More Than A Favor

Chapter 111

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I had once struck a deal with a blind date, charging fees for holding hands, hugging, and even kissing.

Ashton mentioning a kiss now made it clear he knew about that incident. It seemed there was more to the story than I’d realized. He must have scared off that guy by beating him, though he’d never said a word about it. Ashton really knew how to leave me speechless.

But instead of kissing me, he grabbed my hand and bolted through the crowd.

It was my first time sprinting through a bustling city street, and everything around me became a blur- astonished faces, colorful lights, and the sound of people stepping aside to let us through.

People didn’t know why we were running, but they instinctively made way, creating a makeshift lane

for us.

There we were, Ashton and I, racing down the middle of a crowded street, hand in hand, as though we

were the stars of some romantic movie.

The wind whipped through my hair, and as I watched Ashton pull me along, I couldn’t help but feel like we were eloping.

We ran until my lungs burned and my legs felt like jelly. Finally, Ashton slowed down and stopped. Both of us stood there, panting heavily, staring at each other.

His hand was still firmly holding mine, and my heart pounded like a drum–not just from running, but

from the thrill of the moment.

We didn’t say a word, both of us catching our breaths.

But Ashton made no move to let go of my hand. Instead, I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again, and I realized I was doing the same thing. Sparks seemed to fly in the air around us.

My heart raced even faster as I nervously swallowed and broke the silence. “Um… why did you run?”

“Would you have preferred kissing in front of all those people?” Ashton asked, his tone calm but teasing.

His words made my cheeks burn, and I immediately tried to yank my hand free, but Ashton held on tight. Frustrated and embarrassed, I stomped on his foot.

He yelped in pain and finally released me. I seized the opportunity to flee, ignoring the sound of his soft chuckle behind me, which only made my face heat up more.

“What are you craving?” Ashton asked once we’d calmed down.

I thought for a moment before deciding on shaved ice, my favorite treat.

Ashton frowned slightly when he saw my order.

“Not a fan?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Not exactly the healthiest choice,” he commented. “But you can eat whatever you like.”

I smiled mischievously. “Wow, Ashton. Seems like you’re quite the expert on women’s health. Is this really your first time dating?”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

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I pouted, giving him a look of disbelief.

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“Well, I do have a sister, so I’ve picked up a thing or two about women’s health,” he admitted, catching me off guard.

“A sister?” I asked, pausing mid–bite.

“You never mentioned her before.”

“I just never found the right time to bring it up,” Ashton mumbled, taking a bite of my dessert. He frowned immediately, clearly not enjoying it.

“You don’t like it, do you?” I asked, recalling how Logan used to say the same thing–that icy treats were bad for your health. The memory stung, and I felt a pang of sadness.

“If you don’t like it, don’t force it down. Order something else,” I said, pushing the memory aside.

“It’s fine. It’s just a little cold,” Ashton replied, looking at me. “But eating something so cold at night might not be the best for your stomach.”

I stayed silent, letting my lack of response speak for itself. Ashton seemed to get the message and didn’t press the issue further. We finished the shaved ice quietly.

After eating, we continued strolling through the lively streets. We passed a stall selling pets and another selling plants.

In the end, I bought two small potted plants for Ashton. “Your place feels a bit empty. These will add some life. Consider it a gift from me.”

“Am I not vibrant enough for your liking?” he teased.

If he was the epitome of vibrancy, then there was no hope for any other man.

“Think of them as perfumes–a surefire way to enhance your romantic prospects,” I countered.

Ashton chuckled at my response.

I had a feeling there was another meaning behind his smile, so I raised a hand to stop him. “Not a

word.”

He listened and stayed silent, his smile widening.

We continued wandering, with Ashton carrying the plants. Time slipped by, and before we knew it, it was midnight. The streets were still bustling, but remembering that Ashton had work tomorrow, I said, “Let’s head back.”

“Don’t you want to walk around some more?” Ashton asked.

Feigning exhaustion, I yawned. “No, I’m tired.”

We turned and started heading back. Ashton was unusually quiet, but I didn’t notice because I was distracted by the various trinket and snack stalls lining the street.

When I spotted a display of colorful flower headbands, I couldn’t resist grabbing one and placing it on my head.

Turning to Ashton, I asked mischievously, “Does it look good?”

When he didn’t respond, I turned around to face him. His face was pale, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.

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“You don’t look good,” I said, striding toward him. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

He wiped his forehead and admitted, “My stomach doesn’t feel right.”

The image of him eating shaved ice earlier flashed through my mind.

“It was the shaved ice, wasn’t it?” I asked.

hesitated. I tightened my grip on

he finally admitted softly.

was furious. “How long has

started

pale face, I grabbed his arm instead.

pulling me back. Before I could argue, he pulled out his

it, but now that he’d paid, I had no

in, I decided not to

late, I wasn’t sure if a regular doctor would be available, so I called Nora. Unfortunately, she didn’t

doctor diagnosed him with stomach flu and said he needed an IV

leave him alone. I stayed with him in

room.

stoic, but now, as he

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had once struck a deal with a blind date, charging fees for holding hands, hugging, and even

must have scared off that guy by beating him, though he’d never said a word

he grabbed my hand and bolted through the crowd.

a blur- astonished faces, colorful lights, and the sound of people stepping aside to let us through.

we were running, but they

for us.

were, Ashton and I, racing down the middle of

of some romantic

pull me along, I couldn’t

slowed

hand was still firmly holding mine, and my heart pounded

thrill of

say a word, both of

his Adam’s apple bob again,

as I nervously swallowed and broke the silence.

all those people?” Ashton

I immediately tried to yank my hand free, but Ashton held on tight. Frustrated and embarrassed,

released me. I seized the opportunity to flee, ignoring the sound of his soft chuckle behind me,

asked once we’d calmed down.

moment before deciding

slightly when he saw my

teased, raising an

healthiest choice,” he commented. “But you

Seems like you’re quite the expert on

he said

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< Chapter 111

him a look of

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Mens

a thing or

sister?” I asked, pausing

mentioned

taking a bite of my dessert. He

icy treats were bad for your health. The memory stung, and I felt a pang of

Order something else,” I said,

It’s just a little cold,” Ashton replied, looking at me. “But eating something so cold at night

itself. Ashton seemed to get the message and didn’t press the issue further.

lively streets. We passed a

end, I bought two small potted plants for Ashton. “Your place feels a bit empty. These will

vibrant enough for your liking?” he

epitome of vibrancy, then there

perfumes–a surefire way to enhance

chuckled at

had a feeling there was another meaning behind his smile, so I raised a hand to

word.”

and stayed silent,

before we knew it, it was midnight. The streets were still bustling, but remembering that Ashton

to walk around some more?” Ashton asked.

yawned. “No, I’m tired.”

heading back. Ashton was unusually quiet, but I didn’t notice because I was distracted by the various trinket

of colorful flower headbands, I couldn’t resist grabbing one and placing it on

to Ashton, I asked mischievously, “Does

turned around to face him. His face was pale,

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striding toward him. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling

admitted, “My stomach

image of him eating shaved ice earlier flashed through

shaved ice, wasn’t it?”

my grip on his wrist. “Tell me the

Yeah,” he finally admitted

furious. “How long has it been bothering you?”

started

but seeing his pale face, I

I could argue, he pulled out his wallet and paid for the

now that he’d

was in, I decided not to argue further and

late, I wasn’t sure if a regular doctor would be available, so I called Nora. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer. Left with no other option,

diagnosed him with stomach flu and said he needed

couldn’t leave

room.

Ashton was stoic, but now, as

Chapter 111

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a deal with a blind date, charging fees for

made it clear he knew about that incident. It seemed there was more to the story than I’d realized. He must have scared off that guy by beating him, though he’d never said a word about it. Ashton really knew how

kissing me, he grabbed my

street, and everything around me became a blur- astonished faces, colorful lights, and the sound of people stepping aside

we were running, but they instinctively made

for us.

down the middle of a crowded

of some

through my hair, and as I watched Ashton pull me along, I couldn’t help but

until my lungs burned and my legs felt like jelly. Finally, Ashton slowed down and stopped. Both of us stood there, panting

heart pounded like a drum–not just from running,

of the

both of us catching our

I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again, and I realized I was doing the same

faster as I nervously swallowed and broke the

those people?”

words made my cheeks burn, and I immediately tried to yank my hand free, but Ashton held on tight. Frustrated and embarrassed, I stomped on

flee, ignoring the sound of his soft chuckle behind me, which

you craving?” Ashton asked once we’d

moment before deciding on shaved ice, my favorite treat.

frowned slightly when he

teased, raising an eyebrow.