Ethan knew these nurses loved to gossip. He couldn't even imagine what kind of rumors were spreading about him outside.
Blair, holding a photo book, glanced at Ethan, seemingly aware of his curiosity. "They're all talking about you."
"..." Ethan looked at Blair, wishing she would just stop talking.
"Is this your wish?" Blair asked seriously, looking at the teacher in the photo book.
"Uh, yeah." Ethan's mouth seemed to move slightly. Denying it now would be even more awkward. He just wanted to touch the auntie's legs in black stockings, but it seemed so difficult.
Blair took out her phone and snapped a picture of the photo in the book. "I'll help you make it happen."
"?" Ethan looked at Blair. Her confident tone matched her striking face, but what exactly did she plan to help him achieve?
He didn't think his wish to touch the auntie's stockings had been conveyed to Blair.
In the hospital's trauma department.
Dr. David was holding his head, which was now wrapped in bandages. His early baldness had made applying the medication easier, and he was also wearing a neck brace.
Yesterday's beating had not only left his head bleeding but also injured his neck. Fortunately, it wasn't broken.
"That woman..."
Dr. David leaned against the wall as he walked back to his office. The concussion and head wound were causing him immense pain.
Standing at the office door, he saw a familiar figure.
Dr. David trembled all over, his legs nearly giving out beneath him.
Scarlett was still dressed in business attire, highlighting her graceful figure. Her expression, however, was nothing like the sadness she showed in front of Ethan. Her slender eyes looked at him coldly.
"I have something to ask you."
"Please go ahead." Dr. David immediately straightened up, enduring the pain and cautiously inquiring.
"How much longer can he live?" Scarlett asked coldly.
"Well..." Dr. David's expression turned tense. Adjusting his glasses, he hurriedly explained, fearing another beating: "Progressive muscle atrophy, after losing the ability to speak, theoretically, he has three to six months left. But this condition varies greatly depending on the patient's physical state. And his case is quite special. From the description, he has a strong will to live."
"A strong will to live?" Scarlett's brows furrowed.
"Yes, the suffering the patient endures is unimaginable to us," Dr. David said, his head throbbing again. "Imagine your foot is constantly cramping, and you can't relieve it. The mental torment is what usually breaks patients. Most of the time, they long to end their suffering."
Scarlett thought of Ethan lying in the hospital bed, a look of pity flashing in her eyes.
"There's only one exception: the patient has something they can't let go of," Dr. David said seriously. "They'd rather endure the pain to stay alive. Ethan's eyes are different from other patients'. I've met many elderly people whose wish was to hold on until their children got married or their grandchildren were born before they felt at peace to leave."
"He has something he can't let go of?" Scarlett frowned.
"That's the only explanation," Dr. David nodded. "He knows his condition better than anyone, and he still has hope for the future. He wouldn't naively believe his illness could be cured. I think he must be waiting for something."
Scarlett was silent for a moment, then took out a photo book from her bag. It wasn't the one from the young nurse but one she had bought from a store. She opened it to the page with the teacher cosplay: "He had a strong reaction to this picture."
"Huh?" Dr. David was taken aback, looking at the photo of the teacher in black stockings, Abigaile Johnson.
He looked up at Scarlett.
Scarlett worked in a school in an administrative role, wearing a uniform similar to the one in the photo.
However, Abigaile Johnson's uniform was custom-made, with a shorter skirt and a lower neckline. The camera angle emphasized her high heels and long legs in black stockings.
But Scarlett's proportions were even better than Abigaile Johnson's, with longer legs and more defined curves.
So even a proper uniform looked very sexy on her.
"Could it be that Ethan is... a leg person?" Dr. David suggested, scanning the photo and then looking at Scarlett.
Such things weren't uncommon.
Scarlett's face darkened at his words.
"Uh, sorry, I was too presumptuous," Dr. David apologized, understanding the family's feelings. The boy was only eighteen; how could his thoughts be so dirty?
"Then... maybe, his wish is related to a teacher?"
"A teacher?" Scarlett was puzzled, looking at the teacher in the photo. Some images flashed in her mind. She had tried twice to become a formal teacher but had failed both times.
Ethan had once encouraged her.
Scarlett's eyes suddenly reddened. So his dream was to see her achieve her dream.
"Ah..."
Scarlett let out a long breath, regaining her composure. Her cold gaze swept over Dr. David. He had dared to suggest Ethan was a leg person.
Such a disgusting guy.
Once Ethan passed away, she would make the recording public.
She put away the magazine and turned to leave.
...
Meanwhile, Blair was frowning deeply, staring at the photo she had taken on her phone, lost in thought. Her frown only deepened.
After hesitating, she opened her contacts, her gaze finally landing on Emily's name.
Her fingers typed and deleted several times before finally sending a message.
"Emily, he had a strong reaction to this photo. I think he has a wish he wants to fulfill."
"Photo."
"Ding!" Her phone chimed with a new message.
Blair quickly opened it.
"Blair~ I'm so happy to receive your message (happy emoji)~"
"That's Abigaile Johnson, right? She's a super popular idol among guys because of her various cosplay videos~ I've seen boys bring her photo books to school~ (smiling emoji)"
"Looks like Ethan is a fan of hers. As his girlfriend, I'm a bit jealous~"
"It's probably just a normal crush. Boys can easily have fleeting crushes, especially those who like uniform fantasies."
Blair's frown relaxed slightly as she read the long message. Having a companion often made things easier.
She carefully read each message.
"Just a normal crush?"
Blair murmured, then suddenly received another message.
"I just looked up some information about Abigaile Johnson online. I found something interesting. She once broke her leg during a performance and was admitted to this hospital. She even posted videos for a while with the theme 'Fighting Against Illness'~"
"I think Ethan might see her as a spiritual support."
"Spiritual support?" Blair frowned, typing: "His wish is to meet Abigaile Johnson?"
In the hospital room.
Ethan's expression was strange.
"Ethan, can I help you with anything, such as using the restroom?" The nurse, wearing gloves, looked at him differently than before.