Come to My Place Tonight

She coughed lightly and said, "You’re still the Celestial Emperor’s son! Who knows, maybe one day you’ll ascend and become a High God or even the next Celestial Emperor!"

Sean said, "I don’t really want to ascend to High God or Celestial Emperor. I just want to stay with Father Emperor, and with you... and our friends, for a long, long time. That’s enough for me."

Lucia Lu said, "It’s obvious His Majesty the Celestial Emperor cares about you a lot."

Sean nodded, stumbling a little as he said, "Tonight... come to my place... okay?"

Lucia’s heart skipped a beat. "Huh?"

"I... I’ll go over the key points with you! So you won’t flunk the surprise test and miss Father Emperor’s birthday banquet," Sean explained.

Lucia’s heart was racing. After a long pause, she asked, "Just me?"

If it was just her, she probably wouldn’t agree, right?

Sean said, "...And Adrian! He’s been pestering me for extra tutoring. You can also bring Darren and Luna."

Lucia said, "Oh..."

She felt a faint, secret disappointment in her heart...

...

That evening, everyone showed up at Sean’s place, arms loaded with thick stacks of books.

He had prepared fine tea from the Celestial Palace for everyone.

It was delicious.

Then Lucia keenly noticed that, once again, he gave her the little red fish cup.

But Sean himself used the marigold cup.

As he flipped through the scrolls, he picked up the cup, fingers gently stroking the marigold leaves, his rosy lips brushing the painted petals along the rim...

"Ugh! I’ve been reading all day—my eyes and brain are cramping! And now you drag me here at night—"

"Cough, cough, cough!" Sean suddenly choked, coughing for a good while before saying, "Adrian! You’re the one who begged for extra tutoring because you were scared you’d flunk the surprise test!"

"Huh?" Adrian’s eyes went wide. He glanced at Sean, then at Lucia. "Oh... right! It was me! I asked for it! Ha!"

Seriously, I must be a masochist!

Sean choked on his tea, then pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his mouth and chin.

After wiping, he kept it pressed to his lips for a while.

The little fish pattern on the handkerchief peeked out faintly.

Lucia remembered using that handkerchief to wipe her tears before, and a jolt of electric shivers ran through her.

She quickly dropped her gaze.

But when she looked down, she saw the little fish cup again.

"Fifth Highness has feelings for Divine Lady Lucia..." Mia Quinn’s words echoed in her ears.

Does he?

Maybe they’re all just overthinking it?

Feeling unsettled, she got up and walked to the window.

By the window, the marigold plant was half-bloomed, its bud already showing a beautiful outline.

Once it fully blossomed, it would be dazzling—absolutely stunning.

It was clearly well cared for!

It even looked livelier than her own Flower Egg.

She reached out and picked up the Flower Egg.

Her fingers brushed against a rough spot.

Puzzled, she turned it over—and found a simple doodle carved on the hidden side.

A blooming marigold.

And a little fish.

The fish... was kissing the marigold.

Her hand went slack, and she nearly dropped the egg.

"Sis! Come over here!" Luna Lian called. "What are you doing over there?"

Lucia carefully put the egg back as it was and returned to her seat.

Sean started outlining the key points for everyone.

He talked for nearly half an hour, covering material from more than ten classics—some of them obscure and tricky.

Adrian asked, "Little Five! You gave us all these key points, but are they even accurate? What if His Majesty the Celestial Emperor gives us totally different questions?"

Sean replied, "If you think they’re not accurate, you’re free to leave!"