Chapter 23: Out of Spite

Grandpa Sterling pondered the butler’s words for a moment, a possibility flashing through his mind.

"Old Liu, do you think Julian... might like men?"

In the past, the internet wasn't so developed, and he hadn't traveled abroad much.

Now that he traveled frequently, he had seen a lot; same-sex marriage was legal in many foreign countries.

There were even gender reassignments.

"Surely not. Master Julian looks quite normal," the butler comforted him. "In my opinion, Master Julian just has too little contact with girls. Once he spends some time with someone, he’ll want to start a family."

"True," Sterling brushed aside his wild thoughts. "That brat—every time I mention marriage, he hides. I don't even know where he went. Forget it, I won't look for him. While I'm staying at the estate for a while, I’ll start screening potential matches for him first."

The butler asked, "Then will you head back to sleep now?"

"I’ll walk around here for a bit to help digest my food."

After saying this, Sterling began composing poetry directed at the moon in the night sky.

The words flowed incessantly, a torrent of literary inspiration.

Willow, who had been waiting for them to leave: "..."

She hadn't gone out just now, and now she definitely couldn't.

Otherwise, it would look like she was intentionally eavesdropping.

If she were just hiding, it wouldn't be much, but Julian’s presence behind her was far too strong.

The man’s right hand was pressed against her lips, while his left was tightly gripping her waist.

On this early autumn night, the long dress she wore was quite thin. Leaning back against him, she could vaguely feel the contours of his muscles and the metal buckle of the belt pressing against her waist.

Even the silhouette further down was touching her, seemingly or otherwise.

With a flushed face, she shifted uncomfortably. The man’s breath descended, clinging to her ear.

"This rockery is small. Don't move, or we'll be found."

Willow turned her head to look cautiously.

It really did seem a bit small.

Hiding the figures of two people was indeed a struggle.

She could only pray that Grandpa Sterling would leave quickly.

But Grandpa Sterling was currently in high spirits.

He even dragged the butler into joining the poetic creation.

Should she ask her uncle to step back a little? But would that be impolite?

She couldn't help but feel that the two of them looked a bit like... well, what Grandpa Sterling called an affair.

The very scandalous kind.

Julian lowered his eyes.

The young girl in his arms seemed to have something to say; her lips kept brushing against his fingertip.

They were very soft.

Like a tiny kitten nuzzling against someone.

A strange emotion surged in his dark eyes as he asked her in a low voice:

"Are you that eager to pick out a girlfriend for me?"

Hearing his words, Willow parted her lips: "I..."

Families of their status usually arranged marriages.

Most were settled by the age of twenty-five.

A case like Julian’s was indeed rare.

The words of persuasion were on the tip of her tongue, yet she couldn't make a sound.

After a long while, she finally spoke: "Such matters are better decided by Uncle Julian himself. I am an outsider."

After she finished, she waited patiently for Julian to respond.

But he remained silent, though his breathing grew increasingly heavy.

"Uncle Julian," she couldn't help but ask, "did you catch a cold?"

Julian: "I'm just irritated by a mosquito."

Willow blinked her eyes.

Was there a mosquito?

Why didn't she hear one?

After waiting another ten minutes, Grandpa Sterling finally left.

Willow scrambled to break free from Julian’s hold. "Uncle Julian, I dropped my brooch. I need to go find it. You should rest first."

After running a few steps, she turned back with an embarrassed smile: "Um, where are the osmanthus trees? I'm lost."

Julian pointed in a direction, and after thanking him, Willow ran that way.

The man stood where he was, watching her retreating figure.

Her waist was truly slender.

It was just that her words made him unhappy.

...

Willow reached the osmanthus trees and finally found the brooch.

She picked it up carefully, clutched it in her hand, and returned to the second floor of the guest house.

The servants at the Kingston Estate were all men; Grandpa Sterling had long since ordered everyone to stay away from this area.

Perhaps because it was too quiet, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

When she walked downstairs the next morning yawning, the door to the room on the first floor happened to open.

Julian walked out while fastening his shirt, calmly meeting her gaze: "Morning."

Willow’s sleepiness vanished instantly.

"Uncle Julian, aren't you supposed to be in the main house?"

Grandpa’s room and his own were both over there.

Julian’s gaze swept over her face as he said nonchalantly, "I was afraid you'd be scared alone."

Willow hadn't expected that reason. "I—I'm not a child anymore."

"How are you not?" The man strode toward the exit. "Little girl."

For a moment, Willow felt her ears itch.

She rubbed her warming face and followed Julian, one after the other, into the main house.

When they reached the dining room, Grandpa Sterling was already seated at the head of the table.

Seeing Julian, he let out an annoyed huff.

But when he turned to Willow, he was the picture of a kind and doting elder.

"Willa, come and eat."

Willow sat down as requested. Just as she took a sip of milk, the old man spoke up: "I'm not traveling for a while. Why don't you move back to the estate to stay?"