Chapter 361: But… was that not the case?


    After some yful roughhousing, Ethan and ir sat together on the edge of the bed.


    Twelve years ago, when Scarlett brought ir to this city, ir was still very young. Ethan’s mother took them in, and she enrolled ir in the same kindergarten as Ethan.


    It’s worth mentioning that twelve years ago, Ethan also met Serena at that kindergarten, which is why he mentioned earlier that they were ssmates.


    Normally, kids like him and ir should have been the easiest to get adopted. But back then, Ethan was dealing with severe psychological trauma that led to autism, and ir had a heart condition that made doctors believe she wouldn’t live past fourteen.


    At the time, ir wasn’t as cheerful and lively as she is now. You could say it was just two lonely kids meeting, and nothing really happened between them.


    Their rtionship changed after a fire broke out. Ethan got hurt while saving ir, and that incident triggered something in him. His body became stronger, his intelligence sharpened, and he seemed to develop some unstable special abilities.


    After that, ir started getting closer to him. Under the influence of this new, different Ethan, her personality gradually became brighter, and she began to see him as family.


    “Big brother, you must’ve had it really tough, huh?” ir suddenly said this out of nowhere.


    Ethan was caught off guard, and his mind drifted back to the past.


    His mother had passed away, and Aunt Scarlett took care of him and ir.


    When his psychological issues disappeared after his awakening, it was like starting a new life. But for ir’s sake, he chose to start working when he was just twelve.


    Those were definitely some tough times for him.


    After all, without the system that most awakened people rely on, it was bound to be difficult.


    But technically, he wasn’t an ordinary person, so he quickly turned things around with his abilities. By the time he was fourteen, he had enough resources to transfer ir to a better hospital.


    Because of ir’s condition, just having her around was already a challenge.


    And in this society, as long as you have money, there’s nothing you can’t do.


    After reflecting on all of this, Ethan shook his head and replied, “Nah, it wasn’t hard at all. Why do you ask?”


    ir gazed out at the bustling city lights in the distance and calmly said, “Sarah passed away today. It was so sudden. She was just watching me y with the kids, and then she fell asleep and never woke up.”


    Ethan knew Sarah was a girl from another hospital room, someone who, like ir, had been hospitalized long-term due to her poor health.


    “Is life always this painful? Or is it just like this in hospitals?”


    ir had seen too much joy and sorrow in the hospital. Most patients were suffering, with the only exception being the innocent children who didn’t fully understand what was happening.


    Ethan stayed silent for a moment. He didn’t brush off her question or change the subject. Instead, he gave her a serious answer.


    “It’s always like this.”


    The way this world works means that suffering is inevitable.


    But before he could finish, he added, “But I’ll do everything I can to make sure you have a life without pain.”


    ir heard the quiet determination in her brother’s voice. She wiped the corners of her eyes and smiled.


    “If that’s the case, haven’t you already done that, big brother?”


    She rested her head on Ethan’s shoulder. To her, his shoulder was the only ce she could truly lean on.


    If it weren’t for him, ir thought she probably wouldn’t be here anymore.


    Her illness required a lot of money, and all of that burden had fallen on her brother, who was only two years older than her. Yet, he always tried to give her the best, never onceining about how hard life was.


    “So, every day since I met you has been the best life I could ask for.”


    But as she thought about her condition, her eyes dimmed a little. She looked out the window and softly said to Ethan, “I’ve been such a burden to you. You could’ve had a much brighter life. If one day I’m not here anymore, please, big brother, live for yourself… Ow, that hurts!”


    Sensing her sadness, Ethan had originally nned to pat her head tofort her.


    But hearing her say something like that made him furious. His hand, which was about to offerfort, clenched into a fist, and he gave her a solid knock on the head.


    “Why’d you hit me!?”


    ir clutched her head, looking utterly shocked. The sadness she had been feeling just moments ago waspletely gone.


    “Because you’re being an idiot.”


    Ethan smirked, and he wasn’t done with her yet. He reached out and pinched both of her cheeks, pulling them hard.


    “I told you, you’re being dramatic. ir, can you stop imagining all these weird scenarios? What do you mean by ‘a brighter life’? Your big brother’s life has never been dull, okay? Or do you think I’m out there being some tragic worker, constantly bossed around and oppressed?”


    He gestured around the private hospital room she was staying in. “Look at this room you’re in! Doesn’t that give you a clue about how awesome your big brother is? Don’t underestimate me!”


    “Wahhh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I know I was wrong…”


    ir frantically waved her hands in surrender, finally managing to escape his clutches. She rubbed her now-reddened cheeks, looking pitiful.


    It hurt a little, but deep down, she felt warm. After all, everything her brother did was undoubtedly for her. She knew he was saying all this just to keep her from worrying, so despite the pain, she felt a strange sense of happiness.


    “And don’t ever say stuff like that again. It’s not going to happen,” Ethan added, his tone firm.


    “Huh?”


    ir blinked, confused for a moment, before realizing what he was referring to. But why did he sound so matter-of-fact about it?


    “Wait, haven’t you noticed that your body’s been feeling a lot bettertely?”


    At his words, ir let out a surprised “Huh?” and then paused, finally bing aware of the changes in her body.


    Now that she thought about it, she had been feeling much better recently. The symptoms that used to make her ufortable had barely shown up. She had just assumed it was because the new medication was working really well.


    But… was that not the case?


    ir looked at her brother in shock. “Wait, did you do something?”


    Even though it didn’t make much sense, it seemed like the only exnation.


    Ethan nced at her, then let out a smug “hmph” and nodded. “Of course. Your big brother works for the Time-Space Bureau now. Fixing a little problem like yours is no big deal.”


    ir’s condition stemmed from her having an extraordinary physical potential, but her heart wasn’t strong enough to support her body’s needs. As she grew older, the situation would only get worse.


    Ethan’s original n had been to get her an artificial heart, thetest in medical technology. But the cost was astronomical, far beyond what an average family could afford. That’s why he had been working so hard, pushing himself to the limit, until he’d made a name for himself in this massive city.


    But now that the problem was more or less solved, working was just something he did for fun.


    Ethan stared at the window, where he once again saw that countdown.


    49:53:07


    Hearing the name “Time-Space Bureau,” ir fell silent. She stared at her brother for a long moment, then hesitantly asked, “Is this… a phase?”


    And once again, her cheeks were pinched.


    “Ow, ow, ow! I didn’t say I didn’t believe you!!!”


    ir yelped in pain, tears welling up in her eyes as she rubbed her sore cheeks, looking at him with a mix of frustration and hurt.


    Honestly, no matter what Ethan said, ir would believe him. But she just couldn’t resist teasing him a little.


    Then she started thinking. The changes in her body had started about three weeks ago. So, did something special happen to her brother around that time?