The highest level of brainwashing is the world’s original worldview. Once this concept becomes an established rule, any behavior that does not conform to the original worldview will appear abnormal.
For A-Xing at present, even if Gu Qingze made him kneel outside all night, A-Xing wouldn’t think anything of it, because he would first look for reasons within himself, given that Gu Qingze was the Lord he recognized in his current understanding.
Gu Qingze’s infinitesimal bit of kindness would be magnified countless times in A-Xing’s eyes simply because he had never seen a bug like this before.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a single beam onto the floor. Gu Qingze’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as he slowly opened his eyes.
After checking his physical condition, he thought: Ah, I have strength back. Not bad!
The moment he turned his head, he spotted A-Xing huddled by the bedside.
His short blue hair rested in an obedient mess, and those soul-stirring eyes hadn’t opened yet.
Why were they soul-stirring? Because Gu Qingze had discovered that whenever those eyes looked at him unblinkingly, filled entirely with him, his heartbeat would turn abnormal—so abnormal that he felt like running straight to the cardiology department.
Gu Qingze mentally slapped himself across the face, fiercely despising his own superficial, looks-obsessed mindset.
Just as Gu Qingze moved to roll over, A-Xing, who had been sleeping right beside the bed, woke up instantly.
“My Lord, you are awake?”
“How are you feeling?”
“Are you feeling any better? Would you like some water?”
This rapid-fire string of questions caused Gu Qingze’s half-completed rollover to freeze mid-motion. He looked down and scanned himself up and down, thinking that he surely wasn’t on the verge of death yet.
His expression once again resumed its habitual indifference. “A-Xing, step outside for a moment.”
“My Lor—” Hearing this, the words A-Xing originally wanted to say gradually faded into silence. He lowered his gaze, his pale violet eyes growing dim once more.
“Alright, my Lord.”
The soft sound of the bedroom door closing reached his ears, and Gu Qingze massaged his temples. What kind of mess is this?
He then quickly rolled out of bed—he couldn’t hold it in any longer; after having a few bags of IV fluids and waking up early in the morning, he was in quite a rush.
After finishing his business, Gu Qingze washed up, looked at his handsome face in the mirror with a nod, and then spat out his mouthfoam and rinsed his mouth. He unlocked his phone and opened that novel app once again.
There was a section he forgot to read properly yesterday, so today he needed to check it more carefully—specifically regarding how A-Xing died and transmigrated over to his side.
Perhaps he could even find a way to send him back.
To his utter astonishment, however, the book he had pinned to the top of his list just yesterday was now completely untraceable!
Gu Qingze furrowed his brow. How could it just vanish?
He checked his history records and thoroughly searched through every single book on his bookshelf, yet he found nothing at all. Even searching the book title and keywords in the browser yielded zero results!
That book had appeared out of thin air and vanished into thin air?
That was deeply unsettling! Goosebumps broke out all over Gu Qingze’s body. He immediately dialed Assistant Su to instruct him to strengthen the firewalls across all company products, especially his own!
Gu Qingze was entirely certain his memory wasn’t playing tricks on him—some unknown force was manipulating his phone.
Deeply unsettling indeed.
Gu Qingze only complained inwardly for a brief moment before straightening his attire. Dressed once again in a tailored black suit, he stepped out of his room and instantly spotted A-Xing standing by the doorway.
The step he had just taken paused imperceptibly for a fraction of a second before he continued forward.
Now was the time for breakfast.
A-Xing blinked, lowered his gaze, and wondered: Did I do something wrong? Why does the Lord look even colder than yesterday?
“Mr. Gu, this morning’s breakfast is ready. Please enjoy your meal,” a kind-looking middle-aged woman said softly.
Gu Qingze nodded and responded with a brief, “Mhm.”
Receiving his reply, the woman smiled faintly and withdrew from the dining hall.
Gu Qingze leisurely enjoyed his breakfast while noticing that A-Xing was still standing nearby with his head bowed, looking like he was standing in punishment to reflect on his mistakes.
After muttering a silent string of complaints in his mind, Gu Qingze finally spoke up. “Sit down. I have some things to discuss with you after the meal.”
Hearing this, A-Xing blinked, lifted his head, and said earnestly, “My Lord, eating together does not conform to the rules.”
What kind of rules are you talking about? In my house, I am the rules!
After mentally refuting this in his mind, Gu Qingze maintained his detached expression on the outside and said coldly, “I do not like repeating myself.”
Hearing this, A-Xing pressed his lips together and obediently sat down beside Gu Qingze.
He cautiously scooped up the vegetable and lean-pork porridge in his bowl. At first, he ate very gingerly, but after taking a couple of bites, his pace quickly picked up.
Gu Qingze watched with a blank expression as A-Xing polished off three bowls of porridge in one go, his eyelids twitching—it wasn’t like he was abusing this guy.
Gu Qingze finished his meal with elegant poise. The food on the table had been completely swept clean, whereas he had only eaten a single bowl of porridge.
Feeling a stomach that was only half-full, Gu Qingze shot a hostile glance at A-Xing. Noticing this, A-Xing curved his eyes into a warm smile, looked at Gu Qingze, and obediently called out, “My Lord.”
Seeing this, Gu Qingze immediately withdrew his gaze. Forget it, there’s no use arguing with this non-human fellow.
“Come here.”
Gu Qingze smoothed down his clothes, walked over to the living room sofa, and sat down.
A-Xing walked over, and when Gu Qingze pointed at the sofa opposite him, A-Xing understood, walked over, and took a seat.
“I am not your partner, nor am I this ‘Lord’ you keep talking about.” Gu Qingze’s opening statement was blunt.
Hearing this, A-Xing met Gu Qingze’s exceptionally cold gaze. His heart trembled slightly, and a forced smile hung on his face. “How could that be? My Lord, you are just teasing A-Xing, right?”
“You are a member of the Bug Race, correct?” Gu Qingze asked unhurriedly, his tone entirely devoid of fluctuation.
“Yes.” A-Xing didn’t understand why Gu Qingze was asking this, but he nodded obediently anyway.
“I am a member of the Human Race. We are not the same species, and this is the human world. You simply stumbled into this spacetime domain by accident.” Gu Qingze never imagined he would have to explain something so fantastical. Feeling a bit like a chunibyo, Gu Qingze quietly rubbed his fingertips together to ease the unknown awkwardness.
A-Xing’s first reaction upon hearing this was disbelief. He was just about to retort when he suddenly thought of all the strange people and unknown items he had seen and experienced over the past two days. Words lingered on his lips, but he didn’t know what else to say.
Gu Qingze waited quietly without rushing him.
After a long while, a clear and pleasant voice finally drifted over, seemingly carrying a trace of a tiny tremor. “B-But… I remember you are my Lord, and we have been married for over a month.”
Gu Qingze let out a soft internal sigh. Child, if you’re this gullible, you’re going to get yourself scammed easily.
“Memories are not always true. Leaving aside the fact that our species are completely different, just look at how you’ve lived here these past two days. The confusion you’ve shown has already proven that everything here contradicts the common sense stored in your subconscious. Your instincts have been leading you astray.”
To this, A-Xing had no argument. He indeed felt that way. Even though it was only a slight inkling at first, under Gu Qingze’s explanation, that sensation seemed to grow much stronger.