C46 Overbearing and Domineering

Sean, sipping his soup, nodded at Yang Chuxia and remarked, "You've got to trust the general. This soup is delicious!"

Yang Chuxia smiled and encouraged, "Then have some more." She served a piece of fish to Edi, adding, "Your wounds are healed now, so eat up!" After a pause, she inquired, "Should I go see Mrs. Aurelian?"

Edi looked up at Yang Chuxia and said slowly, "Chuxia, with my protection, shouldn't you feel more confident?"

His words implied that his love for Chuxia was sufficient and she didn't need his mother's approval.

Blushing, Yang Chuxia stammered, "It's simply a matter of politeness. It has nothing to do with confidence."

"Or are you concerned that I'll lose interest in you and you're seeking a backup?" Edi probed.

Yang Chuxia's cheeks grew even redder, and she bowed her head, focusing intently on her meal.

Suddenly, Edi offered her another piece of fish, saying, "Have some more. Don't accuse me of being stingy."

Sean observed their exchange, feeling a twinge of sadness.

Edi, noticing Sean's reaction, pressed his lips together and gave him a brief look.

Sean tensed up and began to eat more quickly. After three minutes, he set down his bowl and announced, "General, Yang Chuxia, please enjoy your meal. I'll be waiting in the living room."

Yang Chuxia glanced at Sean, puzzled, "There's plenty of food left. Have some more."

Sean replied awkwardly, "No, I'm full," and swiftly exited the dining room.

Without a word, Edi handed Yang Chuxia some greens, advising, "Eat your vegetables; they're good for your skin."

Only then did Yang Chuxia notice Edi's adept use of chopsticks. She asked in surprise, "Oh! General, you can use chopsticks?"

Realizing she didn't know where the chopsticks had come from, she expressed her confusion, "I didn't notice any chopsticks here last night, did I?"

Edi glanced at her and remarked, "I had Sean pick these up this morning. Seeing how tasty your Chinese meal was, it just seemed right to use chopsticks!"

Yang Chuxia's heart swelled with sweetness as she recalled Edi's earlier words, "Chuxia, with me looking out for you, shouldn't you feel more confident?" Her spirits soared, and she playfully twirled the chopsticks between her fingers.

Edi chuckled at the sight and said softly, "I'll get a bunch made for you to use at the base."

With a mischievous grin, Yang Chuxia teased Edi, "Want to give it a try?"

Edi met her gaze and drawled, "Let's not ask me to perform feats I'm not skilled at. If you're bored, perhaps eat a bit quicker and take some time to relax?"

Yang Chuxia gasped and shot him a glare!

Before she could fully process her reaction, Edi's hand was already on her waist, his tone playfully threatening, "Little Enchantress! Are you doing this on purpose?"

Remembering the way she had captivated everyone with her shimmering eyes the night before, Edi felt a twinge of annoyance. He pulled her onto his lap and instructed sternly, "From now on, no glaring or sideways glances in front of others. Keep your eyes straight ahead!"

"...General, that's quite a tall order. Maybe I should just wear sunglasses all day," Yang Chuxia lamented.

"Sean..." Edi called out abruptly, "Go buy Chuxia a few outfits and a pair of sunglasses, too!"

Upon hearing the command, Sean promptly set out.

Yang Chuxia watched Edi, speechless. Having a handsome and aloof boyfriend was great, but wasn't this a bit too domineering?

Edi reveled in the attention Yang Chuxia lavished upon him, leisurely finishing his meal.

After Edi had eaten his fill, Yang Chuxia belatedly inquired, "Why haven't Cliff and Lafite returned?"

Edi accepted a napkin from her and wiped his mouth, explaining, "They're tied up and won't be able to make it back. We'll head straight back from here. If you want to say goodbye, just give Lafite a call."

Out of politeness, Yang Chuxia did call Lafite to bid farewell.

Sean was back in just half an hour.

Yang Chuxia felt oddly at ease in her new outfit.

Edi was quite pleased with her choice of attire—a chic, white dress adorned with delicate flowers, elegantly tailored to fall just past the knees. It was the epitome of grace!

Edi even accessorized her with sunglasses, and at a glance, one might mistake her for a noblewoman's daughter!

Sean, too, believed the dress suited Yang Chuxia well. As he watched her descend the stairs with Edi, he smiled and complimented, "Not bad at all! You look very beautiful and elegant."

Yang Chuxia returned the smile, saying, "Thank you, Sean. You really have an eye for style!"

Edi wrapped an arm around her waist confidently and remarked, "No need for thanks. His quick return just shows he wasn't truly invested!"

"...It seems the general is displeased with my hasty return!" Sean murmured to himself as he stood up and took the lead to the aircraft.

Yang Chuxia recalled that Edi had arrived in his personal warship, which was now destroyed. She inquired, "Are we taking our own warship back, or will headquarters arrange transportation for us?"

Edi answered, "We'll take our own warship back. This is the Main Base of the Alliance, and we're at headquarters. Surely they can spare a warship for me?"

The return journey was exceptionally smooth. Yang Chuxia had previously traveled on the Rescue Team's large warship, lying in a specialized sleeping chamber, and hadn't felt a thing during the space jump.

However, this time aboard a medium-sized warship, the space jump nearly turned her stomach inside out. It took her a good half hour after exiting the jump to feel normal again.

Edi, with a concerned frown, said to the pale-faced Yang Chuxia, "Anyone who hasn't been through anti-vertigo training would react like this! Once you complete the training, you won't have this issue."

Yang Chuxia managed a wry smile and asked, "Why didn't the large warship feel so turbulent?"

Edi explained, "As you know, it's a large warship. Its weight means it doesn't get tossed around as much. And aboard a Mothership, you'd feel even less."

Yang Chuxia spoke in a feeble tone, "So, if I were to board a small warship, wouldn't the shaking leave me so disoriented that I wouldn't even recognize you?"

Edi responded with a wry smile, "Should I take that as a sign that you feel particularly close to me?"

"Are we not?" Chuxia countered.

Edi arched an eyebrow and remarked, "Hmm, it seems you're increasingly taking your superior for granted. Could it be because I've been too indulgent with you?"

Chuxia had indeed noticed that she no longer feared Edi after performing surgery on him, but it wasn't due to the pampering he mentioned. She replied earnestly, "General Edi, all I can say is that your way of pampering has been rather unsuccessful! For the moment, I haven't quite grasped what you mean by 'spoiling.'"

Edi gave her a disgruntled look and said, "Am I not making myself clear enough, or are you just slow on the uptake?"