Hua said expressionlessly, "I told you, I will not get married."
Zero sat back down, his attitude extremely perfunctory.
"Alright alright alright."
Kids are like that, always changing their minds. Maybe one day Hua will change hers.
Zero continued, "Also, in the future, don't wear clothes this revealing in public. It's not appropriate."
"In private, wear whatever you like, but pay attention to the occasion."
"Have you ever seen anyone attend an interstellar conference dressed like this?"
Hua thought, 'Isn't this the dress you gave me?!'
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions.
Seeing this, Guanliang quickly spoke up to comfort his future boss.
"Alright, why bother arguing with him?"
Hua nodded with restrained patience.
"Fine, I agree. In exchange, I'll choose my third gift myself, how about that?"
Zero did not agree. Instead, he asked with interest, "What do you want?"
During these eight years, Zero never had to worry about Hua's food, clothing, or daily life.
Hua performed excellently. She was sensible and very easy to take care of.
Of course, having an easy successor did not mean Zero ignored her. No matter how busy he was, he tried to make time to accompany her.
He once had quite a headache over his successor's education.
Too sensible actually gave him a headache.
After going through parenting books on the market and consulting Zandar, Zero finally formed a set of educational ideas.
Age or gender should not restrict a child.
Zero occasionally brought up topics that were not age-appropriate.
For example, discussing future partner requirements with a minor, or asking an Aeon to personally deal with scum.
Thinking back now… he probably just could not let go.
Zero pulled his thoughts back.
He was very curious.
Curious what request his successor, who had never asked him for anything, would make.
Hua replied, "Feather Dust."
As soon as she said this, those who knew froze.
Guanliang and Lan looked quietly at the marshal without speaking.
Zero blinked slowly and smiled as he met Hua's gaze.
He subconsciously wanted to raise his hand and rub her head, but since he had already placed the crown on her earlier, he had to withdraw his hand.
Then Zero shook his head lightly and laughed, his tone gentle,
"My successor, during these eight years, haven't I cared enough about you?"
One god and two people felt struck by lightning, their expressions blank.
The Aeon did not understand, but was deeply shocked.
When the marshal makes a move… truly, ordinary people, no, even Aeons cannot compete.
Guanliang stared blankly.
'It's over! The boss found a new way to mess with people again!'
Zero stared at his successor without blinking, taking in her nearly collapsing expression.
He spoke slowly, "Haven't I loved you enough? Haven't we given you enough love? Why do you want 'Feather Dust'? How could your third gift even compare to it?"
"Trust me, the surprise I prepared for you will definitely be a gift you'll never forget in your life..."
Zero smiled. His tone was exaggerated like an opera performer, as if overflowing with emotion.
Only Lan and Guanliang knew this was just the marshal's bad taste.
He simply did not want to hand "Feather Dust" to Hua, so he deliberately changed the topic.
Sure enough, Hua was so stunned by these words that her mind went blank, completely forgetting about "Feather Dust."
She took a deep breath, smoothed her skirt, and stood up.
Zero's expression changed slightly. "You're… going where?"
Hua replied blankly, "Next is the graduation dance."
Zero frowned slightly.
Seriously, he deliberately chose a trailing dress that made movement inconvenient, and she still planned to dance with that blond guy?
Hua could not help sighing.
Her guardian must be thinking about that blond guy again.
What could Hua do? Of course, use real action to break his unrealistic thoughts.
She extended her hand in invitation, imitating the male partner from her elective class, and said to Zero, "May I ask, would you like to dance with me?"
Zero turned to look at Lan.
Lan, "…I don't know how."
Zero turned again to look at Guanliang.
Guanliang thought, a daughter's first dance with her father sounds perfectly reasonable.
It was just that this father and daughter were awkward and had never openly acknowledged their relationship.
If he said it directly… the marshal would definitely get angry from embarrassment and mess with him again.
Oh, and dancing might get photographed. The guards would have to work harder.
Guanliang immediately used the same excuse as the Aeon.
"I don't know how either."
With no other choice, Zero could only step onto the dance floor with Hua.
Hua said in surprise, "Didn't expect you could..."
Her words stopped abruptly as she slowly looked down at the foot that had almost been stepped on.
Zero reacted quickly and stepped slightly back.
He said very confidently, "I can't, but it's fine. I'll learn quickly."
Hua's expression was hard to describe.
After years together, she quickly adjusted her mood and calmly said, "It's alright. I'll teach you."
Soon, her guardian caught up with her steps, his movements becoming more skilled.
Hua raised an eyebrow and teased, "Seems like you have talent."
Zero smiled but said nothing.
He first thought of Zandar.
That scholar loved formal wear and always added accessories at the collar and cuffs.
Compared with a knowledgeable scholar, Zandar looked more like an elegant gentleman ready to attend a banquet anytime.
As his student, being good at ballroom dancing was perfectly normal.
Zero had no talent, but he had lived long enough and learned enough things.
'Muscle memory, maybe?'
While thinking casually, he followed Hua's steps.
Hua suddenly said, "My classmates asked about your identity. They asked if you're my brother."
Zero shook his head.
"No. We are guardian and ward."
He paused, bringing up a conversation from long ago.
"You said before you don't have a father like me, and I said I don't have a child like you."
Hua froze for quite a while. Only when the music ended did she dig that conversation out of her memory.
'How many years ago was that?! And you still remember?! That's seriously holding a grudge!'
Hua said irritably, "I really don't know who could tolerate your personality..."
Zero thought, those who cannot tolerate his personality either died or stayed by his side.
He shifted the topic again to Hua's future partner.
Reluctantly, Zero lowered his standards.
"If you can accept your child inheriting your partner's flaws."
"Then be together."
Hua's mouth twitched. Just as she was about to speak, her guardian changed topics again, almost like talking to himself, mentioning Cangcheng.
"The 'Plague of Longevity' is too unpleasant to look at. It must be handled as soon as possible."
"The process carries some risk. They must evacuate from Cangcheng."
"Also, our Xianzhou researchers are physically weak. They can't compare with envoys empowered by Aeons. Better seek help from the 'Genius Society.'"
The more Hua listened, the more something felt off.
Her guardian did not sound like he was talking to himself. More like… giving instructions to her?
Hua looked at him in disbelief.
Zero smiled, took two glasses of non-alcoholic champagne from the champagne tower, and handed one to Hua.
He spoke earnestly, "My successor, you guessed right. This is your task."
Hua, "..."
Hua graduated early, yet felt none of the joy a graduate should have.
Because of one sentence from her guardian, she was forced to start work early.
Meanwhile, Zero happily approved a long leave for himself in the Xianzhou office system.
Guanliang handed over the identity documents he had prepared earlier, along with a matching jade communicator, to Zero.
According to his boss's idea, the new identity was named Eric.
As for the remaining details… Guanliang improvised.
Thus, the marshal transformed into an eighteen-year-old young man from a Xianzhou affiliated planet who had not yet graduated.
To avoid being messed with, Guanliang did not restrict his spending.
The boss did not care about such details. He just glanced at it briefly, then took the overworked Hua to Xuling, arriving at that little-known pocket realm formed by the power of the "Reignbow Arbiter."
Soon, the two returned to Yaoqing again.
The marshal officially scheduled the Cangcheng matter, and the generals had no objections.
This time, the boss would take the Aeon and Hua to Cangcheng, while Guanliang stayed in Yaoqing.
———
The night before departure, the marshal once again stood by Guanliang's bedside.
Just like when they first met, the idiotic boss showed up uninvited.
He looked at Guanliang with almost pity, as if looking at someone terminally ill and close to death.
His hand loosely gripped Guanliang's neck.
Guanliang, "..."
He lowered his head with difficulty, staring at that hand, with only one thought in mind.
'Seriously, are you sick?!'
[🎉 Shoutout to Quinton for joining p@treon. Thank you very much.🤗]
[T/N: I am really sorry for forgetting to post these last 2 days. I have posted them today. Next time, just comment me to post the chapter if I don't post by 00:45. Because I schedule for that exact time everyday. Enjoy~]