Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 175

“H-hello?”

His voice cracked, and he quickly cleared his throat, making Ashley ask,

“Are you okay?”

“Huh? Yeah. Just my voice is a bit hoarse.”

When he told the truth, Ashley paused, then spoke.

“I mean, are you okay physically?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Koi understand the meaning, and his face flushed with embarrassment as he replied,

“Uh… yeah, I’m fine. Thank you.”

Koi slapped his forehead with his palm. You idiot! Why are you saying thank you! Ashley, hearing the slapping sound, asked with a hint of suspicion from the other end,

“What’s wrong? What was that sound?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing, really. Seriously, nothing at all.”

As he repeated the same words, denying it, Ashley didn’t press further and changed the subject.

“I finished talking with your boss. He said he’d contact you directly, did you get it?”

“Ah, a message came. Thank you.”

This time, he gave a proper answer. As he spoke, he remembered that he had consulted him about his salary just yesterday. And even if Ashley had handled this as soon as he got to work today, it had only taken a few hours.

“It was resolved so quickly…?”

Koi unconsciously murmured. The phrase “the best lawyer in the East” suddenly crossed his mind. And the fact that his legal fees were enormous. To Koi’s blank voice, Ashley replied,

“It’s just a phone call.”

Even with the hint of laughter in his voice, Koi was still dumbfounded. That something so daunting to him was so simple and easy for Ashley.

“That’s why everyone says you’re the best, I guess…”

In contrast to Koi’s blank voice, Ashley spoke clearly.

“I’m a lawyer. My job is to persuade.”

At the confident man’s voice, Koi felt his heart pound loudly.

“You’re cool, Ash.”

He unconsciously said in an enchanted voice, and Ashley laughed out loud from the other end. Koi’s heart relaxed, seeing that he seemed to be in a good mood. Ashley continued, his voice still lingering with laughter,

“Have you eaten? There should be sandwiches in the fridge. If you need anything, just press the intercom and tell the desk, they’ll bring you anything.”

“Oh, yeah. Thank you. Um, you? Have you had lunch?”

It was already afternoon. Koi glanced at the clock on the wall and asked, and Ashley replied,

“My secretary is preparing it. I’ll be eating it during a meeting.”

“Ah…”

He had called Koi during a short break in his meeting. Koi felt sorry, knowing that Ashley had called him several times just to deliver the results despite being busy.

“You must be busy, so I’ll hang up now. Thank you for caring.”

“You’re welcome. I just wanted to confirm you received the message.”

Oh, right.

At Ashley’s words, a memory he had briefly forgotten resurfaced. He was about to finish the call after saying goodbye when Ashley called him.

“Koi.”

“Oh, yeah.”

He quickly brought his phone back to his ear, and Ashley continued,

“I’ll be home early tonight. Try to bear with it even if it’s boring.”

“Okay, don’t worry. …Um, what time are you coming?”

Koi looked at the clock and carefully asked. Ashley replied nonchalantly,

“Hmm, around 8?”

That’s a relief. That should be enough. He was about to say goodbye when Ashley added,

“Koi, don’t go out today and rest at home. Can you do that?”

Koi said yes and ended the call. Phew, he sighed, then checked his messages again. Ashley had just told him not to, but Koi couldn’t follow that advice.

I have to handle this much myself.

He wasted no more time, got up from his seat, and quickly got ready to leave.

“Can you do that?”

Just as he pressed the elevator button, he suddenly felt a strange sensation. Why did he ask ‘Can you do that?’ As he tilted his head, the sound of the elevator arriving was heard. Without thinking deeper, Koi got into the elevator.

Retracing a path he had only taken once was not easy. Though reluctant, he called his boss again to get the address, then transferred buses and subways several times, and even hitchhiked before finally reaching his destination.

[I will pay you. But before that, go find the car you abandoned. Otherwise, I will deduct the cost of that car and return the rest.]

Recalling his boss’s message, Koi took a deep breath. The mansion standing tall before him was unchanged from when he had last seen it. Even the sight of several cars haphazardly parked in front of the mansion was the same. However, the company truck Koi had been driving was nowhere to be seen.

Koi composed himself and rang the doorbell. A thin, monotonous bell sound echoed. After waiting for a moment, the door soon opened, and a man who appeared to be an employee came out.

“What can I do for you?”

Koi spoke, seeing the man’s suspicious expression as he scanned him from head to toe.

“Hello, um… I came here for repairs before, and then, uh, there was an accident, and I went to the police station. I left the truck behind then, and now I’ve come to pick it up.”

As he spoke the words he had prepared, the man tilted his head and stepped back.

“Come in for now. I’ll go check.”

Koi thanked him and entered the mansion, stopping in the hall, as the man quickly disappeared from his sight. Left alone, Koi felt inwardly anxious and looked around. He checked the time on his phone and realized he was much later than planned. He hoped Ashley wouldn’t worry if he was home before he returned.

‘Can you do that?’

Just as Ashley’s words came to mind again, making him anxious, he heard footsteps approaching from afar. He swallowed dryly and turned his head, seeing the face he had expected: Nelson. He looked like he had just woken up, wearing an indoor gown over his pajamas, and his sparse hair was messily disheveled. Koi felt his expression stiffen as he waited for him to approach.

“Hey, loser.”

Nelson called him with a sneering face. The man who had followed Nelson quickly stepped aside, realizing that Koi knew the owner. Koi glanced at his rapidly disappearing back, then turned his gaze back to Nelson, who chuckled and continued,

“You’ve got some nerve, haven’t you? How dare you show your face in front of me?”

“I-I just came to get my car.”

His words stammered, and his body trembled against his will. Even looking down at Nelson, he felt no courage at all. He desperately encouraged himself, who had instantly reverted to Conner Niles, who was constantly beaten by him, and clenched his fists tightly. But even so, to Nelson, he was just a classmate, no different from his punching bag.

“Hey, you idiot.”

Nelson immediately kicked his shin. Fortunately, he was wearing slippers, so there wasn’t much impact, but Koi, having been off guard, stumbled. Nelson grinned, looking satisfied, seeing Koi like that.

“You, a guy who touches sewage, how dare you babble on? Don’t you know who I am?”

“Oh, I know.”

Koi awkwardly rubbed his shin and mumbled. Nelson looked down at him, his face full of satisfaction, and continued,

“If you didn’t want to get beaten, you should have groveled. Huh? Just like that.”

Seeing him deliberately raise his hand, Koi unconsciously hunched his shoulders and covered his head. Nelson let out a grating laugh, Kya-hahahahah. Nelson, clutching his stomach and bending over with laughter, poked Koi’s leg with his foot and said,

“Hey, you, get down.”

“Huh?”

When Koi paused, he spread his legs wide and commanded,

“Crawl, on all fours. And oink.”

This was something he had endured many times in high school. Even though it had been 10 years ago, the memory was vivid. Koi’s face immediately drained of color, but he couldn’t disobey. His body stiffened and wouldn’t move as he wished, and he was afraid that if he displeased him, he wouldn’t get his car back.

I have to go back soon.

This time was different from before. Now that he was alone with Nelson, if Koi put his mind to it, he wouldn’t be subjected to the same treatment as before.

But he lacked the courage. Rather than betting on an unlikely outcome, Koi chose the sure and easier path.

What’s the big deal about crawling between his legs?

Koi forced his stiff body to put his hands on the floor. Nelson was laughing so hard his mouth was torn, watching him with keen interest. Koi got down on all fours like a dog and moved forward one step at a time. One step, then another.

Just as his head was passing between Nelson’s legs, Nelson burst into laughter and said,

“Seeing that Ashley bastard hanging out with a loser like you, he’s just a loser too.”

Koi froze for a moment. Nelson, completely oblivious, chattered on.

“He can act all high and mighty, but he’s just a half-wit. How much of a loser is he to hang out with you? Does he crawl around like a pig too? Like you?”

Oink, oink, Nelson snickered, making pig noises. Koi, who had been frozen, clenched his fists. Nelson’s laughter and pig squeals mixed together in his ears. Unable to bear it, he grabbed Nelson’s leg and pulled hard.

“Ugh?”

Nelson stumbled, making a strange sound. Thud, he fell ungracefully, and Koi, who immediately stood up, retorted,

“Don’t insult Ash!”