Chapter 123: Asher Uses the Honey Trap on Me

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Asher Uses the Honey Trap on Me

"That bastard." I cursed through gritted teeth. That Julian Fletcher was getting more and more out of line.

He treated me so badly before, and now he was trying to harm Asher.

Fuming, I was about to march to the orphanage and expose his hypocritical facade, but Asher grabbed me.

He looked at me pitifully. "Cece, they won’t be crispy anymore."

Seeing that he’d waited in line for so long just to buy them, I knew he’d be crushed if I didn’t eat them.

I finally understood why the "honey trap" was one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. That trick really worked.

He stood under the streetlight, his eyes pitiful and pleading. How could anyone refuse? It was simply impossible.

I took the fried mushrooms and had a couple of bites. They were indeed quite crispy; you could tell they had just been fried.

Asher wouldn’t have had time to go to the orphanage. This was his alibi.

"Cece, are they good?" He suddenly leaned his head in, very close to me.

The streetlight cast a dim, warm glow. My heart skipped a beat. "You... haven’t you had any?"

He suddenly kissed me, then said very seriously, "Delicious."

"..."

Honestly, my heart was beating a little fast.

When he was being this seductive, he didn’t seem like a madman at all.

I’d suspected countless times that he was just pretending to be crazy, but I had no proof.

"Ahem..." I coughed to relieve the awkwardness and looked down, continuing to eat the mushrooms.

He held out his hand to me, ready to take me home. "Cece, I think I’m sick. I still have a fever. Can you stay with me?"

’He just wouldn’t let me go out.’

The large wolf-like dog was still behind us, wagging its tail and looking up expectantly, wanting the fried mushrooms in my hand.

I gave it a piece and asked quietly, "Asher, is this your dog?"

"Mhm... When it was just a little puppy, it was abandoned on the roadside. I saved it, and it’s been following me ever since." Asher rubbed the big dog’s head. "Sometimes... dogs are more loyal than people."

I rewarded the big dog with another piece of mushroom. "This dog has such a gentle temperament."

Asher looked at me, a little surprised, then smiled. "Dogs understand people. They can see the essence of things we can’t. It knows who its master is."

I didn’t think too deeply about Asher’s words.

This big dog was always gentle and well-behaved around me, always wagging its tail. I had always thought it was a docile, non-aggressive dog.

"Cece... my hands hurt so much. I can’t get them wet." When we got back to the room to sleep, Asher suddenly created a problem.

He held out his two bandaged hands, looking at me pitifully.

’Obviously... he can’t take a shower. He’s asking me to wash him.’

’Is he really that clueless, or is he just full of tricks?’

My ears turned red, and I muttered quietly, "You don’t need to wash up. Just go to sleep..."

"No, you have to be hygienic," Asher retorted seriously.

"..." My mouth twitched. ’Dude, you were homeless for a long time, and you’re lecturing me about hygiene?’

I didn’t call him out on it. Everyone has their pride.

"Cece, it’s legal," he suddenly reminded me.

I looked up at him.

He had already taken off his shirt, revealing a firm upper body, defined muscles, nice... ahem, abs... and V-lines.

’You can’t blame me. He’s trying to seduce me with his good looks.’

He liked to wear baggy clothes that made him look tall and slim. But once the clothes came off... he was a total male siren.

"It’s legal for Cece to look at me." At this moment, he was being particularly law-abiding.

’I just wish he’d be as strict about obeying the law when it comes to murder. I hope the serial killer case really has nothing to do with him.’

"I’m dirty. Cece, help me wash." Asher reached down to take off his pants.

I quickly grabbed him. "Don’t take off your pants..."

"How can I wash if I don’t take them off?" Asher looked at me very seriously.

I took a deep breath. "Just wash with your pants on."

"I don’t want to." Asher looked down, a reluctant expression on his face.

I was helpless and couldn’t help but laugh at his antics. "Alright, you wait here. I’ll go run the bath."

He nodded obediently, but the moment I looked away, his expression darkened.

When I finished running the water and came out to call him for his bath, I thought I vaguely saw him touching my phone.

"Cece... my hands hurt so much."

I was just about to go get my phone when he said his hands hurt. Sure enough... the white gauze was soaked through with blood.

I hurriedly found the first-aid kit, changed his dressing, coaxed him into the bath, and dried his hair for him.

He was as obedient as a big puppy, quietly letting me help him.

After finally getting that little ancestor served and put to bed, I was half-dead with exhaustion myself.

The corner of his mouth lifted, and he reached out to pull me into his arms. "Cece... time to sleep."

Helpless, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was up to something.

I was just too exhausted. Lying in his arms, sleepiness washed over me.

His room always had a faint scent of sandalwood that was very comforting, making it easy to fall asleep peacefully.

I fell asleep.

In any case, since Erin Whittaker and that scumbag Julian Fletcher were just putting on a show, there was no need for me to go over.

Besides, I’d already called the police on them. It was much more useful for Zeke Shaw to go than for me.

If they were just putting on an act, Zeke Shaw would probably be chewing them out right now.

If they weren’t acting... then I hoped Zeke going there would lead to catching the murderer.

That night, I had a dream. I dreamed that Julian Fletcher was standing in front of me, covered in blood. He smiled at me... and said, "Cece, I’ve come to be with you."

I backed away in disgust, but he closed in step by step.

He said, "Cece... I’m sorry. Let me join you and our child in death, okay?"

I screamed at him, "No! Don’t you come near me! You’ll dirty the path of my reincarnation!"

His eyes were red-rimmed as he looked at me. "Cece, I’m sorry. I don’t know how to love someone. I just wanted to make you fall in love with me..."

I screamed at him, "Get out!"

I must have been struggling violently in my sleep, because it felt like I kicked something.

My eyes flew open. I was breathing hard, and my forehead was covered in sweat.

When I woke up, the sky was already bright.

I turned over, disoriented, and saw Asher sitting on the floor. Only the top of his fluffy head was visible, and his innocent eyes were looking up at me.

"I..." ’What did I do to him?’

"Cece... you kicked me," Asher said, sounding very wronged. He climbed onto the bed and grabbed my hand. "Rub it. It hurts."

He said I’d kicked him and it hurt.

He was only wearing a pair of boxer shorts, and he took my hand and placed it on his groin.

My face instantly flushed red. ’First thing in the morning, who is he trying to seduce?’

"Cece... it’s swollen," he said, looking at me pitifully, implying that I had kicked it and made it swell up.

"!?" ’Sometimes, I really want to call the police.’

’Is he playing dumb to act like a pervert, or is he really just a fool...?’

"You..." I pointed a warning finger at him. ’Don’t you pull this crap on me. I’m not falling for it.’

He suddenly leaned in obediently and bit my finger.

"..." ’What kind of move was that?’

I didn’t want to deal with him; I wanted to check my phone.

"Cece... I’m hungry." He pushed me down on the bed and started kissing me.

I suspected he was deliberately delaying me from looking at my phone, but I had no proof.

’He gets all pitiful at the slightest disagreement. What can I do?’

"Cece..." He always liked to call my name when he was aroused.

The sunlight was beautiful, streaming into the room through the sheer curtains.

I felt as if this was all a dream, but the burning heat that made my face and ears flush was a scorching stimulation to my nerves.

’I think... I must be going crazy too.’

"BUZZ!" My phone was vibrating nonstop. I reached for it in confusion. Asher tried to keep hugging me, but I pushed him away in annoyance.

’When did I put it on silent?’

The call was from an unknown number.

"Cece, where are you? It’s Madeline Quinn. Why haven’t you been answering my or Zeke Shaw’s calls? Something’s happened to Julian Fletcher!"