The DNA Test

Julian entered Jiang Group as my father’s assistant.

At least officially.

In reality, Father brought him everywhere, taught him everything, and promoted him too quickly.

During a business dinner, Julian appeared in the private room and sat beside me.

“Father said he worried about you meeting clients alone,” he explained. “I’m here to help.”

Father.

The word tasted bitter.

I lifted my glass and drank.

With Julian present, negotiations went smoothly without me speaking much.

Then his thoughts drifted through my head.

I love her this much, and she still can’t feel it. How sad.

I spat wine.

“Miss Jiang!”

“Iris!”

Both men looked at me.

I waved quickly.

“Fine. Just choked.”

Love?

Julian loved me?

The idea was absurd.

A man who staged our first meeting.

A man who lied about being my brother.

A man who hated my father.

Yet his thought had been clear.

After the dinner, Father rewarded Julian with a managerial position.

When Julian left, I asked,

“Dad, how are you so sure he’s your son?”

Father sighed.

“His mother came to me months ago with a DNA report. I didn’t rely on that alone. Julian cooperated and did another test with me at the hospital. The result was 99.9 percent.”

Months ago.

A memory struck.

Graduation day.

Julian rode a bicycle with me to the park.

We fell.

He took me to a small clinic and insisted I have blood drawn for tests.

At the time, I thought he was being careful.

Now I understood.

He had taken my blood.

Used it for the DNA test with my father.

No wonder the result matched.

He was not my brother.

I was nearly certain.

But why?

What did he want?

A month passed.

University started.

At the gate, Hunter Huang, a boy who had chased me for years, blocked my path.

“Iris, I heard Julian is your brother now. That means you’re single, right?”

Beside me, Julian’s body stiffened.

I smiled.

“Yes. Why? Still want to chase me?”

Hunter lit up.

“Absolutely.”

I glanced at Julian.

“I can consider it.”

Hunter ran into campus like he had won the lottery.

I stepped forward.

Julian blocked me.

“You are deceiving his feelings.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Deceiving feelings? You invented the concept.”

His face darkened.

“You still love me, yet you say you’ll consider someone else. You’re hurting him and yourself.”

“Who says I still love you?”

Before I could move, Julian grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms.

Then he kissed me.

At the university gate.

In front of everyone.

My heart betrayed me instantly.

It pounded so hard I almost forgot to push him away.

Students around us whispered and laughed.

“Wow, university starts spicy.”

“They’re gorgeous though.”

I shoved him back, face burning.

Julian looked amused.

“If you don’t love me, why did you enjoy that kiss?”

I gritted my teeth.

“Your technique is decent. Any man with decent technique would get the same reaction.”

His smile vanished.

Any man?

She thinks of me like that?

Good.

Let him suffer a little.

For once, his perfect mask cracked.