The understanding Commander

"You could tell just by looking?"

Shen Que froze for a moment.

The human eye could indeed distinguish ore grades.

But only the grades.

This batch of larkstone had been specified as A+. Within such a narrow classification, there was very little the human eye could discern.

It couldn't possibly be more precise than an instrument.

"That's ridiculous!" Gabi shouted.

"You're better than a Brain Computer now? Why don't you go be a processor at Messiah?"

"Xingyao, I think you've had enough of being Deputy Minister. All you ever do is cause trouble! If it weren't for your looks..."

An icy gaze suddenly shot toward him from behind. Gabi shuddered and hastily changed tack.

"...If it weren't for the fact that you'd never caused any major trouble before, I'd have fired you ages ago!"

Shen Que remained silent, his cool gaze sweeping over Xingyao like the red dot on a lie detector.

Xingyao stood there uneasily, his mind blank.

He knew Shen Que was watching him.

And not just Shen Que. Gabi and Jin Yi were there, as were the Little Maids around them.

He forced himself to focus.

...I have to say something. Hurry, say something!

Otherwise, how can I make them believe I'm not lying?

How can I prove the ore really doesn't meet the standard?

But the gazes coming from every direction, the maids huddling together to whisper, Gabi's muttered complaints, even the scattered sunlight outside-all of it danced wildly across his fragile nerves.

Anxiety scorched him.

He was nervous.

So nervous.

"Director, um... I really..."

He summoned his courage and looked up at Shen Que.

Only to pause suddenly.

"...Did the Young Lord come back yesterday?"

The question came out of nowhere.

The air instantly froze.

Gabi's hand, pointing straight at his nose, went rigid.

Shen Que was momentarily stunned.

Even Jin Yi froze.

The Alpha frowned, looking at the blond Omega beside him with a hint of exasperation.

Xingyao suddenly realized what a bizarre turn his thoughts had taken, and his face flushed scarlet.

"S-sorry! I-I-I... Please pretend I didn't say anything!"

Mortified, he apologized frantically.

How could he ask an Omega in public whether his Alpha had come back?

How was that... how was that any different from sexual harassment?

But he really did feel that Shen Que was different from yesterday. He seemed a little warmer, less distant and cold.

Not so intimidating that... he couldn't even bring himself to look at him...

He stole a glance at Shen Que, only to find him studying something in his hand.

The lofty Omega asked calmly, "Why do you say that?"

"No... no particular reason."

Xingyao stammered.

"I-it just feels like you're different from yesterday. It feels... it's just a feeling..."

"Please don't take it to heart. Pretend I was talking nonsense. The ore... right, the ore!"

"Please, let's get back to the ore!"

A feeling?

Shen Que turned the word over in his mind.

Gabi trembled with anger. "Xingyao... I put up with you being scatterbrained normally, but what do you think you're doing in front of the Director? Director, you see how unreliable he is..."

"Delay it."

Shen Que's voice suddenly rang out.

"Exactly, I... what?!"

Xingyao jerked his head up, his eyes glistening.

His lips moved.

"You... you mean..."

"I said delay it."

Shen Que leaned back slightly, his hands still folded over his knees, his fingertips toying with a white stone. His expression revealed nothing, but his tone brooked no argument.

"I'll explain things to the client myself."

Xingyao opened his mouth. "Then... then how do I prove..."

...That he hadn't lied.

How was he supposed to prove the instrument really was faulty?

"What do you need to prove?"

Shen Que glanced down at him.

"Shouldn't you be selecting ore that meets the standard and getting it to Messiah as quickly as possible?"

Xingyao froze, light slowly spilling into his beautiful, alluring eyes.

"Yes! Yes... you're right. I-I-I'll do it as soon as possible..."

He didn't have to prove anything.

Thank goodness.

He didn't have to prove anything!

Instinctively, he turned to Jin Yi beside him in delight.

Only to find the Alpha watching Shen Que in his seat with that same intent gaze again.

His joy... seemed to fade all at once.

Utterly bewildered, Gabi asked incredulously, "B-but what about the penalty for breach of contract? Who's going to take responsibility for him?!"

Shen Que glanced at him.

"I will. Is there a problem?"

Gabi fell apart on the spot.

Standing outside the gates of the Fallen Star Palace, Xingyao let out a long breath.

"Thank goodness." He tapped rapidly on his Terminal, arranging for staff to sort through the ore again.

With the instrument out of commission, he could only rely on himself. There were a few experienced senior appraisers in the Ore Department who might be able to help.

Xingyao sent them messages one by one.

"I never expected the Commander to be so understanding! I thought he wouldn't listen to me!"

He praised Shen Que sincerely, deliberately ignoring the faint twinge of jealousy in his heart.

Gabi had stormed off ahead of them, leaving only Jin Yi beside him.

The Alpha wore an expressionless face, agreeing distractedly as Xingyao offered his praise. "He's a very good administrator."

Much better than that unreliable Pei Ji.

Xingyao's hands paused. Uneasily, he smoothed his long hair.

"R-right... you think so too, Jin Yi..."

Jin Yi glanced at him.

"You changed your hairpin?"

Xingyao's eyes lit up. "You noticed?"

Jin Yi thought, ...You just made a point of smoothing that exact spot.

He looked away. "Don't you need to go back and work overtime?"

"Right..." Xingyao looked at him bashfully. "Um, thank you for today. It's thanks to you signing the extension request... and thank you... for being willing to speak up for me..."

Jin Yi said evenly, "I was simply concerned there really might be a problem with the ore. It never hurts to be cautious."

Xingyao looked at him, hesitated for a while, then asked, "Then... are you free tonight?"

Jin Yi looked at him, narrowing his long, cold eyes.

"What for?"

"Well..." Xingyao's cheeks flushed. "You know... I have to work overtime tonight to sort through the ore again. I've just asked a few experienced appraisers from the department to come. If you're free..."

"I'm not."

"...Could you, huh?"

Xingyao's mind was still caught up in his little scheme-

Jin Yi had studied interstellar geography at Messiah. Although he specialized in placer gold, his eye ought to be every bit as good as those senior appraisers'.

Instead, the refusal caught him completely off guard.

"Can't you really join us...?" The corners of Xingyao's eyes drooped, his gaze shimmering sadly.

"I'm not free," Jin Yi said coldly, ignoring his unconscious attempt to wheedle.

If it were a dinner invitation, he might consider it.

Overtime was out of the question.

He had something more important to do.