Fang Chuning pinched her fingers, her tongue pressing against her back teeth, and finally squeezed out a sentence: “So I want to ask for your help.”

Fang Hong’s crimson lips curved upward, “Are you begging me?”

“…Yes.” The voice came out through gritted teeth.

By the time Fang Chuning came out of the study, it was half an hour later. Returning to her room, she was greeted with this scene.

Fang Tianli was sitting in the armchair, legs crossed, drinking hot cocoa. While Xu Muzhou stood beside him, head slightly lowered, the handprint on his face clearly visible.

The scene looked like an evil master and his humiliated servant.

Fang Chuning immediately felt uncomfortable, “What are you doing in my room?”

Fang Tianli pouted, “Chatting with him, can’t you see?”

It really wasn’t apparent. How could chatting result in a handprint on the face?

“I’m fine, Lili was just curious about why I’m here, so he said a few more words,” the beautiful young man who had been quiet all along suddenly spoke up, even defending him.

Fang Tianli scoffed disdainfully, thinking he was putting on an act.

Fang Chuning chased him out, then turned to tell him her plans, “I’m going to move out for a while. We’ll make plans after this matter settles down.”

The so-called plans referred to the matter between the two of them.

Feeling her seriousness towards him, Xu Muzhou’s heart couldn’t help but overflow with joy, his eyes glistening.

“You’re happy?” Fang Chuning’s face showed no sign of good or bad: “You should be happy after causing me so much trouble.”

The joy that had just been revealed froze. Xu Muzhou’s face paled again, he lowered his head, wanting to say something but could only softly say: “I’m sorry…”

This was already who knows how many times he had said sorry. The clear marks on his snow-white face made him look extremely pitiful.

Fang Chuning’s gaze fell on his bare feet, her brows furrowing, “Isn’t it cold to step on the floor barefoot?” He was still not well and completely unaware of taking care.

She pulled him onto the carpet, letting him stand there, then turned to start packing her clothes.

The main reason for moving out was that relatives who received the news would surely come one after another, and explaining to stubborn people like Fang’s father was useless. It was better to move away first and explain when they had calmed down.

Fang Chuning moved to a 100-square-meter river view suite in the city center. She lived alone, but Xu Muzhou would stay with her usually.

Although they were said to have reconciled, their most intimate contact was only occasionally when Fang Chuning found him walking too slowly and pulled his arm to walk, that’s all. Since she said she would give him a chance, the young man had become very clingy, afraid of losing her. Whether going to work or returning home, he always followed closely, but crucially, he could do this without interfering with her work or rest time at all.

He was as quiet as an invisible person.

At night too, he would stay at her place until she was about to sleep before he left.

In the living room, Fang Chuning was looking at stock market changes on her laptop, while Xu Muzhou sat to one side watching TV. The TV volume was very low, not disturbing her.

Fang Chuning spared a glance at the TV, her mouth twitching, “You’re watching a horror movie late at night?”

On the sofa, Xu Muzhou hugged a cushion. When the woman looked over, his gaze, which had been constantly on her, quickly moved to the TV. He softly “mmm”ed in response.

Fang Chuning put away her computer and looked at the time, “It’s almost eleven o’clock, aren’t you going home yet?”

Xu Muzhou hugged the cushion tighter, “I want to finish watching before I go back.”

Fang Chuning had no objection.

Half an hour later, the movie was over, but the young man still showed no intention of leaving.

“It’s almost midnight,” Fang Chuning reminded him.

Xu Muzhou’s gaze flickered, looking at her hopefully, “It’s too late, I’m afraid… can I stay here for the night?”

“It’s not that late, I’ll have someone send you back.”

The young man pleaded, “I won’t disturb you, I’ll leave early tomorrow morning.”

Fang Chuning wiped the water from her face, glancing at him, then turned towards her room, “There are toiletries in the cabinet, you can use that room tonight.” She pointed to a bedroom.

Xu Muzhou’s lips curved upwards, hugging the cushion in his arms tighter, “Okay.”

Changed into pajamas and lying in bed, Fang Chuning closed her eyes, her mind going over the recent events at the company. The stock market had stabilized. Those hot searches about Fang Corporation and Tang Corporation canceling the marriage alliance and speculations about the reasons behind it were taken down within an hour of going up, especially those about her and Xu Muzhou. It was as if they had been washed away, now impossible to find even if searched for online.

At first, she thought this must all be Fang Hong’s doing, but later she discovered that all negative comments about Xu Muzhou had also been forcibly removed. She didn’t think Fang Hong would be so kind-hearted; at least without her asking, she would definitely not voluntarily help in this way.

Fang Chuning was lost in thought until a faint knock at the door disrupted her train of thought. She frowned and looked up towards the door. The bedroom door was opened a crack, revealing the young man’s flickering eyes.

“What are you doing?” she said loudly.

Xu Muzhou’s eyelashes trembled, his voice timid, “I’m scared…”

Fang Chuning was speechless, “Who told you to watch horror movies in the middle of the night.”

That shadow didn’t speak, just stood motionless at the door.

Fang Chuning looked at him for a while, “You don’t want to sleep with me, do you?”

Such direct words could easily make one feel ashamed.

In the darkness, Xu Muzhou lowered his eyelashes, his fingers on the doorframe curling nervously, his voice even softer, “I won’t disturb you.”

The two were at a standoff for a while. Fang Chuning sighed, moved over a bit, and turned her back to him, “Don’t make noise, I have to work tomorrow.”

Unexpectedly given permission, Xu Muzhou’s heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably. He tried to keep his voice as soft as possible, closed the door, and slowly walked to the bedside. The person on the bed had her back to him, deliberately leaving a spacious spot for him.

Xu Muzhou bit his lower lip, suppressing the throbbing in his heart, lifted the thin blanket and lay down beside her.

At first, his body was still a bit stiff, his hand tightly gripping a corner of the blanket. After a moment, seeing no movement from the person beside him, he slowly turned to face her. His peach blossom eyes were bright, his lips slightly pursed. He reached out a finger and lightly traced circles on the spot between her shoulder blades through her pajamas.

This is what you call taking a mile when given an inch.

Fang Chuning gritted her teeth, turned her head to glare at him, and said viciously, “If you keep making trouble, I’ll throw you out!”

The moment she turned her head, Xu Muzhou quickly withdrew his hand, his eyes showing innocence.

When the woman turned her head back to continue sleeping, he once again extended his mischievous little hand, tracing circles on her back.

The tickling sensation completely ignited Fang Chuning’s temper. She suddenly flipped over and pressed down on him, gripping his chin, and lowered her head to bite his cheek in retaliation.

Xu Muzhou pushed against her with both hands, his eyes timid like a frightened young rabbit, “I’m scared…”

After leaving a mark on his face, Fang Chuning moved away, licking her lips and narrowing her eyes, “If you know to be scared, why do you still make trouble for me?”

The young man bit his lip, his eyes glistening.

She clicked her tongue, released her hand and lay back down, “Stop making trouble, go to sleep quickly.”

The room quieted down, and Fang Chuning was getting sleepy. Suddenly, the tickling sensation on her back made her shudder again. She bore it with a restrained expression, but those fingers became increasingly bold, lightly tracing circles on her back.

Unable to endure any longer, she flipped over and pounced on him.

She pinned the young man’s mischievous hands above his head and bit his delicate lips while gripping his chin.

“Ning… Ning Ning…” Xu Muzhou called out softly, his words muffled.

Fang Chuning ignored his feigned weakness, the force of her grip on his wrists increasing.

It wasn’t until deep into the night that they both fell asleep exhausted.

Early the next morning, the person who said he would leave early was still sound asleep on the bed, showing no signs of waking up.

Fang Chuning didn’t disturb him. After gently closing the door, she called her assistant, asking her to bring over two breakfast portions. She didn’t plan to go to the company today, deciding to work from home instead.