Though paralyzed, still radiantly charming!

Chapter 59: Wish Name: I hope my mom is happy

After sending off the adult webcam host, Blair returned to the hospital room and saw Ethan lying on the hospital bed. She sniffed the air and frowned slightly.

“What’s up?” Ethan asked, looking puzzled as he held several stacks of envelopes—his earnings from the past few days.

“There’s a weird smell.” Blair glanced around and only saw a few crumpled toilet paper rolls in the trash can beside the bed.

“Cough, here, take this.” Ethan changed the subject, aware of Blair’s keen sense of smell. He pulled out a stack of dollars, totaling $1500.

“You can use it for whatever you want.”

“No need, I’m not short on cash. Give this money to mom,” Blair said, surprised, without reaching out to take it.

“It’s okay, I’ve already set something aside for her.” Ethan then placed another two stacks in her hands. “I made a total of $5000 this time. $1500 is for you, think of a way to give $2000 to Auntie, and the remaining $1500 will stay with you as our activity fund.”

“Okay.” Blair took the three stacks of money, looking oddly at Ethan. She really hadn’t expected someone bedridden to have earned $5000 in such a short time.

“I’ll just take $500,the rest, $2500, can be our activity fund.”

“That works too.” Ethan wasn’t focused on the money and didn’t mind.

Blair sat down beside his bed. “What’s next?”

“Hmm?” Ethan glanced at her dashing cheeks. “You seem really interested.”

“Yeah.” Blair didn’t deny it. “It feels like we’re back to our childhood.”

“Oh, really?” Ethan reminisced. They had grown up together, and most of the time, it was him coming up with plans and then executing them with Blair:

“Time flies, huh? Your hair seems to have gotten longer.”

Blair reached back and touched her hair, which had grown from ear-length to her neck. “I used to get it cut every month, but I didn’t this month.”

“Let me tie it up for you.” Ethan casually picked up a hair tie that Auntie used.

“Okay.” Blair sat on the hospital bed, her back to him.

Ethan reached out and played with her hair behind her ears, their movements natural, just like when they were kids, when Ethan often helped her braid her hair.

Once the braid was done, it didn’t add any femininity to her look.

Her somewhat androgynous, dashing face would probably need shoulder-length hair to add a bit more femininity.

“Forget it, just wear it down.” Ethan gave up.

“Hmph.” Blair’s eyes seemed to be smiling.

The next day.

After returning from school, Blair pushed Ethan’s wheelchair to Ryan’s room, positioned him in front of the bed, and then left the room, stepping outside.

Mrs. Miller wasn’t there, of course, because they had coordinated this beforehand.

Ryan lay in the bed, his gaze fixed out the window, his expression matured as if he had grown up overnight.

“Ryan, congratulations,” Ethan said softly. “How does it feel to be an adult?”

“Cough.” Ryan hadn’t expected him to be so direct, and his expression momentarily stiffened: “Actually, it doesn’t feel much different. I’m still me, nothing has changed.”

As he spoke, his eyes darted to the door, as if he was afraid his mom might suddenly appear.

“Really, it’s awesome.” Ryan flashed a knowing smile that all men understand, leaning back on his pillow. “In that moment, you feel like even if life ended then, it would have been worth it.”

He stopped mid-sentence and gave Ethan an apologetic look. “Sorry, I guess I said too much. Thanks, though.”

“It’s okay, I’ve always said, Ryan, you’re like a brother to me. Helping fulfill your wishes genuinely makes me happy,” Ethan replied with a sincere smile. The night before had been eventful, but apologies were unnecessary.

Ryan opened his mouth, struggling for words, “You’re a good person.”

He always felt Ethan’s gaze on him was a bit odd.

Like a kind of fatherly love?

Ryan quickly shook his head, dismissing these bizarre thoughts.

“Ryan, I think your wishes might go beyond just that,” Ethan spoke up, this time without any leading tone.

It had been proven that wishes led by suggestion weren’t recognized by the system.

“Huh?” Ryan was puzzled, wondering why Ethan was so concerned about him.

But thinking about everything Ethan had done for him, he figured it out—this must be what they call a true philanthropist, someone above petty interests.

Ethan just looked at him, staying silent.

He was afraid that speaking might turn into leading again.

“Wishes, of course, everyone has plenty. In the quiet of the night, all sorts of strange thoughts pop up,” Ryan mused, entering a reflective state. “Like hoping for world peace, or wishing for a delicious meal the next day.”

He looked at Ethan. “You must have a lot of similar thoughts, right?”

“Uh,” Ethan was stumped. Those could indeed be considered wishes, so what exactly defines a wish for the system?

“But speaking of regrets, I do have some,” Ryan continued, clearly more concerned about friendships than he let on.

He also longed for someone to talk to.

Ethan, who had unconditionally helped him fulfill his wishes, was obviously the best person to talk to.

Ryan’s eyes showed a hint of sadness. “I’m really worried about my mom.”

Ethan’s eyes lit up, as if he’d caught a keyword. “Aunt Sofia is one of the strongest women I’ve ever met, Ryan. You really don’t need to worry and add to your stress.”

“Ah, you don’t understand.” Ryan sighed softly. “My mom lost my father when I was very young, and now I’m leaving too. She’ll have nothing left. I’m worried that after I’m gone, she might do something drastic.”

As he spoke, his eyes reddened. “I really hope she can find happiness.”

It was at that moment.

A system interface suddenly popped up in front of Ethan.

“Mission Name: Ryan’s Final Wish.”

“Mission Description: Help Ryan fulfill his final wish. Reward Points: 1000.”

This line refreshed in front of him.

“Mission Refreshed.”

“Wish Name: I hope my mom is happy.”

“Mission Description: I hope my mom can find someone to rely on, so I can leave peacefully. Mission Reward Points: 1000. Random Skill +1.”

“It’s refreshed!” Ethan’s eyes sparkled as he grasped the system’s wish mechanism.

It mainly divided into two parts: first, gaining the trust of the wisher, and second, having them express their true wish.

Ethan’s excitement lasted only a second as he looked at Ryan, feeling a pang of heartache: “Don’t worry, Ryan, I’ll help you achieve it!”

“Huh?” Ryan, still immersed in his sadness, was taken aback by the response, not quite knowing what to say next.