Chapter 464: The Day Finally Arrives (4)

(For the sake of clarity, let’s change the double quotes here. Forget about the previous chapter. This symbol is very troublesome and takes a long time to read.)
"Compared to the last time I saw you, your expression is much more cheerful now, and the light in your eyes is different. It seems that your current environment is very good, which is great."

"Yes……"

Although Ling had already wiped away her tears, she somehow managed to keep her back straight while curling up, posing a very upright posture. As if she had 'seen' this scene, she raised the corners of her mouth and smiled dignifiedly.

"Hehe, we are no longer in a contractual relationship, there is no need to be so formal. I am just an ordinary friend now."

"I feel sorry for you, so I'm a little nervous."

"I see. Hehe, I'm glad to know that you don't hate me for this."

After hearing Zero's words, Zero was obviously relieved. For this reason, Zero's smile on the screen became even brighter than before.

"I know this question is not suitable for me, but are you doing well? Mai and the others did tell me about you, but I still want to hear it from your own mouth."

"Yes, I am doing very well. Very, very well..."

"You are really nervous, Renata. Don't be so nervous. I won't be angry, and I won't run away."

"Ah."

"Look, you're getting nervous again."

"I see……"

"Alas, you'll just have to get used to it yourself."

Even after being pointed out by Zero again, a long time had passed, but the tension caused by meeting Zero again still hadn't subsided. Until now, she still kept her back straight, and looked more exhausted than usual.

Even so, in the gaze that Zero cast through the screen, there was not only tension, but also guilt. It seemed that she was just as Zero said.

(So ​​that’s what happened.)
Zhuo, the person who filmed the video, had of course watched this video recording that looked like a video conversation, but even so, it was really just a video recording. During the recording process, he was curious about why Zero always paused. At that time, Zhuo presumptuously judged based on the environment that he was stuck in words because he couldn't think of what to say, but now it seems that this is not the case.

It can be said that he is smart enough to guess how the future will develop, and it can also be said that he understands Zero as well as Zhuo does - this combination of things allows Zero to achieve the current conversation-like effect through just a delayed playback video.

(But I’m still jealous.)
Even after learning that this is how Zero viewed him, and answering without any evasion, "he chose himself," Zhuo felt particularly happy.

But seeing Zero being able to have this kind of conversation that seemed to transcend time and that Zhuo might never be able to do in his entire life, the masculine side of him still secretly felt jealous.

This thought was so strong that Jia Bianzhuo's gaze remained on the screen, but his fingers naturally searched for Zero beside him, and what met his fingers were Zero's fingertips who were also exploring.

Sliding from the fingertips to the palms, the two people's fingers entangled with each other at the same time, and the body temperature, which was much warmer than usual, gradually blended into their fingers.

"But seeing you change so much is a good thing. Even if I don't ask, I can see from your eyes... you have made your choice."

"Yes."

Being caught off guard by the word "make a choice", Zhuo immediately straightened his back, but Ling's affirmation without hesitation made him embarrassed, and he didn't know where to put his eyes, and they began to wander.

Even after learning that this is how Zero viewed him, and answering without any evasion, "he chose himself," Zhuo felt particularly happy.

But seeing Zero being able to have this kind of conversation that seemed to transcend time and that Zhuo might never be able to do in his entire life, the masculine side of him still secretly felt jealous.

This thought was so strong that Jia Bianzhuo's gaze remained on the screen, but his fingers naturally searched for Zero beside him, and what met his fingers were Zero's fingertips who were also exploring.

Sliding from the fingertips to the palms, the two people's fingers entangled with each other at the same time, and the body temperature, which was much warmer than usual, gradually blended into their fingers.

"Really? You finally found someone who loves you, that's good. Really, that's great."

The trust and happiness from the hands held together made Zhuo's mouth curl up unconsciously. After Ling noticed this scene, she seemed to be relieved, revealing a look warmer than the hand held, which made You, who was stared at, a little, no, very shy again - she was treated like a child throwing a tantrum and being taken care of again.

"You have been much smarter than others since you were young. I have always wondered if you have been disappointed in others, but it seems that I was worrying too much..."

It is because of Zero's existence that there is the current Zero - the warmth and emotions transmitted through the palm, Zhuo began to think about this matter with a broad mind, and he also understood it. Zhuo even thought that it was incredible that Zero would choose himself like this, but if she heard this, she would surely be angry.

"Yeah, yeah. You don't have to be so nervous. I know it very well. I know he is your ideal man..."

"Yes."

Although his eyes flickered a little, Zero nodded firmly and continued speaking without hesitation.

"Didn't you tell me before that if you have to love someone in order to survive, then I will love you..."

"Yes, I did say that."

"Zhuo is such an excellent person..."

"It seems like you really opened your heart to him completely..."

The conversation continued. Although Zhuo was referred to as an "excellent person" by Ling, he was not aware of this at all. Rather, he felt that it was because he was not excellent enough that Ling was worried.

Having said that, Zero, who was in a state of ups and downs in mood, might not be aware of it. The recording time of Zero was probably the longest among them - not only was there a short pause after each of Zero's words, but more importantly, Zhuo deliberately chose to leave the time for him.

Zhuo admits that he is not a generous person, or rather, when it comes to lovers, it is not an exaggeration to call him "stingy".

Even so, for Ling, who has been feeling guilty after making a major decision, Zhuo will choose to give them time to resolve this knot.

With such thoughts in mind, Zhuo quietly left here.

This conversation lasted a long time. Zhuo could only hear part of it from the time before he left to the time after he came back. Zhuo felt that it lasted about fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes later...

"Ah, I'm fine now. Looking at the situation now, I think I can safely hand you over to him. Although I left before, I am now an outsider, and I probably no longer have the position to interfere at will... Renata, our contract is terminated."

Hearing the words 'contract termination', Zero seemed unable to hold back any longer, and the tears that had once stopped finally began to flow continuously.

As if he wanted to vent all the tears that he should have shed in his life so far, as the fragile parts gradually peeled off, Zero let out a faint whimper and could no longer hold back the tears in his eyes.

'Looking' at her like that, Zero's face always had a loving smile on it, as if to wrap her up warmly, quietly waiting for Zero to control the waves of emotions himself.

"Haha~ I won't allow you to feel sorry for me..." Zero calculated the time when Zero could calm down, and said this deliberately in a joking tone, almost choking Zhuo.

Zero was about to retort with trembling lips, but was blocked by the meaningful look of Zero on the screen. He seemed to say "That's it, isn't it?" Zero was completely speechless and could only shut his mouth.

As if she realized that Zero couldn't adopt a tough attitude, Zero chuckled, straightened his back, turned to Zero again, and showed an expression as if he was looking at his dear child. Zhuo could already feel the maternal glow from it.

"So, turn around..."

"?"

With tears still lingering in his eyes, he revealed his doubts. With such emotion, Zero slowly turned around and looked over here.

Should we say that he is considerate or good at grasping human nature? Zhuo would rather regard it as the former. Zero's smiling voice came from behind Zero and in front of Zhuo again. It felt like the narration at the beginning of a movie, or the opening words in the animal world.

"Ah, if you make her cry, I won't forgive you."

"I wasn't the one who made you cry just now, was I?"

"Really? That's... Hehe, please forgive me."

Zero smiled playfully, and after Zhuo and Zero looked at each other, they could see the emotions of relief and joy in each other's eyes.

If I have to say something different, it would be that Zhuo Zhen was smiling.

Even Zhuo himself felt that his smile, which could be called calm, was a little too arrogant.

"If she continues to cry like this, then let her cry as much as she wants. Ling is not used to the taste of happiness yet, so I hope you can make it up to her together with the past."

"Then I won't be polite. From now on, I will also try my best to make her happy enough to cry."

"Zhuo, you..."

"What are you talking about?" Ling's eyes became a little flustered, but Zhuo had no intention of taking back his words.

Tears are an overflow of inner emotions. If these emotions are positive and come from joy, then there is nothing to be taboo about.

Ling has never had such an opportunity so far, so even if Zhuo takes her to experience all kinds of joy and sheds her tears alone, no one will object.

"Then I'll leave it to you... Tell me all this when we meet next time. I'm looking forward to it..."

(Sizzle—)
As Zero blessed Zero with a clear voice without any haze, the scene immediately became dim.

The colors on the screen disappeared silently, reflecting only the figures of Zhuo and the others standing opposite each other and the decoration of the room. Although the farewell was very straightforward, Zhuo's heart was still filled with the lingering warmth and tension of the moment.

Ling would definitely be reluctant to leave. She was temporarily immersed in the afterglow, and wanted to turn around in a trance to confirm the screen that had just reflected her future... Finally, she saw the boy in front of her kneel down slowly with a smile on his face, his eyes looking up at her from bottom to top.

She froze in place, as if she had forgotten what she was going to do, and just took a deep breath quietly... Ling's shiny blonde hair slid from her shoulders as her chest rose and fell. Zhuo looked at her from bottom to top, waiting for her to get ready in her heart to face everything.

"……wash?"

Zero called out softly as if to confirm something.

Zero must have imagined such a day deep in his heart. Just as both parties had agreed, it was an inevitable result.

However, she did not have enough willpower to make up her mind and put it into action.

Zero always put him first, or more accurately, she was filled with insecurity about it.

Because of this, Zhuo decided to take the initiative to take this step this time. No matter what, it can't be that the whole journey is from Ling to him, he also has to take steps. So Zhuo, as if he didn't hear Ling's call, read it out in his most motivated voice.

"Renata Yevgeni Chicherin, will you marry me?"

Zhuo, with a voice that sounded more strenuous than ever, raised the ring in his hand that he had just bought after working hard for half a year.

"Ah."

"What?"

"Ah."

"what?"

Her voice trembled slightly, and large gems dripped from her eye sockets, hitting the back of the box that Zhuo held in his palm and bounced off.

Needless to say, Zhuo also understood that those were not tears of sadness.

"…Do you really want to see me cry?"

In contrast to Ling who was crying and sobbing, Zhuo looked up at her with a smile.

"If these are the tears, you can cry as many times as you want."

"Really... I do, Renata Yevgeny Chicherin does."

That voice, which was slightly complaining but suddenly became extremely serious, must be the proof of Ling's trust in Zhuo.

Ling raised her head. The corners of her eyes were a little red due to excessive use of her tear glands. As if to eliminate the pain in the corners of her eyes, her slightly narrowed blue eyes looked particularly happy - as if she was smiling.

As if he was fiddling with something fragile, Ling gently opened the lid of the box. There was no partition inside, only a simple layer of sponge and a ring.

Although it is not very big, if it is just a ring, it can still fit in it.

Zero's voice sounded a little dazed, as if he hadn't figured it all out yet.

"Please give me your guidance in the future."

"me too."

(End of this chapter)