Chapter 162 | Whenever You Wish

Chapter 162: 162 | Whenever You Wish

Dexter chuckled and turned around into to see Lyra and Selene standing in the hallway. It seemed they had witnessed everything.

Lyra eyes lit up in curiosity as her dark eyes moved between Dexter and Mira with barely concealed interest.

But Selene was another story, she seemed to be glaring at him even though she couldn’t see!

Dexter was confused at first but then it took 2 seconds for him to figure out why.

’They heard me call Mira beautiful.’

Dexter cleared his throat and smiled awkwardly.

"Uhm, you two are also very, very pretty."

Selene said nothing. She simply turned around and quietly walked back toward the backyard.

Lyra, however, lingered. She looked at Dexter with an expectant gaze.

Dexter scratched the back of his head.

’I really need to be more careful about what I say out loud.’

He flipped his hand. Three bags of chips materialized in his palm.

They were Grade-2 Sminley Chips. He had no idea why the system had chosen that particular name, but the packaging looked nice enough and the chips themselves were infused with mild restorative properties.

"I assume you want this?" Dexter said with a soft smile.

Lyra’s face lit up like a lantern.

She took the bags from his hand with both hands, cradling them against her chest like small treasures. Then she looked up at him, and a small smile touched her lips.

’Thank you, Dexter. You don’t look half-bad yourself.’

Dexter blinked and laughed.

Lyra’s smile widened by a fraction before she turned and hurried back to their room, already tearing open the first bag.

’One down, one to go.’

Dexter walked through the hallway toward the backyard.

---

Selene was sitting on the swinging chair at the backyard.

Her eyes were closed with her hands rested on her knees, palms upward as she cultivated.

Dexter stopped in front of her.

"We need to talk."

Selene didn’t respond, her face remained perfectly still, her cultivation unbroken.

Dexter pursed his lips and decided to get straight to the point. "I know you came to my room last night and I also know why."

A faint trace of embarrassment flickered across Selene’s pale face but it disappeared quickly.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she said quietly.

Dexter smiled helplessly. "You don’t have to pretend. I understand."

Selene opened her eyes. Her white gaze was aimed roughly in his direction but she said nothing.

"I’ve absorbed your pain," Dexter continued, keeping his voice gentle. "Because of that, I experienced the Eternal Winter Ice inside your body."

He paused.

"I know it isn’t exactly pain but more like an endless, freezing prickling discomfort."

Selene’s eyes trembled slightly.

"You know?" she whispered.

Dexter nodded. "I do."

He slowly raised his right hand.

With a soft whoosh, the abyssal emperor flame quietly appeared above his palm, spreading heat that radiated warmth in every direction.

The surrounding temperature rose immediately and the air around them grew several degrees warmer. The chill that clung to Selene’s skin began to recede,

Selene stared at the flame. Her pale lips parted slightly.

"An heavenly flame," she murmured. "So you really possess it."

Dexter closed his hand. The flame vanished.

Selene lowered her eyes but she still remained silent.

Dexter smiled gently.

"Sharing a bed would probably make both of us uncomfortable," he said. "So how about this instead?"

Selene looked up.

"Whenever the chill becomes unbearable, you can simply cultivate in my room. The Heavenly Flame naturally radiates warmth from my body, even when I’m sleeping. It should help suppress the Eternal Winter Ice without requiring any direct contact."

He paused.

"When you feel better, you can return to your own room, anytime you wish."

Silence filled the backyard.

The breeze stirred Selene’s silver hair. A bird chirped once from the neighbor’s tree, then fell silent.

Several long seconds passed.

"Thank you."

She mumbled quietly.

Dexter smiled. "It’s alright."

Then he looked at her for a moment and added, "I meant what I said, by the way."

Selene tilted her head. "About what?"

He held her gaze steadily. "The three of you are uniquely beautiful in your own way. And that is the truth."

A small smile graced Selene’s lips.

She didn’t turn away, letting Dexter bask in her beauty as she closed her eyes and continued her cultivation.

---

Dexter went back inside and headed for the storage room.

Among the renovation materials he had purchased, there were several planks of untreated pine. He selected three that were large enough to cover the hole in the living room wall, carried them to the living room, and began measuring them against the damaged section.

Mira watched him work from her wheelchair. She had moved slightly away from the window but remained in her usual spot near the wall.

Dexter cut the planks to size with a hand saw, fitted them into the gap, and nailed them securely into place.

It doesn’t look nice but it would keep the wind and the rain out until he could purchase proper materials.

He hammered the last nail into place and stepped back.

The living room was now noticeably darker.

The afternoon sunlight that had been streaming through the window was gone, replaced by the dim, flat light of the overhead lamp.

Mira’s favorite spot by the window was now just a spot by a wooden board.

---

The rest of the day went by smoothly.

Dexter cooked a light dinner. The girls ate.

Mira finished her entire bowl without complaint. Lyra ate three portions. Selene ate slowly but steadily.

After dinner, Dexter cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and then turned to Mira.

"Time for your massage."

He expected another flat refusal, another sharp ’no’.

Instead, Mira simply replied, "Fine."

Dexter blinked.

’Fine? Just fine? No argument? No insult? No death glare?’

He shrugged and wheeled her to the bedroom, helped her onto the bed, and began the familiar routine.

Shirt off. Skirt off. Sports bra and cotton briefs remaining. Face down on the mattress.

He pulled on the special Glove, applied the massage oil to his hands, and then began.