Coder: Everyone's still awake, right?
Coder: 111?
V2V Isn't Just Good-Looking: 1
Professor: 1
Rin Is Still Too Cute: 1
Grandmaster: 1
Terminator of the World!: 1
Canned Food: 1
May There Be No Illness in This World: 1
Cosmic Songstress: 1
Coder: Huh? Eden, you're still awake too?
I Am Alahato: 1
Cosmic Songstress: I just woke up. Stop rambling. What's up?
Coder: A woman just came to the Golden Courtyard. She's beautiful, and she should be someone Xu Qi knows.
Professor: And then? Is that unusual?
Coder: Now comes the main event. Just now, that woman dragged Xu Qi straight into a room, and dragged Elysia in too.
I Am Alahato has been removed from the group chat.
Coder: ???
Cosmic Songstress: There are children in this group. Watch your language.
Kosma stared blankly at his phone for a long while—then smashed it!
Professor: So now we can talk about adult topics, right?
Coder: Actually, there's nothing left to talk about. I only saw the three of them enter the room.
V2V Isn't Just Good-Looking: Couldn't you go eavesdrop?
Canned Food: 6
Terminator of the World!: Boring.
Rin Is Still Too Cute: My verdict is that it's not as exciting as Genshin...
Professor: Holy crap! O!
Coder: Holy crap! O!
Canned Food: Holy crap! O!
······
Inside the room, Xu Qi and Elysia had already sensed that something was off. They exchanged a glance, finding it truly difficult to imagine what Bronya, who looked almost...
Like a lovesick pervert, Bronya had entered the room intending to do.
"Um... Bronya..."
"Tonight." Bronya raised her already flushed face. Xu Qi subconsciously swallowed as she looked at him. "You are not allowed to sleep."
Elysia: !!!
She pointed at Xu Qi, then at Bronya, as if she could hardly believe the two of them had this kind of relationship!
But wait...
So why did you drag me in too?! Crowdfunding group: 456127940.
Perhaps because she had entered an enclosed space, Bronya's mental state had improved somewhat.
Seeing Elysia's expression of utter despair, she hurriedly waved her hands and explained, "Ah! No, no, that's not what I meant! You're Xu Qi's girlfriend, right? I didn't mean it that way!"
What do you mean you didn't mean it that way?! And I'm not his girlfriend!
Elysia's face flushed bright red, but she couldn't get a single word out in explanation.
Bronya took a deep breath. This time... she finally seemed to have gotten control of her emotions. She turned her head and fixed her eyes on Xu Qi.
"You were absolutely right about your ideas for Alahato!"
"Huh?" Xu Qi froze for a moment, but his equally astonishing train of thought immediately caught up with Bronya's.
"You are..."
"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Bronya Zaychik. I'm currently the executive director of E.T. Studio, responsible for Alahato's animated project."
Xu Qi's eyes widened. Ah... huh?
"Mr. Xu Qi, although this is rather sudden..." Bronya took a step forward, her voice filled with earnestness. "Could I ask you to lend me your strength? If you're willing, I can promise you a position as project supervisor..."
"I'm sorry."
Xu Qi raised a hand and refused decisively.
"I must decline."
Elysia blinked. She had heard a thing or two about Xu Qi's situation at the company—why? After being treated that way by the company, why hadn't he chosen to leave?
And it was E.T. Studio, at that... Wasn't that your lifelong dream?
Bronya furrowed her brows as well, but she did not continue pressing him. Instead, she sighed.
"I'm sorry. I was too presumptuous."
Xu Qi's brows relaxed. Although this woman in front of him acted somewhat... excessively, she was by no means an unreasonable tyrant.
As the executive director of such a publicly listed company, her success could easily have made her feel as though she were bestowing a position upon a talented person.
But she hadn't...
She had merely felt regret, then chosen to let the matter rest.
That showed not only that she wasn't being affected, but also that she sincerely regarded him as her equal.
"Although I'm only a junior technician at the Mode Capital Metro right now, I still have unfinished business to take care of. I'll seriously consider your offer, Miss Bronya."
17, humans only need to answer to their own expectations.
Hearing Xu Qi's promise, Bronya smiled brightly.
The charm of that instant made even Elysia's eyes shine. What a beautiful girl.
"Really... You can just call me Bronya. I don't know why, but I have a feeling you'll join our E.T. Studio sooner or later, Xu Qi."
Xu Qi offered no comment. After all... who could accurately predict what would happen in the future?
"But I still hope you can help me with something."
"Go ahead, Bronya."
Bronya took a deep breath.
"A new project for Alahato! A way to discard some of its old elements and let Alahato be reborn from the flames! To complete such a project, I absolutely need your strength, Xu Qi!"
Bronya held her breath. She truly placed great importance on Xu Qi!
Although they had only spoken a few times, she could feel it. She could feel that he was a young man with remarkable ideas!
After coming to China all those years ago, most of the people she had met wherever she went had been hopelessly old-fashioned, empty braggarts. They had no real ability, but were quite skilled at bullying their inferiors and currying favor with their superiors.
But Xu Qi... was different.
After riding her motorcycle over, Bronya had already thought everything through—she needed Xu Qi's strength! And she believed Xu Qi would definitely give her a satisfactory answer!
Suddenly, Bronya grew nervous.
She was afraid... afraid Xu Qi would refuse her—that was something she absolutely could not accept!
So she held her breath, to the point that she could clearly hear her own heartbeat!
And Xu Qi...
"Miss Bronya, it's already very late today."
Bronya's face suddenly went deathly pale. As it happened, Xu Qi wasn't looking at her either.
So he really was... refusing? Of course... Since he wasn't willing to come to our company, and we can't offer him suitable compensation...
Why would he agree to help us with the production...
"If it's a project plan, then we'll need mechanical designs, character designs, and a plot outline at the very least. There are too many things to prepare. Besides, I don't have to go to work right now, so I spend most of my time at home.
"Let's discuss how to complete this project tomorrow. To be honest, it's my first time doing something like this too. It's only because you think so highly of me... I hope I won't disappoint you."
After saying all that, Xu Qi scratched his head somewhat sheepishly.
After all, she was the executive director of a publicly listed company, while he was merely a young man who had graduated and worked for only two years.
To be valued so highly—being overwhelmed by the honor was only natural.
And besides... it was Alahato! Xu Qi would have been willing a hundred times over to take part in its production!
When he looked at Bronya again, he saw her covering her lips, her expression one of extreme excitement as it shifted from profound grief to immense joy.
Xu Qi turned to Elysia.
"What happened?"
As a bystander, Elysia naturally understood what had happened. With a teasing expression, she planted her hands on her hips and laughed. "Nothing. She just misunderstood you for a moment.
"Congratulations, Xu Qi~~. To have someone value you so highly when you're young, and to have the chance to fulfill your dream—that's more precious than anything."
Although Elysia was usually unreliable, he had to admit... the words she had spoken now were worth Xu Qi's agreement.
It was just like that saying—If I could be young once more, each ounce of gold would be worth an ounce of spring breeze.
"Teacher Xu Qi, I..." Perhaps she was simply too excited, because Bronya instinctively added "Teacher" to his form of address.
"Just as you asked me to call you Bronya, call me Xu Qi like before."
Xu Qi waved his hand.
"And I'm the one who should be thanking you—for valuing me so highly, and for giving me the chance to participate in the creation. Let me introduce myself once more. My name is Xu Qi. From now on... I look forward to working with you."
······
Having received the satisfactory promise she wanted, Bronya climbed onto the motorcycle she had ridden over on while Xu Qi saw her off, then left like the wind.
Xu Qi stretched. To be honest, everything that had happened that night felt... a little too surreal to him.
"It's wonderful, isn't it?"
Xu Qi smiled as he looked at Elysia beside him.
"It is surreal, but it makes me feel wonderful."
"Why didn't you agree right away? Compared to working at the Metro Company, E.T. Studio would definitely be better... And she even offered you a project supervisor position."
"Elysia."
"Hmm?"
Xu Qi sat down on the sofa and patted the space beside him, signaling Elysia to sit over.
During the six months since Elysia had moved in with Xu Qi, they had often stayed up late talking like this, so she naturally sat down beside him.
With a slight breath, the fragrance of the girl beside him filled his senses.
Whenever they sat this close, Xu Qi could most clearly feel the fullness of Elysia's figure—something that could not be perceived with the naked eye alone.
It was comfortable, enjoyable, and also made him feel a little guilty...
He wondered whether doing this counted as betraying Mei.
Before you continue