Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 41: Auntie, are you avoiding me?

Ethan was utterly baffled, scrutinizing the task description with a puzzled expression.

His face turned pale.

Just moments ago, he had glanced at the aunt’s form-fitting skirt when the task refreshed, admiring her voluptuous and sexy figure. But his gaze was purely appreciative, devoid of any desire.

Why on earth did the system assume that was his wish?

“This is bad,” Ethan muttered, turning his head. Scarlett was lying on the bed next to his, her back to him. From his angle, the thin blanket outlined the curves of her graceful figure.

A thought crossed his mind.

If he went over now, while the aunt was sound asleep, and tried something, would that count as completing the task?

But no sooner had this thought appeared than he banished it from his mind.

Let’s be real, this isn’t some novel or a bizarre adult film. Anyone normal would wake up if they were attacked in their sleep.

Trying to complete the task without being fully prepared, both in theory and practice, was nothing short of a fool’s dream.

So, to complete this task, he needed two steps.

First, he had to persuade the aunt, and then complete the task.

“I can’t see any way to pull this off!” Ethan flopped back onto the hospital bed, his expression one of misery.

As he wallowed in his frustration, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

He wasn’t sure how long he had slept when a series of soft, bustling noises reached his ears.

Ethan opened his eyes, squinting against the bright sunlight streaming in. He raised a hand to shield his eyes.

“Good morning, Ethan,” Scarlett’s voice came through, her face lit up by the morning sun, her smile bright.

She was still in her uniform, her form-fitting skirt now paired with freshly donned sheer black stockings.

She was sweeping the floor,the soft noises he had heard were the broom brushing against the floor.

“Good morning, Auntie,” Ethan replied, seeing her cheerful smile and letting out a relieved sigh. It seemed that last night’s events hadn’t affected their relationship.

“Rest well, I’m off to work. Let me know what you want for dinner, I’ll pick it up for you,” Scarlett said, holding the sleeve at his wrist as usual, tucking his hand under the blanket and straightening it over him, her eyes twinkling with warmth.

“Anything’s fine,” Ethan replied with a smile.

“See you tonight,” Scarlett waved at him, slipping into her high heels and leaving.

Ethan turned his head to watch her leave, his expression darkening.

Their interaction seemed normal, but the details were subtly different.

Usually, the aunt would hold his hand directly, the skin-to-skin contact offering him encouragement.

But today, when she fixed his bedding, she held his sleeve, avoiding any direct touch.

“Ah…” Ethan sighed softly. After what happened last night, he couldn’t blame her for being scared.

All he could do was hope things would get better.

Then three days passed.

Ethan finally realized that the aunt was deliberately keeping her distance. Their interactions were no different from usual.

But there was almost no physical contact anymore.

These past few days, the aunt had been coming out of the bathroom dressed more conservatively than usual.

Before, she wouldn’t button the top button, often giving him a glimpse of her sexy neck and collarbone. Now, he couldn’t see any skin at all.

The task was at a standstill, with no way to proceed.

Blair, magazine in hand, sat on the edge of the hospital bed, legs crossed, not even looking up.

Ethan waited ten minutes, then, out of sheer boredom, said, “Aren’t finals coming up at school? Don’t you need to study?”

The day before yesterday, Emily had come by to tell him she needed to prepare for school exams and wouldn’t be visiting for a few days.

Ethan felt a mix of emotions.

He didn’t want to get too involved with this somewhat twisted woman.

But knowing that he wasn’t as important to her as her exams did stir some complex feelings inside him.

Men are often that complicated.

“I don’t need to study,” Blair flipped through her magazine. “I’m planning to apply for a special admission spot.”

“Oh, that confident?” Ethan knew Blair was a key player on the school’s women’s basketball team.

But to take the special admission route, she needed to achieve outstanding results. Top universities only offered a few special admission spots per school, and they were usually for specific programs.

“Yeah, because studying won’t really improve my scores much,” Blair answered matter-of-factly.

“So you’re just giving up then.” Ethan was speechless, having thought she was confident about the special admission route, but it turned out she had given up on studying altogether.

“Thanks.” Ethan lay back against his pillow. Now the aunt treated him with formal respect, and Emily was busy studying.

Only Blair was there to chat with him.

“Not much else to do,” Blair said, never lifting her eyes from the magazine.

They didn’t talk much.

But in times of loneliness, just having someone sitting by your side was lucky enough.

Another two days passed.

Ethan decided he couldn’t wait any longer. The aunt was still avoiding him, clearly determined to keep their relationship strictly platonic.

He asked Blair to find an excuse not to come that evening.

That night, as expected, it was Scarlett who came to take care of him in the hospital.

“How are you feeling?” Scarlett placed her hands on his thighs, massaging through his pants. His muscles were atrophying, and he needed someone to help him exercise them daily.

“Auntie, are you avoiding me?” Ethan decided to confront the issue head-on.

“Ah?” Scarlett paused, clearly not expecting Ethan to be so direct. Looking into Ethan’s hopeful eyes, she didn’t deny or evade but after a moment of silence, she said seriously:

“It’s not about avoiding you, Ethan. We’ve never had a typical relationship. I’ve taken care of you since you were little, and I’ve always seen you as my child.”

Ethan was taken aback, then his expression brightened.