I think it's about time I made my stance clear.

"I understand everything now. I'd like to share some of my thoughts, if that's okay?" I asked.

"Of course. What do you want to say, Brother Zhuang Cheng?" Little Bowl said.

"Personally, I don't think love is like tangible matter, something that must follow the law of conservation. Rather, it's like Mana, free and unfettered; no matter how much more you like someone, your original feelings aren't split in half," I said. "To put it another way, it's like someone who loves drinking Coke; even if they also start liking Sprite, their love for Coke won't be halved. So theoretically, loving Mazao and loving Zhu Shi at the same time isn't impossible."

"Theoretically?" Little Bowl mused.

Zhu Shi immediately pointed out, "But even if emotions aren't halved, time and energy in reality are limited. If your attention shifts more toward one person, the attention toward another will decrease. The time spent alone with one person will be divided, and if you try to split your time between two, the accompanied person may develop opinions."

"I don't mind." Mazao said.

"I don't mind either." I said.

"Come on, Mazao, have an opinion for once. Besides, isn't this something Brother Zhuang shouldn't be saying?" Zhu Shi remarked.

"However, Zhu Shi does have a point. If I end up trying to balance two relationships, things will inevitably become unequal between us. This has always been the case; I have possessiveness over Mazao, while Mazao just wants to give herself to me. If I were to think from Mazao's perspective, having another man besides myself is something I absolutely couldn't bear. Yet here I am, doing unto others what I wouldn't want done to myself," I said.

"Exactly. Even if Brother Zhuang eventually decides not to fall in love with me as Little Bowl suggested, merely following the original plan of marrying and starting a family with me is already a physical betrayal... Although it's problematic for me, the 'betrayer,' to say this, isn't this a double standard?" Zhu Shi said.

"Even knowing it's a double standard, I wouldn't correct it. Double standard or not, I'd directly tell those around me that I am one. Doing unto others what I wouldn't want done to myself is something I've done before, never taking it to heart," I said.

"No, you should take it to heart!" Zhu Shi shouted.

Little Bowl questioned, "So... what exactly are you trying to convey, Brother Zhuang Cheng? It seems to me you're agreeing with my proposal but maybe have some unsaid objections?"

"It's not an objection. In fact, I also think the idea of three people together is logical. Mazao wishes for me to love Zhu Shi too, while Zhu Shi seems to be negating this more out of common sense than an inner rejection of the relationship..." I said, glancing at Zhu Shi.

Zhu Shi hesitated slightly before nodding, "I don't dislike being with Brother Zhuang and Mazao; I just wish Brother Zhuang would give all his love to Mazao rather than sharing it with me, who can't reciprocate the same love..."

Little Bowl corrected, "After I fulfill my mission, just like Zhu Jiu's soul will return, your lost feelings of romance will also return. So you don't need to worry about that."

"...Is that so?" Zhu Shi seemed to begrudgingly accept.

Most importantly, she understood perfectly—if unable to cooperate with Little Bowl to complete the mission, Zhu Jiu would never return.

In reality, Zhu Shi could only act according to Little Bowl's statements.

And I continued, "What I truly want to say is, I might not be able to do it."

"Not able to do what?" Little Bowl paused.

"Mazao has given all her feelings to me, so it's difficult for me not to give all my feelings to Mazao," I said.

Little Bowl asked skeptically, "But Brother Zhuang Cheng, didn't you say earlier that even if you developed feelings for Zhu Shi, your feelings for Sister Mazao wouldn't decrease? Why now does it seem that once you give all your feelings to Sister Mazao, it's hard to share them with Zhu Shi? Isn't this illogical?"

"Indeed, it's illogical. So actually, I don't have a clear explanation myself. I'm not saying it because I believe in some law of conservation or equality... it's just that it feels like this is how things should be," I said sincerely.

Could it be that within me there still resides a romantic fantasy of ideal love? Or is it that though I claim I want to be a straightforward double standard-bearer, I unconsciously yearn to be recognized as a gentleman of integrity?

Or is this simply the expected mental state when truly in love with someone?

Little Bowl lowered her head in thought, seemingly understanding something, her furrowed brow relaxing.

"I understand," she said, "In short, Brother Zhuang Cheng isn't saying he doesn't want to or thinks he shouldn't, just that he feels he can't, right?"

"That's correct." I said.

"Then it's simple!" Little Bowl smiled, "Since Brother Zhuang Cheng can't naturally develop feelings for Zhu Shi, we'll just need to cultivate them through 'some methods'."

Zhu Shi, seemingly sensing something bad, possibly due to the previous conversations that defied common sense, asked nervously, "What... do you mean by 'some methods'?"

I was also curious to see what kind of solution Little Bowl's extraordinary wisdom would yield.

Taking a deep breath, Little Bowl voiced her wise conclusion, "—It's 'lust,' of course!"

"What!?" Zhu Shi was left speechless.

"The feelings between men and women are just a mix of friendship and desire..." Little Bowl said with a tone of explaining a truth, "Since ancient times, sex and love have been inseparable holy entities. Love can give rise to desire, and desire can also give rise to love.

"Just like how theory can guide practice and practice can feedback into theory, practice is also a crucial part of a relationship.

"If you want Brother Zhuang Cheng to fall in love with you, then you must engage in practical activities with him."

"Practical activities!?" Zhu Shi's eyes were so confused they seemed like they would turn into mosquito coils.

"There's no need to be so shocked." Little Bowl said with heartfelt sincerity, "Since you cannot achieve Sister Mazao's emotional prowess by taking a detour, you can only make full use of your ample university girl physique."

"Fortunately, this is also the part that Sister Mazao is currently lacking, and you can fill this gap. Brother Zhuang Cheng is still very young. As long as you become his first practical activity partner, you will undoubtedly leave an everlasting imprint on his heart, and feelings will flow from this imprint like an endless spring.

"I know for someone as pure-hearted as you, this is undoubtedly a face-reddening battle plan, but if you don't practice before Sister Mazao is fully developed, there won't be another chance. You don't want to end up like the childhood friend character in romance comics who doesn't accomplish anything in ten years, right? Acting like a shameless beast and consuming the one you desire entirely is what you should do as soon as possible!"

"Childhood friend... failure..." Zhu Shi's gaze unintentionally drifted to Zhu Jiu lying on the bed.

And Mazao seemed to recall something, "Speaking of which, we seem to have done something similar before..."

I also remembered, Zhu Shi casually suggested that since she would eventually marry and have children with me, why not practice first to dispel any fear; more importantly, to prevent me from making any moves on Mazao before she grew up, I could vent accumulated desires on her instead.

Later, she got cold feet and decided to start from the initial stage and gradually get adapted.

Little Bowl curiously asked Mazao and, after getting an explanation, muttered, "I see, last time it was intimate touches... So what's the next stage, have you decided?"

Mazao earnestly replied, "It's kissing."

Little Bowl slowly glanced at Zhu Shi.

Zhu Shi made a strange whimper, hurriedly saying, "Wait, hold on... My mom—my mom who's in a vegetative state is still lying there! Isn't doing this here too disrespectful? At least... at least change to another place...!"

Little Bowl said solemnly, "It's alright, Zhu Jiu won't mind. I can guarantee on her behalf and witness what happens next."

"But... but..." Zhu Shi seemed to be racking her brain for an excuse, "That's it! I only brushed my teeth when I got up this morning, and now it's already afternoon, I had breakfast and lunch in between, so my mouth should have a taste..."

"Is that the only thing you're worried about?" Mazao understandingly said, "Don't worry, I'll use the Power of Return to reset your mouth to the state it was right after you brushed your teeth this morning."

"Even so..."

Zhu Shi, at the end of her rope, unable to find an escape route, loudly called for external support: "Grandpa, Grandpa! You must be able to hear us here, right? Quickly help your granddaughter!"

We didn't make any effort to keep our conversation private. Mr. Zhu, being an achieved level member of Evil and in the villa with us, could definitely hear everything we were saying.

In response to the plea for help from his beloved granddaughter, Mr. Zhu outside the bedroom did not give any verbal response; instead, he did something that added insult to injury.

Click.

The sound of the bedroom door being locked suddenly echoed.

"Grandpa!?" Zhu Shi's face was full of surprise and betrayal.

I felt it was necessary to bring closure to this increasingly chaotic situation with brave actions. Besides, as a man, I believed that I had to take the initiative in such matters. This was something decided long ago, not today. After all, we're going to get married and have children eventually, today shouldn't make much of a difference.

So, I took a step towards Zhu Shi.

Having seen this, Zhu Shi hurriedly retreated to the corner, her body seeming to lose strength unintentionally as she slowly slid against the wall, sitting down.

"Um... Senior Brother Zhuang?" she said weakly, "Let's talk... let's talk this out..."

Little Bowl's encouraging voice rang not far away, "Brother Zhuang Cheng! Don't forget to use your tongue!"

Mazao touched her lips, looking between me and Zhu Shi, seemingly imagining something.

As I approached step by step, with the light from the bedroom behind me, my shadow engulfed Zhu Shi. Her gaze gradually tilted upward, looking at my face in trepidation. I also felt an indescribable tension, holding firm to avoid letting her see through.

I slowly lowered one knee, propping a hand against the wall. My palm touched the wall beside Zhu Shi's cheek, unintentionally trapping her there. She seemed to realize this, her face flushing red, she stopped struggling, her whole body stiffening as if accepting fate, she slowly closed her eyes.

The distance between our lips narrowed until it reached zero.

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