Chapter 81: Breakdown – Who Is Scheming Against Whom

The next day, Fang Chuning felt much better. Her injuries were not severe; aside from some bruises from being kicked, the worst was a spot on the back of her neck.

Today, a different person was watching over her at her hospital bed. In fact, Fang Chuning was already preparing to be discharged.

“Uncle said you’re not well yet and need to stay in the hospital for a few more days of observation,” Tang Jiali said as he brought a spoonful of porridge to her mouth.

Fang Chuning turned her head away, not in the mood to eat. “I’ve said I’m fine. Why waste time here?”

Tang Jiali gazed at her pensively. Ever since learning about her kidnapping, he had been restless, especially knowing she was kidnapped along with that person. The anxiety and unease tormented him.

How he wished that person had died in this kidnapping incident.

Before being discharged, Fang Chuning went to see Xu Muzhou. He was awake now, with his father sitting by the bed feeding him. He was half-lying on the bed, his head turned to look out the window, eyes half-open, face bandaged, looking extremely dispirited.

Through the door, she couldn’t hear what Xu’s father was saying, only seeing the young man motionless, as still as a painting.

Fang Chuning knocked on the door of the hospital room, and saw the young man’s eyelashes flutter, his gaze turning towards the door with cautious expectation.

Seeing it was really her, his expression changed as if winter had turned to spring, instantly coming to life, giving her a weak smile.

Fang Chuning couldn’t quite describe her feelings now. The more she showed signs of softening towards him, the less she wanted to see him, even finding his smile towards her irritating.

Sensing the woman’s intention to leave, Xu Muzhou disregarded his weak body and tried to get out of bed by throwing off the covers, but was firmly stopped by his father.

Seeing his son’s entire heart and mind focused on that woman, Xu’s father was extremely disappointed, but helpless. He could only let her come in.

“Now will you eat?” It was his first time tending to someone and being given the cold shoulder. If it weren’t his own son, how could he lower himself like this?

From the moment Fang Chuning entered, Xu Muzhou’s eyes had been glued to her. He said, “I’m not hungry.”

How could Xu’s father not see through his thoughts? He stood up and said to the woman, “I have something to attend to and will be out for a while. My darling can’t eat by himself, could you help a bit?”

“I have matters at the company,” said Fang Chuning, who hadn’t sorted out her own feelings and didn’t want to stay here too long.

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the young man on the bed wilt like a flower about to die, losing all vitality.

Xu’s father was quite displeased. “He’s in this state all because of you. Don’t tell me you want to act as if nothing happened.”

This was exactly what was bothering Fang Chuning. Undeniably, when he had thrown himself on her to shield her from harm without regard for his own safety, her heart had been moved. But it was precisely this wavering that made her unable to face him calmly again.

She would involuntarily think of how he had once “betrayed” her, making her increasingly disgusted with this wavering.

After leaving words that sounded like a warning, Xu’s father left the hospital room. Xu Muzhou looked at her as Fang Chuning slowly walked to the bedside, sat down, picked up the bowl of sea cucumber porridge from the table, and brought it to his mouth.

Xu Muzhou’s fingers lightly gripped the blanket as he obediently opened his mouth to eat. The scalding hot porridge made his expression pause slightly, but he still swallowed it.

Fang Chuning felt no relief at his drinking the porridge, but rather more aversion. “Can you not be so affected?”

The joy that had shown on his face froze. Xu Muzhou was at a loss, not understanding why she suddenly spoke to him like this when everything had been fine just a moment ago.

The porcelain bowl was set down on the table with a “thud”, neither too hard nor too soft. The young man’s eyes were like those of a startled young animal, not knowing what to do. Fang Chuning took a deep breath and turned to leave the hospital room.

She didn’t leave, just went to the smoking area for a cigarette. After calming down, she made a decision.

When she returned to the hospital room, she saw Xu Muzhou sitting up in bed, struggling to reach forward with one hand to carefully scoop up spoonfuls of porridge to drink. Seeing her return, he lightly licked the porridge from his lips and said to her weakly, trying to please, “If you don’t like it, I’ll change.”

Her dark eyes looked at him for a while. Fang Chuning said nothing, just picked up the bowl and began feeding him again.

After eating quietly for a few mouthfuls, Xu Muzhou raised his eyelashes slightly. The woman’s face was expressionless, and the quiet atmosphere made him feel uneasy. So he tentatively tried to break the atmosphere, “Ning Ning, the porridge is a bit hot.”

Fang Chuning glanced at him and saw that his lips were indeed slightly red from the heat. She scooped up another small spoonful of porridge, but this time didn’t immediately bring it to his mouth. Instead, she let it cool for a moment before feeding it to him.

Although the woman still said nothing, Xu Muzhou’s heart felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey.

He wanted to drink slowly, but was afraid of displeasing her, so he could only keep pace with her feeding, one spoonful after another. Soon the bowl was empty. Seeing that she was about to leave, Xu Muzhou hurriedly asked, “Will you come again tomorrow?”

“The company has a lot of work to do.” She didn’t directly answer his question.

Xu Muzhou’s eyes dimmed. Using the lowest posture, he begged, “If you have time, will you come see me again?”

By the time he finished speaking, she had already left the room, leaving him alone in this pale and desolate space.

Xu Muzhou lowered his head, his eyes welling up with tears.

…

Fang Chuning didn’t go to the company, but drove directly back to the Fang family villa.

The servants in the villa all knew about her kidnapping. Seeing her return, they all gathered around, worriedly asking about her condition. Fang Chuning had something on her mind, so she only said a few words to them before entering the villa.

She tossed her car keys onto the table in the living room and collapsed powerlessly onto the sofa, her fingers pinching her temples.

She was wondering whether Xu Muzhou’s feelings were just a man’s possessiveness or if he truly liked her. She felt it was the former, but if it was merely possessiveness, was it really worth him sacrificing so much?

Fang Chuning was very clear that her feelings for Xu Muzhou could never return to that initial deep and pure love. Now, it was only because her heart had softened, and this softening was something she didn’t have for other men.

Lost in thought, Fang Chuning unconsciously leaned back on the sofa and fell asleep. In her hazy state, she smelled a familiar fragrance that was getting closer and closer.

The cool, soft sensation on her lips gradually woke her. Fang Chuning looked at the face so close to hers, a bit dazed. Realizing what this person had just done, she pushed him away, her gaze sweeping towards the second floor and around. Fortunately, no one had seen.

The man’s slender fingers caressed her face, his beautiful brows and eyes filled with undispersed worry. “Thank goodness you’re alright.”

Fang Chuning swatted his hand away, saying unhappily, “You’ve crossed the line.”

Li Yipeng gazed at her softly. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t control myself just now.”

This man’s boldness was simply incomprehensible. If anyone in the villa had seen, the only outcome waiting for him would be unemployment.

The deep emotion in the man’s eyes made her uncomfortable. She stood up to go upstairs, but he grabbed her wrist. “Stay with me a bit longer, I have something I want to tell you.”

Thinking it was another of those clingy confessions, Fang Chuning indicated she didn’t want to hear it.

“It’s about that little lover of yours.”

Fang Chuning glanced at him sideways.

Li Yipeng was unfazed. He released her hand and sat sideways, leaning his head on the sofa. His long hair fell by his ears, languid and alluring. “Have you fallen for him again?”

Those words struck straight to her heart.

The man continued, “Hmm, let me guess. You’re not sure if he’s worth you investing your feelings again, so you’re hesitating.”

Fang Chuning was very depressed. This person seemed to understand her even better than her father. “It’s none of your business.”

Li Yipeng reached out and lightly touched the back of her hand, softening his voice as if coaxing, “I just want to help you, to let you know the extent of his feelings for you.”

These words were sincere.

Undeniably, he was indeed very jealous, but he hoped even more that the girl would have no regrets.

From the moment he started to like her, this relationship was destined to bring joy to some and sorrow to others.

…

After that day, Xu Muzhou never saw Fang Chuning come to visit him again. The pain in his body was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. He had thought that after going through life and death together, her attitude towards him would change.

It seems everything was just his wishful thinking.

Because he had to stay in the hospital for at least a month to recover, Xu Muzhou couldn’t be discharged. The anxious longing made him miserable, and his asthma relapsed several times.

Even when he had someone inform her of his condition, she still didn’t come.

A bad feeling overtook Xu Muzhou’s rationality. He asked his manager to bring him clothes, and despite his weakness, he changed and was about to leave the hospital to find her.

But he happened to run into his father who had come to see him. Looking him over, his father asked, “Where are you going?”

Xu Muzhou pressed his lips together.

“You can’t go anywhere before you’re better. Go back and lie down.”

Xu Muzhou stood there motionless.

His father frowned, feeling both dislike and helplessness towards this son who now completely disobeyed him. He decided not to hide it from him. “I know you want to go find that woman, but there’s no need. She’s getting married soon.”

The two words “getting married” were like a death sentence. Xu Muzhou’s pupils contracted slightly as he looked at his father in disbelief, trembling. “She’s getting married… then what about me?”

Seeing his son looking as if he’d lost his mind pained and angered his father. “Darling, come with Dad to France. This place isn’t suitable for us. Everything will be better once we leave here.”

Xu Muzhou lowered his head slightly, his deep pink bangs hiding his eyes on the verge of breakdown. He suddenly pushed the man away and ran out of the hospital room.

“Darling! Hurry up and follow him! If anything happens to him, I won’t let you off!” His father’s voice rang out behind him.

Xu Muzhou moved quickly. He left the hospital, hailed a taxi, and soon disappeared.

His manager and several bodyguards followed closely behind in a car.

When he reached the first floor of Century Building, he was stopped by security. “You need to show a work ID, or do you have an appointment?”

The security guard felt the young man before him looked familiar, but couldn’t quite place him.

“I want to see Fang Chuning,” Xu Muzhou said hoarsely.

The security guard was familiar with Fang Chuning’s name, but that didn’t mean he could let him through. “Do you have an appointment?”

Perhaps by coincidence, Fang Chuning, who was just about to go out for a meal, came out of the elevator and ran into him.

The two gazed at each other from a distance. Xu Muzhou’s expression suddenly calmed. He walked over and said, “I just got out of the hospital today. Thank you for helping me before. May I treat you to a meal?”

In the end, he gave her a comfortable smile, not mentioning anything about her getting married.