Mei wrapped both arms around Xu Qi's neck. As she hugged him back, she took the initiative to kiss him, unable to suppress the faint emotions and fantasies welling up inside her.
It felt as though something that had once existed only in her dreams had been reflected into reality, making Mei feel somewhat dreamlike for a moment.
For the two of them, this would undoubtedly be an exceptionally long night...
"Eh? Where did it go?"
"Oh, my goodness... Be careful."
"Get lost, you lecher... Eh? It seems more impressive than yesterday."
"You can even tell?"
"I practice with a sword every day, so I'm especially accurate in this area. Hmph! Tell me! Did Elysia's behavior at the dinner table today excite you?"
"Gasp! Say what you want, but take it easy. Don't use so much force."
"Then tell me! Have you developed feelings for Elysia?"
"Not talking about that. Not talking about that."
"Still not talking... Mmph!... Hah... Xu Qi! You shameless rascal!"
"I'm not talking about it."
"You!... Mmph!"
It seemed that for Mei and Xu Qi, this night would be not only long, but also full of interruptions...
But regardless, now that Mei had something to hold over Xu Qi, her revenge... should be able to continue... probably.
54, Theresa, Where Is Your Freedom?
"Folding bed, air-conditioning blanket, a change of clothes... Oh, and mosquito repellent."
"All right!... You're acting just like my mother."
At the entrance to Huazheng University, Xu Qi handed Mei a suitcase and a long bag. As mentioned before, Mei still had a competition to attend. It would last three days, and she had to stay at school the entire time.
"I participated in this sort of thing when I was in university too—a mathematical modeling competition. No matter what, make sure you get enough rest. Otherwise, you'll become extremely irritable later on, and it'll be easy to quarrel with your teammates.
"There's a reason teams are made up of three people. Quarreling won't solve anything. Eh? I haven't asked yet—who are your other two teammates?"
"All right, I know! And why do you care about them anyway... Oh~~ They're both girls!"
Mei rolled her eyes at Xu Qi reproachfully, feeling as though she had gained another mother. But... she rather enjoyed it, especially when they were still at home and she saw how seriously Xu Qi prepared her belongings...
The sweetness in her heart was nearly overflowing.
After giving Xu Qi a light kiss on the cheek, Mei waved and said, "I'm going in. You should hurry home."
"It's fine. I'll watch you go inside from here."
Knowing she couldn't stop Xu Qi, Mei could only give him another hug. Then, with a trace of reluctance, she turned and walked into the school.
The young couple had made a breakthrough with their relationship the night before and were in the throes of love, yet they had no choice but to part for three or four days...
Mei had genuinely considered simply giving up on the competition.
If it had been an individual event, she might really have done so. But this was a team competition...
Mei was a very responsible person. She would never let her teammates down. Xu Qi understood that, just as Mei had supported him when he changed jobs. This time...
Xu Qi supported her unconditionally as well.
Of course, there was one problem he had to face... If certain urges arose during these few days, Xu Qi, who no longer wanted to rely on the "fifth girl," could only endure it for a while.
He drove all the way back to the Golden Courtyard.
It had to be said that perhaps because they were about to go traveling, everyone had been rather excited over the past few days.
Although they still hadn't decided where to go, there was no need to rush.
As soon as he arrived home, Xu Qi heard Elysia discussing travel destinations with Mobius in the living room.
"The sea! We absolutely have to see the sea!"
"Don't we have a sea here too? Why haven't I seen you clamoring to visit it every day?"
"Hm? No, no! Can the sea in Mode Capital even count as the sea? No way. We have to see the real thing."
"This is the first time I've heard that there's such a thing as authentic and inauthentic seas."
Listening to their conversation, Xu Qi couldn't help laughing. Elysia really was full of strange ideas. Who knew where they came from?
Back in his room, Xu Qi instinctively opened QQ now that he was free.
After all, chatting with people was the most convenient way in the world to pass the time. Meaningless conversations in particular were even more relaxing than watching videos.
That was why so many people liked chatting idly in group chats.
Xu Qi was no exception.
He belonged to an Alahato group chat filled with old Alahato fans. Thus, most of the time, their topics were no longer limited to Alahato.
Xu Qi had been hanging around in this group for more than two years and had gotten to know quite a few online friends.
But one person was... rather special.
"Hey, I saw something in the news a while ago. Didn't something happen with the Mode Capital Metro?"
This was a private message. The other person's ID was Theresa.
It was an extremely common ID, because the protagonist of Z Alahato was Theresa, Theresa Apocalypse.
It told the story of Otto's granddaughter, who joined Otto and Karen in resisting the Federation's tyranny.
Unfortunately, it didn't have a happy ending. At the end of the story, Theresa drove the Zeta Alahato into the final boss, killing him, but she herself went insane and became a lunatic.
In the film Otto's Counterattack, Otto's reason for wanting to destroy Earth and breaking with Karen was inextricably linked to this incident.
Sparkling Qiqi: Yeah, you're only finding out now?
Theresa: Get lost.
Theresa: I even asked you about it that day! You said you didn't know either.
Sparkling Qiqi: Yeah? What about it?
Theresa: What do you mean, what about it?
As she spoke, Theresa found the news report interviewing the hero who had dared to stop the vehicle and sent it to Xu Qi.
Theresa: Who else could this be!? It even says his name underneath—Xu Qi. Do you think I'm blind?
Sparkling Qiqi: Uh... Aren't you someone who doesn't watch the news?
The other side remained silent for a long time.
Xu Qi was just about to start up a game for a while, thinking their conversation had ended for the day.
Theresa: Who!... Who said I don't watch the news!? I do watch it, all right...
Because a unit where someone she knew worked had been featured on television, she had watched especially carefully. After seeing her friend, she had taken an even greater interest and carefully investigated the relevant information.
But she was too embarrassed to admit it, so she had waited that long before sending over a pointless message.
Xu Qi, who had seen through Theresa's entire train of thought in an instant, let out a deep sigh. Theresa was just too adorably unfair.
"All right, it really was me."
"Are you insane!? You actually thought of using an Exoskeleton Armor to stop the vehicle!? You!... Your brain must be full of water!"
This wasn't the first time he had been told that... Yet after so many days, hearing it again somehow felt rather fresh. Perhaps it was because it came from Theresa.
In Z Alahato, Theresa had the figure of a cute, petite loli. Xu Qi had no idea what the online friend looked like.
But the other person had always insisted that he was male. Xu Qi thought that made perfect sense. After all, how could an online friend be a woman these days? Surely they were joking...
You'd rather believe that you could chat with a female online friend than believe that I'm Qin Shihuang, right?
"I'm fine, aren't I? I survived, didn't I?"
"You make it sound so easy... Forget about that. Are you still writing lately?"
"Writing what?"
"Alahato fan fiction."
"I'm not writing anymore."
"? You eunuch! You stopped again?"
"No, no. Theresa, you've really misunderstood me this time."
"There's nothing for us to misunderstand!"
"I've officially joined E.T. Studio."
After a long silence, Theresa finally sent a message.
"Xu Qi."
"Hmm?"
"Why don't we go have your brain examined? I know several good neurosurgeons in Guangcheng. Hurry and take a plane over. I'll take you to see them."
"..."
Sparkling Qiqi: Get lost.
Theresa: ?
Theresa: I'm so good to you, and you tell me to get lost?
Sparkling Qiqi: I'll be preparing to sign the contract in a month. Believe it or not.
Theresa: ?
Theresa: You're serious?
Theresa: Wait... Wait, wait! It couldn't be... It couldn't be that one! The Seed you wrote!
Sparkling Qiqi: That's right~~ But I didn't give them the original manuscript. I only told them the concept, and their executive director was immediately won over. Impressive, huh? Your Xu-ge is amazing.
Theresa: Get lost! Hmph! Isn't it an idea I came up with?
Sparkling Qiqi: Yes~~ Theresa is the best. So when are you going to give me the design drawings for your free mecha? Griseo isn't good at creating things from thin air. You need to give her a sample design first.
Theresa: Got it, got it. Stop babbling. I'll make them for you. Log on first. Let's play a game.
55, Elysia's Feelings—Why Can't You Understand?
Early in the morning, the glaring, scorching sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling window and spilled across Xu Qi.
When he opened his eyes groggily, he discovered that he had fallen asleep on the floor again.
He had the strange feeling that he had experienced this scene before...
His memories came rushing back, helping Xu Qi recall what had happened the previous night. Mm... It seemed he had played games with Theresa until he passed out.
Tsk... This was far too ridiculous.
And why did I always fall asleep while playing games, only to wake up on the floor?
He picked up his phone and found several unread messages on it.
Theresa: Xu Qi? Where are you?
Theresa: You fell asleep again, didn't you...
2:35
Theresa: I'm going to sleep, you idiot. Be more careful next time. If you can't stay up late, then don't.
Xu Qi raised an eyebrow. Her words were somewhat sharp, but the concern between the lines was obvious. She was quite the tsundere.
If that personality belonged to a man, it would seem rather terrible.
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