Chapter 17: I Beg of You

"Uncle Julian?"

Willow was stunned.

She had expected Julian Kingston to help her refuse, but she hadn't expected him to use such a reason.

Jace Miller was outstanding in both appearance and talent; if he hadn't chosen to focus on dance, he would have debuted as a star long ago.

In every sense, she was the one who wasn't "worthy" of him.

Julian heard the young girl call him and turned to look at her with confusion. "Mm?"

Clearly, he didn't realize there was anything inappropriate about what he had said.

Willow forced a smile. "I want to talk to my senior."

Julian pondered for a few seconds before letting go of her wrist.

Willow stepped forward and helped Jace up. "Senior, I’m sorry. It’s not that you aren't great, but I believe being together requires an emotional foundation. Getting together on an impulse won't lead to anything."

Her expression was earnest, as if she were speaking about something exceptionally solemn.

"I see..." Jace was disappointed for a moment, but soon cheered up again. "I understand. It’s just that we haven't spent enough time together. Once you get to know me better, I believe you’ll be willing to be my girlfriend."

He looked at the flowers in his hand but didn't force her to accept them.

"I’ll head off first so I don't delay your explanation to the counselor." He paused and added, "If you need help, just ask. I’m always here."

Willow waved at him. "Goodbye, Senior."

Because of the scene Jace had made, the crowd of onlookers thinned out.

Once they entered the teaching building, Willow couldn't help but sigh. "Senior Jace has such a good temperament."

He had helped explain things for her before, and now he had rushed out to protect her.

"Is that so?" Julian spoke nonchalantly. "I thought his behavior, to use the current trendy term, was 'painting a fantasy'."

He couldn't solve her actual problems.

Hearing this, Willow tilted her head to look at him.

It seemed her uncle wasn't as old-fashioned as she thought.

He even knew some hot internet slang.

Soon, the two arrived at the counselor's office.

Willow clenched her hands nervously and bowed to Julian. "Uncle Julian, I beg of you."

Julian wanted to touch the girl’s hair, but considering they were in public, he restrained himself and lightly patted her shoulder. "Wait here."

Willow: "I'm not going in?"

"There's no need to listen to nonsense."

Julian pushed open the door, leaving her outside.

When something like this happened, a school counselor would certainly not have anything pleasant to say.

He couldn't bear to let the girl suffer any grievances.

Willow originally thought it would take a long time.

To her surprise, Julian walked out after only two minutes.

The counselor followed behind him, apologizing incessantly.

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Kingston. I didn't investigate this matter thoroughly. Don't worry, I will strictly deal with those who spread the rumors and restore Miss Avery's reputation."

The counselor looked at Willow. "Miss Avery, I was mistaken this time. If you have any trouble at school in the future, come to me. I will handle it fairly."

Willow was overwhelmed by the sudden change.

Last night, when the counselor called her, he had said the situation was serious enough to have her expelled...

She stole a glance at Julian.

Uncle Julian... was truly powerful.

Julian didn't say much and quickly led Willow away.

Behind them, the counselor wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He never would have imagined that Willow had the backing of the Kingston family.

In Riverford, everyone had heard of the Kingston name.

The current patriarch of the Kingston family belonged to the founding generation of the city.

The younger generation followed business paths, but they were figures ranked at the top of the billionaire lists.

No one dared to provoke them.

As for the truth... the two were in a secret relationship that couldn't be publicized.

He understood the affairs of the wealthy.

...

By the time Willow and Julian left the school, the counselor had already issued a statement.

It explained that Willow had simply drunk too much that night and slept in the club.

Those who started the rumors were also disciplined.

The statement couldn't stop everyone's gossip; there were still a few people on the forum discussing her identity.

But these things didn't matter to Willow.

As long as it could be kept from her family, it was enough.

Feeling much better, she asked the man before her curiously, "Uncle Julian, what did you say to the counselor?"

Julian: "The Kingston family has some fame in Riverford. After he learned my identity, he decided to investigate the truth."

Willow didn't expect her uncle to be so straightforward and blunt.

She had thought he was there to reason with them.

But then again, she felt he was very 'man'.

Uncle Julian really had no flaws.

Good family background, good looks, good job.

He also felt very reliable.

Very suitable for dating.

Thinking of this, Willow hurriedly stopped herself.

How did her thoughts jump to dating?

She didn't like her uncle.

At most, it was only in her dreams, in a state where her brain was unclear, that she lusted after his body.

More importantly, they were uncle and niece.

She was under his care now; she had to remember that and repay him in the future.

She patted her cheeks, moved two steps to the side, and after maintaining a one-meter safety distance from him, she said, "Uncle Julian, thank you so much for today. After school this afternoon, let me treat you to a meal. How about hot pot? A classmate said there's a place with a very delicious clear broth."

Julian nodded. "Alright."

He lifted his hand to check his watch. "Go to class."

Willow nodded, said goodbye, and walked back.

She soon reached the classroom, and Luna Hayes walked up to her. "Willow, are you okay? If only I had refused you back then. And I was insulted by people too."

"I'm sorry," Willow didn't expect to have dragged Luna into it as well. "I was too impulsive."

Mainly, those words really hit her where it hurt.

"Speaking of which, your uncle is truly super handsome," Luna dragged her back into the discussion excitedly. "You know our counselor is incredibly fierce—he doesn't listen to any excuses—I didn't expect your uncle could actually make him investigate the truth. How did he do it? Share it with me!"

There were too many people outside just now; she had watched from a distance and thought Willow was going to be expelled.

She didn't expect it to be solved by her uncle.

"Well," Willow pondered for a while before saying, "He has some background."

After all, she was living under his roof and didn't know if Julian was willing to reveal his privacy, so she chose a middle-ground explanation.

"Whatever, background or no background isn't important," Luna said excitedly. "Many people in our class are obsessed with him. Why don't you share his contact info?"

"Yeah, Willow," others gathered around. "Let's see which one of us can become your aunt."

"A man like that would surely pamper his wife after marriage, right? After all, he's so good to Willow."

Taking advantage of the gap while everyone was crowding around, Luna secretly grabbed Willow's phone.

She knew the passcode.

However, after pressing the power button, the screen remained black.

It was dead.

She quietly put it back in its place.

At this moment, Willow was a bit distracted by their words.

Marriage...

Her thoughts were a mess, and it wasn't until noon that she realized her phone was out of power.

She had to charge it quickly; she still had to treat Uncle Julian to dinner.

When school finished in the afternoon, she slowly walked out of the school gates with her backpack.

With a quick glance, she saw the man leaning leisurely against the car.