"I told you, didn't I? Maria, my dear friend."
Barrry spread his hands as if it was no big deal.
"..."
Maria was speechless.
Her friend turned out to be a secretly rich guy, yet somehow she was the one paying for everything.
Was that even right?
"What about my top-tier Maybach...?"
Maria looked at him expectantly, hoping he'd show a little generosity with that so-called vast fortune of his.
Maybach?
Dude, I drive an AE86, and you're asking me to sponsor your luxury car?!
No way. Absolutely not.
"Young people driving fancy cars too early tend to lose themselves. Maria, you're not wise enough to handle that kind of temptation. Let's... revisit that topic later."
Barrry firmly refused. Luxury cars were for show-offs, and he was a man of practicality.
---
"Then what about my allowance? When can you—" Maria started, trying to rescue her ever-shrinking bank account.
"Talking about money ruins friendships," Barrry said seriously. "See? The moment I revealed I was rich, our pure friendship started to shift. That's not good. Let's skip the money talk."
To him, all the money she'd spent was just "friendship fees." Paying it back? Not happening—at least, not until his "career took off."
"I regret exposing my identity," he sighed dramatically. "From now on, let's pretend I never said that." He held out his phone with a payment QR code. "By the way... I'm out of cash. Could you top me up?"
"Didn't I just send you money yesterday? How did you burn through it so fast?!"
"It's all for protecting humanity," he said solemnly.
The phone he used was linked to Maria's account—his own had long been abandoned, buried under a mountain of debt from his "previous life."
Maria's heart ached as she sent him another small transfer. Fortunately, her own expenses were minimal, and her savings could just about handle it.
Still, she wasn't going to let him off entirely. She gave him a curious look and asked, "So... can you stay like this all the time?"
"Three hours at most," he said matter-of-factly. "Looks great, but it's fragile—can't fight or it'll break instantly."
"Looking good is all that matters."
Maria nodded approvingly.
"What do you want me to do?" Barrry asked, sensing she was leading up to something. Since she'd been paying his "friend fees," he was willing to help—as long as it wasn't too much.
"I need a partner for the school dance."
"Then you've come to the right man." Barrry lowered his sunglasses, his golden eyes gleaming with confidence. A smirk tugged at his lips. "When I dance, no one can keep up with my rhythm."
---
In an ordinary little sedan, Maria sat behind the wheel, guilt and fear written all over her face.
"Dad, please... hang in there!"
A few minutes earlier, her mom had called with terrible news—her father, Dan Brennan, had suffered a sudden shock after his infected wound worsened. He was now in the emergency room.
Maria rushed to the hospital, her heart pounding.
When she arrived, her father's bed was empty—only her mother was there.
Amy Brennan sat slumped in a chair, pale and anxious. When she saw Maria, she quickly explained what had happened.
But there wasn't much they could do now except pray he'd survive.
They had called Maria in because his condition had deteriorated rapidly—if things went wrong, it might be her last chance to see him.
Life really was fragile. One wound could be enough to take it away.
"Who's this?" Amy asked, noticing the man who followed her daughter in.
Since Dan was wealthy, he stayed in a private room. Strangers weren't common here.
"He's my friend, Barrry," Maria said, stepping aside to introduce the blond man in a suit and dark sunglasses.
"Friend? Maria?" Amy was stunned. Maria... had friends now?
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," Barrry greeted politely, still not taking off his shades.
After half an hour of waiting, a doctor finally approached.
"Dan Brennan's stable for now," the doctor said. "He's conscious, but still weak. You can visit briefly, but keep it short."
Maria and Amy hurried to the ICU, and Barrry followed quietly.
---
Dan lay on the bed, pale and motionless, breathing through an oxygen mask. IV lines and monitors surrounded him.
His abdomen was wrapped tightly in fresh bandages, with a drainage tube attached—another surgery, it seemed.
At least he was alive.
His lips moved weakly, words slurred by exhaustion and anesthesia. After a while, he began to speak clearly, whispering to his wife and daughter—final words, perhaps.
From the sidelines, Barrry sighed. Guess the old man's giving out his last will...
Dan: I'm not dead yet, blondie. And don't even think about inheriting my money!
"Barrry, my dad wants to talk to you," Maria said, pulling him closer.
He stumbled awkwardly toward the bed, sunglasses still firmly on.
"You must be Mr. Brennan," Barrry said with a faint smile. "I'm Barrry, born blind. It's an honor to meet you."
He spoke toward the empty space beside the bed—as if the air itself were Dan.
Ah, that explains it. A blind man.
That meant he wasn't chasing beauty or money.
Dan relaxed slightly.
He asked how the two met, and Barrry's answers matched perfectly with what Maria had told him earlier.
Nice save, Barrry thought smugly. My hearing's too sharp for them to fool me.
"You're a fine young man," Dan said, weakly smiling. "It's a shame you can't get a driver's license. Otherwise, I'd buy you a good car."
"Haha, maybe someday," Barrry chuckled.
When their talk ended, the two shook hands.
Dan felt... lighter. As if the pain in his body wasn't so bad anymore.
It wasn't just in his head.
Barrry had secretly transferred a bit of "revival energy" into him, reigniting his life force.
Barring accidents, he'd live.
Afterward, since Maria had school the next day and Barrry wasn't needed anymore, they decided to head home.
As they stepped into the elevator, Barrry whispered softly, assuring her, Don't worry. I already helped him. He'll be fine.
Ding!
The elevator doors slid open.
There weren't many people inside. Maria and Barrry stepped in.
The doors closed automatically.
Next to Barrry stood a woman with long, curly hair—her thick mane almost brushing his shoulder.
He sniffed subtly, his eyes narrowing behind the sunglasses.
Hmm.
That scent... felt oddly familiar.