What Are You Suspecting

"No! Put me down!"

"Ugh..." Grace stretched lazily. "I skipped lunch just to finish plowing this land. I'm starving! I'm heading home for dinner. You keep a close watch here—don't let anyone mess with it!"

"No, please let me go, I beg you..."

But Grace just flashed him a dazzling smile and turned away.

"Grace Zhu! Don't go! Don't you dare leave me!" Liu Bo's tears streamed down, dripping from his temples...

...

Grace rode her horse, but instead of returning to the Prime Minister's Residence, she headed to the General's Manor.

She needed to ask Evan Xiao how he spent last night.

By the time she arrived at the General's Manor, night had fallen. It was dinnertime. As soon as she entered Frostmoon Quarters, the aroma of food hit her...

She hurried inside and saw the dishes laid out on the table, nearly cold. Evan Xiao was sitting on the couch nearby, reading his paperwork, not touching the food.

"You're here." Evan Xiao saw her and put away his paperwork. "Come eat!"

Two sets of bowls and chopsticks were arranged on the table.

Most of the dishes were her favorites.

Grace asked, "Were you waiting for me to eat?"

"Mm-hmm."

"How did you know I'd come? I didn't promise this morning!"

"Because you were bound to come ask how I dealt with the poison at the Imperial Advisor's Manor last night."

Grace bit her lower lip and eyed him. "So? How did you do it?"

"Acupuncture, plus a detoxification technique." Evan Xiao answered as if it were nothing special.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"But..." Grace said. "Leon Zane actually activated the defensive barrier and wouldn't let me in. Don't you think that's a bit much?"

"Yeah, a little. He tends to make simple things complicated."

His words were full of affection.

Grace felt a little uneasy. She sat down at the table, picked up her chopsticks, and quietly started eating.

Evan Xiao asked, "I heard from Shan'er that you called Leon Zane a pervert and a cut sleeve yesterday?"

"Ahem..." Grace coughed softly, not answering.

"What are you suspicious of?" Evan Xiao looked at her.

Grace said nothing.

"What are you suspicious of?" Evan Xiao reached out and lifted her chin. "Hmm?"

"I... I have my reasons for being suspicious." Grace said.

"Let's hear it."

"First, about Leon Zane," Grace said. "Every time you and I get close, he gets really upset."

"That's because of his sister," Evan Xiao said. "He's always hoped his sister would marry me."

"Fine, but what about you?"

"Me? What about me?"

"You... you helped detox me last time I was drugged," Grace said. "But after that, you wouldn't touch me no matter what. So I have to wonder—do you even like women?"

Evan Xiao said nothing.

"Yesterday you were hit by Bianca Whiteshire's aphrodisiac, and Leon Zane dragged you into the room. I even heard him at the door, saying something was too big and it hurt. So tell me, what could be too big and hurt?" Grace asked.

Evan Xiao looked at her and suddenly burst out laughing.

And he just couldn't seem to stop.

Grace had known him for so long, but she'd rarely seen him laugh like this.

"What's so funny?" Grace asked, annoyed.

"So what do you think was too big?" Evan Xiao asked.

Grace's face turned bright red as she looked away, refusing to meet his gaze.