Moments later, Dylan was bent over at the side of the flat-screen, his hands navigating the wires poking out of the back.
As he embarked on this repairing adventure, the glow of the screen flickered in protest, cutting in and out with every loose connection.
Dylan let out frequent sighs. He never signed up to be the repair man for anybody, especially for a girl who never cared for him before.
He held no outright contempt for his beautiful blonde neighbor, he was just having a difficult time understanding what was happening.
Regardless, he had agreed to help so he might as well get it over with.
Ashley sat behind him. Rather than the couch, she preferred the floor, sitting with one leg tucked under the other, wearing nothing more than a long cream-colored shirt that brushed against her thighs.
A boyfriend shirt as it was commonly called. Which wouldn't surprise Dylan at all: a girl like her would certainly have a boyfriend.
But why couldn't she have him do this?
She was chewing on something from a small bowl, watching him with open interest.
"So… do you actually know what you're doing?" she teased, her voice playful.
Dylan didn't even glance back. "I'll be done in a moment."
Ashley tightened her lips. "I didn't mean to be pushy, I'm sorry. I just don't know what else to do to spend time but talk."
Dylan paused, then looked over his shoulder.
"Your HDMI cord wasn't plugged in all the way. That's why it kept cutting off."
There was a pause. He could feel her naive mind trying to put together what he had just said and what it meant.
"What's a HDMI cord?" she asked with a tilted head, her blonde hair falling over.
Dylan, despite himself, found that slightly endearing. Sometimes there wasn't a very clear line between being cute and being dumb.
Ashley could be any.
"It's the cord that connects your TV to whatever device that it sources media from. Like a cable, a router, or a gaming console."
Ashley pursed her lips. "...Seriously? That's it? Just a loose wire?"
Dylan shrugged. He turned around and tightened the cable and the screen lit up perfectly, showing an ad for one of the upcoming shows.
"Yes! You're awesome, Dylan!" Ashley exclaimed, pushing her hands into the air in jubilation.
He looked at her and chuckled nervously. "Like I said, it was just your HDMI cord. Not a big deal."
"Well, all I could do was turn it on and off so you deserve some praise." Ashley gave him a warm smile, her entire sunlight face glowing.
Dylan could feel himself staring. He snapped out of it quickly.
"Well, next time check the HDMI cord before dragging me in here," he muttered, rising to his feet, preparing to leave.
Ashley laughed, unbothered by his flat tone. "Okay, maybe I'm not the best with tech, but thanks, Mr. Fix-It."
Dylan brushed his palms against his trousers, looking around her apartment.
He hadn't really noticed it earlier but taking a clearer look at the place, it was obvious that Ashley was very rich.
Not merely like the other residents, she was way wealthier. She had to be, considering the quality of furniture and interior design that filled the place.
There was a lot of pink and yellow, and everything was mostly designer; glossy hardwood floors, a small chandelier of flower bulbs dangling above the dining table.
She had made sure everything had a girly touch: pastel throw pillows, candles on the shelf, flower vases neatly arranged in every corner.
Only someone with lots of expendable money could afford that amount of customization in an apartment that they would likely not live in forever.
Compared to his minimalistic apartment, hers had flavor and personality.
"You can sit if you want," Ashley said, sliding a plate toward the empty space beside her. "I made plenty. Don't tell me you're gonna run away after saving my TV."
Dylan looked at the plate of chips, then at her. "I have to get back. I have some… work to do."
"Oh come on. My show isn't on for a few hours at least. We've been neighbors for months now, don't you think it's time we became friends?"
Dylan raised his brow at that. Why was she trying to be friends now?
He hesitated. His mind itched to return to his room, to peel through the System and study his stats, his quests, his power.
That mattered more than small talk. But then again, she was smiling, practically tugging him down with her eyes.
Reluctantly, he sat.
Ashley clapped once in victory and pushed the food toward him. "See? Not so hard. Eat."
Dylan picked up a chip, his brow still faintly furrowed. What the hell is she so bubbly for?
Nobody talks to me like this. Nobody smiles at me like this.
What is her deal really?
Regardless of his suspicions, Dylan found himself enjoying his time with her. At least, it was better than spending the evening alone.
They ate. Even after the chips, she returned with pasta, cream sauce and bread, nothing he'd normally bother with but surprisingly good.
Between bites, Ashley pulled out a deck of cards, insisting on a game. Dylan barely remembered the rules, but she explained everything with bright patience, shuffling with quick fingers.
Soon, the apartment was filled with her laughter. She talked easily, spilling out pieces of her life like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Her conversation ranged from graduating from Kibou Business University, to friends who wanted to move abroad, and late nights out she already missed.
Even her plans to travel and build a cryptocurrency on her own.
Dylan realized in time that Ashley was cute, not dumb. Some people just didn't know anything about electric appliances, and that was okay.
After all, he didn't know the first thing about sewing, so who was he to judge?
He found himself listening in silence. It wasn't unusual for him to be silent, but this time he had a reason to be:
He enjoyed hearing her talk.
As they played the cards and he won every round of a game he just learnt an hour ago, she would laugh and jerk him slightly.
She had a very sweet, soothing laughter.
All of this was surprising and alien to Dylan. He couldn't remember the last time someone had just… spoken to him like this.
Then she mentioned something that made him pause mid-card.
"My mom's always too busy with work," Ashley said with a shrug. "I guess running a big company like Sunlight Group is really tasking. I don't want to push her."
Dylan narrowed his eyes. 'Running? Did she just say running?'
His heart skipped for a moment. How come he never thought to ask her who her mother actually was?
He looked at her and asked plainly. "Ashley, who is your mother exactly?"
Ashley's brows raised. "Oh. Natalie Preston. You know her right?"
Dylan's entire body stiffened. "…Natalie Preston?"
Ashley blinked at him, her mouth full of bread. "Yeah."
"She's the CEO of the company. The boss of all my bosses," he said, as though he was talking about Voldemort.
Ashley furrowed her brow with playful confusion. "You look so scared."
Dylan leaned back against the couch, his fork clattering softly against the plate.
Natalie Preston was ruthless, basically untouchable. She was one of the most feared people in Kibou City as a whole, not just Sunlight Group.
Her control stretched out of the city as well, and also in Japan. The entire corporate world knew her.
Even Diana Miller, with all her venom, lowered her eyes in the CEO's presence.
And here was her daughter. Sitting across from him. Smiling at him.
Dylan's first instinct was sharp and immediate: This is dangerous. He had even earlier been considering making her a Bride Target since she was so interested in him, but now…
He drew back slightly, his voice rougher. "Maybe this was a bad idea."
Ashley tilted her head, strands of blond hair falling over her shoulder. "Why?"
"Your mother is the CEO," Dylan said flatly. "If she sees me, her employee hanging with her daughter, do you know how much scrutiny that brings? I'll have her eyes on me at the company. That's not something I want."
Ashley rolled her eyes lightly, a smile still tugging her lips. "You don't have to be afraid. I can handle my mother. What's wrong with us just being friends?"
He stared at her, searching for some crack in her confidence. There was none. She was either naive or fearless.
"I work in her empire for one," he muttered blandly. "And I'm already despised by enough people there. I don't want to add the CEO to that list."
Ashley's smile stretched as If she was about to cause a conspiracy.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll be coming to Sunlight Group as an intern soon anyway. So really, there's nothing to be afraid of."