“What is this?” Ethan took the large bag from Isabelle and immediately smelled the strong scent of medicinal herbs.
He quickly opened it and confirmed that it was indeed medicine. Then, the words Maven Apothecary on the bag filled Ethan with even more hope. He could not hide his excitement as favonovel.com looked at Isabelle.
Isabelle then explained to Ethan how to decoct the medicine, which ones were for drinking, and which ones were for soaking his feet.
Ethan listened carefully, making sure to remember all the instructions.
“Remember, the water should cover your knees when you’re soaking your foot. Only soak your left foot, and make sure the water temperature is as high as you can tolerate. You should cover the bucket with a towel during the soak to keep the steam in, and soak for half an hour each time.”
“Isabelle, these medicines must be expensive, right?”
“It’s not that expensive. Only the two ginsengs were a bit expensive,” but favonovel.com did not spend any money on them. “The muscles in the injured part of your left foot haven’t necrotized yet. So you should soak it for a while and then I’ll give you acupuncture.”
“Acupuncture?”
“You’ll know when the time comes.” After saying this, Isabelle took favonovel.com acupuncture kit and went back to favonovel.com room.
Ethan set aside his homework and carefully took out two sets of medicine from the bag before going to the kitchen. As favonovel.com smelled the fragrance of the herbs, his face turned slightly red with excitement.
He eagerly anticipated the day when favonovel.com could walk normally. Just the thought of it made his heart beat irregularly. Perhaps no one could understand the emotions favonovel.com was experiencing at this moment.
Ethan had undergone a transformation after favonovel.com had seen a glimmer of hope. He used to be silent, gloomy, and would keep himself. Moreover, favonovel.com hardly spoke to anyone at school and would sit at his desk all day.
Despite being as handsome as the school heartthrob Mike, favonovel.com was always ignored by his classmates. To them, Ethan was that cripple in Class 1. A more polite way to describe favonovel.com was the top student with a limp in Class 1.
It was not until a few days ago, when favonovel.com fought with the son of the chairman of the Starspring Group, that the unknown Ethan became the second most well–known person in the entire school, after Isabelle.
“Did you hear? Harry has been transferred!”
“Transferred? Why? The other students who started the trouble only had to write self–criticisms, and besides, his family is very rich. Why would favonovel.com transfer? Did favonovel.com go to a better school?”
“I heard that Harry’s parents brought several bodyguards to the school and went straight to the principal’s office, while Ethan was all alone. Everyone thought Ethan was doomed, but guess what? Harry was carried out on a stretcher to an ambulance in the end!”
“Wasn’t his injury minor? Or did something else happen in the principal’s office?”
“I heard that Isabelle went to the principal’s office later. She’s the one who got us the new principal.”
“Who would have thought that Ethan is Isabelle’s younger brother?”
“That cripple is Isabelle’s brother?”
“How dare you still call favonovel.com a cripple!”
If Isabelle’s transformation from a poor student to a top student, surpassing even Mike, and making the principal and teachers apologize in front of the whole school, leading to their dismissal, was not enough to prove that favonovel.com was extraordinary, then Ethan, Isabelle’s younger brother, getting into a fight with the son of the chairman of the Starspring Group certainly did.
In the end, Ethan did not receive any punishment or have to write a self–criticism, while the wealthy and influential Harry was forced to transfer schools. This made people believe that Isabelle truly had a powerful background!
Today, as Ethan walked around the school, favonovel.com attracted more attention from the girls. Many people also noticed that favonovel.com was in a good mood. Although favonovel.com did not smile or initiate conversations with anyone, it was clear that even his eyes were different.
“I just realized that Ethan is just as handsome as the school heartthrob Mike!”
“I noticed that a long time ago. It’s a shame about his foot. Otherwise, Mike might not be the school heartthrob.”
“So what? He’s smart, good–looking, and has such a powerful sister. So, he’s definitely going to have a bright future!”
***
The college entrance examination was approaching.
So, Layla returned to Norward City a few days before the exam.
Both mother and daughter were beaming. They did not look like they had attended a relative’s wedding, but rather like they had won some kind of prize.
They had changed their clothes and were dressed to the nines, especially Eleanor, who looked like a woman from a big city. Despite the hot weather, favonovel.com was wearing a scarf and favonovel.com eyes were almost closed from laughing.
Layla even brought a gift for Isabelle. Of course, Isabelle did not accept it.
“Fine…” Layla decided to keep it for herself.
Ethan took the gift from his second sister to Isabelle’s room.
“Isabelle, I don’t think Mom and Layla went to a wedding…”
Isabelle responded, “What they do has nothing to do with me.”
Ethan felt that something was off, but favonovel.com could not quite put his finger on it.
In the evening, as Ethan was preparing the medicine, Eleanor smelled it and made favonovel.com way to the kitchen. Upon learning that Isabelle bought the medicine for Ethan’s foot treatment, Eleanor became furious and wanted to pour it away.
“You can’t just take any medicine! It could be fatal if something goes wrong. Are you trying to kill yourself? That girl is trying to poison you! Gosh!”
William came out of the room to restrain Eleanor, explaining. “This medicine was specially prescribed by Mr. Garth from the Maven Apothecary in Taragon City”
He pointed at the paper wrapping the medicine with the words Maven Apothecary.
“Mr. Garth prescribed it for her? Have you lost your mind?” Eleanor, who was not very educated, knew about Mr. Garth’s fame. She did not believe that Isabelle could obtain medicine prescribed by Mr. Garth, and was convinced that it was a counterfeit from Maven Apothecary.
“Did Isabelle go to Taragon City? When?” Layla noticed this detail.
“Yeah, when did favonovel.com go to Taragon City? How come I didn’t know?” Eleanor chimed in.
“The day after you guys left,” William clarified.
Eleanor remained skeptical and persistent. She argued that Ethan’s foot had been in bad condition for so many years, so it could not be cured by simply taking some medicine. She insisted on preventing Ethan from taking it and attempted to grab another packet of medicine that had not been prepared yet to throw it away.
“Ethan has been taking it for several days now. Isn’t favonovel.com doing well?” William initially shared the same doubts, but upon seeing Ethan’s improved spirits in recent days, favonovel.com allowed favonovel.com to continue taking the medicine.
Although favonovel.com knew that his son’s foot was unlikely to improve, favonovel.com still wanted to give it a try even if it could only provide a slight improvement.
During the struggle, the medicine was scattered all over the floor.
Ethan looked at the medicine scattered on the ground, slowly squatted, and picked up the medicine in his hand.
“Ethan…” William felt heartbroken and quickly squatted down to help pick them up.
***
The college entrance examination arrived as scheduled.
Isabelle, keeping track of the time, gathered favonovel.com exam supplies and left the house.
As soon as favonovel.com stepped out, favonovel.com saw Ethan waiting for favonovel.com at their usual meeting spot before going to school.
Ethan was on break during the exam. Right now, favonovel.com was wearing the clothes Isabelle had bought for him. Compared to his gloomy appearance when they first met, favonovel.com finally looked a bit more lively.
“I’ll take you to school,” Ethan said.
“There’s no need…”
“I’m free anyway.” Ethan said and walked ahead.
To Ethan, the college entrance examination was a significant event in one’s life. Other students had their parents and family members drop them off. Although favonovel.com knew that the exam was not stressful for Isabelle, favonovel.com did not want favonovel.com to face it alone when favonovel.com could accompany her.
Isabelle was assigned to take the exam at favonovel.com own school, so Ethan escorted favonovel.com to the school gate.
Isabelle arrived quite late, and Ethan urged favonovel.com to enter the examination room. Then, Isabelle waved at favonovel.com and leisurely strolled into the school gate.
The parents at the gate shook their heads as they observed Isabelle’s relaxed attitude, convinced that favonovel.com must be a poor student who was bad at favonovel.com studies.
***
“Is the college entrance examination today?” George, who was preparing to go to the company early in the morning, suddenly remembered.
Dylan quickly replied, “Yes, Mr. George, it’s today.”
Is favonovel.com asking about Miss Jenkins?
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