L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 174

Startled, Koi shook his head quickly, denying it.

“Ah, no—no, it’s not like that. Really, it’s not.”

— Then what? Why did it end up like that all of a sudden? Tell me what happened yesterday. Everything. Don’t skip a single detail!

Pressed by Ariel’s sharp and icy voice, Koi began to speak in hesitant pieces.

Every time he tried to gloss over something, Ariel immediately scolded him and threatened him into being honest.

In the end, Koi ended up recounting everything—down to what they each ate for dinner.

But once he got to the part where the two of them ended up having sex, he couldn’t continue.

His face flushed hot, his heart pounded, and his hands and feet tingled—he couldn’t even think straight.

Sensing his hesitation, Ariel spoke first.

— So he pounced on you. That’s what happened, isn’t it?

“N-No! No, it’s not like that.”

Koi panicked and scrambled to explain.

“It’s just... things kind of happened that way. You know, the mood was like that...”

His voice trailed off to a murmur as he added, “You know what I mean?”

But Ariel didn’t spare him.

— The mood probably swept you up. That bastard’s not the type to get carried away.

“That’s not true. Ash felt the same. We both did. You know he sees me as a friend.”

Koi insisted, trying to deny Ariel’s words, but she didn’t seem to take him seriously.

What mattered now was what came next.

Koi had walked straight into Ashley’s den of his own free will, but still—she never thought that bastard would go that far.

To jump on Koi the second he entered his place?

I let my guard down.

Ariel ground her teeth, deep in thought.

People never change.

She’d held out hope because Ashley had never gone beyond kissing while they dated, but now—he'd burned through every stage in a single night.

The only saving grace was that Koi genuinely believed they were still just friends.

At least he kept his promise to Ariel.

There was still time.

It was just sex—nothing more yet.

What was strange was that Koi, a Beta, had managed to have sex with a Peak Alpha.

Ariel was curious, of course, but asking about the details of the act would’ve been too much—and frankly, a bit perverse.

She had no intention of humiliating Koi with that kind of question.

Besides, he didn’t sound traumatized, so Ashley must’ve held back to some degree.

If done right, sex between a Beta and an Alpha wasn’t impossible.

What mattered was what happens next.

Ariel kept her thoughts cool and strategic.

Should she wait and observe for now?

Koi was firmly convinced their relationship was a friendship, so there wasn’t any urgent need to act.

First, she needed to find out what Ashley was thinking.

— Koi, let me make one thing clear: friends don’t have sex.

Koi didn’t answer right away.

Sensing the odd pause, Ariel’s tone sharpened.

— Why aren’t you answering?

“W-Well, it’s just...”

He hesitated, then spoke carefully.

“You and Bill did it...”

This little shit.

If Koi were in front of her right now, she would’ve grabbed him by the collar and shaken him.

We’re not like you! Are you serious??

But she couldn’t point out the difference.

Sure, it had happened with her and Bill, but there had already been mutual feelings—

And the sex had just made it official.

They didn’t pretend to be just friends.

Still, telling Koi that now would only open up dangerous possibilities.

Just because they had sex didn’t mean they were dating.

Ariel took a deep breath and replied firmly.

— You did everything I told you to, right?

“Yeah. Ash thinks I’ve dated a bunch before. When I said I’d slept with Alphas, he believed me.”

As if he believed that.

Koi sounded confident, but Ariel had to take another deep breath to keep from exploding.

It might’ve worked before they slept together—but now that they had, that plan was done for.

Time to switch to Plan B.

— Koi, how long are you planning to stay there? Did Ash say anything about it?

Koi thought for a moment.

“Uh... probably until I get paid?”

— Then ask for it as soon as possible. He knows you’re broke, so just be honest. Tell him you don’t even have enough for rent.

“Okay.”

Koi ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) replied obediently.

He didn’t have any pride or dignity left to protect anyway.

Ariel went on.

— And once you get paid, you owe me and Ash dinner. If you take us separately, you’ll end up paying twice. Let’s all meet together.

“O-Oh, yeah. Of course. I was thinking that too.”

Since the money came thanks to both of them, it only made sense to treat them.

Still, something tugged at his conscience.

“Um... are you really okay with that? Meeting Ash, I mean...”

— It’s fine. We’ll just reminisce about the old days.

Her easy tone eased Koi’s nerves.

He was genuinely touched.

Ariel had put aside her feelings for Ashley—for Koi’s sake. That was true friendship.

“Thanks, Al. I really mean it. I’m always grateful.”

— Yeah, yeah. Just don’t overdo it. Unless you want to end up in the ER after sex.

Her final warning made Koi’s face go red and his mouth drop open in disbelief.

He hesitated, then mumbled,

“I thought you’d tell me not to sleep with Ash again...”

Ariel snorted.

— Even if I said that, would you stop? You’re going to sleep with him again, aren’t you?

Koi couldn’t answer.

Ariel sighed.

Just as I thought.

Koi still liked that bastard.

This was a chance—and he wasn’t about to let it slip.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

She didn’t know what Ashley was thinking, but if things went badly and they ended up dating, Koi had to hold the upper hand.

There was no way she’d let that arrogant bastard have the upper position in their relationship.

The problem was—

Koi didn’t know how to play games.

He couldn’t lie to save his life, and he wore his heart on his sleeve.

There was no way he’d be able to manipulate someone in love.

Ariel knew that well.

That’s why she took a different route.

— What about Sara? You flaked on your promise to meet her last time. Planning to see her again?

“Oh—of course. I’d like to see her again. Once I get paid...”

Koi answered quickly.

Ariel softened her voice.

— Then send her a message. If you don’t say anything, she’ll get the wrong idea. Just tell her you’ve been busy and ask when she’s free.

As Koi tried to say he couldn’t meet her just yet, Ariel added:

— You don’t need money to go on a date. Ask Ash—he’s a local. He probably knows all the spots. He must’ve dated a lot before meeting you.

She let that slip on purpose.

Did Koi know Ashley had almost gotten married?

“...Y-Yeah. I’m sure.”

He answered slowly.

“I’m sure he dated other people too, of course...”

The hazy way he mumbled it told Ariel he still didn’t know.

She made a mental note to save that card for later and changed the subject.

— Anyway, don’t forget to message Sara. I introduced you two, and Garrett’s involved too, so don’t make me look bad.

“Of course. I’m sorry, again...”

— It’s fine. Let’s talk again tomorrow.

Koi nodded quickly.

“Y-Yeah. Okay.”

Just then, a message notification went off.

After ending the call, Koi checked his phone.

Three missed calls.

All from Ashley.

Before calling back, he checked the other new message—and his eyes widened.

It was from his boss.

Heart pounding, Koi took a deep breath and opened the message.

His face lit up... then froze in confusion.

He read the message over and over again, frowning as he fell into thought.

What do I do...

He pressed his fingers against his furrowed brow, thinking it through.

There was no other way.

He’d just have to do it.

He had made up his mind—

When suddenly the phone rang again.

Startled, Koi checked the screen and groaned.

“...Ah...”

It was Ashley.