After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive (GL) - Chapter 20
The room fell into a silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard.
Fang Bai met Ji Yuning’s gaze directly, without any hint of evasion, her eyes so clear that Ji Yuning could see her own reflection within them.
Fang Bai could see Ji Yuning’s reflection as well.
When Fang Bai saw the fleeting sneer in Ji Yuning’s eyes, she knew that her words sounded like a joke to Ji Yuning, but she had no choice but to say them shamelessly.
If she didn’t make these things clear, Ji Yuning, living in hatred, would never notice her change.
Fang Bai had originally planned to wait for a suitable opportunity to speak.
However, today’s sudden turn of events disrupted her plan, forcing her to ask at what she considered an inopportune moment.
Although Fang Bai had anticipated the result, seeing Ji Yuning look at her as if she were a clown walking a tightrope, every movement ridiculous, a hint of resentment arose in her heart.
Her tongue brushed against her upper palate, and Fang Bai lowered her gaze slightly. “You don’t have to answer my question right away.”
Under Ji Yuning’s mocking gaze, Fang Bai’s eyes began to wander. However, her tone remained firm. “I know this is unfair to you. I’m the one who hurt you, and I’m the one asking for your forgiveness. I just want to tell you that from now on, I won’t repeat any of the things I did to you before. I will do my best to make up for the pain I caused you, you—”
Ji Yuning couldn’t bear to listen anymore. Although the painkiller had taken effect, it couldn’t suppress the faint ache in her heart.
Ji Yuning didn’t understand why, even though she had long been numb to everything about Fang Bai, hearing these words slowly spoken by the person in front of her awakened long-sealed memories.
Each one came from this person.
Ji Yuning said softly, “Fang Bai.”
Her voice was low, but her tone was as cold as ice.
Fang Bai was stunned.
This was the first time she had heard Ji Yuning call her by her full name.
She had to admit that she was intimidated by the force in Ji Yuning’s tone.
…Even if it was only for three seconds.
Fang Bai quickly regained her composure, her lips forming a stiff smile. “What is it?”
In this situation, Fang Bai forgot to correct Ji Yuning’s address, wanting only to know why Ji Yuning had called her by her full name.
Ji Yuning’s tone was devoid of emotion as she asked calmly, “Have you finished playing?”
Fang Bai was confused and asked instinctively, “Playing what?”
Ji Yuning’s eyes darkened, inwardly admiring Fang Bai’s acting. She wasn’t sure whether to praise her for her clumsy performance or her excellent acting.
It was clumsy because she could see through her sudden change at a glance, her undisguised attempts at kindness and her sincere promises, as if she were a completely different person, showing her heartfelt concern.
It was excellent because for a moment, she almost fell into her trap of gentle deception, succumbing to the carefully constructed fortress of familial affection.
And it almost made her,
lose this game.
Ji Yuning’s dark eyes abruptly changed, the hostility within them vanishing in an instant. She lowered her gaze, a self-deprecating smile on her lips, and said softly, “It’s nothing.”
She wouldn’t lose.
“Knock, knock.”
The sound of knocking broke the strange atmosphere between them.
Wu Mei’s voice came through the door, “Miss, are you in there?”
Fang Bai put aside the strangeness of Ji Yuning’s change in attitude, turned her head toward the door, and answered softly, “Yes, what is it?”
The door was ajar, and after thinking for a moment, Wu Mei pushed it open a little more.
Seeing Fang Bai sitting by Ji Yuning’s bed, Wu Mei was taken aback, then said, “The master called, asking why you haven’t been answering his calls.”
She didn’t have her phone with her, so she naturally couldn’t answer.
Fang Bai said, “I know, I’ll call him back later.”
“Okay.” Wu Mei didn’t leave, asking, “Miss, are you alright? I saw you rummaging through the medicine box.”
Fang Bai shook her head. “I’m fine. Xiao Ning had a stomach ache, and I was looking for painkillers for her.”
Hearing this, Wu Mei looked at Ji Yuning. “Is Xiao Ji alright now?”
Ji Yuning hummed in agreement. “I’m fine, Aunt Wu.”
“That’s good.”
Wu Mei was relieved, her gaze sweeping between Fang Bai and Ji Yuning. It was clear that the relationship between the two had improved significantly.
Wu Mei smiled inwardly, her features softening. She said to Fang Bai, “Miss, I’ll go downstairs first. I won’t disturb your conversation with Xiao Ji.”
“Okay,” Fang Bai said.
Ji Yuning was silent.
Before leaving, Wu Mei closed the door.
The tightly closed door and window made the air in the room stagnant, and the scent of their bath gel lingered in the air.
Wu Mei’s sudden appearance disrupted Fang Bai’s thoughts. After organizing her thoughts, Fang Bai said, “You must be wondering why I’m suddenly being nice to you.”
Ji Yuning’s hand curled around the blanket. “Yes.”
Fang Bai’s eyelashes fluttered. “Last time, when Liao Li came to treat you, she asked me if I wasn’t afraid Lu Xia would come looking for me if I treated you this way. That made me realize that when Lu Xia sent you to my house, I promised her I would take good care of you, but now I’ve failed her and broken my promise.”
Although the original Fang Bai didn’t make any promises to Lu Xia, she did agree to raise Ji Yuning, but not necessarily treat her well.
“If you don’t believe my previous explanations, then just assume I’m afraid of retribution, which is why I changed my attitude. Of course, that’s just a reason I’m giving you, a reason to believe me.”
Ji Yuning paused, then said, “I do believe you. I misunderstood you, Aunt Fang.”
Fang Bai nodded. She had said everything she needed to say, and whether Ji Yuning believed her or not was beyond her control. She had no excuse to linger.
More importantly, Fang Bai would freeze to death if she didn’t leave.
The room didn’t even need air conditioning; Ji Yuning’s cold feet were enough to lower the temperature.
Fang Bai stood up, smiled gently, and said, “It’s getting late. You should rest.”
Ji Yuning replied, “Okay.”
Fang Bai took two steps closer, raised her hand, and rubbed Ji Yuning’s head. “Good night.”
Thinking Ji Yuning wouldn’t respond, Fang Bai didn’t linger, withdrew her hand, and turned to leave the room.
The moment the door closed, Fang Bai hugged her arms, rubbing the goosebumps that had risen on her skin, and quietly went downstairs.
••••
The next day.
Ji Yuning maintained her habit of waking up at 6 o’clock, as she did at school.
After washing up, Ji Yuning returned to her room to finish the homework she hadn’t completed the previous night due to her stomach ache, and then memorized some vocabulary.
She didn’t go downstairs until 8 o’clock.
When she reached the first floor, Wu Mei had just finished placing breakfast on the dining table. Seeing Ji Yuning, Wu Mei smiled and asked, “Xiao Ji, you’re up? Is your stomach still hurting?”
“It’s better now,” Ji Yuning said, stepping forward. “Do you need any help?”
“No, I’ve finished everything.”
Remembering something, Wu Mei looked up at Ji Yuning and said, “Miss hasn’t gotten up yet. Would you mind going upstairs and calling her down for breakfast?”
“…” She had dug her own grave.
Faced with Wu Mei’s pleading eyes, Ji Yuning could only say, “Okay.”
As she went upstairs, the conversation from the previous night replayed in her mind, lingering.
Standing in front of Fang Bai’s bedroom, Ji Yuning knocked twice on the cream-colored door.
Fang Bai’s voice came from inside, “Come in.”
Ji Yuning didn’t move, saying in a voice loud enough for the person inside to hear, “Breakfast is ready.”
A surprised voice came from inside the room, “Xiao Ning?”
Ji Yuning turned to leave, but just as she moved, the closed door was pulled open from the inside.
Fang Bai looked at Ji Yuning’s ponytail, the upturned ends of her hair completely at odds with Ji Yuning’s usual playful cuteness. Fang Bai’s heart softened. “Don’t go yet, come in for a moment.”
Perhaps because she had just woken up, Fang Bai’s tone was languid, each word trailing off, sounding almost like… flirting.
Ji Yuning didn’t comment on this realization.
Ji Yuning paused, looking back at Fang Bai’s sleepy eyes.
Knowing Ji Yuning wouldn’t listen, Fang Bai simply said, “I have something to tell you.”
With that, Fang Bai opened the door wide and returned to the room, regardless of whether Ji Yuning followed.
Ji Yuning hesitated for a moment, then stepped into Fang Bai’s bedroom.
Unlike her own room with its pink walls, Fang Bai’s room was a serene cream-white, with simple, elegant furniture in neutral tones.
The only bright color in Fang Bai’s room was the sapphire-blue pajamas she was wearing.
It was striking but not jarring, the stark contrast drawing attention.
Fang Bai went straight to the bathroom, having just brushed her teeth and preparing to wash her face.
While looking in the mirror, Fang Bai noticed Ji Yuning entering the room and asked, “Is your stomach still hurting?”
Ji Yuning replied, “No.”
Fang Bai hummed, “I forgot to ask you yesterday, is this something that happens every time, or just occasionally?”
Ji Yuning said, “Occasionally.”
“I see.” Fang Bai turned on the faucet, washing her hands. “Last night, after I came back from your room, Liao Li called, but I didn’t want to disturb your rest, so I didn’t go upstairs to find you. After she heard why I called, she said she’ll want me to take you to the hospital for a check-up when she gets back.”
“There’s no need for a check-up,” Ji Yuning refused.
Fang Bai said softly, “It’s not just a general check-up; Liao Li wants to give you a full physical.”
Fang Bai also thought it would be good for Ji Yuning to have a physical, so she would know how to help Ji Yuning regain her strength.
Fang Bai leaned over, splashed water on her face twice, then picked up the facial cleanser. “Don’t resist. You trust Liao Li, don’t you?”
After all, Liao Li was one of the few people in the book who were kind to Ji Yuning.
Suddenly, Fang Bai paused in her motion of lathering the cleanser. Liao Li was so kind to Ji Yuning; wouldn’t it be wrong to keep Ji Yuning from contacting her?
Thinking of this, Fang Bai looked at the person standing at the bathroom door in the mirror and asked, “Do you want to add her on WeChat? I can… send you her contact.”
Ji Yuning replied, “…No need.”
“Huh?” Fang Bai turned, surprised. “Why not? I thought you would agree, especially since you two always seem to enjoy chatting.”
Because Liao Li always mentioned things about Lu Xia.
Three years wasn’t a long time, but Lu Xia’s memory had become blurred, the image in her mind becoming increasingly unclear. Only when she saw Lu Xia’s photos or dreamed of her could Ji Yuning clearly see her and briefly embrace her.
Pushing aside her thoughts, Ji Yuning said calmly, “I’ll go downstairs first.”
“Wait a moment,” Fang Bai called out. “I’ll be done in a minute.”
Ji Yuning looked up and saw Fang Bai rubbing her face with her hands still covered in cleanser.
The movements were hurried, without any gentleness.
It seemed she was in a hurry for something…
It certainly wasn’t to go downstairs with her, Ji Yuning thought.
Two minutes later, Fang Bai and Ji Yuning walked downstairs one after the other.
Fang Bai shuffled in her slippers, the slight scraping sound of the soles against the stairs breaking the awkward silence between them.
Downstairs, Fang Bai saw the breakfast already laid out on the table. Sitting down, she couldn’t help but think of the message Liao Li had sent her the previous night…
Fang Bai paused. “After breakfast, I’ll take you somewhere.”
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai. “I have things to do.”
“Is it something important? Can it be postponed?”
Ji Yuning replied, “No.”
“Alright, then.” Fang Bai cleared her throat. “Tomorrow is also fine. Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?”
Ji Yuning didn’t know what Fang Bai wanted to do with her, but she answered truthfully, “No.”
Fang Bai nodded. “Then I’ll take you tomorrow.”
Ji Yuning said, “Okay.”
“Do you need Uncle Li to drive you?”
Fang Bai was asking if Ji Yuning needed a ride when she went out later.
Ji Yuning swallowed the porridge in her mouth and declined. “I’ll take the bus.”
Fang Bai didn’t insist, raising an eyebrow. “Alright.”
Ji Yuning left at 8:30 and didn’t return home until 3 in the afternoon.
Fang Bai spent the day experiencing what it felt like to raise a child.
During lunch, she couldn’t help but wonder if Ji Yuning had eaten, what she had eaten, and sent Ji Yuning a message asking when she would be home. When she didn’t receive a reply, she became worried that something might have happened…
However, remembering that Ji Yuning was the female lead, she dismissed her worries.
After reviewing the plot, Fang Bai quickly understood what Ji Yuning had been doing.
According to the plot, Ji Yuning should have made contact with that person, and her own blueprint was about to begin.
When Ji Yuning returned home, she thought Fang Bai would ask her what she had been doing. Instead, she found Fang Bai casually leaning on the sofa, with a strange woman sitting beside her, holding Fang Bai’s hand and painting her nails.
Hearing the noise, Fang Bai opened her eyes and smiled when she saw it was Ji Yuning. “You’re back?”
Ji Yuning replied, “Yes.”
Fang Bai said, “I’m getting a manicure—”
Fang Bai suddenly stopped.
Having figured out what Ji Yuning had been doing, Fang Bai stopped worrying about her and instead worried about her future self.
Living in the present, she couldn’t constantly worry about her miserable fate two years later. She should learn to enjoy herself.
So, she had called the manicurist the original owner used.
She didn’t expect Ji Yuning to catch her in the act.
For some reason, Fang Bai felt a twinge of guilt.
It was like the strange feeling of “I’m working hard to earn money outside, but you’re spending it recklessly.”
Even though she knew she was spending the original owner’s money, the feeling was still very strong.
Fang Bai made a swallowing motion and asked in a low voice, “Do you want to join me?”
To cover her guilt, she wanted to drag Ji Yuning into enjoying herself.
Ji Yuning looked at the large box next to the manicurist, filled with bottles and jars.
Ji Yuning wasn’t interested. “School doesn’t allow it.”
Fang Bai immediately replied with a look of regret, “Then we’ll do it during summer vacation.”
Fang Bai nodded to the manicurist and sat up. “Have you eaten? Sister Wu left some for you.”
Ji Yuning hummed and said, “I’m going upstairs.”
Fang Bai blinked. “…Okay.”
The afternoon passed quickly.
In the evening, Fang Bai, as usual, brought a glass of milk and knocked on Ji Yuning’s door.
After three breaths, the door opened from the inside.
Seeing it was Fang Bai, Ji Yuning stepped aside.
Seeing this, Fang Bai smiled. “I won’t come in, so I don’t disturb your studying.”
Hearing this, Ji Yuning turned to face her, her hand on the doorknob, ready to close the door.
Fang Bai extended her arm, handing the glass to Ji Yuning. “Here’s your milk.”
Ji Yuning glanced down and took it.
Fang Bai handed Ji Yuning the other thing in her hand. “I also brought you some medicine. If it hurts too much, take one, or call me. Don’t try to endure it.”
Ji Yuning hesitated, then took it again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Fang Bai’s hand didn’t drop, but instead rose high, her hand hovering in front of Ji Yuning’s forehead, the white rhinestones on her fingernails sparkling in the light.
After pausing, Fang Bai moved her hand back towards herself, making a comparison. “I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but I think you’ve grown taller.”
The comparison showed that they were the same height.
Fang Bai lowered her hand, placing it behind her back, and said slowly, “It seems it really was my imagination.”
Ji Yuning, who had seen Fang Bai raise her hand, was speechless.
“…”
She even caught the slight teasing in the woman’s voice.
Fang Bai didn’t realize that her actions had been noticed by Ji Yuning. She said, “Go to bed early tonight. I’ll take you out tomorrow.”
As she spoke, Fang Bai habitually raised her hand and patted Ji Yuning’s head twice. “I’m going to sleep too. Good night.”
Ji Yuning’s head had been patted many times, giving her the feeling that Fang Bai treated her like an animal, a harmless, cute pet.
Ji Yuning wanted to avoid Fang Bai’s hand, but every time the woman would reach out when she wasn’t paying attention, making it impossible to dodge.
Fang Bai was curious. Ji Yuning always wore a blank face, but she could still see the subtle expressions hidden beneath.
Like now, Fang Bai sensed the conflict in Ji Yuning’s expressionless face, the desire to resist but the inability to do so.
Fang Bai couldn’t help but smile, withdrawing her hand. “Drink the milk while it’s warm. I’ll take the glass downstairs.”
With Fang Bai’s hand gone, Ji Yuning’s tense nerves relaxed. Following Fang Bai’s instructions, she finished the milk and waited for her to leave. So Ji Yuning just stared at the milk, then tilted her head back and drank it.
Fang Bai crossed her arms, not taking the empty glass from Ji Yuning, but instead asking with a teasing smile, “Are you so eager for me to leave? Should I come into your room for a bit?”
Fang Bai kept her eyes on Ji Yuning’s face as she spoke. As expected, she saw another fleeting expression on Ji Yuning’s blank face.
It was disgust.
But quickly, the disgust vanished, replaced by a facade of compliance.
Tsk.
How had she not noticed before that Ji Yuning had such a rich range of expressions?
It was quite amusing.
Having seen what she wanted, Fang Bai didn’t tease Ji Yuning any further. She reached out, took the glass, and said, “Just kidding.”
Then she turned and left the doorway.
Ji Yuning was stunned, standing motionless.
Had she just been played by Fang Bai?
••••
Sunday.
After breakfast, at 8 o’clock in the morning, Fang Bai drove Ji Yuning out of the villa.
The sky was filled with heavy clouds, blocking out the sun, casting a gloomy shadow over the ground.
The car left the villa district and stopped in front of a flower shop a few minutes later.
Seeing the car stop at the flower shop, Ji Yuning suddenly guessed Fang Bai’s intention, though she wasn’t sure.
But the next moment, Fang Bai’s words confirmed Ji Yuning’s guess.
Fang Bai asked her, “Do you remember what flowers your mother liked?”
As expected.
She was going to buy flowers for her mother.
Ji Yuning looked out the window. Even though her mother’s face was blurred in her memory, she remembered all her mother’s preferences clearly, never to be forgotten.
Fang Bai unbuckled her seatbelt. “I’m going in to buy a bouquet. You come too.”
Ji Yuning turned her head, staring at Fang Bai. “You… are going?”
Fang Bai replied, “Yes.”
Fang Bai said, “Monday is your mother’s death anniversary, but you have school. I originally wanted to bring you yesterday, but you were busy… so today will have to do.”
The day before yesterday, Liao Li had not only asked about Ji Yuning but also mentioned that next Monday was Lu Xia’s death anniversary, asking if she would be attending.
The original Fang Bai had never visited the grave.
Fang Bai felt it was necessary to go and pay her respects.
Not to atone for the original Fang Bai’s sins, nor to make promises to Lu Xia, but simply as a… gesture of guardianship.
Ji Yuning couldn’t hide her emotions about Lu Xia. She lowered her eyes and asked, “Are you worthy?”
Ji Yuning’s tone wasn’t aggressive; she simply asked coldly.
But because of that, those three words struck Fang Bai’s heart, tearing away her facade of hypocrisy, making her feel like an insignificant ant. All her actions seemed like a joke.
Fang Bai said, “…Lu Xia was my friend.”
Fang Bai felt she should feign anger, slamming the car door a little harder as she got out.
As the door slammed shut, Ji Yuning’s soft chuckle reached Fang Bai’s ears.
“Heh.”
Friend, how ironic.
The laugh held too much meaning, and Fang Bai pretended not to hear it.
Fang Bai wasn’t genuinely angry. Ji Yuning was talking about the original Fang Bai, not her. She was just acting angry from the original Fang Bai’s perspective, who wanted to change for the better.
But what bothered Fang Bai was Ji Yuning’s tone, which was exactly the same as the night before.
When Ji Yuning got out of the car, Fang Bai walked up to her. “Little kid, don’t use that tone with me in the future.”
Fang Bai felt that wasn’t enough and added a threat, “If you do it again, I’ll… deduct your allowance.”
Then Fang Bai turned and walked into the flower shop, leaving Ji Yuning behind.
“…”
Hu City Cemetery.
The car stopped by the roadside.
After getting out of the car, Fang Bai took out the flowers she had bought from the back seat. Looking up, she saw Ji Yuning getting out of the passenger seat, holding flowers.
Two identical bouquets of sunflowers, representing the sun, full of light and vitality.
Their eyes met, and Ji Yuning looked away first, walking silently toward the cemetery.
The original Fang Bai hadn’t appeared at Lu Xia’s funeral, so Fang Bai didn’t know where Lu Xia’s grave was.
So, Fang Bai followed Ji Yuning quietly, even though she had just claimed Lu Xia was her friend, yet she didn’t even know where her grave was. Fang Bai felt ironic.
Ji Yuning noticed Fang Bai’s behavior out of the corner of her eye, but she didn’t expose her.
She had never expected Fang Bai to bring her to the cemetery, and her confusion about this overshadowed Fang Bai’s ridiculous behavior.
Ji Yuning wondered why Fang Bai was doing this.
Was it to make her believe the retribution theory from that night? To make her trust her completely?
But Fang Bai had said that was just a reason for her to trust her, right?
“?”
Ji Yuning suddenly felt confused, because she realized…
She had actually believed Fang Bai’s words?
Seeing Ji Yuning stop, Fang Bai thought they had arrived, but after looking around, she didn’t see Lu Xia’s name.
Fang Bai asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ji Yuning temporarily hid her surprise and came back to her senses. “Nothing.”
A minute later.
Ji Yuning stood in front of a tombstone, and Fang Bai followed behind her, looking at the words “Lu Xia” on the tombstone. The woman in the photo had a gentle smile on her lips.
Lu Xia was a good person, kind throughout her life, but she loved the wrong person, destroying herself.
While reading the book, Fang Bai always felt a sense of regret for Lu Xia.
Regret for her cheerful personality, regret for her tragic life.
At the bottom of the tombstone, there were two bouquets of flowers that weren’t very fresh, one of sunflowers and the other of oriental lilies.
Both looked like they were from yesterday…
Fang Bai casually glanced at Ji Yuning, guessing what Ji Yuning had done yesterday.
If Ji Yuning had been here yesterday, who had brought the other bouquet? Judging by the packaging, it was from the same flower shop. Ji Yuning had come with someone else.
Most likely, the sunflowers were from Ji Yuning. As for the oriental lilies, it seemed the person who came with her didn’t know Lu Xia well.
The two stood silently in front of the tombstone, each with their own thoughts, neither speaking.
After an unknown amount of time, the wind blew, and Ji Yuning’s muffled voice reached Fang Bai’s ears. “That’s enough.”
Fang Bai tucked the strands of hair blown by the wind behind her ear and said softly, “Let’s go then.”
Fang Bai was wearing a dress, and the hem swayed in the wind.
Someone was walking toward them in the distance.
Liao Li, seeing the people standing in front of Lu Xia’s tombstone, exclaimed in surprise, “Fang Bai?”
Fang Bai looked in the direction of the voice and saw Liao Li walking toward them with a bouquet of sunflowers.
After a brief glance at Fang Bai, Liao Li’s eyes locked onto Ji Yuning. Her voice unconsciously softened. “Yuning.”
Ji Yuning glanced at the flowers in Liao Li’s arms and said, “Aunt Liao.”
Liao Li smiled and walked up to Ji Yuning, patting her shoulder. “I’ll go say hello to your mother first.”
After Ji Yuning nodded, Liao Li turned to Fang Bai, her smile completely gone, and said coldly, “Wait for me to leave together.”
Fang Bai: “….”
Did Liao Li practice face-changing?!
Five minutes later, the three of them walked side by side down the mountain.
Fang Bai thought of the message Liao Li had sent her the day before yesterday and asked, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back until next week?”
Liao Li had a bag slung over her shoulder. “I took a leave of absence.”
Fang Bai sighed at Liao Li’s affection for Lu Xia. “Just got off the plane?”
Liao Li replied, “Yes.”
Liao Li remembered what she had seen earlier and asked, “Who else came? I saw two extra bouquets of flowers.”
Ji Yuning unconsciously tightened her hand at her side.
Fang Bai looked into the distance. “Lu Xia had more than just the two of us as friends.”
“That’s true.”
Liao Li continued to ask, “Why did you come today?”
She remembered telling Fang Bai it was Monday.
Fang Bai, still remembering how Liao Li had been stern with her, countered, “Didn’t you?”
Liao Li snorted and explained, “I have several surgeries to perform starting tomorrow. I couldn’t free up any time, so I could only get a leave for Sunday.”
Fang Bai replied, “Oh. Tomorrow is Monday, and Xiao Ning has school.”
Mentioning Ji Yuning, Liao Li turned to her and said with a smile, “Three years have passed, and Yuning is almost as tall as me.”
Fang Bai instinctively retorted, “If you take off your high heels, you might be just average height.”
Liao Li’s smile froze. She turned her head and said, “Do you have to be so sarcastic?”
Fang Bai: “….”
Would she believe her if she said it was an instinct controlled by the original owner’s memory?
After the brief banter, the three fell into silence again.
Liao Li waited for a while, and as they approached the foot of the mountain, she said directly to Fang Bai, “I’d like to have a private chat with Yuning.”
Fang Bai refused without thinking. “No.”
Liao Li asked, “Why not?”
*Of course, it’s because I’m afraid you’ll take Ji Yuning away.*
Fang Bai smiled. “Is there anything I can’t hear?”
“It’s nothing, I just want to talk to Yuning privately. You’re a bit of an eyesore here,” Liao Li said bluntly.
Fang Bai remained unmoved.
Liao Li waited, and seeing that Fang Bai had no intention of leaving, she began, “About the thing we talked about last time, I—”
Liao Li deliberately paused.
Fang Bai sighed and turned to Ji Yuning. “…I’ll wait for you at the car.”
Ji Yuning’s gaze lingered on Liao Li for a second, then nodded. “Okay.”
Fang Bai walked alone towards the car, while Liao Li and Ji Yuning stood facing each other.
Once Fang Bai was out of earshot, Liao Li asked, “Yuning, how has Fang Bai been treating you these past two weeks? Has she… bullied you again?”
Ji Yuning replied truthfully, “No.”
Liao Li breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
Ji Yuning didn’t have any complicated feelings for Liao Li. Speaking calmly, she asked, “Aunt Liao, what was the agreement you were talking about?”
Liao Li had guessed that Ji Yuning would ask, but she paused for a moment before answering without hiding anything. “When you had a fever last time, I saw the scars on your body. That’s when I realized how she had been treating you for the past three years…”
Liao Li looked into Ji Yuning’s eyes. “I’m sorry, I should have found out sooner. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have…”
Ji Yuning interrupted, “It’s okay, Aunt Liao. Please continue.”
Liao Li said, “After I finished your IV, I told Fang Bai that I wanted to take care of you, but she refused.”
Ji Yuning’s expression paused.
Liao Li continued, “Fang Bai said she would treat you well from now on. Seeing that she seemed sincere, and since I was going to be busy and might not be able to take care of you, I made an agreement with Fang Bai that I would visit you every weekend to make sure she kept her promise. The two times I called you were to check if she had broken the agreement.”
“So…” Ji Yuning half-closed her eyes. “The reason she started treating me well was because you wanted to take care of me?”
Liao Li replied, “No.”
Ji Yuning looked at Liao Li, slightly surprised.
She didn’t understand why Liao Li was so certain.
Liao Li looked at the figure walking down the mountain, her slender back swaying like a willow branch in the wind.
Liao Li pursed her lips and said, “I know Fang Bai. I could tell that she was already worried about you before I mentioned taking care of you. She probably regretted it before you had the fever.”
Liao Li said, “She might not be keeping the agreement. She might have genuinely repented. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have the face to visit Lu Xia.”
Liao Li added, “Of course, I’m not trying to excuse Fang Bai. It’s a fact that she abused you. You can resent her or whatever you want, and I’ll understand. You’ll be eighteen in two years, and you can choose to leave her then. If you can’t stand her anymore during these two years, you can come to me.”
Ji Yuning nodded. “Thank you, Aunt Liao.”
“There’s no need to thank me. I haven’t done anything yet,” Liao Li laughed. “That’s all I wanted to say. Do you have anything else to tell me? If not, let’s go down the mountain.”
Ji Yuning looked at the person leaning against the car. Remembering that Fang Bai listened to Liao Li after only a few words, she raised an eyebrow and said, “She’s afraid of you.”
Ji Yuning wasn’t asking a question, but stating a fact.
Liao Li was taken aback, then followed Ji Yuning’s gaze and realized she was referring to Fang Bai. “Is she?”
Liao Li reminisced. “Maybe a little. When we were all together, she listened to me.”
Ji Yuning’s eyes darkened in thought.
Liao Li didn’t mind. She took out her phone and handed it to Ji Yuning. “Do you have a phone? Give me your number, and you can call me if you need anything.”
Ji Yuning looked down.
Fang Bai had asked her if she wanted to add Liao Li, and she had refused.
Now that Liao Li was asking to add her, she had no reason to refuse.
“Okay.” Ji Yuning took the phone, entered her number, and pressed call.
The moment the ringtone started, Ji Yuning hung up and handed the phone back to Liao Li.
“Let’s go, or she’ll get impatient,” Liao Li said, taking the phone back.
Ji Yuning paused, then said, “Okay.”
Fang Bai had just unwrapped a lollipop when she saw Liao Li and Ji Yuning walking down the mountain.
Seeing the lollipop in Fang Bai’s hand, Liao Li asked, “Why are you eating candy now?”
Fang Bai held the stick of the lollipop between her fingers, like a cigarette. “Quitting smoking.”
“?” Liao Li asked, confused. “When did you start smoking?”
Liao Li didn’t know?
Fang Bai searched the original owner’s memory and found that she had suddenly started smoking three years ago.
Fang Bai shrugged. “It’s nothing. I’ve quit.”
Liao Li hummed. “I have to catch a flight, I’ll go now.”
Fang Bai nodded.
Liao Li said a few more words to Ji Yuning, then turned to leave, but suddenly asked Fang Bai, “By the way, when are you bringing Yuning to my place for a check-up?”
Fang Bai took the candy out of her mouth. “When are you free?”
Liao Li said, “I’ll be back in Hu City on Thursday. How about Friday? Yuning will have a day off.”
Fang Bai shook her head. “Friday won’t work. We’ll have to pick another day.”
“Why not?”
Fang Bai thought of the phone call from the other day. “The second young master of the Fang family is having a birthday. The old man wants me to go.”
The original owner referred to her father as “the old man,” and the second young master was the child of the original owner’s stepmother.
Liao Li asked, “Are you taking Yuning with you?”
Fang Bai replied, “Yes.”
Liao Li looked at her watch. She didn’t have time to chat. “Okay, we’ll talk when I get back. I have to go.”
Liao Li walked towards the taxi she had called. “I’m off!”
Fang Bai waved lazily. “Okay, be safe.”
Ji Yuning also said goodbye.
Once the taxi left, Fang Bai looked at Ji Yuning for a few seconds, then got into the car.
When Ji Yuning got into the passenger seat, Fang Bai tossed an apple-flavored lollipop into her lap. “You didn’t eat the peach-flavored one last time. Try this flavor. It’s pretty good.”
Ji Yuning picked it up, but didn’t plan to eat it.
After buckling her seatbelt, Ji Yuning waited for the car to start. After a few seconds, there was still no movement from the driver’s seat.
Ji Yuning turned to look at Fang Bai.
Fang Bai asked, “Don’t you like apple either? I have other flavors. Pick one.”
Ji Yuning: “….”
Finally, under Fang Bai’gaze, Ji Yuning unwrapped the candy and put it in her mouth.
Only then did Fang Bai start the car. After leaving the cemetery area, Fang Bai asked, “Do you want to eat out for lunch or go home?”
Ji Yuning’s answer was the same as before: “Either is fine.”
The candy in her mouth was too sweet, making her unwilling to speak.
The candy wrapper in her hand rustled. Ji Yuning stuffed it into her pocket.
The car finally fell silent.
An hour later, the car drove from the suburbs into the city.
Fang Bai chose to take Ji Yuning out to eat, as she had a question she wanted to ask her.
After ordering, when the waiter left the private room, Fang Bai hesitated for five minutes between asking and not asking. After the first dish arrived, Fang Bai finally asked the question that had been bothering her.
Fang Bai looked at Ji Yuning and asked, “What did Liao Li say to you?”
Ji Yuning sat upright in her chair. Although she had finished the candy several minutes ago, she still tasted apple in her mouth. She drank several sips of water to dilute the sweetness.
Feeling somewhat annoyed, she lost the desire to act. A faint smile played on Ji Yuning’s lips as she asked slowly, “Does Aunt Fang want to know?”
Fang Bai nodded. “Yes.”
“Why should I tell Aunt Fang?”
Fang Bai didn’t expect Ji Yuning to ask for a reason. “I’m just… concerned about you.”
Ji Yuning half-closed her eyes, suppressing her smile, and said bluntly:
“She said she wanted to take care of me.”
“But I refused.”
“Uh…”
She knew Liao Li would tell her.
Fang Bai poked at her plate with her chopsticks. “Actually, I had a reason for refusing. I—”
Fang Bai paused, wondering what kind of excuse to make up.
Could she say, “I wanted to stay by your side and improve our relationship, so I refused?”
That was too direct.
Even if Fang Bai could say it, Ji Yuning wouldn’t believe her.
Before Fang Bai could come up with a reason, Ji Yuning said, “I won’t leave.”
Fang Bai looked up in surprise.
She asked incredulously, “…Really?”
Ji Yuning put down her water glass. The sweetness was finally gone from her mouth. She said slowly, “Didn’t Aunt Fang say that when I turn eighteen, you’ll give me what my mother left me? If I leave early, will Aunt Fang still keep her promise?”
Her words were full of distrust for Fang Bai.
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai, who had bright eyes and was resting her chin on her hand, saying excitedly, “Xiao Ning, this is the first time you’ve said so many words to me.”
Ji Yuning, who thought Fang Bai would be angry at the sarcasm in her words, was confused.
“…”
Was that the point?
The waiter came in to serve dishes, interrupting their conversation.
When the waiter left, Fang Bai had already regained her composure. With Ji Yuning’s assurance, Fang Bai’s lingering anxiety finally subsided, and she felt quite happy.
Fang Bai said solemnly, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep my word. When you turn eighteen, it’s all yours.”
Author’s Note:
Later, when Ji Yuning turns 18, she finds the runaway Fang Bai.
Fang Bai: Don’t come any closer.jpg
Ji Yuning (stopping her): Didn’t you say when I turn eighteen, it’s all mine?
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