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

"Mm... Alysia, just now I..."

"No need to say more. I did it of my own free will."

Xu Qi fell silent for a moment. He had encountered two girls this outstanding, and... it could be said that he now had an ambiguous relationship with both of them.

"Let's just sleep for tonight."

"Tomorrow is another day?"

"I've discovered that you really have learned some bad habits, Alysia."

"It's called being influenced by those around you. The close to vermilion becomes red, and the close to ink becomes black."

Xu Qi couldn't help laughing. "What, are you Griseo? So easy to assimilate?"

"I'm easily assimilated by you, Xu Qi."

Turning around, Xu Qi pecked Elysia on the lips, then rubbed her head and said, "You really have become a pink fairy."

"So..." Her pure, wide eyes blinked repeatedly. Elysia looked at Xu Qi as if she didn't understand and said, "Would you like Fairy Miss to help you relieve your pent-up heat?"

Xu Qi raised an eyebrow. He had only been joking. "If you use this, I'll agree."

"Use what?"

Xu Qi kissed Alysia on the lips again.

"Here."

"...!" Elysia finally understood. "Xu Qi, you pervert!"

"Haha, I'm not teasing you anymore. Go to sleep. It's already very late."

"You're not going to do something with Mei too..."

"Ahem! Don't make things up. I'm not that kind of person."

"You are! Pervert! Lecher! Scumbag! Xu Qi!"

Elysia: Don't Let Yourself Be Deceived by Two-Dimensional Women

They didn't linger at home for long that morning. Xu Qi himself didn't really mind; after all, he hadn't been home in quite some time, so staying for a while longer wouldn't have been a problem.

But Xu Qi's father had started chasing them out early in the morning. The over-fifty-year-old man had broken his foot, yet he still managed to drive Xu Qi and Elysia out of the house.

All the while, he kept saying things like...

"Go back sooner. Remember to bring a couple more little booklets next time you come."

"If you come back pregnant without any booklets, you're as good as dead."

How could Elysia withstand remarks like that? She ran away with her face flushed red. Even Xu Qi couldn't take it. In the end, his mother had to step in and stop Xu Youde's donkey-like stubbornness.

"But your father was right about one thing. Getting the marriage certificate is more important than anything else."

Xu Qi had no choice but to listen to his mother's long-winded lecture, laughing and crying at the same time. Only afterward did he finally get into the car.

It was only on the way back that Elysia finally seemed a little more normal.

She chattered nonstop, as if anything could become a topic of conversation. She was especially fascinated by all the figurines and models in Xu Qi's room, which had left her dazzled at the time.

"I never would've guessed you had this kind of hobby."

"I still do. I just buy less now."

"You already have real women and you're still not satisfied? Don't let two-dimensional women deceive you."

"I'm warning you, if you keep this up, I'll go to your room tonight."

"I'm only worried you won't dare."

Xu Qi rolled his eyes. He felt that this girl had simply given up resisting. She had already been touched and kissed, so now she feared nothing.

Sooner or later, he would make her cry.

"Two-dimensional things have their own beauty. Take that VTB you're doing now. Doesn't it have a chibi figurine too? Didn't plenty of people still buy it?"

"Did you buy one?"

Xu Qi was silent for a long while before finally squeezing two words out of his mouth.

"I did."

"Pfft!"

"Stop laughing! Focus on driving!"

"Okay, okay..." Even so, the smile at the corners of Elysia's lips was impossible to hide.

When they returned to the Golden Courtyard, they unexpectedly found that everyone except Eden was there. Even Su, whom they usually only saw at night, was chatting with Kevin.

When everyone saw Elysia entering with Xu Qi, their expressions became rather strange, though there was also a hint of acceptance.

It was as if this was something that should have happened long ago. How had it taken them until now?

"Why are you all looking at me?"

Xu Qi felt a little uneasy.

But Alysia seemed to understand what everyone was thinking. Her pretty face flushed, and she quickly waved her hands. "I just went to Xu Qi's house to see his father. Xu Qi's father hurt his foot, and I... I only took him there."

She had sounded so imposing last night, saying things like, I'll handle Mei. Just wait for my good news.

So why had she become so timid in front of everyone?

Even little Pardofelis could hear how suspiciously she was trying to cover things up. Neko was covering her eyes and muttering, "I don't know. I didn't see anything."

Fortunately, Kevin understood the importance of the situation.

He coughed and looked around at everyone. Unfortunately, no one was looking at him. They were all still staring at Xu Qi and Elysia.

"Stop messing around. Listen to what Boss Kevin has to say first."

Only after Xu Qi spoke did everyone reluctantly withdraw their curious gazes.

Even Yae, who was the most composed, and Aponia, who seemed the least concerned with worldly matters, were no exception.

These people were still just as enthusiastic about gossip.

Having finally regained the attention of everyone in the Golden Courtyard, Kevin nevertheless felt that he had somehow suffered a blow.

"Actually... I didn't have much to say. Everyone was just here waiting for you two to return."

"Waiting for us?"

Xu Qi and Elysia looked at each other.

"Since this is a trip, of course we need a plan. Everyone happened to take long vacations in July, so we might as well spend two or three days discussing where we should go."

"Kevin, you finished your project?"

Hearing that Xu Qi still remembered this, a hint of warmth appeared on Kevin's eternally ice-cold face.

"Yeah. My boss learned about my travel plans and generously gave me a few extra days off."

In truth, he had simply been unable to endure Kevin's gaze, which was like that of someone staring at a corpse, so he had hurriedly given him leave.

"What about Su?"

"The specialist has arrived, so I can take a short break. The hospital will arrange for someone to receive him. I don't need to worry about that."

Xu Qi looked toward Yae.

"Don't look at me. I have nothing weighing on me now, and taking leave is easy enough."

"Geez... You've all prepared that thoroughly?"

"Now the only one missing is Mei." Kevin folded his arms and looked at Xu Qi. "Should we tell her?"

"I'll leave her a message. I already have a general idea of what Mei thinks. We discussed it before. Let's hear everyone's thoughts first. What do you say? Should we stay in the country, or go abroad?"

Xu Qi set down his bag and leaned back against the sofa. Mobius was sitting beside him, and seeing how casually he settled in, she couldn't help lazily reclining as well, shoulder to shoulder with him. Elysia's eyelids twitched at the sight.

"I don't care. Changing locations is just changing one's mood. As long as there's somewhere to stay, it's fine."

"I'm about the same as this woman."

As expected, the professors and Vil-V were the least picky no matter the occasion.

To them, experiments were the most important thing.

Fu Hua raised her hand and said, "I'd like to go mountain climbing."

"Rejected!"

Mobius and Vil-V rejected Fu Hua's choice in perfect unison. Perhaps only on matters like this could the two great professors remain in sync.

After all, mountain climbing meant exercise... Exercise... could kill people.

Fu Hua lowered her head in dejection. Xu Qi moved beside Little Fu Fu and reached out to rub her head.

"Next time. We'll go next time."

"Okay..."

Kosma thought for a moment, then raised a hand. "I want to go to Japan."

Xu Qi covered his face.

"This isn't a classroom. You don't need to raise your hand to speak. Are you all students?"

Oh... They really were. In that case, never mind.

Yae's eyes lit up. Kosma's suggestion clearly suited her tastes. It made sense, considering Japan was her homeland.

Xu Qi sighed.

"I... probably can't go."

Su suddenly raised his hand. "I'm involved with some classified files. For security reasons, I probably won't be able to get a visa for a country like Japan."

So going abroad was out as well.

Kosma and Yae sighed at the same time, then patted Su on the shoulder, as if to say, It's not your fault.

"What about you, Elysia?"

Elysia blinked her big eyes at Xu Qi.

"Alright, I know. Don't say anything."

Everyone in the Golden Courtyard silently screamed in their hearts at the sight of this. What kind of telepathy do you two have? So you really went to meet his parents!? When's the wedding banquet?

"Then... I'll make a suggestion."

Xu Qi's words successfully drew everyone's attention back to him.

"Guangcheng. The seaside."

Dr. Mei, Do You Place Too Much Importance on Xu Qi?

"Lieutenant Himeko? Wake up, Lieutenant Himeko."

At the municipal bureau's office, Himeko's superior stood helplessly in front of her desk. As for Lieutenant Himeko herself... she had her legs propped up on the desk and was fast asleep.

A book covered her head. Only Himeko could get away with such uninhibited behavior.

"Phew... Lieutenant Himeko, if you don't get up, I'll give someone else this chance to carry out the mission in Guangcheng."

"What!?"

Himeko quickly snatched the book off her face and lowered her legs as she asked, "Where?"

"Guangcheng."

"Oh, my~~" Still wearing her uniform, Lieutenant Himeko immediately stood up with a beaming smile, pulled her superior over to sit on the sofa, poured him a cup of tea, and stood beside him.

"Boss, what are you talking about? See? Didn't I get up?"

"I prefer the way you were when you were wild and unruly."