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CHAPTER 85
Simply watching her act in such a manner almost made him facepalm. He needed her to be able to tell him everything of Andromeda's do's and don't's, struggles and victories, but to do this, he needed to level with her.
"No one is asking you to spy on her," he explained. "All I am asking is that you inform me whenever she faces trouble or difficulty."
Jian Xiaofei released a deep breath before raising her head to look at him. He was trying to play games, she noted in her mind and smiled weakly at him nonetheless, but still gave him no response.
"You know, once she is revealed as the top designer of Starlight Apparel, she will face more of these problems and much worst with people trying to take her down." He met her gaze, "Are you aware of this?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
"Good," he nodded. "I'll have you know that I'm on your side, I only wish to protect her. Take my concern for her safety and well-being as my way of showing gratitude for what she is doing for my company."
"Okay," she looked at him with a bit more confidence. "If you put it that way, I agree," Jian Xiaofei's nodded her answer. "I appreciate your concern for her, I'll be at ease knowing she's under your protection, but I wish for nothing in return, my conscience would eat at me."
"I see." He rose his brows before leaning back on his seat and crossing his legs. "I understand and comply with your conditions. You may take your leave and remember, no word of this to her."
"I won't say a word, sir."
She lowered her head slightly before taking her leaf.
Surely they all felt they were doing what was best for Andromeda, but they couldn't help but feel like chest pieces in the palm of the devil.
He did not bother wasting time and upon concluding what he was looking at, he left his office.
'Wait up, Andy.' he started in his mind. 'I will ensure that you will no longer avoid me or stress over my company,' Liu Xueyi continued as he left his office in search of trouble.
*
Meanwhile, Andromeda was taking her time to relax over coffee when she got a call from Xie Tian.
She was not expecting him to get back to her so quickly but was glad he did. She placed her cup of coffee on the small table before her and adjusted her seating posture before taking her phone to her ear upon clicking the receive button.
"Xie Tian," her lips formed a smile. "Good morning."
"Good morning to you as well, Andromeda," he greeted. "I'll cut straight to the chase."
"Okay, how'd it go?"
"I got his contact as promised and put a call across to him on your behalf." He paused before adding in a much lower tone, "Surprisingly, he still remembers me."
"Oh, wow. Thank you."
"Yes and more importantly," he started. "He remembered you as well and asked so much about you. I honestly felt so bad because I had little to tell him. However, I told him of your request."
Her face rose in elatedness as she thanked him once more. "Thank you." She had been so worried these past few days but things were finally starting to look up.
With a smile upon hearing her cheerfulness, he told her, "You can send your orders and I'll place them for you today."
"Okay."
"And Andy, I would be returning to the country tomorrow." Her brain buzzed at his words; he had prepared her for it in advance, but having it said today still wasn't enough time for her.
Before Andromeda knew what was happening, several thoughts raced through her mind as her breathing became labored.
"Andromeda?" Xie Tian called out with his voice laced in worry. "Andy, are you okay? You are not breathing well."
"I…" She started, but couldn't finish upon releasing harsh gasps from her parted lips. She clutched at her top, before rubbing on her chest while muttering to herself, "Breathe, breathe."
"Andy?" Xie Tian called out to her once more. " Please take a bit to relax. Take in deep breaths. Breathe in….Follow after me."
She felt her chest tighten with each struggling breath and though she tried hard to clear her mind, the situation only worsened.
After a minute of Xie Tian guiding her through breathing exercises, her breathing gradually regulated and the tightness she felt in her chest subsided.
"Andy, what went wrong?"
Xie Tian's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She could hear the worry in his voice and only wished to appease him, the last thing she wanted was to make him worry over her.
"Nothing," was her simple response. "I guess it's my body's way of telling me that I'm pushing myself too hard. But I honestly only felt choked and relieved at the same time."
"I see, I am sorry for your hardships," he started. "You need to clear your head, Andy." He paused for a mere second before adding, "I have a very good model for you to try."
She managed a smile as she relaxed in her chair.
Xie Tian continued, "I got your message to bring your baby with me. I have sent her way ahead of me along with the new sports. Once I arrive, you can go have fun and clear your head, okay?"
Andromeda nodded though he wouldn't see her. "Okay...thank you."
"Do not worry."
"Also, provide me with the contacts of their producers. I will forward all my orders to your mail as well to bring ease to the work."
"No worries." With that, he paused before saying, "I will be coming by noon tomorrow, so wait up for me okay?"
"Of course," Andromeda smiled. "I can't wait. Bye, dear."
"Ciao, baby."
Not a second longer after the call ended, her smile fell from her face. She dropped her phone by her laptop before resting her head against the table.
Andromeda spent the next few minutes catching her breath and fighting with her thoughts to keep them at bay.
It was not that she did not know what went wrong when they spoke, she did. However, her mind made it harder for her to concentrate when she was reminded of a certain past.
As much as that should not have bothered her, she found it hard to focus with her past on the doorsteps of her life.
Her hand reached up again, patting lightly on her chest as she raised her head from the desk.
Andromeda wasted not a minute more and opened her laptop. She got the necessary materials that had been sent to her and added a few more before emailing him.
As much as she could only guess she still used it, she was happy when she got an okay reply from him.
'Boy am I glad I never linked Wu Bai with Mr. Andy, else he would have deprived me of materials due to jealousy. And this is him acting this way without knowing I am the one. Imagine if he knew.'
With those matters settled, she shut down her system and leaned back for a rest. But just as her relaxation began, a knock came on the door.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l