Zero's face was expressionless.
He skipped over the topic automatically and lowered his head to cook meat in the pot.
Guanliang and Zandar both shut their mouths at the same time.
Judging by this, he clearly didn't want to talk.
Even though Guanliang often grumbled about his former boss in his head, and sometimes even agreed with the nickname Akivili had given him.
In the end, it was nothing more than quiet teasing.
After all, Zero had nothing to do with being some "refined young lady" at all!
With his former boss's terrifying, almost suffocating need for control… would he allow the other half to push things forward and dictate the pace?
Even if boundaries were crossed before marriage, it would only be because he had tacitly permitted it.
Reaching this step meant Zero had already thought everything through and chosen this person.
From here on, was there any option other than marriage?
Zandar was different from Guanliang. He never thought his student had any flaws, nor did he think the other had any need for control.
He believed his student was methodical and well-planned in everything he did.
This had an inseparable connection to Zero's original family.
In Zandar's notes, he had once asked his student what kind of life he wanted.
The student answered that he wanted an ordinary, plain life.
That single sentence let Zandar deduce Zero's family conditions.
What kind of family would raise a child who longed for a simple life instead of pursuing wealth?
In terms of assets, Zero's parents couldn't compare to company shareholders, but they were by no means poor.
And on top of that, the student was so attached to his hometown…
Aside from material conditions, those parents must have given him a great deal of love.
The student was abundantly fulfilled both materially and emotionally.
A family like that would definitely raise a child with good upbringing and a strong sense of responsibility, and would also plan out the most suitable path for their child in advance.
Influenced by that environment, Zero also became someone who did things with clear planning.
For example, dating.
When to get together, how to advance the relationship, when to meet each other's friends and family… every step had to be decided by him.
Even if on the surface the girl took the initiative, without the student's tacit approval, things wouldn't go anywhere.
To sum it up in a popular phrase from the star network, "I have my own rhythm."
Oh, except for crossing the line before marriage.
If the girl took the initiative… the student wouldn't possibly get into a fight over something like that, right? That would be too embarrassing to even say out loud.
Other than taking responsibility and marrying her, what other choice was there?
Zandar put another piece of meat into the pot for Zero, then turned to stare at the steam slowly rising from the hot pot.
He quickly sorted out his thoughts.
Next, Zandar would achieve his goal by "lifting the roof," one step at a time.
First, make the student give up using his own flesh and blood.
Second, while helping him analyze the pros and cons, stall for time.
Zandar didn't like the Xianzhou people, but he had to admit… they could be of some use.
Finally, he would hand the choice back to Zero.
Zandar pulled his thoughts back and, with the calm air of someone experienced, said lightly, "So you broke up, huh. Normal. Who hasn't gone through a breakup?"
Zero didn't respond. He just kept his head down and ate.
Zandar thought for a moment and, in the end, gave his student some face and didn't expose things directly.
"This is very normal. Some people fall for someone new, some would rather stay single than settle, some have serious psychological cleanliness, yearning for a partner who can resonate with their soul, hoping for someone who can accept all their darker sides."
After talking for a while and seeing that Zero still didn't react, Zandar started lifting the roof.
"How about this, I introduce you to a few dozen girls?"
Zero's face turned cold, and he put down his chopsticks.
"I didn't break up. I hate this kind of topic. Don't bring it up again."
Zandar let out an "oh," then very naturally continued lifting the roof, "Then when are you getting married?"
"My personal suggestion is, don't have kids yet. Otherwise, when you go back, you won't be able to explain it to your parents."
Zero suddenly raised his head and looked at Zandar.
Uncertain, he asked, "When you say 'go back,' what do you mean?"
Zandar feigned surprise, "I mean it literally. After all, you left home when you were only fifteen or sixteen. Let me think…"
He pretended to recall. "In the country you were in back then, the legal marriage age for men was twenty. But in your hometown, it's twenty-two. If you go back with a child…"
Zandar showed a troubled expression. "All I can say is… I'll try to persuade your parents to accept that child as soon as possible."
Zero raised a hand to his forehead.
He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.
He tried to control his emotions, but there was still a trace of anger in his voice when he spoke, "How did this turn into a discussion about having kids? Is that even the point?"
"Zandar, what exactly do you mean by going back?"
Guanliang's eyes widened, shock filling his heart.
The conversation between the two in front of him left him completely confused.
But one thing he could be sure of was that their relationship was anything but ordinary.
And also… his boss could actually get angry? And speak to someone in this tone?
Zandar said unhurriedly, "This is a project that I and the members of the 'Genius Club' are participating in together."
Zero held his breath.
He couldn't describe what he was feeling, nor could he detach himself emotionally to judge whether these words were true or false.
Was Zandar deliberately lying to steady him?
Or had he gone through countless cycles and finally turned his luck around, getting what he wanted?
Zero heard himself ask, "What project?"
Zandar smiled.
"It's a confidential internal project."
"You'll only be qualified to know the details if you join the 'Genius Club.'"
Zero lowered his gaze, seeming to think.
Guanliang couldn't sit still anymore.
He had been watching his former boss lose his temper just fine.
How did Zandar turn around and start poaching someone right under the Xianzhou's nose?
Aside from becoming the envoy of the "Reignbow Arbiter," did his former boss even have any other choice?
In a light tone that sounded like he was discussing what to eat tonight, Zandar softly asked, "Do you want to stand alongside me in the first seat, or the eighth seat? The eighteenth seat?"
"I know that in your hometown, the number eight has a very special meaning."
"You might prefer eighty-eight, or eight hundred eighty-eight. Unfortunately, the 'Genius Club' doesn't have that many members… so let's settle for the eighth seat. How about it?"
For the first time, Zero showed an immature, emotional side in front of others.
He frowned tightly, his tone impatient, "…I don't want to do a PhD. I don't want to write papers either."
Zandar thought to himself, 'That's exactly what I was waiting for.'
He chuckled lightly. "No problem. We'll list you as second author on the papers."
"This project, we've named it..."
"'Creation of the Universe.'"
Zero stared at him steadily and asked, "How many experiments have you done?"
Zandar reached out and put an arm around his student's shoulders, sighing, "Too many to count."
"After all… we're not the kind of adults who sit back and comfortably enjoy the efforts of the younger generation."
He turned his head slightly, observing without drawing attention.
Zero's posture had clearly relaxed.
Looks like he only believed about half of it.
Zandar continued, "To be honest, this time is the closest we've come to success. But we're severely understaffed."
"By the time we actually carry out the plan, it'll probably take another few hundred years..."
As if he suddenly thought of something, he paused for a moment, then said with a troubled expression, "Oh, right. There's also the Xianzhou people's 'Mara-struck condition'… I probably won't have time to help you solve it."
"But I do have another solution..."
Zero's expression turned focused as he quietly waited for Zandar's answer.
The scholar gave him a bright, standard eight-tooth smile, but what he said made Zero's heart sink halfway.
"Just read a few dozen PhDs, and you'll completely solve the 'Mara-struck condition.'"
Guanliang, "…"
'Zandar, listen to yourself. Is that something a human would say?'
Zero, "…"
He suddenly felt that he didn't love the Xianzhou people.
At least, he wasn't willing to do a PhD for them.