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CHAPTER 381
Andromeda's eyes could not get any rounder than they had already done, still, the shock registered on her face did not go unnoticed by Liu Xueyi.
The others may have it read it but not for him. Everything seemed suspicious even as she masked it and wore her trademark smile.
Wanting to keep a calm front out of it all, he trailed the line of her sight to see who had made her that shocked.
'Hmm, is she shocked to see Tang Yan with a girl or what? It is not like he is a monk that he should not have any female companion or get a girlfriend.' Liu Xueyi pondered inwardly.
He shook his head mildly and brought his cup to his lips.
'At this stage, he should be searching for a serious relationship that would lead to marriage. So why does she seem shocked except.'
He squinted at the girl whose elbow remained locked with Tang Yan's and nodded.
"Hey guys," Tang Yan greeted once more as he stopped in front of everyone.
The smile on his face was something to die for like he had won the lottery when he addressed everyone.
"Look who is brimming with smiles," Rong Bolin teased.
Xu Fang flashed a knowing smile and nodded.
"Sure, we are. No longer would we be oppressed by all of you."
"Speak for yourself," Chu Fengjin chipped in and let out a small laugh.
"Anyways, everyone meet Mo Tuning," he introduced and pulled her forward a bit. "Do not be shy. These are my closest of friends. The ones who got my back in anything."
Her smile broadened and she dipped her head, making small greetings.
"Hello, I'm Mo Yuning, please treat me well."
"Hello," everyone responded.
Taking it from there, all the girls were introduced to each other and to the guys respectively.
Having done the necessary, Andromeda's gaze locked on Mo Yuning's as she flashed her a knowing smile.
She could not believe her eyes but still, she refused to make her conclusion and waited.
All through the evening party, the guys held onto their partners in a protective manner as though someone would snatch them away.
All but one did that. Unlike the others, Liu Xueyi knew he had marked his territory and no one was going to dare steal Andromeda from him.
However, his attention was fixated on her and what possible thoughts kept her mind distracted and preoccupied.
By the time things got far into the night, it was time for their bonfire with the movie section while they enjoyed the meal and drinks under the moonlight.
"Yosh! Let's start," Xu Fang announced as he got into his seat beside Dolly.
Just before the movie began properly, Hong Chaoxiang stiffened in his seat as he moved his phone from his face and then brought it closer after wiping his eyes clean.
Noticing this, Ring Bolin placed his wine glass on the table beside his chair and drew his friend's attention.
"And what have you so appalled, Chaoxiang?"
"Enh?"
He snapped his head to the side but the look of dread still washed on his face never changed.
At the same time, a few of them began to settle their attention on the bewildered Hong Chaoxiang while they waited for a clarification of what was happening.
"Don't tell me one of your exes has put you in trouble," Rong Bolin teased.
"No. I bet it must be something else, who knows maybe they broke a favourite action figure," Xu Fang joined in the teasing.
For some reason, they did not get the usual playful response from their friend as the latter returned his gaze back to his phone screen.
The creases on his forehead deepened as he stared on, reading in silence.
"What's the problem?" Chu Fengjin finally asked, seeing how important the situation was.
"Darling," his female companion called out as well.
By this time, Xu Fang paused the movie and everyone had their attention fixed on him with concern evident on their faces.
"Speak. What happened?" Liu Xueyi's commanding deep voice resonated with everyone's hearing.
It was only at this point that Hong Chaoxiang finally looked at them but one careful glance and one could see his gaze wasn't entirely on them but on Liu Xueyi.
"You've been exposed. Your identity is out."
Crank!
The sound of glass shattering could be heard as Xu Fang who had leaned in to pick up his drink from the table, let it fall, allowing it to crash.
Immediately the ladies who had no idea what they were talking about, jumped in their seats at the turn of events.
Rong Bolin let out a tired sigh as the other guys froze in place.
The only people who weren't entirely affected by the news were Liu Xueyi, Andromeda and Ring Bolin who knew beforehand what was going to happen.
Andromeda exhaled sharply allowing her eyelashes to flutter to a close. This was huge and big.
It had not yet happened and Liu Xueyi was bothered about it.
Now that it had finally come out, ruining his privacy a bit, she could feel his frustration even though he was not directly close to her.
"Honey," Andromeda called out with a lingering voice tainted with worry.
"You're not shocked?" Tang Yan immediately broke the silence.
"Why do I have a feeling that you knew this would happen?" Xu Fang questioned as well.
Liu Xueyi exhaled before looking at his friends. "I knew."
"Whoa! And you chose to keep this from us and not avoid this from leaking out?" Chu Fengjin chimed in.
"Or is this your way of coming out in the open and stating the secret?"
"You think if I want to come out, Tang Yan, I would do something so stupid and not tell you guys?" Liu Xueyi attacked.
"What do you want me to say? You do not find this annoying but we do. Or..."
"Don't tell me it was blackmail," Hong Chaoxiang stated, taking the words out of Tang Yan's mouth.
"Yes. He was," Rong Bolin finally voiced.
All heads snapped in his direction as the others equally understood that he was aware and not as clueless as they were.
"You knew!" All four friends chorused at the same time.
If it was a different situation, Andromeda would have burst into a peal of laughter but the situation was far from it.
"Bolin!" Xu Fang ed sharply.
"Tone it down," Rong Bolin glared. "He didn't even let Andromeda know. Who am I to speak?"
"I told her," Liu Xueyi acknowledged, leaving Rong Bolin stunned as well.
"Seriously."
"I never wanted her to know but a woman's sixth sense. She kept bugging me about it."
"Bugging you?" Andromeda's tone showed complete dissatisfaction.
"I'm sorry, I mean you were concerned and kept asking," Liu Xueyi quickly apologized.
Turning his head back to his friends he explained once more.
"She doesn't know the person who is behind it though. She only knew I was discovered when she was kidnapped and blackmailed through that."
"Kidnapped!"
The look of complete shock in the eyes of the others told Liu Xueyi he had some soothing to do with his friends.
"What other thing don't we know that you would like to overwhelm us with, Xueyi?" Xu Fang inquired.
"Nothing."
"Something," Tang Yan refuted immediately. "For starters the bastard blackmailing you," he cursed out loud.
"For that..."
"I think you should tell them. This news is not funny," Eu-meh cut in as she lifted her phone to show them. "Your secret as Ye Yuan is trending so much."
Quickly, Andromeda rushed to Liu Xueyi's side and wrapped her hands on his shoulder in a comforting manner.
"It simply means I have no restraint in dealing with him," Liu Xueyi announced.
His brows furrowed deeply as the aura surrounding him changed.
He hated to be messed with and this was a major mess. It was high time he made people pay.
"Who did?" Tang Yan questioned once more and stood up keeping his fist clenched.
"Sun Yichen."
Andromeda snapped her head to face her beloved as her heart began to thump wildly in her chest.
She had not imagined that her boyfriend's problem source would be someone as nice as Sun Yichen.
"Somebody asked for it," Chu Fengjin stated and stood up as well.
Liu Xueyi's lashes moved ever slowly, adding more charm to his dangerous appeal.
If Andromeda wasn't in love with him, she would have found him more charming and attractive to him than before.
Even with his arms tucked away in his pants, he looked like the devil himself with his magnifying pose and poise.
"Rong, it is time."
"Xueyi want is going on?" Andromeda inquired once more. "Why did Sun Yichen do that to you? Is it because..." Her brows knitted together.
"Show me the report," she stated and instantly, Eu-meh pushed her phone closer giving a better view of the picture to Andromeda.
"Xueyi," her jaw tightened and she looked at him again. "Do not tell me he is the one responsible for my kidnapping?"
"Guilty as charged."
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