Watching the chattering Evelyn, Andrew marveled at how even someone who looked so cold and unapproachable could be converted into her number one fan. No wonder she was so popular as a new idol.
After rattling on for what felt like an eternity, Evelyn seemed to realize she'd said a bit too much. Her previously bright expression instinctively subdued. Evelyn gave a slightly embarrassed cough, let out a soft breath, and said no more.
But at least the heavy atmosphere had vanished, and her purely business-like attitude had softened a little.
As the heavy door opened, a bright and spacious living room was revealed before them.
The meticulously designed living room glittered in the brilliant sunlight; the size of this space alone was comparable to Andrew's entire house. And not just one floor, but both of his floors combined.
Multiple huge, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, combined with the fact that it was the penthouse on the 36th floor, offered a vastly wider view than the ordinary apartments below, even though the surrounding area was also packed with skyscrapers.
What really made Andrew's jaw drop was something else. It seemed like this building was one apartment per floor, not the two or three households per floor that Andrew had imagined. At least, not on this floor.
And besides the windows, various oil paintings and art pieces that looked incredibly expensive were displayed throughout the room.
For Andrew, however, the most appealing feature was the open-plan kitchen by the window. A single glance showed it was fully equipped with all sorts of cookware, though none of it looked like it had ever been used.
But through a half-open door not far away, he could see another, very spacious room. A heavy piano sat in the center, and besides that, many other kinds of musical instruments were scattered around the space.
Every instrument showed signs of use, proving that this superstar's mastery of music was far greater than the talentless, corporate-backed puppet the net slandered her as.
Evelyn looked at the empty living room and the closed bedroom door; she knew exactly what was going on.
She'd called her several times and had even managed to pull her into a sitting position, but the moment she turned around, Astra Yao had wriggled back under the covers and fallen fast asleep again.
Instantly, Evelyn mentally added a new rule to her "Astra Yao Manual": Never leave her side until she is fully out of bed.
With that thought, she gently pushed the door open just a crack.
Evelyn first peeked inside to confirm Astra Yao was indeed still lazing in bed, then turned back to Andrew and said:
"I've ordered three breakfasts, and they're on the way. They should be here in a few minutes. After that, Miss Yao has to head to the venue for rehearsal. You can rest here until then."
There was a breakfast for him, too? Although he'd already eaten, with Andrew's appetite, a second breakfast was no problem at all. Besides, it was a kind gesture. And who was he to turn down a free meal?
Andrew nodded, found a sturdy spot to gently lay down the weapon from his back, and sat on the sofa.
Evelyn, meanwhile, entered Astra Yao's room.
She had already opened the curtains when she tried to wake Astra Yao earlier. The morning sun streamed into the room through the spotlessly clean floor-to-ceiling windows.
Jet-black hair, like satin, was splayed across the white bedsheets. The only thing different from the first time she'd called her this morning was that the previously scattered blanket was now rolled into a giant Swiss roll.
Curled up inside, Astra Yao was fast asleep, wearing a blissful expression as if she wanted to stay one with her blanket forever.
Seeing no reaction from Astra Yao, a resigned Evelyn reached out and gently pinched her nose, continuing to call her name softly:
"Miss Yao, if you keep sleeping, we'll be late for today's schedule."
With her nose pinched, Astra Yao's delicate, pretty face puffed out due to the lack of air, quickly flushing red.
After a soft grunt, Astra Yao reluctantly opened her eyes. Seeing Evelyn in front of her, she immediately put on a pitiful expression and whined coquettishly:
"Evy Just let me sleep a little longer... One minute, just one minute"
Compared to the cold, impartial front Evelyn put up when she first arrived or with strangers, she would always soften whenever the current Astra Yao started acting cute.
"Alright, one more minute then. You promised, okay?"
Faced with an Astra Yao who had mastered the art of the cute offensive, Evelyn had reached a point where she'd resignedly let her sleep in a little longer, right up until the last possible moment.
This time, however, even though they still had plenty of time, Evelyn didn't let Astra Yao go back to sleep.
She quietly watched the time on her phone. As the seconds ticked by, at exactly the 60-second mark, Evelyn gently tapped Astra Yao's shoulder again.
But this time, she wasn't just waking her up. She whispered:
"Miss Yao, remember that exclusive agent for Phaethon you were so interested in the other day? He's here now."
Astra Yao, who was still hugging her blanket and whining, suddenly shot her eyes wide open. All thoughts of sleeping in vanished as she sat up with a whoosh.
Seeing Evelyn nod, Astra Yao, still tangled in her Swiss roll of a blanket, immediately began wiggling, trying to crawl out, saying:
"Evy, just give me a second! I'll be ready in a flash!"
After watching Astra Yao struggle and fail to get out for a few moments, a helpless Evelyn reached over and gently lifted her out of the blankets.
As Astra Yao gave a slightly embarrassed smile, Evelyn turned and walked out of the room.
Astra Yao, having slipped on her slippers, immediately ran towards the bathroom sink inside her room.
Stepping out of the room, Evelyn's expression of helpless indulgence vanished, but just then, her phone suddenly rang.
She tapped her earpiece, and the call connected instantly.
But the voice on the other end wasn't the expected call to coordinate rehearsal details; it was the restaurant she'd ordered breakfast from.
From the shop owner's deeply apologetic voice and the faint, weak groans in the background, Evelyn learned one thing.
"Are you telling me our delivery assistant can't bring the food because he lost a duel with a rival delivery assistant?"
As ridiculous as it sounded, there wasn't enough time to order another one now.
Amidst the owner's frantic apologies, Evelyn, knowing there was nothing to be done, rubbed her temples with a budding headache and said with resignation:
"Looks like we'll have to make do with some instant food from the convenience store."
____
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