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

[Warning: There is a misunderstanding in this chapter. The author is new to writing novels and wrote this on a whim. If you don't like it, you can skip it.]

[Chapter 26: Pursuing His Wife; Chapter 30: Their Sweet Life Begins; No More Heartbreaking Scenes Afterward.]

Shen Yan chose an ordinary restaurant near the military headquarters.

He arrived a little earlier than the agreed time, and led by the waiter, found a quiet corner to sit in and casually ordered a few dishes.

Not long after, Arthur White appeared right on time.

He stood ramrod straight, bearing the rank of general on his shoulder, but when facing Shen Yan, his attitude clearly showed respect for the high-ranking male insect.

"Hello, Mr. Xiongzi."

Shen Yan invited him to sit down and stated his purpose directly: "Kalander returned to the military today, and I'm a little worried, so I wanted to ask about the 'Rift.'"

"There seems to be some friction between him and Lieutenant General Locke..."

Arthur nodded, carefully considering his words:

"The conflict between Lieutenant General Locke and General Callandall... was no secret in the military."

"The general was promoted based on his accumulated military achievements. He had a tough style and was good at seizing opportunities."

"Lieutenant General Locke comes from a powerful family and is more focused on rules and strategic planning. When the general's position first became vacant, the two of them were the main competitors."

Shen Yan listened intently.

"The final decisive factor was the 'Blue Star' battle."

When Arthur mentioned this name, his tone was calm, with the objectivity of a female soldier recounting a battle report.

"Headquarters issued the order to seize Blue Star. The general devised an extremely meticulous plan, acted decisively, and annihilated all enemy forces on Blue Star in one fell swoop with minimal losses, successfully completing the mission."

"The victory was remarkable, which earned him great prestige and ultimately led the military to award him the rank of general."

"Blue Star..." Shen Yan repeated the name subconsciously, a sense of indescribable familiarity washing over him.

"What kind of planet is it?" he asked, maintaining a calm facade.

Arthur White didn't know much either, since he hadn't participated in that battle, and only described it based on the mission briefing he remembered:

"It's not a large planet in the solar system, but according to exploration reports, it is very rich in resources, especially fossil fuels such as coal and oil."

"It has high strategic value."

The solar system...

Abundant resources...

Coal mines, oil...

These keywords, when combined, were like a bolt of lightning that shattered Shen Yan's long-buried memories.

It is Earth.

This conjecture made his heart clench, but he showed no sign of it, continuing to press on in a calm tone: "Then... what happened to the... creatures on that planet? What became of them?"

Arthur White, unaware of anything amiss, answered in a factual tone, based on the post-war summary report:

"Life? According to a comprehensive scan after the mission, there are no signs of life on Earth."

There are no signs of life.

These words, like a final judgment, exploded in Shen Yan's mind!

All the clues instantly connected in his mind into the most terrifying, yet also the most logical, deduction:

1. Blue Star is Earth, rich in resources and full of life.

2. The Zerg leadership issues the "Seize" command.

3. Kalandall carried out orders and destroyed the Earth.

The conclusion is so naked and cruel:

Karandal's proud achievements, which propelled him to the rank of general, were built upon mountains of corpses and seas of blood shed by Shen Yan's compatriots.

A chill ran down his spine, but he forced himself to suppress his surging emotions.

The anger and grief were real, but he also knew that in the Zerg's logic, Kalandall had simply been loyally and efficiently carrying out a military mission.

The real decision-makers are the Zerg high command.

He rescued the female soldier from her predicament and helped her regain power, which stemmed from his understanding and choices at the time. He owed Karandal nothing.

On the contrary, he gave the other person a new life.

However, this realization could not erase the deep abyss of bloodshed that lay between them.

I can no longer face Karandal with the same mindset as before.

That budding affection seemed so out of place in the face of cold reality.

That's the end of it between them.

……

During the ensuing conversation, Shen Yan maintained basic etiquette, but his mind was already far away.

After dinner, he calmly said goodbye to Arthur White and returned to the villa.

The place that once gave him a sense of belonging now felt stagnant. He sat on the sofa in the living room without turning on the lights, trying to sort out his chaotic thoughts in the darkness.

Late at night, a noise came from the doorway.

Karandal returned exhausted. The intense work and pressure from all sides had left him mentally drained, and his icy blue eyes betrayed his weariness.

"A powerful ruler? Are you still waiting for me?"

Although the surrounding light was dim, the female soldier's excellent night vision allowed her to clearly see the male sitting on the sofa.

Habitually, he walked towards the sofa. Because of Shen Yan's recent favoritism, he naturally reached out to seek comfort, wanting to embrace the powerful man and draw a bit of warmth and solace.

"Why aren't the lights on?... " he asked in a low, hoarse voice, his arms wrapping around her.

However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the other person's shoulder, Shen Yan subtly shifted his body, perfectly avoiding the ensuing embrace.

The movement was small, yet it carried an unmistakable rejection.

My arms froze on the spot, my embrace fell silent, leaving only the cold air.

He froze, staring incredulously at Shen Yan's blurry silhouette in the darkness. His weary mind was unable to process this sudden turn of events.

"...A mighty ruler?" The voice carried a hint of confusion and helplessness.

Shen Yan stood up and distanced himself from him. In the darkness, his voice was calm, almost indifferent:

"I'm tired and need to rest."

You'll sleep in the second bedroom tonight.

There was no explanation, no concern, not even a second glance. It was as if that subconscious dodge just now was an insignificant action.

Karandal stood frozen in place, his outstretched hand slowly falling to his sides, a strong sense of unease and coldness instantly engulfing him.

A powerful ruler had never rejected him like this before.

He watched Shen Yan walk straight towards the bedroom, and couldn't help but raise his voice, his voice blatantly panicked.

"Did I...do something wrong?"

He stopped at the bedroom door, but didn't turn around.

Silence spread through the air, so heavy it suffocated the insects.

A few seconds later, Shen Yan's voice came, still calm, but carrying a deliberate sense of distance, pushing everything away:

"no."

He didn't look at Karandal, but instead gazed at the dark night sky outside the window, as if something there deeply attracted him.

This posture was more distant than simply leaving; the emptiness of a failed embrace seemed to linger on his arm, and a chill spread from his heart to every part of his body.

The powerful ruler neither punished him, nor scolded him, nor even showed any obvious anger.

They simply withdrew all attention and warmth, not even sparing a glance or a word of explanation.

This left him more bewildered than any direct punishment, and instilled in him a deep-seated fear and... hurt.

"A mighty ruler..."

He spoke again, his voice trembling slightly without him even realizing it, and took a small step forward, trying to close the distance that seemed like an insurmountable chasm.

"If...if I really did something wrong, please tell me."

"I will accept any punishment, but please... don't do this."