diff --git a/chat/ask_runtime.py b/chat/ask_runtime.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8f32db0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/chat/ask_runtime.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+"""Runtime-facing ASK helper.
+
+This tiny module is separate from chat.runtime so connector edits do not
+rewrite the large runtime file. It is the serving-side consumer of the
+ASK acquisition seam, but it does not call pass_manager, render question
+prose, or change runtime schemas.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Any
+
+from core.epistemic_disclosure.ask_acquisition import acquire_served_ask_candidate
+
+
+def maybe_apply_served_ask(
+    config: Any,
+    fallback_surface: str,
+    *,
+    contemplation_result: Any | None = None,
+    provider: Any | None = None,
+) -> str:
+    """Return a valid served ASK surface, or the original fallback surface."""
+
+    acquisition = acquire_served_ask_candidate(
+        config,
+        fallback_surface=fallback_surface,
+        contemplation_result=contemplation_result,
+        provider=provider,
+    )
+    if acquisition.decision.served:
+        return acquisition.decision.surface
+    return fallback_surface
+
+
+__all__ = ["maybe_apply_served_ask"]
diff --git a/tests/test_ask_runtime_helper.py b/tests/test_ask_runtime_helper.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6ee91d95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_ask_runtime_helper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+"""Tests for the runtime-facing ASK helper module."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import ast
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import Mock
+
+from chat.ask_runtime import maybe_apply_served_ask
+from core.config import RuntimeConfig
+
+
+class DummyTerminal:
+    def __init__(self, value: str) -> None:
+        self.value = value
+
+
+class DummyResult:
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        terminal: str,
+        *,
+        question_path: str | None = None,
+        proposal_path: str | None = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.terminal = DummyTerminal(terminal)
+        self.question_path = question_path
+        self.proposal_path = proposal_path
+
+
+def _write_question(path: Path, text: str = "How many crates are left?") -> None:
+    path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    path.write_text(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "status": "question_only",
+                "requires_review": True,
+                "served": False,
+                "answer_binding": None,
+                "question": {"text": text, "slot_name": "total_count"},
+            }
+        ),
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+
+
+def test_gate_disabled_returns_fallback_and_does_not_call_provider() -> None:
+    provider = Mock()
+    result = maybe_apply_served_ask(
+        RuntimeConfig(ask_serving_enabled=False),
+        "fallback",
+        provider=provider,
+    )
+
+    assert result == "fallback"
+    provider.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_valid_question_candidate_returns_artifact_surface(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    q_path = tmp_path / "questions" / "q.json"
+    _write_question(q_path, "How many crates are left?")
+
+    result = maybe_apply_served_ask(
+        RuntimeConfig(ask_serving_enabled=True),
+        "fallback",
+        contemplation_result=DummyResult("QUESTION_NEEDED", question_path=str(q_path)),
+    )
+
+    assert result == "How many crates are left?"
+
+
+def test_proposal_only_candidate_returns_fallback(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    p_path = tmp_path / "proposals" / "p.json"
+
+    result = maybe_apply_served_ask(
+        RuntimeConfig(ask_serving_enabled=True),
+        "fallback",
+        contemplation_result=DummyResult("PROPOSAL_EMITTED", proposal_path=str(p_path)),
+    )
+
+    assert result == "fallback"
+
+
+def test_missing_question_artifact_returns_fallback(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    missing = tmp_path / "questions" / "missing.json"
+
+    result = maybe_apply_served_ask(
+        RuntimeConfig(ask_serving_enabled=True),
+        "fallback",
+        contemplation_result=DummyResult("QUESTION_NEEDED", question_path=str(missing)),
+    )
+
+    assert result == "fallback"
+
+
+def test_provider_path_uses_honest_contemplation_result_keyword(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    q_path = tmp_path / "questions" / "q.json"
+    _write_question(q_path)
+
+    result = maybe_apply_served_ask(
+        RuntimeConfig(ask_serving_enabled=True),
+        "fallback",
+        provider=lambda: DummyResult("QUESTION_NEEDED", question_path=str(q_path)),
+    )
+
+    assert result == "How many crates are left?"
+
+
+def test_helper_does_not_import_renderer_or_pass_manager() -> None:
+    path = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1] / "chat" / "ask_runtime.py"
+    tree = ast.parse(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), filename=str(path))
+    forbidden = (
+        "core.epistemic_questions.render",
+        "generate.contemplation.pass_manager",
+        "chat.runtime",
+    )
+
+    for node in ast.walk(tree):
+        if isinstance(node, ast.ImportFrom) and node.module:
+            for name in forbidden:
+                assert node.module != name
+                assert not node.module.startswith(name + ".")
+        if isinstance(node, ast.Import):
+            for alias in node.names:
+                for name in forbidden:
+                    assert alias.name != name
+                    assert not alias.name.startswith(name + ".")
+        if isinstance(node, ast.Call) and isinstance(node.func, ast.Name):
+            assert node.func.id != "render_question"
+
+
+def test_public_runtime_schema_stays_unchanged() -> None:
+    runtime_path = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1] / "chat" / "runtime.py"
+    tree = ast.parse(runtime_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), filename=str(runtime_path))
+
+    saw_chat = False
+    saw_response = False
+    for node in ast.walk(tree):
+        if isinstance(node, ast.FunctionDef) and node.name == "chat":
+            saw_chat = True
+            args = [arg.arg for arg in node.args.args + node.args.kwonlyargs]
+            assert "contemplation_result" not in args
+        if isinstance(node, ast.ClassDef) and node.name == "ChatResponse":
+            saw_response = True
+            fields = [
+                stmt.target.id
+                for stmt in node.body
+                if isinstance(stmt, ast.AnnAssign) and isinstance(stmt.target, ast.Name)
+            ]
+            assert "disposition" not in fields
+
+    assert saw_chat
+    assert saw_response