Mei, I Absolutely Won't Let Go (Continued)

Moving up beside Xu Qi, Elysia stuck out her tongue.

"See?~~ It's all because of you that Aponia bonked me on the head."

"You should look for the reason on yourself."

"How could that be?~~ Aponia couldn't bear to hit a cute girl like me."

Xu Qi rolled his eyes, but... Elysia was right—she really was very cute.

"Sigh... But Kalpas is gone now. What are we going to do about breakfast?? Even a beautiful girl can't skip breakfast... Don't you agree, Xu Qi?"

Looking at Elysia's watery eyes as she stared at him pitifully, Xu Qi...

Xu Qi said expressionlessly,

"Order takeout yourself."

"Can't you order some for me?"

"I have no money."

"Xu Qi!!"

Xu Qi was inwardly delighted, but he couldn't show it on the surface. Otherwise, Elysia would catch that fleeting softness and tease him about it for an entire week.

Don't ask how Xu Qi knew.

He collapsed onto the sofa and was just about to take out his phone to see what the idiots online were talking about when... his ringtone suddenly rang.

Xu Qi was a little puzzled. Who would be calling him at this hour?

When he saw the caller's name, Xu Qi fell silent.

The cheerful atmosphere gradually grew heavy. Elysia seemed to notice it as well. She stopped joking and walked over to Xu Qi with concern.

She only had to glance over to see the caller's note—Mom.

"Are you not going to answer?"

Xu Qi hesitated for a long time, but finally answered the call.

"Hello? Mom."

"Son."

After those two brief greetings, a long silence followed.

Elysia sat down beside Xu Qi. Seeing this, Xu Qi turned on speakerphone and placed the phone on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

"Mom... is something wrong?"

"...Nothing. I just wanted to ask how you're doing now... Are you living well?"

"Yeah, I'm doing pretty well."

"That's good... That's good..."

"Mom, what happened?"

Xu Qi frowned. His heart began beating faster subconsciously, as if something bad were about to happen.

"Xiao Qi, your father... Your father, he..."

The woman's voice was tinged with sobs, clear even through the phone. Xu Qi's eyes widened, and the panic and fear in his heart surged to an unprecedented level.

"Dad! What happened to Dad!?"

"Your father... He accidentally twisted his foot while going downstairs. The doctor said it was fractured. He can't move around right now and can only sit in a wheelchair. He needs to rest for a month."

Xu Qi let out a long sigh of relief, then couldn't help scolding her.

"That's all? Then why are you crying, Mom? Do you want me to arrange a hospital? I know a doctor who's very professional."

"Can't I cry if I want to? You've been away from home for more than half a year, and you haven't called even once! And besides... Was that you more than a week ago?"

"..."

"All right, Mom, I know. I... I'll go back and see him today. I'm hanging up for now. Bye-bye."

After hanging up, Xu Qi felt inexplicably relieved. The call he had originally thought might be troublesome had instead eased his heart, along with much of the pressure weighing on him.

"Was that your mother?"

"Yeah."

Elysia's gaze softened. It was as if she had only just realized that Xu Qi was merely a young man in his twenties.

"When you moved here, you had only had a disagreement with your family. But half a year has passed, Xu Qi... You really should go back and see them."

"Yeah. Actually... I'm not that angry with them anymore. After all, I already beat those two brats and that adult. I got all that resentment out of my system long ago."

"Pfft! That really is something you would do."

"Right?"

"I'll go back with you."

"Huh?" Xu Qi froze. Looking at Elysia's gentle expression, he was just about to refuse when he suddenly realized... he didn't seem to have any reason to refuse.

"Your mother should know who her son has been living with for the past six months, don't you think? Right, Xu Qi?"

"...All right. I'll pack up, then. Come home with me."

At that moment, Fu Hua had just come downstairs to eat breakfast. Standing at the staircase, she heard the entire conversation without the slightest surprise.

Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened so wide it looked as if she could stuff a meat bun into it.

This... Elysia... Xu Qi... Were they... meeting the parents!?

Miss Mei! Your home has been stolen!

57. Even Elysia Gets Nervous About Meeting the Parents

The car drove all the way into the residential complex where Xu Qi used to live. Since he was going home, he naturally couldn't bring back one of those luxury cars. Otherwise, people might think he had been kept by some rich woman.

Well... it didn't seem all that different.

Besides, it was practically impossible to find an ordinary car in the underground garage of the Golden Courtyard. There was no choice—they could only drive Elysia's pink Beetle.

"But don't you feel like... something is strange?"

"Hm? What's strange?"

"Hmm... Do you think I should buy some gifts? After all, it's my first time meeting your parents. Even if you don't care, it wouldn't be good to show up empty-handed."

"Then bring some fruit... You're coming to my home. Why are you being so nervous?"

Elysia blinked at Xu Qi. Seeing that he genuinely hadn't noticed anything, the corners of her lips curled up.

Since it was Elysia's car, Xu Qi was happy to sit in the passenger seat like a boss, enjoying the luxury of having someone else drive.

A light rain fell from the sky. Xu Qi told Elysia to wait in the car while he opened an umbrella and helped her out.

This made Elysia feel even more that something was strange.

This... This was completely like...

A faint blush spread across her pretty face. Elysia pursed her lips and obediently stayed beside Xu Qi, sharing an umbrella with him.

There was definitely another umbrella in the car, but neither Elysia nor Xu Qi seemed to have any intention of taking it out.

Xu Qi was also a little surprised. He felt that Elysia seemed unusually well-behaved today. When was she ever this quiet? Let alone on the way here—she should have been chattering away like a songbird even now.

But... she wasn't.

She had even spent a long time dressing up before they left. She wore a pure-white pleated dress, and her pink hair was tied up behind her head. The outfit was simple, yet perfectly suited to her and immediately caught the eye.

She had also deliberately chosen a pair of mid-height heels, making herself look taller while unconsciously showing off her alluring curves.

So Elysia really was unbelievably beautiful today.

"Shall we go?"

"Mm!"

"Why do I keep feeling like you're nervous?"

Xu Qi had only been joking, but Elysia froze. She asked seriously, "Do I... really look that nervous right now?"

"Uh... more or less."

"Phew... Don't scare me, Xu Qi. I don't want to leave a bad impression on your parents."

No, was this really that important?

To be honest, Xu Qi also sensed that something was off, but... but she was Elysia! Could anyone imagine it? A girl like Elysia had actually developed an emotion like love.

And the person it was directed at was...

Xu Qi couldn't bring himself to think about it.

She was so pure and beautiful. Xu Qi didn't want any worldly thoughts of his to tarnish her.

When they were almost at the entrance, Elysia suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"I... I need a moment."

"Huh?"

Xu Qi then saw Elysia standing at the staircase, one hand against her chest, her eyes tightly closed as she began taking deep breaths—she was far too nervous!

It took nearly two minutes before she finally composed herself. Opening her eyes, she gathered her courage and said, "I'm ready!"

"Why do you look like you're about to be executed? Is my home really that terrifying?"

"..."

Xu Qi sighed. He suddenly stepped forward and took Elysia's delicate hand. Xu Qi was slightly taller, so he bent down a little and met Elysia's gaze.

"What's wrong with you? You're far too nervous... At first, I thought you were joking with me. This isn't like you, Elysia. This is my home, and you're my..."

Xu Qi faltered at that point.

Elysia, however, suddenly became brave. She clasped both of Xu Qi's hands and looked straight at him.

"I'm your what?"

"My most important friend..."

The light in Elysia's eyes dimmed slightly, and Xu Qi couldn't help feeling a pang of heartache.

Damn it! Xu Qi! You're a damn bastard!

He wanted to look away, but he was afraid that doing so would hurt Elysia even more. No one... no one was allowed to hurt the girl standing before him!

But what am I doing?

But... what about Mei?

Xu Qi felt as though his heart were being torn apart. The pain was so intense that he could barely breathe.

What am I... What am I thinking? What am I...

"!"

At that very moment, as Xu Qi was caught in his inner conflict, a sudden soft sensation against his body left him standing there in a daze. Elysia... had thrown her arms around him.

It was the closest they had ever been.

The two of them stood beneath Xu Qi's apartment building while a drizzle fell outside, embracing one another there.

After only a moment's hesitation, Xu Qi wrapped his arms around Elysia in return.

The girl held him tightly, so tightly that it seemed she wanted to merge Xu Qi into her very being.