We moved to Golden Courtyard

“We’ve always loaned Celine before, but now… we have the opportunity to actually sign her.”

Bronya immediately sat up straight from Xu Qi's arms.

She asked in surprise, "What do you mean? What have you done?"

"It's not that I did anything. A friend of mine who works as a headhunter told me that MH has been secretly collaborating with them to sell their best employees to other companies at high prices."

In this way, MH not only pocketed the money from the transfer of employee contracts, but also extracted a fee from the headhunters; they've done this several times already.

Bronya froze.

"Such a thing really happens? Is your friend who's a headhunter reliable?"

Of course it's reliable, after all, it's Anna.

That could be considered Anna's private property, her personal interest. What she liked to do most was recommend outstanding talents to where they should go.

However, Anna's headhunting firm did not work with MH; the headhunters who worked with this firm were someone else.

"Don't worry about that. Besides, according to reliable sources, MH seems to be planning to sell Miss Sirin this time."

Bronya, who was limp and weak just a second ago, stood up abruptly the next.

Even though she was completely naked, it didn't diminish her spiritedness at that moment.

"Okay...okay! MH previously claimed that Sirin was not for sale, which made it difficult for us to make a move, since we are different from TX."

"That's great! As long as the health bar is revealed, there's no problem! How much is MH offering?"

Xu Qi found it funny.

This woman gets excited whenever it's related to the company, just like when she's making animation.

She should be the CEO.

However, she prefers making animation, so Chairman Walter handles most of the company's affairs now. But personnel sales...

Especially for key talents like Sirin, Bronya can still act on her own.

"No matter the price, it's all negotiable. The key point now is that MH is selling people like this, like bleeding the ocean dry, attracting some undesirable individuals."

Bronya frowned.

"TX's [Hound], right..."

"They have no reason not to pursue our Miss Sirin in the headhunting market. In the animation industry, who doesn't know Sirin's abilities?"

"Not to mention Tencent, many animation companies have been very interested after hearing the news. Perhaps Ms. Sirin herself doesn't even know that she's about to start a war."

Can this be called a femme fatale?

Bronya smiled and shook her head—actually, she was in a similar situation back then, but she firmly chose ET, so she didn't cause too much of a stir in the headhunting market.

Hiss!

This, in turn, reminded Bronya.

She immediately turned to look at Xu Qi.

"What about Celine? Are you clear about her own wishes?"

"I don't know. She's very happy at our company now, and she has Seele with her. But as for whether she wants to stay at ET, I can't say for sure."

Bronya immediately raised an eyebrow.

"Then what are you still doing here? Why don't you go and sound them out? You were the one who wanted to keep Xilin here in the first place, so why do you look like I'm more anxious than you now?"

Xu Qi was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this.

One second they're being all sweet and accommodating, the next they're kicking people out?

This big duck...

"You're so impolite! Fine, fine, I'll go."

"Huh? Wait a minute."

Bronya found a white shirt and buttoned it up little by little. When she got to the protruding, rounded part, she seemed to have some difficulty and couldn't help but frown.

"This dress has shrunk... I can't even button it up."

Why don't you say that it grew because I rubbed and kneaded that area?

Bronya simply stopped buttoning her clothes, turning around with her clothes half-on, and said, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. If Sirin really doesn't want to stay..."

Xu Qi made a very cooperative expression.

"I understand! This child must not be allowed to live! She has already chosen a path to her death!"

Then Bronya slapped him on the head.

"Go ahead! I mean, when the time comes, using a handsome man isn't out of the question."

Xu Qi opened his mouth slightly, thought for a moment, and decided not to fall for it.

After getting dressed, he walked over, put his arm around Bronya's waist, and kissed her on the lips.

"No, no, that won't do. You guys are enough for me."

Bronya spat lightly, saying with no small amount of sarcasm, "I really wish you had dropped the 'they' when you said that."

Xu Qi gave an awkward smile.

"Wait until I'm dressed before you open the door."

The casual tone of their voices suggests just how many times they've made love in this office.

What an extravagant and wasteful life...

······

"Seele! What are you thinking about?"

In the original artist's office, Sirin raised her hand and waved it in front of Seele's eyes.

"Ah... Sirin? What are you doing here?"

Sirin looked at her like she was an idiot, which made Seele very unhappy.

"Haven't I been here the whole time!?"

“Oh…oh…” Seele lowered her head again in a daze. Lately, she has been seen spacing out at her workstation.

Logically, this should be a sign that an employee is about to be fired.

The problem is that Seele's original artwork is getting better and better, and every time she is given a task, she not only completes it on time, but the quality is also very high. Even Liu Qi often praises her.

I don't know what's wrong with this girl. It seems... it started after Xier and Xu Qi had some contact last time? Xilin couldn't help but show a hint of suspicion on her face.

Just as I was thinking this, speak of the devil, and he arrives.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you sitting at your own desk? Why are you disturbing Xi'er's work?"

"Ah! It's you! You rascal, what are you doing here?"

Has this become your nickname for me? I only teased you once last time, is it really necessary for you to keep calling me that?

Over there, Seele seemed to snap out of her daze instantly, standing up in a panic and calling out, "Xu!... Mr. Xu Qi..."

Isn't this one adorable? Just a little nervous, though.

Xu Qi reached out and patted Xi'er's little head.

"Relax. At work, I'm your boss, but after work, we're friends. I've always treated you like a younger sister."

Fu Hua & Rin: ?

Seele looked like a contented kitten, a happy smile that Sirin rarely saw.

This made Celine's gaze even more suspicious.

"Oh, you can continue working. Don't worry, I'm not looking for you—Cirin, come to my office."

"Huh?" Xilin glanced at Xier, then pointed to herself. "Me?"

795. Ms. Sirin and I are just friends.

Xu Qi left with Xilin. Xi'er stared blankly as the two departed, her lips pursed, looking somewhat dejected.

And then he said something like, "Don't worry, I'm not here to see you."

I do hope you can come find me... Xi'er doesn't know what's wrong with her lately, but Xu Qi's image keeps popping into her mind.

I can't help but space out when I think about it, and the more I think about it, the more I want to be with the other person.

However, she was able to learn a lot about Xu Qi through Dr. Mei.

For example, he already has many girlfriends, so many that he doesn't even have time to spend with them. How could he possibly have time to spend with an outsider like himself?

To say nothing of the distant past, Dr. Mei often goes to the Golden Garden and stays there for an entire night—at least one night!

Every time, she comes back with a rosy complexion, looking as if she has been nourished by rain and dew.

Having been there so many times, Seele knew exactly what the Doctor was doing.

Therefore, Xier didn't expect Xu Qi to come looking for her specifically; she only hoped to have more opportunities to interact with him within the company.

This feeling is like...

When you have a crush on someone in school, but you can't openly interact with them, you can only secretly hope that something will happen that will make you visit them more often.

No, no! Seele blushed and quickly shook her head.

How could my feelings for Mr. Xu Qi be a secret crush?

This analogy is not good.

But... why is Mr. Xu Qi looking for Xilin? Thinking of this, a hint of scarlet flashed at the bottom of Xier's pupils, which were originally as blue as the ocean.

······

"Hey! What do you want from me?"

In the office, Xilin stood there with her head held high, chest puffed out, hands on her hips, and an amusing expression on her face, like a child deliberately trying to act tough and pretend to be an adult.

Xu Qi found it amusing and teased him.

"I remember someone saying before that if a woman walks into my office, it means something is going to happen between us, right?"

Xilin was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red with shame and indignation as she pointed at Xu Qi's nose and said.

"Alright! You!... Your true colors have been revealed, haven't you? You really did want to eat me!"

"Pfft! Hahahaha!"

Xilin's performance was so funny that Xu Qi couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"why are you laughing?"

"Alright, enough joking around." Xu Qi changed the subject. "Our company conducts an annual assessment of talent in various fields."

This assessment mainly focuses on daily work performance, combined with feedback from colleagues and supervisors. If you pass the assessment, you will be hired.

"Starting work?"

"Yes, it's about job advancement. Seele is currently at one of the higher tiers among concept artists, while you... are in the middle tier."

While Sirin wouldn't be offended by being compared to Seele, being directly told that she's only mid-tier in the concept art sequence is...

The little girl immediately protested!

"What!? I'm only considered mid-range!?"

"Well, the rank assessment for concept artists is divided into nine levels. Seele is in the eighth level, and she should be able to advance to the highest rank of concept artist this year. As for you..."

When you first came here, you were assessed as being in level six, so we've always paid you based on that level.

Money doesn't matter to Xilin.

Anyway, that's enough for her, but the problem is...

Six gears!?

I only have sixth gear?!