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CHAPTER 101
Just as they had planned, she met Sun Yichen at the Dragon's Appetizer and was directed to his table when she made mention of her reservation with him.
"This way, miss."
She nodded in her thanks, following after the waiter. Once they arrived, a dashing Sun Yichen pulled out her seat for her and their dinner began.
She laced her order from the menu and waited for him to finish with his.
The second the waiter excused them, she was free and open to asking her questions.
"Thanks for gracing me with your presence."
"Welcome. So, can I tell you the name now?" If only he knew how much she was tired of playing pretence.
Perhaps Liu Xueyi would have been great at it but for her, it played on her nerves and she needed her head to be firm. Her emotions were strong for her to deal with her work.
"Okay. Since we are here, please do tell."
"My name is Andromeda Kai. Nice to officially meet you."
"Pleasure is all mine."
His eyes held a glint of humour in them as he stared at the peerless beauty of a woman.
She did not kill for so much of an outfit or makeup.
No, she simply wore a red fitted gown, with an extended triangular-shaped silk material attached to her waist and left to fall to the side, draped below her left knee.
The top was strapless, leaving her shoulders bare, save for the matching silver necklace with a red gem at its centre.
Her hair was neatly styled and packed, held with pins to keep it up, giving a visible show to everyone, how white her skin was.
"What do you find funny?"
"The fact that finally, I have you here."
"You say it like you have won a trophy?"
"I haven't but I am very much happy."
"Okay. Why?"
"Because now I can be free." Her eyes narrowed at him.
Obviously, something has been suspicious about his approach to her and while it was him and not his useless brother, she knew it was bigger than the incident of that day.
"Free from?"
"Nothing. I can make my request known."
"Another?"
"Yes. Thanks for agreeing to meet, Andromeda. Now, do you mind granting me another request?"
"On what basis?"
"Friendship."
She tucked her lips back, hiding her sarcastic smile while staring at him. "I agreed to a date, doesn't make friendship the next open door," she corrected.
"Then what are we?"
"Acquaintance. Friendship with a guy who has been tailing me for how long now, is not what I offer. We can try another menu but definitely not this one."
She noticed the shock evade his eyes at her distinct words. She was not a fool and she did not intend to play by his rules.
"So, you knew?"
"Yes. I also knew your brother is Sun Jingyi. And the fact that you acted as though you did not know me while you stole glances of me every now and then only made me suspect your motives."
"Motives?"
"Yes," she affirmed. "My question though, why go through all that trouble faking things? Isn't it tiring?"
"I should ask you the same thing. You knew, yet you played along."
'And I would have continued if nit for the saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.' Andromeda noted thoughtfully.
Had she not planned on doing so, she would have brushed him off quickly. But how else would she know the plans of her stupid stepsister and stepmother?
"Well, since you wanted to play ignorant, I thought, hey what's the catch. Let's play along."
"Okay. You are wise and I like that."
"Enough of the compliments, Sun Yichen. What is it you are after?"
'Since you know me and my link to my brother, I bet you should have an idea."
She did not hide the displeasure in her face nor did she show him any form of fear. "What's there? You want to avenge him?"
"Hell no. Whatever business you two had is not my concern. You two can sort it out yourselves."
"Okay, then if it is not revenge, what is it?"
"Sigh, I thought you were smarter than this, Andromeda Kai."
"I am. But I have no interest in playing guess game with a member of the Sun family."
"It isn't a guessing game you know. There were clearly two options tying me down to Sun but you picked the terribly wrong one."
"Fine." She spat out a puff of air, rolling her eyes. He just had to make her voice it out, didn't he?
"You want to seal a deal with Liu Corporation and you believe the key to getting to Liu Xueyi is me."
"Exactly, his girlfriend."
This was the first time since they began acting as though they were seeing each other that Andromeda felt like rejecting and denying being Liu Xueyi's babe.
However, denying him over something like that would still not look good on her.
The reasons being that she would become a bigger and easy to pick-on target for the Sun family and her stepmother.
"Why do you think you can use me?"
"I have seen the way he favours you. Liu Xueyi has been without a spouse or girlfriend for several years now. You are the first. For him to make such exceptions, means you are someone important to him."
"I love the way you put it but I am afraid our relationship is independent of his business. We do not mix both and I respect his decisions always."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Besides, after the stunt your brother pulled, calling him an old-bellied thwart, I believe he made it clear. There would be no deal," she recounted for him.
"I m well aware. But please help us plead on his behalf."
"And why would I? Or did you forget the fact that I was the one who was being initially insulted by him and his girlfriend?"
He bit on his lips a bit. Never did he phantom that seeking her help would be this hard.
"Sorry, whatever business relations you have with him is beyond me and indeed your brother offended him. You should let it go."
"I can't, Andromeda. I won't give up easily. I always love a good challenge."
"Suit yourself."
"Yeah. Another time I would ask you again."
"Haha, I suggest, investing that time on him than myself. I have nothing to offer you, Mr Sun."
Her gaze caught sight of the waiter bringing their food and a smile returned to her face.
"I guess that would be all, Mr Sun."
Startled he asked, springing up to a better sitting position. "What? What do you mean by that?"
"Whatever meaning you choose to connote. For example, I am leaving. I would be taking my leave. I have gone. This meeting ends here, my night is good now that things have come out in the open so please, I would love to retire home on time."
She waved her fingers as she spoke, making gestures that best portrayed what she thought.
As soon as she finished speaking though, the waiter arrived and her attention turned to him. "Please, can you package my order for me and have it delivered?"
"Sure ma."
"Here's my card."
He dropped Sun Yichen's meal, took her card and then took his leave.
"What's that?"
"I lost my appetite. I need to go home."
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