When Lu Xia returned home, she saw red roses in the master bedroom.

They didn’t look like flowers the old butler would have the servants prepare, and the estate’s garden didn’t have any roses.

She glanced back at Graces, who was standing behind her. "Are these from you?"

Graces nodded. "I’ve always wanted to give you a gift, but I could never find the right one. Someone told me today that a gift doesn’t have to be expensive—what matters is the sentiment and whether it can bring joy. I passed a flower shop on my way home today, so I bought this bouquet. Xiaxia, I hope receiving these flowers makes you happy."

Lu Xia hadn’t expected that someone as serious as Graces would have learned to give flowers.

"Then it seems I have that person to thank for their advice. I love them. And thank you for the thought—I’m very happy."

A smile touched Graces’s eyes. "I’ll bring you flowers often from now on."

"Good. Then our vases will never be empty." Lu Xia gave Graces a hug to show her gratitude.

After dinner, the old butler, having finished writing the invitations for the main husband’s public banquet, brought them to Lu Xia for her review.

Once Lu Xia confirmed they were correct, they could be sent out.

The main husband’s public banquet was to be held this weekend, and all the necessary preparations for the event were being arranged one by one.

Lu Xia was confident entrusting this matter to the old butler.

However, as Saturday approached, something unexpected happened: Cecil suddenly returned.

When Lu Xia returned home from the research institute, she was rather surprised to see Cecil there. The old butler standing nearby also looked awkward.

Evidently, the old butler hadn’t expected this either. The last time Cecil was here, Lady Daina had personally delivered him. Lu Xia had a room prepared for him, but the man had left without a word. Lu Xia hadn’t said anything about it, and they had all assumed he wouldn’t return. Yet here he was again, out of the blue. The butler had no idea what this man was playing at.

Noticing Lu Xia’s gaze, Cecil lowered his eyes, trying to appear more docile. Unfortunately, his flamboyant attire completely clashed with a docile demeanor. "I’m back. You don’t mind, I hope?"

Lu Xia pretended not to notice the flicker of emotion in his eyes. ’She didn’t know why he’d suddenly run back, but she wasn’t going to press the issue.’ "Since you’re back, feel free to settle in. We’ve kept your room for you."

Cecil was taken aback. He clearly hadn’t expected Lu Xia to accept his sudden return so easily, let alone that she had kept a room for him.

He had originally thought that no matter how good-tempered Lu Xia was, she would surely criticize or even punish him for his repeated transgressions.

After all, it was her right as his Female Master, while he was nothing more than an ordinary husband.

Sensing Cecil’s scrutinizing gaze, Lu Xia raised an eyebrow. "Is there anything else you need to say? Hurry up. I’m going upstairs to change."

Her casual attitude caused a wave of irritation to well up inside Cecil. "I admit you’re very good at winning people over, but I will never fall for your seductions."

Lu Xia was completely blindsided by his comment and didn’t know how to react for a moment. After a few seconds of stunned silence, she snapped out of it and suddenly smiled. "Well, in that case, I hope you can resist the temptation."

’She really hadn’t expected such a melodramatic declaration.’

Seeing that Lu Xia wasn’t angered by his impertinence but had instead smiled and encouraged him, Cecil was both incredulous and mortified. ’She’s underestimating me!’

"Then you just wait and see!"

"I will," Lu Xia said, waving at him as she headed upstairs.

Cecil watched Lu Xia disappear around the bend in the staircase, feeling as if he’d just punched a wad of cotton.

’He’d gone for a point-blank attack, and she hadn’t even flinched.’

"Don’t pull these kinds of pointless provocations in the future. Just because Xiaxia is good-natured and won’t hold it against you doesn’t mean I won’t." Smelian emerged from a corner, having witnessed the entire exchange.

Cecil glanced back at him. "Finally decided to show yourself? I thought you were just going to watch the show!"

After saying his piece, he shrugged. "I was just expressing my honest opinion. What’s wrong with that? I swore a long time ago that I would never submit to females!"

He tilted his chin up, the picture of pride.

Smelian stared at him for a long moment. ’He must be an idiot,’ he concluded, and his own tension eased. He walked over and patted Cecil’s shoulder. "I hope you can always maintain that... uncompromising spirit of yours."

"I will!" Cecil replied, then suddenly grabbed Smelian’s arm. "That gene fusion agent... has she used it on you?"

At his words, Smelian stared at him for a long moment without answering. But then, Cecil saw white feathers materialize on Smelian’s cheeks.

His blue pupils contracted sharply. "You’ve become a Gene Fusion Expert!"

Smelian pulled his hand away, the feathers vanishing. "Remember what you just promised."

With that, Smelian turned and left without another moment’s hesitation.

Left standing there, Cecil seemed too stunned to process what had just happened.

The gene fusion agent was spoken of in the outside world in almost mythical terms. He had assumed she would guard it jealously, that she would never use it on husbands like them.

But the last time he saw Smelian, the man had been a "defective" male, just like him. Now, he was a Gene Fusion Expert.

’If he hadn’t left back then, would he have...?’

Cecil knew it was despicable to think this way, but no "defective" male could resist the temptation of becoming a Gene Fusion Expert.

’Was Duke Lu Xia really that generous?’

"Cecil, would you like me to show you to your room?" Seeing Cecil standing there in a daze, the old butler finally couldn’t help but speak up. ’Mainly because he’s in the way of the staff,’ the butler thought. ’Otherwise, he could stand there until he petrified for all I care.’

Cecil snapped out of it. "Yes!"

Then, he added awkwardly, "Has Graces... really become the main husband?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The old butler, pretending not to notice his awkwardness, nodded. "Yes. Did you not return to attend the main husband’s public banquet?"

Hit a nerve, Cecil immediately shot back, "Who said that!"

"The day after tomorrow. Lady Daina is on the guest list. I imagine she would like to see you."

The old butler’s expression was perfectly neutral as he spoke, as if he were merely stating a simple fact.

But Cecil’s face flushed, his expression unnatural as he stubbornly retorted, "Well, I didn’t come back for that anyway! By the way, since Graces is the main husband, is he a Gene Fusion Expert, too?"

The old butler’s expression turned a little strange. "Yes. Not only is he a Gene Fusion Expert, but he has a gene fusion degree of 100%. In a while, once Smelian’s condition has stabilized, the Duchess will also raise his gene fusion degree."

Cecil: "..."

’Damn it, I’m so jealous!’