Chapter 85: Will Never Again Let Others Have the Chance to…

Since that day, the two became more intimate. Without Fang Chuning deliberately making things difficult, Xu Muzhou naturally moved in to live with her.

Life didn’t seem to change much, except for the addition of a nighttime activity.

However, what Fang Chuning found a bit hard to bear was that Xu Muzhou became increasingly clingy, to an incomprehensible degree. He followed her everywhere she went. Many times, not just her, even the people in the company felt like he was her assistant.

He never had time for himself, basically spending all his time on her.

At one point, Fang Chuning wanted to take him to a psychologist, but fearing it might hurt him, she had to put the idea aside.

Just like now, Fang Chuning wanted to finish the last bit of work, but he insisted on leaning on her shoulder to watch TV. “Can you move a bit? You’re interfering with my work.”

Xu Muzhou lifted his head from her shoulder, his arms hugging hers, his amber-colored peach blossom eyes staring straight at her, “You accompany me to watch TV.”

“Aren’t I accompanying you now?”

The young man pouted silently, his eyes glancing meaningfully at the laptop in front of her.

Fang Chuning closed the laptop and put it aside, “Just for today, tomorrow night we can’t do this.”

She seemed to have said the same thing yesterday.

Seeing her put down her work, Xu Muzhou immediately climbed into her arms, sitting between her legs with his back against her, his whole body nestling in her embrace to watch TV.

Fang Chuning was a bit amused and exasperated. She adjusted her sitting posture and stroked his hair, “Let’s dye your hair back to black, Dad doesn’t like such flashy styles.”

The person in her arms immediately turned his head, eyes sparkling, “Does Dad want to accept me now?”

That “Dad” came out particularly naturally.

Fang Chuning’s fingers pinched his earlobe, “I’m just telling you Dad’s preferences.”

The young man’s delicate white cheeks puffed out slightly, then he lay back in her arms, playing with her fingers, “If Dad doesn’t agree, will we just stay like this?”

“Isn’t this good?”

The person in her arms fell silent, then said softly after a moment: “Have you… never thought about marrying me?”

Fang Chuning wiggled her fingers, teasing him, “Let’s just go with the flow. If Dad doesn’t agree, I can’t do anything about it. You’ll just have to put up with it.”

The person in her arms didn’t speak. After a while, Fang Chuning was watching TV when she felt something was off. She lowered her head slightly, “What’s wrong?”

The young man swallowed a soft sob.

Turning his face towards her, she realized he was actually crying, his delicate face red, tears falling freely.

How did he end up crying for real over this?

Fang Chuning sighed helplessly, “I was just joking with you. It’s not the right time for marriage now. When the right time comes, I’ll bring it up with Dad.”

“What’s the right time? How long will it take?”

The young man was somewhat aggressive. Fang Chuning didn’t understand why he was so insistent on getting married when everything was fine now. “I’ll tell you when the time comes.”

To Xu Muzhou, the woman’s answer seemed perfunctory. He didn’t pursue the matter further, instead wrapping his arms around her neck and leaning into her embrace, his eyes mysteriously unfathomable, “Mm, I believe you.”

Fang Chuning stroked his head approvingly, and to reward his understanding, she decided: “We won’t go to the company tomorrow. I can accompany you wherever you want to go.”

This was the first time she had voluntarily offered to accompany him since they got back together.

Xu Muzhou was overjoyed, immediately forgetting his previous discontent. He sat up straight, still somewhat uncertain, “Really?”

“Really.”

Xu Muzhou smiled, his eyes still wet, glistening with moisture.

They had been together for three months, and had done everything they should and shouldn’t. When she wanted to, Fang Chuning never held back. She raised her hand to cup one side of his face, and the young man responded, slightly lifting his chin, his lips parting slightly to reveal the tip of his pink tongue.

Like bait, luring her in.

Fang Chuning’s eyes darkened, and she leaned in, her hand pressing against the back of his head as their lips and tongues intertwined.

The TV was still playing a drama, but no one was watching. To avoid disturbing the woman’s work, the volume had been turned down low, unable to cover the intimate sounds emanating from the living room. On the sofa, the two were entangled, inseparable.

The next day, Fang Chuning, who had been “busy” all night, felt refreshed. They had decided what to do today: go to a temple built on a mountaintop to burn incense and pray for blessings.

This decision was suggested by Xu Muzhou.

She had thought he would drag her around shopping like other young men, but she didn’t expect him to believe in this. Fang Chuning took a sip of juice, watching the young man preparing juice at the counter, “Are you sure? It’s very hot outside.”

Places like that don’t have air conditioning, and she heard they had to climb a mountain.

Xu Muzhou was in a very good mood today, so good that he couldn’t help humming softly. Hearing her words, he gave her a sweet smile, “It’s okay, I’ll bring a small fan.”

Seeing his insistence, Fang Chuning, who had agreed to let him decide today, didn’t say anything more.

As long as he could handle it, climbing a mountain wasn’t a big deal for her.

When they drove to the place, Fang Chuning only then realized how high the mountain was, and because it was Saturday, there were quite a few people.

She wasn’t afraid of climbing the mountain, but under this big sun, by the time they reached the top, their clothes would probably be soaked with sweat.

Compared to her hesitation, Xu Muzhou put on the black baseball cap he had prepared in advance and opened an umbrella to shade her. Seeing her hesitation, he hugged her arm and whined softly, “You promised me, don’t go back on your word.”

Fang Chuning looked at him pensively, “I’m afraid you’ll ask me to carry you up later.”

“I won’t. If we get tired, we’ll rest and climb slowly.”

Alright then.

The two held hands, fingers intertwined, and walked towards the plank road entrance. The stone steps were wide enough, with a huge engraved stone beside them that read, “Sincerity brings efficacy.”

Seeing those words, Xu Muzhou gripped her hand tighter and smiled, biting his lip, “Let’s begin.”

Climbing a mountain in summer is definitely not a good idea. Before they were even halfway up, Fang Chuning was so hot she wanted to take off all her clothes. She walked to the resting steps and used the palm-sized electric fan, but even with the cool air, it couldn’t reduce the heat.

Xu Muzhou followed beside her, wiping her sweat. After climbing a section of the mountain path, there wasn’t much sweat on his face, but his breathing was a bit unsteady, clearly tired.

Quite a few people were resting at the steps, mostly couples. Soon, people started to notice them. Apart from Xu Muzhou being a public figure who had been in the spotlight before, just their outstanding looks and aura made it hard not to attract attention.

A young man cautiously approached, his eyes frighteningly bright, his voice lowered, “You’re Prince, right? I love listening to your songs! Can I… can I take a picture with you?”

Xu Muzhou’s attitude wasn’t as bad as before, he just smiled faintly, “Sorry, this is my private time, it’s not convenient.”

The young man was stunned. So, so handsome! He never thought that even a casual smile from a good-looking person could be so attractive! He was flattered and quickly waved his hands, “It’s okay, it’s okay, I was being presumptuous. I won’t bother you then!”

He secretly glanced at the woman beside the young man, feeling even more envious. He hadn’t seen any information about Fang Chuning online, but he thought that people with high looks indeed had partners with super high looks too.

Fang Chuning was too hot to have much energy and didn’t notice the young man who came to chat. Her gaze was fixed on the scenery outside the cliff.

Blue sky, white clouds, green mountains, the view should be even better a bit higher up.

Xu Muzhou stared at the expressionless woman, his heart tightening slightly, “Do you regret it?” He was a bit anxious, afraid she might find him annoying for dragging her here to suffer and become tired of him, “Should we go back? Wherever you want to go, we’ll go there.”

Fang Chuning, “We’re almost halfway up and you’re saying this now?”

Xu Muzhou lowered his head, mumbling: “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have forced you to come.”

He shouldn’t have believed those rumors that said couples coming here together would be very effective. He was just too scared, scared that she would abandon him. Even if it seemed ridiculous, as long as there was a slight possibility, he wanted to try.

So please don’t hate him, he won’t make such excessive demands in the future.

Fang Chuning didn’t know what he was thinking, she just saw that he looked like he was about to cry again, and couldn’t help but rub her forehead, “You didn’t force me, I agreed to come out today, didn’t I? I’m just saying that since we’re already here, there’s no need to give up halfway.”

The young man looked at her pitifully, like a helpless child.

Fang Chuning adjusted the direction of the small fan towards him, “Are you hot?”

Xu Muzhou shook his head, taking the small fan from her hand and holding it up to her, coaxing, “I’m not hot, I’ll hold it for you.”

Fang Chuning kissed his white, slightly pink cheek, and whispered in his ear, “Weren’t you constantly saying you were tired last night? Not tired now?”

Xu Muzhou’s fan-shaped eyelashes blinked, and when he realized what she meant, his face turned as if rouge had been applied, glaring at her in embarrassment, the uneasiness in his heart dissipating, replaced by sweet joy.

An hour later, the two reached the mountaintop.

After sweating profusely, Fang Chuning actually felt comfortable. She took out the freshly squeezed juice from her bag and told Xu Muzhou to go in by himself, she would wait for him outside.

He was already very satisfied that they could reach the top together, and didn’t insist on her going in to burn incense with him.

In fact, this was his first time visiting a temple, so he didn’t know the proper procedures. He just followed a few young men, offering incense in order, then kneeling in front of the large Buddha statue to draw a fortune slip.

He pressed the bamboo cylinder against his forehead, closed his eyes, and sincerely wished in his heart. Then he lowered the cylinder, shook it up and down, and soon a bamboo slip fell to the ground.

Half an hour later, Xu Muzhou walked out of the temple in a daze. From afar, he saw the woman still standing there waiting for him, but there was someone else beside her. He didn’t know what they were talking about, but the man looked shy, his brows revealing admiration for the woman.

There was a place to eat vegetarian food in the temple, and Fang Chuning was a bit hungry, so she stayed.

The food was a bit plain but tasted good.

“This mountain water tofu is good, try some.” Fang Chuning scooped a spoonful into his bowl.

The young man lowered his eyes, saying nothing. He had been like this since leaving the temple. Fang Chuning was very puzzled: “What’s wrong with you?”

Xu Muzhou slowly raised his eyes, his pupils black and thick as ink, with a hint of gloominess, “That person just now, who was it?”

“Who?”

Xu Muzhou pressed his lips, breathing lightly: “Outside the temple, the one talking to you.”

Fang Chuning remembered and said carelessly: “Just someone asking for directions. I don’t know the roads here either, so I told him to ask someone else.”

“Is that so.”

Just by looking at her clothes, no one would think she was familiar with the roads here. So many people, yet he specifically asked her. Such men trying to seduce her should really die.

Before they left, Xu Muzhou went to the bathroom, and Fang Chuning waited for him outside. Suddenly, she heard screams coming from not far away, and then people continuously moving towards that direction. She also walked a few steps in that direction.

The temple was very large, with the Buddha statue halls scattered about. After burning incense below, one still had to climb up, with each hall having two sets of tall stairs. Where she was waiting was the lowest level.

“Oh my god, he fell from such high stairs!?”

“That’s so careless…”

“Quick! Come help, someone who’s free quickly call an ambulance!”

The scene was a bit chaotic. Upon hearing that the one who fell down the stairs was a man, Fang Chuning suddenly had a bad feeling. She pushed through the crowd to get a clear view. Just as she caught a glimpse of the eyebrows and arms, a slightly cool hand grabbed her. She turned her head to see Xu Muzhou standing behind her, safe and sound.

Fang Chuning’s heart immediately relaxed. She pulled him into her arms and walked out.

“What’s wrong?”

Fang Chuning lovingly kissed the corner of his lips, “It’s nothing, let’s go back.” For a moment just now, she really thought the person in trouble was him, and her heart almost stopped.

Xu Muzhou enjoyed her affection, his red lips curving up in satisfaction, “Mm, let’s go back.”