Longyuan, Celestial Palace.
Evan Xiao lay sleeping on his bed.
As he slept, he suddenly opened his eyes.
What was going on? Why did he feel so hot all over?
Upon closer inspection, the heat was coming from his Heartscale.
He had no idea what Grace was doing, but he felt something soft, as if it were sucking on the scale, waking him from his dreams!
And then... He lifted his nightshirt and glanced at his chest.
Those annoying six characters appeared again!
He frowned, shifted positions, and tried to sleep on his side.
But she was still at it.
Evan lay there for a while, then suddenly sat up and got dressed.
Grace was struggling with insomnia when, out of nowhere, someone appeared before her—his face dark, murderous aura swirling around him. He looked terrifying.
Startled, Grace spat the Heartscale out of her mouth.
"What are you doing?" Evan's voice was low and repressed.
"Huh? I'm just sleeping!"
"I asked you—what—are—you—doing?" Evan pointed at the Heartscale at the corner of her mouth, enunciating every word.
"I... I have a bit of insomnia."
Insomnia...
"You mean putting the Heartscale in your mouth helps you sleep?"
"It's a medicinal ingredient. It really does help with sleep."
"From now on, you're not allowed to touch it! Otherwise, I'll take your head off and reclaim my Heartscale."
Grace nodded nervously, looking scared.
She was curled up under the covers, looking totally pathetic.
Evan glanced at his Heartscale, which had just been spat out and now rested at the corner of her soft, pink lips...
He suddenly turned away and made to leave.
"Evan Xiao," Grace called.
"How dare you call the Crown Prince by name?" Evan snapped coldly.
"Your Highness," Grace said. "I came to the palace today and heard from Bianca Whiteshire that, on the Celestial Empress's birthday, you're going to choose a consort?"
"What does that have to do with you?"
"You once said you'd spend your whole life with me," Grace said. "You promised you'd never even glance at another woman."
Evan looked at her and suddenly gave a wicked little smile. "What? Are you jealous?"
Grace scrambled up from the bed and, without warning, threw her arms around his neck. "Just thinking about it feels like a knife to my heart. Evan, please don't choose a consort, okay?"
Evan reacted as if he'd been burned, shoving her away and saying coldly, "I'm warning you—stay away from me! Otherwise, if I accidentally hurt you, we'll both regret it!"
Grace landed back on the bed, looking heartbroken. She didn't say another word.
Evan's face was expressionless as he vanished from sight.
Grace touched the Heartscale and slowly tucked it back into her chest.
She just missed him, that's all.
She actually got to see him...
...
The next day, she arranged to meet Felix Xi outside.
Felix Xi showed up as promised.
"You wanted to see me?"
Grace nodded. "Come with me to Eastwood Forest!"
"For what?"
"I need to collect a medicinal herb: Golden Ganoderma."
"Golden Ganoderma?" Felix frowned. "That's deep in the borderless zone, and it's definitely guarded by powerful spirit beasts!"
"That's why I asked you! You, me, and Rona Yin—if the three of us go together, we might actually get the Golden Ganoderma."
"Why should I risk my life for you?"
"Wow, where's your conscience?" Grace huffed. "I always make double batches when I refine pills! I split them with you, remember?"
"No way!" Felix turned to leave.
"Senior!" Grace grabbed his arm and gave him a sweet smile. "You wouldn't really let your 'one and only' junior go to the forest alone, would you?"