We moved to Golden Courtyard

"So decisive? You should have hesitated a little longer, Manager Xu Qi. Aren't you afraid that if your girlfriends found out, they'd come and tear us apart?"

“I can tell that Miss Rita has a lot on her mind and needs to talk to someone about it.”

……

Still so understanding...

Rita stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Xu Qi.

Before they knew it, their relationship had become increasingly ambiguous... no, it couldn't even be called ambiguous anymore...

If before it was just a vague feeling of affection, if at the beginning I only approached Xu Qi with some ulterior motives, then now... everything has really changed.

When did it start?

It was probably after that date with Xu Qi, when it rained that day, they booked a hotel room, and naturally... they had some intimate relations.

Then he slapped Xu Qi in the face.

Even today, I'm still a little angry, but the anger has shifted from "How dare they treat her like that?" to "How could they be so rude?"

What a tragic fate...

298. Tonight, let's settle things once and for all.

That evening, Xu Qi initially thought that since it was just the two of them, it would be better to find a more upscale place, but then she changed her mind.

They just wanted to have a drink to ease their worries, why go to such an upscale place? For a candlelight dinner?

Rita was very thoughtful and immediately said something.

"Come to my house."

"Huh? Is this appropriate? I heard you live with a friend, right..."

“I already told her, and she’s not coming back tonight.” Rita stared intently at Xu Qi. “So… it’ll probably just be the two of us all night.”

……

Xu Qi swallowed, unsure if Rita was hinting at something.

Rita found it somewhat amusing. She had just messaged Durandal, saying she wanted to bring Xu Qi home for dinner that evening, and received a reply.

"I'm on a mission tonight and won't be back. Good luck!"

……

In the past, Rita might have called her a blockhead and been furious at Durandal's clueless behavior! But now...

My perspective shifted, so isn't this just my best friend's help? So... she actually always knew about the relationship between Xu Qi and me, right?

It's hard not to know, considering that Rita has been calling Xu Qi every night recently to give him a daily business report. As for the content of those calls…

Even a brief listen reveals that this is definitely not a proper subordinate reporting to their superior.

Besides, Durandal saw it all that night.

A man and a woman kissed under the cover of night, a scene so beautiful that one couldn't bear to disturb them.

Durandal stroked her chin, thinking: So tonight is... a decisive night for Rita! My best friend is always here for you; I'll definitely create the conditions to win over Xu Qi!

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"Sorry to bother you."

As soon as he entered, Rita took off Xu Qi's bag and found a pair of slippers for him to change into.

If it were winter, she would probably even help Xu Qi take off her clothes—it really does look like something a maid would do.

"I'll take a shower first, and then I'll make you something to eat."

"Okay, I'll wait on the sofa for a bit, no rush."

It was a rare opportunity for Xu Qi to visit someone else's home, so he was a little nervous, even though there were only Rita and himself in the house right now.

After a casual glance, it turned out to be a simple two-bedroom apartment.

The living room was kept very tidy, and it was obvious that it was Ms. Rita's doing.

But... the feeling of renting a place is still quite obvious.

There wasn't much decoration, so it seemed to be just a place for the two people living there to sleep, unlike the Golden Courtyard, which felt like home just by walking in.

To be honest, the reason I fell in love with Golden Courtyard at first sight and decided to move in was because of the warm, home-like feeling it gave me...

Xu Qi suddenly became curious about Rita's background.

I had only heard that she came from England, and at most I knew some things about her childhood, but I knew nothing about Rita's life in England.

If he were a boyfriend, he would undoubtedly be neglecting his duties.

The sound of water came from the bathroom. Rita had worked overtime at the company last night. For such a refined woman, not showering all night must have been quite a torment.

Listening to the sound of water in the bathroom, Xu Qi waited alone outside, wondering how the beautiful woman emerging from the bath would amaze him.

Come to think of it, I feel like I've had this feeling before.

It was during that date with Rita, when the two of them got soaked in the rain and went to a hotel.

Rainy day god of war... why didn't it rain today?

Xu Qi shook his head with a wry smile.

Women's bathing is usually quite time-consuming. For example, Mei's bath often takes around an hour, and Xu Qi has been too lazy to wait several times, so she just took off her clothes and rushed in.

And then what happened... well, those who know, know.

The other girls were all fairly normal, and Fu Hua even managed to finish the fight in under ten minutes, just like a man.

"Isn't the purpose of taking a bath to wash away dirt? So naturally, efficiency and quality should be considered."

"Quality and quantity guaranteed, right?" Xu Qi is quite helpless with his younger sister.

As for Rita... she undoubtedly belongs to Mei's faction. Last time at the hotel, Xu Qi also waited for about an hour before seeing the beauty emerge from her bath.

But today is a little different.

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped after only half an hour.

Xu Qi was still typing on his laptop. Delta had been urging him to finish the script during the day, and that damn pink-haired loli was really pushing him hard.

So he didn't pay much attention. When Rita changed her clothes and came out of the bath, a fragrant breeze accompanied by water vapor made Xu Qi's hands pause as he typed.

He looked up in slight surprise, about to ask, "Why did you wash so quickly today?"

Then... the words got stuck in his throat, and he couldn't make a sound.

Her lotus-like steps were firm and steady as she walked through Liangzhou, and a new branch of beautiful flowers swayed gently in the breeze.

With graceful steps, she walked slowly and steadily to Xu Qi. Her cheongsam, half-concealed, revealed unimaginable beauty as Rita moved.

"What are you thinking about? You seem so engrossed in reading."

"Rita...do you know, there are all kinds of beauties, plump and slender."

With a charming smile, Rita, who had just taken a bath and changed into new clothes, leaned down and placed her hands on Xu Qi's chest, as if she were throwing herself into Xu Qi's arms, pressing her body against Xu Qi's.

This made Xu Qi breathe heavily, and Rita slowly replied.

"Short or long, fat or thin, each has its own charm; who would dare dislike Yang Guifei or Zhao Feiyan? I understand... You're going to praise me again, aren't you?"

"A graceful figure, like a startled swan, leaps across the clouds over Dongting Lake. Does Rita know where this phrase comes from?"

"Huanxi Sha..."

Xu Qi smiled and reached out to put his arm around Rita's waist. She had a figure as light and graceful as a swallow, but when he held her in his arms, she still felt plump and voluptuous.

The eyes can lie, but the touch cannot.

Rita, dressed in a cheongsam like a court dancer, reminded Xu Qi of Zhao Feiyan, a woman of extraordinary beauty who existed only in history books, at first glance.

"Stop showing off, I still need to cook dinner for you. Let me go first, okay?"

"Aren't you my dinner?"

Rita covered her mouth and chuckled, then stretched out her finger and tapped Xu Qi's forehead.

"You're such a chatterbox. We're neither husband and wife nor lovers, so why should I give you food?"

Aren't they lovers?

Xu Qi recalled the intimacy before going to Taixu Mountain and the enchanting moments upon returning to the company. Especially that sentence—"I allow you to do even more outrageous things to me here."

Xu Qi didn't expose Rita's self-deception. A woman willing to change into new clothes for you, just to gain that fleeting moment of amazement and admiration in your eyes—what more needs to be explained?

Xu Qi released the woman in his arms so that Rita could get up.

"Rita, you look beautiful tonight."

299. Miss Rita's intense and overwhelming affection

After the sound of running water in the bathroom, the sound of the stove in the kitchen replaced it.

Sometimes it feels really strange. I'm supposed to be a guest, but it feels like I've become the man of the house, waiting for my wife to settle everything for me.

Well, if it were a bride, Rita would undoubtedly be the most suitable candidate besides Mei.

After all, Ellie is too playful, Snake is full of scientific research, Fu Hua is too straightforward, and Sakura... Sakura will definitely spoil herself.

It's been such a long time since I've seen Sister Ying. Although we talk on the phone every day, I still... miss her.

I wonder how she's doing all alone in Japan.

Well, Japan, and speaking of overseas, Rita seems to be British, since she said she was born in Manchester, England...

British!?

Xu Qi suddenly jumped up from the sofa! Then he rushed into the kitchen!

When Xu Qi roughly opened the door, Rita glanced at him in confusion. At that moment, Rita was still wearing that white cheongsam with red trim, with an apron tied over it.

Holding a piece of cheese, I shredded it into small pieces on a washboard and dropped them into a plate.

Xu Qi sniffed – it smelled like beef stewed in red wine, and… it smelled pretty good?

"What? You're already so impatient? Wait outside for a bit, it'll be ready soon." Seeing Xu Qi's eagerness, Rita couldn't help but give him a sweet smile.

Even if she wouldn't admit it, the fact that her sweetheart seemed really interested in tasting her cooking undoubtedly gave Rita a great deal of satisfaction.

Seeing this, Xu Qi realized that it wasn't some strange British dish, which greatly eased his tension.

After all, in his stereotypes, the words "British" and "kitchen" have absolutely no overlap.

"May I ask... what kind of dish this is?"

"French-style baked dish".

"French cuisine?"

“Yes, sir, so may I step out for a moment?” Rita put down what she was holding, walked up to Xu Qi, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Sit down at the outdoor table, it will be done soon."

Such intimate gestures left not only Xu Qi but also Rita with rosy cheeks afterward.

After all... this was just like the kind of intimacy that only happens between husband and wife. In Rita's heart, it might be more important than the time she gave Xu Qi oral sex.

But Rita did it anyway, simply because the joy in her heart made her unconsciously perform this small act.

Xu Qi also left the kitchen in a daze.

He suddenly revealed a relieved smile.

It doesn't matter. No matter what Rita cooks later, I will eat it with gratitude and love. After all... the scene I saw when I first entered the kitchen was truly touching.

Perhaps Rita herself didn't realize the tenderness and love in her eyes as she prepared the meal.

His focused and gentle expression made Xu Qi reluctant to disturb him.

So when he opened the door, he couldn't help but regret it.

Miss Rita... always manages to surprise people.

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