Simon gazed into the clear eyes of the young woman before him. He knew with certainty that Lu Xia was asking him seriously, not just making a polite, empty gesture.
From the mont they t until now, Lu Xia had shown nothing but genuine sincerity.
A soft feeling stirred in his heart. "I’m free tomorrow. May I go then?"
"Tomorrow? Alright, I’ll make the arrangents."
"Will you be there?"
"If you’d like to be, I will."
"Then I hope you will be."
"Alright."
Lu Xia gave him a small smile, as if she would agree to any request he made at that mont. This gentle indulgence made Simon feel as though he was being favored.
He finally understood why those n were willing to stay by Duke Lu Xia’s side. It probably wasn’t just because Lu Xia could turn them from defective males into Gene Fusion Experts, or for any other reason.
It was because they all received a kind of affection and indulgence from Duke Lu Xia that they had never experienced before.
He continued, "So we can see each other again tomorrow. In the evening, may I go ho with you?"
"Tomorrow? In that case, I’ll have the butler prepare a room for you in advance."
"Thank you."
"You’re welco."
The dinner was pleasant, but all too brief.
Even though this was his first ti alone with Lu Xia, it left him wanting more. For the first ti, he felt that ti was passing far too quickly. ’If only I could make this mont last forever.’
As he saw Lu Xia out of the restaurant, Simon was tempted to just follow her ho right then and there, but he restrained himself.
Lu Xia opened her car door, then glanced back. "Then it’s settled. Co find at the No.2 Institute tomorrow."
Simon was touched that she still rembered to remind him. "Alright. See you tomorrow. Please be careful on your way."
Lu Xia nodded at him without another word, got into her car, and drove away.
Watching Lu Xia’s car disappear, Simon’s eyes were filled with relief, joy, and a deep sense of anticipation for the next day.
When Lu Xia got ho, she told the old butler, "Prepare a clean room. Soone will be arriving tomorrow."
The old butler understood imdiately. He knew the household was about to welco a new male master.
Naturally, Cecil and Slian, who had been waiting for her to return, overheard her words.
Cecil couldn’t wait to ask, "Sister, is *he* coming back?"
"Yes, he’ll be back tomorrow evening."
Hearing this, Cecil pressed on, "Sister, did he make any unreasonable demands of you?"
Lu Xia found it rather amusing to see Cecil so awkwardly trying to pry into the details of her eting with Simon.
She patiently explained, "He didn’t make any unreasonable demands. He’s just going to the No.2 Institute tomorrow to be injected with the gene fusion agent. It’s what I promised him during our last transaction for the Ice Spirit Gene."
Cecil hadn’t expected this. He had only just beco a Gene Fusion Expert himself, and now this newcor, Simon, was already getting such a precious opportunity.
’It’s all happening way too fast.’ A sense of crisis washed over him. ’This guy is clearly my strongest rival.’
Slian, standing to the side, glanced at the grave expression on Cecil’s face and said to Lu Xia, "Did you have a pleasant dinner? Would you like to have the kitchen prepare a late-night snack for you?"
"No, thank you. I’m full. I’m going to my room to wash up. You two shouldn’t stay up too late either."
Lu Xia waved and headed straight upstairs.
Slian turned to Cecil. "It seems that fellow ca prepared. You’d better watch yourself."
Cecil ground his back teeth in frustration. "Thanks for the reminder. I know what I’m doing."
Cecil knew that, unlike Slian, he hadn’t yet made any substantive progress with Duke Lu Xia. His own relationship with her was still superficial, his position precarious. He could be overtaken at any mont. ’I absolutely will not let Simon, the newcor, get ahead of . I will hold on to my current position with everything I have.’
Slian clapped him on the shoulder. "Good luck!"
With that, Slian also turned and went upstairs.
Cecil was left alone in the vast living room.
The old butler passed by with a servant. Cecil noticed and asked, "Which room are you preparing for him?"
The old butler knew exactly what Cecil was asking. He replied, "The room after yours, sir."
This answer clearly satisfied Cecil. He took two steps forward and hugged the old butler. "It’s good that you understand."
Satisfied, he went upstairs.
The old butler just smiled and shook his head, saying nothing. He simply instructed the servant to go and clean the room.
「The next morning」
Lu Xia ca downstairs and saw Cecil. She was a little surprised, as he was usually not ho at this ti.
"Sister, aren’t you going to the No.2 Institute later? Can I co with you? Please? I have the day off, and it’s boring staying at ho. Let go with you, okay?"
"Of course you can. But are you sure you’re free? Weren’t you very busy just a couple of days ago?"
"Mhm, I’m really free now. I can leave the rest of my work to my subordinates; I don’t need to handle it personally. Sister, I just want to spend more ti with you. Is that so bad?"
Looking at the slightly desperate Cecil, Lu Xia said softly, "Cecil, even with Simon coming to live here, it won’t change your place in my heart. So don’t overthink it."
Lu Xia knew very well that Cecil’s sudden and unusual behavior was most likely because of Simon.
Surprised that Lu Xia could see right through him, Cecil initially wanted to deny that it was because of Simon. But on second thought, he decided to voice his true feelings. He leaned in closer. "You could tell, Sister? I am a little concerned... I’m worried you’ll like Simon more and not like anymore."
"How could that be? You are all different to ." As Lu Xia said this, she reached out and stroked Cecil’s hair comfortingly.
Cecil seized the opportunity to make a request. "Sister, can you be *my* sister, and only mine?"
Lu Xia understood. She smiled and said, "I think you’re the only one who can call Sister."
"Then you have to rember, Sister. Only I can call you that. If anyone else tries, you have to turn them down."
Lu Xia nodded. "Alright."
’I’ve read his file; Simon is older than , so he probably wouldn’t call Sister anyway.’
After breakfast, Cecil accompanied Lu Xia as she left the house for the No.2 Institute. It wasn’t ti for her appointnt with Simon yet, but Lu Xia had other work to take care of, so she went in early.
As soon as they arrived at the No.2 Institute, Cecil went inside and noticed that there seed to be far fewer people at the research facility. He said in surprise, "Sister, where is everyone?"
"So of them are on vacation and haven’t returned yet. They’ll be back in a while."
"Oh, I see. It seems being your employee is a very fortunate thing."
"Alright, stop flattering , Cecil. Could you go to the lounge and read for a while? I have so other things to take care of, so I can’t stay with you."
"Okay, Sister. I won’t disturb your work. I’ll wait for you obediently in the lounge."
"Good." Lu Xia smiled, then turned to ask her assistant to prepare so snacks for Cecil to help him pass the ti. After arranging everything, she went to her office to handle so matters.
「In the afternoon」
Simon arrived at the No.2 Institute right on ti. The mont he walked in, he noticed Cecil standing beside Lu Xia. For a brief instant, as their eyes t, a flicker of mutual assessnt and scrutiny passed between them.
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