Chapter 12 Showing Weakness

This boy’s personality is really…

This boy’s personality is really a bit too timid, as if speaking loudly to him could scare him to tears.

“Is this your younger brother?” A young man’s gentle and pleasant voice came from behind. Fang Chuning turned her head, “No, he’s my brother’s friend.”

She remembered that Xu Muzhou had met Fang Tianli before, seemingly just a month or two ago. She only had one brother, how could he mistake someone so different? But on second thought, maybe he simply didn’t remember people, and since he disliked her so much before, it wasn’t surprising.

Xu Muzhou was naturally doing this on purpose. He stepped forward, his gaze falling on the painting. His pupils were as beautiful as the evening glow, warm and friendly. He generously praised, “It’s painted so well. When did you start learning? Can you tell me the contact information of your tutor? I’ve been quite interested in this lately.”

The young man’s appearance, tone, and smile made it hard for anyone not to like him. He seemed to have no ill intentions, just pure admiration.

However, the questions he asked made Su Qi too embarrassed to answer. His family was poor, and they couldn’t even afford tuition fees, let alone hire a tutor.

The boy lowered his head in shame, and in the end, it was Fang Chuning who spoke up to explain for him. Realizing he had unintentionally touched a sore spot, Xu Muzhou showed an apologetic expression, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”

He seemed a bit at a loss, his beautiful eyes instinctively seeking help from the girl beside him.

This kind of vulnerable look was something Fang Chuning had never seen on his face before. She suddenly felt needed, “It’s okay! You didn’t mean to, don’t blame yourself.”

She just couldn’t understand why such a kind and pure-hearted classmate Xu was cold only to her.

Su Qi also raised his head at this moment, timidly expressing, “It’s alright, it’s nothing.”

Xu Muzhou looked at him for a few seconds, then suddenly stepped forward, taking out a candy wrapped in peach-pink paper from his school uniform pocket, and offered it to the boy, “This is what my parents sent me from abroad. You probably haven’t tried it before, it’s very delicious. Would you like to try?”

The young man’s beautiful face radiated warm kindness, his honey-colored eyes smiling at him, making people subconsciously ignore the mocking tone in his words.

Su Qi lowered his gaze to look at the candy in his palm, his hand at his side slightly shrinking back.

At this moment, Fang Chuning also helped speak up, “Qi Qi, don’t be nervous, Xu is a very nice person!”

Fang Chuning certainly didn’t catch the underlying meaning in the young man’s words. At this moment, she seemed to see a dazzling holy light emanating from the kind and gentle Xu.

So it turns out that Xu was so nice to everyone except her. Although there was a tiny bit of imbalance in her heart, she also felt proud to have such an understanding childhood friend, even though their relationship had never been great since childhood.

Hearing the girl’s reassurance, Su Qi finally reached out to take the candy, then watched as the two went upstairs to the study.

Fang Tianli, who had been observing from the shadows, walked out, his gaze fixed on the second floor, “How strange, I never thought Fang Chuning would bring a boy back.” He habitually called her by her full name, cheerfully going over to link arms with the small boy, “I’m going to tell dad about this, dad will definitely scold her for dating so early!”

Su Qi squeezed the candy in his hand and said softly, “That brother seems to just be Ning Ning sister’s classmate…”

“Who cares, it’s her fault for always bullying me.” Fang Tianli snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over the boy’s delicate profile. He hugged his arm innocently and said, “If it were you, I would definitely keep it a secret.”

Su Qi’s face turned red from his words, his heart pounding wildly, “You shouldn’t say such things, Ning Ning sister will be upset if she hears…”

“What does she have to be upset about? You’re such a good person and not bad-looking, you’re a thousand times better than those flirtatious gold diggers outside who only know how to cling to our family. Besides, if you could be with my sister, wouldn’t we be able to play together every day?”

Fang Tianli’s eyes suddenly lit up as if he had just thought of this question.

Su Qi’s fingers intertwined with each other, his eyes flickering, his face red, “I-I’m not worthy of Ning Ning sister…”

Fang Tianli didn’t care about these things, “What era are we in now, still saying such things? Don’t be afraid, I’ll help you!”

Su Qi’s ears were as red as dripping blood. He didn’t want to refuse, but he also couldn’t nod and accept without regard for propriety, so he could only bite his lip and respond with silence.

Meanwhile, in the study, Fang Chuning casually placed the painting on the desk, “Sit down first, what would you like to drink?”

Xu Muzhou’s eyes inadvertently swept over the desk, “Anything is fine.”

What does ‘anything is fine’ mean in terms of what to drink?

In the end, Fang Chuning had someone bring him a cup of hot cocoa. Seeing that the two had something to discuss, the male servant just placed the hot cocoa on the desk and left. Fang Chuning picked up her own cup, took a couple of sips, and then started looking through materials on Meiwu Novel Website, “I think we only need to change the middle part of the lyrics. After we’re done, you can stay for dinner before going back. If you think it’s too late to go back, you can also stay overnight. We have many guest rooms, you can choose any one you like!”

As she spoke, she had already strayed from the main topic, but Fang Chuning herself hadn’t noticed anything wrong, enthusiastically telling him about the delicious food that would appear at dinner.

Until a light exclamation interrupted her chatter, Fang Chuning turned her head to see the young man standing there somewhat at a loss, and in front of him on the desk, the spilled hot cocoa was still emitting thin white smoke.

Xu Muzhou’s face had changed from his usual cold indifference, looking at her pitifully and helplessly, “It was too hot…”

Coupled with that innocent face, it was enough to make people overlook his mistake and want to comfort him a thousand times just to see him smile.

Fang Chuning was stunned for a moment, wanting to say it’s no big deal if it spilled, but then her sharp eyes noticed that the spilled area had completely ruined the painting. She tried to salvage it by wiping it with a clean cloth, but it was of no use.

The painting had just been received and then immediately ruined, which was quite embarrassing.

“I’m sorry, I was careless…” The young man’s brow was visibly filled with remorse.

Fang Chuning looked at the painting that had turned into a mess, obviously beyond saving, “It’s okay, you didn’t mean to, don’t blame yourself too much.”

This comfort didn’t seem to have much effect, as the boy still looked very downcast.

She went over to clean up the painting that had already become a pile of waste paper, “I’ll explain to Qi Qi later, he probably won’t be angry.”

Xu Muzhou slightly pursed his lips, his honey-colored eyes seeming to ripple with waves, “Why don’t I tell him instead? I’m the one who stained it, I should apologize to him personally.”

Being looked at by such clear and beautiful eyes, how could Fang Chuning not agree? She nodded so hard she almost broke her chin.

The young man’s brow finally relaxed a bit. In the time that followed, Fang Chuning could clearly feel his softening attitude towards her, something that hadn’t happened in all their years as classmates. It could be called a cross-century progress!

After they finished discussing, Fang Chuning once again invited him to stay for dinner. Xu Muzhou refused, but when he saw her disappointment, he softly said, “Next time.”

Fang Chuning’s eyes immediately lit up, “That’s great, next time I’ll invite other classmates too, and we’ll have a party at my house.”

Fang Chuning thought she was incredibly smart. This way they could play together without making people think their relationship was ambiguous, striking just the right balance.

She couldn’t help but give herself a thumbs up in her heart.

Downstairs, Su Qi was playing with the dog in the courtyard with Fang Tianli. Seeing the two come out, Fang Tianli was the first to dash over, “What were you two doing up there for so long?”

Xu Muzhou glanced at the person beside him, then flashed a bright smile at the boy, “You must be Fang’s younger brother, right?”

The young man in front of him was beautiful enough to make one jealous. Fang Tianli examined him with a bad mood, folding his arms and scowling, “So what if I am? Don’t try to get chummy with me, I don’t fall for that.”

Fang Tianli remembered him, wasn’t he just the vice president of the New Star? He had seen him at his sister’s school before, always putting on a pitiful act for everyone, always seducing people.

He disliked these kinds of pretentious people the most.

Xu Muzhou seemed not to have expected the boy’s attitude to be so hostile. His smile gradually faded, and he tightened his grip on the books he was holding, lowering his gaze dejectedly, “I was just discussing the performance with Fang in the study, nothing else…”

“Of course I know there was nothing else, what else did you want there to be? Trying to take the opportunity to cling to our family, aren’t you!”

Fang Tianli was used to being spoiled and, except for being a bit restrained in front of Fang Hong and the others, he would say whatever he wanted at other times without any need for discretion.

Even boys with thin emotional walls couldn’t bear this kind of talk.

Sure enough, the young man’s eyes reddened slightly, but he still stubbornly defended himself, “I didn’t…”

Unfortunately, his weak voice didn’t have much deterrent effect.

Fang Tianli snorted, “I can’t tell if you’re being coy or just too good at acting!”

“Fang Tianli!” Fang Chuning pressed her entire palm against his face, pushing him away, “If you keep this up, don’t expect me to help you with anything in the future.”

Fang Tianli stumbled back two steps, puffing out his cheeks in defiance, “When did I ever ask for your help! I don’t need your help!”

Fang Chuning didn’t bother arguing with him when he refused to admit it. She turned back to the young man and said, “Don’t mind him, I’ll see you off.”

Xu Muzhou nodded slightly, hugging his books. He walked two steps then suddenly stopped.

“What? Thinking of staying for dinner?” Fang Tianli’s mouth was as sharp as ever, but after receiving a warning glare from Fang Chuning, he reluctantly glared back.

Xu Muzhou pursed his lips, his eyes turning slightly to look at the boy who had been quiet the whole time, “I’m sorry.”

Su Qi was stunned, “What?”

The young man lightly bit his delicate lip, his beautiful brows and eyes filled with apology, “I accidentally stained the painting you gave to Fang earlier. I’m sorry…”

“Wow, you’re so scheming! Was it really an accident or on purpose? You’d better make it clear!” Fang Tianli was so excited he was just short of cursing. This guy clearly did something bad and was still being provocative!

“He just accidentally did it. What, haven’t you ever had accidents?” Fang Chuning stood in front of him.

“You women are all so superficial, just because he looks good you defend him!”

Su Qi, who had been silent on the side, gently pulled his clothes and said softly, “Lili, don’t say anymore…” He then looked up at the boy who was a head taller than him, “It’s okay, it’s just a painting, I can draw another one.”

After the matter was resolved, Fang Chuning saw him off at the main gate, “Why don’t I send you home?”

Xu Muzhou looked up at her, “That would be too much trouble for you.”

There was no clear refusal in his words.

“It’s no trouble.”

Fang Chuning had originally thought of sending him back on her very cool motorcycle, but then she thought that the gentle and refined Xu Muzhou probably wouldn’t like riding a vehicle with no windshield. In the end, she still had the driver take him home by car, and of course, she went along.

When she returned after sending him off, the sky was completely dark. At the dinner table, there were only the young ones, neither of the two adults were present.

And Su Qi, who should have been sitting next to Fang Tianli, had changed seats to sit next to her. Fang Chuning didn’t pay much attention to this and turned her head to ask the butler standing nearby, “Where are mom and dad?”

Butler Ye, “The master said on the phone to let the young miss and young master eat first.”