Zero did not see Daiyang or Chanzhen anywhere, and immediately understood.
Looking down, he saw that the other end was firmly held in Jingliu's hand.
Zero moved his left wrist, instinctively wanting to break free from the restraint.
But Jingliu was not his enemy.
She was his lover.
The person closest to him in this world.
Suppressing his instinct to resist, Zero stopped moving.
He raised his eyes toward Jingliu. She was staring fixedly at the military dress uniform he was wearing.
Zero blinked slowly.
He lightly shook his wrist, a trace of amusement in his voice.
"Where did you get this?"
Jingliu stared at the waist outlined by the belt.
She had seen Zero long ago.
Unfortunately, when they met in Zhizhong Grove, she was still young, just an ordinary student.
She had only seen his back and part of his profile.
And now, the person who had once been surrounded and followed by countless people was standing right in front of her.
If nothing unexpected had happened back then...
She would have met him earlier under the introduction of General Cangcheng.
Jingliu's gaze slowly moved upward, from the intricate cufflinks, to the aiguillette on his right chest, and finally to the shoulder insignia that marked his status.
Zero did not want to reveal his identity. When they officially held the wedding, he might replace the insignia.
Jingliu slowly raised her eyes to meet his.
"The Ten-Lords Commission."
Zero raised his right hand and held Jingliu's chin.
Pinching her cheek lightly with his fingertips, he teased, "Well then, as a Cloud Knight, you actually dared to steal something from the Ten-Lords Commission."
Hearing this, Jingliu followed along and deliberately put on her usual cold expression, taking on the arrogant attitude of someone abusing their authority.
Lifting her chin slightly, she asked confidently, "So what?"
Zero loosened his grip and gently brushed her cheek instead.
"Knowing the law and breaking it. That's an extra charge."
Jingliu chuckled.
"Breaking the law?"
She tapped his chest with a fingertip and slowly approached him.
The two of them reached the sofa, and she pressed a hand against Zero's shoulder.
Jingliu wasn't using much force. Zero could easily have broken free.
But he cooperated and sat down on the sofa.
Jingliu looked down at him from above.
Zero should have been forced to look up at her because of their height difference, yet his expression remained unchanged. He continued looking at her with the calm gaze she had seen countless times before.
His posture was relaxed, completely at ease.
As though every move Jingliu made was already within his expectations.
As though he was the one in control.
Instead, it made Jingliu seem like the disadvantaged side.
She couldn't help wondering.
How could she make the person before her show more expressions?
The thought flashed through Jingliu's mind.
She steadied herself and sat on his lap.
Zero's body stiffened, and his breathing clearly faltered for a moment.
The corners of Jingliu's lips curved upward.
She really had been led astray by Zero.
At this moment, she actually wanted to see more expressions from him.
Jingliu lowered her head and gently left a kiss.
At the same time, her left hand rested on Zero's shoulder while her right hand tightly gripped the handcuffs.
Her left hand slowly moved downward, from his shoulder to his forearm.
Just as Jingliu was about to grab his wrist, Zero chuckled and said, "That's a bit much."
The world spun.
The situation completely reversed.
The sound of metal clashing rang out once more.
Jingliu lay on the sofa and instinctively turned her right wrist.
Zero took the opportunity to interlock his fingers with hers.
Lowering himself, he looked directly into her eyes, his tone carrying a hint of complaint.
"One hand was enough."
"Why are you pushing your luck?"
Zero seemed to think for a moment.
"Let me see... How long does a public servant who attacks an innocent civilian stay in the Ten-Lords Commission?"
Jingliu patiently asked, "Then what should I do to avoid prison?"
After thinking for a moment and organizing their previous conversation, Zero worked out the next part of the script.
"I'm going to interrogate you."
In an instant, Jingliu gained the upper hand again.
She couldn't be bothered to keep following Zero's script.
Looking down at him, Jingliu undid the button at her collar with one hand.
The military dress uniform's design was too complicated. After several seconds, she had only managed to unfasten it down to the chest.
Zero raised a hand to stop her and asked in feigned confusion, "Someone took off my clothes before..."
"And then immediately told me not to catch a cold."
"What are you trying to do now?"
Jingliu knew Zero had a mischievous side.
Like pretending not to understand right now.
His goal was obviously to make Jingliu say those embarrassing words herself.
How could she fall for that?
Jingliu glanced at him and said coolly, "Breaking the law."
Zero, "..."
'Why aren't you following the script?'
He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Holding back a smile, Jingliu kept moving.
She listed her so-called crimes one by one.
"Using abominations to threaten innocent civilians."
"Tricking an innocent civilian into marrying me."
"Using my position to privately keep an item from the Ten-Lords Commission."
"As a Cloud Knight, attacking an innocent civilian."
"Have I broken few Xianzhou laws?"
Jingliu pulled open the military dress uniform. Her gaze shifted downward, her tone meaningful.
"Now..."
"I don't mind adding one more crime."
Zero pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Jingliu reached out and deliberately lifted his chin in a frivolous manner.
"Last night, through the jade abacus, you called me Sister."
"Why won't you call me that now that you're seeing me in person?"
Zero hesitated.
Last night, he had told Jingliu that he would not skip a single step.
This was completely different from the situation he had imagined.
They were supposed to do more intimate things only after officially holding their wedding.
Was he going to break his promise now?
But he had also promised Jingliu that he would fulfill all of his lover's wishes.
Zero's thoughts were like the ball of yarn Chiyu had played with, tangled in every direction. One moment he was recalling the results of last night's experiment, the next he was considering an auspicious wedding date in the near future.
After hesitating for a moment, he made a decision and softly said, "...Jingliu, can we go somewhere else?"
Jingliu firmly held his wrist.
"No."
She lowered her head.
Only after their breathing had become slightly uneven did she pull back a little.
Zero gently turned his wrist, only for Jingliu to stop him again.
Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "You're holding my hand down."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
Jingliu turned her head and lightly bit the tip of his ear.
"You don't need to do anything."
Zero pulled back again and stared at Jingliu's face.
"Then teach me?"
He watched as his lover's cheeks gradually turned red.
Not willing to miss a single expression, his gaze never shifted away.
Only when Jingliu's eyes began to wander did a glimmer flash through his eyes, and he softly added the form of address she liked most.
"Sister?"
Jingliu said nothing.
The kiss she gave him was fiercer.
———
Zero removed the restraint from his left wrist and fastened it onto the wrist of the culprit.
Chuckling softly, he said, "Now... returned to its rightful owner."
Zero raised a hand and brushed aside the messy strands of hair around Jingliu's ears. His tone was gentle as he said, "You can tell me to stop at any time."