After meeting with the trio, Lu Xia left with Smelian.

On the way back, Smelian had expected Lu Xia to be curious about the trio’s identities and origins, but she didn’t ask a thing. It was as if once she’d agreed to the arrangement, their identities and origins no longer concerned her.

This was his complete trust in her.

Realizing this made Smelian feel a little ashamed. He felt a pang of guilt, thinking about the secret he and Graces were keeping from Lu Xia.

"You don’t have to take me all the way back. Um, just drop me off at No. 2 Institute."

Smelian snapped back to reality. "You’re going to work today?"

"Yep. There’s a research project that’s going very smoothly, but I need to follow up on it. Smelian, are you off today?"

"Yes, so can I come with you?"

"Of course you can, but it might be a little boring."

"That’s fine. I won’t disturb your work."

Lu Xia smiled at Smelian, tacitly agreeing to his request to accompany her to work.

Arriving at No. 2 Institute, Lu Xia had just walked into her office when she saw Lan Ya sitting on the sofa. As usual, Lan Ya was wearing a long dress and red lipstick, her curly hair draped over her shoulders, looking elegant and luxurious. When she noticed Smelian following behind Lu Xia, her eyes lit up and she let out a "WOW," asking in surprise, "Who’s this? Xiaxia, aren’t you going to introduce us?"

"This is Smelian, one of my partners. This is Lan Ya. What brings you here today?"

Lan Ya’s gaze swept over Smelian, seemingly sizing him up and judging him. She didn’t answer Lu Xia’s question. Instead, she said, "How are all the males around you so high-quality?"

Lu Xia’s expression stiffened. Remembering the reckless things Lan Ya had said in front of Graces before, she warned, "Lan Ya, watch what you say."

"How am I speaking carelessly? Am I not telling the truth? Oh, I just realized, no wonder you look down on those snake-males at the club. Turns out you ’eat’ this well at home. Xiaxia, that’s not very nice of you, having such good resources and not introducing any to me."

Just as Lu Xia was about to speak, Smelian, as if he’d just heard something, asked suspiciously, "Snake-males at the club?"

Lu Xia suddenly fell silent. ’Smelian really knows how to pick out the important details.’

She shot Lan Ya a glare, but the latter just threw up her hands as if it had nothing to do with her. Lu Xia turned to Smelian and said, "Don’t listen to her nonsense."

"So, Xiaxia, have you really been to a club?"

Faced with this question, Lu Xia hesitated for a moment before nodding lightly. "Yes, once. But I didn’t like the atmosphere there."

Seeing this, Smelian simply responded, "Okay."

Then he added, "You two talk. I’ll go get you something to drink."

Watching Smelian leave, Lu Xia felt a little guilty. She wasn’t sure if he was angry. She turned to look at Lan Ya, who clearly loved to stir up trouble. "What did you really come here for?"

Lan Ya watched Smelian leave, then turned her gaze back to Lu Xia, winking with a smile. "You’re so good to your partners. He questions you like that, and you don’t even get angry."

"He didn’t say anything bad. Why would I be angry?"

Lan Ya raised an eyebrow. "What about the other one? You don’t like him anymore?"

Lu Xia knew she was asking about Graces, but she had no intention of answering.

But Lan Ya took her silence as confirmation and said excitedly, "If you don’t like him anymore, can you let him..."

She had barely started speaking when a death glare from Lu Xia stopped her mid-sentence. Lan Ya shrugged helplessly. "If you don’t agree, you don’t agree. Why are you glaring at me?"

"Lan Ya, I don’t like these kinds of jokes, and I don’t like this kind of talk. Don’t do it again. Graces is away on the Imperial Star on business, but you need to remember that he’s the father of my child. He’s not some plaything to be tossed around."

Faced with Lu Xia’s seriousness, Lan Ya’s smile faded. "I get it, it won’t happen again. What about this one, then? Is he the same as Graces... Alright, alright. I’ve never seen a female treat her males so well. I really don’t know what you’re thinking."

Lu Xia didn’t answer Lan Ya’s question. In truth, she didn’t think she was being particularly good to Graces and Smelian. She was just treating them like human beings.

Lan Ya sat back down on the sofa, a regretful look on her face. "I originally came to ask if you wanted to go to that club again, but it looks like you don’t have time now."

"You don’t need to ask me about things like that in the future. I really have no interest in places like clubs. I won’t go unless it’s absolutely necessary."

"I get it, I get it. You have better options at home, so you look down on the ’wildflowers’ outside. It really makes one jealous. Why do all the males around you look so... ’delicious’?"

Lu Xia chuckled softly. "You have plenty of males around you. Have you ever taken a good look at them?"

Lan Ya fell silent. She did have many males around her, but they were all just for fun. ’When have I ever treated any of them with sincerity? It seems I never have.’

Unable to answer the question, Lan Ya could only laugh and change the subject. "When will your gene fusion agent actually hit the market? I see they’re still researching it."

"I’m not sure. I’ll let you know when it’s ready for market."

"Alright. Oh, by the way, what’s that lab researching? They don’t look like they’re working on the gene fusion agent."

"That’s my private lab. It’s not open to the public, and its research isn’t for sale, so I can’t tell you."

"Oh, you’re certainly honest. Fine, I won’t ask. I just came from the No. 1 Institute. The second-generation beauty cream and hair growth liquid are out, and I’ve pre-ordered some. Did you know my friends keep asking me when the beauty cream and hair growth liquid will be released? They can’t wait to try them."

"Soon. Trial use will begin next month, and it should be on the market by mid-year, if there are no surprises."

"What surprises could there be? I trust your quality control. But make sure to give me a batch first when it’s out."

"Got it. Is there anything else? If not..."

Before she could finish, Lan Ya cut in, "If not, I can leave, right? Xiaxia, I’ve noticed you’re being really heartless to me lately. Are we not friends anymore?"

"Of course not, Lan Ya. If we weren’t friends, I never would have accepted your investment."

"That’s more like it." Lan Ya pouted, said nothing more to Lu Xia, and turned to leave, her high heels clicking away.

After Lan Ya left, Lu Xia got up and went to the next room, where she found Smelian, just as she expected. He was flipping through a research book and smiled when he noticed her enter. "Has she left, Xiaxia?"

"Mhm, she just left. That’s just how Lan Ya talks. Don’t take it to heart."

Smelian smiled. "I know, Xiaxia. Don’t worry about me."

’In fact, Lan Ya’s attitude toward him is normal. Most females in the Empire are like that. Only Lu Xia is this gentle with me. And only Lu Xia is the special one.’

Lu Xia’s face showed a hint of nervousness as she said, "About the club..."

She had just broached the subject when Smelian said, "Xiaxia, you don’t need to explain anything to me. I know what kind of person you are. I trust you."