Do you think answering to someone is submissive?

Answering to someone makes you a subordinate, but not necessarily submissive. Submissive people do whatever the person in authority tells them to do, without question, even if it's against their own professional, ethical, or moral judgement. Subordinates generally follow directions of the authority, but also exist to enable the authority to be more effective at their own job. That can sometimes include advising the authority to take a different course of action, or even flat-out telling the authority that they are wrong and need to make another decision. Effective leaders choose effective advisors, even if those advisors are technically in service to them.

If the person is being sincere,

it would be rude not to answer.

If the person is being insincere,

it should be a preferred response to be silent.