Chapter 11 Deliberately

Chapter 11: On Purpose

The steaming purple-blue "Assorted Tofu Pudding" sat in the center of the dining table. Surrounded by dishes that were either brightly colored or richly fragrant, it stood out as incongruously as a witch's poison cauldron.

Samuel stirred the "soup" with his spoon a couple of times, then turned his head incredulously towards the person beside him. His mouth opened and closed several times, but not a single word came out.

Wait, what is this? Is it even drinkable?

The male Zerg's reaction greatly amused Idris. Realizing the Zerg across from him had no intention of drinking the soup, Idris feigned concern and asked knowingly, "Your Excellency, what's wrong? Does this soup not suit your taste?"

Male Zerg always disliked food that wasn't aesthetically pleasing, and this Excellency was no exception.

What do you think?!

Samuel glared angrily at the person beside him, then *clatter*—the spoon was indignantly tossed into the bowl.

He's bullying me on purpose again! Mean brother!

He's definitely angry.

Idris lowered his head, his snow-white hair naturally falling to cover the slight upward curve of his lips, yet his voice carried a tone of guilt: "My apologies, Your Excellency. It's my incompetence, failing to prepare food that satisfies you."

Samuel: ...

No need to feel that guilty...

Come to think of it, he was the one who deliberately chose the wrong dish to tease his brother first. His brother merely cooked it—what fault could there be in that? If anyone's at fault, it's him.

"No," Samuel said, picking up the spoon and taking a sip of the "soup." Bitter with a hint of astringency, astringent with a touch of spiciness, and spicy with a tinge of sourness. The flavor was truly indescribable.

"Your Excellency!" Idris was startled and reached out to snatch the soup bowl away. But Samuel blocked him with his arm first and, in a few quick gulps, finished the "soup."

"It's... not... that... hard... to drink."

It really wasn't as bad as traditional medicine.

"You..." Idris was momentarily speechless. In his expectations, the male Zerg should have thrown a tantrum, smashed the bowl, or stormed off in a huff. Finishing it was never part of the plan.

Why did the male Zerg do this? Had he misunderstood earlier? Was the male Zerg not deliberately teasing him? Or was this just a further attempt to win his trust?

Idris's thoughts became somewhat muddled.

Taking advantage of Idris's daze, Samuel went to the kitchen to fetch bowls and chopsticks, served the rice, and placed it in front of him. "Together."

"..."

Staring at the mountain of food about to pile up in his bowl, Idris felt a complex mix of emotions.

A male Zerg inviting a female Zerg to dine with him, even actively serving him food—how utterly fantastical. Yet, it was happening right before his eyes.

"Your Excellency, there's no need for this," Idris said.

"Huh?" Samuel's eyes widened slightly, puffing out his cheeks in confusion as he crunched on his vegetables. What did I do? I even drank the soup. Can't I even eat the rice now? That's just unreasonable!

Samuel didn't say anything more, just kept silently serving food and eating, occasionally giving the female Zerg a portion of what he liked.

Not wanting to spoil the mood, Idris picked up his chopsticks and began eating at a leisurely pace. For a while, the only sounds in the dining room were the gentle clinking of utensils.

After the meal, Idris directed 99 to clean up the kitchen. Samuel, cradling a teacup, curled up in a rattan chair, sipping his tea intermittently while counting on his fingers.

One meal cost thirty to forty thousand star credits. His brother has to take care of me for half a year. That means just for food, it'll cost at least twenty million star credits!

But this morning, neither Bulan nor his brother mentioned covering this expense. Does that mean my brother has to pay for it out of pocket?

Samuel: ...

Did my brother commit some heavenly crime? He rescued someone... a Zerg during a mission, and instead of a reward, he gets punished, has to apologize, and now has to work as a caretaker—unpaid and footing the bill himself!

The Male Zerg Protection Association is so stingy and calculating! No, no, I can't let my brother pay this money.

Thinking this, Samuel opened his Stellar Ring. His fingers, seemingly disobedient, poked at it for a while before the message was finally sent successfully.

A few minutes later, Bulan's chat window on the light screen began spamming messages.

"Bulan: ????"

"Bulan: Pay for lodging? What lodging fee? Where? Isn't Idris supposed to be taking care of you during this time?"

"Mu: Yeah. Oh, don't change the subject. Can you help me calculate if thirty million star credits is enough for lodging? If it is, how do I transfer the money?"

"Bulan: Your Excellency!! You staying at Idris's place to recuperate was agreed upon by him. There's no need to pay a lodging fee!"

"Bulan: The Empire's compensation for you is to be spent on yourself or things you like!"

Not on female Zerg!

Since when does a high-ranking Excellency pay for lodging when recuperating at a female Zerg's place? It's an honor for the female Zerg!

"Mu: «Reply: Empire... things you like!» I know!!"

"Mu: But I have money. I can't just freeload, can I?"

"Bulan: ..."

Damn, there's really no way to argue against that.

"Bulan: Just stay there peacefully. Don't worry about these things. Idris won't mind."

"Mu: No! Willing to take me in shows his noble character, but I can't take advantage of another Zerg's kindness for my own benefit."

"Mu: Stop changing the subject. If it's difficult for you, I won't ask anymore. I'll transfer this amount first and make up the difference later if it's not enough."

"Mu: I'm going to the StarNet to learn how to transfer money now."

"Mu: Thanks!"

"Bulan: Your Excellency! Your Excellency!!!"

"Bulan: Wait! Please wait!!"

"Bulan: Let me handle this!!"

"Fuck!" Bulan abruptly stood up from his office chair. If the male Zerg really transferred the money, whether voluntarily or not, Idris would definitely be accused of defrauding a high-ranking Excellency out of his assets. That wouldn't just be a one-day tour of the MPA; it'd be a multi-day tour of the courthouse!

Help! If Ivar finds out, he'll make sure no Zerg has a moment's peace! No! I have to solve this at the root!

*Creak, bang!*

The office door opened and slammed shut. Bulan hurried off in the direction of the Association President's office.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

The Stellar Ring buzzed relentlessly before Idris, unable to bear it any longer, put his book down and opened the dialog box.

"Bulan: I! D! R! I! S!"

"Bulan: What did you say to Your Excellency today??! Why would he think about paying you for lodging?"

"Bulan: Is it okay to just take a male insect's money like that?"

"Bulan: Huh? Where are you? Where are you! Where are you!!!"

Idris: ...

What's he freaking out about? When did I ever ask for lodging fees from a male insect? I'm not that desperate for money!

Idris couldn't be bothered to watch Bulan's meltdown, so he casually closed the Stellar Ring and went back to reading. In the meantime, he glanced over, the male insect was on the balcony, intently scrolling through his Stellar Ring, seemingly learning to read.

Hmm, if the male insect could stay this quiet, these six months might not be so hard to endure after all.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Another series of message notifications.

*Thud.* The book was slapped onto the table. At the end of his patience, Idris took a deep breath and opened the messages.

Surprisingly, not all of them were from Bulan. The top message was clearly labeled "Male Insect Protection Association." Idris opened the message at the top—a transfer of twenty million star credits.

Idris: ?

Idris exited the message window, then reopened the notification panel. The message was still there, clearly real.

"Idris: Has your chairman lost his mind? Sending me money? Wasn't he trying to skin me alive just a few days ago?"

"Bulan: ..."

"Bulan: So you didn't read any of the messages I sent at all!"

"Bulan: I don't even want to explain. Go ask Your Excellency yourself!"

What has the male insect done now?

Idris scrolled up through the messages, his eyes landing on the words "lodging fees." After a moment of thought, with the "fortune" of twenty million star credits in his account, he strode toward the balcony.

On the balcony, Samuel was reclining in a wicker chair, earnestly studying the various functions of his Stellar Ring while also picking up some basic information about this new place.

Hearing footsteps, he instinctively closed the star-net browser. From the webpage that flashed by, Idris caught a glimpse of the words [female insect] [transfer].

What is this male insect up to now?

"Your Excellency, the MPA just transferred twenty million star credits to me. Was that your doing?" Idris asked, his gaze settling on Samuel.

Samuel looked up, putting on a clueless act. "Huh? No... ah."

Idris: ?

So the MPA is holding onto its budget to give to a female instead of a male? Are they insane?

"Then, did Director Bran chat with you today?" Idris rephrased his question.

Samuel shook his head, then nodded. Being sought out passively... probably counted as being sought out.

"What did you talk about with Director Bran?" Idris thought for a moment, then added, feigning difficulty, "Apologies, I don't mean to pry into your privacy. It's just that Director Bran was asking about some things earlier, and I'm worried there might be a misunderstanding... I'd like to clear it up."

Is Bran giving him a hard time again?!

"I asked, Bran questions, Bran, not teach me." Samuel summarized briefly, his disjointed tone carrying a clear note of grievance.

Seeing this, Idris leaned down beside the wicker chair, kneeling on one knee. He refilled the nearly empty teacup on the low table, picked it up, and offered it to the male insect, his voice laced with a smile. "Director Bran is usually very helpful. What did you ask that even stumped him?"

Samuel was momentarily dazed by the familiar, light chuckle. He didn't answer immediately, instead letting his gaze drift downward—over the distinct knuckles of the hand, the lean and powerful arm, and finally settling on the narrow, tightly cinched waistline.

A body brimming with strength. Yet, at this moment, the beast had sheathed its claws, lying down in docile submission.

My brother is so well-behaved.

Too bad it's just an act.

"Your Excellency?" Idris raised the teacup slightly, tilting his chin up to deliberately expose his pale, gleaming neck. The Excellencies always seemed to like it when female insects assumed such submissive postures.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Samuel withdrew his gaze and reached out. Whether intentionally or not, he didn't touch the side of the cup but instead paused ever so slightly near the rim, right beside the distinct fingertips, before slowly taking the teacup.

As he brought the rim to his lips, the rising steam blurred the curve of Samuel's smiling mouth. He blinked, took a sip of tea, and replied with utter innocence, "The functions... of the Stellar Ring."

Idris: Do you really expect me to believe that?

"But, I, now know, how." Samuel set down the teacup, proudly lifting his smooth chin with a hint of smugness. "Self-taught, you know."

The corner of Idris's mouth twitched. Propping himself up from the low table, he stood, already forming a rough guess in his mind. "Then you truly are so clever."

"Of course!" Samuel nodded emphatically, fully agreeing with the female insect's words.

Idris: ...

Does the male insect really think I was complimenting him?... Sometimes, when you're speechless, you just want to laugh.

Idris was still a bit annoyed today.

Author's Note:

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Insect Calendar 4056, August x, Sunny, Sunday

This male insect is really strange. What does he actually want? I'll keep observing for now.