*************
CHAPTER 299
"Guilty."
"I see. I had fun to some extent, I won't lie to you, but I couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because it felt wrong. You weren't the one. I know I can have fun with my friends but it was you I wanted to spend time with."
Even with all she spoke, the look in Liu Xueyi's eyes was a bit unsatisfying.
Rolling her eyes, Andromeda let out a deep sigh before speaking. "I am not trying to flatter you or play my way out of anything. I am only speaking the truth."
"Hmm. Is that all that happened? You guys playing?"
"No. I tripped and fell on him but it was a mistake."
"Hmm. Fine, I believe you. I trust you."
"You do?"
"Yeah. Anyways, I am not jealous. After all, I got you in my arms now. So, have you forgiven me?"
"Of course, but I wished you had called me. I was worried about you," Andromeda confessed.
She was mad at him but she couldn't stay mad.
She wanted him to know how she felt these past few days. She missed him dearly.
"Shh, let's not go back and forth, baby. I am sorry for all I did. Forgive me, please, hmm?"
With the way his eyes twinkled, Andromeda did not have the heart to stay mad at him.
In fact, she had longed for a hug for a long time now and now that he was acting all babyish with her, her resolve broke.
"How could I stay mad at my baby?"
"You did and surprisingly at a very long time."
"I simply wished you had held me since like you did today. My rage would have been dissipated since."
"An angry woman is sexy and dangerous. And I do not want to be the one whose head hot coals of fire would be heaped on."
Andromeda let out a soft laugh and when she stopped, a smiling Xueyi was staring right into her eyes.
"I love you, baby."
"I love you too, hon."
"How much?"
"Very, very much," she responded while planting soft kisses on his lips.
"Prove it."
"It would be my honour."
She wrapped her hands around his neck and sneaked a hand into his hair as she guided his head down to hers, capturing his lips for a long-awaited kiss.
The second their lips joined, Liu Xueyi wasted not a second and took the lead in the kiss.
*****
By the next afternoon, everyone had their bags packed as they all got ready to set off on their journey.
Liu Xueyi was lucky enough to finish the last shoot before noon that Sunday and rejoined the others.
However, since he did not get time to enjoy his vacation with Andromeda, he opted for one more day, spending the whole of Monday and Sunday with Andromeda, only to return to their city on Tuesday.
As much as Andromeda wished to complain, she knew once his mind was made up, there was no turning back.
With that, he had her own vacation extended while she got the chance to be with her boyfriend and make the most of her time there.
What Andromeda had not planned for, on this vacation, was the fact that with the said paparazzi taking pictures of her, the inexplicable danger would come.
As for Liu Xueyi, he brushed off the pictures taken as his mind was more occupied with thoughts of his girlfriend for him to be bothered.
Worst, he was sure his parents would handle any problems that came with it.
As good as that was, not every eye viewing that news before it got taken down, could be said to be good.
Seated on one of the brown-coloured couches in a sparse living room, an older-looking lady kept her eyes fixed on the small flat-screen television glued to the wall in her living room.
The news flashing by in her eyes kept her entertained, so it seemed. Suddenly her brows furrowed closely as her eyes blinked severally while keeping her attention on the screen.
After a few heartbeats, she leaned back against the couch and rested her back on it. Folding her arms in front of her chest, the older lady breathed out deeply.
The grim look on her face did little to nothing to hide her displeasure and worry.
But regardless there was hardly anything she could do about it.
"Another small scandal it would seem, Miss Andromeda Kai. I know this would be taken down and I know they are all lies about you."
Saying that she shifted out of the couch again and picked up the cup of coffee in front of her table.
On the celebrity news before her, she saw Andromeda being matched and wondered if she was the girlfriend of the top actor or what truth is held by their unusual friendship.
"I know the young Miss is not a loose girl. And I am sure there are those out there to get her," the lady affirmed to herself.
"However, what troubles me is that she cannot allow herself to be spot on camera so much. She exposes herself to her mother's killers."
The second the words fell out of her mouth she clasped her lips shut as tightly as she could while her shaking eyes glanced around the room in fear.
'I do not know how long I can live like this. However, I believe the Young Miss is in an even bigger danger than myself.' She voiced internally.
Confessing those words inside her head, Ms Long Su returned her gaze to the television screen.
When her eyes locked on Andromeda's picture, a sad smile formed on her lips.
'I can only do so much but I pray you to escape the clutches of that evil witch.'
Even after saying those words in her mind, the fear etched deep in her eyes did not spare her any escape. For she was in her own vein, trapped, without mercy.
Now all she could wish for was that Andromeda to escape the ploys and plans of the one who ruined her family.
******
On the other hand, Beatrice Zhang knew that with every passing day, they came closer to the time of the trial in court.
Andromeda wasn't backing down and at this point, she couldn't.
She had already made people think and believe she was right whereas Andromeda was the thief.
Whether or not that was true, she had no choice but to dance to the beat of the drum that followed.
And at this point, relying fully on Wu Bai would be the dumbest thing to do.
With the years she had spent with him as a partner, she knew he could be truly ruthless when taking action.
Now if he noticed that with her, there was no win, he was only doomed to fail, he would cut her off and deny her with ease.
Which was why she decided to rely on her last resort.
Once she had helped this lady in the past and thus came to be in her favour. Furthermore, when she found Andromeda, it became another point of collaboration between both of them.
Anything she needed, the Fang bitch tried in her power to provide, so long as Andromeda never saw the rise of day.
And she intended to keep it that way.
'If Wu Bai would not help me, then I just take my fate into my own hands and liberate myself. I cannot go down. I must stay on top of the food chain.'
A dark glint flashed before Beatrice's eyes as she stared at the portrait from the right-hand corner close to the chimney in the living room.
It was a magnificent portrait made in honour of the new Kai family.
To the right were the Patriarch, the master, Kai Beifang with his wife by his side and their two children seated at either side of their hands.
"A very beautiful portrait, don't you think?" A loud and clear feminine voice praised as the sound of her heels became louder against the tiled floor.
Turning on her heels, Beatrice Zhang lifted her head just in time to watch the grand entrance of the new Mistress of the Kia family, Fang Daiyu.
"What do you say, Miss Zhang? Isn't the portrait truly exquisite? You know, it was drawn by one of the best artists in the country. Such a masterpiece."
Not knowing how best to receive and flatter her, Beatrice nodded her head and put on a nice smile.
"Speak Beatrice. Feel free. "Oh, and by the way," she spread her hands a bit at the sides, keeping her smile intact, "Welcome to my home."
"Thank you very much for the welcome, Mrs Kai. You have a lovely home and indeed the portrait is one of a kind, depicting the true description of a wonderful happy family."
"Yes. Yes. I hope it stays that way too, so long as I can keep that Andromeda Kai out of the way."
The look in her eyes brightened a tad bit as she gestured towards the couch for them to sit on.
"Please, have your seat."
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