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

The atmosphere in the dining room was slightly more relaxed than in the living room, but the long dining table and exquisite tableware carried an innate sense of ritual, making Kalandel, who was visiting for the first time as the Queen, feel a little awkward.

Not being good at socializing to begin with, and with the person they were communicating with being the male's own insect, they were afraid of leaving a bad impression, making them even more nervous and at a loss.

Shen Yan saw everything, found the slightly cool hand under the heavy tablecloth, gently grasped it, and scratched the other person's palm with his fingertips in a comforting way.

Tosses maintained his usual dignified demeanor during the meal, rarely speaking. Shen Jiyun, however, noticed Karandal's awkwardness and always tried to ease his tension with gentle words and a friendly tone.

Somehow, the conversation turned to Shen Yan's childhood.

The male insect's face revealed a complex expression, a mixture of helplessness, indulgence, and a touch of guilt: "When Ayan was little... she was just a little... too 'clever' by nature."

He carefully chose his words, his eyes filled with reminiscence.

"Back then, my husband and I were actually somewhat negligent."

These words prompted Toses to look up at the powerful ruler, his gaze deep and tacit.

"He was at the peak of his career at that time, so busy that he was often not seen for days on end."

"As for me..." The male insect smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"To be honest, how would I know how to take care of a child? I was spoiled by my mother growing up, and I only know how to go along with Ayan, thinking that as long as he's happy, that's all that matters."

"As a result, this child became increasingly obsessed, determined to get what he wanted, or he would use any means necessary to obtain it."

"I remember once, he took a fancy to another family's insect doll, asked for it but failed, so when he got home he cut up and threw away all his toys, crying and saying he only wanted that one, but actually he threw it away in some corner a few days after he got it."

"A high-demand bug cub, destructive, and a bit selfish—at first, we thought this kid had completely gone astray..."

He paused, then his tone shifted to genuine relief: "But now..."

His gaze fell on Shen Yan and Kalandall's clasped hands, his voice gentle and sincere, genuinely delighted by the boy's transformation:

"She's completely different from before."

Listening to the original owner's numerous misdeeds, Shen Yan showed just the right amount of embarrassment on his face, but his heart remained completely calm.

After all, during this time, fragments of the other party's memories would occasionally pop up from the depths of his mind. Although many things were blurry, it was enough to understand this male insect that was born bad.

He lowered his head obediently and mumbled, "Father, let's not talk about those old stories..."

Seeing his embarrassment, the male insect turned its gaze to Toses beside it, changing the subject. Its eyes became distant and warm, as if piercing through time, carrying pure dependence and longing:

"Speaking of which, my memories begin in a sewage-filled urban village on the edge of the imperial planet."

"The past is a blank."

"When I was conscious, I was already struggling to survive in the stinking garbage dump with other stray insects, rummaging through anything I could put in my mouth to fill my stomach."

His tone was calm, as if he were telling someone else's story, but his mistress had already silently placed her hand on his palm, their fingers intertwined.

"Then, on a cold, rainy evening, I saw Toses."

There seemed to be light in Shen Jiyun's eyes.

"He was wearing a long black overcoat and his leather boots were wet from the rain. His whole appearance was completely out of place with the dirty and dilapidated environment. He looked extremely noble, as if he had come from another world."

"He crouched down to look at me, his eyes were sharp but there was no trace of disgust in them."

"I was young then and didn't understand power or status. I just thought it was a god who came to save me."

"The male fowl protection association wanted to send me to a nursery, but I refused. I was afraid that if I left Toses, I would fall back into that garbage dump."

"After that, he took me with him all the time."

Her voice carried a hint of mischief and sweetness.

"How foolish I was back then! I completely regarded him as the most amazing and reliable older brother in the world, and I even vowed to repay him."

As she spoke, she tried to amuse herself, and couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes crinkling into a smile as she looked teasingly at her tense partner beside her.

"Who would have thought that our serious, upright, and shrewd Speaker of Parliament would keep me by his side like a child prince from that time onwards?"

These words, laced with undisguised teasing and intimacy, completely unveiled that long-buried past.

From the moment he started laughing, Tosses sensed something was wrong. When his gaze met that of the male insect with its sly smile, he awkwardly looked away first.

But they did not stop the other party.

A fleeting hint of embarrassment crossed his usually dignified and aloof face, as if a close male master had brought up old grievances in front of his son.

His jawline tightened, and his Adam's apple bobbed unnaturally, as if he wanted to say something to maintain his dignity, but in the end he just pursed his thin lips, and even his ears and neck were covered with a noticeable blush.

He did not refute it, after all, facts speak louder than words.

With an air of unquestionable defiance, almost defiant, she gripped the male lead's hand under the table even tighter, her eyes filled with anger.

……

After dinner, Shen Yan planned to take his wife home. After all, they were deeply in love during their honeymoon phase, and it wouldn't be very convenient to do anything under their parents' watchful eyes.

The gentle night enveloped the mansion, and the warm light from the porch cast a cozy glow on the stone path. Shen Jiyun patted his son's shoulder, offering a few words of advice with concern.

"If you two have any conflicts, you must resolve them promptly through communication. We don't restrict you from having three servants or four slaves at home, but you still have to fulfill your responsibilities. Since you have firmly chosen your queen, get along well and don't let Lanlan down."

"I know, Father." Shen Yan smiled and tilted his head.

"If I keep nagging, Lanlan will get jealous."

Callandall's ears turned slightly red when he was called out. He almost fled and turned to get into the hovercar to wait for the master. However, Torses stepped forward and blocked his way. His dark brown eyes looked particularly deep under the light, and his face had the usual serious expression.

"etc."

His Excellency the Speaker's deep, steady voice was exceptionally clear in the night: "There's something I need to remind you of."

She immediately stopped and turned around, unconsciously holding her breath slightly, her brows furrowing as she waited intently for him to continue.

"If we encounter royal insects in the future..."

His tone was calm and elegant, yet carried an undeniable weight.

"Keep your distance as much as possible."

This sudden warning made Karandal's pupils dilate slightly.

He could keenly notice that his father's slender fingers were unconsciously caressing the platinum cufflinks on his wrist.

This thoughtful gesture subtly contrasted with Torres's usual decisive style, suggesting that the topic of intuition was not simple.

"I see."

Karandal nodded subconsciously, a look of confusion appearing in his icy blue eyes: "But... could you tell me the reason behind your suggestion?"