We moved to Golden Courtyard

268. Rita can be a bit assertive at times.

Inside the warehouse, piled high with various documents, materials, and original artwork, Rita opened the door and found Xu Qi standing there.

At this moment, he was casually flipping through original paintings that ETStudio had preserved from many years ago.

As the clatter of high heels echoed in the room, Xu Qi, looking down at her books, couldn't help but smile.

"Do you have some kind of nostalgia? Or have you retained your childlike nature all these years?"

The voice remained elegant, but one could hear a hidden anger and resentment within it.

"Is it because I haven't been here all morning?"

The conversation was disjointed and incoherent. But Rita understood that Xu Qi had picked up on her emotions.

Rita didn't have the bad habit of saying one thing but meaning another, so she took a few deep breaths, nodded, and said, "Yes, although Manager Xu is indeed qualified to arrange his own time."

But at the very least, you need to make sure I can contact you at any time, right? At the very least, you need to let me know what you're doing today!

They were so angry that they started calling him "Manager Xu" again.

Xu Qi closed the heavy manuscript and put it back on the shelf. He straightened his clothes and then slowly walked over to Rita.

The not-too-dim incandescent light shone overhead, and the shelves filled with documents around them made the two feel as if they were immersed in this room full of words.

Rita was still wearing that white ruffled top, her full breasts rising and falling with her slightly heavy breathing.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but it was clearly not a blush from shyness—it was most likely from anger.

Xu Qi lowered his eyes and looked at Rita.

"Sorry, I was dealing with some special matters this morning, so I couldn't get through on the phone."

Rita frowned—was something unusual?

"I can't tell you that because it involves the privacy of a friend of mine, but personally, I have no intention of hiding my whereabouts."

Rita, I don't know if you can accept this explanation.

……

Rita turned her head away, perhaps because Xu Qi was standing a little too close at the moment, which made her unable to help recall some... memories that she didn't know if they could be considered pleasant.

"As for personal matters... there's nothing I can do... but next time this kind of problem occurs, you should at least contact me... or someone else in the company."

At least you need to let me know what's wrong with you.

Xu Qi scratched his head.

"That was indeed my oversight."

Xu Qi hadn't expected Rita to be so anxious after he was only gone for half a day. Now it seems he might already be the backbone of Seed Studio.

No longer just a leader in a position.

But then... Xu Qi was even more at a loss as to how to begin.

"Rita, I called you here... mainly because there are some things I want to tell you."

Xu Qi stood with his hands on his hips, his expression not entirely calm, and his slightly conflicted look seemed to be telling Rita that what Xu Qi was about to say might cause some trouble.

Is something wrong?

Rita frowned and thought for a moment.

"Could it be that there's been a follow-up to what happened with Miss Jiang last time? Or is it related to your attempt to take someone away from Manager Liu's territory yesterday?"

"Um...neither."

Rita breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that it might not be a big deal.

“I’ll probably be away for about a week, and I hope… during my absence, Rita, you can manage Seed for me.”

……

Rita blinked and then suddenly smiled brightly.

"You must be joking with me, right, Manager Xu Qi?"

……

An immense pressure was exerted on Xu Qi by Rita. He opened his mouth slightly, looked at Miss Rita's kind and amiable face, and answered somewhat dryly.

"without……"

Rita's face suddenly darkened, and she looked at Xu Qi and said, "As the supervisor of an animation IP project, you left your post for a week at the beginning of the project."

Do you know what this means, Xu Qi?

Rita spoke to Xu Qi in a very low voice, almost enunciating each word clearly. Every syllable seemed to be forced out from between her teeth…

"I……"

"This means deserters... and for such people, I think no one would treat them any other way but with contempt and disdain."

After Rita finished speaking, she turned to leave, but Xu Qi grabbed her arm!

"No, Rita! No... I don't want to resign, nor do I want to leave completely. I... I've encountered some things that I have to deal with!"

This concerns my family, Rita… I can't just stand by and do nothing! Of course, I know Seed's situation is equally important, but! …But I have you!

I'm confident you can take over my job well, just for a week, Rita! And I can promise I'll stay in touch forever, Rita... Please help me.”

Xu Qi's other words did not sway this elegant maid in the slightest, but until the last sentence...

When Xu Qi said in an almost pleading tone, "Help me,"

Rita's eyes trembled slightly as she turned her back to Xu Qi.

She pursed her lips, choosing not to turn around, but instead asked in a very firm tone.

"Where?"

"There's a place called Mount Taixu that you might not know about..."

However, after Xu Qi finished speaking, the light in Rita's pupils trembled even more violently!

Mount Taixu… She knew all too well what that place was. Why? Why would Xu Qi go to such a dangerous place! Rita suddenly thought of someone in Xu Qi's social circle—

Fu Hua!

Yes... it must be her! Something must be wrong with this person!

Otherwise, there's no reason for Xu Qi to run off to Mount Taixu!

No...no!

“Xu Qi, I know about Mount Taixu. I… was fortunate enough to learn about this place through a friend’s description—but it’s very dangerous there.”

"I know, but I still have to..."

Rita suddenly turned around and grabbed Xu Qi by the collar! This surprised Xu Qi, as he hadn't expected Rita to have such a rude side.

"I'm not kidding you, Xu Qi! It's dangerous there... extremely dangerous! I won't allow you to go to such a dangerous place!"

……

Xu Qi suddenly chuckled and said, "Can I take that as... you're concerned about me?"

"can."

Xu Qi was speechless for a moment. This was Rita; she would never say one thing and mean another at such a crucial moment, and her concern could be described as quite forceful.

“I hope you understand that Mount Taixu is not a place that just anyone can enter. Even if you do enter, it doesn’t mean that it’s safe inside.”

Rita released Xu Qi, and at that moment, she seemed to be blocking Xu Qi's way, using her body language to express her meaning.

If you insist on going to Mount Taixu, I won't even let you leave this warehouse...

269. What a shameless explanation... Mr. Xu Qi

For a moment, the situation seemed to be at a stalemate.

But Xu Qi wasn't someone who couldn't distinguish right from wrong; he knew Rita was doing this for his own good. If their roles were reversed, he wouldn't allow the people he cared about to be in danger either.

So... did Rita really care about me that much?

Xu Qi felt a little touched.

She said things like, "We can't be together yet. If you want to pursue me, you'll have to work harder." But in reality... Rita still cared a lot about Xu Qi.

Having understood the situation, Xu Qi naturally knew what he should do.

For this seasoned womanizer... no matter how shrewd and capable the elegant maid may be, in this respect... she's just a novice still stuck in the theoretical stage.

Xu Qi reached out and grasped Rita's soft, boneless hands.

"Rita... if, I mean if... if one day you encounter a very important crisis in your life, one you have to face, but..."

You can't overcome this alone. At that time, do you think I would just stand by and do nothing?

Rita's eyes trembled again—saying something like that... was just too shameless...

"You already have the answer in your heart, right? Because you know that if it's Xu Qi, he will definitely go! He will definitely... rush to your side."

Because Xu Qi is that kind of person; even if a stranger's life is about to end before his eyes, he wouldn't stand idly by, let alone... someone he loves.

Rita suddenly held her breath!

She felt as if Xu Qi had gripped her heart, and for a moment, it seemed to stop beating... This guy...

Saying something like that at a time like this! Does he really... want to steal my heart?

Rita took a deep breath, and her full chest rose and fell slightly with the movement.

"somebody to Love?"

"If I still can't seriously examine my own heart by this point, then I'm really in a terrible state. Rita... I'm certain of one thing now!"

I love you……"

These three simple words seemed to encapsulate all of Xu Qi's power! They struck Rita's heart with tremendous force...

Although she knew she shouldn't, Rita couldn't help but ask at that moment.

"What about Miss Mei? And Miss Alicia?"

“I love them too. Rita, I know this explanation is shameless, and I know that love requires letting go! But... I really can't let go.”

Perhaps I'm still as naive as a child, thinking that I can have it all...

Rita couldn't help but laugh at Xu Qi's words.

She curled the corners of her lips into a charming smile and rolled her eyes at Xu Qi.

But of course, Rita always knew what her real business was.

The elegant maid wasn't so easily led astray by Xu Qi.

"But I still can't let you go to Mount Taixu, Xu Qi... that place is really too... um!"

Unfortunately, Rita didn't get to finish her sentence because Xu Qi had already hugged her and kissed her lips.

Clearly, Rita had absolutely no resistance to Xu Qi's kiss.

With just a slight touch, her body immediately went limp like water, and Xu Qi grabbed her in a hug.

With ease, the teeth were pried open, and Xu Qi, the robber, found the little tongue that was still hiding in the mouth.

Fortunately, Xu Qi didn't kiss her for too long. Perhaps he knew that this method could only confuse Rita temporarily.

After a brief touch of lips and tongue, Xu Qi released Rita.

Looking at the beautiful woman in his arms, her lips slightly parted and her breath fragrant, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "Too much?"

Rita was panting slightly. She glared at Xu Qi, but dared not continue, afraid that he would take advantage of her and kiss her again.

For some reason, she is now becoming less resistant to Xu Qi's kisses, and... even somewhat enjoying them.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't force a kiss on me?"

"Really? I thought you wouldn't refuse... so I kissed you."

I definitely won't refuse...