Rose's expression shifted slightly, but she quickly masked it, returning to her usual composed demeanor.
"This is a win-win situation," she said matter-of-factly. "You have the product, I have the distribution channels. We make money together—what's wrong with that?"
Ethan looked at her calmly, his gaze steady and unhurried. "Do you think I'm worried about selling?"
Rose bit her lip, a hint of grievance flashing across her face. She fell silent.
Of course she understood. His medicine didn't need her channels—it was she who needed him.
Three seconds passed.
Then her eyes flickered, a sly glint surfacing in their depths.
The next moment, she suddenly pounced forward, leaning close as she brushed her hand against his face in a deliberately coquettish manner.
"Handsome~" she drawled sweetly, her tone soft and teasing. "You're sick, aren't you? You can't possibly run around handling small errands yourself… what if the person you hire turns out to be unreliable?"
Ethan felt a strange tightness in his chest as her fingers grazed his skin, a faint tingling spreading through him. He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"So… I should choose you?"
"No, no, no," Rose said quickly, shaking her head before correcting herself with a playful smile. "We choose each other."
She shifted closer, her movements exaggeratedly soft, almost shameless in their intent.
"Please, handsome," she continued, her voice dropping into a soft, pleading tone. "Give me a chance… please?"
Her lips pouted faintly, her eyes blinking slowly as she gazed at him with an almost pitiful expression.
Ethan stared at her for a full three seconds.
He had to admit—it was effective. This girl was indeed beautiful, and when she put on this act, most men would have softened long ago.
But Ethan was not most men.
When it came to money, his heart was as hard as stone.
"If you don't get off me right now," Ethan said, his tone turning cold, "I will actually get angry."
There was a faint strain in his voice—partly from her pressing against him, making it slightly difficult to breathe.
Rose froze.
Then, without protest, she climbed off the bed.
She stood beside it with her head lowered, fingers twisting the hem of her clothes as if she had done something wrong.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Ethan looked at her, then spoke slowly.
"Tell me your resume."
Rose's head snapped up instantly, her eyes lighting with excitement.
This was an opportunity.
"I'm twenty-four years old," she began quickly. "I graduated from college, and I'm currently working as a nurse. On the side, I do various sales jobs for extra income. Right now, I specialize in selling high-end cosmetics to wealthy women."
As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, her tone turning eager.
"Boss… can you hire me?"
Ethan considered her for a brief moment.
"Three months," he said. "We'll try it out first."
Rose's face lit up immediately.
"Thank you, boss!" she exclaimed, nearly bouncing in place. "Then… what about the commission?"
"I'll start you at ten percent," Ethan replied casually. "We'll adjust based on your performance."
"Ten percent?!" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
But it wasn't because she thought it was too low.
If she could really sell these pills for hundreds of thousands each, ten percent would be an enormous profit.
Excitement surged through her. Without thinking, she leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on Ethan's cheek.
"Thank you, boss!"
Selling cosmetics required humility—smiling, flattering, saying all the right things just to please wealthy clients.
But this was different.
With Ethan's medicine, she wouldn't need to bow or scrape. She wouldn't need to flatter anyone.
Even without effort, people would come rushing to buy.
"Boss," she said eagerly, her eyes sparkling, "can you give me one pill first? I'll test it with a reliable rich client."
"Alright."
Ethan reached into his pocket and took out a Rejuvenating Pill, handing it to her.
Rose accepted it carefully, lifting it to her nose and inhaling lightly.
"It smells nice."
"Be careful with it," Ethan said calmly. "Don't lose it."
"I won't."
She tucked it securely into her pocket, then leaned closer again, her expression softening with gratitude.
"Boss… you just handed me something worth tens of thousands like this. Aren't you afraid I might run away?"
Ethan smiled faintly to himself.
The only reason he could be this generous was because the pill had cost him nothing—it came from the system.
But outwardly, his expression remained serious.
"Will you betray my trust?"
"Of course not!"
Rose straightened instantly, raising her right hand as if taking an oath.
"I swear—I will never betray the boss's trust! Otherwise… I'll be your slave for life!"
"That's good."
Ethan nodded.
He picked up his phone, glanced at the time, and said, "You can go. It's almost eleven. I need to rest."
"Alright, I'll leave."
Rose turned and walked toward the door.
But just as she reached it, she paused.
Then she turned back, looking at Ethan with a curious expression.
"Boss… between Sophia and me, who do you prefer kissing?"
Ethan blinked for a moment, then chuckled inwardly.
What a possessive girl… even this needs comparison?
But outwardly, his expression remained sincere.
"Of course it's you."
"Hehe."
Rose smiled brightly, clearly satisfied.
She opened the door and left.
As it closed, Ethan could faintly hear her humming in the corridor.
---
At ten o'clock the next morning, the doctors made their rounds.
A female doctor stood beside Ethan's bed, staring at the monitor with visible shock.
"Your creatinine levels dropped from over 800 to 400. Your urine output increased from 200 milliliters to 1000, and your blood pressure is nearly back to normal," she said, disbelief evident in her voice. "How did you do this?"
Ethan smiled faintly. "Miracles happen, don't they?"
The doctor remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice with a faint smile.
"Tell me honestly… did you take some kind of unregulated folk medicine?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he studied her.
She was in her thirties, with short purple hair that was neat and tidy. Even without makeup, her features were delicate, and the faint lines around her eyes only added to her mature charm.
[Ding! Scanning for intimacy targets.]
Name: Grace
Age: 33
Height: 171 cm
Weight: 120 pounds
[Physical condition: Healthy]
[Compatibility: 85%]
[Estimated lifespan extension: 5 days]
---
Ethan's heart skipped a beat.
Eighty-five percent.
Even higher than Rose's.
But outwardly, he remained calm.
"I just got lucky," he said lightly.
The doctor stared at him for a few seconds, then straightened.
She didn't ask further questions.
But as she turned to leave, she glanced back at him.
That single glance told Ethan everything.
She didn't believe him.
---
At two in the afternoon, the ward door opened again.
A man walked in.
He was dressed in an Armani suit, his hair neatly combed. Though the bags under his eyes remained, his overall complexion had improved drastically.
"Mr. Ethan!"
He strode forward, grabbing Ethan's hand and shaking it vigorously.
"Your medicine is incredible!"
Ethan calmly pulled his hand back.
"You're too kind, Mr. Dave."
Dave chuckled awkwardly, pulling up a chair and sitting beside the bed.
"Mr. Ethan… I may have been a bit harsh yesterday. Please don't take it to heart."
Ethan didn't respond. He simply looked at him.
Dave shifted uncomfortably under that gaze.
"Cough… I came today to talk properly."
"About what?"
Dave leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"I'll pay one hundred thousand for that pill."
Ethan let out a faint, cold laugh.
"Yesterday, you threatened me. Today, you want to buy from me. Don't you think that's a bit sudden?"
Dave's expression stiffened, but he quickly recovered.
"Yesterday was just… anger speaking," he said with an awkward smile. "Let's not dwell on it."
He leaned in slightly.
"So… what price do you think is appropriate?"
Ethan raised three fingers.
"Three hundred thousand."
He paused, then added calmly:
"No bargaining ".