Zhou Mochen pulled the car over just ahead of the bus stop. Once parked, he got out, opened the trunk, and handed Xu Su her luggage.
Seeing that the girl still looked a little unwell, he asked, "Is your home far from here? Do you need me to take you to your door?"
Xu Su shook her head, taking the heavy bucket and the overstuffed bag. "Thank you, but that's not necessary. My parents don't let me associate with strangers."
She turned to leave. She hadn't thought much of it before, but now she felt a little embarrassed seeing the rolled-up straw mat in the bucket. It was starting to unravel.
"You seem... afraid of me?" Zhou Mochen's voice came from behind. "Can you tell me why?"
This time, Xu Su didn't pretend she hadn't heard. She turned around, her expression exceptionally serious, and said, "I'm sorry. It's not just you. The truth is... I have a severe phobia of men."
Zhou Mochen frowned, clearly not understanding the unfamiliar term.
