"Ron, let me help you with that," Ashley said as she pointed at the suitcase beside Ron.
Ron moved the said suitcase behind him to notion that he was refusing her offer. "Let's go. My luggage
is not that heavy."
"My dear brother, you must have waited for a long time. Are you tired?" Ashley inquired, concern in her
eyes.
"Not at all! I actually just got here because the flight got delayed. I saw you as soon as I got off the
plane!" Ron replied enthusiastically.
"Well, that's great," Ashley said, smiling softly.
"Well then, come on! You haven't gone home for several years, right? I think that J City is no longer the
same city you remember. If you're curious about anything at all, please feel free to ask me," she
continued with a bright smile.
As Ashley talked to Ron, his smile became prominent on his lips, and his eyes were full of tenderness
and affection.
Being a handsome man and an attractive woman, they caught everyone's attention.
"Wow, look at them! The man is so nice to his sister!"
Her partner scornfully looked at her, amazed at her unawareness. He said, "There is no way they are
siblings! Have you seen his eyes? They are full of love and affection for her! Do you know someone
who would look at his sister like that?"
"But I heard the woman called the guy 'brother!'"
"Oh my! You literally know nothing about modern dating, don't you? That's their special term of
endearment! Also, if I remember it correctly, you also called your boyfriend brother before.
So you really don't have any excuse to be this ignorant."
Since the airport was a little noisy and Ashley had her mind fully on Ron, she didn't hear that they were
talking about them at all.
Ron, on the other hand, was different. He heard every word clearly. 'Even a stranger could tell how I'm
truly feeling. Ashley, why couldn't you do that? Why couldn't you understand how I truly feel for you?'
he thought, suddenly a little upset.
Noticing that Ashley had attracted a lot of attention, Ron turned his eyes on her, who was still smiling
brightly.
She was no longer the girl in need of his protection. She had already grown up, more beautiful and
attractive than he had ever imagined.
Soon, they went on their way and he walked after her. One would think they were a couple from the
atmosphere and tension they exuded. However, the fact was, they didn't even touch each other at all.
At one point, Ashley stopped in her tracks and raised her head to look at Ron. With a very confused
look on her face, she asked, "Ron, what's up?"
Ron smiled gently and replied, "Nothing. Let's go home."
Ashley would have stared at Ron's handsome face for a long time if she was still the girl under his
protection. Peggy and Spencer had given their best genes to him. But aside from his superior looks, he
acted like a cultured knight with the way he treated people with tenderness and kindness. No matter
where he went, everyone loved him.
Suddenly, Andrew's face came into her mind. Since she was with him now, Ashley couldn't help but
compare him with Ron. After a few moments of contemplation, she arrived at a conclusion—they were
as different as night and day.
Andrew was elegant, reserved and bossy. He was scary when he wore a poker face, especially his
eyes. People would immediately feel highly intimidated if he looked at them with his deep, dark eyes.
Ron, on the other hand, had a completely different personality.
If Andrew was as cold as ice, Ron was a man as warm as the April sun. Making people feel warm and
comfortable was his specialty.
Besides, his gentle smile worked like a medicine on people—it was able to give someone a boost and
make them feel good.
Noticing that Ashley was distracted, Ron became curious and asked, his tone teasing, "Ash, are you
okay? Is there something on my face?"
Ashley suddenly came back to her senses the moment she heard Ron's words. She looked away in
haste and answered, "What? Your face? Nothing. I...I just haven't seen you in a long time. It made me
kind of absent-minded."
'What's wrong with me? Why did I compare Ron with Andrew?
They are completely different!' Ashley thought, thoroughly annoyed with herself. 'Ah, here is the thing.'
Ashley suddenly remembered something. She looked at Ron and asked, "Ron, have you told Lena and
others that you came back today?"
Somehow, she automatically thought that everyone in the Mu family would have known that Ron was
coming home today. However, she didn't see anyone of them at the airport.
'Didn't Ron tell them? What's happening? What is this guy planning?'
Ashley looked around to make sure that indeed, there was no one from the Mu family at the airport
right then.
A naughty smile broke on Ron's lips. "Would you still come to see me if I told them and they were
here?"
"I don't think..." Ashley stopped mid-sentence. After a few seconds, she continued, "Yes, definitely! Yes,
I would! You are my brother, the best brother in the world!"
Although Ashley highly disliked Peggy and Lena, they were Ron's family. Ashley would come to meet
him, and it wouldn't matter if they were there or not.
Ron chuckled at Ashley's reaction. Then, he said, "Ashley, please stop looking around. I didn't tell them
I was coming home today. I guess that you wouldn't be here if they came to pick me up." Ron rubbed
Ashley's nose slightly.
"Oh." Ashley was surprised by what Ron just did. It made her conscious of how she was staring at him,
so she shifted her gaze elsewhere.
She really didn't want to put Ron in any kind of dilemma with his family. Peggy and Lena were his
mother and sister, and even they had done something bad to her, Ron was innocent. He was the one
who protected her all the time.
And because of that, Ashley had a clear-cut stand on who to love and who to hate.
"You know what, let's just go home," Ron said, a warm smile still on his lips.
Ashley just nodded in agreement and together, they left the airport.
The Mu family didn't send anyone to pick Ron up since he didn't tell them he would come back today.
Because of that, they decided to go home by taxi.
In a place not far from Ashley and Ron, Francis, who was in a casual suit, was talking to a sexy
woman. The woman held his arm, but he pushed it away the next moment without even thinking about
it.
He was about to leave with the woman when he saw Ashley out of the corner of his eye. Surprised, he
stopped and wondered if it really was Ashley.
The lady beside him asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Francis turned his eyes on her and replied, "Nothing. Look, I think you have to go home alone. There is
something urgent I need to deal with. I'm sorry."
Noticing that Francis was becoming more and more impatient by the minute, the woman left without
saying much to him.
Francis glanced at the direction where he thought he saw Ashley as soon as the woman left.
"That girl looks like Ashley. But why would she come here? Also, who is the guy beside her?"
Francis murmured as he stared at the backs of Ashley and Ron.
He then decided to get closer to have a better look. At that moment, Ashley suddenly turned around.
"Well, that really is Ashley," he said to himself. A sly smile appeared on his lips.
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