Lu Xia spoke these words with genuine sincerity. Even if she didn’t know what Graces had gone through in the past as a ’defective,’ just based on what they had experienced since meeting, she knew growing up couldn’t have been easy for him.

So when she said these things, she was truly happy for Graces.

Graces’s eyes reddened slightly, and his gaze on Lu Xia was incredibly fervent. He had so much he wanted to say, but all words felt inadequate.

No words of gratitude or love could ever compare to the care and affection Lu Xia had shown him on their journey together.

He didn’t know why a female like Lu Xia even existed in this world, but he was undoubtedly fortunate. He had met her here and been treated with such genuine care. She was sad for him when he was hurt and happy for him when he was well.

It felt as if no matter what he did, she would indulge him.

"Alright, you don’t have to say anything. Let’s go home." Seeing that Graces seemed to have something to say, Lu Xia stood on her tiptoes and patted the man’s head. She knew perfectly well that after so many years as a ’defective’ male, it was only natural for Graces to be emotional now that he was finally a Gene Fusion Expert.

Graces’s body stiffened at the sudden touch, completely surprised by her action. After all, no one had ever patted his head, not even when he was a child.

The feeling of being so tenderly cared for was just too good. It was addictive. Even after Lu Xia pulled her hand away, Graces leaned in after it. "Can you... pat me again?"

Lu Xia paused for a second, watching the tall man bend down and lean toward her. Then, a smile lit up her eyes. "Of course!"

This time, Lu Xia not only stroked the man’s hair but also pinched his ear. "Alright now, stop acting spoiled. We really should be going."

However, the instant her fingers pulled away, the soft texture beneath them turned hard and cool. As the man straightened up, she noticed a faint, shimmering layer of black scales covering the side of his ear.

Lu Xia’s eyes widened. "Graces, your..."

"I’m fine. My emotions are just a little unstable, so I can’t quite control it. This is normal for a Gene Fusion Expert. Don’t worry."

’What he didn’t tell her was that the scales on his ears appeared whenever he got shy or embarrassed.’

’He wasn’t planning on sharing that secret with her.’

"Oh, so that’s what it is." Lu Xia smiled and reached out to caress Graces’s cheek.

When they came out of the administration hall, Gallon, who had been waiting anxiously in the car, finally saw them. "You’re back!" he couldn’t help but exclaim. "Did everything go smoothly?"

"Very smoothly," Lu Xia said with a smile as she sat down. "We’ll drop you at the No. 1 Institute. You’ll stay there for the time being. I’ll have Kela arrange your specific duties."

"Okay, thank you." Gallon looked at Lu Xia, his eyes full of gratitude. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, "Duke, will I be able to see you again?"

"I’ll visit the No. 1 Institute when I have time. We should be able to see each other again."

At these words, Gallon broke into a happy smile.

Graces’s gaze swept across Gallon’s face, but he didn’t say anything.

On the way, they dropped Gallon off at the No. 1 Institute and left him with Kela before continuing home.

When they arrived home, the old butler, as expected, had already prepared a lavish dinner.

Hearing their arrival, the old butler and Smelian came out to greet them.

"Welcome home, Madam. Did everything go smoothly today?"

Lu Xia smiled and nodded. "Very smoothly. As of today, Graces is a Gene Fusion Expert. We’re going to celebrate tonight. Butler, please open a bottle of red wine."

"It’s already open, Madam, but you..." He was about to say that it was likely inadvisable for her to drink in her condition, but Lu Xia understood. "I won’t be drinking, but you all can. I’m going to go upstairs to change. I’ll be down in a moment."

"I’ll go with you." Graces’s hand hovered lightly at Lu Xia’s waist, the gesture so natural and smooth it seemed he had done it countless times before.

Lu Xia glanced back and smiled at him, their shared look both warm and intimate.

To Smelian, who stood silently to the side, this scene was something else entirely.

’And what had he just heard?’

’Graces became a Gene Fusion Expert?’

’How is that possible? Even if he wasn’t particularly familiar with this male from the Leslie family, he knew they were both the same: ’defectives’.’

’But just now, Duke Lu Xia had said that Graces was officially a Gene Fusion Expert as of today. How could that be?’

’Was he hallucinating?’

’He thought what he had seen and learned the day before was shocking enough. He never imagined that something even more astounding awaited him today.’

"You may sit and wait, Smelian." The old butler looked at the young male, who had often seemed lost in thought since his arrival. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with Smelian’s dazed state. Had he been in the young man’s shoes, he would have reacted the same way after witnessing so many world-altering events.

He had been just like that at first, but now he could face anything that happened in this house with equanimity.

"I need to know... did the Duke just say that Graces has become a Gene Fusion Expert?" As if he couldn’t believe his own ears, Smelian was desperate for the old butler to confirm it.

"Yes, the Madam did indeed say so."

"How could that be? I mean, how did Graces manage it?"

The old butler considered for a moment. He figured that since Lu Xia had announced it openly in front of Smelian, she must not mind him knowing. Besides, the butler himself didn’t know the specifics. "It seems to have been an accident," he said. "As for the details, you could ask the Madam yourself."

Smelian nodded, understanding the old butler had told him everything he could. "Thank you for telling me. I understand."

Upstairs, Lu Xia came out after changing her clothes. "Graces, do you want to be the one to tell Duke Leslie the good news, or would you like me to do it?"

Graces was indifferent about telling Duke Leslie that he’d become a Gene Fusion Expert. However, Lu Xia seemed very eager for his mother to know that he was no longer the despised ’defective’ he once was. A smile touched his lips. "I would like you to be the one to tell her."

"Alright. I’ll tell her after dinner. I’m sure she’ll be very happy." ’In fact,’ Lu Xia thought, ’I’m even hoping Duke Leslie will take the hint and throw a grand banquet for Graces. It would be best if she called back all of his siblings so they could see with their own eyes that Graces is no longer the ’defective’ male they could bully whenever they pleased!’

’He’s a Gene Fusion Expert now, far more outstanding than any of his siblings!’