As a living elder of the Burial Order, Gadelia led the construction of its organizational structure. Initially, the Burial Order only had researchers and combatants, but this was clearly unsuitable for long-term development. Many aspects such as daily management, funding, and member welfare required professional talent. Additionally, she had to deal with issues like government oversight and recruitment difficulties, leaving Gadelia overwhelmed with work. Eventually, she finalized a framework suitable for long-term development: researchers, combatants, and support personnel. These three were listed in parallel within the overall structure, though middle and high-level positions were almost all held by combatants.
Facing recruitment difficulties, Gadelia adopted a tailored approach: using bribes, reputation, force, and ideology, she used different methods for different people to win over more members under a unified goal. At the same time, by maintaining superficial social stability, she continuously absorbed fresh blood to ensure the vitality of the Burial Order. It was precisely because she believed the system she built could maintain stability on the other side untouched by governments that Gadelia used the ancient organization of Xiayang to show Zhou Ming the Burial Order.
After ending the trip and returning to her residence, Gadelia rubbed her head, quickly washed up, and collapsed onto the bed.
Everything fell silent.
But it was noisy.
Very noisy.
Under the daylight, her blue veins bulged and her muscles trembled from pain. Gadelia bit hard into the bedding, tears welling up in her eyes.
‘I can’t cry! I am the pride of the Lordgos family, carrying the expectations of all followers since the founding of the Burial Order. I am a fighter to save humanity and eliminate superpowers. How can I shed tears over this headache!’
But it hurts.
‘Why is this sound even louder after seeing Zhou Ming? Am I wavering?’
Her consciousness grew hazy. In a daze, Gadelia felt a figure approaching.
‘Who’s there!’
She had no strength to react and finally fell completely unconscious.
***
In a daze, Zhou Ming didn’t know how he had gotten back to his place and lain down. He had barely registered the argument between Gadelia and Jiang Jialie in the car earlier, and that only made him even more at a loss.
Was Gadelia joking, or did she really mean it? He had no idea. The only thing Zhou Ming was clear about was the expectation in his heart that he didn’t want to face.
Was that “love”?
If this continued, his relationship with Gadelia might advance further. But for now, Zhou Ming preferred to call it “affection”—a beautiful anticipation, a secretion of hormones, a desire to get closer, and a vague possessiveness.
Zhou Ming didn’t think about Jiang Jialie. Perhaps he had already tacitly accepted her feelings for him. Then why was he still thinking about Gadelia? Was it affection? Later… no, tomorrow he would find a chance to ask her.
He couldn’t help but want to fix his gaze on Gadelia.
Maybe this was just every man’s fantasy—having a harem, holding one in each arm.
He didn’t know, but he just wanted to see her.
The next day, after completing routine tasks as usual, he went on duty.
“Zhou Ming, why are you so distracted today? What happened?”
Li Yaoming, only twenty-four years old in the squad, pushed Zhou Ming’s shoulder and asked with concern.
“Did you make Gadelia angry? Or did you meet your childhood sweetheart?” Remembering how Zhou Ming had made Gadelia wait yesterday, Li Yaoming couldn’t help teasing.
“No matter who it is, as long as marriage is the premise, you have to treat them well.” Yue Liang shared his experience as someone who had been through it; he had already married his childhood sweetheart.
“I support Yue Liang.” Zhou Ang nodded. He came from a farming background and wasn’t good with words.
Zhang Chuanlei rolled down the window, exhaled a puff of smoke, and after holding it in for a while, only managed to say, “Comparing people just drives you mad.”
The atmosphere suddenly livened up.
Li Yaoming patted Zhou Ming’s shoulder and laughed, consoling Zhang Chuanlei: “Captain, don’t rush. Blind dates can’t be rushed. Look at Zhou Ming—he’s only eighteen and already planning his future partner.”
“Get lost!” Zhang Chuanlei blew a mouthful of smoke at him, cursing.
“Hahaha!”
The others couldn’t help laughing hard. Zhou Ming was infected and laughed along as well.
***
At five in the afternoon, after work, Zhou Ming stood on a slope, phone in hand. The screen showed Gadelia’s contact info, but he hesitated to call.
The autumn wind was strong, rustling the leaves. Zhou Ming pulled his jacket tighter and squinted at the setting sun on the slope.
Like his resolve, it was about to sink soon.
In the end, Zhou Ming turned to leave. He still didn’t have the courage to ask.
A strong gust of wind blew, and he quickly lowered his head, closing his eyes.
When he opened them again, a light red beret had appeared in his line of sight.
He bent down to pick up the hat, then looked up—on the slope, a figure gradually emerged.
Light flaxen hair with milky white highlights; a white shirt paired with a black high-waisted knee-length skirt; a light red coat over it, and black ankle boots.
Was it Gadelia?
Against the light, he couldn’t see clearly at first.
A familiar voice came, soft yet with a hint of weakness.
“Zhou Ming.”
She stepped out of the sunset, growing clearer with each step.
Zhou Ming couldn’t help smiling and raised his hand to wave. Time seemed to stretch.
Gadelia took the hat from his hand and put it on. “Good afternoon. What are you doing here? Lost?”
“Yeah, I just moved to this city and I’m not familiar with the roads.”
“What a coincidence. Me too.”
They smiled at each other.
Gadelia had actually heard his thoughts from last night and just now. She pursed her lips and was silent for a moment.
Zhou Ming also said nothing. He knew she had seen what he was thinking.
“Just because of my strange ability, you won’t say anything?” Gadelia chuckled lightly. “If you don’t say it out loud, I won’t respond.”
“Come to my place for a bit.”
“Why don’t you call it ‘home’?”
“I live alone, all lonely—it’s just a residence, isn’t it?”
Zhou Ming gathered his courage and called out to her as she walked ahead. She slightly widened her peach-blossom eyes, and he took a deep breath.
“Gadelia, what you said to Jiang Jialie last night—was it true?”
“False. Current international law has no such regulation. I was just angry that you cared more about your childhood sweetheart and didn’t show me enough respect, so I deliberately provoked you.”
“I see…” Zhou Ming felt both relieved and vaguely disappointed.
“Zhou Ming!” Gadelia suddenly raised her voice and kicked him. “Stop daydreaming.”
A hint of embarrassment appeared on her face.
“Sorry… for disturbing your normal life.”
Thinking back to her behavior last night, she felt a bit ashamed—why had she said that?
Maybe she subconsciously chose the person who would make him care the most.
“I don’t know what you think. I believe affection is the beginning of love, but not love itself. You have affection for me, and I think you’re sincere, but that’s not love yet.”
“I don’t know what love is either, but it should be like what you have with your childhood sweetheart—wanting to possess, wanting to get close, wanting to…”
Gadelia paused without finishing.
From her experience, “affection” was not reliable. Over the decades, many people had pursued her, and they all ended up dead.
Affection needs time and opportunities to develop, but her purpose in approaching Zhou Ming was already impure. Could she even give this emotion a chance to grow?
“Oh, by the way, I just learned a dish last night. Want to try it?”
She suddenly changed the subject, with a hint of expectation.
“No need, I’ll pass.”