More Than A Favor

Chapter 111

Get 5 >

Menu

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.

1. B) 16:05

27.41%

< Chapter 111

I pouted, giving him a look of disbelief.

Get 5>

Mens

“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.

16:05

27.33%

Get 5>

Menu

“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 his wrist. “Tell me the

he finally admitted

was furious. “How long has it been

we started walking back…”

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

he pulled out his

that he’d paid,

discomfort he was in, I decided not to argue further and focused on getting him to the

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

with stomach flu and said he

had gotten sick because of me, so I couldn’t leave him alone. I

room.

now, as he

Chapter 111

Get 5 >

Menu

struck a deal with a blind date, charging fees for

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.

kissing me, he grabbed my hand and

a blur- astonished faces, colorful

we were running, but they instinctively made way, creating a makeshift

for us.

the middle of a crowded street, hand in hand, as though we

of some

Ashton pull me along, I couldn’t

ran until my lungs burned and my legs felt like jelly. Finally, Ashton slowed down and stopped. Both

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

thrill of

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

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

nervously swallowed and broke the silence. “Um…

of all those people?”

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

pain and finally released me. I seized the opportunity to flee, ignoring the sound

are you craving?” Ashton asked once

for a moment before deciding on

frowned slightly when he saw my

fan?” I teased, raising an

“But you

Seems like you’re quite the expert on women’s health. Is this really your

he said

1. B) 16:05

27.41%

< Chapter 111

a look of

Get 5>

Mens

up a thing

I asked, pausing

mentioned her before.”

bring it up,” Ashton mumbled, taking

recalling how Logan used to say the same thing–that icy treats

don’t like it, don’t force it down. Order something else,”

Ashton replied, looking at me. “But eating something so cold at night might not

of response speak for itself. Ashton seemed to get the message and didn’t press the issue further. We finished the

We passed a stall selling pets

Ashton. “Your place feels a bit empty. These will add some life. Consider it a gift from me.”

enough for your

he was the epitome of vibrancy, then there was no

as perfumes–a surefire way to enhance your romantic

at my response.

meaning behind his smile,

word.”

stayed silent, his smile

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

walk around some more?”

I yawned. “No,

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

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

mischievously, “Does it look

I turned around to face him. His face was pale, beads of sweat trickling

16:05

27.33%

Get 5>

Menu

said, striding toward him. “What’s

forehead and admitted,

him eating shaved ice earlier flashed

ice,

hesitated. I tightened my grip on his

he finally

long has it been

started

for not saying anything sooner, but seeing his pale face, I grabbed his

resisted, pulling me back. Before I could argue, he pulled out his wallet and paid for the flower headband I’d tried

buy it, but now that he’d paid, I had

I decided not to

would be available, so I called Nora. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer. Left with no other option, I took Ashton to the

diagnosed him with stomach flu and said he

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

room.

Ashton was stoic, but now,

Chapter 111

Get 5 >

Menu

struck a deal with a blind date, charging fees for holding hands,

was more to the story than I’d realized. He must have scared off that guy by beating him, though he’d never

my hand and bolted

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

running, but they

for us.

down the middle of a

the stars of some romantic

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

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

and my heart pounded like a drum–not just

the thrill of the moment.

a word, both of us

let go of my hand. Instead, I noticed his Adam’s apple bob again, and I realized I was doing the same

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

all those people?” Ashton asked, his

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

yelped in pain and finally released me. I seized the opportunity to flee, ignoring the sound of his soft chuckle behind

are you craving?” Ashton asked once

thought for a moment before deciding on shaved ice, my

he saw

fan?” I teased, raising