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

"It's a deal then, no backing out tonight."

"Keep this for now."

Shen Yan stood up and casually stuffed the pink bag that had been tempting the insects into the female insect's arms. Watching her reflexively catch it, yet feel unsure how to handle it as if it were a hot potato, she felt a great sense of satisfaction.

"Now……"

He smiled broadly, his eyes crinkling: "My dear General, would you do me the honor of having lunch with me? I'm still starving."

Karandal's fingertips rubbed together helplessly. Hearing Shen Yan use the word "give me face" to describe a meal again, which was completely different from the suggestive context just now, he couldn't help but chuckle.

The embarrassment that had been lingering in my heart seemed to have been somewhat diluted.

"it is good."

He placed the bag into his desk drawer with an almost imperceptible air of solemnity, as if he weren't hiding some lingerie, but rather a weighty, important document.

After straightening his military jacket, which had been crumpled by the male ruler, he regained his usual stern general's demeanor. However, when he looked at Shen Yan, his eyes were filled with uncontrollable tenderness, and the blush on his cheeks had not yet faded, silently revealing the intimacy they had just shared.

"There's a restaurant nearby that serves good food; the male lord should like it."

"good--"

Shen Yan readily agreed, but his hand slid down naturally to clasp hers, their fingers intertwined.

Karandal's fingertips twitched slightly but she didn't break free. She merely glanced at him with her icy blue eyes, which held a mixture of helplessness and doting affection.

The boy immediately responded with an innocent yet self-righteous smile, his fingertips even going so far as to rub the back of his hand.

They tacitly approved of this affectionate way of holding hands, and walked out of the office hand in hand, through the solemn corridor of the military headquarters.

Having long heard that the general had a very good relationship with his superior, the officers and soldiers along the way, despite having prepared themselves mentally, were still quite shocked to witness this scene firsthand.

The general, who was known for his cold and dignified demeanor, was now holding hands tightly with a handsome, black-haired man. The undisguised intimacy and possessiveness on the man's face made all the female soldiers who witnessed the scene feel a sense of disorientation.

This is absolutely unbelievable!

In the minds of all insects, male insects have always been high and mighty, never before have they accompanied females so attentively, even openly displaying intimate behavior.

They only trample and humiliate female insects in public to show their superiority.

The gazes cast from all directions, shimmering with surprise, envy, and even a hint of barely perceptible jealousy or blessing, all fell upon the two insects.

The palpable sweetness and harmony, like a warm yet blinding light, made these female soldiers, accustomed to their subservient position in the relationship between the sexes, feel somewhat disoriented.

I have never seen female insects receive such almost equal treatment and appreciation.

Karandal could clearly feel these gazes. He maintained his usual calm expression, but his jawline tightened uncontrollably, and the hand that Shen Yan was holding also stiffened slightly.

Accustomed to maintaining absolute authority and distance in front of his subordinates, the exposure of his private emotions to everyone's eyes made him feel somewhat at a loss, as if a stone had been thrown into a calm, still surface of ice.

As he approached the building's exit, Karandal's gaze inadvertently swept around the corner ahead, meeting someone's eyes—

It's Locke.

The lieutenant general who encountered countless unbearable situations at Lanjing Palace the night before last is now standing at the boundary between light and shadow, seemingly about to walk in another direction.

He was still wearing his crisp military uniform, with an impeccable, meticulously measured smile on his face, but some details were quite different from usual, even carrying a deliberate attempt to cover it up.

The top button was tightly fastened, covering the entire skin of the neck. The white gloves were spotless, tightly wrapping around the hands, leaving almost no skin exposed except for the face.

Her smile remained impeccable and perfect, but her eyes were deeper than ever before, like a stagnant pool of water, suppressing all her emotions deep within.

He spotted Karandal and Shen Yan, paused slightly, and the curve of his lips seemed even more formulaic.

He didn't get close, but kept a perfectly comfortable distance, giving a slight nod in greeting, his every move carrying an almost imperceptible stiffness.

The golden light in his eyes flashed briefly when it met Shen Yan's gaze, then quickly looked away.

He didn't stop or say anything, and turned and left.

Attention lingered on Locke's seemingly unharmed yet subtly unusual attire and demeanor, a complex emotion flashing in the female insect's icy blue eyes.

But he didn't say anything, though he unconsciously tightened his grip on Shen Yan's hand.

……

The hovercar was already waiting at the door, and Shen Yan eagerly opened the car door for his wife. Just as Karandal bent down to sit inside, a very faint smell of rust wafted past his nose.

There was a momentary, almost imperceptible pause in his movements, and his brows furrowed slightly.

His gaze, like the most sophisticated scanner, quickly and meticulously examined the master's entire body—

Neck, wrists, collar and cuffs...

There were no wounds, his attitude was normal, and his clothes were neat.

Sensing his subtle change, the male tilted his head in confusion, while the female had already looked away and calmly got into the car.

"What's wrong?" Shen Yan asked.

"It's nothing." Karandal shook his head, suppressing his slight doubts. As long as he was sure the Lord was alright, nothing else mattered.

The hovercar headed towards the nearest city center.

Soft music played in the restaurant. Xiongzi, who had been complaining about being hungry back at the military base, was now slowly cutting the steak on his plate without putting it in his mouth for a long time.

Karandal was focused on enjoying his appetizer when he suddenly felt a heat on his leg. He turned his head in surprise to look at Shen Yan, but the other man remained calm, as if nothing had happened.

He didn't know what the male was going to do, so he continued eating as if nothing was wrong.

This reaction clearly did not satisfy the powerful ruler.

……

His body stiffened instantly, and Karandel could no longer feign composure. Embarrassment flushed his earlobes, and even his brain seemed to stop thinking.

In a restaurant full of customers...

"Not to your liking?"

The culprit suddenly asked in a low voice, his voice filled with concern.

He shook his head slightly, knowing this was the male ruler's perverse sense of humor. He forced himself to continue eating, but his chewing speed unconsciously slowed down.

With her eyes lowered, her eyelashes cast fine, trembling shadows in the lamplight.

Seeing this, Xiongzi smiled gently, finally withdrawing his hand and instead placing a piece of sliced ​​meat on his plate: "Try this."