Chapter 45

His footsteps echoed as he ascended to the second floor, and Shen Yu quickly locked onto Fred’s position. The moment their gazes met, the tall female insect in his military uniform rose from his seat. His demeanor was stern and cold. He removed his military cap and placed it over his heart, nodding to Shen Yu in salute.

Shen Yu walked over, the ends of his hair tracing a cold arc through the spilling sunlight.

Once the male insect had taken his seat, Fred sat down as well. His brows and eyes carried the perpetual air of slaughter, devoid of any warmth toward anyone. It might not have been intentional on his part, but it certainly gave off a chilling vibe.

Fred looked at the male insect before him with a hint of scrutiny.

The male insect casually gathered his waterfall of silver hair into a high ponytail. From Fred’s perspective, he could see where the loose strands met the ponytail, neatly bound by a black hair tie.

The male insect clearly didn’t place much importance on this date. He wore no elaborate formal attire—just a simple white shirt that clung to his body. Black suspenders crossed his shoulders, waist, and arms, creating folds that outlined his attractive muscular contours. Such an outfit was rare among male insects, yet it held a unique charm.

—He didn’t look like he was here for a date. He looked more like he was here to fight.

Fred’s gaze fell on the teacup in front of Shen Yu, and he quickly understood. Just then, the male insect’s icy voice rang out: “Major General, your stare isn’t very polite. Are you treating me like one of the soldiers you train?”

Though the words sounded harsh and piercing, they were indeed a reminder. Fred quickly realized his mistake. He felt a bit awkward, and the gray prosthetic eye under his cap brim rolled twice.

The female insect apologized sincerely and earnestly: “My apologies, Lord Sadro. I’m stationed in the Military Department year-round. You’re right to remind me, and I’ll make an effort to improve.”

Shen Yu neither confirmed nor denied it, staring back instead.

The male insect’s gaze was even less friendly. Those ice-blue pupils held a doll-like chill, making one feel, in a daze, like a live fish frozen solid in an icy sea, unable to struggle.

The silver-haired male insect slightly raised his chin. His gaze slid over the female insect’s shoulder epaulets and landed on the inorganic gray prosthetic eye—like two gray glass beads soaked in water.

Female insects had regenerative abilities so powerful they bordered on terrifying, so what kind of history lay behind this irreplaceable gray prosthetic eye?

Shen Yu had no interest. He shifted his gaze downward to the half-drunk Silver Flower Tea in front of the female insect.

He had arrived early enough to have time, yet he couldn’t even be bothered to change out of his military uniform?

The male insect’s ice-blue pupils swept over the female insect inch by inch, like the most precise surgical scalpel. Shen Yu parted his lips in dissatisfaction, his tone picky: “It looks like you arrived quite early, Major General?”

Fred pressed his lips together, keenly sensing the male insect’s displeasure. He frowned slightly, his jawline tensing into a stern, resolute contour, and answered honestly: “Your date takes top priority. After handling Military Department business, I worried I might miss our appointment time, so I came straight from the Military Department. I had no intention of slighting you.”

Shen Yu neither confirmed nor denied it. His fingers, gloved in white, grasped the teacup.

The teacup used a special device to lock in the heat molecules. Silver flowers floated on the surface, maintaining the perfect temperature and texture as they awaited their master to sip.

The labels stuck on Fred were things like iceberg, ascetic, workaholic. The Major General came from nobility and had received knightly education from childhood. As a youth, he had served as a white knight in His Highness the Crown Prince’s Chief Knight Order. After coming of age, he entered the Military Department. His tactical style emphasized mobility and offense, rich with a strong personal sense of upright justice.

The female insect was full of ideals and aspirations, dedicating his life to the Empire. This iceberg of a Major General had lived a life of impartiality and selflessness. The one and only time he showed personal bias was when, at Demian’s request, he sent his own fiancé Vidonien to prison.

A faint arc of a smile appeared at the corners of Shen Yu’s mouth. His icy red lips parted slightly: “Empire’s glory above all else?”

Fred was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Shen Yu to say such a thing—

This was the first precept of all female insects in the military. From the moment they entered the Military Department, it became their sole faith and object of worship. They charged forward without hesitation, sacrificing everything for the Empire one after another. They became the Empire’s iron hooves for external conquest and weapons for internal suppression. At times, they even turned that sharp spear on their former comrades.

Was this wrong?

Was this right?

What was right, and what was wrong?

Fred fell silent for a moment. His fingers tightened around his teacup, his expression stern, his voice solemn and cold: “Empire’s glory above all else.”

Shen Yu scoffed inwardly. He lifted his teacup for a light sip and said no more.

The male insect before him was expressing displeasure, and Fred quickly picked up on it.

He spent most of his time in the Military Department, and the only female insect he interacted with was the mild-mannered, friendly type like Demian. He wasn’t skilled at dealing with this clearly difficult silver-haired male insect lord.

An awkward silence fell.

A sub-female insect server brought up the tea pastries. Her footsteps paused as she instantly felt like she had stumbled into an ice cellar.

The sub-female insect stepped forward steadily, placing the tiered pastry stand loaded with various treats firmly on the lace-covered tablecloth. Fred’s gaze followed the stand.

He didn’t know the male insect’s name and wouldn’t, like some other female insects in the military, abuse his authority to look up the male insect’s personal files. Relying only on scant information and Star Net search results, he had ordered a timeless three-tiered pastry stand popular in male insect discussions.

The bottom layer held sliced sandwiches, the middle had fruit tarts, cupcakes, scones, and such, while the top featured special biscuits shaped like marigolds, along with milk puddings and mini pies.

Marigolds and green leaves decorated between the tiers.

The male insect’s pale lashes fluttered lightly, like a dainty white butterfly.

Fred averted his gaze.

The male insect asked knowingly: “Did you order this, Major General?”

Fred nodded.

“Looks good.”

The silver-haired male insect pinched a silver knife and fork between his thumb and forefinger, suspending them in the air. He lowered his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the exquisitely plated pastries before giving an approving nod.

Receiving the acknowledgment, the nearby server’s tense heart finally relaxed—only for the knife and fork to clink crisply against the porcelain plate with a “ding.” The sub-female insect’s heart, just settled, shot up like a rollercoaster.

The male insect set down the utensils, the arc at his lips icy cold.

“But I don’t like sweets, Major General.”

The atmosphere froze instantly.

Fred was pulling bills from his wallet to tip the server when he heard this. His fingers tightened around the money, his face stiffening.

The sub-female insect felt her scalp go numb.

Two seconds later, Fred extracted the tip and placed it on the server’s tray. She accepted it with a standard smile and thanks, then retreated—not leisurely, but in hasty strides that covered three steps at once.

The second floor was left with just the two of them again.

Fred pressed his lips together slightly. A hint of apology and regret appeared on his cold, hard, resolute face: “My deepest apologies. What would you like? I’ll order something else for you.”

“No need.” Shen Yu reached out and picked up the knife and fork again. He forked a small piece of cake into his mouth, looking anything but displeased.

Seeing the male insect’s action, Fred frowned slightly, hesitating: “Didn’t you just say you don’t like sweets?”

A genuine hint of amusement finally appeared in the silver-haired male insect’s eyes—like thin snowflakes, cool upon landing, yet for some reason, that coolness didn’t feel uncomfortable.

The silver-haired male insect stared straight at Fred’s pale gray prosthetic eye, amusement rippling in his gaze: “Just kidding.”

A silent breeze blew in, setting the wind chimes tinkling.

Fred could only say: “My apologies.”

The male insect gazed fixedly at him.

Fred felt a bit unnatural under the stare and pressed his lips together.

The male insect called out: “Major General.”

The male insect had strange tastes. He knew his name but always addressed him by rank. His voice was pleasant, turning the rank into something like poetry. Sometimes he used “you” formally, sometimes casually, as if deliberately teasing him.

Fred actually sensed a forbidden thrill from the form of address.

The male insect continued: “You’re too serious. Is ‘sorry’ your catchphrase?”

The Major General, who could lead troops into battle on the front lines, wasn’t good at socializing with male insects. He was habitually terse and, naturally, couldn’t guess what this beautiful and mysterious silver-haired male insect meant. Being teased like this made his heart thump noisily, his earlobes faintly heating.

Fred, oh Fred, you’re done for.

White, cold, beautiful—turns out your hidden fetish is something like this? Utterly hopeless.

Fred was silent for a beat before shaking his head: “My lord, apologies aren’t my catchphrase. I just worry about offending you.”

The male insect seemed to smile, or perhaps not. He lifted his eyelids and glanced lightly at him.

That glance seemed to say—Do you see me as such a rude male insect?

Fred pressed his lips together, knowing he’d said the wrong thing again. A sudden regret surged in his heart—

He had spoiled the male insect’s mood.

The hands of the vintage wall clock ticked onward until they finished the pastries. Fred hadn’t expected the male insect to splash tea in his face, and though surprised, he didn’t think it meant the male insect thought specially of him.

Shen Yu finished the pastries and took out a napkin embroidered with marigolds to wipe his mouth.

The two rose and headed downstairs.

Though he hadn’t been doused with hot tea like other female insects, from the male insect’s reactions, this clearly wasn’t a perfect date.

Fred had wanted to escort the male insect home, but the male insect refused his offer, saying he could take a hovercar back. Fred relented and stood beside the silver-haired male insect, waiting for the hovercar.

“Major General.”

The male insect’s breath suddenly drew near.

The instant he sensed the male insect’s approaching presence, Fred’s muscles tensed all over. His chest rose and fell with restrained secrecy. That hand in a snow-white glove brushed a small patch of skin on his cheek before landing on his shoulder.

The air still carried the scent of fresh flowers, wafting into his nostrils wave after wave.

Was it the flower’s fragrance?

Or the male insect’s pheromones?

A deep-sea wind swept through the layered buildings of Zephyr Alley, lifting their hair. The wooden sign reading “Marigold Theme Restaurant” was surrounded by golden cup-shaped flowers, hung from a thick branch extending overhead. Two braided ropes swayed in the wind.

In insect clan culture, marigolds symbolized relief, protection, and loyalty.

Shen Yu picked up the yellow flower that had fallen onto the female insect’s epaulet.

The female insect’s fingers at his pant seam tightened, veins bulging on the exposed bones of his hand.

The male insect’s touch was fleeting.

In his vision, the male insect’s hair strands and lashes glowed faintly in the air.

Zephyr Alley wasn’t hailing today, so why did the thumping in his chest echo one beat after another?

His breath brushed past.

“Major General, there’s a marigold on your shoulder.”

Fred’s eyes blinked slowly, his inorganic prosthetic eye rolling downward.

“It really looks like a medal.”

The silver-haired male insect held a bright yellow marigold in his hand—unclear when it had landed on his shoulder. The male insect plucked it off, complimented it, then tossed it to the roadside.

The flower landed perfectly in the crack between two stone bricks, motionless.

Before Fred could react, the hovercar glided along the magnetic track and stopped before them. The door slid open. Shen Yu stepped forward, his ponytail swaying a beautiful arc in the air.

Remembering something, the silver-haired male insect paused mid-step.

He halted abruptly, the hair at his temple lifted by the wind. His voice floated over like a clear, cold cloud.

“Next time, more than being punctual, I hope you’ll take off this military uniform, Major General.”

Fred froze.

With those final humiliating words, Shen Yu bent down and slipped into the dark hovercar.

It wasn’t until the male insect’s hovercar departed that Fred snapped back to his senses.

The tall female insect lowered his head, his inorganic gray eyes fixed on the yellow flower in the brick crack. His expression was stern, lips pressed tight, like a resolute and towering mountain peak—

Yet the ears hidden behind his gray hair burned red. The heart pounding in his chest felt foreign, thumping without cease.

A notification chimed from his terminal. It was a message from Demian.

[Fred, good day.]

[My deepest apologies. I only recently heard about your situation from Ilay. He mentioned you’re on a date with Lord Sadro. I hope I’m not disturbing you by messaging now, but I still wanted to know how your recent dates have been going.]

[To tell you the truth, I was truly shocked when I heard that you were on a date with Sadro. Sadro is not an easy male insect to get along with—his temperament is even stranger than that of ordinary male insects. Please don’t force yourself. If you suffer any undue insult during the date, contact me immediately.]

[Finally, I learned from Ilay about the issue with your spirit sea. If you need me… as your friend, I am willing to provide you with any help you need.]

Demian’s concern was always just right, but the male insect his friend described didn’t seem quite like the one he met today. There was always a discrepancy between the words.

Fred’s gaze fell on the last paragraph. His eyes paused for a moment, and three seconds later, his gaze slid away from the terminal screen, landing once again on that yellow marigold in the brick seam. Rather than calling it a cup flower, its petal shape was more fittingly described as a gold coin—

The petals layered upon each other, like a medal.

The female insect’s sharp gaze lingered on it for a long time. Moments later, he squatted down, picked up the marigold with his fingers, and held it in his palm.

Moments later, the tall and sturdy female insect slowly stood up. He pulled a notebook from his arm pouch, slipped the golden flower between the pages, closed the notebook, and put it back into the arm pouch.