Chapter 212: Is it okay to be a man?

"Please take care of me."

"Please take care of me."

Prince Smile, which is usually not used on men, is on display this time.

Zhuo resisted the urge to complain and replied in a low voice: "...Please take care of me."

Zhuo usually doesn't actively greet others, but if someone takes the initiative to approach him, there's nothing he can do.

However, this time it was not because of Kanda and Moriko's meddling, but because of the requirements of the "Home Cooking Class". The team that Zhuo was in was too small, and the responsibility was basically borne by one person. The teacher really couldn't stand it, so this happened.

As we are approaching the third year of high school, the cooking internship in the Home Affairs Department will also be coming to an end. A practical course for the cooking internship will be arranged in a month. It is a project that needs to be completed by one person, and no one can take advantage of it.

But now the groups are still free, and the cooking content is also free.

The result was that the old member, Jin Kiritani, the new members, Tomokazu Kanda and Kyousuke Moritani, and him and Zero. Five people... Although it was still one less than the other groups, the teacher didn't force it.

"Haha, Zhuo looks like he's eaten bitter melon. Don't make that expression. We also want to try Romanov's cuisine."

"I'm sorry to bother you."

"No," Zhuolian shook his head, "It's not your fault. I'm just condemning this guy."

Compared to Kanda who only gloated and laughed, Morigo seemed much more polite. This might be because he and Zhuo were not very familiar with each other.

"It's so unfair that you are the only one who has the title of 'Queen of All Powers' all to yourself."

Ren also interjected at the right time: "It's Zhuo who doesn't regard this as a blessing."

Kanda: “Is it because you’re used to it?”

Ren: “Because I’m used to it.”

"Hey, there's a part for you here too!"

Kanda was fine, this was indeed his first time to team up with Ling and Zhuo in a cooking class, so it was natural for him to make a few jokes. Ren also came to make fun of him, he has been in the group for half a year! In other words, Ren had no right to tease him, but should be the one being teased.

"It's just—"

Zhuo heard some small complaints from all around him, but this was probably not his illusion.

Just like Kanda joked, having the opportunity to team up with the super-beautiful girl Zero and eat her homemade food would be something that would make most boys excited. But in fact, this opportunity has always been monopolized by Zhuo, and their atmosphere is understandable.

Rather, they have been wanting to complain like this for a long time.

As expected, in fact, there were already thorny gazes mixed with envy and jealousy piercing Zhuo's body.

Ren: "But if I don't team up with you from the beginning, you won't have a good time either. The other groups are all together with good relationships."

"Uh……"

Speaking of this, Zhuo was at a loss.

No matter how independent a person is, he can't hide the embarrassment of being isolated from the crowd. Although he didn't have any communication problems, during the first "family class", he only had one friend in the class, Ren Tongya. Zhuo didn't have the interest or ability to mix with a strange group to communicate.

"Alright, admit it. Just consider it fate. It's your fate to meet me."

Ren laughed and patted his shoulder.

"…I don't regret making friends like you."

"Oh, damn, I'm already moved."

"Go to hell! I'm already regretting this."

"Double excess—"

Ren covered his face in a pretentious manner, as if to hide his shyness. After Zhuo's cold response, he laughed loudly and happily. Although Zhuo was not fooled by his acting skills, he did not find Ren's joke funny at all.

Zhuo was thinking about how to fight back, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Ling, who was sitting there in silence and in a trance.

"…Um, Ms. Romanoff?"

Because her expression was a little too indifferent, and this was a classroom with many other people around, Zhuo called her by her last name and did not use the title "Mr." at the end.

"What's wrong."

The response was a bit lukewarm.

She was definitely having some issues.

Although his face was cold, Ling Nao, who usually never got angry, was unhappy, which made Zhuo Weiwei feel a little stomachache.

"Why are you in such a bad mood?"

At the same time, Kanda and Ren also quieted down and listened, but did not interrupt. They wisely chose to be just listeners or spectators.

"No, you are overthinking."

Zero responded calmly.

But she didn't even look at Zhuo. She held her chin with one hand and stared blankly at some place with unfocused eyes.

"...No, you must be in a bad mood." "Not bad."

In front of the kitchen counter, Zero sat on a chair with the same expression on his face.

Rather than saying that she was obviously angry, it was more like she was giving off an aura of "I'm unhappy", or the atmosphere around her was a bit irritating.

However, Zhuo didn't know why she did this, it was just a test.

"Uh... Is it because you are too tired? I can help you~"

After all, there are two more people now, which means the workload has almost doubled.

Thinking in this way, it is easy to understand why Zero is unhappy.

Her own workload increased, but others were having a great time chatting, which of course made things unbalanced.

"No."

But Zero denied it.

Zhuo must believe Ling, so if she said no, then it definitely wasn’t because of this.

"That's why."

Just as Zhuo was about to ask again, Ling added:
"I won't be unhappy about this kind of thing. You're overthinking it. Even if I'm tied up at home by you and only responsible for cooking for you all day, I won't be unhappy."

After hearing this, Zhuo froze and all his confusion was resolved.

This was the 'conversation' that Zhuo had with those two unreasonable boys, and it was basically copied and appropriated by Ling without any changes.

The relationship between him and Tongxie today was definitely seen by Ling.

Then I thought, people who live together will certainly not feel good if they chat with others about their appearance and body shape, as well as some fantasies between men.

"Did you hear everything?"

"..."

Zero neither looked at him nor spoke.

But for the communication between Ling and Zhuo, this silence is a tacit agreement.

"I'm sorry for doing something you hate."

Zhuo took the initiative and apologized first without any explanation.

In any case, even if those rude words were said by others, he did participate in part of the discussion, and there is no way to argue about it.

However, Zero turned around at this moment and looked at him speechlessly.

Nothing was said.

Neither said forgiveness, nor was he still angry.

Just staring at his face quietly.

This kind of quiet silence, coupled with her delicate but expressionless face, is very oppressive... Zhuo has never seen Ling really angry, but if someone like her is really angry, it will be absolutely terrible... Zhuo, who lives with Ling every day, can hardly bear this kind of pressure, let alone the bystanders Kiritani Jin and others.

Zhuo clearly heard the sound of swallowing saliva behind him.

"As for the interest you mentioned..."

This was exactly what Utsunomiya Shuo said to the two unreasonable people a few minutes ago. But now Zero took it back intact and threw it to him.

"What, what happened?"

Zhuo didn't understand what she meant, and his tone of voice was slightly disordered.

Zero still didn't reply, he stared into his eyes for a few more seconds and sighed heavily.

"… Never mind. I'm fine now."

"Uh, is everything really alright? Don't lie to Piggy."

Zhuo deliberately chose some witty and greasy words to give Ling some handles to attack back.

"It's okay..." Zero shook his head gently, "...I'm actually a little worried about other things. Sa Chiko knows you very well in some ways. Is that okay as a man?"

!!!

"That's so rude!!!"

He didn't think anything of what his classmates said, but now even Zero said so, asking if there was anything wrong with him being a man.

It's a bit hard to accept.

Zero simply said "It's true" and turned his head away, and the atmosphere around him once again exuded a slight sense of dissatisfaction.

　Thanks to brother 20220703153922263 for the 100-point reward.

　　Thanks to the brother Call Me Magic Boy for the 100-point reward.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)