Absolute Expectation

[Finding similarities in a crowd, so I can glimpse your shadow]

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Also known as The Scheming Daily Life of a Simp Substitute

Zhong Qing is always lost in thought, especially when he's around Zhan Yeci.

In his head, the thoughts go bang, bang, bang: Ahhh, the Cult Leader is so great! So clever! Ahhh, he looks so handsome when he's focused! I want to be just like the Cult Leader someday! I really like him so much! Ahhh, keep it up, Cult Leader! Remember to eat more! The God-Slaying Cult is growing stronger every day under his leadership!

On the outside, as quiet as a mouse and steady as an old dog: “All right, Cult Leader.”

“Understood, Cult Leader.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

No one understands how to play dumb and act sweet better than I, Zhong Qing.

Zhan Yeci rarely has much going on in his head. Sometimes, especially around Zhong Qing, he can't even figure out what he's thinking.

For instance, he doesn't realize he's treating Zhong Qing as a substitute, but that's exactly what he's doing.

For instance, he still doesn't understand what it means for two mouths to touch, but he keeps kissing Zhong Qing again and again.

For instance, he doesn't know why Zhong Qing insists on going down the mountain, but he agrees without even asking.

And for instance, he used to think that even if the whole Wushen Mountain were reduced to ashes, Zhong Qing would surely stay by his side forever.

“Do you like me?”

“Of course not, Cult Leader.”

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P.S. (Content warnings): 1. The bottom is a little scheming and very much a simp. 2. The top is truly hopelessly dense when it comes to feelings. There isn't really any face-slapping or a chase-your-wife-to-the-crematorium plot, because he's been missing a screw the whole time.

Theme: Persistence is victory