Chapter 131: Crimson Cartel


    Ethan was being extra careful, sneaking nces at ir who was lying on her side on the bed, scrolling through her phone just like any other day.


    But the lingering soft touch on his lips was a vivid reminder that they had indeed just kissed.


    He felt oddly about it.


    Their rtionship had always been that of childhood friends, more like buddies really. And now, when he thought of her as a brother, she seemed to want something more.


    But ir’s kiss was brief, over before he could even grasp her feelings.


    “Am I an idiot? I already have a girlfriend.”


    Ethan closed his eyes, surprised that a simple kiss had thrown him off so much.


    He tossed and turned in bed. “Do you care about that kiss just now?” ir’s voice came through, her body now turned to face him.


    Her hair was a bit messy, and her usually androgynous, handsome face seemed to carry an indescribable feminine allure at that moment.


    “Uh.” Ethan wanted to deny it, but after hesitating, he nodded slightly. “A bit, since I’ve always seen you as my best friend.”


    And he was already dating his girlfriend, a rtionship he had long desired.


    “I think I like you.” ir’s voice was calm, devoid of fluctuations, as if stating a fact, her gaze steady on him.


    Ethan shivered, unprepared for such directness.


    Why now of all times?


    And the thought of dating the cool ir, or holding her close, felt so strange, a strong sense of dissonance filling his mind.


    “Thanks… thanks.”


    Ethan was momentarily at a loss for words. ir had merely suggested a possibility of liking him, not even a proper confession.


    He certainly couldn’t just say “okay” or “sorry.”


    The air in the room grew ufortably silent.


    Ethan noticed a slight blush on ir’s cheeks, her handsome face showing a rare, contrasting expression.


    “Damn, don’t make that cute face.”


    Ethan roared internally.


    He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.


    “ir, I’m already with my girlfriend, and I really love her.”


    “Yeah, I know.” ir’s voice was t. “Let’s sleep.”


    With that, she turned away, leaving Ethan only her back.


    “That’s it?” Ethan wondered internally, but she had already turned away, and he felt he had no right to press further.


    He had a restless night.


    The next day.


    ir got up and went about her morning routine as usual, while Ethan pretended to be asleep in bed. After what had happenedst night, he felt that opening his eyes would just make things awkward.


    After getting ready in her school uniform, ir said, “Remember to clean up.”


    “Oh~” Ethan, realizing he couldn’t pretend any longer, responded and watched ir leave. After all, she had just confessed her feelingsst night.


    Yet today, everything seemed unchanged.


    “What the hell.” Ethan covered his head with his hands. Was he the only one troubled by this?


    Maybe to ir, “liking” someone wasn’t a big deal.


    He couldn’t find answers to these questions.


    Ethan got out of bed and started cleaning the room.


    Now fully recovered with his health back to normal, he wanted to do what he could, and cleaning the room was his responsibility.


    Skillfully grabbing the mop and broom, he cleaned the room in the pleasant weather, which also lifted his spirits.


    After cleaning, Ethan walked around the hospital with the aid of a cane.


    He didn’t find anything noteworthy.


    Although people left the hospital every day, not many had a dying wish and were willing to trust a stranger like him.


    Luckily, he was a patient himself,otherwise, his wandering around would have probably earned him a beating from some patient’s family members by now.


    As Ethany in his hospital bed feeling stuck, a visitor arrived.


    Jessica wasn’t in her police uniform today, just a casual jacket and jeans that entuated her long legs. She walked in carrying some fruit: “Hey, big sis is here to see you. Happy to see me?”


    Ethan gave her a weird look. He definitely wasn’t too fond of his girlfriend’s best friend.


    After all, she knew there had been issues with Logan’s case and hadn’t told him.


    She seemed nice enough on the outside but was pretty nasty underneath.


    “Hey, don’t look at me like that.” Jessica set down the fruit and crossed her legs, casually taking an apple from the fruit te and starting to peel it with a small knife. “I came especially to tell you about the follow-up to Logan’s case. Aren’t you curious?”


    “Go ahead,” Ethan said. He had alreadypleted his tasks and wasn’t curious at all, but since she brought it up, he had to y along.


    “Lily withdrew the case voluntarily,” Jessica said as she popped a slice of apple into her mouth. “The higher-ups thought it was too much hassle, especially since Logan doesn’t have many days left. They decided to suppress the matter until Logan dies, and then it’ll just blow over.”


    “That’s an unexpectedly perfect ending,” Ethan shrugged.


    “Heh, I’m curious about your stance,” Jessica looked at him intently. “Not just about Logan, but also the Morgan familyst time. You seem really keen on solving people’s problems.”


    “Ah,” Ethan sighed deeply, his gaze deepening. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been in this bed myself, so I really understand that feeling of despair. I hope to use my strength, as much as I can, to help more people.”


    His voice was sincere.


    These reasons, of course, were well-rehearsed.


    “Wow, that’s pretty noble,” Jessica said with a smile in her eyes, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his words. “I know an old man who’s about to pass away. Want to help him fulfill hisst wish?”


    “Oh! Sure!” Ethan perked up at the opportunity. He had been worried about finding someone to help.


    “It’s a deal then.” Jessica pulled out a small notebook, quickly wrote down an address, and handed it to him. “Come here tomorrow, someone will meet you.”


    “Okay,” Ethan took it without hesitation. He had nothing better to do, and a little visit wouldn’t hurt.


    Jessica propped her chin on her hand, her gaze yful.


    They chatted a bit more about this and that before she left.


    The next day came quickly.


    Ethan wanted to ask ir for help, but they had just had that confession incident.


    He wasn’t sure how to act around her yet, so instead, his friend Abigaile, who was still on vacation, drove him.


    She agreed without hesitation.


    They drove to the specified address.


    Ethan looked at the high walls in front of him and then at the stone pirs at the gate with “Crimson Cartel” inscribed on them, with no other houses in sight.


    “Abby, I think we’re in the wrong ce. Let’s go.”


    “Oh, okay.” Abigaile also sensed something was off and turned to leave.


    Just as they were about to turn around, an old man came out from the side, smiling warmly: “Mr. Ethan, thank you foring all this way. The chairman has been waiting for you. Please, follow me.”