Chapter 46: Want Me to Carry You Up?

"Ride the horse back."

Hearing Julian Kingston's words, Willow Avery shook her head decisively.

Riding the same horse.

They would be too close.

Julian extended his hand to her. "You finally got a chance to come here; won't it be a regret to go back without experiencing it properly?"

Willow actually quite liked horseback riding.

She was just not very proficient.

Moreover, this horse was very tall today, and its temperament was unpredictable, leaving her somewhat terrified.

As if seeing through the thoughts in her mind, Julian took the initiative to pull the reins.

"You get up, and I’ll lead the horse as we walk back."

Willow didn't want to trouble him.

She refused: "Uncle Julian, how about you ride the horse and I walk back."

Julian looked at her calmly. "Want me to carry you up?"

Willow: !!

Forget it.

She would climb up herself.

With her previous experience mounting the horse, she didn't expend much effort this time and sat on the horse's back.

Julian gripped the reins tightly, walking back at an unhurried pace.

Willow was very tense at first, deeply fearing the horse would exhibit some drastic behavior again.

But it didn't.

It was exceptionally well-behaved.

It would even occasionally nuzzle against the back of Julian's hand.

Wait a minute...

Willow suddenly remembered that Grandpa Sterling said this was the Kingston family's stables.

Could her uncle be very familiar with this horse?

Finally, as the horse drew close to Julian once more, Willow couldn't help but open her mouth to ask: "Uncle Julian, are you quite familiar with this horse?"

"Mm, I raised it."

Julian stroked its head, looking at Willow with a half-smile. "Why?"

Willow: "..."

She felt a sense of being calculated against, but she had no evidence.

He couldn't possibly be retaliating for the words she said the day she had a fever...

Sensing her own guilt, she dryly shifted the topic: "Uncle Julian, are you really not proficient in treating waists? Somehow in my subconscious, I felt your technique was quite good."

A faint curve lifted Julian's thin lips.

"It depends on the person."

Hearing this, a question mark popped up in Willow's head.

Depends on what person?

But come to think of it, she had only seen Julian for a medical consultation once in total.

In their subsequent interactions, he had never helped treat her waist.

Why would she think he was very skilled in this area?

After thinking all along the way, she finally remembered.

That night, her waist had been far too sore, and he had rubbed it for her.

It had been incredibly comfortable.

Willow's face felt a bit hot.

Why did she have to split hairs over this specific detail?

Great, now her mind was filled with images unsuitable for children again.

...

Luna Hayes's injuries were not severe. A circle of emergency doctors surrounded her: "Miss Hayes, you must ride horses frequently, right? Someone who fell off a horse's back just like you previously ended up lying in the hospital for a month."

"It’s because Mr. Kingston's medical skills are good."

Luna let out a smile to mask her thoughts.

She did indeed ride horses frequently, and she understood emergency measures very well.

She hadn't injured her waist at all; just now was purely her method to attract Julian Kingston's attention.

Regrettably, it seemed he had seen through it.

Otherwise, why would he only set her arm back in place for her?

"Luna, how are you doing?"

Willow pushed the door open and walked in, reaching her side. "Should we go to the hospital to check it over again?"

"No need," Luna lay on the bed, pulling her hand over. "Willow, I was in too much pain just now and was a bit fierce with you. You won't blame me, will you?"

Willow shook her head. "Don't do this next time."

After saying that, she inquired about the specific situation with the doctor.

Only after hearing the doctor's reply that it wouldn't have a major impact on her dancing in the future did she let her heart settle.

Luna looked at her, her eyes darting around.

She tugged at her sleeve.

"Willow, come over here, I have something to say to you."

Willow leaned her body down close.

Luna opened her mouth to speak: "Your uncle's medical skills are so good; which hospital does he work at? My grandfather's legs and feet are somewhat inconvenient, and I want to take him to visit when the time comes."

Hearing her bring up an elder in her family, Willow told her.

She then cautioned: "Uncle Julian's appointments are quite difficult to book; you have to do it a week in advance."

During that visit to the hospital for treatment, she had booked an appointment for an ordinary doctor.

Because that doctor had a temporary matter, she had been transferred to the expert clinic.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have met Julian Kingston either.

Luna nodded repeatedly, holding her hand happily:

"Willow, you truly are my best friend."

Best friend?

If it were before, Willow might have been without a single doubt.

But the things that happened these past few days...

Just then, Grandpa Sterling called.

"Willa, are you having fun?"

"It’s quite fun, Grandpa Sterling."

Willow glanced at Luna. She originally intended to mention the matter of her injury, but the latter shook her head at her.

Grandpa Sterling continued to ask: "How is your uncle getting along with that girl?"

What he kept on his mind the most was the matter of finding a daughter-in-law.

Not hearing Willow speak, Grandpa Sterling beat his chest and stamped his feet: "It can't be a failure again, can it? It's truly infuriating me; at my age, his actions are about to trigger my heart disease!"

"Old Mr. Kingston," Luna took Willow's phone, speaking sweetly, "Mr. Kingston and I are getting along very well. You can rest your heart in your stomach."

Grandpa Sterling said in surprise: "Luna?"

He had originally wanted to quietly look into it.

After all, for marriage, the right of decision lay in Julian's hands.

He knew his own son's temperament; if he didn't like someone, he would absolutely never compromise.

"Old Mr. Kingston, to be honest with you," Luna smiled shyly, "I like Mr. Kingston very much, and I want to work hard to try."

Her straightforward approach caught Grandpa Sterling by surprise instead.

"Alright, then you keep it up."

Luna's eyes curved into crescents as she listened.

After exchanging a few casual pleasantries, she hung up the call and returned the phone to Willow.

She blinked at her: "Before long, you’ll be able to call me Auntie."

...

Several medical staff lifted Luna into the car to send her home.

Willow originally wanted to follow along. After all, she was injured at the Kingston family's property, so it would count as carrying out proper etiquette fully, but she was stopped by Julian.

She turned back to look at him in bewilderment.

The meaning was self-evident.

Why stop her.

Julian's gaze fell on her face.

The young girl looked as if she were angry, her cheeks puffing out slightly.

Coquettish and full of vitality.

Paired with the equestrian attire on her body, it made it impossible to look away.

He opened his mouth slowly: "Going to her house, are you planning to discuss how to help her win me over, or do you want to change your phrasing and call her Auntie tonight?"

Willow's eyes widened instantly.

Her jaw dropped unconsciously.

"Uncle Julian, why are you eavesdropping on our conversation..."

She didn't actually intend to do any matchmaking.

Putting herself in those shoes, she also didn't like being forced to be together with someone by others.

"It’s impossible between her and me," Julian's gaze remained fixed on her the entire time. "In my view, love is love at first sight; it is a desire triggered by looks."

"So that's how it is..."

Willow thought for a bit, looking at him cautiously. "Then you haven't found a girlfriend for so long; is it because you haven't encountered the looks you like?"

Julian: "..."

Seeing Julian didn't object, Willow continued: "Uncle Julian, your standards are quite high."

He was twenty-seven years old, yet none had caught his eye.

Julian felt a bit of a headache.

Was his behavior not obvious enough?

He raised his hand to grip her wrist: "Go back first."

Willow followed him for a stretch of road before reacting that this posture between the two of them was inappropriate.

She quickly withdrew her hand.

Julian perceived it, unobtrusively tightening his hand into a fist.

The two soon returned to the Kingston Estate.

Grandpa Sterling mysteriously pulled Willow aside, wanting to ask her about matters regarding the stables.

Julian called out to stop them.

"Dad, did you take the medicine given to you?"

"What medicine of yours, Brain Damage Pills..." As he spoke, Grandpa Sterling suddenly reacted. "You rascal, are you covertly insulting your father again? Uncle Liu, bring over the spiked mace I just bought!"

Julian's eyelids twitched, and he spoke calmly: "Don't make things difficult for Willow."

With a single sentence, Grandpa Sterling understood his meaning.

No feeling, no progress.

Asking Willow, she would only pick nice words to comfort him anyway.

"You brat!"

Grandpa Sterling had a headache.

Since his own son had said so, he naturally wouldn't go and ask Willow anymore.

He could only wave his hand at them: "Go and rest."

After Willow returned to her room, she then remembered the matter of the consultation fee Julian had mentioned.

She went to the WeChat interface to send him a message.

[Uncle Julian, how much is Luna's consultation fee? I'll transfer it to you.]

The man replied with three words: [Owe it for now.]

Willow replied with a "good," then asked: [I want to visit Luna tomorrow. For her condition, are there any dietary restrictions?]

Respected Uncle Julian: [No need.]

Willow looked at the words on the screen in bewilderment.

Did her uncle send it to the wrong person?

She opened the chat box with Luna Hayes.

[Luna, are you free tomorrow? I'll come visit you?]

Luna replied very quickly: [No need, Willow, I've been hospitalized. It will probably take a week before I can be discharged.]

[Which hospital?]

[Oh, it's a minor issue. Just attend classes as usual, don't worry about me.]

Seeing she didn't want to say for now, Willow didn't press further either, taking her pajamas into the bathroom to shower.

Only when she touched the water did she perceive that something was amiss.

It was likely that there was an issue with the saddle today; her skin had been chafed.

There was some on the inner side of her thighs, and additionally, there was...

She instantly became uncomfortable.

Enduring the pain to finish her shower, she walked out of the door limping.

It just so happened that Julian passed by.

Noticing her abnormality, he asked: "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, my leg cramped."

Willow found a random excuse, passing by Julian's side in a hurry.

Walking too fast, she accidentally rubbed against the wound and couldn't help but let out a soft cry.

Looking at the young girl's receding figure, Julian suddenly remembered today's saddle.

That horse was his.

The saddle was made on the firmer side according to his preference, without any soft padding spread over it.

Coupled with the fact that equestrian attire was quite thin this season, and the young girl's skin was delicate, scraping around the knees was inevitable.

It was his oversight.

Thinking of this, he turned into his bedroom, grabbed a tube of ointment, and knocked on Willow's door.

"Uncle Julian?"

Looking at the ointment handed in front of her, Willow accepted it hesitantly: "For me?"

"Mm," Julian responded, "Treats chafing."

Cha... fing?

Willow's hand squeezing the ointment shook slightly.

How did he know she was injured down there?

Could it be...

"Did you secretly watch me?"

Julian: ?

"What?"

Willow's eyes turned red instantly: "...This matter is wrong."

Julian ran her words through his mind twice before he understood.

The young girl thought he had pried into her privacy.

He pressed his temples with a headache.

What kind of image did he actually hold in her heart?

His voice carried a helpless explanation: "I deduced it from your walking posture. Willow, let your mind wander less. Mm?"

Willow was somewhat hesitant.

Even if he was an incredibly amazing doctor, he shouldn't be able to guess this accurately, right?

Even... a place like that could be thought of.

Seeing her state, Julian said in annoyance: "Do you think if I truly wanted to do something to you, I would need to go through the superfluous action of peeping? A single door cannot keep me out."

Hearing this, the fright on Willow's small face grew even more intense.

Julian frowned.

The young girl was exceptionally delicate.

An explanation wouldn't work.

Bluffing a few words wouldn't work either.

He could only coax her.

"I was just using an example," he took the ointment back from her hand again, asking softly, "Shall I apply it for you?"

This time, panicked, Willow directly retreated two steps.

"No way," her eyes bore an accusation toward him, "...it cannot be applied like that night."

The last few words were almost entirely devoid of sound.

However, Julian could vaguely guess.

That night, the two of them had been too intense.

He had indeed applied medicine for her.

But it was in a place like that.

She brought it up again now.

So, where she was injured was...

Julian: "..."

No wonder the young girl was looking at him as if he were a pervert.

"I thought you were injured on your knees," he pulled out the instruction manual of the medicine, "This is a topical ointment for external injuries; it cannot be used on private parts."

Willow's almond eyes widened, in complete disbelief: "You, how could you say it out loud..."

Julian: "It's written on it."

In the next instant, the door slammed shut heavily in front of him.

The man pinched the bridge of his nose.

She had originally wanted to find a girlfriend for him, which had pushed him far enough away.

Now, great.

Estimated that she wouldn't want to see him for several days.

As expected, for the next two days, Willow even split her meal times to avoid him.

Deliberate in the extreme.

Clocking off work at noon, Julian stared at the computer screen in contemplation.

Adrian Cross poked his head in at the doorway: "Julian, let's eat, hurry up. Don't roll us ordinary doctors after clocking off."

As the words fell, the person inside still showed no reaction.

"What are you doing? Studying a medical case?" As he spoke, he walked over to Julian's side.

This look caused him to be incredibly shocked.

Julian Kingston was staring blankly at the computer desktop.

He had worked with him in this hospital for four years, and he had never seen him spacing out like this.

Intuition told him there was absolutely a situation!

And it was highly possible he was trapped by love!

"Ahem," he coughed twice ostentatiously, "Julian, when a person encounters difficulties, they must seek help in a timely manner. For instance, ask me, an all-around player."

Julian looked toward Adrian.

Sometimes, a person not being smart didn't mean they couldn't think of a good idea.

So, he opened his mouth and asked:

"How do I eliminate her prejudice?"