Chapter 12 Showing Weakness

This boy’s personality is really…

This boy’s personality is really a bit too timid, as if speaking to him a little louder could scare him to tears.

“Is this your younger brother?” came a gentle and pleasant voice from behind. Fang Chuning turned her head, “No, he’s my brother’s friend.”

She remembered that Xu Muzhou had seen Fang Tianli before, it seemed to be only one or two months ago. She only had this one brother, and the two were so far apart in age, how could he mistake them? But on second thought, maybe he didn’t remember people at all. He used to dislike her so much, so it wasn’t strange.

Naturally, Xu Muzhou did it on purpose. He stepped forward and his gaze fell on the painting. The color of his pupils was as beautiful as the sunset glow, warm and friendly. He praised generously, “It’s painted so well, when did you start learning? Can you tell me the contact information of the teacher who tutored you? I’ve been quite interested in this recently.”

Whether it was the boy’s appearance, tone, or smile, it was difficult for people not to have a good impression of him. He seemed to have no malice at all, just pure admiration.

But the question he asked made Su Qi too embarrassed to answer. His family was poor and couldn’t even afford tuition, let alone have money to hire a tutor.

The boy lowered his head in an inferiority complex, and in the end, it was Fang Chuning who spoke up to explain for him. Realizing that he had unintentionally hit a sore spot, Xu Muzhou showed an apologetic look, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”

He seemed a bit at a loss and subconsciously turned to the girl beside him for help with his beautiful eyes.

This was the first time Fang Chuning saw such a look of weakness on his face, and she suddenly felt that she was needed. “It’s okay! You didn’t mean to, don’t blame yourself.”

She just didn’t understand, why was such a kind and pure-hearted Xu only cold to her?

At this time, Su Qi also raised his head and said timidly, “It’s okay, it’s nothing.”

Xu Muzhou stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly stepped forward and took out a candy wrapped in peach-pink candy paper from his school uniform pocket and handed it to the boy. “This is what my parents sent me from abroad, you probably haven’t had it before, it’s very tasty, do you want to try it?”

The boy’s beautiful face was full of warm kindness, and his honey-colored eyes looked at him with a smile, making people subconsciously ignore the sarcastic meaning in his words.

Su Qi lowered his eyes to look at the candy in his palm, and his hands hanging at his sides shrank back slightly.

At this time, Fang Chuning also helped to speak, “Qi Qi, you don’t need to be nervous, Xu is a very good person!”

Of course, Fang Chuning didn’t hear the hidden meaning in the boy’s words. At this moment, she seemed to see a dazzling holy light emanating from the gentle and kind Xu.

It turned out that Xu was so good to everyone except her. Although there was a little bit of imbalance in her heart, at the same time, she felt proud to have such a considerate childhood friend, although their relationship had never been good since they were young.

Hearing the girl’s comfort, Su Qi finally reached out to take the candy, then watched the two go upstairs to the study.

Fang Tianli, who had been observing in the dark, walked out, his gaze fixed on the second floor. “It’s really strange, I never thought Fang Chuning would bring a boy home.” He was used to calling her by her full name. He happily took a few steps to hold the little boy’s arm. “I’m going to tell Dad about this, Dad will definitely scold her if he knows she’s dating early!”

Su Qi squeezed the candy in his hand and said softly, “That brother seems to be just Ning Ning sister’s classmate…”

“Who cares about her, she always bullies me.” Fang Tianli snorted coldly, his gaze appraising the boy’s slightly tender side face, and he said innocently while holding his arm, “If it were you, I would definitely keep it a secret.”

Su Qi’s face was flushed red by his words, and his heart was pounding. “You can’t say that casually, otherwise Ning Ning sister will be unhappy if she hears it…”

“What does she have to be unhappy about? You are so good and not bad-looking, you are a thousand times better than those seductive bitches outside who only know how to stick to our family. Besides, if you can be with my sister, we can play together every day!”

Fang Tianli seemed to have just thought of this question, and his eyes lit up.

Su Qi’s face was as red as dripping blood, his fingers twisting together, his eyes flickering. “How can I be worthy of Ning Ning sister…”

Fang Tianli didn’t care about these things. “What era is it now and you’re still saying these things? You don’t have to be afraid, I will help you!”

Su Qi’s ears were red like dripping blood. He didn’t want to refuse, but he couldn’t nod and accept without regard for modesty. He could only bite his lip and use silence as a response.

On the other side, in the study, Fang Chuning casually put the painting on the desk. “You sit first, what do you want to drink?”

Xu Muzhou’s eyes inadvertently swept over the desk. “Anything is fine.”

What does he want to drink if anything is fine?

In the end, Fang Chuning had someone bring him a cup of hot cocoa. The male servant saw that the two had something to discuss, so he directly put the hot cocoa on the desk. Fang Chuning picked up her own cup, took two sips, and then searched for information on the Novel website. “I think it’s enough to change the middle part of the lyrics. After we’re done, you can stay for dinner before going back. If you think it’s too late to go back, you can also stay the night. My house has many guest rooms, you can pick any one to stay in!”

As she spoke, she had already deviated from the main topic, but Fang Chuning herself hadn’t realized that there was anything wrong, and she enthusiastically told him about the delicacies that would appear at dinner.

Until a light call interrupted her chatter, Fang Chuning turned her head and saw the boy standing there, looking a little at a loss, and the spilled hot cocoa on the desk in front of him was still emitting thin white smoke.

Xu Muzhou’s face changed from his usual coldness and aloofness, and he looked at her pitifully and helplessly. “It’s too hot…”

With that harmless face, it was enough to make people ignore his mistakes and coax him a thousand times, just hoping that he would smile.

Fang Chuning was stunned for a moment, thinking that it was no big deal if it was spilled, but then she keenly found that the spilled place had completely stained the painting. She tried to save it by wiping it with a clean cloth, but it didn’t help much.

It was a bit embarrassing to have the painting ruined right after receiving it.

“I’m sorry, I was careless…” The boy’s brows were filled with deep apology.

Fang Chuning glanced at the painting that had turned into a ball of waste paper, obviously beyond saving. “Forget it, you didn’t do it on purpose, don’t be too hard on yourself.”

This comfort didn’t seem to have much effect, and the boy still looked very dejected.

She went over to clean up the painting that had already become a piece of waste paper. “I’ll tell Qi Qi in a moment, he shouldn’t be angry.”

Xu Muzhou pursed his lips slightly, and his honey-colored eyes seemed to have rippling water. “Why don’t I tell him instead? It was me who dirtied it, I should apologize to him in person.”

Being stared at by such a pair of clear and beautiful eyes, how could Fang Chuning not agree? She almost nodded her chin off.

Only then did the boy’s brows relax a little. In the following time, Fang Chuning could clearly feel the softening of his attitude towards her. This was something that had never happened in the many years they had been in the same class, and it could be called a century of progress!

After the two finished their discussion, Fang Chuning invited him to stay for dinner again. Xu Muzhou refused, but when she was disappointed, he said softly, “Next time.”

Fang Chuning’s eyes lit up instantly. “Okay then, next time I’ll invite other classmates to have a party at my house.”

Fang Chuning felt that she was simply too smart. This way, they could play together without making people feel that their relationship was ambiguous. The grasp of the degree was just right.

She couldn’t help but give herself a thumbs up in her heart.

Downstairs, Su Qi and Fang Tianli were playing with the dog in the courtyard. Seeing the two come out, Fang Tianli was the first to dash over. “What were you two doing upstairs for so long?”

Xu Muzhou glanced at the person beside him and gave the boy a dazzling smile. “You must be Fang’s younger brother, right?”

The boy in front was so beautiful that it made people jealous. Fang Tianli looked him up and down in a bad mood, folded his arms, and sulked. “So what if I am? Don’t try to get close to me, I won’t fall for that.”

Fang Tianli remembered him. Wasn’t he the vice president of New Star? He had seen him at his sister’s school before, looking at everyone with a pitiful expression, always seducing people.

He disliked such pretentious people the most.

Xu Muzhou seemed surprised by the boy’s hostile attitude. His smile gradually faded, and he tightened his grip on the book he was holding. He lowered his eyes in dejection. “Fang and I were only discussing matters related to the performance in the study room, nothing else…”

“Of course I know there’s nothing else. What else could you want? You want to take the opportunity to stick yourself in, don’t you!”

Fang Tianli was used to being domineering. Except for restraining himself a little in front of Fang Hong and others, at other times, he could say whatever he wanted without any reservation.

Boys with weak mental walls couldn’t stand this kind of talk.

Sure enough, the boy’s eyes were slightly red, but he still stubbornly defended himself. “I didn’t…”

Unfortunately, his weak voice didn’t have much deterrent power.

Fang Tianli snorted, “Are you being pretentious or too good at acting? I can’t even tell for a while!”

“Fang Tianli!” Fang Chuning raised her hand and pressed her entire palm on his face, pushing him away with one shove. “If you continue like this, don’t think about asking me for help in the future.”

Fang Tianli was pushed back two steps. He puffed out his cheeks in discontent. “When did I ask for your help? I don’t need your help!”

He didn’t admit it, and Fang Chuning didn’t say much to him either. She turned to the boy and said, “Don’t mind him, I’ll send you back.”

Xu Muzhou hugged his book and nodded lightly. After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

“What? Are you thinking of staying for a free meal?” Fang Tianli had a sharp tongue. When Fang Chuning warned him with a look, he glared back at her unwillingly.

Xu Muzhou pursed his lips, his eyes slightly turning to look at the boy who had been quiet all along. “I’m sorry.”

Su Qi was stunned. “What?”

The boy gently bit his delicate lip, his beautiful brows and eyes filled with apology. “Just now, I accidentally dirtied the painting you gave to Fang, I’m sorry…”

“Wow, you’re so calculating! You’d better make it clear whether it was an accident or on purpose!” Fang Tianli was so agitated that he almost cursed. This guy had obviously done something bad and was still provoking him!

“He just did it by accident. What, have you never had an accident before?” Fang Chuning shielded him.

“Why are you women so superficial? You defend him just because he’s good-looking!”

Su Qi, who had been silent, stepped forward and gently pulled his clothes, saying softly, “Lili, don’t say that…” He also looked at the boy who was a head taller than him. “It’s okay, it’s just a painting, I can paint it again.”

After the matter was resolved, Fang Chuning sent the person to the front door. “Why don’t I send you back?”

Xu Muzhou raised his eyes to look at her. “It’s too much trouble for you.”

There was no clear intention to refuse.

“It’s no trouble.”

Fang Chuning had originally wanted to take him back on her very flashy motorcycle, but then she thought that Xu Muzhou, who was so genteel, probably wouldn’t like to ride a vehicle without any windshield. In the end, she still had the driver take him back, and of course, she was also inside.

When she returned after sending him off, it was already completely dark. Only the youngsters were at the dinner table, and neither of the two adults were present.

And Su Qi, who should have been sitting next to Fang Tianli, had changed his seat to sit next to her. Fang Chuning didn’t pay much attention and turned to ask the butler who was standing to the side, “Where are Mom and Dad?”

Leaf Butler said, “The master said on the phone to let the young miss and young master eat first.”