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

Locke's words, so blatantly transactional, pierced Miller's burning heart like an ice pick.

The blush that had risen on her face from shyness and excitement faded almost instantly, turning into an unbelievable deathly paleness.

He suddenly raised his head, his pink crystal-like eyes wide open, no longer filled with pure heartache and admiration, but with shock and hurt after being deeply hurt.

Xiongzi couldn't believe that his sincere heart could be so easily objectified and treated as a cold, transactional affair in the other person's eyes.

But he knew that if he rejected the offer, he would have no chance at all.

Looking at Locke's face, still alluring yet utterly unfamiliar, her lips trembled slightly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible, tinged with a broken sob:

"I...I do..."

He spoke with difficulty, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his throat: "I am willing to provide you with mental energy therapy."

"I'm willing to help you anytime you need me... but..."

He took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and looked directly into the female insect's golden eyes, which seemed to see through everything. His eyes were filled with tears, yet they held a stubborn determination:

"But... could you... please not say such hurtful things?"

"I'm not doing this to sleep with you, I just like you."

"I also don't want... you to... put yourself... in the position of a commodity..."

The voice grew softer and softer, filled with endless grievances and sadness, yet clearly expressing the bottom line.

What he wanted was Locke himself, not a body that could be exchanged for service, and he didn't want to see the other person despise him so much.

The alluring smile that the female insect had been deliberately maintaining on her face gradually faded away during these heartfelt words, which were tinged with tears, and eventually disappeared without a trace.

He stared intently at Miller, his sharp gaze seemingly trying to pierce through his soul, scrutinizing every subtle expression on the other's face, attempting to find any flaws in his pretense or scheming.

However, no.

Only the boy's heartfelt sincerity, his clumsy yet unwavering protection, and his seemingly incorruptible affection.

it is good.

You voluntarily gave up the reward...

After a long pause, Locke gave a barely audible hum, his voice devoid of any discernible emotion.

He looked away from Xiongzi's pitiful appearance, his tone returning to its usual coldness, even carrying a hint of command, as if the previous incident had never happened:

"Okay, let's go."

"I need reassurance right now."

After saying that, without even waiting for the other party's response, she stood up, straightened her slightly wrinkled clothes, and walked out of the bar first.

As she stood up, her long, silvery-white hair cascaded down the graceful lines of her shoulders, neck, and back, the ends of which traced elegant arcs in the air, carrying with them a faint, cool fragrance.

Miller was still immersed in sadness and grievances when he saw Locke's sudden change in attitude and his departing figure, and he was at a loss for what to do.

He felt sad, as if his feelings had been trampled on, but seeing that the other party was willing to accept his guidance, even if it was in the name of this transaction, that little bit of his uncontrollable affection resurfaced.

Hesitating for a few seconds, half-heartedly accepting, he finally gritted his teeth and, like a puppy afraid of being left behind, quickly followed.

……

That night, in the hotel room, just as Miller had hoped, nothing happened except for mental reassurance.

However, for female insects, the mental stimulation itself is accompanied by an indescribable physiological pleasure.

As the vast yet gentle S-class mental energy flowed in like a warm current, gently smoothing out every agitation and crack in Locke's mental sea, an intense sense of comfort swept over Locke's entire body like a tide.

She closed her eyes and sank into the mattress, but her originally tense body unconsciously relaxed slightly, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her breathing became slightly rapid and deep.

Although I had prepared myself mentally for this first time, it was clearly not enough.

This feeling was terrifying for Locke.

But he lost control...

That handsome face, which usually wore a distant smile, was now flushed with an uncontrollable blush, his tightly pursed lips softened, and he even unconsciously uttered a nasal sound with a hint of satisfaction.

At this moment, the female insect sheds all its disguise, like a cat that has finally let down its guard and stretches its body in the sunlight.

Miller knelt on the bed, leaning over him and half-embracing him, focusing intently on guiding his mental energy. Naturally, he could also keenly perceive the changes in Locke's body and subtle sounds.

With his beloved insect before him, the young master only wished for a little more time alone between them...

However, once the intervention was completely over, Locke almost immediately snapped out of that state.

He suddenly opened his eyes, and his golden pupils instantly regained their clarity, even becoming colder than usual.

It was as if the female insect, who had just been trembling slightly and blushing in the other's arms, was just an illusion.

She quickly sat up straight and deftly tidied her messy collar and hair.

All the subtle, inappropriate expressions on her face vanished in an instant, and she once again donned that flawless, yet elegant mask that kept insects at bay.

He didn't even glance at Miller, but spoke quickly in a businesslike, detached tone:

"Thanks for your hard work."

Then she stood up straight, like a proud cat that had eaten and drunk its fill and turned to leave without looking back, walking out of the room with light steps and a happy mood.

Not a single word of thanks, not a shred of warmth.

Miller remained kneeling in place, the muscular sensation still lingering in his palms through his clothes, and Locke's scent still lingered in the air.

Looking at the closed door, I felt empty inside. There was a sense of relief at the successful intervention, but also a feeling of being used and then ruthlessly abandoned.

Since that night, Locke's attitude toward the young master seemed to have further solidified his belief in this trading model.

He would never take the initiative to contact the male, and remained indifferent to the chance encounter created by Miller.

The brief "Come here" message is only sent when the mind needs comforting.

Each time he experienced this release, Locke would be overwhelmed by pleasure, causing Miller's heart to race.

Once it's over, she'll immediately revert to that elegant and aloof military woman, as if nothing had ever happened.

She quickly pushed the male away, not allowing any further tenderness or closeness.

This extreme contrast made Miller's mood like a rollercoaster ride, going in with anticipation and returning with a touch of disappointment.

But he would always rush over eagerly, as if just having a brief moment with the real and vulnerable Locke would be enough to sustain him and keep going.

I gradually came to understand that this was perhaps the closest thing Locke could offer to what I could accept.