Chapter 34: Very Much Like a S*

It was when changing her clothes that the wig accidentally got stuck.

Since it was a rented item, she couldn't just cut it, and as she blindly fumbled with the zipper, she ended up tangling it even more.

"Luna," she didn't turn her head and couldn't see behind her, only hearing the footsteps. "Take a look at the zipper of my binder, it won't move."

Julian Kingston moved closer to her.

Willow's back was thin and white.

Her hair was draped to one side, exposing a slender neck.

Her delicate waist was small enough to be spanned by a single hand.

And he, in fact, had tried it.

Only when the distance closed did Julian notice the fine sweat beaded on Willow's forehead.

She must have truly been in a lot of pain from the pulling.

Taking a silent, deep breath to suppress certain impulses, he spoke: "It’s me."

Hearing the familiar voice, Willow instinctively covered her chest.

"Uncle Julian, this isn't a place where outsiders can enter..."

The binder covered her more securely than ordinary underwear, but she was still uncomfortable.

The moment her words landed, her hand was caught by the man.

Willow was startled: "Uncle Julian?"

In the next instant, her palm touched his eyes.

Julian’s deep voice followed immediately: "Block them, I’ll help you."

Willow understood.

He wanted to put her at ease by ensuring he couldn't see.

But she couldn't even unfasten it while looking; could her uncle manage it?

Just as she thought this, the sound of the zipper slid open.

Her hair could move now.

Julian asked her: "All done?"

"Yes."

Willow tried to pull the zipper up, but it was inconvenient with one hand.

If she retracted the hand blocking her uncle's eyes, he would see...

After weighing it back and forth, she said: "Uncle Julian, how about you turn around first."

"Mm."

Julian acknowledged, smoothly pulling up the zipper for her before turning around.

Willow’s mind went blank for a split second.

Did her uncle’s behavior just now equate to undressing her and then putting it back on...

She felt she ought to sternly tell him that this was wrong between them.

But for some reason, she didn't seem to reject him all that much.

She had heard her classmates say that liking someone means not refusing them.

Disliking someone means not taking responsibility.

She seemed to occupy both traits.

Very much like a s***...

Forget it, don't think about it; it was impossible between the two of them anyway.

Quickly changing her clothes, she looked at Julian, who stood with his hands behind his back.

The man wore a white shirt, a standard textbook definition of broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

His short hair was neatly combed, and his entire being radiated a sense of coldness.

Willow shook her head, trying hard to fling out the messy thoughts.

"Uncle Julian, I'm ready."

Julian turned around, his features composed and calm.

His gaze fell upon Willow's head: "No need to take down the hair?"

"There are a lot of hairpins in this, I need someone to help." Seeing that Julian showed no intention of leaving, Willow said uncomfortably, "They went outside to watch Senior Jace perform. It’s the fourth act, so they should be back very soon."

"Jace Miller?" Julian asked nonchalantly. "He is very popular?"

"Yes," with the two of them alone in a single space, Willow just found random topics to chat about. "His technique is excellent, and he is a good person too."

Julian’s face darkened slightly.

"You also think he’s quite good?"

"Yes," Willow nodded, speaking thoughtlessly. "Uncle Julian, if you interact with him more, you will also find that he is a very good person."

Julian: "There won't be a chance."

"What do you mean no chance?" Willow was puzzled.

The man didn't answer, stepping behind her: "Sit down, I’ll take down your hair."

Willow took a step back: "No need, Uncle Julian, it’s not good if people see."

"What is not good?" Julian asked her faintly. "Don't you call me uncle?"

Willow blinked her eyes.

Being her uncle made it even more awkward, didn't it?

"Or," Julian pressed closer step by step, "are you thinking about things you shouldn't be thinking about?"

Willow: !!

"No, not at all, Uncle Julian. My feelings toward you are purely of respect, the exact same kind I have for Grandpa Sterling."

She explained, but the gaze of the man before her only grew increasingly deep.

"..."

It seemed she still had to use action to prove her innocence.

Deflated, she sat down on the chair: "Uncle Julian, I’ll trouble you."

The hairpins on her head were removed one by one.

Very soon, the wig was also taken off.

Willow had been keeping her head lowered, and only now did she dare to secretly lift her eyes, glancing toward the mirror in front of her.

The man stood behind her, his eyelashes slightly lowered.

His well-defined fingers lightly touched her hair.

Occasionally halting his movements, twisting the ends of her hair.

And just as Willow was about to let her mind wander, he released his grip in a timely manner.

From her perspective, it felt as if centuries had passed before Julian finally finished.

"See if there are any other problems?"

"No."

Willow picked up a comb to tidy her hair, asking about Sterling Kingston: "Where is Grandpa Sterling?"

Julian frowned: "I’ll make a call."

He had been worried that Jace wasn't the only one harboring affection for Willow, so he had impulsively come straight to the backstage area.

He had actually neglected his own father.

The call connected; it was the butler.

"Master Julian, the Master has gone to the hospital for oxygen therapy. Why don't you come over?"

Hearing the words coming from the phone, Willow was incredibly worried: "Uncle Julian, shall we go over right now?"

With something happening to the old man, she couldn't sit still for a single moment.

Moreover, the problem had arisen because he came to support her.

Julian asked for the hospital address, intending to go over with Willow.

Exiting the preparation room door, Willow felt a bit of discomfort in her stomach.

"Uncle Julian, wait for me a moment, I need to use the restroom."

With that, she ran toward the bathroom.

On her way, she happened to run into her classmates who were returning from watching Jace finish his performance.

"Willow," Luna Hayes called her. "Where is your uncle?"

"Over there." Willow pointed in the direction of the preparation room, hurriedly entering the restroom.

"Ah? He’s already here?"

Luna quickly tidied her hair, smoothed her posture, and walked toward the preparation room.

After a few steps, she saw Julian Kingston.

The man was leaning against the wall, looking down at his phone.

Even a casual motion like this made her heart thud incessantly.

The classmates crowded around Luna: "Luna, you’re a textbook definition of a rich socialite; he will absolutely say yes to you."

"Strike first to gain the upper hand. A man like this definitely doesn't lack pursuers."

"Luna, we’re rooting for you!"

Listening to their words, Luna gained quite a bit of confidence.

She walked up to Julian, greeting him nervously: "Hello, Willow’s uncle."

Julian lifted his eyelids: "Is something the matter?"

Being close to him at such a short distance, Luna felt as if her heart were about to leap out.

The man possessed a striking presence from afar, but only up close did one realize that his features were refined to total perfection.

"Yes, there is," Luna summoned her courage, letting the words out. "I like you. May I ask if you could date me?"

Julian’s cold face showed not a single ripple of emotion.

He spoke directly and bluntly: "No."

Luna froze on the spot.

How was that possible?

She had good looks and a good family background; how could he not agree to her?

Unwilling to accept it, she pressed further: "Do you already have someone you like?"

Being stared at by a crowd was already something Julian disliked, and now she was asking these superfluous questions.

His patience had reached its limit.

"Classmate," he spoke in a cold voice, "you are blocking the way."

The man’s aura was formidable, and Luna instinctively took two steps back.

Julian bypassed her, walking toward Willow who was approaching from over here.

Reaching her side, he very naturally took the backpack off her shoulder.

Lowering his head slightly, he listened intently to her words.

The attitude was worlds apart.

Luna watched blankly, her chest feeling incredibly tight.

Beside her, a classmate spoke up:

"Are these two really uncle and niece?"

"Could it be that Willow is playing us for fools? How could her uncle come to the backstage area? Besides, when we left, she seemed to be changing clothes, right? And her hair—none of us were around, how did she take it down herself?"

"I’m telling you, while on stage, I was paying attention to her dance dress the entire time. Those are real diamonds; the light they reflect is completely different. Would an uncle be willing to spend this much money? It’s definitely a boyfriend."

"I also think it’s a boyfriend. Luna, Willow is too much. She lied to you saying her boyfriend was her uncle, playing you like a fiddle."

The more Luna listened, the more irritated she became.

Previously, she had coaxed Willow into thinking she was her best friend, and she had even deleted forum posts for her to build up goodwill.

It was all because of Julian Kingston.

And now, she had actually lied to her.

It truly made her furious.