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

Karandal's words were like a cold key, unexpectedly unlocking the lock that Shen Yan had been trying to ignore and keep hidden deep in his heart.

The chill didn't come from the sharp, insidious questioning, but from the cruel reality of the world revealed in the words.

"Very common..."

"You've always been very enthusiastic about..."

"I should have gotten used to it by now..."

Every word felt like a heavy hammer, striking his taut nerves.

He is not "Shen Yan", at least not entirely the "Shen Yan" of this world.

He possessed the soul memories and moral standards of another peaceful, relatively equal world. For him, performances that treated humiliation and domination as entertainment were a blatant trampling of dignity, nauseating enough to cause physical discomfort.

I can't get used to it, let alone be enthusiastic about it.

But Karandal's question was terrifyingly precise—why did you react so strongly?

Yes, in an environment where all males are accustomed to and even enjoy it, his excessive reaction, driven by pure psychological disgust, is so out of place, so...

suspicious--

My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, almost shattering my ribs.

Shen Yan's blood seemed to freeze, then surged to his head in the next second, making his ears ring. Frozen on the spot, his mind went blank, all explanations and excuses stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single word.

He could feel the female insect's gaze on his face; her icy blue eyes seemed to penetrate all disguises and reach the deepest secrets of his heart.

Panic gripped him like vines, almost suffocating him. Had he been discovered? Had the anomaly been detected? What would the female insect think? A creature possessing the male's body... an alien?

Just as his face turned pale and he was about to collapse, Kalandel slowly shifted his gaze. His eyes were fixed on the dazzling neon lights in the distance, his profile somewhat blurred in the night.

"...I misspoke."

Karandal's voice returned to its usual calm, revealing little emotion.

"The powerful ruler is simply kind-hearted..."

These words were like a pardon, instantly relieving Shen Yan's tense pressure, but also bringing a deeper and more complex feeling.

The other party didn't press further, and he proactively ended that dangerous topic. Did he truly believe the explanation that "the ruler is different from them," or... did he keenly sense something but, for some reason, chose not to delve deeper or touch upon it?

Shen Yan wasn't sure, but the panic that almost overwhelmed him quietly faded away because of Karandal's concession, leaving behind only the exhaustion after the palpitation and a trace of indescribable gratitude.

Taking a deep breath, trying to calm her wildly beating heart, she took the offered step back, her voice still trembling slightly: "...Yes, I really can't accept that kind of thing."

"Shall we... go to another restaurant? Something ordinary, quiet, just a place to eat."

She nodded slightly: "Okay."

This time, Shen Yan didn't look at any online recommendations.

With the help of the original owner's vague memories and road signs, he found a long-established restaurant famous for its traditional insectoid dishes.

The decor was elegant and sophisticated, the lighting warm and bright, and the waiters were well-dressed and behaved with impeccable manners. The air was filled with the authentic aroma of food, rather than an overly sweet or cloying scent.

Sitting in the quiet booth, the awkward atmosphere that had made me so uneasy finally dissipated.

They all tacitly avoided mentioning anything that happened at "Eyes of the Stars," as if it were just a film set they had wandered onto, and once the curtain fell, it had nothing to do with the main story.

Order, wait, food arrives.

Shen Yan tried his best to play the role of a gentle and domineering ruler, introducing the dishes to Kalandel and serving him food. Kalandel accepted quietly, occasionally responding with a few words, his posture as respectful and courteous as ever.

But beneath this calm, something seems different.

He could sense that the female insect's gaze upon him held a slightly more subtle scrutiny than before.

That gaze was no longer merely the respect of a subordinate to a superior, or a female ruler to a male ruler; it was more like observing an incomprehensible puzzle.

After experiencing that thrilling scene, he felt a mix of inexplicable guilt and a strange sense of closeness when facing Karandal.

It was as if a faint connection had formed between them because of that shared, unspeakable secret.

The dinner wasn't particularly romantic or exciting, but it was at least warm and normal.

The food was delicious, the environment was comfortable, and the woman opposite him, though taciturn, was elegant in her manners and kept in sync with his pace.

As it ended, Shen Yan looked at Karandal's profile, which appeared softer under the light, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, while at the same time a stronger determination welled up within him.

Despite a bad start and even nearly being exposed, his desire to understand Karandal and to live a good life in this world became even clearer and stronger.

On the way back in the hovercar, the two insects remained silent.

The dazzling night view outside the window flashed by, and Shen Yan secretly glanced at Kalandel, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him.

It's okay, take your time. They have plenty of time.

As for Calander, who appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, his mind was uncontrollably replaying the expression of shock, disgust, and even a hint of... panic on the lord's face.

It was so real, without any pretense.

He didn't really think about it deeply, or rather, he didn't dare to think about it deeply.

Some boundaries, once crossed, may bring consequences that are unpredictable and unbearable. Maintaining the status quo may be the best option.

The hovercar glided smoothly through the night, the cabin completely silent. Shen Yan gazed at the dazzling night view outside the window, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

He recalled the fleeting, almost imperceptible glimmer in Karandal's icy blue eyes when Arthur White visited earlier that day.

It wasn't a desire for power, but a deeper, more ingrained sense of responsibility and concern.

Shen Yan understood.

He suddenly turned his head, breaking the silence: "Kalandall."

The female insect's thoughts were interrupted, and she looked up at him at the sound of his voice: "Master?"

"How's your health recovering lately? I mean, if I asked you to go back to the military now, could you handle it?"

Shen Yan asked directly, his tone filled with pure concern, without the slightest hint of probing.

And so it always happens: just when Calander thinks he knows his opponent well enough, the lord's actions always manage to redefine his understanding.

I never expected the other person to bring up this topic.

According to the original plan, once he recovered, he would carefully look for a suitable opportunity to make a request to Shen Yan.

And be prepared to pay the corresponding "price" in exchange for consent.