Chapter 408: Chapter 408: Beauty Rescues Beauty
Jensen Hayes just lacks experience in love, not common sense.
He knows very well what’s happening to him.
If his initial attraction to Ashley Shaw was due to her appearance, the encouraging words she spoke later directly touched his heart.
There was a voice in his heart telling him that the person he’s been waiting for is Ashley Shaw.
Two minutes later, Jensen Hayes finally thought of a topic.
"You and your friend, two young girls traveling to Aethelgard together, won’t your parents worry?"
Ashley’s voice was calm as she replied, "My dad passed away before I was born, and my mom also passed away last year due to illness."
Jensen Hayes felt a lump in his throat and immediate regret.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t know..."
"It’s okay." Ashley smiled slightly: "It’s all in the past now."
Jensen was at a loss for words, so he simply repeated, "I’m sorry."
Ashley noticed Jensen’s eyes full of guilt and regret, and couldn’t help but lighten her tone.
"During the hardest times, I did feel like living was meaningless, but after getting through those days, it seemed like it wasn’t that hard after all. It doesn’t matter now; I’m sure my mom wishes for me to live well and happy from above."
Jensen truly hadn’t expected Ashley Shaw to have gone through such hardship.
He thought someone as warm as her must come from a warm family.
Yet, she had no family at all.
After experiencing a wave of sourness in his throat, a certain emotion inside him grew even stronger.
He suddenly had an unprecedented desire to take care of someone.
Ashley wasn’t aware of Jensen’s thoughts, she just didn’t want him to feel awkward and regretful.
She quickly changed the topic, bringing up the police academy, asking if the guys there are all particularly handsome and the girls particularly valiant.
Jensen felt a bit sour hearing this.
But he quickly realized something: Ashley asking this means she’s single, no boyfriend!
It was as if a beam of light shone into his heart, making his already bright eyes sparkle even more.
"Would you believe me if I said I was the most handsome?" Usually a very straight-laced person who didn’t joke, he made a rare attempt today.
Ashley smiled slightly and said, "I believe you, my friend said you look very righteous! Very handsome!"
"What about you?" he blurted out.
Ashley was briefly taken aback but quickly said naturally, "Of course I think so too, you perfectly fit my image of a guardian of the people."
When it came to the police profession, Jensen couldn’t stop talking.
Ashley cooperated as well, nodding and agreeing from time to time.
Out of curiosity, Ashley later asked him, "Why do you want to be a police officer so much?"
Jensen shared a story.
A seven-year-old child, abducted to a village, was finally rescued by the police.
Ashley was stunned and turned to look at Jensen beside her.
"That seven-year-old child wouldn’t happen to be you, right?"
Jensen nodded.
Ashley’s eyes widened even more.
Jensen, however, smiled.
"Actually, I don’t quite remember what exactly happened back then, nor do I recall my feelings at the time, but I always remember the appearance of the policeman who carried me out of the village. He was really... impressive. Seeing him, I felt like I had nothing to fear, nothing to worry about."
"No wonder you want to be a police officer."
"Yes, but the funny thing is, that policeman later had a conflict with his superior and was unjustly imprisoned..."
Ashley was momentarily shocked and suddenly understood why Jensen wants to be a good police officer who can change the profession.
"You will definitely achieve your dream."
"Hmm!"
Afterward, they both fell silent, but Jensen suddenly felt that such silence was wonderful too.
Or to put it another way, being with her, even if saying nothing or doing nothing, was great.
Amidst unawkward tranquility, the car arrived at the restaurant entrance.
The architectural style of this restaurant was similar to that of Aethelgard Temple. If not paying attention, one might mistake it as part of the temple.
But the downside was that there was no parking lot, so parking had to be done over 200 meters away at the scenic area parking lot.
Jensen Hayes pressed the brakes at the restaurant entrance and said to Ashley Shaw, "You go ahead, the private room is called ’Bamboo Grove.’ I’ll join you after parking the car."
"Alright."
Ashley opened the car door and got out, watching as the car drove away. Just as she was about to enter the restaurant, she heard a malicious voice echo.
"Hey beautiful, smoking alone? Want some company?"
Ashley instinctively turned her head and saw a pretty girl with brown curls surrounded by three men in a small alley.
The pretty girl had a slender figure, dressed in a black bodycon leather skirt and a striped shirt tied with a bow, holding a slim woman’s cigarette – a fashion-forward young lady.
The girl instinctively showed a look of disgust and coldly spat out, "Get lost!"
Seeing this, the three men seemed even more excited.
"I like that fiery temper of yours."
"Hey beautiful, what’s so good about those lady cigarettes? Want to try one of mine?"
The man pulled out an expensive cigar to show off his status.
The girl sneered in disdain, "Even the servants at my house don’t smoke your cigars."
The man’s face changed, clearly losing face, and he was displeased.
"Bitch, don’t be ungrateful. It’s your fortune that I fancy you!"
Ashley witnessed the scene and then turned to walk towards the restaurant.
When she returned, a group of tall restaurant staff were following her.
Ashley led the way, pointing expressionlessly at the three men, "It’s them, harassing my friend."
The waitstaff quickly approached to engage with the three men.
Perhaps feeling guilty, and seeing that Ashley’s side had more people, the three men quickly fled.
The girl still trembled with residual fear and stepped forward to thank Ashley.
"Thank you..."
She saw Ashley earlier with the corner of her eye but thought she didn’t want to get involved when she turned away.
Unexpectedly, she had just gone to get help.
Feeling grateful and a bit guilty for misunderstanding Ashley, she was also somewhat embarrassed.
"It’s nothing, just a small effort." Ashley paused and added, "I’m worried these guys might come back, would you like to wait inside the restaurant with me for a while?"
The girl saw Ashley pointing to the nearby restaurant and quickly said, "You’re dining at this restaurant too? I also have a reservation."
"Great, let’s go in together."
"Sure."
The two of them went inside the restaurant with the waitstaff, thanked them, and then simultaneously inquired about directions to their reserved private rooms.
"May I ask the names of the private rooms you two reserved? We’ll lead you there."
Ashley: "Bamboo Grove."
Girl: "Bamboo Grove."