Chapter 19: Girlfriend

Julian Kingston’s dark eyes turned deep in an instant.

The veins on his neck bulged slightly.

He hadn't intended to dwell on it, but the young girl’s words had forced a physical reaction out of him.

Turning his body slightly away, he said, "I know."

"Do you really know?"

Willow’s voice was trembling.

The last time the two of them accidentally slept together, it was because she had seduced him.

Would he think she was doing it on purpose this time too?

He might even let his mind wander and assume she wanted to sleep with him again.

The more she thought, the more uneasy she became. She bit her lip and explained, "I—I really didn't want to sleep with you."

Julian: "Ahem..."

Were these things one could just say out loud?

He took a deep breath, suppressing the clamoring impulse within him. "It’s late. Hurry up and go to sleep."

Willow’s almond-shaped eyes widened.

What did that mean?

Did he want to relive that night with her?

And he was telling her to hurry?

"I can't," she shook her head frantically. "The first time was... understandable, but a second time would be a deliberate and intentional mess of whatever."

Julian pressed his fingers against his brow. "I meant, go back to your own room to sleep."

Willow: "..."

She desperately wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into.

Embarrassed beyond words, she curled her back and left the room without even saying goodbye.

Back in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She slapped her own forehead in frustration.

She must have lost her mind; otherwise, how could she have said something like that?

No, she had to think of a solution.

She picked up her phone and searched for a while, finding one piece of advice that seemed reliable:

[The first step to respecting someone begins with addressing them as 'You' in the formal sense.]

Excellent. She would implement this starting tomorrow.

...

Early the next morning.

When Willow opened her door, she happened to run into Julian.

His hair was dripping with water, and his body radiated a cold chill.

Adopting a respectful attitude, Willow reminded him, "If You don't blow-dry Your hair, You'll catch a cold easily."

Julian’s gaze fell on the girl.

The formal "You" she used sounded particularly unpleasant to his ears.

It made it feel as if the generational gap between them had grown even wider.

Besides, he didn't enjoy taking cold showers in the morning either.

The stimulation she gave him last night had been quite significant; he had dreamed of her.

Swaying her supple body to seduce him.

Like a little succubus.

After breakfast, Julian arrived at the hospital on time.

After Adrian Cross came over and shot him a glance, he brought a handful of goji berries and dumped them all into Julian’s thermos.

Julian: ?

"Buddy, supplement a little," Adrian pointed to the area under Julian’s eyes. "Dark circles are already showing. No wonder you rushed back the night before last and even took yesterday off. I suspect..." He gave a suggestive look at Julian’s lower body, "...you've been drained dry?"

Julian’s face darkened. "...No."

"Huh?" Seeing his sour expression, Adrian’s mind wandered. "Were you rejected for being 'no good' again?"

Julian lifted his eyelids. "I can make you 'no good'."

Adrian immediately covered his mouth and bolted.

This guy was definitely capable of doing it.

Jealousy, pure jealousy of him being a "thirteen-times-a-night" stallion.

...

Under the circumstances of Willow deliberately maintaining her distance, a week passed peacefully.

Perhaps because she truly respected him in her heart now, she no longer molested Julian in her dreams.

She only dreamed of massaging his legs and pounding his back.

It was a picture of a perfectly devoted junior and a kind elder.

She just wondered if her uncle's work hadn't been going well lately.

Despite her being so respectful to him, his attitude had instead become colder.

Just like it was when she saw him three years ago.

With these thoughts, Willow walked out of the school gates.

She expected the driver to pick her up, but to her surprise, it was Julian.

His finish time at work was usually later than her class end time; she had been taking the driver’s car for a week already.

Willow trotted to the car and greeted him: "Uncle Julian, You're here."

Julian pressed his brow. "The old man called. He's back from his travels and wants us over for dinner tonight."

Willow knew Grandpa Sterling enjoyed traveling the world; every time he went out, the duration was uncertain.

"Can we go back to the penthouse first? I prepared a gift when I first came to Riverford."

Before school started, she had visited the Kingston residence, but the old man was away traveling.

The matter had been delayed until now.

Then she moved into her uncle's home, staying there until the present.

Julian nodded and drove back to the penthouse. Seeing the box of antique prayer beads the girl brought out, he knew she had put thought into it.

The old man did indeed like such things.

Willow held the box. "Shall we go?"

Julian looked at the clothes she was wearing.

Unlike other wealthy young ladies, she always rotated between just a few outfits.

"Wait." He took out his phone. "What brand of clothes do you like? I’ll have someone deliver some."

"Is there something wrong with what I'm wearing?"

Willow looked down at herself.

A white top and light-colored jeans.

A universal outfit.

"It’s not new enough," Julian said, deciding to use his father as an excuse to prevent her from refusing. "The old man has a sharp eye. If he sees you poorly dressed, he’ll blame me."

Willow hadn't expected that clothes not being "new enough" would be a problem too.

To save Julian from trouble, she said, "Any brand is fine, just one piece."

She spent most of her time at school in dance attire, so she wasn't very particular about her casual clothes.

Buying too many would be a waste.

Julian placed a call and calmly reported her height and measurements.

Standing beside him, Willow was so shocked she began to cough.

How did he know so accurately?

Did he... did he secretly measure her?

Recalling the previous instance of her speaking without thinking, she didn't dare ask and kept the words to herself.

However, the man turned around and answered calmly, "I have a very good memory."

Willow: "?"

Julian: "Whatever I have seen, I do not forget."

Those few words caused Willow’s almond-shaped eyes to widen.

Did he mean what she thought he meant?

But the man's expression was so flat that she felt she was overthinking again.

She slapped her cheeks, forcing herself to throw the messy thoughts out of her head.

He probably just saw her clothing sizes.

After brainwashing herself for a while, she finally calmed down.

By then, the delivery person had arrived.

They pushed in two racks of clothes.

Willow looked on in shock. "Why are there so many?"

She recognized the brands—luxury labels.

A single piece cost tens of thousands.

"Pick something that catches your eye," Julian said. He walked over to the racks and pulled out a long dress. "This one won't do. The bust is too small."

Willow looked over in disbelief.

For a moment, she really wanted to cover his mouth.

Even though the accompanying sales assistant was female, she was still mortified.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kingston," the saleswoman stepped forward and took the dress from Julian’s hand. "The other sizes should fit your girlfriend perfectly."