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

Spiritual energy flowed slowly between them, like a warm ocean carrying a gentle stream, filling the air with a faint sense of peace.

Shen Yan could clearly sense that Kalander's originally tense mental energy was slowly relaxing with this warmth, like cotton wool softened by the sun.

He didn't know how much time had passed, until the golden light at his fingertips faded to almost invisible, before he gently withdrew his strength.

"Okay, that's all."

As soon as he finished speaking, the female insect leaning on his shoulder stirred slightly. When she looked up, the corners of her eyes were tinged with a thin red, and the fine glint of water on her long eyelashes trembled with each blink. Her originally cold, icy blue eyes were now veiled in mist, as soft as crumpled glass.

Her breathing was trembling, and she looked fragile and docile, as if she had been bullied badly.

Shen Yan unconsciously softened his movements, took out a silver monitor from his pocket, and reached out to lift Karandal's wrist, which was hanging by his side.

The wrist was clean-cut, covered with a thin layer of strong muscle, and the skin was burning hot to the touch. He gently brushed it with his fingertips, resisting the urge to rub it a little more, afraid that he would hurt the other person if he was too rough.

The monitor is fastened to the wrist, automatically adjusting to the appropriate size. The screen then glows with a soft green light, and the detailed data begins to jump synchronously.

"Wearing this will allow you to monitor your physical condition in real time."

He spoke softly, "That's enough for today, you...you should get some rest."

Being a young, vigorous male insect, the lingering sensation from touching the other's hot flesh hadn't yet dissipated, and he was afraid that staying any longer would lead to some inappropriate thoughts. He hastily added a goodnight and practically floated out the door.

Back in his room, Shen Yan leaned against the door and breathed a sigh of relief, but the burning sensation in his chest did not subside; instead, it spread along his veins to his limbs.

He pulled out his terminal, his fingers tapping rapidly on the screen, almost immediately dialing the wing repair team's communication channel:

"Given Karandal's current state of consciousness... can we schedule the surgery tomorrow?" The tension in his voice was palpable.

The reply came quickly, and the voice was full of surprise:

"Your Excellency, the monitoring data shows that the stability of Queen Kalandel's mental state far exceeds expectations! The two high-level male insect mental energy soothing treatments were extremely effective, fully meeting the surgical criteria, and can be arranged at any time!"

Shen Yan's anxiety, which had been building for days, finally subsided. He leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. His fingertips tapped lightly on the terminal, repeatedly confirming the surgical procedure three times before finalizing the plan for tomorrow.

The injuries on Kalandall's body were not serious to begin with. The female insects had strong regenerative abilities, and with the Empire's top-notch medical standards, not even a scar would be left.

He thought to himself, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his face. It was time to let that butterfly, which should have been soaring through the sky, regain its wings.

Only a dim nightlight was left on in the bedroom. Karandal leaned against the headboard, his gaze fixed on the monitor on his wrist that was flashing faintly.

My fingertips lightly touched the cool outer shell. The touch was very light, but it seemed to carry a bit of Shen Yan's warmth.

The exhaustion that followed the complete soothing of his mental energy enveloped him, and his eyelids grew heavier and heavier. He curled up in the blankets and soon fell into a deep sleep, without any dreams that night.

……

"drop--"

The alarm clock had barely rung once when Shen Yan reached out and turned it off.

He sat up in bed, his hair still messy. Last night, his mind was filled with Kalander's surgery. He tossed and turned like a pancake for most of the night, worrying about whether the medical team's equipment was good enough and whether there would be problems with his postoperative recovery. He barely slept for more than a few hours.

He had faint dark circles under his eyes, but he was full of energy, and his eyes were shining with anticipation.

He shuffled into the living room in his slippers, thinking about waking Karandal up, but stopped abruptly as soon as he turned the corner in the hallway.

001 was busily humming a song around the dining table, placing Star Wheat Bread, Flame Bird Eggs, and steaming Star Beast Milk on the table, while the female insect held the warm drink cup, her fingertips still damp with water droplets from the rim, clearly having been eating for a while.

Shen Yan couldn't help but laugh at the scene. He was so anxious that he forgot the other person was a female soldier who always went to bed early and got up early, so he didn't need to worry about her.

"Huh—the main insect?!"

001 suddenly turned around, its palm-sized body hovering in front of Shen Yan. Its beady eyes instantly turned into two round question marks, and its electronic voice was filled with curiosity.

"Why are you awake so early? You usually don't get up until the sun is high in the sky, and I have to urge you three or four times before you'll move..."

"Ahem! You're talking too much, mute."

The command was given, and the chattering little robot instantly fell silent.

He clapped his hands and walked to the dining table. His gaze swept over the area on Karandel's wrist that should have been covered by the wound. The skin there had returned to its fair color, without leaving a trace.

He picked up a piece of Starbucks bread and put it in his mouth, his voice muffled: "After you finish this meal, come with me to the hospital."

A hint of doubt surfaced in his icy blue eyes. He raised his hand and gently touched the scabbed area on his back, his fingertips moving very lightly, as if afraid of hurting it.

"To the hospital?" The tone was tinged with confusion.

"I'm recovering very well. The shallow wounds have no marks left, and the deeper ones are almost healed. There's no need for me to make another trip."

Shen Yan then belatedly realized that he hadn't told the other party about the surgery. He took out the terminal from his pocket and handed it to Karandal.

The moment the screen lit up, the words "Wing Repair Surgery Confirmation Form" stood out in black, accompanied by the medical team's signatures and equipment debugging report. The pale blue light reflected on Karandel's face, illuminating his expression clearly.

"It's not about treating old injuries." Shen Yan lowered his voice, but his tone was very serious.

"Actually, not long after I brought you back from the hospital, I had already taken your wings back from Samuel. I've been waiting for your consciousness to stabilize so that I could arrange the surgery."

The terminal in his hand suddenly felt hot. Karandal stared at the words on the screen, the phrase "You've taken back your wings" echoing in his ears.

He clenched his fingers tightly, the alloy casing digging painfully into his palm, his knuckles turning white, and his breathing becoming labored.

I never imagined that this long-buried hope would be quietly picked up by Shen Yan.

His Adam's apple bobbed silently. When he first arrived at Shen Yan's side, he was on the verge of death, tattered and broken, with neither family support nor any value to exchange, like a withered leaf swept away by the wind.

But the male insect in front of him had already paved the way for him to take flight again, somewhere he couldn't see it.

This sentiment was so heavy that it made his nose tingle and his breathing tremble slightly. Rick, who usually controlled his emotions very well, felt like he was about to burst out of his chest.

He didn't say anything more, but slowly got up from the dining chair, his knees hitting the floor with a loud thud, his movements solemn and without the slightest hesitation.

Her hands, hanging by her sides, gripped Shen Yan's hem, her knuckles white. When she looked up, her beautiful eyes were filled with a shimmering light—a light of utter submission and trust.

"By the God of Insects, I swear to dedicate my life to you..."

He spoke each word clearly, his voice trembling slightly, yet it was more resolute than any vow, as if he had given up everything he had.

Startled by the sudden movement, Shen Yan was completely flustered, and the Starbucks bread in his mouth fell to the ground. He quickly bent down to pick it up, his voice urgent:

"What are you doing? Get up!"

When my fingertips touched Karandel's arm, I could feel his body stiffen slightly.

"I'm your partner in name only, these are things I should do, there's no need for this..."

"No...it's different. No male would go to such lengths for a female ruler."

Karandal was helped to his feet, but he didn't immediately let go of the hem of Shen Yan's clothes. Looking at the anxiety and seriousness in Shen Yan's eyes, the last bit of lingering resentment in his heart completely dissipated.

Only now did he truly regard the male insect before him as his only male lord, to whom he could entrust everything.