Sylas slowly fell asleep.
How could he have the energy to argue with this girl who couldn't get to the point?
He still dreamed.
In his dreams, he was in the coffin, in utter darkness.
But his heart was calm.
He was no longer afraid of death, just surprised to have been given a second chance at life.
The days that followed were extremely dull and monotonous.
His body was recovering, but he was stuck in the awkward state of having sensation but being unable to move.
So every time Crystal came to wipe his body and change the bedding, he was mortified.
He was, after all, the aloof and noble Brother Sylas in her eyes.
And now?
Paralyzed in bed, needing help with eating, drinking, and even using the chamber pot.
Every time Crystal came to clean him, he had to say, blushing, "Lyn, don't wipe me.
You don't need to do it every day.
Men and women shouldn't be so familiar..."
But Crystal seemed to relish it.
She would laugh and retort, "Brother, that's not right.
Didn't you always scold me for not grooming myself properly before?
Aren't I just doing what you said, pursuing cleanliness?
Besides, how could I let you smell every day?"
She leaned in close to Sylas's face without any sense of personal space, saying boldly, "Brother, can't you smell the odor on yourself?"
"Odor?"
Sylas swallowed, both embarrassed and ashamed.
A man paralyzed in bed, no matter how noble he once was, would now be disdained for being smelly.
"Yeah, smell it."
Crystal's hand emerged from under the quilt, her sparkling little hand placed before his nose.
Sylas's breathing instantly became rapid.
All his shyness turned into anger.
This viscous liquid?!
He stared fiercely at Crystal, gritting his teeth, "You... how could you..."
He opened his mouth, wishing he could bite her finger off!
Crystal's hand withdrew swiftly.
She giggled, "Look at you, getting so worked up! It's just daily work.
The physician here told me that if you want a man to stay... lively, you need to offer him plenty of guidance and rewards.
You can't feel anything right now.
Isn't it only right to offer you some guidance?"
Sylas was stunned, "Daily?"
Did that mean Crystal took advantage of the daily cleaning and bedding change to...
No wonder she always washed her hands before leaving.
Sylas turned his head away in despair. "Just send me back. What's the difference between this and before?"
"How is there no difference? I don't like hearing that."
Crystal looked somewhat displeased.
After cleaning him up, she said: "Am I not gentler than Isolde?
Of course, I might not be as gentle as Mother.
But Mother is sixteen years older than you.
Brother, you're not really that... cheap, are you?"
Sylas looked at her hatefully, "Crystal, I'm telling you for the last time.
Since Auntie Jade saved me, I must repay her!
I've told you this so many times, this gratitude for kindness.
Don't you understand?"
Crystal seemed to have an epiphany, "I understand. But how will you repay me? Didn't I save you too?"
Sylas was instantly rendered speechless.
He realized this oblivious girl cared about nothing, but facing him seemed to unlock hidden potential in her brain.
He finally said helplessly, "Anyway, no matter what, you don't need to come serve me like this every day..."
"Pfft..." Crystal couldn't help but laugh.
She bit her thin lip, gently stroked Sylas's face, her small hand sliding down to his collarbone, his chest...
"Brother, you are too kind.
This isn't 'serving,' you know.
You have no idea how much joy it brings me every day."
She was exceedingly excited, her eyes almost glowing.
"Brother, you know? The way you soil the bed is downright adorable!"
"..."
Sylas's expression shifted from shock to fear.
Belatedly, he seemed to understand Crystal's mindset.
The once-admired, unattainable highland flower was now a cripple paralyzed in bed.
Now, the girl always called a good-for-nothing finally saw the roles reversed when facing the once-unreachable young man.
Therefore, Crystal finally had a chance to be on equal footing with him.
Or rather, her situation was much better than his.
Sylas could never again say, 'Lyn, why are you so useless? You need to improve yourself,' or things like that.
Because now he couldn't even control his bowels.
And because he had fallen into the mud, the girl who always respected him now felt a trace of covet.
After all, you're more useless than me now.
Sylas ultimately gave up on communication.
Right now, forget refusing—even if the door was opened for him to escape, he couldn't get up.
He suddenly smiled self-deprecatingly, looked at Crystal, and said quietly, "Lyn, since you like me so much, how about I give you a child?
Consider it repaying your kindness."
"Giggle giggle..." Crystal laughed, her body shaking.
She patted Sylas's arm, "Brother, don't keep using the same old tricks.
Do you think I'd let you die?
Come on, don't think about that.
We went through so much trouble to save you; you can't give up on life now." She stood up to leave.
Sylas took a few frustrated deep breaths.
Crystal turned back.
She smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Brother, I... have a little problem right now. Can you help me?
If you help me, I'll help you!"
Sylas stared at her intently.
Finally, he said slowly, "It's about Celestia Ridge, isn't it?"
"Yes, yes, yes! I'm completely lost. I don't know how to do anything. Help me."
She leaned against the bed, stroking Sylas's hair, starting to pester him relentlessly.
This was a tactic she often used at home.
When she encountered something she couldn't do, she wouldn't think about how to do it herself; she'd just go find her mother for help.
Or she'd go to the General's household to find Sylas.
Sylas said solemnly, "I can help you. But you can't keep..."
Crystal immediately shook her head, "No, no.
You helping me is only right.
You've taken care of me since I was little.
How can you not help me now?"
Sylas was so angry he laughed, "How is it 'only right'? What in this world is 'only right'?"
Crystal began being unreasonable, "There is! You helping me is only right. My helping you is only right too."
Her hand slid downward, making a eager motion.
"Fine, fine! I'll help! I'll help!"
Sylas panicked and quickly agreed.
Crystal smirked, "Hehe, that's my brother.
How about this: you help me once, I reward you once.
But if you don't help me... I'll reward you twice!"
Sylas: "..."
What kind of punishment system is that?
He said with difficulty, "Can you let me off? I did promise Auntie Jade to be her husband..."
"Understood. I can call you 'Father'."
"That's not what I meant..." Sylas felt like crying but had no tears.
He simply couldn't reason with the girl before him.
Call her stupid?
In some aspects, she was exceptionally shrewd.
Call her clever?
She was always so annoyingly persistent.