We moved to Golden Courtyard

"If there's nothing else, we'll be going now. Also, tell the little one inside to play fewer games and get more exercise."

She's different from you; she has a mental problem, not a physical injury.

I really didn't remember it...

······

On the way back, Su Neng could clearly sense that Xu Qi's mood was a little heavier.

Compared to when I first came to the courtyard a year ago, when I was carefree and had no worries about anything, I feel quite different now.

"Has the burden on your shoulders become heavier?"

"Hmm? Ah... I'm alright." Xu Qi recalled his conversation with Kafka just now.

"She's a tough woman to deal with. All the weakness she's showing me now is just her way of going with the flow."

Once she recovers... no, I should say, once she possesses even a modicum of normal intelligence, she'll begin to gradually expose the weaknesses hidden beneath your facade.

That's a really accurate assessment...

"Sometimes you don't have to shoulder everything. Having many close female friends means you have a lot of people to take care of, but it also means..."

You have many people you can turn to for help. Shouldn't we support each other in life?

Sue's words always make people feel as if they are in a bright spring day, even if it is still cold enough to wear a sweater.

"indeed."

Reverse entropy... destiny...

One thing is certain: the Earth Network, represented by Mei, has very close ties with both of these organizations, as does Eden.

Professor Möbius also seems to have had dealings with entropy reversal, though she's not very keen on bringing it up.

So there are some things that you don't need to worry about.

"I understand, thank you, doctor."

······

Xu Qi doesn't need to worry too much about either Kafka or the Anti-Entropy side. He spoke with Mei on the phone that evening.

Xu Qi only said a few words before Mei rushed over in a hurry.

And the first thing she said to Xu Qi was...

"Leave everything you discussed with Kafka, including the follow-up arrangements, to me! You can offer ideas, but you're not allowed to interfere!"

Xu Qi smiled wryly—they really are tough...

However, he listened to advice, especially Dr. Mei's.

My girlfriends are all very opinionated, especially when they express their views forcefully... They're cool and incredibly charming.

So Mei was unable to return to Ptolemy that night.

After being shoved on Xu Qi's bed, Mei could only kneel and crawl on the bed, powerless, supporting herself with her hands and legs. She felt that if Xu Qi exerted any more force, she would collapse completely.

"Despite being a conquered person, she still retains a slightly domineering personality. Dr. Mei, this contrast is quite fascinating."

"No...don't say it anymore...if you say it again, I'm going to call Mei over."

That would still be a bit too much for some people.

Xu Qi recalled the experience of being repeatedly exploited by these two exceptionally compatible women during Christmas.

With flushed cheeks, panting heavily, and beads of sweat dripping from her body, Mei sat up weakly. Her languid charm almost made Xu Qi want her again.

"But this matter has been agreed upon; you have to follow my arrangements, understand?"

"it is good."

Mei smiled. Although most people may only see Xu Qi's decisiveness, what supports him in acting according to his own will is the calmness hidden in his bones.

Xu Qi is very receptive to reason.

……

Just as Mei had predicted, Xu Qi went to class feeling completely relaxed the next day.

ETStudio will officially resume work around the ninth day of the Lunar New Year. There's only one day left before we prepare for our first day of work in the new year.

"I get the feeling that you seem quite excited, even though it's work."

In the office, Rita was helping Xu Qi clean up.

No one came to this office for more than ten days during the holiday, so it naturally accumulated a lot of dust.

"Not really, it's just that I haven't seen those guys for about ten days, so I do miss them a bit."

"for example?"

“For example, Delta? And Susanna, and others, like Teacher Liu Qi and the others, all sent New Year’s greetings via mobile phone on New Year’s Eve.”

Rita took off her mask and washed her hands with disposable hand sanitizer.

"They all seem to be female colleagues. Are you sure, sir, that you're not thinking anything inappropriate?"

He wrapped his arms around Rita's slender waist from behind. Right now, there was hardly anyone in either Xu Qi's office or the offices of the production team outside.

It was so quiet, so quiet, that it felt like you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't do something.

Rita, as if comforting a child begging for candy, pressed down on Xu Qi's hands that were wrapped around her waist.

"You and Dr. Mei must have had a good time last night, right? Did she fail to satisfy you? Or... did you spend most of the time discussing things about me?"

Xu Qi's face stiffened.

I deliberately sent Rita away yesterday so she could go to work with Bronya...

Did she find out about all of this?

"Although you told me the same thing last time, that you would get everything about me out of Kafka, and even threatened to punish me severely if I told you the truth sooner rather than later... (Chapter 545)"

But I never expected that even after you punished me severely that night, you still went to see Kaffa. Then all that for nothing, I was taken advantage of by you…”

Rita's cheeks flushed slightly, and she couldn't continue speaking.

Xu Qi teased, "By what?"

"Ahem!... Anyway, do you already know everything?"

603. Not a maid, but Mrs. Rita.

“If you mean that you and Kafka lived in the same orphanage for a period of time when you were children, then I already know that.”

Rita tightened her grip on Xu Qi's hand, and her body tensed up involuntarily.

"She even told you this kind of thing..."

"It turns out that the girl I often pinned down was actually a high-ranking agent of Destiny."

Rita's tone was somewhat helpless as she said, "Knowing all this, you still have the mind to joke? Should I say you're oblivious, or..."

"Why can't I joke around? Anyway, you're my wife."

……

Rita's body trembled slightly, and the expression in her eyes changed frequently, sometimes appearing flustered, sometimes very shy.

"You!...You!...What are you talking about! What do you mean by your...old...wife...isn't your wife Mei!?"

Xu Qi hugged Rita's body, tightening his embrace slightly.

With her head resting on the other person's fragrant shoulder, she felt relaxed and content.

"Rita, you've known me for a while now. I'm such a womanizer, a scumbag who juggles multiple relationships. There's no way I wouldn't marry you, right?"

This is truly the first time I've seen a man so brazenly admit to being a womanizer...

Her short, grey-gold hair obscured her wine-red left eye.

Although she knew that Xu Qi would most likely not object because of her status, she accepted it so naturally and continued to interact with him as usual...

This was a scene that Rita had never imagined.

This is why she has always been unwilling to tell Xu Qi her true identity.

"Don't you care at all? Maybe even my motives for getting close to you weren't pure."

That's true.

Rita lowered her eyes, her subtle disappointment hidden behind her eyelashes.

"Narita, do you love me?"

Love?

Isn't that obvious?

Perhaps there are no dramatic ups and downs, no thrilling encounters, but it is precisely these everyday moments that Rita cares about most.

Rita doesn't want anything unforgettable; she just wants something ordinary.

"Before asking this question, let me state my opinion first—I love you, Rita."

The simple words seemed to have thrown a stone into Rita's heart lake, creating ripples.

"I love you too, Xu Qi."

Xu Qi grinned.

"That's good."

Rita finally realized what was happening and couldn't help but chuckle, "Are you acting out some kind of melodramatic romance drama? All you do is talk about is love, or are you trying to be like the male protagonist in anime?"

Is it enough to just say, "As long as there's love!"

Those are indeed not words that people their age should be saying.

"But if we love each other but can't be together, that's too cruel. I don't like that kind of ending," Xu Qi said calmly.

"Perhaps you initially approached me for some special reason... but that's all in the past. I've chosen Miss Rita, and I'm going to make her my bride in the future."

This point cannot be changed.

You always say you're my maid, is it because you're afraid? Afraid that it's all just a pipe dream, that once I know the truth behind your mystery, the dream will end, and everything will be over...

But that's not fair, Miss Rita. If there ever comes a day when we have to leave each other, I will feel an unbearable pain because I consider you my wife.

But you always acted like a maid, and once you got used to it, you just felt—I'm just a different master.

Rita panicked!

She turned around, looked steadily at Xu Qi, and replied, "That's not how it is!"

Xu Qi smiled; he was pleased that Rita had so firmly refuted his words.

"I understand. So why bother about status? We're in a relationship where leaving would be excruciating! The only meaning status holds for us is perhaps..."

Could it add a little spice to the experience?

Rita smacked Xu Qi hard on the chest.

"No joking around at a time like this!"

Well, it seems even maids can get angry one day.

"Is that acceptable? No longer a maid, but... my Lady Rita."

……

Rita suddenly turned her head away unhappily and said in a very emotional tone.

"don't want……"

"Ugh?"

Xu Qi was stunned. Had he made a mistake?

"You didn't even propose to me, you didn't even give me a ring..."

……

"Pfft!" Xu Qi tried her best to hold back her laughter, but in the end she couldn't help but burst out laughing—"Hahaha! You're just too... too cute, aren't you, Rita?"