Han Soi had barely regained control of his emotions when he cleared his throat and forced himself to act normal again.
"...You should eat something," he said, eyes carefully averted from her figure.
Yue Yue perked up instantly. "Eat?"
Han Soi nodded. He reached into his spatial storage and pulled out a slim tube like glass container filled with a soft pink, sparkling liquid. It shimmered beautifully, as if small stars floated inside.
He handed it to her gently. "Here. Strawberry flavor. Females usually like this one."
Yue Yue stared at the glowing pink tube.
"...Is this to eat?" she asked with question marks popping above her head. Should they not drink this instead of eating?
"Yes," Han Soi replied, completely serious. "It is nutritional solution. It is very healthy. Just drink it."
She blinked. Then, with full innocence, she lifted it to her lips and took a sip.
A small sip and then...
PFFFFFT...!!
She spat it out immediately, spraying pink glittery droplets in a dramatic arc.
"WHAT... WHAT... WHAT IS THIS?!" she shrieked. "WHAT KIND OF DEMON JUICE IS THIS?!"
Han Soi froze.
The pink liquid dripped from her chin as she coughed, tears instantly filling her eyes.
"Ah... did I give you the wrong one?" he asked, suddenly nervous. "This is mild... the sweetest flavor even..."
"It is BITTER!" Yue Yue wailed, clutching her chest like she had been poisoned.
Her eyes were red, her tongue sticking out, and she looked like she had seen heaven and hell at the same time.
Han Soi quickly snatched the tube from her hands, his expression tightening. "You do not like strawberry... understood." He put it aside and pulled out another tube.
This one was pale green. Soft and pleasant looking. It was guava flavor.
"Try this," he said, almost anxiously. "It is gentle, sweet and refreshing."
Yue Yue eyed the green tube like it was a venomous snake. Still... she trusted him a little. And she was hungry.
So she took the tiniest sip and then...
"BLERGH...!!"
She immediately bent forward, coughing violently. Han Soi nearly dropped the tube.
Her eyes widened, face pale. "WHAT IS THIS?!" she gasped. "It is even WORSE! It tastes like... like... like bright green ANIMAL SHIT!! Where is the fruit?! WHERE IS THE GUAVA?!"
Han Soi stared at her, horrified. "Worse? How is it worse? This is high grade Premium Female Nutritional..."
"I CANNOT DRINK THIS!" she cried, tears threatening to spill. "Are you trying to poison me? Are these actually medicines? Are they punishment drinks? Is this a test? What is happening?!"
Han Soi panicked.
He had never seen anyone react like this... ever.
Females in their Empire loved these flavors. They were expensive and rare, full of nutrients. Most would cry in joy if a male offered one.
But Yue Yue... looked ready to dig her own grave just to escape tasting it again.
He quickly took the guava tube away from her trembling hands.
Then he pulled out the third option... the rarest, most luxurious one.
Meat flavored nutritional solution.
Rich brown color, thick texture, high protein.
He held it out. "This one should be fine. Meat flavor is neutral. Everyone likes..."
Yue Yue sniffed it.
She immediately gagged.
"HUUURK...! WHY... WHY DOES IT SMELL LIKE FISH ROT?!"
Han Soi stiffened. He looked at the tube. Then at her. Then at the tube again.
"...It does not smell like that," he said slowly.
"It DOES!" Yue Yue cried. "I cannot eat this. I cannot drink any of this. I want real food!!"
Han Soi blinked.
"Real food?"
"Yes!" she nodded desperately. "Do you have meat to eat? Actual meat? Like cooked meat? Or... or roasted meat? Or anything that is not liquid inside a glowing tube?!"
Han Soi stared at her as if she had just claimed she was not from their world.
Real food?
No interstellar beastmen ate real food daily. Nutritional solutions were standard. They were efficient and safe.
But Yue Yue was looking up at him with pitiful, watery eyes like a helpless abandoned kitten.
His chest tightened strangely. He did not understand the feeling.
"...Do you have meat?" she whispered again.
Han Soi immediately became tense. Where was he going to get the meat... they had never eaten any meat at all aside from this nutritional solution.
"I do not have meat at all..." he said in a small tone. He had never thought that he, who would not give face even to the emperor... would actually use this small voice to answer a female who did not even reach his shoulders.
"What... oh then never mind we could just catch a few... after all there are plenty here." She said with shining eyes. She had seen many beasts roaming in this entire place. Surely they could catch one or two.
"What... you want to eat... polluted beasts?" he asked.
And she nodded like it was the most normal thing. But then his brows relaxed as it was really his negligence. Females really could eat polluted beast meat.
Because their bodies were natural purifiers. But if male orcs ate this then they would surely wait to get into a riot...
But then he paused, his brows lowering slightly. But still he had never seen any female eating what they found disgusting, that bloody meat at all... maybe she was different.
If Yue Yue had heard his thoughts... she would have screamed at him. Who the hell was going to eat bloody raw meat? Did she look like a savage to him?
"It is your first time drinking nutritional solutions?" he asked, voice soft but cautious.
Yue Yue nodded rapidly. "Yes! First and LAST time if I can help it!"
Han Soi's expression changed.
Something flickered in his eyes. It was the same strange light.
He stared at her small form, her confusion, her strange behavior, her unusual reactions to everything. But he buried the thought quickly.
Not now. It was not the correct time to think. First he had to feed her.
He took a steady breath. "All right. Wait here. I will bring you something you can eat."
He turned around, gathering the three opened tubes.
Yue Yue blinked. "What are you doing?"
He answered simply, "I need to finish these."
Before she could protest... he tilted the strawberry tube back and downed it in one go.
Then the guava. Then the meat flavored one. All three. Yue Yue stared at him, stunned.
Her face turned pink. Wait...
Why did he drink them AFTER she did?
Did that mean... he did not mind sharing?
Did that mean... something??
Her brain exploded.
Han Soi wiped his mouth calmly, unaware of her thoughts. "If the seal is broken, it spoils. So I had to drink them."
"Oh..." her face became even redder.
She hurried forward, grabbing his sleeve. "I will go with you!"
He blinked. "Why?"
Because she wanted to see this strange world and wanted to explore. And see if she could find that damn opening to escape from here.
But she did not say any of that.
She just puffed up her cheeks. "Because! I want to! Also you might bring back something even worse!"
Han Soi paused... then nodded slowly.
"All right. Stay close."
Yue Yue brightened instantly.
But then Han Soi suddenly looked down at her shirt... remembering again how thin it was... and how soft she looked inside it.
His ears turned red again.
"...Stay very close," he repeated, voice a little tight.
Yue Yue blinked.
She did not understand why his voice suddenly changed. But she nodded anyway, gripping his sleeve tighter.
"Let us go!"