Missed You So Much

"Leon Zane! Leon Zane! You hypocrite, taking advantage of others! Let him out!"

......

At first, Shannon didn't understand why Grace was so worked up.

But as she listened, it all started to make sense.

She rubbed her forehead, amused, and grabbed Grace's arm. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I'm not talking nonsense," Grace said sadly. "Do you know what kind of poison Evan Xiao was hit with?"

"I know! It's... an aphrodisiac."

"Exactly! It's an aphrodisiac!" Grace got even more agitated. "It's not even a deadly poison! Leon Zane locked me out and stayed alone with the General in the bedroom. What do you think that means? And before, I even heard them talking about something being 'too big' and 'hurting'..."

"Oh my gosh, it's not what you think!" Shannon's face turned red. "That kind of poison can't be cured with ordinary antidotes! You have to be in a quiet room and use special acupuncture and spiritual techniques to drive it out!"

Grace was half-convinced. "Really?"

"As true as it gets!"

Grace bit her lip, gazing wistfully at the gates of the Imperial Advisor's Manor.

"Go home, seriously! It's absolutely not what you think! I swear on my honor and my life!"

"Really?"

"Go home, now!" Shannon pushed her away. "If you're still worried, come see him first thing tomorrow morning! Ask him yourself!"

She couldn't get in, and even if she shouted herself hoarse, no one inside would hear...

Grace could only leave, feeling heavy-hearted, turning back every few steps.

Halfway home, she suddenly remembered Cutie Pie, so she went to the General's Manor to look for him.

Louis Lin was still at the teahouse settling the damages and hadn't come back yet. Grace met Steward Qin and said she was looking for Cutie Pie.

Steward Qin only knew that Leon Zane had taken his transformed Highness back to the pool.

He was a little puzzled as to why His Highness had transformed so early today, before it was even dark, but he had no idea about the poison.

After all, this kind of thing wasn't exactly something Leon Zane could just say out loud.

So Steward Qin let Grace go to the Forbidden Garden without a second thought.

As soon as Grace entered, she saw Cutie Pie in the water, only his head poking out, completely motionless like a dead snake.

"Cutie Pie!" Grace reached out, grabbed him, and gave him a big kiss right by her lips. "I haven't seen you in so long, I missed you like crazy!"

Evan Xiao twisted his body, wanting to go back into the water.

After she kissed him, the effects of the poison he'd just managed to suppress started acting up again.

But Grace just picked him up and walked off, grinning. "Cutie Pie, did you miss me? Of course you did! You're coming home with me today! No excuses!"

But Cutie Pie wriggled out of her grasp, jumped back into the water, and sank to the bottom.

The water was cool, and he felt much better there.

Grace froze for a moment, then called out, "Cutie Pie, what's wrong?"

......

"Cutie Pie... are you mad at me?" Grace asked. "When I went to Yan City, I didn't say goodbye. Are you upset about that?"

Cutie Pie just stared at her from the bottom of the pool, refusing to come up.

"Cutie Pie, I had something urgent to deal with at the time. I forgot to say goodbye before I left... I'm sorry! Please don't be mad, okay?"

Cutie Pie still didn't react.

"I won't do that again, I swear!"

......

"Cutie Pie?"

......

"Cutie Pie, I'm here to take you home. Will you come up, please?"

......

He just stayed at the bottom of the pool, refusing to come up no matter what.

Grace's eyes dimmed. She stood up and said, "Alright, if you don't want to come with me, I won't force you. If you ever want to come home, you can come anytime. I'll be waiting for you."