On the other end of the Star Network, Kǎngnà was bewildered.

He was a pet communicator, not a relationship counselor! Besides, he was about to get divorced himself, so what qualifications did he have to give advice to another bug?

But this was, after all, his big client. Even if he couldn’t offer any effective suggestions, it was still good to let him vent a little. After thinking for a moment, he lowered his head and started typing.

—Could you be a bit more specific? For example, what situation made your male partner angry?

On the other side, a flurry of messages came in all at once.

—I don’t know either. Last night, my male partner and I were having dinner, and he suddenly got angry.
—He has always treated me well and has never been angry with me before, so I really don’t know why.
—I often travel for work, and I just got back home yesterday. I thought maybe he was upset because I couldn’t be with him often, but he has always supported my work.

A few messages popped up like jumping beans, and it was easy to imagine that the big client was indeed very anxious. Before Kǎngnà could finish reading the messages, another one came through—a meme of a chibi female bug with droopy golden wings, holding a bowl bigger than her head and catching tears.

Kǎngnà couldn’t help but smile a little. After carefully reading the messages again, he felt they were becoming more and more familiar.

The big client’s situation was somewhat similar to Jiālè tè’s.

As Kǎngnà typed, memories of when he first met Jiālè tè involuntarily floated into his mind. Back then, the female bug was just a second lieutenant and wasn’t as busy as he was now. Every time they had a break, they would go out and have fun together.

They had gone boating in the south, horseback riding on the grasslands, and even traveled to the northernmost part of the bug planet to see the snow-capped mountains. He still remembered that trip to the snow-capped mountains was planned by him, and Jiālè tè was very much against it, worried that he would get cold. But back then, Jiālè tè was still quite timid, even a bit insecure, and he would act all cautious in front of him, strictly adhering to the Bug Clan’s “Female Monarch Code,” not daring to oppose his decisions, and had to wrap him up tightly.

Unexpectedly, after that trip, he still got sick and had to stay in the treatment pod for a full half month before he recovered.

A hint of melancholy flickered in Kǎngnà’s eyes.

Back then, they really didn’t have much money, and going out for fun required careful budgeting, so they could only stay in budget hotels. But during that time, they were genuinely happy.

Later on, Jiālè tè’s position in the military rose higher and higher, earning more money, but the tasks became busier, and he basically had no time to accompany him anymore.

Even now, Kǎngnà couldn’t tell if Jiālè tè had gradually lost interest or if he never liked him from the start, only seeking his protection and support. Although it didn’t really matter anymore, Kǎngnà still hoped that this relationship had once existed, rather than being a complete concealment and deception.

He sighed softly and sent the message in the text box.

—Have you been neglecting your male partner due to work? It’s okay to travel often, but you should at least take some time to properly accompany your male partner. If you put in the effort, even just a dinner, your partner will feel your love for him.

*

Jiālè tè lowered his gaze at the messages on the screen.

Effort, love—he had bought the most expensive gifts for his male partner, dined at the best restaurant, and booked a luxurious suite in a five-star hotel.

Wasn’t that love?

A hint of confusion appeared in his golden eyes. Jiālè tè felt that what Teacher Mángguǒ said might be right, but he couldn’t figure out where he had gone wrong, like a beginner in mecha piloting who had memorized the operation process but didn’t know how to apply it to driving the mecha.

Jiālè tè clenched his fist in confusion and dialed Lái ēn for a video call.

“General.” The young military female had just finished lunch and was hurriedly wiping her mouth and saluting. “The reply from the Third Prince has arrived at the military department. I’ve already taken a photo and sent it to you.”

“I saw it. I’m not looking for you for official business; it’s personal.”

“Personal?”

Lái ēn blinked in surprise. Their workaholic commander actually had personal matters?

“It’s about my male partner.”

Lái ēn pouted. “Is it about buying gifts or booking hotels? Just give me your requirements and budget, and I’ll arrange it.”

“No, it seems my male partner got angry yesterday.”

Angry?

Lord Kǎngnà finally couldn’t take it anymore and lost his temper with the general?

Seeing the disappointment in his commander’s eyes, Lái ēn perked up. “What did Lord Kǎngnà get angry about?”

Jiālè tè looked at the glee on Lái ēn’s face and couldn’t help but frown deeply. “You seem quite happy?”

“No, how could that be!” Lái ēn’s expression changed, quickly adopting a sorrowful look. “If you want to elaborate, I can help you strategize?”

“Yesterday, after I picked up my male partner, I told him we were going to the restaurant you booked, and he just…”

“Wait a minute.” Lái ēn stared in disbelief and asked, “Did you directly tell Lord Kǎngnà that last night’s restaurant was booked by me?”

“Yeah.” Jiālè tè’s frown deepened. “Don’t interrupt me; let me finish…”

“Don’t continue; I think I know why Lord Kǎngnà is angry!” Lái ēn said with a look of exasperation. “Besides the restaurant, you didn’t tell Lord Kǎngnà that the gift was also bought by me and the hotel was booked by me, right?”

“I did! What’s the problem?”

Looking at the thick confusion on Jiālè tè’s face, Lái ēn almost wanted to bang his head against the smart screen.

“Of course, there’s a problem!” Lái ēn closed his eyes in despair. “You asked me to help buy gifts, book restaurants, and hotels, but how could you directly tell Lord Kǎngnà? Isn’t he going to think you’re not putting in the effort?”

Again with the effort!

“But I paid for it!” Jiālè tè irritably ran his fingers through his light golden hair. “Isn’t it more important that the gifts and restaurant meet my male partner’s preferences? Whether you booked it or I did, isn’t it the same?”

“Of course it’s not the same! Lord Kǎngnà will feel that you’re not attentive if he knows the gifts were bought by someone else!”

As Lái ēn spoke, he secretly rolled his eyes.

Lord Kǎngnà was an S-class male bug, good-looking, gentle in personality, and just had a slightly lower background, but he was still an excellent male bug. If an ordinary female bug could marry such a male bug, they would have long been pampered at home. Unlike their own general, who acted as if it was a given.

It was only because Lord Kǎngnà had a good temper; if it were a more spoiled male bug, they would have already caused a scene at the Male Protection Association.

“How is that not being attentive?” Jiālè tè’s frown deepened. “I bought the gifts and booked the restaurant; doesn’t that count as being attentive? I know my male partner; he doesn’t care about those superficial things.”

“It’s not about superficiality…” Lái ēn was really about to be driven crazy by his general. “When you first met Lord Kǎngnà, did you also have someone else buy gifts and book the date?”

A crack appeared in Jiālè tè’s stubborn expression.

Seeing this, Lái ēn quickly seized the opportunity. “Don’t forget, no matter how good-tempered Lord Kǎngnà is, he’s still a male bug. You… you’re being dismissive of your male partner, and that’s not right. You always say that Lord Kǎngnà seems to not like you; could it be that you’ve stopped being the person Lord Kǎngnà liked?”