"You, you, you..." Jiang Zheyu pointed at Shan Xun, momentarily speechless, her face flushing red.

Shan Xun looked at Jiang Zheyu in confusion. ’Aren’t physiological matters perfectly normal?’

"I can do it too," Shan Xun said, his expression completely robotic.

Like all the other soldiers from Zone -1 and Zone -2, he had dedicated his life to the Empire. He was undoubtedly one of its most loyal warriors, a fighting machine deployed wherever needed. Breeding was no different; it didn’t matter to him.

Jiang Zheyu gritted her teeth. ’What in the world is he talking about?’

She flung his hand away and started walking back toward her quarters.

’This is impossible. I really can’t talk to him. Every conversation is a minefield.’

Shan Xun watched her fling his hand away and frowned slightly. He caught up to Jiang Zheyu. "Are you angry?"

"It’s nothing. I’m going back to my room. Just bring the nutrient solution and find me later," Jiang Zheyu ordered coolly.

"Why are you angry?" Shan Xun stayed right beside Jiang Zheyu, his brow furrowed tightly.

Jiang Zheyu didn’t say a word, just kept walking briskly toward the building.

"Jiang Zheyu..."

"Jiang Zheyu, why are you angry? Just tell me."

"Jiang Zheyu, what did I do wrong?"

"Jiang Zheyu, just tell me what I did wrong."

"You don’t want my subordinates, and you don’t want me. Should I go ask when your Beast Husbands are coming back, then?"

Shan Xun kept following Jiang Zheyu. He thought physiological needs were a perfectly normal matter, so he didn’t see anything wrong with bringing it up. He was completely unaware that his words had made the female unhappy.

He assumed she was upset because she didn’t want him or his subordinates to help satisfy her needs.

Shan Xun kept voicing his various guesses, but he couldn’t pinpoint what was bothering the young female. In fact, after he spoke, he noticed she started walking even faster.

He seemed to realize his words had only made the young female even more upset.

"Jiang Zheyu..."

"Hey, Jiang Zheyu..."

"Jiang Zheyu, talk to me!"

"Jiang Zheyu..."

...

The tall figure followed behind Jiang Zheyu, who only came up to his chest. Frustrated and annoyed, he kept calling her name, but she just kept walking forward, completely ignoring him.

As Shan Xun trailed after Jiang Zheyu, his voice grew more irritated and his expression darker.

A random thought occurred to Jiang Zheyu. A moment ago, she had been the one desperately calling him "Captain Shan" while he ignored her. Now, the tables had turned, and he was the one relentlessly chasing her and calling her name.

’Actually, a part of her is doing this on purpose. She wants him to experience what she felt just moments before, when she was calling out to him and he ignored her. Now he can get a taste of his own medicine. Besides, she’s already angry to begin with.’

’And the way he’s calling my name now... it sounds like an order! What kind of tone is that? I knew it. Asking him to change his tone was useless; he hasn’t changed one bit.’

’Is that the tone of someone asking for attention?’

’That’s the tone of someone ordering me to pay attention to him.’

’Who would be in a better mood after hearing that tone?’

In any case, the more Jiang Zheyu listened, the more annoyed she became.

Shan Xun suddenly grabbed Jiang Zheyu’s wrist. His deep violet eyes darkened, filled with a menacing aura. "You’re not leaving until you make things clear today."

Jiang Zheyu struggled against his grip but couldn’t break free.

She looked up at Shan Xun’s fierce expression and felt a flicker of fear.

"Does it matter whether I’m angry or not?" Jiang Zheyu said quietly, her voice devoid of emotion.

"If you don’t make it clear, *I’ll* be in a bad mood," Shan Xun said, his gaze lowering.

"But I don’t feel like explaining right now." Jiang Zheyu tugged at her wrist again, but it was no use. "I’m not happy being around you, and you don’t want to protect me, do you? Then just have another Commander come protect me instead."

’It wasn’t really about protection.’ Jiang Zheyu felt she was no longer in danger from the Zerg Race. She was just unfamiliar with this planet and needed someone to show her around.

Hearing this, Shan Xun’s expression grew even darker.

"You’re not satisfied with me? What aren’t you satisfied with? You can tell me. I’ll change!" Shan Xun said, the words sounding like they were forced through gritted teeth.

Jiang Zheyu was, for all intents and purposes, his mission. And now, he was being scorned by his mission objective. This was, without a doubt, a challenge to his professional capabilities and his strength.

Shan Xun would not accept any questions about his professional capabilities.

"You’ll change if I tell you?" Jiang Zheyu looked up at him sullenly. "There’s really no need, Captain Shan. Just have another Commander take over. You don’t have to change yourself to accommodate me."

"This is my mission. If I hand it over to another Commander, wouldn’t that be proof that I’m not capable?" Shan Xun shot back coldly. "Wouldn’t that show I can’t handle this assignment? So, what do you want me to change? I’ll change it!"

Jiang Zheyu gritted her teeth. ’Why does this make me sound like the villain? As if I’m forcing him.’

"There’s no need. You look so reluctant, Captain Shan. I can’t very well ask you to change, or it’ll make me look like some kind of villain." Jiang Zheyu lowered her head, avoiding Shan Xun’s gaze. "It’s a simple matter. Just have another Commander come over. Then you won’t have to follow me around with a sour look on your face all day."

"Tell me. I am willing to listen and change," Shan Xun said directly.

’But looking at his fierce, dark expression, how could she possibly believe he was willing?’

’But since he’d said as much, it’s clear he’s determined to stay by my side and protect me.’

’And I’ll probably have to spend many more days with him.’

Jiang Zheyu didn’t want to be miserable every day, either.

Still, she asked for one final confirmation.

"What if I tell you, and you don’t change?"

"I always do what I say I’ll do," Shan Xun said with a frown. "If I do something to make you unhappy, just tell me directly."

"Okay, fine," Jiang Zheyu said slowly. "First, you need to soften your tone when you speak. You can’t be so harsh. I can’t stand it when people talk to me in such a harsh tone."

Shan Xun let out a short, angry laugh. ’Is my tone harsh?’

"What kind of tone is considered soft?" Shan Xun asked sullenly.

"Nope. That still sounds harsh. It sounds like you’re mocking me," Jiang Zheyu said slowly. "Say it again."

Shan Xun’s expression immediately worsened.

Jiang Zheyu quickly looked at him and said, "You’re the one who said you’d change."

Shan Xun fell silent for a moment, then slowly tried again. "What kind of tone is considered soft?"