We moved to Golden Courtyard

"This outfit has a very British feel to it. I visited Manchester once when I was traveling before, and I was very impressed with that city."

"Ah~~like what?"

"For example, Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium."

Rita couldn't help but laugh out loud again.

"So you went to all of them?"

"Me? Go to all of them?" Xu Qi shook his head, one hand on the steering wheel. "I wouldn't dare. I wouldn't even dare tell Rita which stadium I went to, because I'm afraid we'll become enemies."

This time, Xu Qi really made me laugh.

"Don't worry, although I'm from Manchester, I don't like football."

“I went to the Etihad Stadium, and you know, besides white, my favorite color is blue, so I’m a huge Manchester City fan.”

“Really?” Rita’s eyes darted around. “Mr. Xu Qi, I forgot to mention that although I personally don’t like football, my friend does, and she supports Manchester United.”

“Hmm!~~” Xu Qi pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment and then said, “Actually, red is quite nice too, like the red Zaku that Otto piloted in the first Alahato.”

"Mr. Xu Qi, what about your football beliefs?"

"So I hesitated for a moment between my football faith and Rita's crowdfunding group ④56127940."

Rita covered her mouth and chuckled. Xu Qi's mouth... Rita really couldn't say anything about it.

No wonder he always gets along well with his colleagues; he's quick-witted, eloquent, and, of course, adept at managing his subordinates.

But such people are often very cunning, while Xu Qi... you can always feel his sincerity, and... he adheres to an unwavering bottom line.

That makes sense; it explains why Bronya thinks so highly of him.

Just as she was thinking this, she felt Xu Qi's gaze sweep over her chest very quickly.

Rita thought helplessly—it's just a little bit arousing…

218. Rita, although my private life is messy, I didn't get to where I am by using my body!

We drove all the way to the Alahato theme park in Jinqiao.

Upon arriving at the underground parking garage, Xu Qi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Rita had unbuckled her seatbelt.

To be honest, it wasn't intentional of him to glance at her just now. It was just that... the seatbelt was rubbing against the rounded curve of Rita's chest, and Xu Qi really didn't think he had the self-control not to take a second look.

Together, the two walked to the feet of the original Allahato, a life-size replica.

A large crowd had already gathered in the square, mostly Alahatto enthusiasts, all looking for the perfect angle to take photos.

"Has Xu Qi been here before? The Allahato Theme Base."

"I've been here before." Xu Qi snapped a photo.

"I came here with my former classmates when we were still in university."

Rita looked up at the enormous Alahato before her, and no matter how many times she admired it, it still stirred her emotions. It was precisely because she wanted to create Alahato that she joined ETStudio.

This is one of Rita's few hobbies.

And another hobby... is one that can't really be shown in public.

"Alahato is a classic animation that shows love and peace. When I was a child, I watched the first Alahato directed by Mr. Walter and fell in love with it."

Xu Qi's eyes lit up; this was something he shared with Xu Qi.

However, he watched Z. Allahato when he was a child.

Rita turned her head, no longer showing her profile, but facing Xu Qi directly. Seeing such a beautiful face at such close range was enough to make anyone's heart flutter.

"I heard that Xu Qi's favorite is Zeta?"

"Yeah! I really like it—what's wrong with Theresa being a girl's name? I'm the cutest girl in the world!"

Rita chuckled softly—this is one of Z's famous lines.

"I heard that you, Xu Qi, used to have similar troubles? You even hit someone because of this when you were working at the subway company."

"Yeah... Xu Qi, doesn't it sound like a girl's name? But what's wrong with Xu Qi being a boy's name? I'm a man!"

"Then they beat him up."

"Yes!" Xu Qi nodded heavily.

"Even now, I don't regret it. Some people might say, 'You had other ways to vent your frustrations, why did you choose the stupidest one?'"

But I'm going to just hit him! Calling it revenge might sound a bit childish, but I want him to know what he can and can't say.

Such a sincere, somewhat old-fashioned, and impulsive child... Rita's gaze towards Xu Qi was filled with a touch of tenderness.

She actually doesn't dislike it.

Rita took the initiative to say, "Let's talk as we walk. Actually... I also want to get to know Manager Xu better, since we'll be working together for quite some time."

"Absolutely no problem."

The two maintained a proper distance and walked side by side.

"What then?"

"You know what happened next." Xu Qi shook his head with a wry smile. "I became a hero for a while, which was the highlight of my life."

That's true... However, this remarkable experience was deliberately hidden by the young man in front of him, who never flaunted it to others.

"I heard that similar problems had occurred before the 956 incident."

"Yes, it was the 914 train. I manually stopped it using the exoskeleton armor, but it was inside the base, and there were only some company employees on board."

"Including that person you offended... who's considered an enemy?"

Xu Qi shook his head.

"No, he's not worthy. He's just someone I don't like."

"Wouldn't it be better to just leave it alone? Everyone would do the same, and no one will blame you afterwards."

Xu Qi shook his head.

"Are you disregarding everyone else just because of personal likes and dislikes? I'm not a child anymore. There were at least a dozen testers in that car."

Besides, 914 was a project I oversaw from start to finish. With such serious problems, how could I, as the project leader, just stand by and watch? For us, the project was like our own child.

"But you weren't like that back then."

"Indeed, but that's just an excuse. The worst thing a person can do is deceive themselves. I know for myself that I was responsible for almost all the modifications made to that car."

Rita remained silent.

Xu Qi... He is not a ruthless person, but rather like the sunlight shining on this square, so warm that people can't help but want to get closer.

He's not suited to be a politician because he can't even deceive himself. While he's good at socializing, he's ill-suited for situations involving complex interpersonal relationships.

but……

If there's ever a moment when someone has to step up, you can absolutely trust Xu Qi!

Furthermore, judging from the intelligence gathered on the night of Qixi Festival in Guangcheng, he was not a rigid person. When faced with heretics like the Anle Sect, Xu Qi was able to launch an attack without hesitation.

But it's not easy to ask that, it would expose us... However, Rita could understand why Xu Qi did this even without asking.

Because Theresa was his true friend.

When necessary, some flexible moral boundaries are still required.

Having a friend like that means you can truly entrust your back to them completely...

"Xu Qi..."

"Ok?"

Rita looked up, and this time when she looked at Xu Qi, she had a different feeling.

I used to dislike him a little, thinking I had to expose his ugly nature and tell Lady Durandal that she had misjudged Xu Qi.

And now...

The more I delve into Xu Qi's background, the more I feel... as if I'm even starting to admire him.

Xu Qi possesses the same noble qualities as Lady Durandal.

"I apologize for some of my previous... opinions about you."

"Forehead!"

Before Xu Qi could react, he saw Rita bow very solemnly, her elegant posture making Xu Qi forget to stop her.

"From now on, please let us get along well."

"Ah!" Xu Qi quickly waved his hand and said, "Not at all, please give me your guidance!"

"But there's one thing I still have to say."

"Please speak, Rita, the general affairs manager."

"Xu Qi, you should pay more attention to your image at the company. It's not a big deal that girls bring you lunch every day, but the key is that they are not all the same person!"

"Playing the field is really terrible. Rumors are already circulating that your private life is chaotic, that you've had countless girlfriends behind the scenes, and that even this position... you got it through Bronya's connections."

Xu Qi... Xu Qi remained silent.

The main reason is that, actually, this rumor doesn't seem to be that outrageously wrong; his private life is indeed quite messy.

But this position isn't earned through physical prowess, you bastards!

"Rita."

"Hmm? There's something... that I really should explain to you."

219. Rita: Am I not your date today?

"What!?"

In the quiet coffee shop, Rita could no longer maintain her ladylike image. She glared at Xu Qi with a fierce look, and even raised her voice.

Seeing this, a waiter was about to come over and offer some advice, but Rita glared at him sharply, as if to say... mind your own business!

She took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently, which made Xu Qi a little worried... worried that the snow-white chest area of ​​the dress might burst open under the strain.

"So, you were dating that Mei-san first?"

"Well... after that incident in high school, Mei probably fell in love with me, and when I got to college, I felt the time was right, so Mei and I started dating."

Rita was speechless for a moment.

Indeed, for a high school student like Mei, everything Xu Qi did was like the only light in her life, illuminating her heart.

"What about Alicia?"

"I...I'm scum."

Don't admit it so quickly! Since you know, then go and change it, you super big shot!

"And then?" Rita rubbed her forehead, retracting her earlier assessment of Xu Qi—this guy! He really is a complete scumbag! A player!

"Then the truth came out."

"Huh?" Rita tilted her head, but she could understand. She couldn't help but scoff, "Then you chased them back one by one, and said you'd immediately break off your relationship with the other one and that you wouldn't do it again. Right?"

"No."

"what!?"

Rita raised her voice again.

"What did you say!?"

Xu Qi shrank his neck and said, "But I did go after Mei that day. I was very worried about her, afraid of losing her, afraid that she would do something foolish."

Then you shouldn't make her sad!

"I found her and I told her... um, can I not say what it was about? I'm a little embarrassed."

Rita narrowed her eyes, the dangerous crimson in her pupils deepening, and said with a smile, "What do you think, my dear Manager Xu?"

"Then you're not allowed to laugh."