Lost Her

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CHAPTER 24

Running through the crowd of people, Andromeda managed to swerve past some of them as she tried to catch up with the agile older lady.

"Miss!" she called out again, moving her head from side to side.

'No. I cannot lose her. I believe that…I need her.'

She blinked away the tears that gathered on her eyelids as she chased some more. 'There, I am getting close.' Andromeda happily chanted in her mind.

"Miss…" Just then she felt a strong grip on her shoulder as a hand latched unto her wrist.

GBAGHAN!

She blinked a few times before her eyes remained wide as she watched the lady disappear completely into the crowd.

She had not bothered to turn to see who the intruder was because she could guess but still, she lost her and that was painful. 'I lost her.'

Slowly she reached up to her chest using her right hand, recalling a bit of her past with her mother.

At that moment, Liu Xueyi did not know what more to do than to call out her name. "Andromeda."

She blinked again, taking back all those tears. He pulled on her hand, causing her to turn in his direction. The second he laid eyes on her, he felt a pang of pain hit his chest.

As much as he could not understand why consoling her was his first priority.

"Andromeda." His gaze searched hers for an answer by got none. "Your eyes are red. Who...?"

He did not get to finish his words before she shook her head and said, "It was nothing. I thought I saw someone I knew."

"Oh. I see. Are you sure you are okay?" He peered closer at her, looking straight into her eyes as she avoided them quickly.

"Umm… I am okay. Something flew into my eyes," she lied.

"Let me check." His fingers latched onto her chin, pulling her head in place.

"No…" she shook her head, avoiding his gaze by all means. "I am okay, truly. There are people outside. You wouldn't want them getting funny ideas now, would you?"

He did not say anything. He could tell things were not simple but since she would not tell, who was he to interfere?

"Anyways, let's go back. I am assuming you followed after me in a hurry that you left our trolley."

He scoffed a little, letting out a small laugh before nodding his head at her. "Fine, but on the record, it was you who avoided looking after your trolley. You abandoned it first. All I did was follow."

"Hmm, leave it to the CEO of Liu Corporation to back out when the going is tough. Let's go inside."

Nodding his head, Liu Xueyi stepped to the side for Andromeda to take the first step before following after her.

As they walked, he sneaked a peek at the surroundings if there were any of those men watching her.

No matter how he tried though, he found nothing and that had made him be more cautious over her.

All through their drive back to her place that day, Andromeda did not say anything to him and neither did he ask her in respect.

Although he was curious, the sadness buried deep in her eyes made him wonder just how much hurt was going on in her mind.

Before long they arrived at her apartment and he helped pack the things from his car and was about to take them in when she stopped him.

"I…" she swallowed hard. "I would be okay."

"I want to believe so too but I know you won't be. The stuff you bought…"

"They are not too many," she interjected.

Sensing the loss he had suffered, Liu Xueyi retreated peacefully. "Fine. You can take them in."

"Thanks, Liu Xueyi for what you have done for me." She dipped her head a bit in a bow but before she could say more, he had enough.

"You know you owe me. Now do not thank me much, your dept is all I await to collect."

"Shameless CEO," Andromeda muttered under her breath. Sadly, he heard her.

"Now she is cursing me?" He stated loud enough for her to know he heard. Instead of leaving a response, Andromeda rolled her eyes at him. "Just a matter of days now and she…"

"Goodbye boss," she intruded sharply. "See you at work on Monday."

That pleased smile was on her lips again and her eyes held a glint of humour. She took her bags in her hands, turned around and walked away. He watched with the passing of time as she disappeared into the building before taking a turn.

Moving to his opened boot, he was about to close it when he saw the lunchboxes he kept in there. He fell silent for a few moments and then let loose a heavy sigh.

"I cannot believe I almost forgot." He picked them up and hurried over to her apartment.

DING DONG!

"Hold on!"

Liu Xueyi waited patiently with the two two lunch boxes in his hand. Soon enough the door opened, revealing a tired Andromeda.

The beads of sweat on her forehead, her uneven breathing and the utter look of tiredness in her eyes gave her away.

"Liu Xueyi."

"You forgot this." He lifted the lunch boxes in his hands for her to see. Rather than feel delighted as he had expected, her brows creased at him before releasing them in expectation.

However, Liu Xueyi still did not say anything to her. It was not until she gestured using her eyes that he understood her.

"Oh yes! As I said, I planned on giving you these before your hungry self intervened. Eat and be lively."

"Wait, you mean…" she swept her gaze between the two lunch boxes in his hand before coming to stop on his face. "You actually…"

"Ensure you eat and rest early. I packaged some soup for the hangover still. Just in case you need it."

"Thanks so much for all of this, Liu Xueyi."

"It is nothing. See you."

She watched him leave first before locking her door and going to her chair.

Lazily she dropped her body on the couch while her eyes and mind became one as she placed a hand over her eyes, supporting her hand by the headrest.

Her chest rose and fell with great gusto while her mind drifted off again. "Mother." She blinked slowly. "Mother, I saw Miss Fong and now… And now…"

Her hands dropped lazily by her side as her head fell on the headrest of the couch.