We moved to Golden Courtyard

As he gently inhaled the delicate floral fragrance emanating from the other person's long hair, Xu Qi was irresistibly captivated.

"It's okay, Xu Qi, it's okay..."

Alicia held Xu Qi gently, her eyes filled with love.

Alicia likes everyone and loves everyone, but her liking and love for Xu Qi seems to be a little heavier.

"You're the one who's incredibly nervous, so why are you comforting me?"

"Because I felt it."

"What did you feel?"

"I can sense your inner struggle. As long as this is there, I'm already very satisfied."

This at least proves that... I do hold a place in your heart.

Xu Qi patted the other person's back, indicating that Alicia could let go.

"Ellie".

"Ok?"

"Are you willing to believe me?"

"Of course I'd believe you!"

"why?"

"You are Xu Qi, and I am Ai Li. Ai Li Xia will always believe in Xu Qi. It's that simple!"

……

This girl is like God's most perfect creation. Sometimes Xu Qi would think that if there is a god in this world, then the god would undoubtedly favor Xu Qi.

Because the gods allowed him to meet Mei, and also Airi, and even more so, to meet everyone in the Golden Garden.

Having such good fortune happen to him, what right does he have to complain about the world?

I am already surrounded by love.

"I will find a way to accomplish what Sakura mentioned."

"Huh?" Alicia blinked in confusion, after all... what does this have to do with Sakura?

Of course, this is a secret that cannot be told to Airi or Mei.

"Let's go, let's meet my parents first."

Alicia's complexion, which had been normal, immediately turned rosy again after Xu Qi's words.

"You...you realized it all along..."

Xu Qi smiled knowingly.

"I'm not made of wood, I just... I just find it hard to believe."

"Hmm? Believe in what?"

"nothing."

"Don't try to be a riddle teller like Su! He's always spouting riddles."

"Get the Riddler out of Gotham!"

"Why are you the one complaining? Are you trying to be the one crying wolf?"

58. Alicia: He bullied me!

Although there were some twists and turns in the process, Xu Qi still managed to ring their doorbell with Ai Li.

It's been half a year...

As children, we probably couldn't have imagined that we would leave home and not return for half a year.

Whether it was a case of feeling nervous about returning home or not, Xu Qi himself felt a little nervous. Looking at the all-too-familiar gate in front of him, he took a deep breath.

Looking back now, just six months ago, Xu Qi chose to move out because the neighbor's child broke his figurine, and no one could understand why.

He certainly doesn't regret any of this; rather, it would be more accurate to say that... if he hadn't chosen to go to the Golden Courtyard, that would have been something to regret.

However, Xu Qi wasn't actually angry when she ran away from home.

He just felt... that he might not be suitable to live with his parents anymore.

But come to think of it, I haven't been home for six months, and the first thing I did when I came home was bring a female friend? Well, if she's not my girlfriend, it'll be really hard to explain to my parents.

If Mei hadn't gone to participate in mathematical modeling, Airi definitely wouldn't have suggested coming along, and in the end, Mei would have come together.

This was perfectly legitimate, but now...

Something feels off. I hope my parents can accept this setup—a confidante? Yes! That's right, a confidante!

······

"So...you and Xu Qi are living together?"

"Yes! That's right, Uncle. I go to his room to play games every night."

Cohabitation, meaning living under the same roof, sounds correct, but it's not!

At Xu Qi's home, on the sofa, Xu Qi's father, Xu Youde, couldn't help but glare at his son sitting beside him, who could only smile apologetically. Then he hurriedly asked Alicia.

"Oh dear, my daughter... you've suffered so much... Xiao Qi, he hasn't bullied you, has he?"

Aili was taken aback, and Xu Qi's heart also tightened. He quickly and secretly gave Aili a hand signal.

Unfortunately, Ellie didn't see any of this, and she answered instinctively.

"Of course! He bullies me every single day!"

"Slap!" Xu Qi slapped his forehead, pulled down with one hand to cover his face—this is fucking terrible.

"Xiaoqi, that's not right of you."

Xu Qi's mother, Lin Lai, placed some fruit on the coffee table, then sat down next to Alicia with a beaming smile, her satisfaction undisguised.

Xu Qi knew that he was now completely unable to explain himself...

Although he should have expected it, and although the current situation was actually something he had intentionally created... something still felt off...

"Oh? By the way, Ellie, when did you and Xiaoqi get together?"

"Ah?" Alicia blushed and quickly waved her hands, saying, "No, no, Xu Qi and I... Xu Qi and I aren't yet."

After he said that, Xu Qi's parents' gaze towards him changed again.

Xu Qi felt that if his father's feet hadn't been secured with spiked shoes, he would have kicked him quite a bit.

He had already come up with a reason—such a wonderful girl, she's even willing to go home with you, don't just think about playing around and let her down!

What kind of charm is this...?

Xu Qi felt it was best to change the subject quickly, so he asked...

　Crowdfunding group 456127940 "Dad, is your leg alright?"

“It’s nothing. The doctor said that I just need to rest for a month. I wasn’t planning on having your mom tell you about this. She was the one who made the call.”

"Okay, okay, it was my own decision to do it."

The mother's words carried a hint of helplessness.

But Xu Qi understood that his father wanted him to come back, but... it was still a bit embarrassing for an old man to admit such a thing.

"Xiaoqi, can you stay a couple more days this time you come home?"

Xu Qi opened his mouth, but Xu Youde, seeing his son's troubled look, immediately waved his hand and said, "What are you talking about? You talk too much all day long."

"..."

Seeing this, Ellie quickly explained, "Well! Uncle and Aunt, actually... it's because we've already made plans to go on a trip next week, so... so it's not very convenient."

Tourism? — Honeymoon!

The elderly couple immediately beamed with joy, making Xu Qi's lips twitch.

This is truly inexplicable. The key point is—Alicia didn't lie, did she? What she said was indeed correct, except that she concealed some crucial information.

In any case, it seems that what happened half a year ago is already in the past.

Neither Xu Qi nor his parents brought up the matter. It's as if... they've already let go of many things.

The family enjoyed a pleasant lunch together, and then Xu Youde called Xu Qi to his room.

"dad."

"Was that you on TV a week ago?"

"……Yes"

What followed was a long silence.

“In the past…we pushed you too hard. In the past six months, your mother and I have thought a lot about it. Now that you're grown up…you can choose your own path and what direction you should take. We…we won’t interfere anymore.”

When Xu Youde said those words, he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, but... his mental state had visibly improved.

Xu Qi couldn't help but laugh.

"Even if you want to interfere, I will resist."

"You brat...you're still going through your rebellious phase, aren't you?"

The father and son looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

“Go ahead and do what you want to do. I won’t stop you. I just want to tell you that you always have a home here. If you have time, remember to come back and visit your mother.”

"Yes, Dad."

"Hmm. And also... this Alicia, is she... a foreigner?"

Xu Qi was stunned. Come to think of it, he realized he hadn't really considered this issue carefully.

"No matter what, the girl is great. I've been through this before, and I can tell she likes you. You can't let her down."

Xu Qi fell silent for a moment. It turned out that even his father could see through this relationship...

"You and that girl can stay here tonight. Your mother always keeps the room clean."

"Hmm... um? Uh, no, oh, this..."

"What's wrong? Is something inconvenient? We don't have that many spare rooms. Why don't you sleep in the living room?"

Xu Qi felt... Xu Qi felt that it would be better to live together and make do.

······

That night, in Xu Qi's room.

"Huh? Huh!? To... tonight... we're staying here tonight?"

Sitting on Xu Qi's bed, Ai Li blushed deeply, her face filled with surprise.

"How about... I take you home?"

"So, do you want to come back again?"

"need."

"Then I won't go back."

"?"

Alicia pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and said in a questioning tone, "How about... you sleep in the living room?"

"You really don't consider yourself an outsider."

"So what! You didn't even confess to me!"

After she uttered those words, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat silent again. Ellie lowered her head, realizing that she might have said something wrong.

Xu Qi felt uneasy. After thinking for a moment, he decided to stand up and said, "I'll sleep on the sofa."

However, as soon as she stood up, she felt as if someone had gently tugged at the hem of her clothes.

Ellie sat on the bed with her head down, and after hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered up the courage to say, "Well... anyway, there are two blankets, so we can... just make do for one night."