Light Years Away

Story of best friends, Kang Sola and Xue Guangxi, as they traverse their journey through adulthood, amidst conflicting choices and internal issues within themselves and from their past. Will they be able to resolve their personal struggles and find a common ground towards happiness? Will they have to compromise to achieve it? Will they end up together and overcome the threshold of their friendship into lovers or remain as platonic friends and each other's family? ---- She balled her fists, getting ready to punch the man in the face if the situation requires. They are, after all, alone in the room. Sometimes she forgets that Xue Guangxi was of the opposite gender – a man more than capable of beguiling innocent women when he sets his mind to the task. ‘Perhaps he had been gone for too long that I had forgotten how his charms work. That fact never left my head, but experiencing it firsthand… Well, Nah!!!’ She tried to shake whatever silliness her mind entertains despite her prudence. But what her neutral poker face could hide, her berserkly widened eyes could not conceal. Nevertheless, even if he noticed, the young man did not point it out. He was more concerned and occupied by other matters. Matters of far greater importance… …For example, her safety. She blinked several times, trying to disrupt the connection their locked gazes somehow managed to forge. She bowed her head, still blinking, and darted her lowered gaze to the floor. She straightened up her sitting position and swatted both of the man’s hands on her shoulders without force. But Xue Guangxi held her in place. “Look at me.” “What is it now, Guangxi?” She whispered. Her voice, thin and fragile and barely audible. Perhaps more from the earlier adrenaline pushed a blush on her face. Perhaps, it wasn’t the adrenaline to be blamed. She tried to swat his hands for the second time, but his grip only tightened, making his point more pronounced. Either he obeys or she does. Most of the time, Xue Guangxi always gave in to Kang Sola’s whims. Even when his temper wasn’t too great to be proud of, at the end of every argument, he lets the girl win. But in this instance, he wanted to be more assertive. “You always make me worry, Sola.” He breathed with all solemnity, like a prayer. The clasp of his hands on her shoulders tightened. She could feel it. She winced. Then, without further ceremony or introduction, he pressed her into a tight embrace, full of concern. Any person would be able to discern if a form of skinship was of sincere nature or not. Kang Sola could tell his was of genuine care and concern for her. “You are far more delicate than you think. God, Sola!” He cradled her head with his right hand placed just above her nape. Some of her balayage locks laced his manly fingers. ---- Other Info: Light story about friendship, family, love, and adulting. No offensive, dark themes (just the backstory, hehe), **Can be considered the second book after Milady's Fine Gentleman, but the story is stand-alone. Reference to the first novel is minimal if not only shown in the backstory. BUT THERE WILL BE SPOILER FOR MILADY'S FINE GENTLEMAN (It's inevitable, sorry)** "You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars" -E.E. Cummings "Just like the moon, I go through phases." -Angie Weiland Crosby "Only in the darkness can you see the stars." -Martin Luther King Jr. ----- The author has a discord server and Instagram! Follow, connect, and share your thoughts. IG : author_midnight_bloom email : authormidnightbloom@gmail.com For kind appreciation efforts to the aspiring writer, please go to the following sites: https://www.patreon.com/midnight_bloom Ko-fi.com/midnight_bloom Disclaimer : Cover credits to Pinterest

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233 Chs

PATHETIC (2)

"Why don't you ride in my car? I'll drop you off to where Xue Guangxi is. He's in an outside meeting that will drag to until who knows how long." His voice went from jeering to an alluring, velvety one, like how a sly fox would woo its next victim. "You seem flustered by something. Is it an emergency?" He added, laced with much more concern now. He noticed how jittery she appeared. If it was merely feigned concern, no one could tell.

"No, it's not urgent." She answered without turning to face him, keeping her back to him.

Yang Haoran tilted his head. "I'm not sure if it's good manners not to face someone when talking to them." He shrugged as he uttered, "Well, I'm just trying to help."

Slowly, she finally turned to face him. She lifted her head to meet his eyes. The owner of the playful, velvety voice was a tall man of around a hundred and eighty-five meters in a signature Italian suit – very sophisticated and businessman-like. He had his hands in his pockets in such a suave, cool fashion. An expensive watch peeped from the sleeves just above his left pocket. It glistened in the sun.

Su Jingjing felt a little too uneasy with how underdressed and plain she appeared compared to him. But what could she do? It couldn't be helped. She's just a poor woman. She thought and worried for a few seconds that her appearance might embarrass Xue Guangxi. It did not matter if he would or would not learn about such an encounter between her and some of his workmates. The idea was terrifying to her.

What she most desired was Xue Guangxi, but he's also the one person she's terrified with.

Su Jingjing spoke after being stunned for a few seconds, "I would like to meet with Xue Guangxi, but it's nothing urgent. He's not expecting me today. I can just come back." She started to walk away.

Easily, the man caught up with her with just a few strides. Being tall and having longer limbs than what normal people have, it only took him just a few effortless strides to match her. He apparently would not let her leave in peace.

He overtook her, faced her, and while still walking, he offered his hand for a handshake. "Yang Haoran. Xue Guangxi's business partner." He shot her with a lopsided smile -- his killer smile that the girls would die for just to have a glimpse of.

She stopped in her strides and took his hand gingerly, "Su Jingjing." Then very swiftly too, she retrieved her hand. She maintained her gaze low, not reaching his face. She didn't add any more information as to how she was related to Xue Guangxi.

But then again, Yang Haoran already knew. 'She's Xue Guangxi's ex-girlfriend'. Well, *ahem* she's one of his ex-girlfriends.

Yang Haoran had always wondered if Xue Guangxi was just blowing his own horn when he competed against Yang Haoran's reputation with women. IT was hard to believe even if it was supported by testimonials from some of their elite common friends because he had not met any of Xue Guangxi's ex-girlfriends before. He had not even seen him hit on any woman in any of the countless bars they spent their most satisfying nightlife at.

…So for a woman to appear in front of their building, he was quite fascinated. Xue Guangxi even admitted and identified her as one of his past lovers.

He was fascinated especially with this woman. She was shabbily dressed that he couldn't believe Xue Guangxi had had a special thing going on with her as much as a fling.

'He has a queer taste, then. No wonder no one in the bars catches his eyes.'

'But there's a beauty in her plainness.' He thought on the sides. 'Each rose is unique. Yet, she is still a rose. Out of so many that I would love to pluck.' He clacked his tongue.

"My offer to drop you off still holds. Up to you, Miss. Let's see." He checked the time on his expensive watch. "I'll be leaving in ten minutes. Why don't you rest for a while in the lobby while you ponder on my offer? I just need to fetch some things from my office."

Turning to the guard, he requested, "Would you be so kind, Sir, to escort the lady to one of our receiving area's couches?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Hmmm. Seems like we need to review our protocol in receiving guests." He hinted.

"Apologies for the lapse, Sir." The guard retorted nervously. He felt the sweltering heat from the sun more pronouncedly now.

Su Jingjing waved her hands in dismissal. "It's not his fault. I…" She bowed her head in shame. "I didn't have any appointment with Guangxi. He's not expecting me. I'm just trying my luck. I'll stay here. I'm good."

"Sure you are." He went inside the building and emerged with a paper parcel in his hand soon after.

"Well then, what is your answer to my offer?" He asked, checking the time on his watch again. "Five more minutes. We can wait for you to make up your mind under the scorching sun, or get moving." He grinned nonchalantly.

Su Jingjing weighed the extremely tempting offer right in front of her. Her eyes flickered with indecision and rubbed her hands together.

"Mr. Yang, thank you, but no thanks. I don't want to get in Guangxi's way and be a nuisance to him. I'll just come back when he's here." She slightly smiled at him, then left.

He stood there, and as he watched her walk away, he shrugged, "Suit yourself." Then, he coolly went inside his car and drove off.

"Pathetic." He said to himself as he saw the woman's fleeting image from his rearview mirror. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her image on his rearview mirror which continued to diminish as the distance between them grew.

'Damn it.'

Not long after, he made a sharp U-turn to where he came from. 'What am I doing?!' He asked himself but did not steer the car elsewhere.

When he spotted the lady, he pulled over just beside the gutter near her. "Get in."

"But." Su Jingjing was utterly confused. Her furrowed brows and her frown confirmed it.

"Get in!" Yang Haoran pressed, almost shouting in an intense, demanding voice. He was cursing himself internally.

'Didn't she say it's fine?!' Then, why was he pushing for it, as if it's him who wanted to do it for her?

'The hell I care for this woman.' He thought, almost getting mad at himself for acting out of his norm. 'I have become pathetic as well. This lady must have rubbed it off of me.'

Pissed with himself, he stepped on the acceleration. Su Jingjing jerked sharply backward against the passenger seat in recoil. She didn't understand why this man had frighteningly insisted to drive with her.

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