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CHAPTER 208 - "You kissed me."
"You kissed me."
The moment the words fell out of his mouth, Andromeda's eyes stopped blinking as they stared in a questioning manner at him.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me, Andy."
"No. Stop. Because what I think I heard, I should really not hear such."
"I am serious."
"No. I kissed you, yes but you yourself know whose name I called out while doing that. I was drunk and I called out Liu Xueyi's name."
"Stop."
"No. I won't. If there is anyone who should, it is you. Please. Do not make me hurt you more than I have done."
"Do it as much as you want," Xie Tian dared her while leaning forward on the table. "I dare you to."
"This is not a game of who hurts who most. It isn't intentional but now, my heart belongs to another."
Andromeda drew in a long breath, shutting her eyes briefly and when she reopened them there was no form of mixed feelings anymore.
It was as plain as day what she wanted.
"If you still want my friendship, you would have to let your feelings go. I am sorry, Xie Tian."
Knowing fully well what her decision was doing to him, she rose to her feet finally, taking her bag as she dipped her hand in bringing out her card.
"Don't. I would pay. I do not need you to do this too," Xie Tian informed her quickly, dissuading her from adding more injury to the hurt he got.
"Fine. Thank you for lunch Xie. I need to take my leave. I must return to work."
"No worries. I am sorry about the other day at the racing centre once more."
"I understand."
"I hope you really do."
"Sure. Have a nice day, Xie. I really am going."
He watched her hand her bag as she cat-walked away from the floor they were on, going down the staircase.
****
By the time the day ended, she was more tired mentally than she was physically.
Due to the time she spent with Xie Tian, which wasn't what she planned for, Andromeda decided to spend extra hours at work.
It wasn't until 7 pm before she closed from work that day and left the company's building.
Andromeda blew out her cheeks as she got into her car and drove off.
Unfortunately, she had already gotten home before she recalled she failed to buy dinner to eat.
Looking at the time and how tired she was, without having anything in mind to order, she decided to order a cab and go get anything her eyes set on eating.
She could not tell what she wanted and usually, it would have been better to just sleep like that with only a bottle of water to accompany her to sleep.
However, her body felt restless and hot. After having her bath, she set out as planned.
By the time she arrived at the eatery of her choice, she let out a deep sigh as her gaze roamed around what they had to offer.
'Snacks, ice cream, food, pastries… They all seem yummy but sadly my nostrils can't even get hold of anyone. Am I okay or just emotionally tired?'
She shook her head, disagreeing with her mind. 'Tired? Emotionally? Why would I be?'
While Andromeda battled with her thoughts, she completely ignored her surroundings and became oblivious to the person walking up to her in slow steps.
"Hmm, so which would you be?" She battled again.
"I guess a nice strawberry ice cream with waffles and a cherry blossom on top would be nice in calming your nerves for a start," a voice suddenly resounded behind her.
Rising from her slightly bent position, Andromeda turned to her side to the person who spoke walking over to her line of sight.
"Hello, Miss Kai. Nice to meet you again."
Her eyes blinked back at him as she composed herself and gave him a beautiful bright smile as though whatever worries that had occupied her troubled mind had not been there only a few minutes ago.
"Hi, Sun Yichen. What's up?"
"I'm good. Exactly as I have always been."
"Charming as always, I suppose?" Her brows lifted in silent question as she waited for a favourable reply.
"Sure. Anyways, I never fancied I'd see you here, to be honest."
"Why?" Andromeda attacked.
"Because I kind of guessed that our next meeting may be at the Liu Company or something."
"Something?"
"Yes. Like an event. Umm, take, for example, Chairman Bao's event coming up in two weeks' time."
Folding her arms in front of her chest, Andromeda decided to taunt him a bit. "Ah, I see. In that case, it would have been longer. Aren't you already happy that it is sooner?"
"Sure, I am glad but that would be if you would do me the honours and accompany me this night for a drink, an ice cream, a snack, a meal or whatever you want to have."
He gestured towards the different edible items they had on display for her to see.
Peeling her gaze from the meal on display, Andromeda averted her eyes to him as a smile danced on her lips.
And when Sun Yichen glanced at her, she was eyeing him with a wry smile twisting her lips. "Is this another bribe?"
"What?"
"Yes. One with a catch that involves the Liu Corporation?"
She did not have time for games and if he wished to have an exact repeat of how their last outing went, then she would gladly not oblige him since her main goal was to retire him to figure out what was going on in her mind.
"No. This has nothing to do with Liu Corporation, Andromeda. You are getting this all wrong."
"Am I?"
Andromeda released her arms, placing her right hand on her waist while snagging his attention with how she balanced and rested her waist to one side of her body, showing all of her curves in her fitted jean shorts.
"Yes. Honestly speaking, thoughts of you have been roaming my head these past few weeks," he confessed to her shock.
"Oh my…"
"Yeah. You weren't expecting that, huh? The truth is that I wanted your help to get through to Liu Xueyi but since I started getting to know you better, I saw a different side of you."
"I don't know what to say. Thank you?"
"No. Anyways, I should not keep you standing for too long. Come and order what you want. We can take a seat and talk after."
"I am sorry. I have no intention of staying out too long. I need to get home on time. Have piled up stuff." She nodded at him hoping he could understand.
"I see. Okay. Let's order. I would talk that way."
Nodding her head, Andromeda led the way to the exact eatable catching her eye.
While they conversed, she did her best in checking and weighing out her options. Just as she had said she had no intention of wasting time today.
When they finished, Sun Yichen and Andromeda walked out of the eatery enjoying their simple chat over a laugh.
As soon as her laughter died down, Andromeda lifted her hand to her face and brushed the loose strand of hair covering her right eye.
"Well, that was okay. Umm, I guess this is where we part ways for the night."
"Sadly, it is happening too soon. I would have loved to behold more of your laughter." Sun Yichen's lips pulled to the side in a dashing smile.
"Yeah, sadly."
"Did you come in a car?"
"No. I would get a cab and head home," Andromeda explained. "It was intentional," she added before he could offer, showing off his gentlemanly side.
Once more, Andromeda repeated her stance but this time, her right foot was slightly raised till she was on her toes while her free hand swung her package slowly.
Swallowing hard, Sun Yichen did his best to divert his attention from her hips and hot legs.
And judging from the stare she gave him; he knew he was obvious in checking her out but he could not help himself.
Boy was she gorgeous and the manner in which her hair was packed in a messy bun, adding to her already free girl charming look, sent his heart fluttering and thudding wildly in his chest.
"Yeah," he said while letting out a heavy breath.
Flickering his gaze down her body once more, slowly going up to her face, he said, "I don't know if he tells you this, but you are beautiful, Andromeda."
"He doesn't fail to."
"I see."
Andromeda's answer had caught Sun Yichen off guard as he was not entirely expecting her to answer in that manner.
Usually, when he told girls something to compliment them, he earned their blushed faces instead.
However, the woman standing before him did not feel moved.
He exhaled sharply and decided to try again. "I can make you feel it even more and treat you as you deserve to be treated."
"Thanks, but I already have the world with his love. I do not need anymore."
"I see. Well, when I give you this, you may have a change of mind."
"Hmm, what?"
"Close your eyes, it is a surprise."
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