We moved to Golden Courtyard

Even though she sang the ending theme song herself, she just couldn't muster much interest in anime.

"I think... if Sister Eden saw that, she might understand why this industry seems to be in such a bad state, and why I don't plan to leave."

Eden frowned.

Xu Qi didn't offer any further explanation.

We are all adults, and we won't let a few words from the other person shake our resolve.

In addition... Sister Eden has always been doing it for her own good.

"Since you've made your decision, I won't stop you, but if... this company, this industry, makes you unhappy."

"Don't blame me for pulling in and bringing you to the Gold Group later."

Xu Qi snuggled up to Eden, nudged her sister affectionately with her shoulder, and laughed.

"I know, the person who is the best to me in this world is Sister Eden."

“They will only say nice things to me.”

"Huh? Seriously... And also, sister, you mentioned a reward... I think I sang pretty well, right? So what exactly is the reward?"

"do not know."

"You're cheating!"

Eden covered his mouth and chuckled, then reached out and tapped Xu Qi's head, saying with utmost affection, "We'll talk about it when we get back."

400. This is because they didn't achieve enlightenment.

Xu Qi was unusually early to go home today, but with everyone else at work or school, Golden Courtyard seemed a little deserted.

Especially... Mei isn't here.

Xu Qi instinctively went to the kitchen to find someone.

But when they got there, they remembered that Mei should still be at school.

Although university studies aren't too demanding, there are still classes. Xu Qi recalled that when she was in school, her schedule was packed with classes every week.

Although Mei is studying law, she doesn't have that many courses.

But for Mei, who has already started preparing for the bar exam, it will be around this time next year, in mid-September, when she will be preparing to enter the exam hall.

The pressure was immense, and Xu Qi was worried for her, but Mei herself seemed quite at ease.

He appeared relaxed when asked about this.

She has even registered for the bar exam this year, intending to take the test and experience the atmosphere of the bar exam.

Is this the world of geniuses?

Speaking of geniuses, Fu Hua is not among them... This girl, who aspired to surpass Fu Xian'er and become the next martial arts grandmaster, has already returned to her university life.

Unlike Mei, Fu Hua doesn't value her studies.

University was just a platform for her to experience the world; what was truly important was enjoying the process.

After all, Fu Hua's ambitions also lie elsewhere; she aspires to become a martial arts master.

In fact, Xu Qi felt that she already had the beginnings of becoming a grandmaster.

If Fu Hua were given a few more years, she might become the youngest Grandmaster in history, who knows?

Everyone is working hard for their dreams!

Just then, Alicia walked out of the room with a laptop in her hand, looking quite pleased. She sat down on the sofa in the living room and greeted Xu Qi when she saw him.

"Hi? Xu Qi? You're off work so early..."

……

No, I can't sense anything about this woman that aligns with my ideals at all...

But wasn't I being too hasty? He's Alicia's boyfriend after all; it's not right to look down on his girlfriend like that. Besides…

This is Alicia! She always manages to surprise herself.

So Xu Qi sat down next to Ai Li, wanting to see what she was looking at. She seemed so happy.

Then I saw "The Pet Girl of Sakurasou" playing on the computer screen.

“Aili…”

"Ok?"

Do you have any wishes?

"desire?"

"Well, or rather... an ideal!"

Ellie touched her lips with her index finger, looked up at the sky, and seemed lost in thought...

"Probably not."

"You're beyond saving."

"Let me think about it some more..." Ellie frowned in distress... Suddenly! Her eyes lit up, and she held up a finger, saying, "My ideal is world peace!"

Xu Qi slammed his head on the table.

"It's hopeless. I was so stupid to have any expectations of you."

"Huh? What's wrong? Isn't this ideal a good one?"

Reaching out and shoving Xu Qi's back, Alicia seemed to genuinely believe that this was her ideal.

Xu Qi straightened up and suddenly realized that he might have been a bit too hasty, after all, the girl in front of him seemed to be filled with all the beauty in the world.

So... it seems reasonable for her to hope for world peace.

Gently patting Ellie's head, Xu Qi said softly, "Yes, your ideal is wonderful. Rather, it's a dream that every human being in this world yearns for..."

It's beautiful, it's dreamlike.

"Really!? Hehe! I'm really amazing, aren't I? Please praise me, okay?"

Holding Aili in his arms like he was comforting a child, Xu Qi said, "Yes, my Aili is the best."

"That……"

With a quick dart of her eyes, Alicia leaned close to Xu Qi's ear and whispered, "Tonight... I'll sleep in your room, okay?"

"Mei just left, and you're already eager to inherit her mantle, aren't you?"

"What's wrong with that? Mei won't mind!"

"Watch your anime carefully, Miss Mashiro is about to cry."

"Oh? That won't do... How can such a cute girl cry? She should smile more..."

"Because she's not good at expressing her emotions, she has to keep many things to herself. Even though she really likes Sorata and has done so many things for him..."

This is what happens when two people lack communication. They could easily listen to each other's feelings if they both just took the initiative.

Alicia blinked, staring intently at Xu Qi beside her.

Suddenly, he grabbed Xu Qi's hands and said seriously, "I'm very stupid!"

"Ugh?"

"Sometimes I'm not so good at talking... but I will never hide anything! Whatever is on my mind, I will definitely say it! Xu Qi!"

……

Ellie looked at Xu Qi with a nervous expression, as if waiting for his reply.

……

Xu Qi gently embraced the pink fairy-like lady—Silly Alicia? But you're not silly at all... It's just that because I'm here, you've become less inclined to use your brain.

Xu Qi suddenly realized why Ai Li seemed to be living a carefree life all day long.

Being with everyone, chatting and talking... even having your loved one by your side, sharing your love for each other...

Isn't this the kind of life that Alicia craves?

“You are not that Miss Mashiro, Airi. She is still struggling to understand what love is, but you have already achieved your goal.”

"To achieve enlightenment?"

Ellie blinked in confusion, then, not knowing what she had misunderstood, she lowered her head shyly, rubbing her tummy as she spoke.

"Um... I just took a pregnancy test a few days ago... and it wasn't positive..."

This isn't the right path!

······

That evening, Aponia picked up Gretchen and took her home.

When asked where Mr. Kosmo had gone, the nun replied that Mr. Kosmo felt he was old enough to live at the boarding school instead of commuting.

Isn't he still a child?

Without Mei and Fu Hua, and now Kosmo is gone too.

But when it was time to eat, Qianjie came over with a plate of food and warned the cat, "If you steal any more food, I'll put you in a sack and throw you into the Huangpu River."

Kevin was also complaining to Sue that he had been working more overtime lately.

Sakura was discussing the strange things happening in the project with Theresa, the professor and Velvet were bickering as usual, and Aponia was serving food to Gretchen while chatting with Eden.

Meanwhile, Xu Qi's beloved Alicia was sitting right next to him, bombarding him with questions.

It seems... nothing has changed.

It's not that Mei, Fu Hua, and Kosmo aren't important.

Rather, everyone seems to have gotten used to these days when there are often few people around, so... they all cherish the people in front of them even more.

"But I still don't know what Eden's reward is..."

"So you've been thinking about this problem all day?!"

401. Xu Qi, I miss you...

That night, Alicia finally got her wish and slept in Xu Qi's bed...

No, wait! What do you mean by "getting what you wanted"? It makes it sound like I wanted to sleep with Xu Qi.

It's just that Mei isn't here, and I was worried he wouldn't be able to sleep without anyone by his side, so I reluctantly did it... What's this called? Doing it for my best friend!

You're helping your best friend by getting into her man's bed, right?

Xu Qi thinks that Alicia is becoming more and more alluring lately.

After taking a shower, Xu Qi got into bed and immediately pulled the chubby girl into his arms.

Ellie immediately straightened up.

Although she and Xu Qi had a relationship that went beyond friendship, and... it happened many times.

But like a married couple, sleeping in bed together and falling asleep in each other's arms... it's not that it doesn't happen, it's just that it always happens after we've done "that"!

It's as if they were so tired that they fell asleep hugging each other.

Not beautiful at all!

"Xu Qi..."

"Hmm? What's wrong? Aren't you going to sleep? Don't bother me, I have to go to work tomorrow."

Ellie protested, slapping Xu Qi's chest.

"What do you mean? You're willing to be with Mei, right?"

"No, I warned Mei the same thing."

"and then?"

Xu Qi looked grief-stricken.