Cows grazing on grass was natural order, but Subiao devouring flowers with such ferocity made it feel infinitely crueler.

She nibbled two blooms before plucking two more to hand to An Junlie, "You arrived this early? Haven't eaten yet? These will be your breakfast."

An Junlie twitched an eyelid—something about the scene felt unsettlingly off-kilter.

Subiao tilted her head with a smirk, "Don't want them? Perfect, I'll just keep them." Then she shoved another entire blossom into her mouth without ceremony.

A soft smile curved An Junlie's lips as he cupped her face between his palms, "I never said I refused," he murmured.

Subiao chewed with defiant delight, "Who needs to say 'good morning' when—" Her words faltered mid-sentence when An Junlie suddenly pressed his mouth against hers.

Though imposing in stature, his lips were unexpectedly soft—feather-light brushes that sent ripples through her gaze. Subiao found herself drowning in the clarity and depth of his eyes, watercolor hues blurring into a dreamlike haze. The rose thorn she'd been clutching slipped from her fingers to the floor as An Junlie's presence displaced the floral scent entirely with his own—familiar yet strangely alien, laced with lingering rose notes that swirled in his gaze.

Wild. Unbridled heat. A force overtaking every breath until it became pure obsession.

An Junlie's fingers curled into her palm, pulling her close against his chest where she burned like a brand. His grip was bruisingly tight when Subiao instinctively gasped at the pressure.

A sudden burst of flame ignited between them just as An Junlie's composure flickered back to life. He awkwardly concealed the telltale bulge in his trousers, suppressing the delicious aftertaste still clinging to their kiss before releasing her entirely.

Subiao's eyes were hazy with wantonness when he gently licked her lip and rested his forehead against hers, "Little sister, I've missed you so."

Blushing furiously beneath his touch, Subiao buried her face in his chest like a dead body. An Junlie looped an arm around her waist to stroke her hair, "Ignoring me now?"

A long pause passed before muffled words emerged from his embrace—her voice thick with resentment, "Why didn't you come save me when Bai Lanhua cornered me?"

An Junlie stilled completely at those words. The greatest way to wound a man was comparing him to another who had already succeeded surpassing him.

He traced her cheekbone with his thumb, tone both gentle and resolute, "From now on, I won't give him that opportunity again."

Subiao shot him an incredulous look just as the communicator buzzed—Spent's voice crackled through, "Leavesy, have you slept? Why aren't you ready yet?"

Glancing at the clock, Subiao realized she'd completely lost track of time with An Junlie.

"Wait a moment!" she hissed into the device before hurrying toward the exit, "I'm coming right now."

Spent sounded uncharacteristically relaxed through the comms, "Take your time—Bingdang's probably even slower than you are."

Subiao gave a muffled acknowledgment as she tore out of An Junlie's lap and headed for the bathroom. After two paces, something struck her mind—a sharp turn back to demand, "Alien, coming with?"

An Junlie shook his head, "You're students enjoying an outing. I won't intrude."

Subiao puffed up her cheeks but didn't argue, "Fine... will you wait for me here then?"

He nodded once before she bounded forward to press a loud smooch against his face—just as she would on Xiao Douya—before bolting toward the bathroom again.

Xiao Douya fluttered into the room in time to cover its tiny face with wings, "Oh no! Oh no! The stupid little leaf actually kissed the alien instead of me?!" it wailed dramatically.

Douzai peeped from the doorway with a sharp chirp.

An Junlie stood abruptly and snatched Xiao Douya up by the ankle, "What has Subiao been doing lately?"

Xiao Douya pouted stubbornly, "Won't tell."

A slow smile curved An Junlie's lips as he produced three holographic fashion designs from his palm, "How about these instead? Pretty clothes?"

The lightbrain's eyes immediately sparkled before it assumed an air of principle. After all, a noble-minded photonic AI wouldn't accept bribes—except now it was already staring at the holograms with obvious interest.

"Ahh! Just looking is fine too!" Xiao Douya protested as it leapt onto Douzai's back to spin wildly, "The stupid little leaf is currently studying raider ships in secret!"

An Junlie already knew about that—she'd been working on dreadnoughts and raiders at the air force assembly bay. He'd quietly assigned dozens of assistants without her noticing.

His fingers stilled mid-air as Xiao Douya added, "Also... she's planning to drop out."

Subiao emerged from the bathroom now fully composed with lip gloss masking any bruising—her stance defiantly cheerful as she posed at the doorway, "Dou Dou, are you staying with the alien or coming with me?"

Xiao Douya gazed between its owner and three tempting fashion designs before making an instant decision. "Of course I'll stay with the alien! Wait for her return!" it declared loyally.

Subiao blew them a kiss as she bounded out the door, scooping up Douzai along the way to exchange a paw shake—"See you later!"

The three pairs of eyes—An Junlie's human gaze and Xiao Douya/Douzai's photonic ones—watched the closed door before all three mouths opened in perfect unison.

Xiao Douya flung itself onto An Junlie's shoulder while spinning wildly, "I'm dead! I'm dead! If the stupid little leaf finds out you know about this, she'll definitely crush me into dust!"

An Jun!e gripped Xiao Douya firmly and dismounted it with serious intent. "Why does she want to quit school?" he demanded.

Xiao Douya pouted in a way eerily identical to its owner—proof once again that pets inevitably reflect their masters' expressions.

Rubbing his temples, An Junlie admitted Subiao's reasoning made sense. Yet seventeen years old was still the age of blooming flowers. Was it truly wise for her to abandon academia entirely and devote herself fully to military development?

He sincerely wished she could lead a normal student life—until this moment he hadn't realized how completely he'd failed in providing that stability for her. That failure had driven her toward this desperate decision, and the realization burned through his chest like wildfire.

-RS