He Knew I Was Lying, But He Kissed Me Anyway Chapter 07

He Knew I Was Lying, But He Kissed Me Anyway Chapter 07

I paused, only then noticing a gash on the inside of my right arm.

Must’ve gotten it when I was pushing those thugs away.

“It doesn’t hurt.”

I was being tough.

But now that the adrenaline was fading, my arm burned like crazy.

The cut wasn’t deep, but there were several scrapes, and blood was beading out.

Julian’s jaw clenched, his fists tight.

“Where are those people?”

“Inside. Cops say they’ll be detained.”

A flash of menace crossed Julian’s eyes.

I could feel it—if he’d been there, he’d have done something extreme for the female lead’s sake.

“Iris is fine now. Relax.”

I tried to soothe him, pulling my hand back.

The spot where he’d touched me still felt warm.

“Wait here. I’ll go buy medicine. I’ll be right back.”

Julian turned and left.

Iris had been watching us the whole time.

Once he was gone, she came over and whispered, “You’re Julian’s high school classmate, right?”

“You know me?”

“I’ve heard of you. We’re alumni.”

Iris looked at me admiringly.

“Elena, you’re so great. No wonder he likes you.”

“Huh? You’ve got it wrong. He doesn’t like me. And that love letter you wrote—why haven’t you come clean with him?”

“How do you know it was me?”

Her lips trembled with surprise.

“Um… I recognize your handwriting.”

She gave a bitter smile: “I didn’t have the guts to sign it back then. Later I heard someone bravely pursued him and treated him well. I figured maybe she liked him more than I did and suited him better.”

Iris was too timid. Her family burdens had suffocated her.

So timid that even after four years at the same college as Julian, she never dared to confess a single word.

If Julian hadn’t discovered the truth about that letter after graduation, those two would’ve missed each other for good.

“Iris, you should give confessing a shot.”

“No need. I can tell he doesn’t like me.”

Iris’s pretty face paled with a sad smile.

The Danmaku kept scrolling frantically, frustrated for the female lead.

I was just as stressed.

They weren’t together?

Then who was Julian’s girlfriend?

Would he still come after me later?

When Julian came back with the medicine, Iris had already gone back to school.

What happened today was too sudden; she needed to decompress.

I offered to go with her, but she told me to wait.

She said she didn’t want to be a third wheel.

Me: ?

[? I don’t get this plot anymore. Anyone?]

[It’s already a mess—author, come drink this porridge yourself.]

[Damn it, let’s see how you spin this! I already paid my coins—even if it’s garbage, I’ll taste it to see if it’s salty or sweet.]

Julian and I sat on a bench by the roadside.

I wanted to apply the medicine myself.

He wouldn’t let me.

Silently, he used a cotton swab to treat my wound, handling it with extreme care.

It stung when he disinfected it, and he gently blew on it.

Feeling awkward, I pulled back.

Julian: “Did you save Iris for Damon? You might’ve stopped a fight this time, but what about next time?”

“Elena, don’t chase him. He’s not right for you.”

I was baffled.

Where was he getting this?

Were we in some kind of book?

“Julian, you have a girlfriend. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for you to meddle in my business?”

He froze, the medicine bottle in his hand.

“Oh? Do you know who my girlfriend is?”

How would I know?

He kept going on his own: “My girlfriend is really kind. She’s been so good to me and never lost her temper. She’s also smart and catches on fast.”

Was he showing off?

Something weighed on my chest, and I wanted to leave.

Julian held me back.

“But it seems she doesn’t like me anymore.

“It feels like she was just using me.”

“?”

That sounded oddly familiar.

My eyes widened in surprise.

Then it hit me—he was talking about me?

“Julian, when was I ever your girlfriend? You never even agreed to get together back then!”

“Yeah. Because I was afraid of dragging you down. My family situation… it was hard enough for me alone.”

Julian said it earnestly.

All those unanswered silences in high school hid his insecurities.

Iris’s words echoed in my head—

[No wonder he likes you.]

But wait. Isn’t he the male lead?

I’m not the female lead.

I froze, my voice hoarse.

“Julian, you like the wrong person. That love letter wasn’t from me.

“I’m not as good as you think. I was lying from the start—I only used you to get into Harvard.”

He held my gaze, then looked down and capped the medicine bottle.

“Yeah, I know it wasn’t you.”

“How did you know?”

“Your handwriting is really close to that letter’s. But the way you write commas is different—habits are hard to fake.

“At first, I thought you claimed it was yours because the class was mocking me, and you wanted to save face for me.

“Later I realized you were just using me.”

Julian said it calmly, word by word.

His gaze on me was cool and clear as moonlight on a quiet night.

I shamefully looked down: “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I don’t mind that you used me.”

“What?”