The moment Graces finished speaking, Lu Xia understood what he meant.

It was actually quite simple to understand; she just hadn’t considered it from that angle before.

For the Empire, Graces’ status as a ’defective’ male was considered an unchangeable fate. But now he had become a Gene Fusion Expert. It could be called an accident, a blessing in disguise, but it was bound to attract attention.

It would draw in covetous parties who would want to study the secrets he held.

And all of that would fall to her, his Female Master, to handle.

Even if no one suspected she had a hand in it, people would inevitably start intruding on her life.

By not wanting to update his status and continuing to bear the reputation of a ’defective,’ Graces was trying to protect her.

Once she understood Graces’s intentions, Lu Xia couldn’t help but laugh. "You don’t have to worry about all that. You’ve managed to survive in the Empire’s environment until now. Even if you were a little more selfish, no one would say a thing. Besides, with my current status, anyone who wants to make a move against me—or you—will have to think twice."

Graces had considered what Lu Xia might say, but he had never imagined she would tell him to be more selfish.

Those weren’t words a noble female should utter, but the fact was, Lu Xia had said them.

Graces didn’t understand why a female like her existed in this world, but Lu Xia always managed to show him a different way of being.

She was different from all the other females in the Empire. She treated everyone as an equal, never fawning over those with high status nor scorning those with low status.

In her eyes, it was as if everyone was equal.

And in her presence, he found a sense of peace.

His entire gaze softened. Lu Xia had no idea what happened when you told a male to be selfish, and he had no intention of telling her.

Because he was, by nature, greedy.

The sharp claws that had been bared like a beast’s retracted, returning to normal. Graces reached out his hands toward Lu Xia. "Can I have a hug, Xiaxia?"

But before Lu Xia could react, he had already pulled her into an embrace.

Lu Xia stood rooted to the spot, encircled in his arms. Looking over his shoulder at the bright sunlight outside, she blinked. She didn’t understand what Graces was so happy about.

’Still, happy is better than sad.’

She raised a hand and patted Graces’s shoulder. "Think about what I just said, about updating your status. It would be best to get it done before you return to the military."

’That way, you might even give those bastards in the military who look down on him a little shock.’

She believed that with the Black Dragon Gene Graces had fused with, once he achieved perfect fusion, he would be an absolute powerhouse.

A smile flickered in Graces’s eyes. This time, he didn’t refuse. "Alright."

Afterward, Lu Xia ran another test on Graces. Just as she had expected, his gene fusion degree had indeed increased. It had risen from the original 65% to 75%, a full ten-point jump. He was now only 5% away from the person with the so-called highest fusion degree in the Empire.

When the results came in, even someone with Graces’s calm and steady personality couldn’t hide the surprise in his eyes.

He clearly hadn’t expected his gene fusion degree to reach as high as 75%.

Lu Xia was very happy. "After someone becomes a Gene Fusion Expert, is there some kind of corresponding training? Something to help them quickly master the power of their Beastification Gene?"

Graces nodded. "Yes, there is. It’s usually conducted at the Gene Research Institute. Do you think it would be best for me to participate in the training?"

"That’s exactly what I was thinking. After all, they must have a lot of experience to learn from. Once your status is updated, they should extend an invitation. I hope you’ll attend."

Lu Xia was being direct. On one hand, Graces genuinely needed such training to familiarize himself with his new abilities. On the other, she also wanted to know more about the situation at the Gene Research Institute.

"Alright, I’ll go."

Seeing him agree so readily, Lu Xia couldn’t help but smile. "You should understand that my reason for sending you is to use you. You can refuse, because it might be dangerous."

Graces liked her candor. "Didn’t you say you would protect me?"

Lu Xia froze for a moment before she understood what Graces meant. She hadn’t expected her earlier words to be interpreted that way. It was rather embarrassing.

After settling things with Graces, Lu Xia began to analyze the gene fusion agent she had brought back from the auction house.

She was busy all morning, but progress wasn’t smooth. After having lunch at the institute, Lu Xia finally left with Graces.

Before they left, however, the leader of Team 2, the group in charge of the beauty cream, ran over to report on the progress of an interview.

Upon hearing his report, Lu Xia smiled encouragingly. "That’s great. I’ll be counting on you to handle opportunities like this in the future."

When they returned home from the No. 1 Institute, the old butler had already arrived. And with him was Smelian.

She had only caught a fleeting glimpse of him at the black market that day and hadn’t gotten a clear look at his face. Now, seeing him properly, she saw he had white hair and golden eyes. His features were delicate and beautiful, and his figure, though thin, was tall and straight. She had to admit, he was certainly a handsome man.

Smelian had already stood up the moment he heard the commotion in the courtyard. He stood stiffly now, letting Lu Xia look him over from head to toe. Her gaze was scrutinizing, yet it held none of the sickening, greedy lust he had expected. This put him somewhat at ease, even as he was preparing himself for the worst, but it also sparked a contradictory sense of confusion.

Graces stood beside Lu Xia. Even though he knew all along that Smelian would be here, the moment he actually saw him, he realized he had overestimated his own tolerance.

"You two talk. I’m going upstairs to change," Graces said suddenly, breaking the momentary awkwardness.

Lu Xia snapped back to the present. "A room has been prepared for you upstairs. You’ll be living here from now on. If you need anything, just tell the old butler. I don’t have many rules here."

Then Lu Xia turned to the old butler. "Thank you for your trouble. Please show him around."

"Of course, Madam."

Lu Xia nodded, showing no intention of continuing the conversation, and followed Graces upstairs.

Though she was reluctant to admit it, Lu Xia really had no idea what to say to him, so she walked away rather quickly. If she were to be honest with herself, she was practically fleeing the scene.

Smelian watched until Lu Xia’s figure disappeared up the stairs, his heart nowhere near as calm as his expression suggested.

The old butler saw the look on his face and knew perfectly well that beneath that calm exterior lay a heart full of shock.

’He’d gone through the very same thing when he first arrived.’

"Ahem. The Madam... she isn’t quite like a typical Female Master. You’ll understand once you’ve been around her longer."

The cracks were beginning to show on Smelian’s icy facade.

He wanted to say, ’This is completely different from the ’lecherous’ Duke Lu Xia of the rumors!’