Chapter 360: I’m gonna bite you to death!


    Since Zara had already arrived, Ethan’s short mission was over.


    But just as he was about to say goodbye and leave, Elise stopped him again.


    “Hm?” Ethan was a bit puzzled, but he still asked gently, “Is there something else?”


    “Thank you,” Elise said, looking at him seriously.


    “No need to be so formal,” Ethan chuckled, waving his hand. “Alright, see you around.”


    However, Elise still didn’t let go of his hand.


    Ethan had no choice but to turn back again. “Elise?”


    “Thank you,” Elise repeated, a bit stubbornly. Ethan’s expression grew more confused. Was Elise switching into her quirky girl mode?


    Finally, Zara, standing nearby, stepped in to clear things up, urately conveying what Elise meant.


    “Elise is trying to say she hasn’t properly thanked you yet. Um… do you have time? I’d like to buy you a drink.”


    Zara also wanted to express her gratitude and apologize for the earlier misunderstanding.


    Although Ethan was tempted to join them at The Pulse bar, he really didn’t have the time today, so he politely declined.


    But to his surprise, Elise persisted, saying, “Tomorrow… tomorrow, maybe?”


    Her determination reminded him of Vanessa. That familiar sense of gravity—no wonder they had be friends back then.


    Since Elise had gone this far, it would’ve been rude for Ethan to refuse again, so he agreed.


    Zara also said she’d join them. Whether she wanted to thank Ethan or just find an excuse to hang out with Elise was unclear.


    After they exchanged Facebook info, the three of them went their separate ways.


    At the entrance of the train station, Zara watched Ethan’s figure disappear into the distance. As she reflected on what a good guy he was, something suddenly urred to her. She turned to Elise and asked, “Wait, Elise, did you tell him my name earlier?”


    Because before she had introduced herself, Ethan had already called her “Zara,” so she assumed Elise had told him.


    But Elise shook her head. “It wasn’t me. He’s a fan.”


    “Huh?” Zara was taken aback. “A fan of what?”


    “A fan of VibraMyst,” Elise exined.


    “Is that so…” Zara still looked a bit confused.


    But VibraMyst had only performed once, and she hadn’t told anyone her name, right?


    Meanwhile, Ethan, on his way to visit someone at the hospital, stopped by a flower shop and bought a bouquet of lilies.


    He then headed to a private hospital near the Ferry Building called Saint Star.


    The smell of disinfectant filled the air as Ethan made his way to a single-patient room in the inpatient ward.


    As soon as he stepped into the room, he saw a girl copsed on the floor.


    Ethan froze for a moment, then quickly rushed over to check on her.


    But before he could get close, the girl moved. She raised her hand to stop him and said, “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. The doctor said I should get some exercise.”


    “Who exercises on the floor?” Ethan stopped in his tracks, feeling a bit exasperated.


    The girl had dazzling blonde hair so bright it was almost white, and her delicate features formed a very pretty face. Her snow-like skin and petite frame made her look like a doll.


    Her red eyes were filled with stubbornness as she struggled to do push-ups on the floor.


    “How many have you done?” Ethan asked.


    “One thousand and ten!” the girl shouted.


    Ethan nodded knowingly. So, ten. This kid was all talk.


    At the same time, the girl looked at Ethan and said, “Big brother, why did youe to see me today? This wasn’t part of the n, right? Or… did you miss me?”


    She let out a yful “eh” and shed a mischievous smile.


    But in her moment of smugness, she lost her bnce and flopped onto the floor. This time, she didn’t try to tough it out. Instead, she rolled over and stretched her arms out toward her brother.


    “Do you not have hands or feet of your own?” Ethan asked.


    “Carry me,” the girl tried to coax him, attempting to act cute.


    When that didn’t work, she switched tactics, throwing a yful tantrum like a child.


    “I can’t get up unless my big brother gives me a hug!”


    “Are you four years old?”


    Ethan, now even more exasperated, eventually gave in. He picked her up off the floor and tossed her back onto the bed.


    “Big brother, you’re so rough! How could you treat your adorable little sister like this?” she said, pouting dramatically.


    Ethan ced the flowers on the bedside table, pulled up a chair, and sat down next to her. “ir, you’re being way too dramatic.”


    The girl, who was already fifteen, was named ir—his younger sister.


    Hearing her brother’sment, ir puffed out her cheeks in frustration and sulked.


    Ethan wasn’t fazed. He casually remarked, “I still remember thest time I came to visit you. You were lying in bed, staring out the window at the tree, and you said something ridiculous like, ‘If thest leaf falls, my life will end too,’ like some kind of fool.”


    At the mention of this, ir’s pout deepened, and her expression grew even more aggrieved.


    “And then,” Ethan continued, “I went and knocked that leaf off with a broom! You were so dramatic about it, and I ruined your ‘spiritual anchor.’ Also, do you have any idea how much calling a beautiful young girl a fool hurts?”


    This was clearly a case of old grudges mixing with new ones. ir mentally added this to her list of grievances, vowing to get back at him someday.


    She let out a huff and turned her head away. “I hate you the most, big brother.”


    “Really?” Ethan said, standing up. “Well, I guess I’ll leave then.”


    ir immediately let out a panicked “Wait!” and grabbed his hand. Then, in a tone of mock defeat, she muttered, “I was lying, okay? Ugh, you really don’t understand girls at all, do you? Do I have to spell it out and say, ‘You’re my favorite person in the world, big brother’?”


    “Well, go ahead and say it,” Ethan replied, pretending to listen intently.


    ir instantly deted, copsing back onto the bed as if all the energy had drained from her body. She stared up at the ceiling, looking utterly defeated.


    “Sometimes I seriously wonder if I’m really your sister.”


    “Idiot,” Ethan said softly, reaching out to gently pat her head. “Do you really need to question something like that?”


    The firmness in his voice made ir’s eyes light up again.


    Ethan continued, “I mean, I’m always teasing you, right? Isn’t that proof enough? What kind of brother doesn’t tease his little sister? ir, you’ve been watching too many cartoons.”


    And just like that, the light in ir’s eyes went out. Her expression turned cold, like the kind of look a yandere might have right before pulling out a knife.


    Ethan, oblivious, kept going. “Even though we’re not rted by blood, I’ve always thought of you as my real sister. Closer than a real sister, even.”


    “…”


    ir was silent for a moment. Then, suddenly, she sprang up, grabbed Ethan, and pinned him down on the bed. “I’m gonna bite you to death!” she yelled.