Bring Cutie Pie Here

"If you work hard again next year, you should be able to make it," said the President. "This year, it's just not happening!"

With that, the President turned and walked away.

"President! President!" Lily Xu called out desperately, but the President didn't look back.

Bianca Whitefan (Shannon) really made it!

Grace's heart bloomed with joy as she skipped after the President.

Lily Xu dashed over and snapped at Grace, "Chloe Zhu! You're already a Level Nine Spiritual Alchemist—what's the point of more advanced training? The classes are all for Level Eight and below. Why are you even going?"

"Didn't you say that just breathing the air at HQ will boost your cultivation? I'm going to breathe HQ's air."

You—" Lily Xu screeched, "Chloe Zhu, you are such a pain! What a waste of a spot! You're just hogging the spot and not letting anyone else use it!

......

It'll take a day or two to get the new list over to HQ.

Just then, Chirpy finally showed up in the space.

Ever since Grace returned to Yanjing, she'd been planning to send Chirpy back to the Vermilion Spirit Alliance.

Chirpy belongs to the Vermilion Spirit Alliance.

But for some reason, maybe it was cultivating, Chirpy wouldn't appear even when called.

Grace even went into the forest to look for it once, but couldn't find a trace.

Now, it had shown up on its own.

It looked well-nourished in the space, with even more gorgeous feathers and a sweeter song than before.

Grace released Chirpy, telling it to return to the former Alliance Master.

But the little guy just wouldn't leave, circling around her no matter how much she tried to shoo it away.

"Chirpy, go back to the former Alliance Master first," Grace said. "I'm heading to the Eastern Alliance for the next two months. If anything happens, you can send me a message, okay?"

Chirpy finally nodded and spread its wings, flying away.

So after more than a year missing, Chirpy returned to the Spirit Alliance.

Everyone at the Spirit Alliance was thrilled to see it. Every time they spotted Chirpy, they'd feed it, and Grace worried it might get stuffed...

......

Before leaving, Grace naturally had to visit the General's Manor to say goodbye.

Evan Xiao told her he'd already found Cutie Pie, and that Cutie Pie would go with her.

Grace laughed, "Ever since Cutie Pie came to Yanjing, it's been wandering around all day. Where did you find it?"

"Near the spirit tree in the palace," Evan said.

"Ah, that makes sense! It sure knows how to pick a spot! Where is it now? I haven't seen that little rascal in days!" Grace laughed.

"Louis Lin," Evan called.

"Here," Louis Lin replied.

"Go bring Cutie Pie here."

Ever the clever one, Louis said, "...Alright! I'll go look for it."

With that, he walked off toward the garden, calling out as he went, "Cutie Pie! Your master is here! Come out, quick!"

......

Once Louis left, only Grace and Evan Xiao remained in the courtyard.

Grace looked at Evan and said, "I'll be gone for two months."

"Mm. I know."

"While I'm away, you have to be just like you are when I'm here."

Evan thought about it, not quite getting her meaning. "What do you mean?"

"You can't look at any other women! You can't accept any other woman's affection! And you absolutely can't even think about taking a concubine or adding anyone to your rooms!"

Evan smiled, "Did you forget? My third time is reserved for you. How could I take on a concubine or anyone else?"

Grace blushed a little. "And you have to think of me every day, not even for a moment are you allowed to forget!"

She looked just like a sweet, bashful girl when she said that, absolutely adorable.

Evan flicked her forehead, "Impossible to forget! Even if I forgot myself, I'd never forget you. Happy now?"