Moving to the Golden Courtyard

59,Elysia, Tears Like Rain

Night. Outside, a drizzle pattered against the window, making it hard to sleep.

The air conditioning was on, so the room wasn't too stuffy. Xu Qi was wrapped in a blanket, but he had to admit... he was finding it hard to fall asleep.

Even though he'd passed out from gaming before, and even slept with Elysia, this time felt different.

Xu Qi stared at the raindrops on the window. The sound seemed to echo in his heart, making him restless.

Elysia was right beside him.

Just two days ago... he'd been intimate with Mei in bed.

He really was a scumbag.

He'd said he'd try to fulfill what Yae had said—to win over both Elysia and Mei!

But now that the moment was here, he was afraid. Afraid of what? Afraid of taking on more responsibility... afraid of facing Mei... afraid of hurting them.

Xu Qi felt lost. He'd never been good at handling matters of the heart.

"Xu Qi, are you asleep?"

The voice came from behind. The reality of Elysia lying in the same bed as him became even more profound.

"Not yet."

After he replied, he heard a rustling sound from Elysia's side.

She seemed to... have turned over?

That meant...

Just as he was thinking this, he felt someone turn his shoulder.

"Turn around, let's chat."

Elysia... did she really not know how dangerous this was?

Even though he thought that, Xu Qi obediently turned around, looking at Elysia so close he could almost touch her. Even in the darkness, it felt like a dream.

How could Xu Qi not like Elysia?

He still remembered the first time he met her at the Golden Courtyard, that feeling of love at first sight.

His heart felt like it was going to be shattered by this girl.

"Hm? What, are you stunned?"

Elysia waved her hand in front of Xu Qi's face. If he wasn't mistaken, she was shirtless.

Indeed, Xu Qi remembered clearly that after showering before bed, Elysia had only put on a camisole nightgown. Now, Xu Qi could even see her fair, bare shoulders.

Damn it, Xu Qi... why did he have to emphasize his night vision at a time like this?

"Be honest, and keep your hands to yourself."

"Hmph... you're so fierce with me. Why aren't you like that with Mei?"

That's different, but he couldn't say it...

"Xu Qi, before dinner, your mom pulled me aside and whispered some things to me."

"Whispered... you're so cute, Elysia."

"Of course! I'm a beautiful girl!"

That's not what I meant... Xu Qi wanted to cover his face, but he didn't dare to move too much, afraid of touching Elysia and causing some unnecessary ambiguous misunderstanding.

"What did my mom say to you?"

"She told me a lot about your childhood, and... and..."

At this point, Elysia hesitated, and Xu Qi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"And what?"

"She said... she said that although you're decisive in your actions, you're always indecisive when it comes to matters of the heart... She said that I need to take the initiative to be successful."

My mom really knows me...

"Xu Qi, is it true?"

You're a girl, lying in bed with me, and asking me this question. Don't you think that's weird?

But Xu Qi subconsciously ignored these questions, perhaps Elysia did too. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly told a story.

"Actually... although Mei is my first love, she's not the first girl I've liked."

Elysia's eyes lit up! She loved hearing stories, especially about Xu Qi.

"I liked one in high school. We were doing pretty well, just short of confessing. But... but I was always hesitant, maybe I was afraid.

Anyway, when the college entrance exam was over, she was probably tired of my ambiguity, so... she found a boyfriend and we went our separate ways."

"Eh?" Elysia couldn't help but move closer, saying, "How could she do that? That girl was so wrong."

"Hm?"

Xu Qi was a little confused. Shouldn't a normal person's first reaction to this story be that the guy is a freak?

"She should be more proactive! Relationships are a two-way street. If one person hesitates, the other has to take the initiative! Switching directly is just... it shows she doesn't like you at all!"

"Or... maybe."

Xu Qi scratched his head, suddenly feeling... Elysia might actually be right?

"You must have been in a lot of pain during that time. I can tell you really liked that girl."

"It's okay, it's all in the past anyway. Besides, there's still..."

At this point, Xu Qi suddenly froze—damn it... he shouldn't say "there's still Mei" in front of Elysia no matter what...

"There's still Mei, right?"

Elysia took the initiative to finish Xu Qi's sentence.

This also made the atmosphere between the two a little silent again.

"You can't go a sentence without mentioning Mei..."

"Even when you're at home during the day, I see you always stuttering when you talk. You're thinking about Mei, aren't you... including when you're talking to me. No matter what we talk about, it always seems to come back to Mei."

Xu Qi gradually lowered his head, afraid to look at Elysia.

"She's like... she's become one with you. It's really like you're a married couple... you are Mei, and Mei is you, an inseparable relationship."

"You know what? I'm really... so envious... so envious of Mei. She was able to meet you so early, and able to express her feelings for you so unreservedly.

I'm really far behind her in that regard... By the time I realized what I was feeling, it might have been too late."

Xu Qi suddenly looked up, and only then did he notice that the tears in the girl's eyes, like the light rain outside, were streaming down her cheeks.

"I like everyone in the Golden Courtyard, I like everyone. I think... I think my feelings for you should be the same, but it seems... it's a little unfortunate.

This affection seems heavier than my affection for anyone else, this love seems heavier than my love for anyone else.

When did it start? I'm really troubled... I... why couldn't I feel it? Why..."

"Elysia!"

The impulse in his heart made Xu Qi unable to resist pulling the girl into his arms.

Damn it, Xu Qi... you really deserve to die!

How could you let Elysia cry in front of you?

But the tears seemed to be unstoppable.

When Elysia felt Xu Qi's embrace, felt the other party's caring heart... she finally understood what she had missed.

Tears streamed down like a burst dam, soaking Xu Qi's chest, and Xu Qi...

From the moment he hugged Elysia, he also understood one thing.

Some responsibilities are his to bear.

Just like Yae said, whether it's Mei or Elysia... you can't let them be sad, Xu Qi!

Did something very idiotic

I'm sorry, I'm an idiot. Chapter 60 was written on the company's computer, and I only realized after I got off work that I hadn't copied it to a USB drive. As a result, my home computer only has the first half of Chapter 60, and the second half is gone. I can't handle it.

This operation is really brainless. Don't worry, I'll go to the company tomorrow and send out Chapter 60 first thing in the morning. I'm very sorry, it will be made up for tomorrow. Three chapters will be released tomorrow: 60, 61, and 62.

Chapter 61 will have some small benefits, so please look forward to it.

It's also a good opportunity to say in a single chapter, so I'll make a preview here. "Summer in Binhai" is obviously a swimsuit chapter. It's estimated to be either in the middle or at the end of the volume. It's about to start pushing. The rhythm will still be the same as before, a period of stable daily life to shape the characters, plus a short story to strengthen the character shaping, that's about it.

I apologize to everyone again, I'm really very sorry.

60. Let's use my Elysia as a rehearsal object

The sound of sobbing continued for a long time before finally gradually subsiding.

And Xu Qi... he also calmed down his mood, and only then did he notice—it seems Elysia really likes to cry.

She's the same when she sees touching animations or movies, often crying alone, or simply nestling on his shoulder and sobbing.

She even mutters, "Is this the beauty of humanity?"

Making it sound like you're not human.

Thinking of this, Xu Qi gently stroked Elysia's back, but he also laughed.

For some reason, seeing Elysia curled up in his arms crying, the first thing he thought of wasn't anything else, but... so she also cries like this because of a relationship.

It's like the immortal fairy who was originally in his eyes, who shouldn't be eating the food of mortals, who was so perfect as if she had no flaws, has been stained with a little bit of dust.

And when Xu Qi knew that he was the one who added this little bit of dust to her...

To be honest, the feeling in his heart was a little strange, but it was generally pleasant...

And he felt that she was more real in front of him. You can clearly feel that Elysia, as a person, is lying in your arms.

Instead of a god, or some other perfect deity.

This feeling of luring an angel to fall is probably the dark side of human nature.

I can only say, I'm sorry for being born a human.

"Hmph... How long are you going to keep hugging me? There's a limit to how much you can take advantage... I'm going to cry, you know?..."

"You're already crying."

"Hmph!... Xu Qi, you should learn more from Kevin's meticulousness, instead of learning how Kevin manages to stay single."

"But I have Mei?"

"I think there's probably no saving humanity if they all end up like you."

In Xu Qi's arms, Elysia raised her head, and they looked at each other, unable to help but laugh.

"Xu Qi, you've really corrupted me."

"Yeah..." Xu Qi nodded his chin against Elysia's small head, stroking her back as he said, "I'm slowly tempting you to become a bad woman."

"Then you have to take responsibility for that."

"Mm... I will. I turned you from a perfect fairy into a flawed human, so even if I'm struck by lightning..."

He was cut off halfway through his sentence.

Elysia covered Xu Qi's mouth with her hand, her expression serious, and said earnestly, "You're not allowed to swear on that."

Xu Qi's expression softened, and he nodded gently. Only then did Elysia let go.