Chapter 153: A Very Dangerous Misunderstanding
Chapter 153: A Very Dangerous Misunderstanding
A Very Dangerous Misunderstanding
Her fingers hooked lightly onto the fabric.
She hesitated for a second—
Then slowly started pulling it down.
At that exact moment—
Julian’s eyes snapped open.
"What the hell!"
His voice came out hoarse, still weak from exhaustion, but sharp enough to cut through the quiet room.
Seeing his pants being tugged, Julian couldn’t help but blurt out again, his golden eyes widening in disbelief.
"Hey—wait—what are you doing?!"
But when his vision focused and he realized who it was...
Charlotte.
His body visibly relaxed for half a second.
Then—
[Thank goodness it’s not a guy, damn.]
His heart almost stopped just imagining it.
He swallowed.
[The world is too chaotic... I heard someone got drunk and passed out on the street last time.]
[Ended up not only having their phone stolen... but also... their dignity stolen from the back door.]
He shuddered slightly.
"Yeah... no... that’s nightmare material," he muttered weakly under his breath, voice trembling just a bit.
[Sigh... the world is really damn chaotic. A handsome guy like me is too dangerous.]
He even gave a faint, self-pitying sigh, like a man burdened by his own beauty.
Charlotte froze.
Her hand still on his waistband.
Her brain lagged for a second—
Then reality slammed into her.
Caught.
Red-handed.
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
Julian, still pale, still weak, looked at her like a man who had just woken up in the middle of a robbery.
"What... are you doing?" he asked again, voice softer now, but filled with confusion and suspicion.
He tried to grab his pants and pull them back up—
But his arm barely moved.
No strength.
"...damn it," he muttered, annoyed at his own body.
Charlotte snapped out of it, her expression immediately turning defensive.
"W-What do you think I’m doing?!" she shot back, trying to recover her composure.
Then she huffed, lifting her chin slightly—
"Checking your body to see if you’re hurt."
Her tone tried to sound firm.
Professional.
But the faint redness in her ears betrayed her completely.
She crossed her arms slightly, glaring at him.
"You were covered in blood earlier. The doctor checked you, but I didn’t trust it. I was making sure nothing was missed."
Julian stared at her.
Silent.
Then—
"...."
A long pause.
Inside his head—
[You’re not checking... you’re clearly craving my body.]
His expression didn’t change much outwardly.
But his eyes... carried suspicion.
He even gave her a slow, judgmental look.
[If I hadn’t woken up... who knows... maybe nine months later you’d show up at my door holding my child.]
His lips twitched faintly.
"...that would be one hell of a plot twist," he murmured weakly.
Charlotte’s face went completely red.
Her fingers clenched.
This idiot...
This absolute idiot...
Take advantage of him?!
Her?!
Her eyes flashed with embarrassment and irritation mixed together.
Who wants your body, you moron?!
But—
That anger lasted only a second.
Because reality crept back in.
This guy...
Had just risked his life for her.
Her expression softened slightly.
She looked away, voice lowering.
"...Seems like there’s nothing wrong. If you feel uncomfortable anywhere... just let me know."
There was still a hint of frustration in her tone—
But also... something quieter.
Something genuine.
Julian blinked at her.
Then smiled faintly.
A tired, easy smile.
"Nothing’s wrong. I’m good now..."
He paused.
Then added, a bit awkwardly—
"But... can you help me get dressed? I don’t have the strength right now."
He looked genuinely helpless.
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"Of course you don’t," she muttered.
Still—
She stepped forward anyway.
Helping him adjust his clothes properly, her movements efficient but... noticeably gentler than before.
As she finished, she couldn’t help asking—
"Don’t overthink it. I was really just checking your body."
She paused.
Then frowned slightly.
"But how did you take so many hits without getting hurt?"
Her gaze sharpened.
There was curiosity there.
And a bit of disbelief.
Julian chuckled weakly.
"Hard-headed."
He tapped his own temple lightly.
"Built different."
Charlotte snorted softly.
"Idiot."
But her lips curved just a little.
Julian leaned back slightly, feeling the faint return of energy within him.
The undestroyable Barrier Skill...
It was slowly recovering.
But his mind wasn’t calm.
Lucas...
That guy was dangerous.
More dangerous than Evan.
One was a maggot hiding in the shadows.
The other... a cockroach that refused to die.
Neither were clean.
Neither were safe.
"...Damn pests," Julian muttered under his breath.
Charlotte glanced at him.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said casually, shaking his head.
But his eyes had turned colder for a moment.
That guy... is a real threat.
And that thought lingered.
—
Suddenly—
His expression stiffened.
A strange tension hit his lower abdomen.
"...oh no."
Charlotte noticed immediately.
"What’s wrong?"
Julian cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I... need to pee."
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Charlotte blinked.
"...Then go."
She said it instinctively—
Then immediately froze.
Her eyes slowly widened.
Right.
He couldn’t even stand properly.
Her cheeks flushed again.
"...you can’t walk."
Julian gave her a helpless look.
A very... sincere one.
"...Yeah."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Then, in a low, slightly embarrassed voice—
"Hey... Charlotte..."
"Huh?" she responded reflexively.
"...Can you help me?"
She tilted her head.
"...Help you what?"
Julian hesitated.
Then said it.
"...help me pee."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Charlotte’s brain shut down.
"...What?"
Her voice cracked.
"I don’t have the strength to walk," Julian added quickly, looking genuinely miserable. "So... please. I owe you one."
Her face turned completely red.
"I—You—What kind of request is that?!"
She took a step back instinctively.
Her heart was racing.
This is crossing a line.
A big one.
A very big one.
But then—
She looked at him again.
Pale.
Exhausted.
Still recovering.
And—
The memory of him standing in front of her in that casino...
Taking hit after hit.
Protecting her.
Her lips pressed together.
"...damn it."
She looked away.
"I’ve taken care of kids before..." she muttered under her breath.
Julian blinked.
"...That doesn’t make this less weird."
She shot him a glare.
"Shut up."
He immediately shut up.
Seeing his desperate expression, she sighed.
"...Alright. I’ll help you."
Her voice was low.
Resigned.
For her—
Touching his abs earlier was already pushing it.
This?
This was crossing into dangerous territory.
Her boundaries... were definitely being tested.
But still—
"...You got hurt because of me."
She said quietly.
"So... I’ll handle it."
She stepped forward.
Placed his arm over her shoulder.
"Careful. Don’t fall."
Julian leaned slightly into her, his weight heavier than expected.
"...Thanks."
His voice was softer this time.
Less teasing.
More genuine.
She didn’t respond.
Just helped him toward the bathroom.
—
The bathroom was small.
Too small.
With both of them inside, it felt... suffocating.
The air was quiet.
Too quiet.
Julian cleared his throat.
"...Thanks. I’ll treat you next time."
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"Just hurry up."
[Don’t worry, I’m a reasonable person, never taking advantage of others.]
[Borrow one million favor, return seven million favor.]
[If you need my help in the future, just ask.]
[Not helping would make me a dog.]
He looked at her seriously.
"I mean it."
Charlotte clenched her fist slightly.
"...I’m starting to regret this already."
But—
She didn’t back out.
She took a breath.
Then—
Followed the same process she used when helping her little nephew.
Her movements were stiff at first.
Awkward.
Unnatural.
Halfway through—
She hesitated.
Her hand froze.
"...this is insane," she muttered under her breath.
[Don’t hesitate, hurry up, I’m about to pee.]
Julian’s internal voice echoed urgently.
He even shifted slightly.
[It’s a big pain, bear with it!]
"...Stop thinking so loudly!" Charlotte snapped, face burning.
Her patience snapped for a second—
Then she gritted her teeth.
"...Fine. Just... don’t say anything."
And finally—
She pushed through the awkwardness.
Determined.
Focused.
Because right now—
There was no room for hesitation.
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