Blackstone Code-Chapter 552: Want to Try?

“I heard your sister’s not in great health, so I decided to come by after I was done with work…” Lynch licked his greasy fingers, which made Helen’s parents very happy.
In the Federation, there are many ways to show approval. Depending on the method, the response can be more direct and positive.
Licking his fingers meant Lynch was very satisfied with Helen’s mother’s cooking. This wasn’t just about her daughter’s job; it was also a personal encouragement. After all, being able to say
Mr. Lynch ate my ribs and licked his fingers
was something to brag about.
Well, maybe she wouldn’t say it outright, but she’d drop hints, and people would react with that complex mix of envy, jealousy, and admiration. In a time like this, that might be one of the few sources of joy.
“Oh dear, look at me…” Helen’s mother hurriedly handed him a napkin. Lynch thanked her and wiped his hands.
Helen didn’t know what to say. Her heart was racing. She suddenly became tongue-tied, though there were many things she wanted to ask—like why he refused to see her earlier when she went to the address on his card.
Or how he knew where she lived, since she’d never told him.
Or…
So many questions, so many words, yet she didn’t know how to begin. Maybe it was her pounding heart—she felt overwhelmed.
“I saw your sister. I heard her illness is rather unique, isn’t it?”
Lynch’s question pulled Helen back to reality. She quickly responded, “Yes, Mr. Lynch. She has a very strange condition…”
Her sister’s illness wasn’t typical. It was life-threatening at any moment—but also manageable, if you had money.
The disease caused uncontrollable muscle spasms throughout the body, extremely painful. If you’ve ever felt something like it, you’d understand.
It could affect breathing and heart function—similar to allergic reactions. Most allergies are mild: rashes, itchiness, mild swelling. But if the trachea, lungs, or heart react, it could be fatal.
Every year, people in the Federation die from allergic-induced suffocation or anaphylactic shock. Helen’s sister’s condition was like that. With daily physical therapy and muscle relaxants, she could live like a normal person.
Without treatment, though, her condition would worsen.
Even worse, her mental state and environment could also trigger episodes—making things even more complicated.
This hadn’t been a problem before. Her parents had good jobs, and Helen herself got into a major company right after graduating, with their help. But the financial crisis ruined everything.
At this point, Helen grew nervous. She looked at Lynch and hesitantly asked, “Did I get the job?”
She clasped her hands, fingers interlaced, with a pleading expression like a small animal showing its vulnerable side.
Lynch’s face showed no clear reaction. He even looked serious. This made Helen’s heart sink. When he shook his head, she felt despair and nearly gave up.
“I’ve thought about it all day. I can’t think of anyone more suitable than you,” Lynch finally said.
It took her a moment to realize what he meant. She wasn’t even sure if she heard correctly, or if he said what she hoped he did. She had to confirm, “So… I got the job?”
This time, Lynch nodded. “Yes. That’s one way to put it.”
She no longer cared about being
messed with
earlier. After a burst of excitement and rushing to tell her parents—who had already gone back to their room—she returned, still breathless, to Lynch’s side.
She was thrilled. She had no idea what her salary would be, but she was sure it wouldn’t be low.
Even if Lynch was stingy, he still had to follow federal law, right?
The minimum wage in Eminence would get her about 310 Sol a month. That might not fix their life immediately, but at least they wouldn’t keep sliding downhill.
This glimmer of hope in the darkness made her incredibly happy. Every cell in her body felt like it was singing. She tried to appear composed, but the smile kept breaking through.
“You don’t know… I really, really needed this job!” she said, trying to explain her over-the-top joy. “I’m just so happy!”
“I can tell,” Lynch replied.
Then came the curiosity. “Can I ask… why me?”
“Why did I get this job? You said it yourself—there must be people more qualified. Why me?”
“I’m not the prettiest, or the most capable. Why did you choose me?” Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. Every girl has a soft side. In moments of heightened emotion, strange thoughts tend to slip in.
Why not me as the destined one?
Who says I can’t be?
She looked at Lynch, trying to steady her rapid breathing, waiting seriously for his answer.
Lynch looked back. In that moment, in Helen’s eyes, he was perfect—from head to toe, even the dead skin on his heels seemed to glow.
Sometimes emotions erupt without warning.
She took a step forward, her trembling lashes betraying her feelings. They were close now, and the air between them felt charged.
If this were a movie set, the next scene would be the long-awaited kiss. But Lynch’s thought process wasn’t exactly normal.
He suddenly stepped back. “I can’t imagine how awful it’d be to taste garlic while kissing. How about brushing your teeth first?”
Helen froze. Then her face flushed red—so red that it looked like a single poke could make it burst and bleed.
She hadn’t eaten lunch, and on the way home, starving, she’d bought a garlic-filled meat pie. She didn’t want her family to know how bad things were. But now Lynch had just said it aloud, and she wanted to vanish into thin air.
Utter humiliation.
She turned to flee, but Lynch grabbed her and pulled her back. Now close enough to smell her breath, he leaned back slightly.
“You asked why I picked you. You’re right.”
“There are girls better than you. Graduates from elite universities, even from the Saint Harmony Society’s Academy.”
“Some are stunning—just looking at them, you’d already be wondering which cigarette to smoke afterward.”
“You’re not the best, and you’re not the most beautiful…”
Lynch reached through her hair and gently touched her burning cheek. “But you need this more than anyone else. Fate heard your prayers and told me to clear the clouds for you…”
Dinner continued. After a brief moment to settle her emotions, Helen and her family sat with Lynch, enjoying the generous meal.
In fact, Lynch had arrived even earlier than Helen had expected. He had even thoughtfully paid an advance on her salary, solving the awkward situation of her parents not having anything to serve him.
As they ate, Helen saw the relaxed smiles on her parents’ faces and her sister chatting quietly with Lynch. It felt like all their worries had vanished with his arrival.
Never before—Helen had never experienced what it felt like to breathe so freely, without the weight of stress and anxiety. She smiled. The clouds that had blocked out the sun slowly drifted away, and a ray of light pierced through the grey, shining into her heart. In that moment, she felt nothing but gratitude.
Gratitude for Lynch. Gratitude for fate. Gratitude for everything.
After dinner, her parents, tactfully, took her sister and retired to their room, leaving the living room to Lynch and Helen.
Sitting on the couch, Lynch commented on the meal. “It might not be as refined as what a top hotel chef would make, but you know what? Your mother’s dinner made me think of one word—home.”
“It has that unique family taste. Not stunning, not overwhelming, and not overly complex. Just simple, warm, and full of joy…”
Lounging on the couch, Helen looked at him and suddenly asked, “Wanna try it?”
Lynch looked confused. “Try what?”
“I brushed my teeth in secret just now. No garlic tonight. Want to try it?”