Top: Relation between the averaged 0.3–2 keV (soft) and 2–10 keV (hard) count rates for each timing bin. Obs 1 (hollow circles) and Obs 2 (diamonds) are compared with the time-averaged values shown in red. Bottom: Hardness ratio (H–S/H+S) as a function of the average 0.3–10 keV count rates. NGC 3227 shows a softer-when-brighter trend on timescales of weeks as Obs 1 has a larger flux but lower hardness ratio compared to Obs 2.