L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 22

"Is there a special reason you live in this house?"

At Koi’s question, Ashley answered while parking the car.

"Because there's a gate. The security is pretty good."

Koi had been asking about the size, but the response was completely unrelated. Feeling awkward about pressing further, he simply said, "I see," and fell silent.

Ashley smoothly brought the car to a stop and was the first to get out of the driver’s seat. Koi unfastened his seatbelt and stepped out as well, but as he turned his head, he ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) suddenly froze.

"Oh."

Ashley, who had been walking ahead, turned around. Noticing Koi’s bewildered gaze, he followed it to where Koi was pointing—toward the backseat.

"Here, the dolls."

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

Ashley absentmindedly followed Koi’s gaze and soon understood. A row of ugly dolls, securely fastened with seatbelts, sat neatly in the backseat.

Koi’s face brightened as he looked at them.

"They're all going for a drive together."

"And they made sure to wear their seatbelts properly."

"That’s right."

Koi laughed out loud. The thought that the gift he had given was always with Ashley filled him with joy, and he couldn’t stop laughing. Ashley stared intently at Koi’s ears before opening his mouth.

"...Yesterday."

At the quiet voice, Koi lifted his head. A breeze swept past Ashley’s back, tousling his golden hair in all directions. Keeping a slight distance between them, Ashley locked eyes with Koi and asked,

"Why didn’t you leave?"

It took a moment to grasp the meaning behind the question. Koi blinked in confusion, prompting Ashley to elaborate.

"Yesterday, I was out of it because of my fever, and I grabbed your hand, but... you could’ve left once I fell asleep, right? If you had just let go and left, I wouldn’t have known. So why didn’t you?"

Ashley’s voice carried a serious tone as he added,

"It was the night before the exam."

Of course, there would be other chances, but missing even one opportunity was regrettable for anyone. Many people struggled to sleep before an exam due to nerves. Still, it was a crucial time to review everything thoroughly and make sure there were no mistakes. Yet Koi had ended up wasting that time, staying by Ashley’s side.

Ashley was curious about the reason. He waited for Koi’s answer, watching as Koi’s face gradually brightened with a radiant smile.

"You promised, Ash. That you'd stay by my side."

Ashley stared at Koi’s glowing smile in a daze. A cool breeze brushed past him, sending a chill over his skin. But for some reason, he didn’t feel cold at all. Instead, his face grew increasingly hot, and his heart began pounding violently.

At that moment, the setting sun cast an orange glow over Koi’s face, making his brown eyes shine like gold as he gazed up at Ashley.

Ah.

Ashley instinctively covered his mouth with a hand. If he didn’t, he felt like his heart, which was now recklessly racing, would burst right out of him.

I don’t believe in promises.

Ashley told himself. I don’t believe in words like "I’ll stay with you." Those things are always lies.

But.

Koi’s smiling face filled Ashley’s vision entirely.

Then why do your words make my heart race like this?

*

The mansion was as empty as ever. Not a single sign of life could be felt within its quiet halls, and Koi suddenly grew curious.

"When do the staff usually come?"

Ashley answered simply.

"They’re on vacation."

"I see... Then when will they be back?"

"Hmm, next week?"

Ashley, who had spoken absentmindedly, added,

"They prepared enough food for a few days before they left, so if we run out, we can just order delivery or eat out."

"I see."

That was all Koi said, but he couldn't help thinking, Eating isn’t the only important thing. It wasn’t hard to imagine Ashley sitting alone in this vast mansion, reheating food and eating dinner by himself.

"...I know what that’s like."

"Hm?"

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Koi had muttered under his breath, but he quickly shook his head.

"No, it's nothing."

Of course, Ashley and he were nothing alike. Ashley was Koi’s only friend, while Koi spent his days either at school or rushing between part-time jobs. At night, he worked on assignments under the flickering light of a cheap, outdated motorhome, all while trying to avoid his drunk father. He would lie on a thin mattress, holding his breath and pretending to sleep. How could they be the same?

But somehow, it didn’t matter. At least right now, in this moment, he was happy. He decided to forget about the exam he had messed up—just for today.

"Then, when they’re not on vacation, when do they usually come?"

When Koi asked again, Ashley answered,

"When I’m not here."

"Why?"

Ashley responded easily, as if explaining something trivial.

"Because avoiding me as much as possible is part of their contract."

"Huh? Why is that?"

Koi was caught off guard by the unexpected reason and asked again in surprise. Ashley, once again, answered casually.

"My father values his privacy a lot."

Koi still didn’t understand, but he didn’t ask further. There were all kinds of people in the world, and just as many ways to live. No matter how much Ashley explained, Koi would never fully grasp the lifestyle of the wealthy.

"So, do they just prepare meals and leave them for you?"

Koi asked as he followed Ashley toward the kitchen. Ashley opened the refrigerator and glanced inside as he replied.

"For the most part. If I want something specific, I can leave a note or ask my father’s secretary to arrange it."

"I see..."

Koi murmured quietly. At school, Ashley didn’t seem much different from the other students, but outside of it, the difference was striking. This was his second time in the mansion, and yet, he still wasn’t used to its overwhelming size. Feeling a sudden sense of intimidation, he trailed behind Ashley.

"Let’s eat dinner first."

"Okay."

Ashley turned back to look at him as he spoke, and Koi readily nodded, following him into the kitchen.

Unlike the kitchen on the second floor, the main kitchen, designed for formal dining, was as vast as the mansion itself. There were four refrigerators, each of a different design, suggesting they had separate functions. Koi never would have imagined a house where someone lived alone—essentially—needed so many refrigerators.

Then again, to fill a kitchen this large, maybe four refrigerators were completely reasonable. Along with the ovens built into the wall, the counters were enormous, and the neatly arranged cooking utensils and vast collection of knives looked more like a professional restaurant’s kitchen. Even to Koi, who knew little about such things, it was obvious that everything here was outrageously expensive.

"Wow..."

Koi let out a quiet exclamation as he admired the pristine kitchen. Then, noticing Ashley standing by the fridge, checking its contents, he quickly approached.

"I’ll help."

Without turning around, Ashley handed him a plate. It was wrapped in plastic, and a large, pre-seasoned chicken sat on it.

"Into the oven, 250 degrees for 30 minutes."

Ashley read aloud the instructions written on a sticky note attached to the wrap.

"Put it in now. I’ll bake everything together."

"Okay."

Koi, who had been unsure how to use the unfamiliar oven, felt relieved and nodded.

Ashley took out several more dishes after that. He operated the oven effortlessly, pressing the buttons with practiced ease, then returned to the fridge to check the rest of the food while waiting for it to preheat.

"What kind of salad do you want? Shrimp and avocado? Salmon and lettuce? Or chicken?"

"Uh..."

Koi hesitated, unsure of what to choose. Before he could decide, Ashley pulled out all three and placed them on the cart.

Koi found himself trailing behind Ashley, tilting his head as he watched him move. He would raise his arms as if to help but then lower them again, realizing there was nothing for him to do.

Whenever he tried to take out the tableware, standing on tiptoe to reach, Ashley would swiftly grab it and set it down. If he looked around for forks and knives, Ashley would stride over, open one of the countless drawers, and take out exactly the right number.

When Ashley started pulling out five different salad dressing bottles, Koi finally thought he had found a way to be useful.

"Oh."

Koi had been preparing to take them from Ashley, but instead, he watched in astonishment as Ashley turned around, holding three bottles in one hand and two in the other.

So that’s how you hold them... by the neck of the bottles.

Ashley casually placed the bottles on the cart, his long, strong fingers easily gripping them. Koi let out a small sigh.

At that moment, the oven beeped, signaling that it was preheated. But even that task fell to Ashley.

I really am no help to Ash at all...