Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 150

This shouldn’t be happening.

Koi quickly composed himself. Ashley is at least offering to be friends. How grateful should I be? Being friends is already a blessing, how can I feel disappointed? You’re truly shameless, Connor Niles.

He scolded himself thoroughly, then straightened his posture and focused on Ashley in front of him. Ashley was busy, but he had made time for this, so he couldn’t just let it pass by feeling dejected.

You came all the way to a members-only restaurant, so pull yourself together.

Koi, who had once again resolved himself, followed Ashley’s lead, securing the unknown food on the plate with his fork and carefully cutting it with his knife. He put it in his mouth with the accompanying herbs, but the texture was different from what he expected. Naturally, he couldn’t smell it, nor could he taste it. However, the texture wasn’t bad, so he slowly rolled it around in his mouth when Ashley spoke.

“It’s steamed scallops. Try it with the sauce.”

Did he forget that I can’t taste well?

Koi thought, but then realized it was only natural. It had been over 10 years. It would be stranger if he remembered such small details about him. Changing his mindset, Koi replied, “Yes,” and cut the remaining scallops as instructed, rubbing them in the sauce on the plate. He intended to put on a good act so Ashley wouldn’t be flustered. Of course, he wasn’t confident.

…Huh?

Koi, who had eaten the scallop dish with quite a serious resolve, paused for a moment. It was clearly different from before. He could taste it. Koi unconsciously widened his eyes. As he slowly chewed, the taste unfortunately disappeared, but the moment it first entered his mouth, he could clearly discern it. The sweet and sour sauce and the taste of the scallops.

“It’s delicious…”

As he said it, bewildered, Ashley smiled from across the table. As if he had expected it. How could this be? To Koi, who still looked at him with a blank expression, Ashley said as he cut his own scallops,

“I asked them to make the flavor stronger because my companion’s sense of taste is dull. I also made sure they used natural ingredients and kept the salt and sugar levels from being excessively high, so it won’t be bad for your health.”

Koi was surprised once again by Ashley’s explanation. He still couldn’t control his blank gaze and opened his mouth.

“So, you specifically arranged for the meal to be prepared for me in advance…?”

“Yes.”

At the readily flowing answer, Koi hesitated and asked,

“Why?”

He was afraid his voice wasn’t trembling. After barely uttering a single word, Ashley said nonchalantly, as if it were obvious,

“If we come to eat together and the other person can’t enjoy it, it doesn’t feel good for me either.”

At that, Koi was certain. He could no longer hide his trembling voice, but he couldn’t help but open his lips.

“You remembered.”

Ashley didn’t answer the softly whispered words, as if to himself. He just cut his scallops and put them in his mouth. As if it were obvious, as if this was nothing.

His chest felt choked, and Koi hastily lowered his gaze, pretending to eat the scallops, but he couldn’t help but sniffle quickly.

We’re friends now.

He secretly scolded himself for trying to cross the line. Ashley had clearly anticipated this and warned him in advance. So that he wouldn’t have unnecessary expectations, that they had ended a long time ago, and that all Ashley could offer Koi now was friendship.

He’s just being considerate as a friend. Don’t misunderstand.

After forcing down the remaining scallop dish and putting down his fork, a waiter approached as if on cue and cleared both their empty plates. He could see them standing against the wall, observing every corner of the restaurant with hawk-like eyes to ensure the guests’ meals weren’t delayed. This was the first time Koi had been to such an elegant, refined, and well-serviced restaurant, and he felt bewildered.

The next dish came out quickly. This time, too, the waiter placed the plate, skillfully added an explanation, and then withdrew.

“It’s goose liver.”

When they were alone again, Ashley briefly explained. Koi, seeing the dish he had only heard about before his eyes, unconsciously asked,

“Is this fatty liver?”

“Hahaha.”

Ashley suddenly laughed out loud. Koi blinked in surprise, and he still smiled and nodded.

“That’s right. Bon appétit.”

This French phrase was one he knew. Koi, though his pronunciation wasn’t great, bravely repeated his words, then cut the foie gras and put it in his mouth. This too left a new taste in Koi’s mouth and then disappeared.

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious.”

When he answered Ashley’s question honestly, Ashley gave a faint smile and resumed his meal.

After hearing Ashley’s laughter, Koi’s heart felt much lighter. Koi chuckled along and focused on eating again. Then, during a short pause before the next dish arrived, Ashley opened his mouth.

“What kind of person is your date?”

He wanted to correct him again that it wasn’t a date, but it would clearly be futile. Koi suppressed the urge and answered,

“She said she’s a reporter, and she knows Al.”

He briefly explained how he met her, and a well-grilled marlin dish arrived. With that in front of them, Ashley spoke.

“Julie? Is it Julie Robinson?”

“You know her?”

To Koi’s surprised question, Ashley replied nonchalantly,

“She’s a pretty famous reporter, she’s written a lot of good articles. Not so good for me, though.”

Seeing Ashley sneer with his added remark, Koi paused. What happened between them? He asked cautiously, and Ashley said without much emotion,

“A news article titled ‘Guardian Devil of the Haves, Ashley Miller’ isn’t exactly pleasant, is it?”

“Ah…”

Only then did Koi understand, letting out a blank exclamation, and Ashley chuckled again.

“The truth can be quite painful.”

He laughed, but Koi couldn’t laugh along.

Is that really true, Ash? The things reporters say, the bad rumors, I still can’t believe them.

Koi, who had lowered his gaze to his plate, looked at his own dish, which had a different sauce from Ashley’s marlin, and thought with a gloomy feeling.

You’re still so kind.

Despite being busy, he had made time for him, and even went out of his way to get him out of jail. Coming to a members-only restaurant and even arranging special dishes for Koi—he was exactly the same Ashley as before. If that kind, considerate Ashley Miller, who smiled as brightly as the sun, wasn’t the man across the table now, then who was he?

“Haven’t you read the articles she wrote?”

Koi, who had come to his senses at Ashley’s question, unconsciously shook his head. Seeing that, Ashley gave a wry smile and said,

“Why don’t you read even the most recent article she wrote? It might help.”

“Help with what?”

He asked, bewildered, and Ashley answered readily,

“Even if you’re not meeting with that intention, if you know a lot about the other person before you go out, it’s easier to have a conversation.”

“Ah…”

His words made sense. Koi, who had let out a blank exclamation of admiration, listened as Ashley continued.

“Even if you don’t intend it at first, feelings often develop as you meet, so it’s better to keep various possibilities open.”

It was a perfectly understandable statement. But after agreeing, he immediately felt bad. Ashley had already had several girlfriends before dating Koi. So it was only natural that he was much more experienced than Koi. However, receiving advice like this didn’t make him feel good. Above all, Ashley so calmly and smoothly rattling off dating tips was not very welcome.

“Why are you telling me this?”

How many women did he meet after breaking up with me?

He knew he had no right to feel this way, but he couldn’t help but feel hurt. He didn’t have to flaunt it like this, he thought, but Koi knew. Ashley wasn’t deliberately showing off. He knew these were just a few words that came out naturally, but that made him even more annoyed. He would have preferred it if Ashley was just showing off.

As he spoke, feeling dejected, Ashley replied indifferently,

“Because I want your first date to be successful.”

And he added very nonchalantly,

“I’m just giving you advice as a friend.”

Of course, that’s it. Koi thought, but he couldn’t hide his resentment towards Ashley. So he impulsively lied.

“I, I had a girlfriend too.”

As Koi blurted it out, Ashley stared intently at his face.