After Being Skinned

Grace closed her eyes, expecting him to deepen the kiss.

But Evan Xiao just gave her a quick, dragonfly-light peck, then stepped back and said, "I've got guests waiting. You should head back! And don't worry about tomorrow—I've got it covered."

Grace tried not to let her disappointment show. She said, "Well, since I'm here, can I see Cutie Pie? I'll just say hi and go."

"Cutie Pie's with Louis Lin—he's out running an errand for me," Evan Xiao replied. "Next time, okay?"

Is Cutie Pie doing alright?

"Just fine, don't worry about a thing."

Grace nodded, then turned and walked away.

Evan Xiao watched her go, about to head inside, when he suddenly frowned—and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Louis Lin was just returning to the manor.

He'd just turned toward the Frostmoon Quarters when, out of nowhere, someone clamped a hand over his mouth and nose, yanked him aside, and pulled him into the bushes.

He sensed a familiar presence. Turning his head, he saw it was His Highness.

What's up? he asked with his eyes.

Evan Xiao pointed ahead.

Peeking through the branches, he spotted Grace walking by.

They waited until she’d left the manor before stepping out.

"General, why didn’t you let me see Miss Lawrence?" Louis Lin asked, puzzled.

"She would've asked you for Cutie Pie," Evan Xiao said. "What would you have given her?"

"Oh... haha!" Louis Lin grinned at Evan Xiao. "Cutie Pie—what a name... hehe..."

Evan Xiao shot him a cold look. "Not a word to anyone!"

"I won't, I won't. Haha!" Louis Lin kept laughing. "I promise—just me and Old Qin know, that's it."

Evan Xiao shot him a warning look and went inside.

Louis Lin was still waiting for him.

Once Evan Xiao was inside, Louis Lin exploded: "You said you gave her the Dragon Scale—I thought you were joking! You actually gave it to her?"

"Yep."

"Do you even know what the Dragon Scale means? Crown Princess, Evan! I get that you want a little romance, but you seriously want a human as our clan’s Crown Princess?" Louis Lin was blunt. "Did your IQ drop along with your rank?"

Evan Xiao elegantly poured him a cup of tea. "Have some water."

"Water? Just give me poison and get it over with!" Louis Lin glared at him.

"Oh, come on," Evan Xiao chuckled.

"Why not? If you really bring Grace Zhu back, maybe the Queen and Empress won’t do anything to you, but they’ll definitely skin all of us who came out with you!"

Evan Xiao just laughed even harder.

"What’s so funny? Is this supposed to be a joke?" Louis Lin was losing it—he was convinced His Highness had lost his mind.

"Just picturing you all skinned alive is hilarious," Evan Xiao said.

Louis Lin fell silent, just stared at him, depressed.

"That’s why you need to stick with me," Evan Xiao said. "It’s the only way to keep your skin!"

Louis Lin took a deep breath and grumbled, "What exactly do you see in her? Is it just her looks?"

"She is pretty. I like her style," Evan Xiao said.

Louis Lin shot him a look full of disdain. "She’s famous for being a total airhead and a loser!"

"You saw it yourself—she’s got the Five Elements Spirit Root," Evan Xiao said. "And you just gave her that tough problem, didn’t you? Weren’t you testing if she really is an airhead or not? Just wait and see."

"Even if she’s not an airhead, she’s still the type who throws herself at any handsome guy she sees!" Louis Lin gritted his teeth.