novelkee Chapter 2286
Chapter 2286
Chapter 2286
Thor doesn't know what a scumbag is.
But his current actions definitely qualify him as a scumbag. He suddenly realized that he had never really looked at Sif carefully. Of course he knew what Sif looked like. In fact, they had grown up together since childhood and knew each other very well. He even knew exactly where each of them had a mole.
But it was this familiarity that prevented Thor from ever spending even the slightest effort to carefully observe Sif.
People often don't really understand the things they take for granted! Take air, for example. We all breathe air every day, every moment, but how much do people really know about it? Honestly, at most they know that there is oxygen in the air, but that's about it... we really don't know much else.
Because we are so familiar with it, we don't put much effort into understanding it.
This is called getting used to something without realizing it.
There's a saying that goes: "Even green plums can't withstand a gift from heaven!"
Because it's so familiar, it doesn't really feel anything anymore.
Why does familiarity sometimes hinder romantic relationships? The "exposure effect" in psychology might offer a partial answer: we develop a fondness for things we frequently encounter, but this fondness often remains at the level of "safety." When two people go from playing together as toddlers to wearing suits and ties, familiarity acts like a filter, blurring the initial spark. Childhood sweetheart relationships often begin as "playmates." You know all each other's embarrassing moments: he wet his pants in third grade and was laughed at by the whole class, you cried because you got a 28 on your fifth-grade math test; you shared countless "firsts": the first time you fell into a ditch while riding a bicycle, the first time you were caught secretly buying spicy snacks by your parents. This experience of "growing up together" can create the illusion that "I know him completely." But what intimate relationships need is precisely the impulse to "want to know him better." When you know all his secrets, when his joys and sorrows are laid bare before you, you lose the desire to explore—like a well-worn book, even if the content is fascinating, it's hard to feel the urge to open it again.
In psychology, there's a concept called "role expectation": we adjust our behavior based on the other person's role in the relationship. As a friend, you can freely criticize their new hairstyle and stay up all night drinking with them when they're heartbroken; but as a lover, you need to consider their feelings and offer gentler responses when they're vulnerable.
When two people spend a long time as "friends," this "role expectation" can create a fixed interaction pattern. As Xiaoyou said, "I'm used to drinking with him when he's heartbroken, and he's used to bringing me food when I work overtime. But once we switch to a romantic relationship, we don't know how to get along—we're afraid that being too close will be awkward, and being too distant will make us feel estranged."
Evolutionary psychology suggests that humans instinctively seek "novelty" and "uncertainty" when choosing long-term partners. In childhood sweetheart relationships, this "novelty" is often worn away by excessive familiarity.
For example, he's used to seeing you without makeup, and you're used to him swearing while playing games; he knows you bite your lip when you're angry, and you know he rubs his hands when he's nervous. These details should be signals of attraction, but they're overlooked because they're so familiar—like looking at the same painting every day, even the most beautiful colors become commonplace.
Childhood sweethearts are not destined to never become lovers, but they need to actively break out of their comfort zone of familiarity.
For example, create a sense of unfamiliarity: try doing things together that you've never done before, such as traveling to an unfamiliar city or learning a new sport. In a completely new environment, you will once again become individuals who "need to get to know each other," and those feelings of attraction that were masked by familiarity will resurface.
Another example is adjusting the interaction pattern: shifting from the casual "friendship" to the caring "romantic" approach. For instance, when he works overtime, instead of just saying "Don't stay up too late," he might cook a bowl of hot soup and bring it to the office; when you're sick, instead of just saying "Drink more hot water," he might accompany you to the hospital to register. These subtle changes can gradually move the relationship away from the "friendship" track.
Just like now.
Sif and Thor were so familiar with each other that Thor never truly experienced Sif's charm.
Now that Sif has used those two tricks, Thor immediately thinks, "Holy crap, my brother smells amazing!"
Of course, Sif herself didn't mean it that way. After Thor hurt her, Sif stopped worrying about whether she could marry Thor and even felt a sense of relief.
Now it's Thor's mindset that's causing the problem.
Fortunately, Thor isn't a love-struck person; he's different from those clueless guys outside.
He knew who Siff was with!
That's the Godslayer, Gale!
That madman!
"Sif!!! What are you doing?! Stop right now and help me catch Gel."
Thor's words were actually meant to save Sif.
Because those outside haven't entered the central area of the Rainbow Bridge yet, they haven't seen Gale. Therefore, everything can still be salvaged. If Sif openly associates with Gale, an enemy, even Thor, as king, won't be able to defend her!
No one can accept a traitor.
Especially the Asgardians.
Just recently, Gale killed an entire squadron of Asgardian warriors—nearly a thousand!
If this were to be exposed, no matter how many reasons Sif had, Asgard would declare her a traitor!
This is a matter of principle!
No matter how much Asgardians loved and sympathized with Sif before, it couldn't undo the consequences of her betrayal!
Because traitors are more hateful than enemies!
In his book *Thinking Sociologically*, British scholar Zirgot Bauman argues that traitors are often more detestable than open enemies. Historically, those who have betrayed their organizations have indeed been more easily despised. First, traitors break down previously unbreakable beliefs and goals. An organization or group, bound together by shared beliefs and goals, imbues itself with legitimacy and authority. A traitor, however, undermines these shared beliefs and goals from within, damaging the organization's legitimacy and authority. This poses a fundamental threat to the organization. Second, traitors are more familiar with the organization's internal information and weaknesses; once they join the enemy camp, the harm they cause is immense, potentially triggering a chain reaction. This provokes great anger among the organization's members. Furthermore, punishing traitors can alleviate internal pressure or conflict within a group, organization, or alliance, and can also serve as a deterrent. Therefore, organizations tend to severely punish traitors.
From the perspective of the betrayed party, the traitor is more hated because of the actual harm caused. For example, when Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were vying for supremacy, Yuan Shao's strategist Xu You, dissatisfied with Yuan Shao, betrayed him and joined Cao Cao. Xu You revealed all of Yuan Shao's strengths and weaknesses to Cao Cao and offered the strategy of burning Wuchao. This surprise attack on Wuchao became the key to Yuan Shao's defeat at the Battle of Guandu. Another example is the Battle of Fei River, where a major reason for the Former Qin's defeat was the betrayal of General Zhu Xu. Xie Xuan told Fu Jian to have the Qin army retreat, and Zhu Xu took advantage of the retreat to spread rumors, shouting "The Qin army has been defeated!" The Qin army began to collapse and suffered a crushing defeat.
After people realized the harmfulness of betrayal, a collective consciousness gradually formed: regardless of whether the betrayer actually caused significant harm, they would be despised and hated. This led to the tendency for traitors to be more hateful than enemies. Therefore, severely punishing and despising traitors became a common practice. For example, in the Second Punic War, Rome razed Syracuse, a famous city that had supported Rome but later switched to supporting Carthage, to the ground as a warning to others. Even Carthage, Rome's true enemy, did not suffer such a severe blow. It wasn't until the Third Punic War that Rome finally destroyed Carthage. Then there's Lü Bu, a fierce general who repeatedly betrayed his country, most notably his adoptive father Dong Zhuo. When he was cornered, Cao Cao tried to recruit him, but ultimately killed him. Another example is Wu Sangui, who played a significant role in the Qing army's conquest of China. However, he betrayed the Ming Dynasty, becoming a traitor, and rebelled again after the initial pacification of the country, resulting in a terrible reputation, widespread hatred, and eternal infamy.
Of course, Sif is not one of those scoundrels.
But for the Asgardians, the explosive effect is absolutely no less impressive!
Sif is considered the luckiest person in Asgard, having everything that many people dream of from birth.
A perfect family.
Harmonious parents, a powerful older brother, and she was even betrothed to the crown prince at a young age.
What could be a more dreamlike start?
No one would believe that Sif would betray Asgard!
But the more this is the case, the more explosive the contrast will be once the truth comes out.
Thor had no idea how things would end up!
So he had to persuade Sif to stop immediately, and then they could grab Gel together; then things would be much easier. Even if someone questioned it, Thor could easily suppress it!
Sif smiled. "No! Thor, this is exactly what I want!"
Sif now felt incredibly clear-headed, as if the shackles on her body had been removed, and her mind was also clearer. Didn't she know whether she had betrayed Asgard or not? In a certain sense, she had indeed betrayed Asgard, but she had never intended to harm Asgard.
Of course, she didn't care.
She had always held herself to the standards of a future Queen of Asgard.
She had to hold herself to the standards of the perfect queen in the eyes of all Asgard, regardless of what she truly felt deep down.
She must act in accordance with the perfect image in the public's mind.
Honestly, it's exhausting.
It's like you have to wear a mask all the time.
But the expectations imposed on you by others are so intense that you can't even take off your mask to catch your breath... This kind of repression is truly terrifying.
Sif used to feel very uncomfortable about this, but she took into account her own wishes and the expectations of others.
She chose to endure it.
It wasn't until she actually took the mask off that she realized... it felt fucking amazing!!!
She'd probably never felt so relaxed in her life... a bit like the protagonist in Fight Club, who, faced with a monotonous life, became empty and anxious until he met that man, Tyler, who, as Jack's inner "superhero," symbolized his deep-seated desires and impulses—those thoughts that were difficult to express or act upon in daily life. Then the protagonist began to unleash himself.
And then it just spiraled out of control!
Releasing your true self is an addictive behavior.
Sif is an example of this.
Throughout her life, she has always cared about how others perceive her, and she hopes to be a flawless person.
When Thor and Jane were dating, Sif was actually very disappointed and angry, and even wanted to kill this Earth woman.
But Frigga tried to persuade her, and the others comforted her.
Sif could only smile and say that she didn't care. After all, life on Earth is very short, so short that she didn't need to care about it... But could she really not care?
Of course not!
She always considered herself Thor's lover and fiancée, but now another woman has come into Thor's life and is being affectionate with him, and you're telling me not to care?
Odin's beard!
How can this be?
But in order to maintain my image in the eyes of others, to avoid putting Thor in a difficult position, and to avoid disappointing Frigga, Sif accepted it. She quietly pretended that the matter did not exist, without trying to understand it or argue about it.
They just silently endured it.
Everyone was praising Sif.
Everyone felt sorry for her.
Sif wasn't happy at all; in fact, she was in a terrible mood!
When this happened a second time, Sif was completely stunned.
Should she continue to remain silent?
But this time it wasn't a human from Earth, but a god!
This is not something she can simply pretend not to know and let go of.
What should she do?
Nobody knew, and she certainly didn't.
Later she thought, if she silently let it go this time, what about next time?
What if there are other things?
Should she always compromise herself?
What's the point of a life like this?
She lives for others, she is just a puppet, trying to please everyone else while she suffers alone.
Why do this?
Is this really considered living?
Fuck it!
Both employers and employees want to live their own lives!
This sentiment miraculously aligned with the conditions for Sif's ascension to godhood!
"You... what do you want? You want to betray Asgard?!"
Thor said in disbelief.
Sif's eyes flickered.
She had never thought about this question before.
but now……
"If needed, there's nothing wrong with it!"
Sif made up her mind.
Actually, what she did had little to do with Ger; she just... wanted to let go of everything.
She didn't want those things to bind her again.
She just wanted to cause a scene.
As for the consequences... Sif really hadn't thought about it.
In the past, she would always subconsciously think about the consequences and impacts of her actions.
As for her own innermost thoughts, she has never cared about them!
If you're after excitement, then go all the way!