Can we talk real quick?

Sure.

Let's break up.

...

No.

What?! What do you mean no??

I'm breaking up with you, you can't say no!

?

I just did.

In fact, I'll say it again.

No.

You can't do this to me

You can't keep me in this relationship if I don't want to

Alright.

Give me one convincing reason why you want to break up, and I'll let you go.

I'm busy.

With my work.

And I just... don't have time for out relationship anymore, you know.

That's pretty convincing.

If I was someone else, that's it.

Unfortunately, with my current position, I know every contracts members of Kshahrewar have.

And you, Kaveh, have no current contract for any project.

Not even from clients from overseas.

Because they would need a permission from the Grand Sage.

Which is me, by the way.

Temporarily.

Hello.

You're cheating!

I can assure you, I am not.

When have I ever stayed at work for longer than I need?

Every day, I go to work at 8 and go back home at 5.

7 at most.

But that's because I was forced to. You can ask Lesser Lord Kusanali if you don't believe me.

Except if you don't believe our Archon, the Lord of Wisdom and Knowledge herself.

Which I'm sure will make her devastated to have her own people distrusting her, after everything she went through.

wait

I WAS ACCUSING YOU OF CHEATING

BUT NOT ***THAT*** KIND OF CHEATING

IT WAS THE KIND OF "CHEAT YOU DO IN YOUR EXAMS" CHEATING

and are you fr trying to guilt trip me with bringing up Lesser Lord Kusanali...

Did it work?

...

A little bit, yeah

Good.

Also, I never cheated on exams.

I don't need to cheat.

Now, that's just bragging... >:(

Oh?

Are you telling me you cheated on your exams?

Oh, come on! Don't put words into my mouth

Would you like something else to be put into your mouth?

YOU

Okay.

I'll be back in 30 minutes.

???

NOT THAT

UGHHHH YOU'RE SO FRUSTRATING

I'M TRYING TO BREAK UP WITH YOU

Try harder.

Okay.

You're not cheating on me.

But how about I'm cheating on you?

Usage of interrogative sentence. Not very convincing. 2/10.

Also, you're not.

What do you mean I'm not?!

You don't know that!

I do, actually.

...how?

...

Because you're a very loyal person whom I can trust with my life and my heart, you cheating on me would break my heart into pieces and you wouldn't want that?

wow

I just unironically said "what the fuck"

Also!! Usage of interrogative sentence. Not very convincing. 2/10.

I can report you to General Mahamatra for plagiarism.

Hey!! >:(

Okay! On the top of that, you're being sweet. That makes it more suspicious.

In conclusion, you're trying to distract me.

But did it work?

No

Aww.

Then I don't know what you're talking about.

Ughhh! You never admit not knowing what I'm talking about! You'd do anything to have the last word!

Maybe your argument is just too absurd.

🤨

What's happening here?

How are you so sure that I'm not cheating on you?

I trust you a lot.

I trust you'll never cheat on me.

I trust that you're an honorable man who protects the heart you're entrusted to.

Saying that to someone who just admitted he's cheating on you... 😭

That's guilt tripping

Correct.

AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO DENY THAT?

Nope.

Come on, just be honest with me

How do you know I'm not cheating on you?

That confirms it. You're not.

...

FINE, I'M NOT!!

Just answer the question 😭😭

Let's just say I have eyes and ears.

Not limited to 2 each.

Ohhh I see

So you have someone stalking me

It's cute that you think it's singular.

??????

I WASN'T EVEN BEING SERIOUS

Haha.

WHAT

ALHAITHAM WHAT

Next argument.

YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOMEONE STALKING ME?

Next argument.

Also, you've said that, but I still think it's cute.

ALHAITHAM

Only for emergency.

Next.

UGHHHHH

Fine!!

The truth is... I've been thinking a lot.

I don't think I can love you anymore.

I can't find it in me to love you no matter how much I try.

You said you love me, but do you?

Are you sure it's not because you were lonely and I was the only one around?

Because let's be real here, Alhaitham. Not everyone can put up with your attitude.

You find someone that can tolerate you enough, and you think you're in love with him.

Kaveh.

I don't even know if you're capable of loving someone.

Kaveh, stop.

For years you have me in your arms, and I can't help but think.

This thing that you have on me...

Is this love?

Or merely obsession?

Because while I don't know if you're capable to love,

I know that you're perfectly capable to obsess.

...

Are you done?

Yes.

Okay.

Just one more thing.

...what?

Drink water.

Go back to your bed. Get comfortable. Take my blanket if you want.

I'll be home in 5.

What?

I'll bring padisarah pudding.

Alhaitham, what?!

Do you want something else? I'll have it delivered.

Alhaitham!

I told you I'll be back in 5.

4 now. On my way.

Not that! Tell me what this is about!

Do you want me to spell it out?

Well, you're the least obvious person I know

So, obviously!

Come on.

You're crying, aren't you?

No.

Kaveh...

I'm not crying.

You don't know that.

I do.

I know you, Kaveh.

You purposefully picked the words you knew would hurt me so I'd be too upset to think through it first and decide to let you go because of it.

You know while I don't care about what people think about me, I care about what you think.

You know you're the only person who has that much of a hold on me...

And you're using that to push me away.

The question is why?

Stop

I'm tyring to break upw ith you that's why

Hmm.

And I told you to give me one convincing reason, and yet you still haven't.

I would be lying if I say those words didn't hurt me.

But that's the thing.

You don't intentionally hurt people.

If breaking up with me if what you want, then I don't have the right to stop you.

But you're hurting, I can tell that much.

You're hurting, so you hurt me. Hoping it'll drive me away so I don't see your pain.

And that's too bad.

I'm sorry.

But no matter what facade you put up, I'll always see through it.

So I'm not going anywhere until I'm sure you're not in pain.

...Kaveh?

Sorry. Was that too much?

I'm outside.

Don't

Dont ckme jn

Please

Dom"t see me

I'm pathetic

You're not.

But okay.

I'll be in my room. The pudding is on the dining table if you want it.

You're free to talk to me whenever you're ready.

Alhaitham

Yes?

Your new secretary

What about her?

She's really beautiful, isn't she?

Brown hair, soft green eyes...

I talked to her yesterday

And I can tell

She's smart

She's kind

She has big dreams

She'd be the perfect person for you

Everyone thinks so

...is this what this is about?

Everyone's saying

You two would make a perfect couple

Kaveh.

"But doesn't the Acting Grand Sage already have a lover?"

"Oh, yes, too bad. It's the Light of Kshahrewar, though. He's brilliant. A successful architect, an inspiration to the Kshahrewar members."

But then I turn out to be

Kaveh.

Not as brilliang as people tjink

They think it's okay that I become your lover

Because they know me as someone who always smiles

Confident

"Brightens up the room wherever I go" or whatever

But in reality

Stop.

I'm just a mess

I'm nothing

Sometimes I can barely see any light

Even if the sun is right there

But with you it's always warm

But

I'm dragging you down

You could be with someone so much better than me

You don't deserve to get stuck with me

You should just leave me

Stop.

You'd be so much better off iwthout me

One more of that and I'm breaking down your door.

...

Say that again to my face.

I want you to see how disappointed I am that you think that way.

...sorry... I'm disappointing you...

No, Kaveh.

It's not like that.

I'm sorry. That's not what I meant.

I don't like the way you talk down to yourself like that.

Because you're much better than you let yourself believe.

I won't let anyone talk bad about you.

Yourself included.

If there's still something you want to say, I'll hear you out. I'll listen to it all.

But you know no amount of self-deprecating will make me love you less.

...thank you

It's just...

Sorry

A lot in my mind

I understand.

I'm here for you. No matter what.

I've been hearing talks that you and her will make a good family

STOP THIPIGN

I WASNT GOING TO TALK DOWN TO MSELF

You always learn so quickly.

Good boy.

YOUWKHDKAHDHSAK???!??@?!?

ANYWAY!!!

By family I mean

Family with a child kind of thing

Imagine if you have a child with her

It's not really appropriate to imagine having a child with someone else when I already have you though?

JUST IMAGINEEEE

Are you planning to make me flustered enough so I think about something else 😭😭😭 you know what you're doing to me!!

Good boy. (2)

STOPPPPP LITEN TO ME

Your child with her will be a gift to Sumeru

Your child with be brilliant, genius, perfect in every way possible

Everything every scholar wishes for

And I can't give you that

Now, listen.

No, please let me finish

It's not just biology, Alhaitham

Even if by some miracle I'm able to give you a child, I still can't

Not just physically

It's just...

I can't.

If I ever have a child with you whether it's biological or adopted, I'd love them unconditionally. Don't get me wrong

But

What if something happens to me..?

Even worse

What if something happens to you?

I don't think I'd be able to

continue living

SORRY

Just...

What if I become a different person?

What if... I turn into my mother?

She never wanted to be the way she was

I know she never wanted to neglect me

I understood that she was having a really hard time after my father passed away

She tried her best, I know

I don't hate her for it

Because... it just happens, you know

But

If I somehow cause my child to experience the same thing I did

I think

I'd wish this child never existed at all.

They don't deserve that

...is that a bad thing?

...

...wow.

It's unbelievable.

The fact that I thought about all these..? Hahaha...

I'm sorry I can't help it

Please just forget everything

Let's just pretend I never said anything

Wanna talk about something else instead? How was your day at work?

No, Kaveh. Let's talk.

Also, it's not that.

It's the fact that you care for this "what if" child more than yourself, and the way you're ready to hate yourself for them.

...

Alahitham...

Have I ever implied anything about wanting a "perfect scholar family"?

No...

Did I ever do anything that made you think I want to be with you because you're the genius scholar, Sumeru's renowned architect, the Light of Kshahrewar?

...

No

That's right.

I've been in love with you before you became all those.

That sounds like bragging

Because I am.

:)

WHATS THAT SMILEY CFACE NOOOOO WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO NY ALHAITHAM

Nvm the fact that you can brag at the time like this is like the most you thing

:)

THAT'S SCARY STOP 😭😭😭

One question.

Okay

Who are you making a family with? Me or them?

What kind of question is that...

Just answer it.

With you, of course

Then why does it matter what they say?

Focus on me, Kaveh.

Just me.

We already have a perfect scholar family, and it consists you and me.

If you don't want to have a child, then we won't.

If you want to, then we can talk about it.

But even if we do, they will not be reduced into such thing as a "gift" for Sumeru.

They worth so much more than that.

We worth so much more than that.

...ha...

I guess you're right when you said I care too much for my own good...

I'm sorry

Never apologize about caring, it's just how youare.

And it makes youkind.

How do you always have something to say 😭

You said it yourself. I'd do anything to have the last word.

Besides,

rather than thinking whether it's a bad thing or not to hink about a child that doesn't even exist, the fact that you already care about their wellbeing says a lot about you.

Like I always overthink?

SOTP I CAN HEAR YOUR HANDS FROM THE OTHER SDIE OF THE DOOR

WHY ARE YOU IN FRONT OF MY DOOR

I told you I'm going to break down this door.

SORRY SORRY 😭😭

Are you in front of the door?

Yeah

Then I'm going to sit here and lean my back against the door.

You.........

😭😭😭

It's so weird

Sometimes I wonder why do you stay with me

DON'T GET UP

SIT DOWN

It's just... it's not like you get anything from putting up with me, you know?

It feels like

I never give you anything back...

Do you think our relationship is just some kind of transactional?

Is that how you view my affection for you?

Do you think there has to be something inreturn for any gift or care given by me?

It's not like that!

It's just...

Sometimes I feel like you might think that it's unfair

So when you gifted me that book from your trip to Liyue but I didn't get you anything when I went overseas, you think it's unfair?

Of course not!

Why?

Because you love that book! And I love you, and I want you to be happy

And you think that's enough reason?

...yes???

Exactly.

...

I understand that you have a very low opinion on yourself right now, and that is okay.

It's always a pleasure to prove you wrong. :)

STOP WITH TTHE EMOTE

Oh, so when Lesser Lord Kusanali uses it, it's cute, but when I use it, it's scary?

The double standard is crazy here.

KASHDSAKHDAKS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!!

:)

😭😭😭

...Alhaitham

Yes?

Thank you

I really mean it

You're welcome.

Do you want to eat the pudding now?

Yes!!!

I need to wash my face first

Why?

WDYM WHY 😭 I'm ugly!!!

You're pretty when you cry, though.

Oh so you're saying if I don't cry I'm ugly???

...

You know what.

Come out here and I'll kiss your ugly face.

SO YOU THINK I'M UGLY

I'll be in the kitchen.

Hurry up.

😠😠😠

You know whenever you use that emoji, you just look like a desert fox throwing tantrum, right?

What are you going to do? Scratch me with your soft, tiny paws?

THESE SOFT TINY PAWS HAVE NAILS AND THEY'LL SCRATCH YOUR FACE

I'm coming, I'm coming

Oh, and one more thing.

Yeah?

She won't be my secretary for long.

???

DON'T FIRE HER

ALHAITHAM

Why is it the first reaction you do is always dramatic?

Listen to me before you're reacting.

🤨🤨🤨

This is just a temporary position for me.

Once they appoint a new Grand Sage, I'll be back being the Scribe again. I don't need an assistant as a Scribe.

Anytime now.

...Alhaitham?

Yes?

You've been the "Acting" Grand Sage for five years now... 😶🌫️😶🌫️😶🌫️

...

We shall not speak of this again.

LMAOKASHDKA

Aye aye sir 😭 I'll be out in a minute!!