Chapter 36 Xu’s Father, Will You Distance Yourself From Me?

Before going to Xu Muzhou’s house, Fang Chuning went to the previous store to buy medicine again. This time she specifically instructed to only include burn medication, and not to stuff in other miscellaneous things.

She didn’t know which medicine was effective, so she simply bought all the burn ointments and anti-inflammatory drugs in the store, filling up two large bags.

“Young lady, if you purchase over a thousand at our store, you can get a membership card for discounts next time!” The pharmacy staff frantically promoted.

Oh my, even pharmacies are starting this membership system now. Fang Chuning pursed her lips: “No need, I probably won’t come again.”

“You never know, who doesn’t have some minor ailments in a year? You must live nearby, right? Maybe you’ll need to come again in a couple of days.”

This uncle really doesn’t know how to speak.

Fang Chuning rummaged through the medicine bags, making sure they were all burn ointments and anti-inflammatory drugs before picking up the two bags and leaving the pharmacy.

This was the second time coming to Xu Muzhou’s house. Unlike the first time, she suddenly felt a bit nervous.

Fang Chuning stood outside the door, using her hand to fluff her long curly hair in the slightly reflective wall. She hadn’t tied up her hair; the shoulder-length hair added a touch of maturity to her still somewhat childish face. Her pink lips looked even softer and more delicate than a boy’s.

After confirming everything was in order, she rang the doorbell. The door opened in about ten seconds.

Fang Chuning’s raised smile froze when she saw who opened the door.

It was a man, very tall, dressed in designer clothes. His outstanding temperament, coupled with the innate nobility between his brows, gave the illusion that you were shorter than him just by standing there.

Fang Chuning guessed his identity almost at first glance. That face was like a mature version of Xu Muzhou, identical in features except for the different temperament.

After being stunned for a few seconds, Fang Chuning suddenly stepped back and bowed 90 degrees: “Hello, uncle!”

Xu’s father looked her up and down: “You are?”

“I-I’m Xu’s classmate.”

Fang Chuning felt her tongue was a bit tied.

Classmate?

Xu’s father frowned slightly. He looked back at his son sitting on the sofa, who had been in low spirits just now but was currently staring intently at this direction, or more accurately, at the girl outside the door.

Xu Muzhou noticed the man’s displeased look and slightly pursed his lips: “Dad, classmate Fang just came to check on me because of my burn.”

His eyes never left the girl, and the corners of his crimson lips curled up slightly: “Classmate Fang, come in quickly.”

Fang Chuning didn’t move, her gaze secretly shifting to the man’s face.

Xu’s father looked down at the girl, and after a moment, he stepped aside and pulled the door open wider, “Come in.”

Fang Chuning hesitantly nodded and entered the house.

She put the two bags of medicine on the table. The man glanced at the medicine bags, frowning again. Fang Chuning hurriedly explained: “These are all burn medicines, I didn’t know which one was good, so I bought them all…”

She had never been so nervous in front of an elder before. If she had known, she wouldn’t have come.

The man withdrew his gaze and walked towards the bar counter, “You’re quite thoughtful.”

This sentence carried no praise, the tone so flat it seemed like sarcasm. Fang Chuning felt even more uncomfortable.

“Well,” she wanted to say that since the medicine was delivered, she would leave first, but Xu Muzhou suddenly asked her to come over and sit. His smile was as usual, seemingly not afraid of the man noticing the ambiguity between them.

Fang Chuning secretly glanced towards the bar counter direction and mouthed to him: No, your dad is here, I’ll leave first.

Xu Muzhou seemed not to understand, directly walking over and affectionately taking her hand with his uninjured one. Fang Chuning froze, allowing him to lead her to sit on the sofa.

Although they often ate together, they always maintained a good distance without crossing boundaries, let alone such intimate gestures.

She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but this action seemed somewhat deliberate, as if intentionally done for the man to see.

Even after sitting on the sofa, he didn’t let go of her hand, and extended his injured hand in front of her. He didn’t speak, just looked at her with pitiful eyes.

Fang Chuning lowered her gaze to his hand, seeing a glaring red burn mark on the edge of his jade-like, fair and delicate hand. In an instant, she forgot about the awkwardness and nervousness, grabbing his wrist, “Have you applied medicine?”

Xu Muzhou looked at her with autumn-like eyes, “Not yet…”

“Then quickly apply some medicine, there’s plenty here.” Fang Chuning randomly took out a burn ointment from the bag and handed it to him.

Xu Muzhou didn’t take it, his eyelashes lowering slightly.

If there wasn’t a third person present, Fang Chuning might have helped him apply it. The key was that someone was there, and this person was his father. How could she be so bold? “The cotton swabs are here, apply it yourself.”

The young man’s fair cheeks puffed up slightly. He let go of her hand and moved one seat away, as if sulking.

Fang Chuning placed both hands on her knees, secretly glancing quickly towards the bar counter.

Xu’s father’s gaze lingered on the two of them. As an experienced adult, he could tell at a glance that his son was experiencing his first love. Having grown up abroad since childhood, he was open-minded about these things, but he didn’t want something like puppy love to happen to his son.

He stirred his coffee with a small spoon, his gaze on the girl, “No need to trouble yourself. Take the medicine back, I’ve already applied some for him.”

There was a hint of dismissal in his tone. Realizing she wasn’t welcomed by his family, Fang Chuning felt a bit disappointed, “Then I won’t disturb you any longer.”

As she said this and was about to walk towards the door, a hand reached out and grabbed her wrist. The action was gentle but carried a slight, uncomfortable obsessiveness.

He looked up at her silently, his cherry-red lips moving slightly, softly exhaling orchid fragrance: “I’ve made some soup, drink it before you leave.”

Seeing this, Xu’s father frowned: “Baobao!”

“Dad,” Xu Muzhou interrupted what he was about to say, his eyes showing a hint of resentment, “Classmate Fang is my friend, please don’t be like this.”

Xu’s father felt as if something was stuck in his throat. At this moment, he felt that the child he loved most was extremely unfamiliar.

In the end, he couldn’t resist that look. He restrained his expression, his voice neither cold nor warm: “Since you’re already here, stay for a while before leaving.”

In the end, Fang Chuning still brazenly sat back down and had a bowl of soup before leaving. As soon as she walked out of the apartment, her phone notified her of a message from Xu Muzhou.

Xu Muzhou: I’m sorry for making you unhappy today.

Fang Chuning’s expression paused slightly, her fingers quickly tapping the screen to reply: I wasn’t unhappy, don’t think too much about it.

The other side was quiet for a while, until she got into a taxi.

Xu Muzhou: Will you distance yourself from me because of today’s events?

The young man’s anxious expression seemed to be right before her eyes. Fang Chuning’s lips curled slightly: Of course not.

Thinking about his birthday next week, she typed again: Did your dad come back to celebrate your birthday?

Xu Muzhou: Mm.

Fang Chuning: Then the trip to the holiday island won’t work out?

Xu Muzhou: I’ll talk to my dad about it, he’ll agree.

Are you sure? Fang Chuning recalled the man who seemed even harder to talk to than Fang Hong. So close relatives really can look so alike, but their temperaments were completely opposite. Compared to the man, Xu Muzhou was like a little lamb.