cat-like youth stared at the floating bubbles in front of him, a faint blush creeping onto his face as if he were remembering something.

"Zhizhi," he called softly.

"Hmm?" Yu Zhizhi came back to her senses. She looked at the floating bubbles. Her voice, still sticky from just waking up, sounded so cute and captivating to Yu Ling.

Yu Ling placed the mask she had taken off onto the red round table.

He seemed to have prepared himself mentally, his amber eyes calmly fixed on the small bubble in front of him: "I have something to say to you."

The cat-like youth's tone suddenly became very serious, and Yu Zhizhi couldn't help but feel nervous.

"W-what?"

Yu Zhizhi sat up in bed and stared blankly at the little bubble.

Is it... about the Beast World planet?

Is it about the temple?

Or did something happen to one of them?

Regarding Spider-Man's situation, Yu Zhizhi really wanted to ask Yu Ling if something had happened at the amusement park...

While her thoughts were still racing, Yu Zhizhi heard Yu Ling's gentle voice float into her ears—

“After you left, I thought about it for a long time. To be honest, when you first disappeared from my sight, I was actually sad for quite a long time.”

"You must have noticed it too, right? I... have been deliberately keeping a distance between us, not wanting to get too close to you."

Hearing this, Yu Zhizhi slowly nodded: "I felt it."

How could I not feel it?

Even if she were slow to react, faced with Zero who was so busy he had no time for her, faced with Zero who repeatedly declined her invitations, faced with Zero whose gaze and voice were cold even when they were underwater...

How could she not feel it?

Hearing the desolation in the little female's voice, Yu Ling paused for a moment and immediately said, "I'm sorry. I wasn't able to sort out my emotions before. There were many things I didn't want to try, and I habitually stayed in my comfort zone."

"I'm sorry you had to suffer."

The young man from the cat tribe always had such a beautiful voice, especially during the round table meeting, in the empty and ethereal temple illusion, which added a layer of mystery and elegance to his voice.

Above the red round table, the talisman stared in shock at its partner—

What is Number One doing?

The talisman almost realized what it was about to say, and the pages of the book began to tremble involuntarily.

Yu Zhizhi didn't expect Ling to apologize. She quickly shook her head and said, "No, I understood everything Ling said before. Ling did nothing wrong."

and so……

There's no need to apologize.

For Zero, feelings are a very important thing. So important that she doesn't want to accept any loss, which is why Zero says, if there's no future, there's no need to start.

“I’ve never blamed you.” Yu Zhizhi pursed her lips slightly, her tone very soft. “Actually, I’m the one who should apologize.”

Zero favorability...

Only when she is full can she complete her mission and successfully return to her own world.

But because of this, she abandoned her cat.

After that, Yu Zhizhi could see the images of the temple and hear their conversations. She also knew her own situation and was full of hope as she earned points to try to reunite with them as soon as possible.

but……

Zero didn't know.

He had no way of knowing what happened after she disappeared.

—Will Zero feel sad?

Yu Zhizhi lowered her eyes and sat on the edge of the bed, her breathing becoming slightly heavier.

Hearing the girl's sincere apology, Yu Ling smiled slightly: "Zhizhi, everything I'm about to say comes from the bottom of my heart, and I'm not joking at all."

"Would you like to listen?" he asked.

In response to the young man from the cat tribe's words, Yu Zhizhi nodded slightly: "Okay."

Yu Ling slightly raised his chin, gazing at the small bubbles in mid-air emitting sound waves: "What I said at the bottom of the sea was all true. I really don't like emotions, and I instinctively reject words like 'falling in love'."

"This may be related to my childhood experiences. My parents died when I was born, and the orphanage that adopted me kicked me out when I was five years old because... the markings on my body that symbolize misfortune were exposed."

"I had nowhere to go, but luckily I found a tree hole to hide in, and I could eat some food that other people didn't want."

"One day I discovered that when you approach people who seem to be in a good mood with a smile and say things to make them happy, you can get a fresh meal, or something else they casually toss you around—"

"Of course, you will also meet kind people."

“I would also deliberately cry in front of them, and in the snowy winter, I would wear tattered clothes and shiver in front of them. Whenever this happened, kind people would feel sorry for me.”

"This is how I lived until I was ten years old, before my prophetic abilities were certified."

Living in a cramped tree hollow, scavenging food from trash cans, and relying on the "pity" of others, they grew up day by day.

“After I turned ten, I was taken in by the temple. Although the situation at the temple was complicated at the time, my abilities meant that I was destined to be surrounded by people, all of whom wanted something from me.”

"I don't want to be kicked out; at least on cold winter nights, I want to have a warm bed."

"I'm starting to learn how to deal with people who approach me with a smile."

"I can't let them down, but I also can't let them lead me by the nose. I need to find a way to gain a foothold in the temple, to have my own backers, and to have at least superficially decent relationships with everyone..."

He navigated through various complex interpersonal relationships in this way.

Yu Ling couldn't even remember what he originally looked like.

Because he always wore a mask.

He can be of any personality, say anything, and chat and laugh with people of any status.

"I'm fake from head to toe. My smile is fake, my words are fake. I seem to have a natural ability to know what other people like to hear and what they need. I can always find their weaknesses and get along with anyone peacefully."

"So I genuinely feel that relationships are a very troublesome thing."

If you pretend for too long, you'll forget your true self.

They will also instinctively back down from genuine feelings time and time again.

Like moths drawn to a flame...

He was a moth, but he didn't want to fly into the fire.

Yu Zhizhi didn't expect Ling to say so much today. She listened blankly, and for some reason, her eyes became a little sore towards the end.

No wonder...

She always felt that Zero had a good relationship with everyone else.

Just like this time with the [telepathic transmission], she naturally felt that as long as she talked to Zero, he could pass on her messages to others.

Whether it's the Valoran Empire, the Deepsea Empire, or the Moonrise Empire...

Even with Dracula, it would be perfectly normal for Zero to spend time alone with any of them in private; there would be no sense of incongruity whatsoever.

Just like her...

Yu Zhizhi never denied that she was happy with Ling. Because everything Ling did and said made her happy.

Above the round table, the talisman listened quietly.

It was a little exciting.

Zero... He actually dissected his inner thoughts to a female in this way one day.

Despite his talent for disguise, he used the simplest and most straightforward method to completely expose himself to the other party, without any fear of being hurt.

zero.

As a prophet of the temple, the only seer on the Beast World planet, did you eventually fall in love?

"Feelings are a very troublesome thing." A bitter smile appeared on Yu Ling's face. "Especially you, Zhizhi. I know that one day you will leave here. In fact, I may have guessed some things that you can't say out loud."

The cat-like youth had seen her hometown.

They knew she was an alien.

Through her series of actions, one can vaguely guess that what the little rabbit is doing seems to be related to them.

The time she was gone only further proved that his guess was probably pretty accurate.

The young cat said softly, "I know you can't take responsibility, so... I used to think that I had to stay away from you, that I had to protect my heart and not let it fall into your hands."

"but now……"

"I need to admit that, whether you want it or not, Zhizhi, my heart is already with you."

"It can never be taken back."

Yu Zhizhi's eyes widened in shock. She slowly gripped the bedsheets beside her, beginning to realize that Ling might be...

confession?

Yu Ling's tone remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness: "After the matter at the temple is completely resolved, shall I come to find you?"

"Whether it's going to your territory or your homeland..."

If he were still alive.

Once everything is properly handled.

He thought, "I'll go find her."

"Wherever you like, we'll be there. I know you still have some things to take care of and can't tell anyone. I'm willing to wait and stay with you. No matter what happens, I'm willing to face it with you."

Whether you like me or not, I will like you and love you sincerely.

I will no longer be indifferent.

I will not push her away again.

Throughout his life, he longed to be with her, to spend every day and night with her.

"Zhizhi..."

Yu Ling was certain that he needed to make his point even clearer.

He wanted the little rabbit to understand exactly what he wanted to say—

"I want to stay by your side, I want to..."

"Be your beastly husband!"