Chapter 11: Deception
The weather in the East Island has been particularly gloomy in recent days, but not a drop of rain has fallen, and the heavens seem to be suppressing their emotions and waiting for an appropriate moment to fully vent them.
ZERO WANDERS ALONE IN THE GRASS, HIS UNCLE WHO HAS BEEN WITH HIM HAS LONG SINCE DIED, ALTHOUGH THE TORSO IS STILL THERE AND HAS NOT BEEN CUT DOWN, BUT ITS LONELY APPEARANCE ONLY MAKES PEOPLE FEEL MORE SAD, AND ZERO SUBCONSCIOUSLY STAYS AWAY FROM THERE.
The weather was bad, but the temperature didn't get cold. On the contrary, some of them are more muscular, which makes ZERO's usually cheerful and optimistic mood worse. Candy and picture albums didn't make him feel better.
"What are you doing?" said a kind voice, and ZERO's face became much happier when he heard this.
"GRANDPA!" ZERO EXCLAIMED, AND RAN TO PROFESSOR SIMON NOT FAR AWAY.
Professor Simon was dressed as usual, but with an extra pair of glasses on the bridge of his nose, making him look more like a scholar.
PROFESSOR SIMON SMILED AND PINCHED ZERO'S FACE AND SAID, "WHO BULLIED OUR LITTLE ZERO?" β
ZERO SHOOK HIS HEAD AND SAID, "NO ONE BULLIED ME, IT'S JUST THAT I'M A LITTLE BORING ALONE." "ZERO doesn't use the word boring to express his emotions just yet.
"Haha, I see. It seems that our ZERO is lacking a little partner, this matter is on grandpa, I'll find you a little friend these days. As he spoke, Professor Simon's gaze was hidden in the reflected light of his eyes.
ZERO hesitated for a moment, then shook his head slightly, and said to Professor Simon, "Grandpa, I'm thinking about Thirteen a little. β
"Oh?" Professor Simon said with an intriguing look on his face, "I heard that your meeting was not pleasant before, it seems that something terrible has happened, have you forgotten?"
ZERO BIT HIS LOWER LIP AND SHOOK HIS HEAD.
"Aren't you afraid, then?" Professor Simon continued.
ZERO SHOOK HIS HEAD AGAIN.
"Why, then?" Professor Simon handed over the interpretation to the other party.
ZERO THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT AND SAID, "Shouldn't friends learn to forgive each other before?"
A smile appeared on Professor Simon's face, then he nodded and asked, "Where did you know this?"
ZERO SAID, "IT'S GRANDPA, THE TRUTH IN THE STORY YOU TOLD ME BEFORE, HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN?"
Professor Simon raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Roar, yes, I really forgot about this, it seems that grandpa is really old and has become an old fool." ZERO LAUGHED STUPIDLY.
PROFESSOR SIMON STROKED THE TOP OF ZERO'S HEAD WITH HIS PALM AND SAID, "GRANDPA IS VERY PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE SUCH A HEART, YOU HAVE SUCH A MANLY BEARING SINCE YOU WERE A CHILD, AND YOU WILL DEFINITELY BECOME A GREAT HERO WHEN YOU GROW UP." LISTENING TO PROFESSOR SIMON'S COMPLIMENT, ZERO WAS EVEN MORE HAPPY, AND HE FELT THAT WHAT HE HAD JUST SAID AND DONE WAS EXTREMELY CORRECT.
Professor Simon continued, "But the situation has been a bit special lately, as you can see, Thirteen has become very emotionally unstable for some reason, and needs our treatment so that she can regain her original lovely Thirteen. β
"IS SHE SICK AGAIN?" ASKED ZERO, PUZZLED.
"Pretty much. β
ZERO frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Thirteen's health has not been good, I have been sick since I met her, grandpa, you must cure her this time." Tell Thirteen for me that no matter how bitter the pill is, he must be brave enough to eat it, so that he can get better faster. β
"Haha, I will. Professor Simon smiled heartily.
ZERO's gaze also looked at the gray building in the distance, silently praying for Thirteen.
Through the lenses, Professor Simon's eyes flashed with a trace of unbearability, but in the end, he covered up this emotion.
The time has come when it has to be done.
"ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT THERE?" PROFESSOR SIMON ASKED SUDDENLY, AT ZERO.
ZERO NODDED HEAVILY WHEN HE HEARD THIS, "THERE... It looks a little strange. β
"Oh, why do you say that?" Professor Simon said.
"The last time I went to see Thirteen, I went in and it always felt like it was... There... It's uncomfortable. AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME, ZERO FINALLY CAME UP WITH ANOTHER VAGUE WORD.
And this vague word is indeed extraordinarily accurate from an objective point of view.
When Professor Simon heard this, he couldn't help but marvel at the child's innocent sensitivity and intuition.
"SO DO YOU WANT TO TRY TO LIVE THERE FOR A WHILE?" PROFESSOR SIMON WHISPERED IN ZERO'S EAR, LIKE A SNAKE TEMPTING ADAM TO EAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL.
There was a hint of embarrassment in ZERO's eyes when he heard this, for a naΓ―ve child, living in a place where he didn't feel comfortable was not a happy thing. However, he did not refuse, and a thought loomed in his heart.
Naturally, his thoughts could not escape Professor Simon's eyes, and the purity of the adult who was good at people's hearts was at a glance at this moment.
"That's where Thirteen lives. PROFESSOR SIMON WHISPERED WHAT ZERO WAS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT. Sure enough, ZERO's face immediately changed when he heard this.
And that's just the beginning.
"Thirteen was lonely there. Professor Simon continued, now he was already confident, but perhaps because of some desire to perform, he was already saying the lines he had prepared.
"There are a lot of kids there, but I don't have a good relationship with Thirteen, and she may only have a friend like you. β
ZERO did not question Professor Simon's statement, on the one hand, the naivety of being young was on the one hand, and on the other hand, Thirteen also said more than once that he only had one friend, ZERO.
"She needs a lot of help now, not just us, but probably her friends. β
"GRANDPA, I'M GOING THERE!" ZERO SAID IN A LOUD VOICE, HIS EYES REVEALING A BIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
"Don't worry about the discomfort there?" Professor Simon questioned ZERO instead.
"Hehe, no, didn't grandpa say that I was a hero, I believe in grandpa the most. ZERO SAID INNOCENTLY AND HEARTILY, BUT PROFESSOR SIMON'S FACE FROZE WHEN HE HEARD THIS, AND HE BECAME VERY UGLY.
"Grandpa, where are we going?" said that, ZERO was a little eager to try.
"Tomorrow. Professor Simon said slowly.
"Okay, then tomorrow. ZERO ASKED SENSIBLY, BUT THE LOOK OF EXCITEMENT ON HIS FACE WAS PALPABLE.
This caused Professor Simon's face to look pained.
For a moment, Professor Simon was really trying to stop ZERO, but things were already going in his unpredictable direction, and he wanted to completely control the situation, but he couldn't do enough.
WATCHING ZERO RUN AROUND THE GRASS AT A FASTER PACE BROUGHT UP PROFESSOR SIMON'S NEGATIVITY, BUT IT WAS EVENTUALLY SUBTLY SUPPRESSED.
"I'm sorry ZERO, forgive me. Professor Simon whispered to himself, as if he were making the most devout confession to the heavens.