"It was you!" Grace said angrily. "They said they couldn't get into the General's estate, so since you're close with my dad, they wanted my mom to play matchmaker for you!"
"Did you chase them away?"
"What else could I do? Invite them in?"
"You chased them all away, so why are you still upset?"
"...I don't even know why I'm upset..."
"We've just arrived in Yan City, it's best not to rush things. In a few days, His Majesty will grant us a marriage. No one will come proposing anymore."
Grace glanced at him but didn't say anything.
"Don't be mad." Evan Xiao took her small hand. "How did today's assessment go?"
Grace's heart instantly warmed, and she nodded obediently: "Today's assessment was much harder than the entrance exam in Danyang, but I had no problem! I came in first!"
"That's amazing!"
"Of course! Do you know who my mentor is? Even our President is especially impressed by my mentor, saying they're unfathomable..."
...
The moment Evan Xiao held her hand, Grace instantly forgot about the matchmakers and excitedly told him everything that happened today.
Evan Xiao held her hand, quietly walking and listening, occasionally responding.
The cicadas chirped, as if singing along for them...
...
Unexpectedly, as they walked, Queenie Zhu came toward them.
She held a fan, lazily waving it, with a maid following behind her, looking like she was out for a stroll.
Grace quickly pulled her hand away.
Evan Xiao glanced at Queenie Zhu, his eyes darkening.
Queenie Zhu walked up to them, greeted politely, and called out sweetly, "Grand Marshal."
Evan Xiao strode past her.
Queenie Zhu grew nervous.
Was he going to help her up himself?
However, Evan Xiao walked right past her.
It was as if he hadn't even seen her.
Grace glanced at Queenie Zhu, said nothing, and followed along.
Queenie Zhu awkwardly got up, looked back at their departing figures, biting her lip with a face full of melancholy.
"Grand Marshal," Grace mimicked Queenie Zhu's sweet tone.
Evan Xiao glanced at her.
"These days, if you walk down the street, I bet a hundred girls would 'accidentally' bump into you every day, right?"
"I've been busy lately. Haven't even had time to walk down the street."
"Want to try it someday?"
Evan Xiao suddenly stopped, blocking her path, and asked, "Are you jealous?"
"Huh? Why would I be? Am I that petty?"
Evan Xiao smiled and suddenly leaned in.
He... kissed her on the cheek...
Grace covered her face, nervously looking around.
Thankfully, no one was around.
Evan Xiao chuckled, tapped her forehead, and said, "You look adorable when you're jealous."
Grace: "..."
"Let's go! It's inconvenient at your place. In a few days, come over to mine..."
Go to your place for what?
Blushing, Grace saw him off.
...
The next day was the Mentor Appreciation Banquet.
All the new Spirit Alliance members invited their mentors.
Most of their mentors were actually members of the Spirit Alliance.
Disciples trained by Spirit Alliance members naturally had a much higher chance of passing the entrance exam than those trained outside the Alliance.
Of course, there were some from outside the Alliance too.
Like Grace's mentor.
Today, her mentor didn't come with her.
Her mentor was staying at Full Moon Manor, and sent word via a servant: having been invited as an honored guest by the Spirit Alliance, the President himself would fetch him, so he wouldn't come with her.
Grace had to go by herself.
As soon as she arrived at the banquet hall, she saw the President, accompanied by several Vice Presidents, respectfully escorting her mentor to the most prestigious seat.