Chapter 628: Chapter 628: Extra Five: Ink Dot Plum Scent (Part Three)

Returning to the room.

Ashley Smith closed the door and leaned against it in the dark room, feeling her racing heartbeat and her gradually warm skin.

Night is best at hiding everything, and it is only in the night that she is truly herself.

Only then does she dare to open herself up and face her heart directly.

…

At 5 o’clock the next day, the door to the guest room opened, and Ashley’s head peeked out, looking left and right, seeing no one.

She quickly squatted down, came out of the room, quietly closed the door, and then walked to the railing, secretly looking at the living room downstairs.

No one.

Ashley Smith immediately got up and ran downstairs quickly.

Just as she was about to change her shoes at the entrance, the collar of her back was caught.

Ashley Smith stiffened and dared not move.

“What are you up to? Trying to run?” said William Lane.

Ashley Smith turned around with a smile, “How could I? I just have morning practice, so I want to go early.”

“Morning practice starts at seven o’clock, and it’s five o’clock now.” William Lane looked at her, observing her reaction.

“I… I… I’m just more diligent and hardworking.” Ashley Smith took a step back.

“If you’re so diligent, don’t work part-time anymore.” William Lane said, “Concentrate on practicing your dance.”

Ashley Smith’s mouth twitched, “If I don’t work, I’ll have to drink the northwest wind.”

Sophie Ortiz really liked her and was willing to take her with her during performances, but she had to go to school and didn’t have much time and energy. So she had fewer performances.

When there were no performances for the Dance Association, the monthly salary was only enough for her to rent a one-bedroom apartment of around fifty square meters near the Imperial Capital.

Food, clothing, and school fees all cost money. Without a part-time job, the northwest wind would eventually be drunk up by her one day.

William Lane looked at her.

Ashley Smith understood his meaning, “I don’t want your money. I can work with my own hands and feet and earn it myself. Once I graduate, I’ll have more time for performances, and I’ll be able to earn more.”

“I’ll send you to study abroad.” William Lane said, “I’ll go with you.”

“No.” Ashley Smith immediately refuted, “What I want, I will strive for myself. Besides, I don’t like foreign countries. I feel much safer in my own country.”

Regarding this matter, William Lane was really a bit out of tricks with her.

“I, I won’t go to the coffee shop anymore.” said Ashley Smith, “I will find a new job on my own. I don’t need your help. I can find one myself.”

“Don’t you like me helping you at all?” asked William Lane.

Ashley Smith pursed her lips, whispering, “I don’t like it.”

“Then I’ll lend you money and charge interest.” William Lane backed down, “Can you pay me back when you start working one year after graduation?”

“There’s interest?”

William Lane: “……No interest.”

“No.” Ashley Smith shook her head.

“Ashley Smith.” William Lane was about to be killed by her anger.

Ashley Smith shrank her neck.

William Lane sighed, “Forget it, let’s eat first.”

“Oh! You made breakfast so early?” asked Ashley Smith, “Did Aunt get up so early?”

“I made it.”

“You made it?” Ashley Smith stopped, worried that she might get food poisoning. “Well, well… I don’t think I’m very hungry either. You, you eat by yourself.”

William Lane didn’t care about her, one arm wrapped around her waist.

Ashley Smith was ushered to the dining room with both feet off the ground by William Lane’s arm and thrown onto a chair.

“Eat.”

Ashley Smith pouted and reluctantly picked up her chopsticks.

What gentleness and warmth are all just disguises on that face.

His temper is worse than anyone else’s.

…

Ashley Smith didn’t go to the coffee shop for a long time after that and didn’t have a part-time job for a while.

Because she had to train in the Dance Association and because she was in the self-taught Imperial Capital Institute of Technology, she could only attend classes on weekends and occasionally in the evenings. Therefore, she couldn’t find a suitable part-time job for the time being.

And William Lane still picked her up every evening as long as he had time.

Ashley Smith never missed a chance to refuse, and William Lane never missed a chance to be refused but still come to pick her up.

One evening, William Lane finished his work at the Research Institute, went back to Lane’s company to handle some matters, and then went to the school to pick up Ashley Smith, who had a night class.

As he was about to approach the school entrance, William Lane saw Ashley Smith talking to a boy at the entrance.

So he stopped the car not far away and didn’t go over.

At the school entrance, Ashley Smith looked at the boy who was a head taller than her and asked after a while, “Isn’t it still early for the start of school? Why are you here so early?”

“Hmm, I’m working part-time during the summer vacation.” The boy looked a lot like Ashley Smith, only his looks were more aggressive, “I had the day off today, so I came to see you. Don’t worry, Dad…he doesn’t know, I asked Big Sister how to get here.”

“You’re not an adult yet.” Ashley Smith said.

“I am on my ID card.”

Her younger brother was three years younger than her, seventeen years old. But when he registered his residence, his age was mistakenly filled as one year older than his actual age.

Ashley Smith: “…… Are you tired?”

The boy shook his head, then took an envelope out of his pocket, “Sister, this is my salary last month, for you.”

Ashley Smith looked at the envelope and noticed a bit of bandage exposed on her brother’s wrist.

She frowned and grabbed his wrist, “How did you get hurt?”

“It’s nothing.” The boy pulled down his sleeve to cover it, “I just accidentally got hurt while working. It’s been taken care of, it’s fine, don’t worry.”

Ashley Smith pulled up his sleeve to take a look.

The bandage was wrapped very thickly, but she couldn’t see any injuries, “Are you really okay?”

“I’m fine,” the boy said, “It’s almost healed.”

Ashley Smith frowned, looking at the envelope again. It was thick, and there must be at least 20,000 yuan in it. “What kind of job are you doing? You earn so much in a month?”

“A construction site.” The boy pushed the envelope forward again, “Sister, take it.”

“No need, you keep it,” Ashley Smith let go of his wrist, “There are many things to buy for the start of school, and money is needed in many places. Consumption in the Imperial Capital is very high.”

“Sister…”

“Daniel, he is him, and you are you. The money is taken by him, and even if I return his favor, it has nothing to do with you,” Ashley Smith said, “There’s no need to be wronged for someone else.”

“Sister…”

“Alright. Have you eaten?” Ashley Smith pulled at his clothes and stuffed the money back into his pocket.

“I already ate.”

“Where are you staying?” Ashley Smith started to work part-time and make money in the town near their hometown since she was fourteen, so she hasn’t lived with them for many years. Although there is familiarity, there is more estrangement.

“I’m going back to the dormitory on site,” said Daniel Harrisonbless.

“Is it far? I’ll call a car for you.”

“No need, I have a friend nearby, I’ll go find him and go back with him,” said Daniel Harrisonbless.

“Hmm.”

Daniel Harrisonbless stood for a while, then said, “Sis, I’m leaving.”

“Hmm.” Ashley Smith said, then continued, “Daniel, be careful and take care of yourself. School is starting soon, focus on your studies.”

“I know, sis,” Daniel Harrisonbless smiled, “Don’t worry.”