Chapter 499: Hard to Talk About

"This is the main thing that happened in college. As for the rest... I guess you are not interested in knowing."

"OK."

"I knew it... How about you? Did you enjoy your trip abroad? Also, how are the preparations for opening the store going? Ah, don't worry about my affairs. We are not children anymore."

Ren shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly, saying, "You'll know it when you see it." In order not to burden Zhuo, he always spoke of those things in a relaxed manner.

"Well! It's okay. It's a good thing that Zero wasn't hurt."

"……Injuried?"

"Something happened. In order not to make Zero feel uneasy, I have decided to avoid those people."

"Public security issues? I have heard of that."

"That's about right... I think you've heard about the troubles of running a store in Tokyo, and the money needed to rent a satisfactory store here. As a result, when Zero and I finally got ready, that gang came to trouble us again. At that time, the other party attacked first, and then I helped him block it to protect Zero from getting hurt, so I suffered a little injury."

Although Zhuo said it lightly, Ren still felt that he must be involved in a serious situation. However, in Zhuo's opinion, it was all something that could be handled, so he still had a relaxed smile on his face.

"Although it wasn't a serious injury, the police came to our house because it caused problems on the street. After the news came out, they thought we were provoking the gang... The attitude of the construction team changed and they didn't dare to come to our house anymore."

At the end of his words, there was a hint of bitterness in Zhuo's voice, but his tone remained light.

Because of this, Ren could see that he was actually very upset and angry.

The more it concerns Takumi himself, the less he cares about it; if it involves others and causes trouble to those around him, he will become extremely angry - that's the kind of person Takumi is. Jin, who can claim to have "grown up with Utsunomiya Takumi", feels that he is qualified to make such an assertion.

Based on what he heard, Zhuo was actually helpless.

It is true that gangs have been involved in street management in Neon, but there are many other major factors that lead to conflicts.

"So, the root cause was not a conflict with the gang. Although it is true that we have now clashed with the gang there, the prerequisite is to be able to open the store. I did not communicate well with those people, and I just unilaterally refused the 'protection fee' in a very conspicuous way, which led to this result."

"Ah... I guess I can imagine that if there's a conflict with a gang, the customers and surrounding businesses will also be afraid of being implicated. But Yo~Zhuo! Even if I hear you admit that it was 'one's own unilateral refusal', I still can't believe that it was you who took the initiative to provoke."

"It's all the same! Ling was already very reluctant about the protection fee, and they still want to look at other people's wives with lustful eyes."

"Is that so? I see. Have you discussed countermeasures?"

"I've told her. What I just said is not something that can be easily resolved, but I still can't explain this to her. Regardless of how to resolve those issues later, if she were to bring up the impact of this incident, Zero would definitely blame herself. She would say that it was all her fault... I certainly don't want to hear her say that about herself."

"……yes."

"Zero did nothing wrong, so I'm not going to compromise. Being isolated by others is my own fault, and has nothing to do with Zero. It's just that I didn't consider this, and it's just that I couldn't stop Zero... How can you put the blame on her?"

In the end, Zhuo revealed everything, and expressed all the dissatisfaction accumulated in his heart through voice.

After noticing Ren's gaze, Zhuo smiled jokingly and said, "Don't look so worried."

"You have to keep this a secret for me. Ren, you don't want to see a shadow cast on Zero's face, do you?"

"of course."

"Yeah, that's what a true friend is."

Zhuo knew that his forced cheerfulness could not be hidden from Ren, and Ren just smiled quietly and accepted what he said.

"Hey, you don't deny it?"

"...Do you want me to deny it?"

"Don't say that. I will be grateful for your affirmation."

"I'm not sure either."

"Hey, dear friend! Don't make me nervous!?"

"Hahaha, because it's difficult! If Romanov showed no reaction to being teased, you would really feel uncomfortable! She must know this, and there may be other reasons."

"What a word~"

If Lian Ren showed a very sad attitude, Zhuo probably wouldn't be able to return to his usual self before returning home - Zhuo thought so.

Luckily, Ren responded with his usual relaxed attitude.

Seeing this, Zhuo tacitly raised his voice and complained, adjusting himself to his original state.

It seems nothing has happened, but the belief remains firm.

Seeing Zhuo concealing all his emotions in the blink of an eye, Ren, who was watching from the sidelines, secretly admired him. At the same time, he chuckled as if nothing had happened, then raised the Coke on the table and clinked it with the cantaloupe soda that was coming towards him.

……

After sharing his troubles with Ren, Zhuo chose to walk home as usual, and it was already dinner time.

Next, Ren was going to have dinner at the family restaurant run by his family, but Zhuo and Ren parted ways with him here.

Although Ren showed his intention to keep him, Zhuo also felt a little reluctant to leave. After today's conversation, Zhuo also realized that they were really growing up and had entered a new world, with troubles, sorrows, separations...all kinds of things. He didn't know when they would meet again, and whether they would be able to talk as freely as today when they met again.

However, considering that Ling must have prepared food for him at home, Zhuo still set out on his journey home.

After selecting a store location, cleaning up the mess, and a series of other activities after the conflict, although Zhuo felt a little tired physically and mentally, he was not exhausted to the point of being overwhelmed, and he could still walk home at a brisk pace.

This is probably because he knows that someone is waiting for him.

"Ah - I'm so tired."

"Thanks for your hard work."

After the two of them had a simple dinner, they returned to the sofa to rest for a while.

Both of them were exhausted from running around to prepare for the store, and Zero's expression was calmer than usual. It wasn't that he was listless, but that his calm thoughts were slightly suppressed.

What is worrying is that there is a subtle sense of unnaturalness in it.

"…Did something happen again?"

"Ok?"

"I just felt that you were a little different than usual, and I was a little worried that something unpleasant or annoying had happened at the store again."

"No...it's not that troublesome."

"I haven't denied it yet."

"After all, something like that happened on the first day..." "...I'm sorry, it's all my fault for not thinking it through."

"No, that's not what I meant! ... I can't say I'm bothered, but I may have some thoughts."

Ling did not show any negative emotions such as escape or rejection, but Zhuo still couldn't understand what she cared about.

No matter how good the relationship between Ling and Zhuo is, there are some things that cannot be conveyed to each other unless they are said out loud, so the two decided to "listen to each other's words." Even though Ling understood this decision, he still looked embarrassed to speak, and his lips moved but he couldn't utter a word.

Judging from her attitude, Zhuo thought that the reason was not his fault, and she was not dissatisfied, nor was she blaming Zhuo.

Zhuo stared at those rarely shaken blue eyes without knowing what was going on, so Ling gave up and said with a slight smile:
"...Didn't Zhuo say that the favor owed to you by the Eight Snake Clan had already been repaid last time, right?"

"Hmm? Yeah, I did say that."

"About this matter...my statement may be a little confusing, but Zhuo will only like me, right?"

"Ah."

"And you don't want to get too involved with the forces associated with the hybrids, do you?"

"Isn't that only natural..."

Even though he had to be involved in many things, it would still be troublesome for Zhuo to imagine the conflicts between the mixed-races.

"I agree with this, and I think this is the right choice. However, in order to avoid thinking too much, I choose to ignore the help of many female friends. Is that right?"

"If you mean Yurina, we were like this before I met you, but she chose not to contact me."

"…But you must have noticed and sensed the affection you received from Uesugi Eri."

This unexpected reminder made Zhuo blink repeatedly in surprise.

Seeing this, Zero's eyes dropped with a slightly bitter taste.

"Just now when I was tidying up the shop, I met people from the Eight Snake Families. They seemed to have been paying attention to us. I met them after the problem was solved. We were able to buy the shop because of their help. The Eight Snake Families think highly of you. Because of the matter of Kassel Academy, many families have heard about your situation..."

"I don't really pay attention to what's going on over there. Is it that exaggerated?"

"Well... I'm very happy that the world can re-evaluate Zhuo, but... I also feel disgusted. The same goes for this matter itself. It should be a good thing that the matter has been resolved, but I don't feel happy at all. Even if the premise is that I believe you won't change your mind and fall in love with someone else."

Frankly speaking, Ling also felt the same feelings that Zhuo usually had for her. Although the kind was different, it meant that they both felt jealous.

"I've said this before, Zhuo doesn't understand at all. In fact... I kind of hate showing off your handsome and majestic self to others. Because, Zhuo belongs to me, right?"

Ling's eyes were fixed on the corners of the coffee table. She tried to speak clearly in a somewhat intermittent pace, and she snuggled up to Zhuo, as if to emphasize that this was her partner.

Although he couldn't laugh at the obvious jealousy and possessiveness, Zhuo smiled naturally.

(…This is what it feels like to be loved.)
Zhuo once again realized how pure and huge the love Ling had for him was, and that he also had equally strong feelings for him, which made him feel a little embarrassed.

Although he seemed a little confused, Ling still refused to give in and stuck to Zhuo, while Zhuo stretched out his other hand that was not touched and touched his head.

"Ah~~ Finally this day has come. I was wondering if you would be indifferent to such things as well. How do you think I have been able to survive all these years... First of all, do you want to know that I am more jealous than you think?"

Although Ling may not have much real feeling, Zhuo's jealousy is a little beyond her imagination.

It was just because showing it blatantly would seem too uneasy and childish. It was an unchangeable fact that Ling would become the focus of attention wherever he went, so Zhuo had to accept it and could only complain about it in a relaxed tone.

Of course, he knew in his heart that Zero was not the kind of person who cared about other people's opinions.

Even so, Ling's indifferent gaze still made Zhuo feel concerned. This must be her wife.

This cannot be said.

So, ... even though this isn't very nice ... I still have to say it: finally ... finally I can let this Zero who has always been attracting others try his own feelings.

By the way, even now, Zhuo still feels unhappy when Ling talks to other opposite sexes. If possible, he wants to keep Ling within his reach.

Even if he didn't want to admit it, there was still a kind of unexpressible joy sprouting in Zhuo's heart.

Because it cannot be expressed, if it is expressed it will appear complacent, and be...

"It hurts..."

"Are you happy?"

"I'm not that happy... Anyway! Seeing you attract so much attention all the time makes me more and more anxious. You can understand this feeling, right?"

"……Um."

"So, let's conclude... who told you I was great? It was Yabuki... eh eh eh?"

In order to win back Ling who was about to leave halfway through listening, Zhuo pulled Ling who had already stood up back into his arms, and then hugged the slender body in his arms.

After twisting left and right a few times, Zero relaxed all his strength and leaned against him.

Although he said he was resisting, if he really wanted to escape, he would not have been trapped by Zhuo.

Ling is no longer the indifferent Sanwu. Now she has become what she should be, and she will also feel jealous for Zhuo.

The upward gaze at the chin is full of trust.

In response to her pure and direct love, Zhuoye smiled and kissed her pursed lips, as if to dispel the melancholy in her heart.

He kissed the lips that belonged to him very gently and delicately, as if they were melting. Zero raised his chin as much as he could and closed his eyes.

She actually responded actively to Zhuo's actions.

(Let’s cherish this heartwarming moment today.) Zhuo did not deepen the contact further. He just stayed on the kiss, exchanging the heat of each other with great doting, and stroked her back gently as if to coax her.

Then, Zero slowly parted his lips in confusion.

Her eyes, like those brewing spring water, contained doubts and an expectant longing. She just stared at Zhuo quietly and stubbornly.

It can't be said that he didn't understand. It should be said that it was precisely because Ling had always been reserved, even when doing those things, that Zhuo couldn't be sure.

Before he could ask, Ling slammed his forehead against his chest, so hard that Zhuo seemed to hear a "thump". After lowering her head, her slender fingers grabbed his collar as if she couldn't speak.

"…carry me back to the room…"

Then, Zhuo heard her whispering in his arms.

(End of this chapter)