Chapter 41: Dating “You like me and I like you, so let’s…”
With this thought, Fang Chuning suddenly felt her joy for this trip plummet. After eating her fill, she didn’t even go to greet Xu Muzhou, instead lying on a beach chair nearby playing with her phone.
The sea breeze blew, and the laughter of men and women filled her ears, but she had no desire to join in.
“Classmate Fang?”
Fang Chuning’s gaze left her phone and fell on the young man’s face, but quickly moved away. She tossed her hair, feigning laziness: “Is there something?”
Xu Muzhou’s eyelashes trembled lightly, “Everyone’s playing, aren’t you joining?”
“No, you all go ahead and play.”
Her voice was as cold as when they first met. Xu Muzhou’s fingers trembled, slowly clenching into a fist, “I’m sorry… about earlier today, I was just, very worried about you.”
He apologized helplessly and urgently, even though initially he was angry at her for indirectly helping Lin Yuze, angry that she had promised him but then acted as if it didn’t exist.
Compared to these, he couldn’t accept her ignoring him, even just a few hours made him anxious to the point of struggling to breathe.
He had been too willful, these days of interaction had almost made him lose himself, thinking she already belonged to him.
Hearing him say this, Fang Chuning was once again confused. Was it his personality problem or did he really like her? Fang Chuning almost couldn’t control herself from directly questioning him.
But the words that came to her lips changed flavor: “I know, you don’t need to explain to me.”
Because of worry… so he ignored her? Tsk, why couldn’t she figure out this problem?
The next morning, they planned to play for another half day, then take a flight back in the afternoon, probably arriving in Z city around 10 pm. This was suggested by Gao Qiong and the others. Although they weren’t good at studying, they had a firm grasp on eating, drinking, and having fun.
Tired of the beach, they didn’t leave the hotel, instead playing in the rooftop swimming pool. They even hired a bartender to make them special drinks.
The pool was set in a particularly good location. The hotel wasn’t very tall, and there were no buildings around to obstruct the view. Facing the azure sea and golden beach, the beautiful scenery line made people relax both physically and mentally.
Xu Muzhou sat at the edge of the pool, his fair and slender calves submerged in the light blue water. He supported himself with his hands on the tiles on either side, his eyes closely following Fang Chuning’s swimming figure in the pool.
His calves swayed gently in the water.
Suddenly, a shadow blocked the light falling on him. Xu Muzhou looked up to see a young man’s sweetly smiling face.
“Muzhou~ Aren’t you drinking?”
There was deliberate friendliness in his tone.
After yesterday’s incident, the young man could still shamelessly approach him, obviously not having given up on clinging to this affluent lifestyle.
Xu Muzhou calmly shifted his gaze, not responding to his words.
Lin Yuze’s expression stiffened slightly, seemingly not expecting the young man to react this way. He was somewhat embarrassed, but quickly adjusted his mindset and tentatively said with seemingly genuine apology: “Are you still angry about yesterday? It was my fault, but you got your watch back, can’t we just pretend it never happened?”
The two were in a location where no one else was around. Xu Muzhou was silent for a moment, then suddenly curled his lips into a smile and looked at him: “Alright.”
“Really? Then we’re still friends, right?”
Xu Muzhou nodded.
“That’s great! I knew you were the best. When we get back, I’ll come visit you again.”
This way, even if Gao Qiong broke up with him, he wouldn’t have to worry about losing this circle. Maybe he could even find someone better then. Thinking this, Lin Yuze’s smile grew even brighter.
Xu Muzhou pulled his feet out of the water. He stood up straight by the pool, raising his hand to brush back the slightly damp bangs from his forehead. His delicate and beautiful features seemed somewhat unreal in the sunlight. He smiled and extended his hand to the young man, “Get up, let’s go eat something.”
It had to be said, this face was so beautiful it made people jealous. Lin Yuze smiled back and reached out his hand. Just as he stood up from the ground, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his tiger’s mouth. The force felt as if it would pierce the fingers into his bone.
“Ouch!” Lin Yuze’s face contorted in pain, and he instinctively shook off the hand forcefully.
With a “splash” of falling into water, the stabbing pain in his tiger’s mouth disappeared.
He stood there dumbfounded, clutching his own hand. Before he could react, a figure quickly jumped into the water, and with the help of the gathering crowd, they rescued the drowning Xu Muzhou.
Fang Chuning, who had gone to get ice cream, returned to see everyone gathered around the pool. She walked over, “What are you all crowding around for?”
“Classmate Xu almost drowned!”
Fang Chuning’s hand holding the ice cream trembled, and the ice cream fell to the ground.
Fortunately, someone was there to discover it in time. Xu Muzhou had only swallowed a few mouthfuls of water and wasn’t seriously harmed, though his face had turned pale from the shock.
In the hotel room, Fang Chuning sat by the bed, feeding him sips of a calming soup. “This is pig heart soup I asked the hotel to cook. It’s said to calm nerves, you should drink more.”
Xu Muzhou’s face was still pale, but much better than before. He didn’t refuse, even when he couldn’t drink anymore, until the whole bowl was finished.
Fang Chuning put the empty bowl aside and placed her hand on his forehead, “You don’t feel unwell anywhere, do you?”
She was worried his asthma might act up.
Xu Muzhou’s face regained some color as he shook his head lightly: “I’m fine.” He pursed his lips, looking at her, “You don’t need to worry.”
“How could I not worry” As soon as she said this, Fang Chuning paused, glancing at him, and suddenly became silent.
The room was quiet for about ten seconds when there was a knock at the door. Fang Chuning went to open it, and the person who came was Gao Qiong.
“I’ve already arranged for someone to send him back first.” As soon as she entered, Gao Qiong informed them of the follow-up to the situation.
After all, it was the person she had brought, so Fang Chuning had left the handling of the matter entirely to her.
Gao Qiong looked at the young man, her face unusually serious, “I’m sorry, Vice President. You were the main guest for this trip, and I brought this kind of person to affect your mood.”
Xu Muzhou smiled and shook his head, “I had a lot of fun.”
Gao Qiong felt even more embarrassed and assured him, “Don’t worry, Vice President, you won’t see him again.”
“Actually…” Xu Muzhou’s eyelashes lowered slightly, “Maybe I spoke too harshly and that’s why Classmate Lin acted that way. Perhaps he didn’t expect me to fall into the water?”
“Vice President, why are you still speaking up for him? Everyone saw with their own eyes that he pushed you. He even said it was because you pinched him. You don’t need to bother with someone so stupid and malicious.” Gao Qiong said, glancing at the time, “Well, I’ll go now. I won’t disturb you two.”
After Gao Qiong left, the room became quiet again.
Fang Chuning stood there fidgeting for a while before saying: “If you’re not feeling well, we can delay until early tomorrow morning to go back.”
Xu Muzhou’s eyelashes lifted slightly, “I’m fine, no need to delay.”
“…Oh.”
When the air became quiet again, Fang Chuning seemed to hear the sound of their heartbeats. Their breathing gradually became heated. She saw Xu Muzhou sitting at the head of the bed, tilting his head slightly to look at her, his eyes hesitant as if wanting to say something.
There was an inexplicable subtle feeling between the two, as if they were both waiting for the other to speak first.
Fang Chuning moved a few steps and sat back down on the edge of the bed. Xu Muzhou’s gaze followed her, making her heart race.
Her gaze shifted slightly, falling on his hand resting on the blanket, white and slender. Perhaps noticing her gaze, his fingers nervously gripped the blanket.
Fang Chuning moved her gaze away, her free hand scratching her forehead.
Warmth surged in Xu Muzhou’s heart, and he finally couldn’t hold back anymore, “Classmate Fang…”
Fang Chuning immediately looked at him, her gaze intense.
That look was as if she wanted to devour him.
A faint blush crept up his fair face. Xu Muzhou’s gaze fluttered for a moment. He bit his lower lip, trying hard to suppress his overjoyed heart, his eyelids lowered shyly: “Does Classmate Fang know what it feels like to like someone?”
Fang Chuning was silent for a moment, “I didn’t know before, but now I do.”
“Can you tell me about it?”
Fang Chuning was silent for a few seconds longer than before, then said in a low voice: “I hope he’s happy every day, without illness or pain. And I hope he doesn’t ignore me…”
She gripped her thigh tightly, her face flushed as she stared at him intently. Her voice was low, but her tone was like a mumble: “Was what you said before about liking me true?”
Xu Muzhou’s eyes flickered, “It’s true. I like you, very much.”
Hearing him say it directly again, Fang Chuning’s feelings were completely different from the first time. It was like being filled with air, swelling up full.
The corners of her mouth spread into a smile, and she rubbed her hands together, a bit excitedly confessing her feelings to him: “Then, then I like you too! Why don’t we date!?”
…
Even after returning to Z city, Fang Chuning still felt a sense of unreality. She had a boyfriend now! And this boyfriend was Xu Muzhou, who had grown up with her since childhood!
This was something she had never even thought about before.
They arrived in Z city at exactly 10 pm. After arranging for drivers to take them home, Fang Chuning planned to ride in the same car with Xu Muzhou, dropping him off at home before going back herself.
“Take me along too!” Gao Qiong squeezed into the front passenger seat.
Their chance for some alone time ruined, Fang Chuning was displeased: “Your home and my home aren’t even on the same route, how can we take you along?”
“I’m not planning to go home today, I’ll stay at your place for the night.”
Gao Qiong had a candy in her mouth, looking excited.
“Don’t you need to go back for school tomorrow?”
“That’s no problem, I can wear your school uniform. I can have someone bring it to school for me later.”
Fang Chuning had no choice but to take her along.
She and Xu Muzhou sat in the back seat, with one seat’s distance between them.
She wanted to say something to him but was hindered by Gao Qiong’s presence. Just as the car stopped outside the apartment and he was about to get out, Fang Chuning called out to him: “Classmate Xu!”
In the dim light, the young man’s jade-like face was even more alluring, a pair of flickering eyes seriously gazing at her.
Fang Chuning’s heart raced, and she opened her mouth: “Remember to send me a message when you get home.”
Xu Muzhou’s eyes dimmed slightly, and he softly replied: “Mm.”
After he got out, Fang Chuning told the driver not to start driving yet. She moved to the seat where the young man had left his warmth, rolled down the window, “Go in quickly, and remember to send me a message.”
Xu Muzhou didn’t move, his eyes seemed full of endless tenderness and affection. He stood there for a while, seeing that she really wasn’t going to say anything more, a hint of annoyance grew in his heart, “Then I’ll go up first, see you tomorrow.”
Then he turned and entered the apartment without looking back.
Fang Chuning watched him from behind until he disappeared from sight before rolling up the window.
The car started moving again.
Sitting in the front passenger seat, Gao Qiong finally couldn’t help but turn back and criticize: “The Vice President clearly wanted you to see him up, how can you be so bad at reading people’s expressions.”
Fang Chuning’s expression went from bewildered to sudden realization. No wonder she felt like Xu Muzhou’s eyes seemed to be trying to express something to her.
So, important things must be said out loud. She’s not a mind reader, how could she know what he was thinking.