Chapter 12: The Android That Didn’t Feel Like a Machine

Valen closed the protective barrier and, seeing his commanding officer so lost and dejected over being trapped by a female, scratched his head and offered a dry consolation.

“Officer Lu, don’t be upset. Didn’t Miss Yun say she’d come see you tomorrow? Besides, Miss Yun seemed to really like your beast form. She’ll definitely be thinking about you while you’re in the detention center.”

Lu Shiling thought about how Yun Fu had indeed admired his beast form earlier, even touching it for quite a while, and immediately felt a surge of pride.

But in front of his subordinates, he couldn’t afford to show any trace of a lovesick young male.

Leaping onto a chair, he raised his head arrogantly.

“Who’s upset? I’m so majestic and strong that a female liking me is as simple as drinking water. Why would I worry about that? I’m just disgusted by that rotten fish’s scheming and deceit.”

Watching Lu Shiling’s forced justification, Valen hesitated but chose not to say more, respecting his officer’s dignity as a beast and mainly fearing a beating once Lu Shiling was out.

Valen then suggested Lu Shiling go to the medical bay for treatment of his external injuries, while he went to the cafeteria to fetch food for the officer and the detained beastmen.

Meanwhile, Yun Fu and Qin Min stepped out and boarded the flying craft.

Seeing Qin Min about to return to the villa with her, Yun Fu raised an eyebrow.

“Aren’t you really busy with work? Not going to the research institute?”

Previously, the man had been so eager to stay at the institute every day that going home was out of the question.

Qin Min, without any hint of embarrassment at being seen through, wore a cool, clear, and handsome expression tinged with warmth.

“It’s not too busy these days. Besides, my contamination level isn’t low, so I need my female master’s help. Looks like I’ll be moving back for a while.”

His voice softened as he spoke, his gentle, captivating pale blue eyes fixed on Yun Fu, the tone even lighter.

“Yun Fu, you don’t want me to move back, do you?”

They didn’t want to return, yet now they were shifting the blame onto her.

Yun Fu inwardly cursed, feeling as if her soul was being drawn into the mermaid’s eyes, as if hypnotized by the mermaid’s enchantment.

She had heard mermaids’ songs could bewitch humans but never that their eyes had the power to hypnotize as well.

Suppressing her doubts, Yun Fu cautiously looked away.

“The villa is partly yours too. If you want to live there, then come back. Do you think I’d kick you out?”

Qin Min chuckled softly. Perhaps it was because he was a mermaid, but his voice was exceptionally melodious.

“You’re my female master, so naturally you have the right to drive me away.”

Leaning forward, the man adjusted Yun Fu’s safety buckle, the faint, cool fragrance on his body wrapping around her like a delicate net.

As Yun Fu was momentarily distracted, Qin Min’s face drew close.

“Although I don’t have a beast form as cute as Lu Shiling’s to win your favor, I work hard to produce pearls. Yun Fu, please don’t dislike me.”

His pale blue eyes reflected her face, his warm breath caressing her neck, silver hair mingling with her own strands—black and silver distinct yet intertwined.

It was undeniable that Qin Min’s presence made it easy for one to become entranced.

Yet Yun Fu had been a high-maintenance child since birth, never lacking affection or indulgence, and would not be easily beguiled.

She pushed Qin Min away gently, a lazy smile on her porcelain face.

“Then you’d better work on producing those little pearls first. Pre-spending favors is not a virtue befitting a good beast.”

Qin Min’s eyes darkened slightly.

So he needed some tough love. Yet she was the one who had joyfully petted the immature fox’s fur and even promised to visit him?

Unaware that a certain mermaid was completely immersed in acidic water, once the flying craft started, Yun Fu closed her eyes to rest, and the jellyfish returned to the mental realm to digest the consumed black mist.

Back at the villa, as soon as Yun Fu entered the foyer, 01 brought over soft slippers and placed them on the floor.

Yun Fu glanced at 01, about to change her shoes, but unexpectedly, 01 bent down and gently slid the slippers onto her translucent white feet with broad hands.

Qin Min followed behind her, but the android didn’t glance his way. Seeing 01’s action, Qin Min’s expression darkened as he mentally attacked the android.

“01, what are you doing? Let go!”

Is she his female master, and yet he dares to touch her?

Dressed in a black suit, 01 remained unmoved, dodging the mermaid’s mental assault, carefully helping Yun Fu change into the slippers, then placing the discarded nude high heels into her personal shoe cabinet before speaking.

“Madam is my master. My duty is to serve her well.”

Qin Min looked coldly at the android. According to Snow Wolf Technology, all personalized behaviors of androids were controlled by programming.

But was 01’s behavior really just programmed?

Seeing the two still at odds, Yun Fu was puzzled. Why was Qin Min arguing with a robot-like android?

Could it be some kind of male possessiveness at work, disliking any male, even one with male traits like an android, approaching her?

Yun Fu thought for a moment but had no interest in watching their quarrel. Instead, she remembered the materials needed to make perfume to reduce contamination and tugged Qin Min’s sleeve to mention it.

“Are these materials easy to find?”

Yun Fu had checked with her smart device; the names of these materials remained unchanged here.

But this world had endured several apocalyptic events. Humans had evolved beast-like traits, insects evolved as well, polluting many plants, causing widespread desertification and a sharp decline in vegetation.

Only the capital planet where they lived was relatively better off, but even there, these materials couldn’t be bought online.

She looked at Qin Min expectantly. She had learned he had even developed agents to promote plant growth, so the chances of acquiring materials from him were much higher.

Being pulled by such delicate fingers and so focused on him, Qin Min lost any desire to argue with the android.

He looked at Yun Fu’s fingers twice. They were exquisite, like finely carved jade, with beautiful joints and nails tinged faintly with pink.

He couldn’t help but hold that hand in his palm—the soft, smooth touch completely unlike his own.

As Yun Fu wondered, Qin Min led her to sit on the sofa, his eyes calmly addressing 01.

“Bring us two glasses of water.”

01’s mechanical eyes fixed on their clasped hands, then asked Yun Fu.

“Madam, would you like water or juice?”

Yun Fu felt the grip on her hand tighten, sighing at how the android’s programming must be set—so glaringly infuriating.

Such an android, if sold, surely wouldn’t be torn apart by other female beast husbands?

“Water is fine,” she said.

At her words, Qin Min’s aura warmed, and he slowly released her hand.

01 placed the water before them. Qin Min did not move but said to Yun Fu.

“You said before that pre-spending favors is bad behavior. So, if I help you find these materials, Yun Fu, what will you give me in return?”

Yun Fu paused mid-sip, lifting her long lashes to look at him.

“Quick learner, aren’t you?”

“What do you want? How about this: if you keep providing me with raw materials and the perfume sells for Star Coins, I’ll give you half.”