Grace blinked her eyes, turned around to close the door, then leaned in and whispered, "Can you tell me where that dragon came from? Why is it staying in the Forbidden Garden?"
Evan Xiao glanced at her. "No, I can't."
"Please tell me!" She leaned in even closer.
"I'll tell you in the future," Evan Xiao backed away a little and said, "Not right now."
"General!" Grace grabbed his arm and shook it. "Do you know how painful it is when curiosity isn't satisfied?"
Evan Xiao turned to look at her hand, but said nothing.
"Please tell me! I swear to the heavens, I won't tell anyone!"
"If I reveal the Divine Dragon's secret, I won't survive!" Evan Xiao said. "Do you still want to know?"
"Huh? Is that so..." Grace's curiosity was successfully scared away. She let go of him and said, "Then forget it... I won't ask you again, unless you want to tell me."
Evan Xiao smiled slightly, pulled her into his lap, and asked in a low voice, "Are you afraid I'll die?"
"Of course..." Grace buried her head in his chest. "You have to stay alive, or else..."
"Or else what?"
Grace looked at his breathtaking face, his strong presence enveloping her, his dark hair falling over her cheeks. Her heart fluttered wildly, and blushing, she said, "Or else... I wouldn't be able to live either."
"Am I really that important to you?"
Grace nodded.
Evan Xiao's gaze softened. He gently stroked her hair, but said nothing.
"But... are you sure Cutie Pie won't get eaten by the dragon?" Grace still couldn't help worrying about Cutie Pie.
"No, it won't."
"I still want to see it. Can you take me to see it? Just one look." Grace held up one finger.
"What? You still don't trust me? Afraid I'll turn your Antler Serpent into stew?"
"No..." Grace said. "It's not that I don't trust you, I just... miss it!"
Evan Xiao's tone suddenly deepened. "You miss it? What about me? Do you ever miss me?"
"Of course I do!"
"Do you miss me more, or do you miss it more?"
Why does he always compare himself to a snake...
Sensing his tone wasn't great, Grace quickly said, "You. Of course I miss you more."
Evan Xiao finally looked happier and said, "So, what did you come to see me about? Tell me now!"
"It's about my big brother..." Grace brought up Jason Zhuo: "...My father said the annual military recruitment is over, but he asked me to see if you could make a special exception for my big brother? He's very capable and reliable."
"Alright."
"Huh? You agreed?"
This should've been a pretty troublesome request. Was it really that easy for him to agree?
"I know Jason Zhuo. He's your father's right-hand man, and definitely reliable."
Grace's eyes lit up. "Then, what position will you give my big brother? Can it be higher than Kevin Zhuo's? At least not lower!"
"Military positions are earned by skill and merit," Evan Xiao said. "Otherwise, if I give him a high rank, he wouldn't be able to win everyone's respect."
"Oh..." Grace nodded, intending to get up from his lap. "Alright, then I'll head back—"
"Grace." Evan Xiao wouldn't let her go.
"Huh?"
"Stay with me this afternoon, okay?"
Grace's heart skipped a beat. "Stay with you?"
Could it be... he wants to...
"Mm. You can go back before dinner."
Grace blushed and looked at him, then nodded.