We moved to Golden Courtyard

Speaking of this, she looked at the other person curiously and said, "Won't you be a little resistant? After all, we came up with this gift idea to please Xu Qi..."

"You're overthinking it, Ellie."

Yulandel smiled and said, "Xu Qi and I are friends, and I was planning to give him a gift anyway. Since he likes uniforms, I'll just pick one for him to wear."

Inside the room, Rita smiled without saying a word.

Inwardly, however, he was sneering – you're probably really looking forward to it...

There's an old saying that's true.

Beware of fire, theft, and your best friend...

"I'm leaving now. Goodnight, Ellie."

"Yes! Goodnight, Durandal."

After watching the other person leave, Ellie slipped into the room and closed the door.

This puzzled Rita slightly. She stood up from her chair and asked softly, "Miss Ellie, is there something you want to discuss with me?"

"Hehe? Um... Rita, I have a request, I wonder if you could help me..."

ask?

"I want to wear a maid outfit on Christmas Day!"

Rita tilted her head—Hmm?

······

"Hello?" On the Ptolemy, Mei received a special frequency band.

She knew that this was a signal unique to the Golden Courtyard, and there were many kinds, but this kind meant... it was an ordinary phone call.

So she knew that someone wanted to call her.

"Hello? Is this Sister Mei?"

On the other end of the phone, a gentle and somewhat similar voice made Mei's lips curl into a slight smile of pleasure.

"Did you need something, Mei?"

"That's right, we just discussed that we're planning to put on something like a fashion gala for Christmas as a gift for Xu Qi."

A fashion gala?

Mei's eyes lit up—that was an interesting idea.

"Isn't that great... You called just to tell me this?"

"No, that's not it. It's just that... I have another gift I want to give to Xu Qi."

"Hmm? There's more?"

"And... I might need your help, so I called to ask for your opinion first."

Mei's expression was playful.

She knows herself very well.

Mei, in her youth, possessed a slightly quirky and mischievous nature hidden beneath her gentle exterior...

Understood.

“I think…you should need a very, very big Christmas gift box.”

Mei was clearly startled on the other end of the phone!

"Wow! You!...You guessed it!?"

"Don't forget, I'm Mei too."

It seems that's indeed the case...

"So, you've agreed?"

"Of course, but you spoil Xu Qi way too much. How could you even come up with this method?"

"Hehe~~ There's nothing I can do about it..."

At this point, Xu Qi's voice suddenly came through the phone.

"Who are you talking to on the phone so late?"

"Oh, Mei-jie...you're done washing up?"

"Mmm. Come here, give me a little kiss."

"Ugh!... Ugh! ~~ Mei-neechan is still listening!"

Hearing the overflowing joy on the phone, Mei felt like she'd been fed a huge dose of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection), but how to put it... eating her own dog food... it was actually quite strange.

"Hello? Sister Mei, are you still listening?"

"Well, I'm here."

"Then it's settled! Please~~... Hey! Xu Qi! You! Waaah, stop rubbing, you'll get what's coming to you later, just wait until I hang up..."

Mei's cheeks flushed; she could easily tell what the young couple was up to.

There was some noise coming from the phone, and the next moment, it was Xu Qi's voice.

"Hey? Mei, still awake?"

"Hmm... I was testing the new armor data for Prometheus, so I'm a little late. What about you? Are you planning to make a move on your girlfriend?"

Xu Qi glanced at Mei in his arms. Her face was flushed and her eyes were wide open. His hand was placed on her soft breasts, which were much fuller than those of her peers.

"To be precise, I didn't do anything to her."

The movement is happening elsewhere.

"You're joking again. I won't chat with you any longer, lest you make her jealous and unhappy."

"Okay, goodnight, Mei."

Goodnight, Xu Qi.

After hanging up the phone, Mei suddenly stopped struggling and twisting wildly, and instead lay gently and obediently on Xu Qi, supporting her chest with her arms and resting her cheeks on her hands.

This position forced Xu Qi to give up playing with what he was doing and instead wrap his arms around Mei's slender waist.

"What are you and Mei discussing? It feels like you're hiding something from me."

"The point is to keep it from you. What's the point if you find out beforehand?"

That seems to make sense...

Xu Qi glanced down. Since she was here, even if it was her close-fitting pajamas, there was no need to dress too neatly; the top two buttons were undone.

With Mei now lying on top of him and propping herself up, Xu Qi could see her fair skin and deep cleavage.

The girl didn't seem to notice Xu Qi's gaze, or perhaps she did notice but didn't care—after all, he had already touched her, let alone looked at her, and he always liked to suck on her.

As for Xu Qi's thoughts, no matter how many times he read them, he couldn't help but sigh... If Mei can have such a figure at her age, what kind of charm will she have when she grows up?

Oh... I think I've already met Mei.

So how can there be such a wonderful girl as Mei in the world?

And yet, she ended up with Xu Qi.

551. Mei is my favorite girl, and that will never change.

"Xu Qi, there's something I want to talk to you about."

The girl lying on Xu Qi seemed to have remembered something, and her eyes dimmed slightly.

"What? The news I heard is that you guys were plotting to give me a Christmas present today?"

Mei's eyes widened.

"You know it all?"

"No, I was just guessing. After all, I've been worrying about this for the past few days, but it seems I guessed right." Xu Qi's lips curled into a mischievous smile.

Mei couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Who told you to have so many girlfriends? And you know so many girls... Christmas is fine, but let's see what you do on Valentine's Day."

"It's alright, Valentine's Day is actually easier to handle."

"why?"

"Because I have to spend Valentine's Day with you."

Mei blinked at Xu Qi, lowered her head, pursed her lips, and the joy in her eyes was almost overflowing.

"Is...is that so?"

"Mei, you are my favorite girl, and that... will never change."

The passage of time has undoubtedly left a deep mark on Xu Qi. He is not one to easily tire of the old and crave the new; the time he spent with Mei is something he will always cherish.

The photo album (Chapter 445) hidden under Xu Qi's bed continues to grow in page count.

The past that has been suppressed is like a jar of fine wine; as time goes by, its aroma will not fade, but will only become more mellow.

Mei no longer wanted to express her love for Xu Qi verbally.

It's not that I feel it's unnecessary, but rather that simply saying "I love you" is not enough to express the growing love I have for Xu Qi.

Love also needs to be nurtured, and in this respect, Xu Qi is undoubtedly a master of management.

But precisely because of this, the words Mei originally wanted to say... became increasingly difficult to utter.

She remained silent for a long time, and just as she was about to avoid the topic, Xu Qi spoke up.

"But what you wanted to tell me just now wasn't about Christmas presents, was it?"

Mei's eyes trembled slightly as Xu Qi continued.

"It's your father, isn't it?"

……

Mei sniffed, then looked up, appearing both pitiful and strong.

“During the day, I was in class when I suddenly received a phone call—telling me that my father’s sentence had been reduced to 20 years due to good behavior in prison.”

Mei took a deep breath.

"You know what, Xu Qi? This is clearly... well, it should be good news, right? But I can't be happy at all. I can only suppress these emotions for now."

I was afraid of being found out, especially by everyone in the courtyard. I was afraid they would find out… Xu Qi, I didn't even know what the point of this phone call was.

Is this a reminder? A constant reminder that I am the daughter of a sinner! A reminder that I am also a sinner?

"Mea Yi..."

"I don't know, I really don't know... Xu Qi, I'm a...!"

"All right!"

His tone became slightly more forceful, and he tightened his grip on Mei's arm.

Xu Qi looked at the woman in his arms—"You should know that you are first and foremost Raiden Mei, and then my lover, Xu Qi! That is your true identity."

You are not a sinner.

But Xu Qi also knew that this was a deep-seated problem for Mei, and a lifelong shadow for her.

Not everyone can get through it, but not everyone has to.

Mei is living a good life now, and Xu Qi doesn't think she needs to make any changes.

"Go to sleep, you must be very tired today." Xu Qi kissed Mei on the forehead and said, "I will give you a surprise at Christmas, but you have to be prepared."

It's okay, Mei. You're already doing great. You don't need to think about things that aren't relevant to you right now. You're fine as you are, and I promise...

From now on, things will only get better! I will make you the happiest girl in the world, if you want to.

A warm feeling flowed through her heart. After her father passed away, Xu Qi became her only haven.

She was incredibly grateful that she met Xu Qi during high school.