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

It has been seven days since Karandal arrived at Shen Yan's house.

These days, the male insect has not overstepped any boundaries and seems not to have revealed its true nature yet.

Karandal stared at the screen by the bedside, keeping track of the latest military developments. His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the armrest of his wheelchair. It has to be said, Shen Yan was quite patient in his pretense.

There was never a shortage of food. From congee to tender minced meat, there were always light meals suitable for wound recovery, all delivered on time by 001.

The little robot swayed its round body, its mechanical voice carrying a cheerful undertone: "Lord Kalandel, today's beast meat porridge has been simmering for three hours! The Lord Insect specially added nutrient solution to aid in recovery!"

It can sense the female insect's wariness of Shen Yan, and will always seize any opportunity to say a few good words for its male.

"The master worm was working on the nutrient solution ratio until midnight yesterday, saying it has to be accurate to the milliliter for it to be effective!"

Karandal ignored it.

……

Shen Yan sat on the sofa in the bedroom, staring intently at the computer screen, which displayed a message that Harlan had just sent.

"Your Excellency Shen Yan, the location of Admiral Calander's wings has been confirmed. His wingspan is a full 3 meters. Samuel specially commissioned a huge gilded frame to secure the wings completely within it. As a trophy of war, it hangs in the center of the collection room. The frame is adorned with a plaque engraved with the word 'Conquest,' and the edges are inlaid with tiny gemstones, displaying the utmost extravagance."

The attached secretly recorded video was then opened. In the video, Samuel was wearing an expensive velvet nightgown, embracing a scantily clad, almost feminine boy, holding a wine glass close to the picture frame, his fingertips tracing the edge of the frame, his tone full of arrogance.

"This is my most prized possession. So what if he's a general? I can easily crush him into the mud..."

Shen Yan's knuckles tightened suddenly, the outer shell of the quantum computer becoming slightly hot from his grip. He had no prior connection with Kalandall. As a soul from another world, he felt no sense of belonging to this insectoid world. The most outrageous thing he had ever done was, in a moment of indignation, saving an innocent female insect general who had fallen from her pedestal.

There was no public announcement, only a helping hand extended when the other party was in their most desperate moment.

From the moment he uttered the words "I will marry her as my queen" and rescued Calander from Samuel's clutches, he accepted his responsibility.

This responsibility has nothing to do with love, nor is it a momentary impulse to possess; rather, it is a sense of justice and commitment ingrained in one's bones. Having reached out to help, there is no reason to abandon the situation.

"Prepare the car, and call a few more guards to follow." Shen Yan dialed Harun's communication, his voice firm.

"His glory should not be desecrated as spoils of war. As his hero, I should take it back for him with my own hands."

Harlan on the other end of the quantum computer paused noticeably, his tone tinged with doubt: "Your Excellency, according to interstellar convention, as the guardian insect of the female ruler, it would be more appropriate for you to refer to yourself as the 'male ruler,' the term 'male husband'... is rather uncommon."

In the context of the empire, "male lord" emphasizes dominance and belonging, and is the self-designation of most male insects to female servants or female rulers, while "male husband" carries the connotation of equal companionship, and no high-ranking male insect would use this word.

Shen Yan paused, his gaze falling on the direction of the guest room, his voice gentle yet firm: "He is not something that belongs to me, but a general who once stood alone on the battlefield."

He didn't explain further, only adding, "Let's set off now, and be careful to protect the wings; there can't be any damage."

After hanging up the call, Shen Yan got up and walked to the window, gazing at the irises swaying in the wind in the courtyard. He never agreed with the outdated practice of treating female insects as private property. Kalandall's giant wings, which had once cleaved through the smoke of war on the planet, carried the empire's war achievements and the dignity of an individual insect, and deserved to be treated with more respect.

Even if it's just a nominal relationship, he doesn't want to use a title like "master" that carries a sense of dominance, as it would desecrate the glory of the other person who once soared through the stars.

When the hovercar arrived at Samuel's villa, Shen Yan, accompanied by two guards, went straight into the collection room.

The gilded picture frame, which occupied almost the entire wall, hung prominently in the center. The huge, azure wings shimmered under the light, but were firmly fixed by the cold metal frame. The wing roots were bloody and mangled, like a caged bird.

Shen Yan's eyes darkened, and Chong Junci raised her chin: "Please help me remove it, and be careful not to damage the wing membrane."

Two female soldiers immediately stepped forward, carefully unhooked the fixed hooks at the bottom of the picture frame, and slowly lifted the heavy picture frame off the wall.

"You bastard! How dare you touch my things!" Samuel roared as he rushed in, his face flushed red.

"He is my property, and these wings are mine too! What right do you have to take them? I am a noble male!"

Shen Yan turned around, tossed the SS-grade male insect nameplate in front of him, his tail hooks twitching unhappily, his gaze icy, and his powerful mental energy surged towards his opponent like a tidal wave. Samuel, whose strength was absolutely overwhelming, almost knelt on the ground.

"Being male is not a license for you to trample on your own kind. Kalandall is my queen, and his wings are not for you to defile."

After saying that, he took out his personal computer and pulled up the special approval document from the military.

"Also, from now on, you will be restricted from male privileges for three months. Behave yourself and reflect on your actions."

Male insects are rarely punished by the Imperial Court. Faced with the request of an SS-rank male, the Imperial Court was happy to grant the request and, just as it had given up on Calander before, gave the A-rank male a punishment that was neither too severe nor too lenient.

Samuel stared at the nameplates and documents on the ground, his face turning from red to white, then from white to green. He knew that Shen Yan's words were no joke. With the impeachment of the SS-class male insect and the pressure from the military elders, let alone restricting his privileges, even if his male offspring benefits were stripped away, he would have no choice but to accept it.

His usual arrogance crumbled instantly. His hands clenched into fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white and almost broke, but he didn't dare to take a step forward. He could only watch helplessly as the guards carried the photo frame past, a low growl of anger and helplessness escaping his throat.

As they left the villa, the two female soldiers carefully secured the photo frame to the hovercar's special bracket. Shen Yan specifically instructed the driver to slow down to avoid bumps that could damage the wings. Although the female insect's wings weren't that fragile, he still treated them with the utmost care.

He personally led the escort team to deliver the photo frame to the laboratory. He watched as the restoration team he had contacted in advance carefully examined the condition of the wing membranes. After seeing the report, his brows gradually furrowed.

What's more troublesome is not the wings themselves, but the mental sea of ​​Calander that has been in turmoil until now.

These past few days I've tried to soothe him with my mental energy, but his sea of ​​consciousness is like a stormy sea, with chaotic energy flows colliding everywhere. Coupled with the resistance from the female insect, it's impossible to establish a stable connection.

The butterfly's wings and the female insect's spiritual sea are inherently in sync. If the spiritual sea is unstable, even if the wings are forcibly connected, it will only trigger a more intense rejection reaction and may even endanger the insect's life.

"Store the wings properly in the incubator for now, and postpone the repair plan," Shen Yan instructed the researcher, his tone grave.

"Let's wait until his mental state stabilizes before discussing it further."

He stared at the azure wings in the photo frame, his fingertips lightly tracing the glass, and made up his mind.

We need to prioritize providing emotional support and reassurance.

Do not inform Karandal of this matter for the time being.

Even with the aid of mental power, the success rate of repair is only 80%. Although the success rate derived from theoretical deduction seems impressive, the broken wing repair project ultimately lacks clinical practice support.

He didn't want this female insect, who had just struggled out of the abyss, to first ignite a glimmer of rebirth, only to fall into even deeper despair again due to the failed surgery.

Just after I finished explaining the follow-up matters, the computer popped up a notification from 001: [Lord Kalandall has made a request: to take a bath, requesting the assistance of the main insect! qwq]

Shen Yan paused, then strode towards the female insect in the guest room.

As he pushed open the door, he deliberately concealed the seriousness he had brought from the lab, speaking in a calm tone: "The doctor said the wound has scabbed over and is stable enough to get wet for a short time. We don't have a housekeeper, and 001 can't do it, so I'll help you."

Karandal looked up at the male insect's exquisite face, his sapphire eyes swirling with dark undercurrents, but after a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and squeezed out a barely audible reply: "Mm."

Unable to overcome his deep-seated germaphobia, a few days ago, when 001 wiped his arm with a warm towel, the disgusting stickiness almost made him feel physically nauseous.

The smell of the ointment, the sour smell of sweat from the pain, and the heavy feeling of dried tissue fluid from the healing wound all mixed together to create an indescribable odor that clung tightly to the skin.

This sticky, sticky feeling all over his body had long exceeded his tolerance limit.

Shen Yan pushed the wheelchair toward the bathroom, his palms already damp with a thin layer of sweat.

The bathroom's temperature control system was already set, and a warm 28-degree breeze enveloped him, but his heart was still inexplicably racing.

First, supporting Calander under his armpits, carefully avoiding his old injuries to his waist and abdomen, he laboriously moved the insect from the wheelchair to the waterproof seat. Due to multiple fractures throughout his body, Calander, who is currently in the recovery period, is not yet able to move freely.

When Shen Yan's fingertips touched the other person's tense muscles, he almost immediately tensed up, even slowing his breathing, afraid that his touch would make the other person uncomfortable.

"Let me help you take off your pajamas first."

Shen Yan's voice was somewhat hoarse, his gaze fixed on the floor, groping as he reached out his hand, as if performing some sacred ritual. Kalandel's body stiffened, his Adam's apple bobbed twice, but he didn't say anything in refusal.

When Shen Yan's fingers hooked around the collar, his fingertips inevitably brushed against the other person's collarbone. The warm touch sent a jolt through his arm like an electric current, and the delicate sensation made his ears inexplicably burn.

He slowly removed his shirt, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the other person's side waist...

Her skin was a cool-toned white, yet it revealed firm and smooth muscle lines. Old scars and new scabs formed interlaced lines of varying depths under the light, creating a breathtakingly beautiful effect.

You don't even need to try it to know it will feel good to the touch.

Shen Yan's breath hitched, and his heart skipped a beat. He immediately looked away, mentally berating himself. Karandel was an injured person who needed care; how could he have such a lewd thought?

This was merely a normal reaction to beauty; he must not harbor any lewd thoughts. He forced himself to focus on his actions until he threw his pajamas, soaked with a large amount of tissue fluid, into the laundry basket, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

When picking up the handheld shower head, Shen Yan deliberately adjusted the water flow to the gentlest pulse mode, testing the temperature several times in the air before handing it to Kalander.

"I'm not very good at washing insects' hair..."

Warm water flowed onto his hair, quickly soaking his medium-length blue hair. He squeezed out a small amount of non-irritating shampoo, and as soon as his fingertips touched his scalp, he felt Karandel's body shudder violently.

"Did I hurt you?" Shen Yan immediately stopped what he was doing, his voice full of anxiety.

Karandal shook his head, his voice barely audible: "No."

But his hands, which were resting on his knees, were clenched into fists, his knuckles white. The warmth of Shen Yan's fingertips emanated through his hair, making his whole body feel physiologically stiff, and even his breathing was somewhat labored.

Shen Yan didn't ask any more questions. After all, it was his first time bathing a worm, and he had no experience. He simply used even less force, running his fingertips through the wet hair like combing feathers, avoiding any small wounds that might exist on the scalp.

Foam slid down his hair and dripped onto the back of Karandel's neck, turning his ear tips a pale red.

Shen Yan saw this and felt flustered and confused. He could only keep repeating "respect, responsibility" to himself and force himself to suppress the flutter in his heart caused by the other person's attitude.

After rinsing the foam off her hair, Shen Yan picked up a damp towel soaked in warm water and applied a thin layer of shower gel.

The moment the towel touched his skin, Karandel tensed his back, his shoulder blades bulging slightly.

Through the towel, Shen Yan's fingertips could clearly feel the other person's firm muscle lines and the crisscrossing scars.

The roughness of the old scars contrasts sharply with the raised scabs, yet this does not diminish the body's sense of strength; instead, it is full of the beauty of battle-worn bruises.

My Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and I felt my cheeks burning. This was not blasphemy, but simply a shock at the beauty of this battle-worn landscape.

"Turn around... wipe the front."

His voice was burning hot, and he felt a strange itch in his heart as he spoke to his nominal queen.

Karandal hesitated for a good ten seconds before slowly turning his seat around. Shen Yan's gaze had barely swept over the other's chest when he immediately lowered his head, his ear tips turning bright red.

The female insect's muscles were well-proportioned and beautiful, with distinct lines. Every inch of muscle exuded the firmness of years of training. Her skin shone with a delicate luster under the warm light, and even the wounds looked like patterns carved on jade. Moreover, on her scarred chest, he noticed something else.

...pink.

My hands, gripping the towel, trembled slightly; my back was covered in a fine layer of sweat; a clear urge surged up my spine…

Of course, some of them tried to jump down, but he immediately bit his lower lip and forcibly suppressed them.

This is an instinctive reaction to beauty, like the awe felt when seeing the starry sky or the aurora borealis; it should never be confused with sordid thoughts.

Trying to hypnotize himself, he started rubbing his arm, deliberately keeping his fingertips a millimeter's distance from his skin, but even the warmth of the towel made his heart pound as if it were about to explode.

Karandal's discomfort was even greater than his.

Shen Yan's breath was right above his head, the warm breath brushing against his collarbone, giving him goosebumps all over his body and even making him feel slightly nauseous.

He kept his eyes tightly shut, his eyelashes trembling incessantly, not daring to look at Shen Yan's movements, but every gesture and every pause was clearly imprinted in his senses.

He wanted nothing more than to escape immediately, but because of the limitations imposed by his wounds, he couldn't even move an inch and could only sit stiffly and endure it.

"Almost done, just bear with it a little longer."

Shen Yan wiped his waist and abdomen almost with his eyes closed, until he had cleaned the last uninjured patch of skin.

"You... never mind, don't move! I'll go outside and wait for 001 to help you get dressed."

Before Karandal could respond, the male rushed out of the shower room as if fleeing. 001 received the command and the robotic arm happily approached with the new clothes in hand.

The moment he slammed the glass door shut, he leaned against the wall, panting heavily, and touched his burning face.

The thrill he felt just now was real, but he knew what was important and couldn't let this pure appreciation become tainted.

In the bathroom, Karandel was stunned for a while before he came to his senses.

The sticky feeling on his body disappeared, replaced by the fresh scent of shower gel, but his body remained tense, and even his fingertips were trembling slightly.

Looking down at the scars covering her body, and recalling Shen Yan's reddened earlobes and cautious movements, she felt a complex mix of emotions for the first time.

This male insect seems truly different from Samuel. But the thought was quickly suppressed; he gripped the towel tightly, his gaze hardening once more.

It's just a more convincing disguise.

Not long after, 001's voice came from inside: "Master, His Excellency the General is fully dressed!"

Shen Yan pushed open the door and leaned down to ask, "Would you like to go back to your room? Or would you like to take a stroll in the courtyard?"

"Let's go back to our room."

……

After a long, sweaty shower, Shen Yan settled the female insect and rushed into the bathroom for a quick rinse. As he emerged, still steaming from the shower, a message from the repair team popped up on his timeline:

"Sir, we have stored the wings as you requested."

"Furthermore, although it is presumptuous, in order to increase the success rate of the repair, I hope you can condescend to soothe the female ruler's mental energy, since the female ruler's mental sea is in extremely poor condition."