Who understands? The aloof female ruler always flirts without even realizing it.

Locke drove to Shen Yan's villa during his lunch break.

He knew that the male would be furious about the attack on the female, and he wanted to discuss the progress of the investigation in person and see if there was anything he could do to help.

Unfortunately, when they arrived at the destination, it was the robot butler 001 who opened the door and regretfully informed them that the two main insects had gone to the palace that morning.

He had no intention of staying any longer. He gave a few brief instructions to the round-headed 001 and then hurriedly returned to the military headquarters.

As soon as Locke stepped into the corridor on the floor where his office was located, he sensed something unusual.

There were shadowy figures outside his private office, where several usually composed subordinates were huddled together, peering inside with tentative eyes.

It was also mixed with hushed whispers and muffled laughter.

His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and the sound of his military boots hitting the floor jolted his subordinates into standing up straight, their faces still bearing the sly smiles they hadn't had time to hide.

"What are you all doing gathered here?"

The female soldier suppressed a hint of doubt in her heart, maintained her usual gentle demeanor, and subtly stepped forward to drive them away.

"Lunch break is almost over, why aren't you back at your posts?"

Several young officers exchanged knowing glances and chuckled as they replied, "Yes, Lieutenant General!"

Before they scattered like birds and beasts, one of the bolder ones whispered a quick, sarcastic remark:

"I never thought our lieutenant general would be happy too..."

These words reached Locke's ears, intensifying his ominous premonition.

Happiness? What a load of rubbish.

Filled with doubt, he pushed open the door to his office.

Then, the entire insect froze at the doorway.

Miller, the young man he had previously rejected without hesitation, stood helplessly in the center of the office.

She was dressed very formally, like a carefully dressed little peacock, but her beautiful pink crystal eyes were filled with tension and unease, and her fair cheeks were as red as ripe fruit.

In his arms, he held a large bouquet of vibrant flowers, a stark contrast to the cold, hard style of the military.

My temples started throbbing uncontrollably.

Locke slammed the door shut almost reflexively, completely blocking out any curious glances from outside.

The barely maintained gentleness on her face shattered instantly, replaced by an expression that mixed shock, impatience, and headache.

"What are you doing here?"

Her voice was very low, and she tried her best to control her emotions. Her sharp gaze swept over the male son and the unsightly bouquet of flowers in his arms.

Miller was startled by the sound of the door closing and his cold tone, and his fingers tightened around the bouquet until his knuckles turned white.

He tilted his head back, trying to meet the female soldier's gaze, but her bright golden eyes were like a frozen lake, making him feel flustered.

He took a deep breath, as if summoning all his courage, and said in a visibly trembling voice, yet with unusual clarity:

"I...I'm pursuing you..."

These words were like another thunderclap, booming through the closed office.

Although he had expected it, hearing it actually come out of the other person's mouth still made him dizzy.

Looking at the excessively handsome and naive little boy in front of her, she felt an inexplicable anger mixed with indescribable irritation rushing to her head.

What's going on?!

Locke felt his disgust and fear of the male insects reignite like dry tinder thrown into a spark, and his agitation almost overwhelmed his proud self-control.

"Pursue?"

His voice was so cold it could shatter ice; his golden eyes held no warmth, only rejection and a weary mockery.

"Sir, I thought that the two words 'get lost' I used last time were clear enough."

"not to mention--"

He paused, his gaze sharply scrutinizing the other person, with a deliberately cultivated sense of distance and skepticism:

"I have no idea who you are, which family you come from, or what your temperament and character are like."

Do you think I'd say yes just because of empty words of pursuit, or this bouquet of flowers?

Upon hearing this, Miller's eyes, which had been blurred with tears, brightened slightly, as if he had grasped some key point.

He quickly wiped his eyes with his free hand, took a small, eager step forward, and began to introduce himself earnestly, with an almost transparent simplicity:

"My name is Miller, Miller Lin!"

"My male father is Marquis Lawrence Lin, and my female father is the warden of the Hudje Empire."

"I also have two female male insects at home, and they are both very kind to me!"

"I just turned 18 this year. I like drawing and playing video games. Although I might be a little clumsy, I will try my best to learn many things!"

I... I didn't have any bad intentions, and I don't have a partner. I just... I just really like you, from the moment you saved me..."

He introduced himself clumsily and without reservation, like a little animal eager to show off all its merits.

That earnest look made it seem less like a pursuit and more like a childish job interview.

Locke looked at him like this, and listened to his naive and even silly self-introduction. His tense jawline relaxed almost imperceptibly for a moment.

He was almost amused by this inappropriate naiveté.

This is clearly a young kid who hasn't experienced any hardships, just fooling around with enthusiasm.

But unfortunately, the other party was a distinguished male.

You can't hit someone, and you have to be careful with your words. If excessive humiliation gets out, even if you're in the right, it will bring you a lot of trouble.

This realization left the female soldiers feeling deeply powerless.

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was a deeper weariness and an almost desolate determination.

Instead of using sharp words, he spoke in a calm yet resolute tone:

"Young Master Miller..."

He used a more formal form of address, further distancing himself from the situation:

"Thank you for your... kindness, but I'm sorry, I cannot accept it."

Seeing the boy's eyes dim instantly, he continued, his voice low and heavy, carrying an undeniable weight:

"My current state... is not suitable for having a partner, nor do I want a male lord."

This statement seemed to be not only addressed to the other person, but also served as a reminder to himself.

Those shadows buried deep in his heart, like cold chains, bound his soul, preventing him from and making him unwilling to engage in any form of intimacy.

It's very dirty.

"So, please leave."

He turned to the side and pointed to the door, making a gesture of seeing the guest off.

Please don't come looking for me again.