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.

tightened my grip on his wrist. “Tell me the truth.”

Yeah,” he finally admitted

“How long has it

started walking back…”

but seeing his pale face, I grabbed his arm instead. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

me back. Before I could argue, he pulled out his wallet and paid for

that he’d paid, I had no choice

to argue further

Nora. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer. Left with no other option, I took Ashton to the emergency

the doctor diagnosed him with stomach flu and said he needed

me, so I couldn’t leave him alone. I stayed with

room.

but now, as

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a blind date, charging fees for

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.

he grabbed my hand and bolted

a blur- astonished faces, colorful lights, and the sound of people

they instinctively made way,

for us.

the middle of a crowded street, hand

stars of some romantic movie.

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

like jelly. Finally, Ashton slowed down and stopped. Both of us stood there, panting heavily,

heart pounded like a drum–not just

the thrill of

a word, both

of my hand. Instead, I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again, and I realized

swallowed and broke the silence.

kissing in front of all those people?” Ashton asked,

free, but Ashton held on tight. Frustrated and embarrassed, I

seized the opportunity to flee, ignoring the sound of his soft chuckle behind me, which only

you craving?” Ashton asked

a moment before deciding on shaved ice,

he saw my

fan?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.

commented. “But you can

Seems like you’re quite the expert on women’s health. Is this really your first time dating?”

he said

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him a look

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so I’ve picked up a thing or two about women’s health,” he admitted, catching me

asked,

mentioned her

right time to bring it up,” Ashton mumbled, taking a bite of my dessert.

same thing–that icy treats were bad for

it, don’t force it down. Order something else,” I said, pushing

Ashton replied, looking at me. “But eating something so cold at

for itself. Ashton seemed to get the message and didn’t press the issue further. We finished the shaved ice quietly.

continued strolling through the lively streets. We passed a

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

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

there was no hope

perfumes–a surefire way to enhance your

at

his smile, so I raised a hand to stop him.

word.”

silent, his smile widening.

Ashton carrying the plants. Time slipped by, and before we knew it, it was midnight. The streets were still bustling, but remembering that

you want to walk around some more?”

exhaustion, I yawned.

I didn’t notice because I was distracted by the various

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

Ashton, I asked mischievously, “Does

to face him. His face was pale, beads of sweat trickling down

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

admitted, “My stomach doesn’t feel

of him eating shaved ice earlier flashed through my

ice,

my grip on

Yeah,” he finally admitted

was furious. “How long has it been

we started

him for not saying anything sooner, but seeing his pale face, I grabbed his arm instead. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

I could argue, he pulled out his wallet and paid for the flower headband I’d tried on.

he’d paid, I had no choice but to keep it.

was in, I decided not to argue further

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

with stomach flu and

I couldn’t leave him alone. I stayed with

room.

but

Chapter 111

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

knew about that incident. It seemed there was more to the story than I’d realized. He must have scared off that guy

instead of kissing me, he grabbed my

sprinting through a bustling city street, and everything around me became a blur- astonished faces, colorful lights, and the sound

were running, but they instinctively

for us.

and I, racing down the middle of a crowded street, hand in hand,

the stars of some romantic

hair, and as I watched Ashton pull me along, I couldn’t help but feel like

my lungs burned and my legs felt like jelly. Finally, Ashton slowed down and

firmly holding mine, and my heart pounded like a drum–not

of

word, both

hand. Instead, I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again, and I realized I was

even faster as I nervously swallowed and broke

preferred kissing in front of all those people?”

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

I seized the opportunity to flee, ignoring the sound of his soft chuckle behind me, which only made my face heat up more.

asked once we’d

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

when he saw

fan?” I teased, raising an