Chapter 2: Still Calling Me "Aunt"?

After work that afternoon, Ethan Letherdale picked up two small promotional gifts from his company. He rode his little electric scooter to Emerald Lake Mansion, where Scarlett Luet lived. "The owner of Building 27 says she isn't receiving visitors today." At the guard booth, the security guard hung up the phone and waved Ethan off like he was shooing a fly. Not receiving visitors? Ethan frowned. Scarlett didn't want to see him. Then again, if he were in her shoes, he wouldn't want to meet a salesperson who pestered him day after day, either. "No." He weighed it for a moment. He couldn't go back empty-handed tonight. He walked up to the booth window and slid a pack of premium cigarettes inside. "Brother, do me a favor and call again. Tell her I'm Kyle Luet's college classmate. My name's Ethan Letherdale. I came specifically because of Kyle." "You… alright. I'll ask one more time." The guard pocketed the cigarettes and dialed again. A moment later, he beckoned Ethan over. "Okay. Go on in." … "What happened to Kyle?" In the villa's living room, Scarlett Luet sat on the sofa in silk pajamas. She flicked a glance at Ethan as he entered and asked the question in a flat, unhurried tone. Scarlett had married young and was already in her forties, but as a Star Core Warrior, her physique was formidable. With careful upkeep, she looked not even thirty. Her pajama hem revealed a pair of sleek calves, pale and full, coiled with strength and vitality. Ethan's gaze snagged on her before he could stop it. For a heartbeat, he just stared. She was beautiful. Purely in terms of face and figure, she didn't lose to Candace Scurr at all. If anything, there was an added allure to her as a mature woman, a depth that made it hard to look away. "I asked you a question," Scarlett said. Ethan jolted back to himself and lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Aunt Scarlett. I lied to you. I didn't come because of Kyle." He swallowed and confessed outright. "I came because I wanted to see you." Scarlett gave a soft, cold laugh. "Should I call you fake, or should I call you honest?" Her voice dropped. "Then get out." "I know this will make you angry, but no matter what, I had to see you today." Ethan didn't move. Instead, he lifted his head and met her eyes, earnest to the point of stubbornness. "Because I need to say to you in person-" "So hot…" Before he could finish, Scarlett's expression twisted. Her face flushed scarlet as she muttered under her breath and yanked irritably at her collar. Damn it. "Aunt Scarlett, are you-" "Man!" Ethan froze. He started to reach out, to ask if she was okay, but Scarlett let out a low snarl and lunged at him. "Scarlett, what's wrong with you?" Ethan blurted, startled as she slammed him down. At the same time, a Mysterious Tattoo surfaced over Ethan's chest and swept across Scarlett like a scanner. "This is…" In the next instant, Scarlett's condition became crystal clear to him. She had been injured. She'd received treatment, but it had left a hidden complication that flared unpredictably, sending her desire surging out of control. This was one of those flare-ups. The tattoo's analysis continued. A method of Energy Circulation Massage, meant to guide and disperse blocked Energy Meridian pathways, flooded into Ethan's mind. "Aunt Scarlett! I can help you vent it, I can guide it out!" He didn't have time to think. One arm wrapped around her, trying to restrain her frantic struggling as gently as he could. His other hand pressed to her body and began to knead and apply pressure in a steady, practiced rhythm. So soft. Like a freshly steamed bun, warm and yielding under his palm. Even through a thin layer of fabric, he could feel the heat of her skin. On Scarlett's side, just as Ethan had sensed, the hidden ailment had drowned her in wave after wave of lust. All she wanted was relief, immediately. But as Ethan's guidance began, the knotted Energy Meridian gradually loosened. The fire inside her spilled out and ebbed, and clarity slowly returned to her eyes. "This-!" When she fully came back to herself, she realized Ethan was massaging and kneading along her body. Embarrassment rose, but before it could take hold, she noticed something else. His technique was actually helping the complication. Shock flashed through her. She closed her eyes instead, letting him continue. Half an hour passed like that before Ethan finally stopped, breathing hard. "So comfortable…" Scarlett stretched, the wicked heat finally drained away. Even her Energy Meridian felt smoother, freer. She had a growing sense that if he did this a few more times, the hidden complication would be completely resolved. Realizing that, Scarlett looked at Ethan with a mix of disbelief and delight. "You actually have medical skills this good?" Three months earlier, Scarlett had explored the C307 Secret Realm. She'd never expected to be injured by a Lord-level Iron Armored Raging Bear, the blow damaging her Third Star Core. That Star Core was extremely special. Ordinary Potion couldn't repair it at all. Scarlett had exhausted every connection she had and poured in resources just to secure an appointment with the Divine Physician, Simon Warth. After Simon Warth's Gold Needle Treatment, the Star Core finally recovered. But just as Ethan had discovered, it left a hidden complication that flared at random, driving her desire to terrifying, uncontrollable levels. Simon Warth's advice had been blunt: blocking it was worse than guiding it. She needed to "vent" it through the Union of Twin Life Forces. After a few times, the complication would disappear. But Scarlett had been widowed for years. She'd been alone all that time. How was she supposed to do any Union of Twin Life Forces? She'd forced herself to suppress it, until tonight, when she ran into Ethan. "I don't know any medical stuff," Ethan said with a quick smile, waving it off. "I just learned a few massage techniques from an elder in my family. I got lucky." In truth, he still didn't understand what was happening himself. "Lucky?" Scarlett studied him, the corner of her mouth lifting. Even Simon Warth hadn't had a clean solution for her complication. Luck didn't explain this. But if Ethan didn't want to talk, he probably had his reasons. She didn't press. After a brief pause, she spoke directly. "Ethan, come work with me." "No, no! How could I do that… with you, Aunt Scarlett?" "Hm?" Scarlett blinked, then understood what he meant. Color climbed into her cheeks. She cleared her throat and straightened her posture. "That's not what I meant." "My meaning is this: I'm hiring you onto my team as my private doctor." "Private doctor?" "What did you think I meant?" Scarlett shot him an exasperated look, then continued, "Relax. I won't treat you poorly. Your pay and benefits will be far better than selling Potion at Stellar." "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Aunt Scarlett." "Still calling me 'Aunt'?" "Uh…" Ethan hesitated. "Scarlett." He smiled, then shook his head. "But I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you again." "What, you look down on me?" "No! Of course not. It's my problem." Ethan drew a deep breath, his voice turning firm. "I can't be your private doctor because my goal is to become a Martial Artist!" Being Scarlett's private doctor would definitely pay better than being a Potion salesman at Stellar, but it came with problems. There was no real path upward, for one. And for another, it was unstable. If Scarlett was happy, she hired him. If she wasn't, a single sentence could fire him. Besides, Martial Artists faced danger all the time. The death rate was high. If Scarlett died in battle one day, wouldn't Ethan be out of a job anyway? It was best to lean on a sturdy tree for shade, but quitting his last job had already filled Ethan with regret. He'd finally stabilized at Stellar. He wasn't about to make the same mistake again. Still, Scarlett was a potential major client. He couldn't afford to offend her. So in a pinch, he'd grabbed onto this excuse. "A Martial Artist?" Scarlett paused, looking him over again. Then she smiled and nodded. "Seems I underestimated you. Good. You've got backbone." "In that case…" She thought for a moment, then reached for the bag Ethan had set aside and pulled out a Potion purchase contract. With a few swift strokes, she signed her name. "…Ten million!" Ethan leaned in for a look, his eyes going wide. Scarlett had just signed an order worth ten million. A deal in the eight-figure range. South Wind Martial Arts School only purchased ten million in an entire quarter. "Scarlett, this is-" "You helped me regulate my body," Scarlett said. "This is my return." "But-" "No 'but.' I need Potion anyway. If I'm buying, I'd rather buy from you than from someone else." She handed him the contract with a light smile. "With you, I feel at ease." "Thank you, Scarlett!" "If you're calling me 'Scarlett,' why are you still thanking me?" She smiled again. It was nearly dinner time. "Stay and eat with me." "Okay…" "Mom! Get me some-" Ethan had barely nodded when the front door opened and Kyle Luet walked in. He stopped short when he saw Ethan. Then he snapped out of it, took in Ethan's sweat-soaked state, and Scarlett's disheveled clothes. Kyle's mind flashed back to what Ethan had said earlier. His whole body shuddered. He swung a fist at Ethan. "You bastard! You really dared to screw my mom!"