Her Marriage: The Night is Still Young-Chapter 214: You Can Treat Me as a Male Model if You Want, I Won’t Charge You Anyway

Chapter 214: Chapter 214: You Can Treat Me as a Male Model if You Want, I Won’t Charge You Anyway

The onlookers all stared at the two people, wide-eyed and speechless.

One minute later.

Josephine Thompson forcefully pushed Julian Grant away, fiercely wiping her lips with the back of her hand, her eyes full of anger and resistance: "Julian Grant, you’ve gone too far!"

Julian Grant looked at her reddened eyes, his throat bobbed, yet his tone showed no trace of retreat: "I just wanted you to see my true feelings. I’m not being clingy, I genuinely want to be with you."

"Julian Grant, I don’t need you with me. Go do what you should be doing. Don’t waste your time on me, there’s no point at all..."

She was now mentally prepared and really didn’t want to talk about feelings anymore.

Especially since Julian Grant’s mother looked down on her in every way.

She didn’t want to start anything with him either.

Julian Grant felt a sourness in his eyes, dejected yet stubbornly said, "Didn’t we agree to try being together before?"

Josephine: "We tried, but we’re really not suitable."

Julian Grant approached two steps closer, his tone helpless, "Is it because of what my mother said?"

"..." Josephine frowned deeper, even less willing to speak.

She was inherently a very proud person.

To her, she would rather miss out and lose.

But absolutely must maintain her dignity.

She would never shamelessly approach someone who looked down on her.

"Josephine, can you be braver? My mother can’t control me, and she can’t make any decisions for me."

"As long as I’m determined to be with you, not even a king can stop it."

Josephine felt even more agitated after hearing this, "Stop saying things like this, there really is no point."

"Sometimes we have to consider the feelings of those around us. We can’t be too selfish, nor act too willfully."

"Julian Grant, we’re just not on the same path. After a while, you’ll be fed up too..."

Julian Grant: "We haven’t tried yet, how do you know I won’t be able to take it?"

Josephine: "There’s no need to try, the facts are clear. My life is very dull and boring, unchanging, without any waves, and I don’t like trying new things."

"And you, you like novelty, excitement. You pursue perfection, various... various..."

Julian Grant chuckled at this, "Are you trying to say I like pursuing all kinds of beauties, is that it?"

"..." Josephine felt something stuck in her chest, frowning hard.

Yes.

She extremely detested people who are not dedicated and flirt with many.

She was really scared, didn’t want to step into the pit of love.

Nathaniel Gallagher was like that.

And Julian Grant... even more of a flirt.

To be more precise.

Nathaniel Gallagher could love two women simultaneously.

But Julian Grant can love several at once.

A man like this, better say bye-bye quickly.

Julian Grant teased with a laugh, "Josephine, can’t you give yourself some courage? Don’t you believe in your own charm?"

Josephine rolled her eyes, not wanting to pay him any attention.

Julian Grant’s eyes turned, putting on a playful face, "On the other hand, even if you find an ugly man, do you think he’d definitely be loyal? Are you sure he won’t be a flirt?"

"I’m so handsome, even if things don’t go well, you don’t lose, do you? Or else, you can consider me a male model, I won’t charge you. I can provide you a full emotional value, and of course, ’any special service’ can be provided."

"You can do whatever you want to me, at your command. I assure you I won’t fight back if you hit, won’t argue if you scold. Moreover, I am strong and fit, smart and clever, can do both literary and martial arts. I can be a driver, a bodyguard, even a husband. Also, I’m a well-behaved little puppy, you’d profit with guaranteed no loss!"

Puff.

Josephine felt her vision darken, nearly spitting blood.

"You’re sick!"

"Yes, lovesickness."

"Shut up."

"OK." Julian Grant playfully covered his mouth, making a funny face to amuse her.

Professor Linton came over with a tool bag from a distance, seeing the tense atmosphere between the two, he smiled to break the ice: "What are you two talking about? Looks like an argument."

Josephine took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions, turned to Professor Linton and said, "Nothing, just a friend wants to stay and help, and I find it inconvenient."

"Help?" Professor Linton’s eyes lit up, looking at Julian Grant, "Our group is just short of a pair of hands, moving equipment, organizing records, all counts. If this gentleman doesn’t mind the tough conditions, staying would be great."

Josephine didn’t expect Professor Linton to say this and opened her mouth to object, but Julian Grant beat her to it: "I don’t mind, I can endure any hardship, won’t delay your work."

With things at this point.

Josephine refusing again would seem deliberate.

"Then it’s settled."

"Okay, thank you, Professor Linton."

"Then let’s go!"

Before Josephine could react.

Julian Grant was already grabbing her bag on his own, "I’ll carry your bag for you."

"..." Josephine felt a tightness in her chest, sighed helplessly.

Back at the archaeological team.

Julian Grant resumed his role as Josephine’s assistant.

Since he had followed her work for a few days before, he handled the tasks skillfully this time.

By evening, when work was wrapping up.

Josephine had just put the collected shards into the storage box.

Then saw Julian Grant crouching by the stream not far away, clumsily washing her coat that got muddy in the morning.

The setting sun falling on him.

Somehow made his unruly sharpness diminish a bit, added some warmth of life.

"Who asked you to wash it?" Josephine walked over, looking at him in disbelief.

Julian Grant looked up, still clutching a bag of detergent, smilingly lifted the coat, "Saw it was dirty, washed it on the go. The water here is cold, your hands need to handle pottery shards, don’t let them freeze."

"..." Josephine furrowed her brows.

Looking at the river filled with a thick layer of foam, feeling choked.

The two-kilo bag of detergent, he used more than half.

"Julian Grant, do you think washing one piece of clothing needs a whole bag of detergent?"

"..." Julian Grant was washing diligently.

Hearing her question, he confusedly looked up at her.

"...Isn’t it? Is... is it too much? Or is it too little?"

Josephine looked at the foaming river and then at Julian Grant’s hand holding the half-empty detergent bag, temples throbbing violently: "Have you ever seen anyone wash one coat with half a bag of detergent? Once this is done washing, it would probably need to soak in the stream for three days and nights to rinse clean."

Julian Grant was stunned for a moment, looked down at the bag in his hand, and at the foam-filled stream, his ears shyly turned red, and he forcefully maintained his composure to argue: "I was just worried it wouldn’t clean the mud well, your coat is so dirty, it needs enough detergent to wash thoroughly."

Saying so.

He reached out, poking at the foam, fingertips coated in white powder.

While washing one piece of clothing.

His own clothes were more than half wet, and his limited edition sneakers soaked in mud.

Such a privileged person like him didn’t even recognize laundry detergent or washing powder before.

Josephine Thompson was both annoyed and amused. She bent down to take the bag of washing powder from his hand and tightened it, "Stop messing around. If you keep washing, even the fish in this stream will smell like ’laundry powder’."

She crouched down, retrieving the jacket from the water, the foam-laden fabric was heavy, "You get up, I’ll rinse it."

Julian Grant wouldn’t let her do it, he quickly held her wrist, "No, no, it’s fine! I can do it! It’s just a few more rinses, I have plenty of strength."

Saying this, he picked up the basin with the jacket, walked a few steps downstream.

Then, he squatted in the shallow water and started scrubbing. The foam floated downstream with the current, glistening under the setting sun.

The work wasn’t great, but his ability to get hands-on was truly strong.

Standing in the water, hands coolly scrubbing.

"You..." Josephine stood there, looking at his clumsy yet earnest appearance, feeling a bit guilty.

"Josephine, just stand by and watch, I’ll have this done in no time."

Josephine sighed softly, "You don’t have to do this."

Julian paused his scrubbing, looked up at her, the sunset gently casting light on his profile, "You need to protect your hands, they’re meant for touching shards and unlocking the secrets of that Jade Bone Box, this kind of rough work suits me just fine."

He paused, then added, "Besides, it’s just washing clothes, practice enough and I’ll get it, I could even help you wash other things in the future."

Josephine didn’t reply, she silently walked next to him, picked up a smooth stone, and gently tossed it into the water.

It splashed.

Startling a few small bugs by the shore and breaking up the foam on the water surface.

She watched Julian seriously rinse the clothes, feeling as if something lightly bumped in her heart.

"Take your time washing, I’m heading back to the dorm."

"Okay, I’ll find you after I’m done."

Josephine said no more, turning to head towards the dorm.

The research team here is also in the mountains.

The staff dormitories are all built from shipping containers.

Back in the dorm.

Josephine laid out the collected shards on the table.

These shards, like the lotus-patterned shards previously unearthed in Aethelburg, are from the same era.

Professor Linton walked in, "Expert Thompson, the restoration work depends on you."

Josephine replied, "Don’t worry, I’ll have the restoration done in a week at most."

Professor Linton nodded, his gaze falling on the shards on the table, full of praise in his tone, "With your word, I feel assured. Your pottery restoration skill is second to none in our field. By the way, that Mr. Grant with you, doesn’t seem like someone used to rough jobs, yet he’s quite diligent, didn’t slack off one bit while moving equipment this afternoon."

Josephine paused her tweezers, didn’t respond, just lowered her head and focused on aligning the patterns on the shards.

Seeing this, Professor Linton smiled without commenting further, but as he turned to leave, he advised once more, "The mountain gets cold at night, remember to wear more, don’t just work and exhaust yourself."

"Alright, thank you, Professor Linton."

"I’ll head out first, I still need to send today’s research report to Professor Warren."

"Okay."

After Professor Linton left.

The dorm returned to silence.

Josephine looked at the shards for a while, but her thoughts involuntarily drifted to the stream.

Julian squatting in the water washing clothes, and his previous image in a suit at a banquet, laughing and joking, were like two different people.

She shook her head, forcing herself to focus back on the shards, picking up a magnifying glass to carefully inspect the patterns on the edges, trying to piece them together completely.

Who knows how long it had been.

A gentle knock came from the door, along with Julian’s voice, "Josephine, I’ve finished washing the clothes, hung them on the rope outside for you."

Josephine didn’t get up, just replied, "Got it."

The door opened slightly.

Julian poked his head in, seeing her busy with the shards, he tread lightly, "Didn’t disturb you, did I? I made some ginger cola, it’s cold in the mountains, have some to warm up."

He held an enamel cup, warm steam rising from the rim, the scent of ginger wafted through the door crack.

Josephine glanced up, noticing some dents on the rim, probably borrowed from the research team’s kitchen.

She hesitated a bit, but still put down the tweezers and walked over to take the cup, "Thanks."

Seeing her take the cup, Julian’s eyes showed a hint of a smile, "I saw you standing by the stream for a while, worried you’d catch a cold. By the way, your table’s shards, are they almost pieced together?"

He moved to the table, curiously eyeing the fragments but dared not touch them.

"Not yet, need to align the patterns first, some shard edges still need polishing."

Josephine took a sip of the ginger cola, warmth sliding into her stomach, dispelling some of the chill.

Julian nodded, didn’t ask further, just picked up a cloth beside, gently wiping the dust off the table corner, "You busy away, I won’t disturb. If you need help with tools or anything, just call me anytime."

As he spoke, he found a small stool in the corner to sit on, quietly watching her work, saying no more.

In the dorm.

There was only the soft clinking of shards and the chirping of insects outside the window.

Josephine occasionally looked up, seeing Julian sitting quietly in the corner, his gaze on the shards in her hands, with no trace of impatience.

Her heart suddenly felt a bit sour.

Before, she always thought Julian was someone who couldn’t stand loneliness.

Especially during school days, he always got into trouble every day.

He couldn’t even sit still for ten minutes.

But now it seemed he could calm his mind and accompany her in these tedious tasks.

She retracted her gaze, picked up the tweezers again, gently placing a shard in its corresponding place, yet her heart wasn’t as calm as it was before.

...

Unknowingly.

She had been busy until one o’clock at night.

The basic assembly was completed.

The remaining task was restoration and shaping.

Josephine couldn’t help but yawn, subconsciously turning to look at Julian.

Julian was probably too tired.

He sat on the small stool, head resting against the wall, asleep.

Josephine watched Julian’s sleeping form, a complex emotion rising within her.

His head was tilted against the wall, brows slightly furrowed, probably uncomfortable sleeping sitting up. Yet the corners of his mouth still had a faint smile, as if dreaming of something pleasing.

"Julian, wake up." Josephine quietly walked over.

Julian yawned, groggily opening his eyes, "Done already? Josephine."

"Go sleep in the next dorm!"

Julian yawned again, standing up to stretch his stiff limbs, "Nah, I’m not going."

"Then where will you sleep?"

"Just like before, I’ll sleep beside you."

"... No way."

"Why not?"

"People will gossip, quickly, go sleep next door!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Julian seemed unconcerned, "Let them gossip if they want! Anyway, I want to be with you, I can even make a floor bed!"