Moving to the Golden Courtyard

"Don't bother me!" Himeko waved her hand, plopped back into her office chair, and habitually propped her legs up on the desk. "What's the mission? We just finished dealing with that 956 terror attack. Can't we catch a break?"

"Lieutenant Himeko, you are a public servant, and the work you do is a..."

"A glorious and noble endeavor, yeah, yeah, I know. So hurry up and tell me, what the hell happened in Guangcheng that requires Modu's police force?"

"Well..." The leader hesitated for a long time before slowly saying, "This is classified. If Lieutenant Himeko wants to hear it, you'll have to join the task force first."

"And once I join, I'm not allowed to quit, right?"

"That's right."

"Sigh..." Himeko shook her head and sighed. "It's always the same song and dance after all these years... Fine, Guangcheng... I'll take the mission. Who's going with me?"

"You're on your own."

"Hmm, just what I wanted."

"Then remember to attend the operational meeting this afternoon. I'll go report to the director."

"Goodbye, don't let the door hit you on the way out~"

With a beaming smile, she watched the leader leave. The moment the door closed, Himeko's expression immediately turned gloomy.

"Guangcheng... I really don't want to go to that place..."

But speaking of which, that kid named Xu Qi last time... I managed to get his WeChat, but I haven't contacted him in so long...

Ugh, what a shame. I finally meet a guy I like, and I have to go on a business trip...

"Oh well, I'll try to reel him in after I get back from Guangcheng."

Modu Sea Area, nearshore underwater base.

"Shigure Kira! Snipe the targets!"

Inside the holographic target range, the green Exoskeleton Armor wielded an HK Particle sniper rifle, taking out each suddenly appearing moving target with a single shot!

Just then! Suddenly, a high-heat beam came from the side, but Shigure Kira didn't panic.

Several floating shields detached from the side of the green Exoskeleton Armor! Each of their surfaces was coated with HK Particles, blocking the incoming high-heat beams one by one.

What astonishing perception and mental strength!

Outside the holographic target range, in a research lab resembling a military base, a researcher reported, "Target hit rate 96.71%, Cherub Armor damage 3.25%, Shigure Kira, excellent performance."

This data had already been recorded in the information database. The researchers were mainly reporting it to the woman sitting in the main seat.

She wore a white coat over a black striped inner layer. The woman wore round glasses, and her smooth black-purple hair was draped behind her.

She sat quietly behind the desk in the center of the research lab, a long string of data streams rapidly scrolling across the virtual screen in front of her.

A professor, and a beautiful woman at that.

Her soft beauty was enough to draw everyone's attention just by sitting there.

Working with such a superior inevitably brought a sense of joy to the researchers below.

But if Xu Qi were here, he might be a little surprised, because... she looked so much like Mei – almost like Mei after many years of maturity.

Even her figure. The so-called mature woman, with her charming posture, voluptuous body, and the unintentional allure she exuded, lacked none of these.

And this one... like a peach that was overripe, as if you could squeeze water out of it.

This was by no means comparable to the current Mei.

But there was something to be said for youthfulness, to each their own.

At that moment, she heard the data and couldn't help but smile. "Alright, great progress. Next, test the Fallen Angel Armor's performance and compatibility. Have Seele get ready."

The order was passed down, and after a while, Shigure Kira arrived at the research lab, covered in sweat.

"Doctor, I did great today too, right~~"

Dr. Mei smiled and looked at Shigure Kira, teasing, "Oh really? Then why didn't you complete the task of contacting Xu Qi last time?"

"Uh..." Shigure Kira scratched her head awkwardly. "Well... I felt like I found another equally suitable candidate?"

"Prometheus's choices don't go wrong. You should trust it."

"Okay~~ Okay~~ But I always feel like the task of contacting Xu Qi isn't entirely Prometheus's choice."

Dr. Mei looked up, a little curious, and asked, "Why do you say that?"

"Because I always feel like you're paying a little too much attention to this guy named Xu Qi. It's not like you, Doctor."

"Is that so?" Mei's expression remained calm. She pulled up Xu Qi's information from the virtual screen, gazing at the man in the photo, Dr. Mei's thoughts were unfathomable.

"Just a feeling... Besides, according to calculations, he may be the key to successfully promoting the dual-core system. Two Solar Furnaces, I think you should know what that means."

"But I think that boy named Kosma also has the same qualifications."

"Perhaps... Let's not talk about that. A mission is coming, get ready, we have to leave."

Hearing that there was a mission, Shigure Kira couldn't help but light up.

"What is it?"

Dr. Mei smiled mysteriously.

"It's a secret."

"Huh?"

"Let's go. All I can tell you is that the location for our Earthnet mission this time is... in Guangcheng."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. It was still the Huazheng campus, and still a black GTR.

As the wild engine sound died down in front of the school gate, the students coming out couldn't help but glance over – after all, wasn't it just too cool?

But when Xu Qi coolly pushed open the car door and got out, he found that most of the gazes he attracted were... male students.

Damn it! Wasn't that a little too real?

But never mind. When he saw the girl shaking her ponytail, wearily carrying large and small bags as she walked out of the school, Xu Qi couldn't help but smile and went to meet her.

Mei looked up, and the moment she saw Xu Qi, the exhaustion on her face vanished, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she dropped the packages in her hands, rushing over excitedly.

This feeling of youthful energy made Xu Qi laugh out loud. He opened his arms and hugged the extremely excited Mei. The smiles on their faces were so genuine that you just wanted to capture the moment and keep it as a memento.

When Xu Qi put her down, Mei couldn't help but wrap her arms around his neck and asked, "Did you miss me, Xu Qi?"

"Yes! Every moment."

"Really? I can't feel it!"

A smile spread across Xu Qi's lips, and then, in full view of everyone, in broad daylight, he lowered his head and kissed the girl in his arms.

Even though they had only been apart for three days, could she feel how much he had missed her?

Mei, I love you...

64. Mei, how about we go see the sea?

"Seriously, there were so many people at the school gate just now! You just kissed me like that, without any regard for appearances."

In the passenger seat of the car, although Mei's face was full of happiness, she still had to complain a little. Perhaps that was just a girl's coyness...

"Okay, okay, it's my fault. I was just too excited."

At times like this, Xu Qi always went along with the girl's words. If verbal concessions could be exchanged for tangible benefits, then Xu Qi didn't mind making a few more.

"Is everyone at the Golden Courtyard doing well?"

"Yes, they're all fine. And the location for the trip has been decided. I sent you a message before – Guangcheng, by the sea."

"Going to see the sea?"

"That's right."

"Yay! ~ Wait a minute..." Mei belatedly reacted. She narrowed her eyes and glanced sideways at Xu Qi, saying, "You suggested it, didn't you..."

"Yeah?"

"I think you have ulterior motives. Going to the beach in this hot weather, you'll definitely want me to wear something revealing."

Xu Qi raised an eyebrow.

"Wouldn't that be good?"

"Pervert."

"Hey, is that how you talk about your boyfriend? Besides, it's the beach. What kind of swimwear isn't revealing?"

"Hmph!"

Although she said that, Mei was actually fantasizing about what kind of swimsuit to wear – should she really grant Xu Qi's wish and wear something revealing?

That would definitely be a bikini... How... how bold!

But Xu Qi would definitely like it, so it seems... it seems there's no way around it...

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and Mei looked at Xu Qi, who was focused on driving, and said softly, "I... haven't been able to properly apply a face mask lately. Could you... help me tonight?"

Wow, needing help to apply a face mask... Of course, Xu Qi knew that Mei meant something else – she was quite subtle. Applying a face mask was practically becoming Mei's secret code for wanting affection.

After all, they were a couple in the throes of love. How could they bear such a long separation?

"Okay, I'll help you tonight."

"Hehe..."

"Oh, right, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

"My... father twisted his ankle a few days ago and fractured it. The doctor said he needs to rest for a month."

"Ah!?"

Mei's expression immediately became flustered. "Is it serious? Should I go back with you to see him?"

"There's no need. Actually, the night you called me a few days ago, I was at home, but I was afraid you'd worry, so I didn't tell you."

"You... that's not necessary... sometimes you're just too considerate."

Xu Qi chuckled wryly. He understood that most of the time, but... he really didn't want Mei to worry about him.

"Xu Qi, we're a couple, right?"

"Yes."

"Since that's the case, we're one. We should share things together, instead of you arranging everything for me, and me just enjoying your care.

Maybe you think I'm still in school and don't have the ability to solve the problems you face, but at least I can comfort you. So, let's do this together... okay?"

Xu Qi was silent for a long time—what reason did he have to say no?

He just suddenly realized that Mei beside him was already so mature.

She was no longer as green and naive as she was in high school, as if she didn't understand anything. Sometimes he might have been too protective, always feeling like Mei was still the child he first met.

But in reality... without realizing it, she had grown into an equal individual.

Who could say otherwise? Because we're lovers—the two people in love are one. It's not just me protecting her one-sidedly. Mei... she definitely wants to protect me too.

"I understand."

Mei, who knew Xu Qi well, knew that this sentence was by no means perfunctory.

She smiled with satisfaction, and also sighed, "So I have to work hard too... work hard to become a better person, so I can help you and be worthy of you."

"You're already great, Mei."

"I don't need you to tell me that."

"Getting cocky now, are we?"

"Hehe~~"