Almost everyone doubted their eyes and reflexively wanted to schedule a vision check at the medical room.

If they weren't mistaken, how could their cold, ascetic, and terribly germaphobic Marshal be so intimately holding someone?

It wasn't until the chair was pulled out with a slight sound that the air seemed to be restarted.

Seeing the Marshal not only put his arm around the black-haired youth's shoulders, but also considerately pulled out the chair for him and pressed his shoulders to make him sit down, the clattering of metal utensils hitting each other rang out one after another in the cafeteria.

Some people accidentally dropped their bowls and chopsticks on the ground, while others were even more exaggerated, knocking over their entire tray in shock, spilling food all over the floor.

— And then they silently wept in their hearts.

Vegetables were rationed for each person every day. After spilling a portion, there would be no second serving today.

So for a while, they didn't know whether to first feel sad that the Marshal had betrayed the singles organization, or to first feel distressed for the innocent vegetables that had perished on their trays.

Su Duan's entire body stiffened as Audrose gently pressed on his shoulders to sit him down.

He was nervous.

There were at least hundreds of pairs of eyes gathered on him in the cafeteria. As a spirit who had never had much presence, he had never been stared at by so many people at the same time.

Because his spiritual power could only barely protect himself, Su Duan always chose to stay in very secluded places each time. The fewer people and animals that noticed him, the better. Suddenly facing so many observing gazes, he instantly became so nervous that he just wanted to cover himself with his leaves and hide quickly.

If it weren't for Audrose's hand pressing on his shoulder, continuously transmitting warmth to him and making him feel a little reassured, he probably would have run away already.

Audrose had him sit on the inside next to the wall, while he himself sat on the outside, using his tall figure to block most of the staring gazes for him. He said, "It's okay, they mean no harm."

Su Duan let out a small "en" sound, the tail end trembling. He raised his head obediently to look at him, his jet-black eyes seeming to be stained with a watery sheen.

He's actually this scared...

Although he knew his little slave was somewhat introverted, he didn't expect him to be so shy. Audrose suddenly felt a bit regretful for bringing him here.

Just to satisfy his own desire to declare in front of others, it wasn't worth letting his little slave endure such trepidation.

Audrose placed his hand on Su Duan's soft black hair, pressing down slightly, gently cupping it with his five fingers and rubbing it twice. He said in a low voice, "Sorry, I'll take you back."

As he placed his hand on Su Duan's head, gasps rang out one after another in the cafeteria.

What a rare sight, truly a rare sight. Their seemingly frigid Marshal had actually also learned the killing move of head pats.

......

Just as the Marshal was about to take his little slave and leave this place that made him feel uneasy, Su Duan raised his hand and lightly grasped his wrist, rejecting this suggestion. "No need, let's eat here."

There was still a watery sheen in his eyes, but his tone was exceptionally firm.

He couldn't hide behind Audrose forever. Audrose was the one who needed to be healed. He couldn't always be the protected one with peace of mind just based on the other's doting.

Besides, it was just eating a meal in a crowded place, not some mountain of knives or sea of fire. There was nothing to worry about... although these people seemed to be a bit too enthusiastic.

Audrose still seemed a bit worried, but Su Duan appeared to have made up his mind. So after thinking for a bit, he still chose to respect the other's opinion. He put his hand down, lightly touching the other's soft cheek, then gently rested it on the back of the chair behind him. He pulled up the menu on his personal terminal and handed it to Su Duan. "Alright, pick what you want to eat."

...Another round of even louder gasps.

Taking advantage of the little slave lowering his head to look at the menu, Audrose raised his head and swept his gaze around with a hint of threat.

Deterred by his imposing manner, the soldiers present all retracted their gazes. But when Audrose lowered his head again, they all popped out again like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

The soul of gossip is in everyone. Even though the Marshal was very scary, it was still worth taking a risk in the face of this once-in-a-century shocking gossip.

But in fact, Audrose didn't have any good methods to deal with this kind of behavior from them.

So many people... punishing them one by one would definitely be considered abuse of power. Although he had great authority, he couldn't use it to vent personal desires.

He could only warn them from time to time with his gaze, making them restrain themselves a bit.

The military cafeteria had very good conditions, almost comparable to mid-level restaurants in the capital star. Of course, it also provided a meal delivery service.

— But due to limited manpower, it was only provided to officers of lieutenant rank and above. Ordinary soldiers still had to get it themselves.

The food was quickly served. Su Duan quietly chewed on the vegetables and slowly became less nervous. Occasionally, he would even raise his head to look around the cafeteria in small movements.

Inevitably, he would also meet the gazes of some soldiers.

But those soldiers seemed even more afraid than him. As soon as they met his gaze, they would lower their heads in a fluster, even more panicked than when facing Audrose's warning.

What these soldiers were thinking was: That's the one who's suspected to be the Marshal's partner! Such a rare species, looking like a little flower in a greenhouse. What if he gets scared by us rough guys?

Just thinking about it made them anxious.