Chapter 51: Movie – The Extra Person

Can a person suddenly come to terms with something they don’t want to understand overnight?

Especially when this person is Fang Tianli, it can be said that there is no credibility at all.

Fang Chuning pulled the blanket back, turned her back to him, “Get out, I want to sleep.”

“Don’t you believe me?” Fang Tianli crawled to the inner side of the bed, his smile somewhat smug, “I’ve already given the other movie ticket to your classmate, he’s agreed, and he’s probably waiting for your call now.”

“You gave the movie ticket to Xu Muzhou? How did you give it to him?”

“Don’t think I don’t know you hid him in the empty villa next door last night. I went over to give it to him early this morning. He should be back home changing clothes and waiting for you now.”

Fang Chuning was half skeptical, always feeling that he was playing some kind of trick. She couldn’t believe that someone who was unreasonably making a fuss last night would suddenly be so open-minded today, even preparing movie tickets for them.

Seeing that she didn’t seem to believe him much, Fang Tianli folded his arms and said deliberately: “I’ve gone to such trouble for you two. I heard there’s a fireworks show at the harbor bay tonight. After the movie, you can go watch the fireworks. How romantic!”

As he spoke, she really became tempted by his words, and she indeed wanted to ask Xu Muzhou out today.

Thinking this way, Fang Chuning made a decision and got up quickly to change clothes. Fang Tianli followed behind her, smiling with a smug look of having succeeded in his little scheme.

When she changed and went downstairs, she saw Su Qi sitting on the living room sofa waiting. Su Qi immediately came up to her when he saw her, “Sister Ningning, are you alright? Lili told me about yesterday’s incident, I was so worried about you…”

“It’s nothing.”

Fang Chuning walked past him towards the dining room. Su Qi lowered his head, his thumb anxiously pinching the tiger’s mouth of his other hand due to nervousness. He quickly followed, his face showing faint unease, “Sister Ningning, I’m sorry…”

Fang Chuning glanced at him, “What?”

“About you dating that brother, I didn’t mean to tell Lili. Lili kept asking… I had no choice…” Su Qi’s face was flushed with nervousness, looking like he wanted to look at her but didn’t dare, “I’m sorry…”

Fang Chuning didn’t care much, “It’s okay, I don’t blame you.”

She had woken up late, and Fang Hong and Father Fang had already gone out. There were only the three of them at the dining table.

After finishing breakfast, Fang Chuning prepared to go out. Just as she left the villa, she frowned and turned her head to look at the two following behind her, “Why are you following me?”

“Of course, to watch the movie!” Fang Tianli said as if it was obvious.

Fang Chuning’s eyelid twitched, “I’m going on a date, and you two want to come along?”

Fang Tianli linked arms with Su Qi, tilting his head innocently, “You go on your date, we’ll watch our movie. We won’t disturb you.”

She knew that his sudden change in attitude definitely wasn’t for anything good. Who knows where he learned such tricks from.

Fang Chuning glanced at Su Qi, who had been keeping his head down without saying a word. Ever since Fang Tianli made this friend, those little schemes had become more and more frequent. In the past, it was easy to deal with his unreasonable tantrums, but now it was like he had a military advisor, making things much more difficult.

“Fine, but Fang Tianli, you watch yourself. Don’t say whatever comes to your mind. If you say something to upset people, don’t even think about me taking you out again in the future.”

After saying this, she sat in the front passenger seat of their family’s luxury car. If it was just her going out alone, she would choose to take a taxi, but now with two more people, it was more convenient to take their own car.

Fang Tianli agreed nonchalantly and pulled Su Qi into the car.

Fang Chuning glanced at the two in the rearview mirror, her face expressionless, and took out her phone to send a message to Xu Muzhou. Just as she unlocked her phone, the top of the screen pushed a notification of the latest local news.

Familiar words caught her curiosity and she clicked on it.

The top photo in the news made Fang Chuning freeze. It was the bar she was taken to yesterday. The text read that the bar had been shut down for various reasons including suspected illegal activities related to prostitution and violence. The bar owner, surnamed Wen, was suspected of having a history of mental illness and had been admitted to a mental hospital. None of those connected to the bar were spared.

Fang Chuning stared blankly at the photo of the bar. She was almost certain that this matter was undoubtedly related to Fang Hong. To uproot such a large-scale business overnight, in Z city, probably only she could do it.

However, what surprised her was that she had originally thought they were old lovers, but now it didn’t seem to be the case.

The car soon stopped outside the apartment where Xu Muzhou lived. Xu Muzhou, who had been contacted beforehand, was already waiting at the entrance of the apartment. His eyes looked towards the two people in the back seat of the car, and he didn’t immediately get in.

Fang Chuning got out of the car and walked to his side, whispering in his ear: “After we finish watching the movie, let’s ditch them and go play.”

“Like this… won’t your brother be unhappy?”

“Don’t worry about him, once we leave they’ll find their own places to go shopping.”

Xu Muzhou smiled lightly, but there wasn’t much joy in his eyes, “Mm.”

To be honest, she even wanted to hail a cab right away and leave them behind to go on a date alone with Xu Muzhou. But on second thought, she figured it didn’t matter if they tagged along. The two of them being affectionate could really make them give up hope.

But clearly, Fang Chuning’s thoughts were still too simple.

On the way to the cinema, whenever she wanted to be intimate with Xu Muzhou, Fang Tianli would ruin it. For example, right now.

She wanted to hold Xu Muzhou’s hand, but Fang Tianli suddenly squeezed between them, smiling brightly at the young man: “There’s still some time before the movie starts, why don’t we go eat some cake?”

The boy was even a head shorter than him. Xu Muzhou slightly lowered his gaze to look at him, revealing a faint smile, “I’m fine with anything.”

And so, they entered an afternoon tea restaurant. At this time, the restaurant was full, and the waiters were too busy to keep up. Fang Chuning decided to go directly to the cashier to order, as it would be faster. “What do you want to eat?”

Xu Muzhou also stood up, “I’ll go with you.”

“No need, no need!” Fang Tianli occupied one of Fang Chuning’s arms, “We can go together, Brother Muzhou, tell me what you want to eat and I’ll order for you.”

The boy’s repeated “disruptions” made Xu Muzhou extremely disgusted. He didn’t show it on his face, looking gentle and patient, “Ningning knows what I want to eat.”

As he spoke, their gazes met sweetly.

Fang Tianli felt increasingly upset, pulling her away, “Then let’s go order quickly, the movie will start soon!”

When the two walked away, Su Qi’s gaze fell on the young man’s face, his voice though small was not as timid as before: “The relationship between brother and sister Ningning seems really good.”

Xu Muzhou slightly turned his eyes towards him, and after a while, he said slowly: “Because we’re in love.”

The young man’s expression was too natural, as if he was talking about something that was a matter of course.

Su Qi couldn’t help but feel jealous, “I’m really envious. Brother is so handsome, there must be many people who like you, not just sister Ningning.”

The implication in his words seemed to be that Fang Chuning liked him purely because of his looks.

Xu Muzhou looked at him sideways, his originally warm eyes becoming deep and cold.

Su Qi’s hands on his knees tightened slightly, his fair little face looking pitiful, “Did I say something wrong?”

Xu Muzhou glanced at Fang Chuning ordering at the cashier, then turned his gaze back to the boy, slightly curling his lips, “Actually, I’m quite envious of you too.”

Su Qi was stunned, and before he could discern whether this statement was true or false, he heard the young man continue: “Although you come from a poor background and your parents didn’t give you much education, you’re very free.”

At this point, Xu Muzhou paused, resting his chin on one hand, “Even if you interfere in other people’s relationships, no one will discipline you. And you’re very lucky to be able to climb up and have the opportunity to receive higher education. People like you who come from the slums, it would take a lifetime of effort to reach such heights.”

The young man used the gentlest angelic face to casually utter mockery. There was no obvious contempt on his face, and if it weren’t for his blunt words, Su Qi might not have realized he was insulting him.

After the shame, Su Qi felt excited. He thought, sister Ningning probably doesn’t know this person’s true face, right? If she knew that her angel-like boyfriend was actually narrow-minded and sharp-tongued, she would definitely dislike him, right!?

Xu Muzhou seemed to see through his dirty thoughts and chuckled lightly: “What you should do now is to behave yourself, don’t think about things you shouldn’t. Perhaps your good days can last a bit longer.”

The threatening-like words made Su Qi’s face pale. Looking at the approaching Fang siblings, he struggled internally for a moment, but still quieted down.

They entered the movie theater five minutes before the movie started. The movie tickets Fang Tianli bought were for the VIP screening room, which had fewer seats than the IMAX hall, was spacious, and had comfortable seating.

This was the first time Fang Chuning had watched a movie in an outside theater, and the environment was much better than she had imagined.

“Come.” Fang Chuning reached out to Xu Muzhou. Unsurprisingly, Fang Tianli again blocked between them, pushing her towards the seats, “Don’t stand here blocking the way, you go sit down first.”

Fang Chuning was extremely annoyed with him, but she wanted to see what exactly this person was trying to do.

After she sat in the innermost seat, she saw Fang Tianli pushing Su Qi to sit next to her, while he sat on the other side of Su Qi, leaving the outermost seat for Xu Muzhou.

Xu Muzhou didn’t sit down. His eyes were tinged with faint grievance as he stood there quietly looking at her.

An unnamed anger rose from Fang Chuning’s heart. She ignored the popcorn Su Qi was offering pleadingly, stood up, walked over and took his hand, heading out.

Seeing this, Fang Tianli wanted to follow, but was fixed in place by one of her glares. He could only watch helplessly as the two left the screening room.

Su Qi hesitantly said behind him: “Is sister Ningning angry?”

Fang Tianli stood with his back to him, not saying a word.