L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 175

“H-Hello?”

Koi’s voice came out cracked, so he quickly cleared his throat. Ashley immediately asked,

— Are you okay?

“Oh? Yeah. My throat’s just a little dry.”

When Koi answered honestly, Ashley paused for a second before speaking again.

— I meant your body. Are you okay?

“Oh.”

Realizing what he meant, Koi blushed and nodded to himself.

“Um... Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks.”

Koi slapped his forehead with his palm. Idiot! Why would you say thanks?!

He must’ve made a loud smacking sound, because Ashley’s suspicious voice followed.

— What’s that? What are you doing? 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

“Huh? Oh, nothing. Really, it’s nothing!”

He repeated it like a reflex, and Ashley didn’t press any further, simply changing the subject.

— I spoke with your boss. He said he’d contact you directly. Did he?

“Oh, yeah. He sent me a message. Thanks.”

This time, Koi answered properly.

As he said it, he suddenly remembered that it was only yesterday that he’d spoken to Ashley about the paycheck issue.

And yet Ashley had already taken care of it this morning, in just a few hours.

“That was... so fast...”

Koi murmured without thinking.

The phrase ‘Eastern District’s top attorney’ suddenly flashed through his mind—

Along with the ridiculous price tag attached to Ashley’s legal fees.

Ashley responded to his dazed voice,

— It was just a phone call. That’s all it took.

Even with a smile in his voice, Koi couldn’t help but be stunned.

What had seemed like an overwhelming problem to him had been resolved by Ashley like it was nothing.

“...I guess that’s why everyone says you’re the best.”

Ashley’s reply was sharp and clear, in contrast to Koi’s fuzzy tone.

— I’m a lawyer. Convincing people is literally my job.

At those confident words, Koi felt his heart thud, hard.

“You’re amazing, Ash...”

The words came out dreamy, like a sigh.

Ashley laughed out loud on the other end.

He sounded happy, and that made Koi relax.

With a smile still lingering in his voice, Ashley asked,

— Have you eaten? There should be sandwiches in the fridge. If you need anything, press the intercom and ask the front desk. They’ll bring it to you.

“Oh, okay. Thanks. What about you? Did you eat?”

It was already afternoon.

Koi glanced at the clock on the wall as he asked. Ashley answered,

— My secretary’s preparing something. I’ll eat during the meeting.

“Oh...”

So he had taken a break between meetings just to call Koi.

Realizing that Ashley had tried calling him multiple times despite being busy made Koi feel a little guilty.

“You must be busy... I’ll let you go. Thanks for checking in.”

— Don’t mention it. I just wanted to make sure you got the message.

Right... that message.

Ashley’s words reminded Koi of what he’d nearly forgotten.

Just as they were about to end the call, Ashley said his name.

— Koi.

“Y-Yeah?”

Koi quickly brought the phone back to his ear as Ashley continued.

— I’ll be home early tonight. Try not to be bored, okay?

“Mm, don’t worry... Um, what time do you think?”

Koi asked as he glanced at the clock again.

Ashley answered casually.

— Maybe around eight?

That was a relief.

Just as Koi was about to say goodbye, Ashley added,

— Koi, don’t go out today. Stay home and rest. Okay?

“...Okay.”

Koi ended the call and let out a long sigh.

He checked the message again.

Ashley had just asked him to stay home.

But Koi couldn’t comply.

This is something I need to handle myself.

He stood up without delay and quickly got ready to go out.

〈Okay?〉

Just as he pressed the elevator button, that phrase echoed in his head.

Why had Ashley asked instead of just telling him?

Koi tilted his head in confusion, but at that moment, the elevator arrived.

He stepped inside without thinking any further.

*

Retracing the path he’d only taken once before was harder than expected.

Koi hadn’t wanted to, but he ended up calling his boss to get the address again.

After a bus, several subway transfers, and even hitchhiking, he finally arrived at his destination.

[You’ll get paid. But first, go retrieve the company truck you abandoned. If you don’t, I’ll deduct the cost from your paycheck.]

Remembering his boss’s message, Koi took a deep breath.

The mansion in front of him looked just as it had before.

Even the multiple luxury cars parked carelessly out front were still there.

The company truck, however, was nowhere to be seen.

Koi braced himself and pressed the doorbell.

A thin, monotone chime echoed through the property.

After a moment, a man—likely a house staff member—opened the door.

“Yes? Can I help you?”

He looked Koi up and down with suspicion.

Koi quickly recited what he had prepared.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“Hi, um... I came here for a repair job before, but there was an accident, and I ended up at the police station. I left the truck here, so I came to get it.”

The man tilted his head, then stepped back.

“Come in. I’ll check on it.”

Koi thanked him and stepped into the foyer.

The man disappeared down a hallway, leaving Koi alone.

Koi anxiously looked around.

When he checked the time, he realized it was already much later than expected.

If he didn’t make it home before Ashley got back, it might cause unnecessary worry.

〈Okay?〉

Ashley’s words returned again, making Koi fidget nervously.

Just then, he heard footsteps approaching.

He swallowed hard and turned his head—and saw exactly who he feared.

Nelson.

He looked like he’d just gotten out of bed, wearing a rumpled robe over pajamas, his few remaining hairs a tangled mess.

Koi felt his ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ face go stiff as he waited for Nelson to approach.

“Hey, loser.”

Nelson grinned with that same sneer Koi remembered far too well.

The man from earlier, seeing Nelson and Koi seemed to know each other, quickly took the hint and disappeared.

Koi caught a glimpse of him leaving, then turned back to Nelson, who kept smirking.

“You’ve got some nerve, showing your face here. What, you forget your place?”

“I-I just came to get the truck...”

No matter how hard he tried, his voice stuttered and his body shook.

Even though he was now taller than Nelson, it gave him no courage.

In an instant, he was Connor Niles again—Ashley’s little brother, Nelson’s favorite punching bag.

He clenched his fists to encourage himself, but to Nelson, he was nothing more than a former classmate, a convenient human punching bag.

“You worthless piece of shit.”

Nelson kicked him in the shin.

It wasn’t hard—he was wearing slippers—but Koi wasn’t prepared and stumbled.

Nelson cackled at the sight.

“A guy who works with sewage thinks he can run his mouth around me? You think I forgot who I am?”

“I—I know.”

Koi mumbled, rubbing his shin awkwardly.

Nelson looked pleased.

“You should’ve groveled if you didn’t want another beating. Huh? I should just—”

He raised his hand dramatically.

Koi instinctively flinched, covering his head with his arms.

Nelson’s laugh—shrill and grating—echoed through the room.

He doubled over, clutching his stomach as he laughed, then nudged Koi’s leg with his foot.

“Hey. Get down.”

“Huh?”

“Crawl. On all fours. And squeal like a pig.”

It was something Nelson had made him do in high school more times than he could count.

Even after ten years, the memory remained painfully vivid.

Koi’s face went pale, but he couldn’t resist.

His body froze, and he was terrified Nelson wouldn’t return the truck if he refused.

I have to get out of here.

This wasn’t like last time. Now they were alone.

Koi told himself he could fight back if it got bad.

But the truth was—he didn’t have the courage.

He chose the surest, easiest route.

Crawling between his legs... What does it even matter?

Koi forced his stiff limbs to move and dropped to his hands and knees.

Nelson watched with a wide, gleeful grin.

Koi moved forward like a dog—one step at a time.

Just as his head passed Nelson’s legs, Nelson burst out laughing again.

“Figures. Anyone who hangs around a freak like Ashley must be a freak too.”

Koi froze.

Nelson didn’t notice.

He just kept ranting, laughing.

“Doesn’t matter how much he acts like he’s all that—he’s still a loser. Just like you. What kind of weirdo hangs out with a pig crawling on the floor? What, does he squeal like a pig too?”

He snorted. “Oink oink!”

That laugh. That sound.

It all piled up in Koi’s ears.

He clenched his fists.

The pig noises, the mocking laughter—all of it mashed together and boiled in his head.

He couldn’t take it.

Koi grabbed Nelson’s leg and yanked it hard.

“Wha—?!”

Nelson made a weird noise as he stumbled backward.

With a loud crash, he fell in a heap on the floor.

Koi stood up and shouted,

“Don’t you dare insult Ash!”