"Astra?"
As Andrew opened the door to let her in.
Astra Yao hopped lightly right over the doorframe, jumping into Andrew's workshop. Taking off her sunglasses, she tossed her long hair and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of relief.
Then, before Andrew could even react, she threw herself fiercely into his arms, hugging him tightly.
While rubbing her head against his chest in a spoiled manner, she said:
"Wow! Andrew, you were finally willing to look for me!"
Looking at Astra Yao in front of him, Andrew asked with some confusion:
"Astra, didn't Eve say that you were busy recording programs for the past two days? How do you have free time to run over here?"
Upon hearing this, Astra Yao immediately pouted, grumbling a bit unhappily to Andrew:
"Yeah, the recording schedule was really tight during this period, so I was so busy I couldn't get away at all. Several times I wanted to come find you because I missed you, but the schedule failed because I had scenes to shoot..."
However, her expression immediately turned into one of pride.
"But, there are no scenes with me in the recording plan before tomorrow!"
Astra Yao put her hands on her hips, her chin tilted up proudly to reveal her fair and slender neck, and said with an incomparably bright smile on her face:
"At this moment, I was missing you, and you wanted to see me—there isn't anything more coincidental than this, is there?"
"So, because I was afraid you couldn't wait, I immediately found a chance and sneaked out!"
Although reason told Andrew that sneaking out like this wasn't right for the sake of her career.
But looking at Astra Yao's bright expression and her look of taking it for granted, the matters Andrew had originally been considering were subconsciously thrown to the back of his mind.
And those words of persuasion that reason wanted Andrew to say... now, he couldn't even utter a single sentence.
For a moment, Andrew could only wordlessly gaze at the naive and charming young girl in his arms.
In his heart, a warm emotion was constantly surging.
Looking at the smug Astra Yao before him, who looked just like a cat that had successfully made a catch... although he had long known her capacity for action was strong, Andrew really hadn't expected it to be this strong.
And in Andrew's embrace.
Astra Yao, who felt all of this was only natural, didn't wait for Andrew's response. After properly replenishing her 'Andrew Energy', she couldn't help but start chattering away, sharing the interesting things she encountered along the way with Andrew.
Andrew, meanwhile, listened while gently picking her up.
Without any impatience.
While listening to her talk about various small things she encountered by the roadside, Andrew carried her and sat down on the sofa together.
Then he adjusted his posture so that she could lean on him even more comfortably.
In a space belonging only to the two of them.
A warm atmosphere flowed slowly with the ticking of the clock, surrounding the two of them, tranquil and long-lasting.
Quietly, the two of them spent a long time chatting about everything and nothing, so much so that Andrew subconsciously forgot the time.
"By the way, coming here this time, were you discovered by people on the road like before?"
Speaking of this, although she really wanted to say her disguise was seamless, Astra Yao still said with a hint of unwillingness:
"Actually... I was still discovered!"
At this point, Astra Yao subconsciously puffed out her cheeks slightly.
"The previous few times I sneaked out, I didn't need to hide from fans at all! Although I feel a bit sorry for them, in order not to expose your identity, Andrew, this time I was paying special attention all the way, trying hard to dodge my fans!"
According to her usual habits, if she met fans who liked her on the road, she would definitely interact with them properly and thank them for their support.
If the mood struck her sometimes.
She would even directly take off her sunglasses and remove her disguise right by the roadside, performing an impromptu charity show anytime, anywhere.
This was practically the norm.
It was just that this time was completely different.
In order not to be discovered, she was serious!
Basically sneaking around the whole way, dodging people whenever she could.
As she spoke, Astra Yao patted her bountiful chest with a hint of lingering fear. Amidst the waves generated by the laws of physics, she said somewhat strangely:
"Weird. I clearly put on a disguise seriously, but there were still several fans on the road who recognized me."
Speaking of this, Astra Yao's expression turned proud.
"Fortunately, I am agile and quick-witted. Although I was recognized, I managed to find ways to perfectly evade everyone's tracking afterward! Surely no one chased me here!"
Andrew, however, looked at Astra Yao's so-called disguise—which was just wearing a pair of sunglasses on her face—and her 'serious disguise'—which was just adding a mask.
Andrew expressed skepticism about her so-called evasion.
It was just that Twentie hadn't sent a message saying the Seliana Smithy was surrounded by fans yet.
Could it be... she really dodged them all?
However, speaking of this, the two of them subconsciously glanced at the time, only to discover that several hours had passed unknowingly.
Happy times always flow by swiftly.
Astra Yao, realizing this with hindsight, noticed something wasn't right and immediately said with some confusion:
"That's not right! Hasn't Evelyn found her way here yet?"
Saying that, she took out her silenced phone with some puzzlement to check.
Only then did she discover that after such a long time, she hadn't received a single work-related message.
According to the previous situations where she sneaked away...
No matter how concealed her methods were, Evelyn would find her in no more than two hours at the latest.
Most of the time, she couldn't even run out.
Even if she got out, she would be found directly within half an hour.
As for how long she was allowed to stay out afterwards through methods like acting spoiled, that was another matter.
At least, there had never been a time like now, where she hadn't been found for such a long time.
Although when she first ran out, Astra Yao always hoped Evelyn would find her as late as possible.
But as time passed, this situation would gradually reverse, turning into worry about why Evelyn hadn't found her yet, and whether an accident had occurred.
Except, this time there wasn't even any news regarding work.
"Could it be that the recording I left in the room pretending I was sleeping succeeded perfectly? Or did she see the note I left saying I came to see you?"
"But even so, Eve wouldn't leave me be for this long, right? Could it be because seeing you, Andrew, is special!"
Thinking of this possibility, Astra Yao's eyes instantly emitted a beam of excited light.
Now, she was as happy as if she had finally found the password to clear the level.
However, compared to Astra Yao's optimism, Andrew didn't think so.
As a professional spy trained by an organization previously, even if Evelyn was truly deceived at the start...
With so much time having passed, there was no reason she wouldn't see through such a petty trick.
Or could it be...
Thinking of Astra Yao's disguise that was full of holes, yet she managed to sneak into the shop without being tracked by anyone...
A guess instantly formed in Andrew's heart.
He immediately looked around.
Soon, Andrew faintly discovered a trace of golden hair in the corner outside the window by the balcony.
However, after hesitating for a moment, Andrew didn't expose this point directly.
Seeing that Astra Yao had never mentioned any 'comfort' today, Andrew—who had already roughly guessed some things—couldn't help but hook the corners of his mouth into a mischievous smirk.
Thinking of those reasons Evelyn gave yesterday without blinking an eye or her heart skipping a beat...
He looked at Astra Yao in front of him and said, pretending to be casual:
"Maybe because Eve also came to my place yesterday, so after seeing the note, she chose to let you stay a while longer?"
Hearing this, Astra Yao immediately said with some surprise:
"Eh? Eve came yesterday too?"
Regarding Astra Yao's surprised expression, Andrew immediately asked back, pretending to be confused:
"Yeah, and didn't you ask Eve to come find me?"
"I asked Eve?"
Hearing this, Astra Yao was instantly a bit puzzled.
"I haven't asked Eve to find you for anything recently?"
Looking at Astra Yao's reaction.
Andrew, instantly knowing his guess just now wasn't wrong at all, didn't answer Astra Yao's question immediately. Instead, he counted silently in his heart.
Before three seconds were up, a steady knock on the door, sounding as if there was no urgency at all, rang out.
As if interrupting this topic was merely an ordinary coincidence.
Opening the door.
The person appearing outside the door was none other than the protagonist mentioned in their conversation just now—Evelyn.
The slight panting indicated she had arrived here at top speed, yet her face maintained a calm expression. Evelyn spoke up immediately upon entering the door, pre-empting everything:
"Miss, it's time to go back. The producer is about to go crazy because he can't find you."
However, she still miscalculated.
Because of Andrew's question just now, the intensely curious Astra Yao, having learned that Evelyn had actually come here once yesterday without her knowledge...
She wasn't successfully distracted by Evelyn's words.
Instead, she turned her head with some curiosity and directly started questioning the principal offender, Evelyn:
"Eve! When did you come to find Andrew yesterday?! I actually didn't know at all!"
Facing Astra Yao's innocent expression of total ignorance and Andrew's playful gaze that seemed to see through everything, Evelyn couldn't help but secretly feel annoyed at her own miscalculation.
By revealing herself in such a hurry, wasn't that equivalent to playing with an open hand, telling Andrew his guess was correct?!
Although Evelyn was still trying her best to maintain her composure on her face.
Facing the gazes of the two, Evelyn—who had never fled when facing any enemy—kept her head turned to the side. The calm expression on her face began to turn rosy under their scrutiny.
Even her line of sight subconsciously shifted aside, staring at everything around her but refusing to look directly into their eyes.
Although she knew she had most likely been seen through by Andrew.
But Evelyn, with a blush on her face, still maintained a flat expression regarding Astra Yao's question and stubbornly said:
"Miss, yesterday... I just came to find Andrew to discuss and verify the learning progress in cooking over the past two days, that's all."
However, in the eyes of Astra Yao, who understood Evelyn very well, that inconspicuous rosiness became extremely conspicuous.
This unusual behavior made her ask suspiciously:
"Really?"
And as the other person present at the scene.
Andrew, who knew the real situation clearly, properly admired Evelyn's awkward state of forcing herself to be stubborn in front of Astra Yao for a while. Only then, amidst Evelyn's surprised gaze, did he speak up to help her out:
"Yes, Eve took the time to come find me yesterday just to discuss and verify her learning progress in cooking over the past two days."
With Andrew's endorsement, Astra Yao finally let go of the suspicion she just had.
She breathed a sigh of relief and said:
"That's perfect. I was actually a little worried that because I sneaked out alone without bringing Eve, what if you got jealous!"
Although it felt like... if the real situation were known, the one getting jealous would definitely be someone else...
As for who...
One can only say it's a good thing Astra Yao doesn't know.
Subsequently, realizing that the time she had stolen this time was indeed long enough, she immediately stood up, smoothing and tidying her clothes which had inevitably become somewhat messy and wrinkled due to the long embrace.
And only then did the two, who had been immersed in chatting, remember the reason why Andrew had called Astra Yao over so early.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time left for the two to discuss face-to-face, so Astra Yao settled for the next best thing and said:
"Andrew, send me the clothing designs that need changing on Knock-Knock in a bit. I will definitely help you revise them before dinner today!"
After speaking, satisfied, she went one step ahead directly towards the sedan parked outside the shop.
While in the Seliana workshop.
Evelyn looked at Andrew and asked the question in her heart with some confusion:
"Why did you help me hide it?"
Andrew looked at Evelyn, who was looking at him with a face full of confusion and lack of understanding.
He shrugged and said very frankly:
"Although I'm not too clear on the reason why you want to hide it from others, since this is what you wish for, then I will respect your choice and help you hide it."
Gazing at Evelyn's face, Andrew said seriously:
"However, I feel it is necessary for me to clarify one thing."
"It is because I like you that I chose to accept you. And the fact that I like you has nothing to do with anything else."
"It is simply that I like you."
As Andrew's voice fell.
The expression on Evelyn's face went from surprise to gradual silence.
In the end, everything melted into a tenderness that needed no words within the silence.
She had been seen through.
This was a situation that would have made the former her feel uneasy, yet now it turned into a deep sense of security.
There was no denial, only acceptance.
Evelyn knew she no longer needed to hide herself.
Subconsciously opening her mouth slightly but not knowing what to say, in the end, she simply revealed a faint smile and said very seriously:
"Whenever the Young Miss has events and is too busy to accompany you in the future, I will come to properly comfort you, who couldn't go to the scene."
Her voice fell.
Without waiting for Andrew's reply, Evelyn left the workshop with satisfaction, walking towards the sedan outside the shop.
____
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