No Sleeping Allowed

Sensing her obvious excitement, Evan Xiao's lips curved into a smile. "Every night, come to my inner chamber and serve me."

"R-Really?" Grace felt her whole body buzzing with excitement.

"Of course it's true," Evan Xiao replied gently.

"Great! I promise I'll do my best to serve the General!" Grace said, clearly energized.

"Alright, go make me a pot of tea—make it strong."

Strong tea helps keep you awake.

"Yes, sir." Grace walked off, light on her feet.

That night, Evan Xiao didn't seem to have any intention of sleeping.

Grace stood beside him, serving quietly, her eyelids drooping with exhaustion.

But every time she was about to drift off, Evan Xiao would call her name, asking for tea, or something else, or just... anything.

Seeing that dawn was about to break, Grace finally couldn't hold back and asked, "General, it's almost morning. Aren't you going to sleep?"

"I've been really busy lately," Evan Xiao replied.

"But you still need to sleep! Otherwise you'll ruin your health!"

"Are you very tired?" Evan Xiao asked her.

"Mm." She nodded absentmindedly, her mind fuzzy with sleep.

With a loud smack, Evan Xiao suddenly slammed the paperwork onto the table.

Grace trembled, her big eyes wide as she stared at him.

"I have a million things to do as a general, I'm busy beyond belief, and you, a lazy maid, have the nerve to sleep?" Evan Xiao suddenly exploded. "No sleeping!"

Grace blinked her sleepy big eyes: "..."

...

Three days later, Grace felt that in her life, things like spiritual roots or Evan Xiao no longer mattered.

All she wanted was to get a good night's sleep!

That psycho Evan Xiao actually didn't sleep a single night.

And he wouldn't let her sleep either.

Not only that, whenever he was home, he'd find her for something at any time, so she couldn't even sleep well during the day.

She thought, she must've been misled by Cecilia Chen and Steward Qin.

How could Evan Xiao possibly like her?

He was obviously just torturing her on purpose!

So tired!

...

That day, during the daytime, in the study.

Lily Bai!

"Huh?" Grace jolted awake, immediately looking up and making a show of being ready to serve.

"It's a bit chilly, go get the blue robe from my room!"

"Yes." Lily Bai shook her head and went to get it.

Then, she fell back into a daze.

...

Lily Bai.

...

Lily Bai!

"Huh? Yes! General, do you have any other orders?" Grace asked, then couldn't help but yawn.

Halfway through her yawn, she suddenly realized it was inappropriate, covered her mouth, and rolled her eyes to look at him.

Evan Xiao smiled, "Are you very tired?"

Seeing his smile, Grace looked as if she'd seen a ghost and quickly replied, "Sorry General, I shouldn't have yawned. You're so busy and hardworking and haven't yawned, how could I—a lazy good-for-nothing—yawn? I'll go sew my mouth shut!"

"As long as you know!" Evan Xiao said. "No need to sew it shut, just perk up!"

"Yes, sir!" Grace responded firmly.

A quarter of an hour later...

Evan Xiao stood by the couch, looking at Lily Bai with a cool gaze.

She was sitting on the couch, her head tilted, and actually fell asleep just like that!

Can't hold on anymore, huh?

Let's see if you still have the energy to tease me!

Evan Xiao smiled and kindly laid her down on the couch.

Her face showed obvious exhaustion, with two dark circles under her eyes—she looked terrible!

Yet, for some reason, his heart suddenly ached.

Was that... regret?