Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 146

Even the insensitive Koi noticed the sudden shift in atmosphere. Ashley’s gaze, fixed on him with a stiff, unreadable expression, made Koi blink in confusion. Why was he acting like this all of a sudden? No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn’t pinpoint the reason, so Koi remained silent, just trying to read the mood.

“Um…”

“You.”

He cautiously began to speak, but his chance was snatched away again. Ashley still looked down at him with a chilling gaze and asked,

“You haven’t presented, have you?”

“Uh… I’m a Beta, still.”

Since the time had already passed, his secondary gender was as good as determined. Koi’s face flushed as he realized he’d uttered the nonsensical phrase “still,” but Ashley didn’t mock him. As he worried about why Ashley was looking at him with such an expression, Ashley suddenly turned away.

“Follow me, I’ll take you.”

At the unexpected offer, Koi stared at him in surprise, then hurriedly followed, saying,

“I-It’s fine. I’ll go alone.”

“How? Are you going to take a taxi? Or walk?”

He hadn’t actually thought of a way. Seeing Koi speechless for a moment, Ashley let out a small laugh, as if he’d expected it, then turned back around. After hesitating, Koi finally followed him and got into the car. As he buckled his seatbelt, Ashley finally started the car.

“When’s your date?”

“Huh?”

Ashley asked shortly after they exited the parking lot. Koi, who had unconsciously asked back at the sudden question, belatedly let out an awkward laugh, “Ah.”

“It’s not a date… just dinner and a movie.”

“Koi.”

“Yes.”

As he answered hastily, Ashley glanced at him and noticeably twisted the corner of his mouth.

“People call that a date, Koi.”

Koi couldn’t react immediately and closed his mouth. He hadn’t thought of it that way, but now that Ashley said it, it really seemed like it. Would Julie think so too? Lost in thought, Koi hesitated before speaking.

“Um, then… would it be better not to meet?”

He hadn’t thought of it in that way at all, so if Julie had expectations, it would be best to make his stance clear. To his cautious question, Ashley said indifferently,

“Who you meet has nothing to do with me.”

Reflexively, Koi lifted his head. His heart sank at Ashley’s cool profile, illuminated by the moonlight. As if to mock Koi, Ashley said,

“I hope you have a pleasant date, Koi.”

Koi couldn’t answer again and just lowered his head. And the two remained silent, not exchanging a single word until they reached their destination.

Ashley slowed down as he entered a dark alley with no streetlights. As they slowly moved through the gloomy street, perfect for a robber with a gun to jump out, shoot at the car, and steal the car stereo, Koi felt a growing unease.

It wasn’t an unfounded delusion, as he had heard gunshots many times while sleeping at night. He was terrified to imagine what would happen if they were attacked by a ruffian while cruising around in such an expensive car. Even an Alpha, who had superior physical abilities compared to ordinary people, was still human. Of course, they would die if shot. The thought that Ashley had put himself in danger by coming all the way here because of him made Koi restless.

“Th-There, this is enough. I can go alone.”

He tried to open the car door to indicate his intention to get out, but it was locked. A forgotten memory suddenly resurfaced in Koi’s mind. Did this car also have a special device to prevent it from being opened from the inside?

He hesitated, unable to make a judgment, but in contrast to Koi, Ashley remained calm and said,

“Where do you live? Do we need to go further?”

“Uh…”

Koi hesitated, then pointed to one side and answered honestly.

“Over there. Around the corner.”

Ashley drove the car in the direction Koi pointed without much reaction. When they reached a not-too-distant spot, Ashley stopped the car, and as if on cue, the passenger door where Koi was sitting clicked open.

“…Thank you for the ride.”

Koi thanked him, then hesitated and asked,

“Um, would you like to come in for a cup of tea?”

As he said it, he realized that if such a nice car was parked in a place like this, it would surely be stolen. He was flustered, unable to retract what he had already said, when Ashley opened his mouth.

“It’s fine. Thank you, but I’ll decline.”

“Phew,” Koi unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, thinking, Thank goodness. Ashley gazed at him. It was hard to discern his expression as he was backlit by the dim streetlights.

Koi knew it was time to get out of the car, but he couldn’t move immediately. He had to make plans to meet again. If he let him go now, he would never see him again. At least ask for his phone number, quickly. Right now!

“I have a question.”

“Oh, yes.”

At Ashley’s sudden voice, Koi startled and nodded. Ashley still looked at Koi with an unreadable expression and asked,

“Didn’t you say you came to see me?”

“Th-That’s right.”

To Koi, who nodded again, Ashley spoke in an even deeper voice.

“What exactly did you want to do by meeting me?”

This time, he couldn’t answer readily. So many emotions flooded him at once, choking Koi’s words. How could he convey all of that in just a few words? Even now, his choked heart weighed so heavily on him.

“I…”

Koi opened his mouth with difficulty. His voice trembling, he quickly cleared his throat to forcibly compose himself, then continued.

“I just wanted to see you.”

Despite so many emotions, that was all he could say. In the darkness, he could vaguely see Ashley frowning.

“Is that all?”

At the seemingly incredulous reaction, Koi’s face flushed. Of course, he’d be dumbfounded. It had been over 10 years, and for him to suddenly appear and say something like that…

But as Ashley said, that was all it was, so Koi had nothing more to say. If all the money he had worked himself to death to save for over 10 years was just to see Ashley Miller’s face, anyone would react the same way. However, Ashley Miller’s presence in Koi’s heart was incomparably greater than what others might imagine, so this price was, in fact, very cheap. Of course, Ashley had no idea of Koi’s feelings, and Koi had no intention of revealing them to burden him.

I know we ended a long time ago.

Koi thought. The fact that Ashley was still unmarried, that he had no special partner, was an enormous stroke of luck for him. Of course, he didn’t have the absurd arrogance to think it was because of him. Ashley would have various other reasons, such as being busy or not being interested. He was just grateful to have this opportunity to be brave. If Ashley hadn’t been married but had someone special by his side, he wouldn’t have dared to even think about meeting him.

“I, I even went to your law firm.”

Koi bravely continued.

“Did you hear about it? They told me to leave a message, so I left my contact information.”

It had been over a month ago. If it had been delivered, there would have been a reaction by now. Recalling that Ashley had asked when he came to the East Coast, he assumed. Surely, Ashley hadn’t received the message.

“I know.”

“Oh…”

At the nonchalantly uttered words, Koi blinked blankly. Seeing Ashley’s expressionless face looking down at him, his heart began to pound uneasily.

“Um… you couldn’t contact me because you were busy, right? You didn’t have time.”

“No.”

To his question, asked with renewed hope and a hasty smile, Ashley denied it mercilessly.

“I had no intention of meeting you.”

Koi froze for a moment. He had clearly heard his words but couldn’t understand them. What did I just hear? What did Ashley just say? Koi, who had just stared blankly at Ashley, suddenly remembered.

<You’d better not cross my path.>

<Do you think I’d be happy to see you?>

Belatedly, Koi completely froze.