Chapter 16: I’ll Handle Everything

"What is it?"

Julian Kingston frowned. "Don't panic. Tell me slowly."

Willow Avery pinched her palm, forcing herself to calm down.

"The morning I left the club... someone took photos of me. They’re saying... saying that I’m working in an indecent industry outside of school..."

Initially, there was nothing wrong with the club; school classes often had gatherings there.

However, Julian’s appearance, combined with the fact that her contacts had been deleting comments, had triggered a backlash in some people.

Countless messy accusations were being hurled at her.

People had identified her clothes as a niche luxury brand, and the bag she carried was equally expensive.

Coupled with the fact that she lived off-campus and had a boyfriend with such outstanding temperament and looks—yet claimed he was her "uncle"—the rumors reached a fever pitch.

As the debate raged, someone posted a video.

The video was from seven in the morning; Willow, wearing crumpled clothes, was seen hurriedly entering a clothing store.

[Captured this by chance. I was just purely curious at the time, didn't expect the protagonist to be Willow Avery.]

Gossip always travels exceptionally fast. In just a few minutes, Willow became the subject of discussion for countless people.

All sorts of speculations arose.

Among them were comments adamantly claiming she was selling herself.

"My counselor just called me," Willow bit her lower lip, her eyes rimmed with red. "He said he needs to contact my parents. Uncle Julian, my grandparents are old, I don't want them to worry. Could you please help me?"

At the end of the day, it was her own fault.

If she hadn't drunk so much and hadn't entered the wrong room, none of this would have happened.

Julian’s gaze darkened. "I’m coming back now."

Afraid of troubling him too much, Willow said, "Tomorrow would be fine too..."

"I can't wait." Julian placed his phone on the bed and began changing his clothes. "Don't hang up. I’ll handle everything."

Hearing this, Willow’s restless heart gradually steadied.

With his help, it should be fine.

It’s just that... she was a burden to him.

Because of her, he was being insulted as well.

She parted her lips, about to say something, when the sound of fabric rubbing came through the phone.

There was even the faint sound of an elastic waistband snapping against skin.

Willow moved the phone a bit further away and covered her face.

She knew those sounds so well because that morning, her uncle had dressed right in front of her...

She had accidentally caught a glimpse.

"Willow?"

Julian’s voice rang out, and Willow quickly brought the phone back. "Uncle Julian, I’m here."

Julian grabbed his jacket and headed out. "An hour and a half."

He looked at the young girl on the screen—her eyes red, nodding obediently at him—and some words were on the tip of his tongue.

But in the end, he only softened his voice:

"Don't be afraid."

...

Willow had lived in Riverford since childhood; her family was well-off, and her teachers and classmates were always polite but distant.

She was a top student in everyone's eyes and had never been the subject of vulgar rumors.

Experiencing this for the first time, her mind was in a mess.

She could only keep listening to the movements through the phone for comfort.

She heard Julian hail a taxi, buy a ticket, board the high-speed train, then get off and rush toward the penthouse.

When the sound of the smart lock echoed, she dashed out of the bedroom and ran toward the entryway.

Seeing the expected figure, Willow couldn't help but feel her eyes burn.

"Uncle Julian..."

The person in Julian’s field of vision was wearing light pink pajamas, her long hair draped over her shoulders, making her palm-sized face look exceptionally pale and fragile.

In her rush to run out, she hadn't even put on slippers.

His heart sank. He walked to her side and gently rested his hand on the top of her head.

His voice was deep: "Leave it to me."

"Uncle Julian..."

Willow couldn't help but pull at the man’s sleeve, as if only this could give her a sense of security.

"I'm sorry to trouble you."

Julian looked at her seriously with his dark eyes. "It’s no trouble. Willow, as long as it concerns you, it’s never a trouble."

Willow’s heart skipped a beat.

The man took her hand, pulled a new pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet, and placed them at her feet.

"Put them on. I’ll go to school with you tomorrow."

Only then did Willow realize she had been in such a hurry that she forgot her shoes.

Embarrassed, she put them on and hesitated before speaking: "Uncle Julian, as long as the counselor doesn't tell my family, that's enough. I don't care about the other messy rumors."

She wasn't exactly "innocent" to begin with...

The two of them really had slept together.

"Willow, those aren't things you should be considering," Julian’s gaze fell on her face. "You only need to trust me."

Meeting the man's deep, dark eyes, Willow nodded gently. "Okay."

The next morning, Julian took Willow to school.

The forum incident had caused quite a stir. As soon as the two entered the school gates, countless gazes turned toward them.

"Is she that Willow Avery from the freshman Classical Dance department?"

"How does that man look like her uncle? He’s too young, isn't he? Looks like he’s only a few years older than her."

"They don't even look alike. Maybe he’s her sugar daddy."

"Wow, if a sugar daddy looks like that, I’m down too."

Hearing their discussion, Willow couldn't help but quicken her pace.

Beside her, Julian grabbed her wrist and looked toward the group of people.

"Classmates, we live in a society ruled by law. Defamation is a crime."

The man had a powerful aura, and the group immediately turned and left sullenly.

Willow let out a small sigh of relief and gave Julian a relaxed smile. "Uncle Julian, tha—"

Before she could finish, a boy suddenly rushed toward them.

"Willow, I know you’re being framed by rumors. Don't care what others say, I believe you. Be my girlfriend!"

Jace Miller held a bouquet of flowers and knelt on one knee in front of her.

He had specifically worn a white shirt, looking incredibly formal.

There were even supportive classmates surrounding them.

"Say yes! Say yes!"

Willow was stunned by his actions.

She wanted to step forward to help Jace up, but her wrist was held firmly by Julian.

She couldn't move easily.

She could only say to him, "Senior, what are you doing? we've only known each other for a few days."

"Actually, it was love at first sight, I was just too shy to say it before."

Jace smiled sheepishly. "I saw the forum posts. I thought about it all night and finally came up with a brilliant plan. If you agree to be my girlfriend, the rumors will collapse on their own. After all, no man wants to be seen as a cuckold."

Willow: "..."

She couldn't quite understand his logic.

After all, others could also call him a "rebound guy"...

But...

"Senior, thank you for thinking of me, but I’m fine," she pointed to the man beside her. "My uncle will explain the situation to the counselor."

Julian’s cold eyes swept over him, his voice sounding like it was laced with ice:

"Willow is not dating."

Jace shivered.

But he had carefully planned this today.

With Willow deep in rumors, him stepping out to protect her would definitely win him a huge amount of goodwill.

No girl could refuse such a scene.

Thinking of this, he summoned his courage and looked at Willow: "Willow, I’m sincere. I swear I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life. Give me a chance, please?"

Willow wanted to answer, but Julian pulled her behind him first.

He looked down at the man before him, who was about twenty years old.

Young, sunny, talkative.

The exact type Adrian said young girls would like.

So, naturally, he—

Refused directly.

"You aren't worthy of her."