Chapter 7: Do You Like It?

Tonic for his health?

Willow felt that Julian Kingston didn't seem to need it much.

He was... quite powerful in all aspects.

"May I come in?"

Julian’s voice drifted from outside the door. Willow hurriedly responded, "Please come in, Uncle Julian."

Julian brought a plate of shredded chicken and vegetable salad to her. "Skipping meals is bad for your stomach. This is a fat-loss meal; you won't gain weight."

Willow thanked him. Hearing him mention her stomach reminded her of what Luna Hayes had said about health supplements, so she asked, "Uncle Julian, do you usually focus on holistic wellness?"

"Mm," Julian watched the girl slowly nibbling on her vegetables like a little rabbit. He spoke slowly, "Doesn't everyone focus on that these days?"

"I see..."

Willow had an epiphany.

However, what should she buy to supplement his health?

She only knew about things like ginseng and deer antler.

But wouldn't those common items be too ordinary for someone like Uncle Julian?

Julian watched the girl as her mind wandered, her cheeks puffing out like a hamster.

A bit of cherry tomato juice stained her lip.

Just like that night, her lips were coated in a glistening moisture, bright and sparkling.

The veins on the hand resting at his side slowly bulged until his fist clenched tight.

He shifted his direction toward the door. "Get some rest early."

"Oh, okay."

Willow sat up straight holding the plate, watching Julian leave.

After the door closed, she felt a bit hesitant.

Did she hear wrong?

Why did Uncle Julian’s voice sound so hoarse?

...

There were no classes the next morning. By the time Willow woke up, Julian had already gone to work, leaving her a message on her phone.

He had arranged everything, from breakfast to a driver; she didn't have to worry about a thing.

Looking at the lavish breakfast on the table, Willow couldn't help but sigh—Uncle Julian really looked after her as a junior.

She decided to go buy the supplements right away.

Getting into the car Julian had arranged, she gave the driver the name of a Chinese pharmacy.

Twenty minutes later, Willow walked inside.

"Excuse me, do you have any medicinal herbs here for nourishing the body?"

The pharmacist suggested a pulse reading, but Willow shook her head. "I want to give it as a gift. Not ginseng or deer antler, though."

Pharmacist: "Then please provide the age and physical condition of the person. I’ll give you a recommendation."

Willow said, "He is twenty-seven, male, and looks to be in very good health."

The pharmacist was confused at first, then came to a realization.

A man in his prime, yet only looking to be in good health.

Too embarrassed to get the medicine himself, so he sent a girl to ask.

It had to be "kidney yang deficiency."

Willow wanted to say more, but Luna Hayes happened to call her at that moment.

"Willow! The senior who came to guide the class yesterday is coming again today. The teacher said we both missed class yesterday, so we have to go to the dance studio early today. I heard people saying he's super handsome!"

"Is your foot better? Forget it, even if it's not, get over here quickly."

"Miss," the pharmacist turned to pull open a medicine drawer, not noticing Willow was on the phone. "I’ll prepare some kidney-tonifying herbs for you. If the situation still doesn't improve, tell him to come see us in person."

Willow’s ears were filled with Luna’s excited voice.

The pharmacist mentioned something about "tonifying"...

It should all be roughly the same.

She just replied "Okay" to the pharmacist and said to Luna, "What time should I be there?"

"Come now! He's already here," Luna urged her. "Take a taxi, hurry!"

"Okay, I'll be there soon."

As Willow hung up, the pharmacist happened to wrap the medicine and hand it to her. "Here you go."

After paying, Willow took the car to school and asked the driver to drop the herbal package off at the Institute of Integrative Medicine for Julian.

When she entered the dance studio, Luna was chatting happily with a boy.

Hearing the commotion, both turned to look at her at the same time.

A clear flash of admiration appeared in the boy's eyes.

"Willow, you're here!"

Luna ran over and took her arm, whispering, "Handsome, right? Too bad you have a boyfriend."

"No," Willow denied subconsciously. "...I just had an allergic reaction that day."

"Sure, sure. An 'allergic reaction'."

Luna looked like she understood everything perfectly.

She pulled Willow in front of the boy. "Senior, her name is Willow Avery. Willow, this is Jace Miller. Even though he’s only a sophomore, he’s already performed on stage many times because of his outstanding looks and skill."

"Luna is exaggerating," Jace reached out toward Willow. "Willow, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, Senior," Willow shook his hand politely.

When she tried to withdraw her hand, she found she couldn't move it.

She uncomfortably twisted her wrist. "Senior?"

"I’m sorry," Jace smiled apologetically. "I was distracted."

He let go of her hand. "Go change into your dance attire. I'll give you girls some extra coaching today, no secrets held back."

"Thank you, Senior."

Willow breathed a sigh of relief and walked into the changing room with Luna.

Luna was incredibly excited. "Wow, that face, that body, that height! Truly the school hunk. Willow, what do you think of him?"

Since she was asked, Willow thought about it seriously.

His looks weren't as striking as Uncle Julian’s, he wasn't as tall as Uncle Julian, and his aura wasn't as good as Uncle Julian’s.

Summarizing her thoughts, she said, "He's average."

Luna could hardly believe her ears.

A high-quality man like that was "average" in her eyes?

Then there was only one possibility...

"Oh, I get it. You're comparing him to someone, aren't you?" She poked Willow's shoulder, speaking ambiguously, "Thinking about him every day, how sweet."

Hearing this, Willow realized that Uncle Julian’s face had indeed popped into her mind unconsciously just now.

Her face turned red. "I didn't..."

"Right, I understand."

Luna spoke teasingly and then muttered, "But compared to that 'uncle' of yours, he really is a bit lacking."

Willow didn't hear the second half clearly and asked instinctively, "What?"

"Nothing. I'm changed. Hurry up."

Luna waved her off.

After she left, Willow covered her face in frustration.

Uncle Julian was someone to be respected; how could she compare him to others?

How disrespectful.

To stop her mind from wandering further, she decided to express her respect to him immediately.

She took out her phone and sent him a message.

[Uncle Julian, do you like the gift I sent?]