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.

I tightened my grip on his

he finally admitted

has

we started

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

I could argue, he pulled out his wallet and paid

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

was in, I decided not to argue further and focused

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

him with stomach flu and

couldn’t leave him alone. I stayed with him in the

room.

but now,

Chapter 111

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a blind date, charging fees for holding hands,

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

grabbed my hand and bolted through the crowd.

and everything around me became a blur- astonished faces, colorful lights, and

didn’t know why we were running, but they instinctively made way, creating

for us.

down the middle of a

of some romantic movie.

wind whipped through my hair, and as I watched Ashton pull me along, I

Ashton slowed down and stopped. Both of us stood there, panting heavily, staring at each other.

my heart

the thrill of

say a word, both of

I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again,

as I nervously swallowed and

you have preferred kissing in front of all those people?”

words made my cheeks burn, and I immediately tried to yank my hand free,

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

you craving?” Ashton asked once we’d

a moment before deciding on shaved ice,

slightly when he

I teased, raising

“But you

like you’re quite the expert

said

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a look

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Mens

do have a sister, so I’ve picked up a thing or two about women’s health,”

sister?” I asked,

never mentioned

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

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

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

“But eating something so cold at night might not be the best

response speak for itself. Ashton seemed to get

strolling through the lively streets. We passed a stall selling pets and another

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

not vibrant enough for

of vibrancy, then there was no hope for any other man.

perfumes–a surefire way to enhance

chuckled at my response.

was another meaning behind his smile, so I raised a hand to stop

word.”

silent, his smile

knew it, it was midnight. The streets were still bustling, but remembering that Ashton had work

walk around

yawned. “No, I’m

but I didn’t notice because I was distracted by the various trinket and snack stalls lining the

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

asked mischievously, “Does it look good?”

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

16:05

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look good,” I said, striding toward him. “What’s

forehead and admitted, “My

shaved ice earlier

ice, wasn’t it?”

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

he finally admitted softly.

furious. “How long has it been bothering

started walking back…”

smack him for not saying anything sooner, but seeing his pale face, I grabbed his arm instead. “I’m

could argue, he pulled out his wallet and paid

intended to buy it, but now that he’d paid, I had no choice

decided not to argue further and

would be available, so I called Nora. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer.

diagnosed him with stomach flu

so I couldn’t leave him

room.

Ashton was stoic, but now, as

Chapter 111

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date, charging fees

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

me, he grabbed my hand and bolted

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

they instinctively made way, creating a makeshift

for us.

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

of some

I watched Ashton pull me along, I couldn’t

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

holding mine, and my heart pounded

of the

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

Instead, I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again, and I realized I was doing the same thing. Sparks seemed to fly in

nervously swallowed and broke the silence. “Um… why did you

of all those

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

the opportunity to flee, ignoring the sound of his soft

Ashton asked once we’d

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

frowned slightly when he saw my order.

I teased, raising an