We moved to Golden Courtyard

But didn't I say we can't be friends?!

My eyes are practically spinning.

Now... what exactly is going on?!

"Pfft!... Hahahaha!"

Xu Qi smiled and moved a little further away, no longer teasing Xilin. Xilin had been so adorable just now that he couldn't help but want to tease her a bit.

Seeing this, Xilin breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to think normally, but also felt a little... disappointed.

I'm ignoring you!

Xilin glanced at the view outside the floor-to-ceiling window.

"Okay, I apologize. I was wrong just now." Xu Qi reached out and poked Xilin's shoulder a few times. Seeing that the other party was unmoved, he continued.

"I was a little flustered when I suddenly heard you say that you didn't want to be friends with me, so I teased you like this."

Celine's ears perked up, and she asked with a hint of anticipation.

Are you... that afraid of losing me as a friend?

"Yes, after all, I don't have that many friends."

Xilin scoffed, "You don't have many friends, but you have a lot of women, right?"

"That's what I say, but there's still a difference in feeling. There are some things I didn't say, but... being with you makes me feel very comfortable."

I feel a sense of healing about me, especially since you seem a bit clumsy.

Xilin instantly turned her head and glared at Xu Qi.

"What did you say!?"

"But you've never held anything back from me, saying whatever comes to mind without any reservations. That made me feel very relaxed and at ease."

Xilin's eyes were wide open, but just now she was trying to vent her anger, and now... she didn't know what emotion to express, so she could only stare blankly with her eyes wide open, blinking in a rather cute way.

"Therefore, I cherish our friendship very much."

When Xu Qi said these words, he looked straight ahead, as if he were talking to himself, or more like he was revealing his innermost thoughts.

Xilin speaks frankly, but isn't Xu Qi the same? He's not the type to hide anything; he says what he thinks. That's Xu Qi for you.

And such people... do indeed find it difficult to make friends.

Xilin bent her legs, hugged her knees, buried her head in them, and said in a muffled voice, "Then...then can we still be friends?"

"Didn't you say you couldn't become one?"

"I was just kidding, I'm sorry, I lied to my friend... I said that... for another reason."

Xu Qi turned his head, a smile spreading across his face—"She's really cute... Xilin."

"I lied to you too."

"Hmm?" Sirin looked puzzled.

"I kept it from you, but I wanted to acquire MH so that you could stay in ET, and most importantly, stay by my side."

This is because I tested you last time and found that you weren't very willing to leave MH, so I came up with this idea. Although you said you didn't care much, I still have to say it.

I'm sorry for doing this behind your back.

The two looked at each other, and then couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"So... does that mean we've evened things out?"

“It cancels out, so…” Xu Qi extended her little finger, “Would you like to be my friend for life, Xilin?”

Xilin paused for a moment, then immediately extended her little finger and made a pinky promise with Xu Qi.

"lifetime!"

"Oh... So all we've been looking for is you two playing some silly pinky promise game? How childish!"

Sirin turned her head in surprise, only to notice that a pink-haired girl... no, a majestic Delta had appeared in front of her at some point.

Behind him followed Alicia, who was smirking.

Celine stood up immediately, blushing! She stammered, "I...it wasn't...we..."

Unable to think of any explanation, she ran away blushing.

Delta put her hands on her hips, looked at Xu Qi who had already stood up and looked completely nonchalant, and couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Resolved?"

"Well, at least... the little girl's heart can already stay with our ET."

822. Once you're on my (Xu Qi's) ship, don't even think about getting off.

I was filled with joy, but also with shyness.

But then she thought that Xu Qi and she were just going to be friends for life, so what was there to be ashamed of? She coughed a few times and suppressed her shyness.

but……

Xilin pursed her lips, but the upturned corners of her mouth couldn't be hidden no matter what.

Xu Qi, you idiot! A friend for life? You can only fool people. Do you really think I, Xilin, am some clueless little girl? Can there be friends between a man and a woman?

You're still standing there making a pinky promise with such seriousness, I find it childish!

Of course, when Xilin had these thoughts, she would never have imagined that she herself had participated in the pinky promise.

They said they'd be friends for life, but as time went on, things just...

Thinking of this, her smile deepened, and her shyness intensified.

Don't underestimate Xilin; she's just a clueless little girl. She can come up with this kind of scheme so easily. There are only two real fools surrounding Xu Qi.

Naturally, the three dragons and the phoenix should be considered the best.

Ah, it's Li Sushang and Su Shana.

However, this good mood vanished once she returned to her office. It was only then that Xilin suddenly realized that she had seemingly overlooked one person in all her previous thoughts.

Seele...

Fortunately, I didn't see her when I came back.

Just as Celine was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she noticed a sticky note on her desk: "Celine, if you have time, come to the rooftop of the company after work. I'd like to have a chat with you."

······

"Have you done all the ideological work?"

In Bronya's office, Xu Qi sat on the sofa, holding the petite Delta in his arms as if she were hugging a large cushion.

Rita was standing right next to him, seemingly trying to suppress a smile, since the scene before her was quite heartwarming.

Delta was probably the only one who didn't think that way. After struggling for a while to no avail, he could only let Xu Qi hold him in his arms with a blank expression, occasionally slapping away his mischievous trotters.

"Yes, it wasn't easy, but now there's a new problem." Xu Qi said helplessly, "We've won the girl's heart, but the plan to acquire MH... we can't just give up, can we?"

After Xu Qi said this, the expressions of the four people in the office were somewhat complicated.

"It's like an arrow already on the bowstring. Sakura is going to the project department to take up her post tomorrow, the documents to hire Anna as a consultant have been prepared, and even Chairman Walter has agreed!"

At this point, it's not something we can just quit on a whim.

After Xu Qi finished speaking, Delta also fell into deep thought.

"Drawing the bow in vain, whether we don't do it or we deliberately ruin the plan, will be very detrimental to the company and Mr. Walter!"

Bronya tapped on the desk and spoke slowly.

"Furthermore, the acquisition of MH should be considered a good thing for Ms. Celine now. Since she feels a sense of belonging to MH and does not resist our ET, shouldn't our two companies be even more united?"

Xu Qi, the reason I proposed acquiring MH was not only because I wanted to directly obtain Xilin, but also because our company was at a critical juncture where it urgently needed to expand.

Acquiring other companies in the industry is naturally the fastest way to expand. Even without Celine, acquiring MH would still be on my mind.

We can't abandon the others just because one objective has been achieved. Besides, I have something else to consider, and I hope you'll all listen and think it over.”

Upon hearing Bronya's words, everyone sat up straight.

It must be said that she is indeed a natural leader. Even with Xu Qi present, everyone still regards Bronya as their backbone, which is a testament to her personal charisma.

What initially attracted Xu Qi was precisely this kind of temperament.

"It just occurred to me in the middle of my sentence—Xu Qi, it's precisely because you won over Xilin ahead of time that we now absolutely must acquire MH!"

As she spoke, Bronya's eyes sharpened like swords, her presence intimidating.

Xu Qi was taken aback and asked in confusion.

"Why do you say that?"

"This is just one of my concerns—we don't actually control the personnel of Celine; we're just leasing her out, not truly owning her."

MH is currently collaborating frantically with headhunting firms to sell off their internal talent, and we have received information that Celine is likely to be next.

Just imagine, if Celine ends up on a headhunting firm's sales list, how many industry giants would be tempted to make a move? There's bound to be Tencent among them!

As soon as Bronya finished speaking, Xu Qi's expression changed several times. He picked Delta up and put her aside, stood up, and slowly walked around.

Clearly, he had grasped the seriousness of the situation.

"Therefore, the acquisition of MH is imperative no matter what! Only when we have control over the personnel of Sirin can we be free from any worries."

Rita's expression flickered, and Xu Qi subconsciously glanced at his little maid.

He has figured it out.

"Stability at home is more important than anything else." Xu Qi waved his hand, seemingly implying something, and said, "No matter what, I will not stand by and watch anyone around me leave me!"

"Once you're on my boat, call me domineering or heartless, nobody's getting off!"

Bronya smiled.

The reason I was optimistic about Xu Qi and attracted to him was precisely because of his decisive and courageous attitude.

Rita lowered her head deeply, burying her smile and emotions deep in her heart.

She knew that she would only ever belong to Xu Qi for the rest of her life.

Those words not only set the tone for the MH acquisition plan, but also told Rita that he would resolve all her concerns and truly keep her.

I guess only Delta seems to be the most carefree.

She didn't have that many entanglements, or rather...

After the incident where TX poached her, her heart was set on Xu Qi. She would simply cooperate with whatever he wanted, regardless of the reason.

"Then it's settled." Bronya was in a great mood. With Xu Qi around, there was no need to worry about whether the team was united.

His greatest strength is bringing everyone together.

Hmm... and they're stacked together.

"The strategy for acquiring MH remains unchanged, and... it must succeed! Tomorrow I'll have Sakura and Anna come to my office, and Xu Qi, you have to be there too."

"clear."

When it comes to making decisions and getting things done, Bronya is the absolute core, but when it comes to organizing the team, the real backbone is undoubtedly Xu Qi.

"However, Bronya, you shouldn't worry too much about this. Let Sakura and the others handle it. Alahato Seed, that's our root."

Once September arrives, the real climax of Seed will begin after episode 25. Director, you can't let your focus stray.

Delta smiled with satisfaction; even if Xu Qi hadn't said it, she would have.

Obviously, it would be more effective for Xu Qi to persuade Bronya.

Bronya slumped in her chair, turning her head away sullenly.

Do I look like a woman who lacks a sense of the bigger picture?

Xu Qi laughed and walked over to kiss Bronya on the cheek.

"Yes, yes, I was just being nosy."