Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 162: Your butt really does feel quite nice

Covering his eyes didn’t hinder Ryan’s movements at all. Once his skill was activated, it was as if he could see the energy pathways behind the young girl, Alice, knowing exactly where to press for the best relaxing effect.

His large hand rested on Alice’s back, causing her to shiver suddenly. She still wasn’t quite comfortable with others touching her.

Her normally warm beige sweater now felt as thin as silk. Ryan’s hand on her back seemed to bypass the fabric entirely, almost as if touching her skin directly.

His hand was like a heating pad, and for a moment, Alice felt as if she was being burned.

But when she thought about resisting, she found herself oddly craving that warmth.

“It’s… not so bad,” Alice murmured, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. Ryan, engrossed in the intricacies of his skill, didn’t hear her.

Of course, when his hand truly rested on Alice’s back, he couldn’t help but reflect.

‘Really, her back is so petite, I could tuck her into my arms and walk down the street without anyone noticing.’

Ryan’s hands moved to her shoulders, gently kneading them, and it felt like a throwback to his childhood.

As the biggest and most cheerful kid in the orphanage, he was always good at making the adults show their happiness around him.

Many didn’t understand how he could be so cheerful, especially since maintaining happiness in such a sad environment wasn’t easy.

Maybe he was just a bit more mature than his peers. After all, he figured his parents were long gone, and not something he could find in a day or two. Happy one day, unhappy the next—why not choose to be happy?

He had lived like this for many years, leading a well-organized life.

But everything changed after Alice kidnapped him. Looking at her, he saw the sad children from the orphanage, who couldn’t escape their mental shadows on their own.

His large hand moved over Alice, with no other intention but to help her relieve some stress.

Her small shoulders carried too much burden, bound to break someday.

He was diligently working to ease Alice’s fatigue, yet careful not to overstep.

If he had to betray Alice eventually, he wanted to do something to make up for it beforehand. Otherwise, he’d live with guilt even after completing his mission.

“How’s that? My technique’s pretty good, right?”

As Ryan massaged her back, he noted that aside from being petite, her body had no flaws—her skin was firm and elastic, making it comfortable to touch.

And being petite wasn’t really a flaw,for some, it was a critical hit.

Alice hummed noncommittally, too congested to speak clearly.

Why did her lower back tingle when he hadn’t even touched it yet?

Though blindfolded and unable to see Alice’s expression, Ryan could feel her body gradually relaxing.

He was pleased,his skill was proving useful, justifying the skill point he’d spent on it.

“Don’t you think you’re overworking yourself? Have you ever considered that?”

His hand moved down to her thighs. Ryan was calm, even managing to make small talk, while Alice buried her face in the couch, too shy to show herself.

After waiting a moment without a response from Alice, Ryan guessed she might have fallen asleep and slightly increased the pressure of his hands.

Just as his hands reached the base of her spine, he pressed down, and Alice sprang up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Ah~

In a moment of relaxation, a faint, broken sound escaped from Alice’s mouth, and she quickly covered it with her hand, unable to believe she had made such a noise.

She hurriedly turned to look at Ryan, whose hands hadn’t stopped their movements. He was focused and seemed unaware of her embarrassed state.

“Miss, it’s not nice to ignore someone when they’re talking to you. I’m just concerned about you,” Ryan said nonchalantly, feeling Alice move away from her original position. Without a second thought, he gently pushed her back down onto the couch.

Alice felt a bit uncomfortable being held down, almost forced.

And now her waist was so soft she could hardly straighten up, while the person responsible seemed utterly unaffected.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Alice finally responded, trying to sound normal, but her voice came out soft and sticky.

Grinding her teeth in frustration, she made a mental note never to let Ryan massage her again.

Ryan just smiled slightly at her words. Deep down, she was still just a kid, he thought.

He applied a bit more pressure with his hands, quite pleased with his approach.

There are many ways to encourage goodness, and Ryan felt his massages could be one of them.

Just spending more time with the young lady, he figured, would show that she wasn’t all bad.

The maids and bodyguards exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.

Eventually, they opted for the safest approach: wait and see.

Alice had set a strict rule for her bodyguards: no one was to come within ten feet of her under any circumstances. But today, that rule didn’t seem to apply.

After a while, Ryan finally wiped the sweat from his forehead, his task complete.

Alice felt her lower back tingling and numb, unable to get up from the couch. She could only glare at Ryan with wide eyes.

“That look must be gratitude, right? I’ll take it.”

[Alice Mood Level: 73/100 (Happy)]

[Alice Fatigue Level: 12/100 (Relaxed)]

The massage had an immediate effect, and Ryan checked the panel again to see that Alice was no longer on the verge of a breakdown.

He looked at her and chuckled boldly, then daringly patted her waist again.

Alice’s expression darkened, and the maid by the side was mentally preparing to deal with Ryan’s corpse.

But other than a few sharp glares, Ryan didn’t face any real punishment.

He had only intended to help with a shoulder rub, but things had escalated beyond his expectations.

Seeing Alice a bit more relaxed made Ryan happy, too. At least when the time came to betray her, he wouldn’t feel as guilty.

Being a good guy was complicated.

Alice got up from the couch, her face slightly flushed, avoiding eye contact with Ryan as she headed straight for the dining room.

Ryan watched her go, clicking his tongue slightly. Lying down too long wasn’t good for breathing, the lady’s face was all red. Next time, he’d just stick to the neck.

But noticing Alice’s unsteady steps, Ryan’s eyes twinkled with mischief, remembering his risky venture.

“Miss, I must say, your butt really does feel quite nice.”

With that, he could feel the retreating figure stumble, then turn back to glare at him furiously.

“Say one more word, and watch your tongue!”

[Ding~ Side quest completed, reward issued.]

[Ding~ Alice’s affection level +1, current affection level 53/100.]