Less than half a minute after the message was sent, the door swung open.
With a soft, playful voice, a girl exclaimed, "Uncle~ I'm here!"
James turned just in time to see a white blur flying towards him with impressive speed.
Quickly, he extended his arms to catch her.
He managed to secure her safely in his grasp, but the girl jumped high, and their faces collided.
The soft impact of the girl left James taking deep breaths to compose himself. "Get down quickly," he urged, his voice slightly muffled by the fabric of her clothing.
Feeling the warmth of his breath against her skin, Avril pulled back a little.
Noticing his slightly flushed face and uneven breathing, a mischievous glint flickered in her eyes. "Hehe, Uncle likes this, huh?"
Their position was less than dignified; the girl was a head taller, clinging to him like an octopus.
James felt a bit uncomfortable, regretting inviting this wild girl over.
"Stop messing around! At your age, you should have some shame."
"Messing around? What are you going to do about it?" Avril teased, raising an eyebrow in defiance.
James issued a warning, "If you don't get down, I swear I'll take action."
Recalling the slap from earlier in the afternoon, she hesitated to push further. Instead, she resorted to a pouty, pleading tone. "Don'tâjust let me hold on for a moment longer, please."
"I'll count to three. One..."
"Uncle, you're no fun! Is that how you treat a girl?"
"Two..."
"Alright, alright! I'll get down!"
Avril jumped down with a huff, clearly displeased. "Ugh, straight men are the worst. Can't even enjoy a hug without being serious about it."
James rolled his eyes. He didn't want to be serious; he preferred this close relationship over the thought of taking advantage of her.
"I'm not being serious; I just don't want you to regret it."
"Regret what? I don't need you to take responsibility!" Avril retorted, frowning.
A look of realization crossed her face, and she asked seriously, "Wait a secondâare you really human? Or some kind of robot?"
She started poking around his body with her hands while reciting, "Is there a switch somewhere on you? One that shuts you off if I press it?"
James swatted her wandering hands away, but she wasn't deterred, leaning closer with curiosity. "So, Uncle, do you run on oil or electricity?"
He felt a vein throb in his forehead as he pressed down on her head, stopping her antics. "I'm a real human being. Stop thinking nonsense."
Avril wasn't convinced, raising an eyebrow suspiciously. "Prove it."
"How would I prove that?"
"Take your pants off first."
"......"
James was left speechless. How had she managed to say that so casually? Wasn't this something he should suggest instead?
He realized he couldn't let this girl derail him. He took a serious tone, trying to sound deep. "I know you're scared right now, feeling lost and confused by this sudden affection, desperately trying to do something for peace of mind..."
"You're lacking security, craving to give yourself away, but in reality, what I like isn't just your body, but you as a whole..."
Based on what he knew, this girl was actually quite pitiful.
Her family had a strong preference for boys, with a gambling-addicted father and an uneducated mother who neglected her. When Avril was just ten, her parents even considered selling her off to cover the expenses of their young son.
By chance, her parents came across a talent scout who saw her potential and sent her off to act.
With her natural talent and hard work, the young girl quickly found success in the entertainment industry, becoming her parents' cash cow. However, instead of gratitude, her parents took the money she earned, claiming they were saving it for her until she grew up, only to squander much of it themselves on their son.
One time, in an interview, little Avril answered the microphone with resignation: "I give all my money to my family, and I only have 2 yuan for pocket money every day, so I don't have much free time to do anything."
The audience adored the obedient, dutiful girl, often using her story to teach their children.
But who could understand her pain and helplessness?
Ten years ago, 2 yuan barely bought an ice cream. She had to save up secretly to buy a video game console, fearing to be discovered for being "irresponsible."
As her fame grew, her parents' greed only escalated, leading them to demand a cancellation of her agency contract so they could manage her themselves.
But the agency wasn't about to let go of such a prize.
In their tug-of-war, Avril unwittingly fell into the trap set by rivals, and her career spiraled downward as a result.
Once her value diminished, she was put on ice by the agency, while her parents continued to demand money from her, claiming her brother needed to go to school and needed money for shoes, and asking her to "find a way to earn more."
The thought of arranging wealthy prospects for her also floated around.
It was hard to imagine how much frustration a girl raised in such an environment would feel.
Now, she lacked familial warmth and faced a career downturn, caught in a low point in her life.
James felt it was his duty to offer her support and not take advantage of her vulnerability. After all, he wasn't looking for a romantic conquest.
He delivered a heartfelt speech reminiscent of the ones he'd given to Amanda, finalizing it with, "Don't worry. From now on, I'll be here for you, and I'll give you a happy home."
"Uncle, you don't need to give yourself so many justifications over it if you're not going to do anything," Avril replied, her expression shifting to one of confusion as she scrutinized him from head to toe. "Are you...are you not capable?"
Damn!
This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Shouldn't she have been the one to drop her pretenses, lower her guard, and reveal her true feelings after his heartfelt words?
Instead, it seemed she was perfectly unfazed and even willing to tease him further.
James was at a loss for words. How could a man of his stature, with great physical prowess, be labeled "incapable" by a naive girl?
Deciding to drop the act, he pulled Avril close, glaring at her with mock ferocity. "Believe me, I could keep you in bed for days if I wanted."
"Go on then!" Avril replied with a playful challenge.
Her mischievous expression only fueled James' anger, igniting a desire within him to scare her.
As a seasoned man, he wasn't about to be bested by a naive girl.
Leaning forward slowly, inch by inch, the heat of his breath fanned against her face.
Dangerous gleams danced in his eyes as his body temperature radiated like a furnace.
With each passing moment, the distance between them shrank, filled with primal energy.
Avril could sense his yearning, slowly closing her eyes as she awaited his affections.
Though she acted unafraid, the trembling of her eyelashes betrayed her inner anxiety.
Her face was pure and immaculate, resembling soft jade, with elegant lines that exuded the essence of youth.
Her plump lips, akin to blooming rose petals, appeared inviting, ready to be taken.
James swallowed hard, feeling the heat pooling in his stomach, realizing the precarious situation he found himself in.