After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive (GL) - Chapter 23
Fang Bai didn’t know how long she had slept. When she slowly opened her eyes, the room was pitch black, with only a few streaks of white moonlight squeezing through the curtains, illuminating the wall and making it seem less eerie.
Fang Bai groggily fumbled for her phone and glanced at it:
[00:09 AM]
Confirming the time, the disorientation from waking up suddenly subsided, and the unease in her heart quietly disappeared.
Putting down her phone, Fang Bai closed her eyes for a dozen seconds. Feeling weak all over, she struggled to sit up, supporting herself with her hands on the bed.
Her body was still a little feverish, and her head felt more dizzy than it had in the afternoon.
Fang Bai half-yawned and slowly reached out to turn on the bedside lamp.
Warm light spread around the room, adding a touch of tranquility.
Fang Bai’s body felt limp, and her mouth was dry. She sniffed and looked at the half-glass of water Wu Mei had placed on the bedside table earlier.
For a moment, Fang Bai wished she could control objects with her mind.
She thought that since the fantastical event of transmigrating into a book had happened, controlling objects should be easy, right?
As it turned out, people with fevers tend to have wild imaginations, and reality prevailed.
Fang Bai held onto the edge of the bed, leaned over, and reached for the glass. Something that was usually easy for her to do was now so difficult that she couldn’t even touch the glass after two attempts.
Fang Bai’s breathing grew heavier, and she moved closer to the edge of the bed. Her slender fingers finally touched the glass.
Her pink knuckles touched the cool surface of the transparent glass.
Fang Bai reached out to grab the glass.
The next second,
“Clang.”
The glass fell to the floor.
“…”
She was useless.
She couldn’t even hold a glass of water.
Fortunately, the table wasn’t very high, so the glass didn’t break, but the water spilled all over the floor.
Fang Bai didn’t have the energy to clean it up. Even if she wanted to, her body wouldn’t allow it. She couldn’t even move her legs, and could only watch helplessly as the source of life slipped away from her.
A few breaths later.
“Knock knock.”
Two light knocks sounded on the door.
Fang Bai thought it was Wu Mei and moved her lips. “Come in.”
With a creak, the door was pushed open. Hearing footsteps, Fang Bai didn’t even lift her head and asked softly, “Sister Wu, why are you still awake so late?”
“Sister Wu” didn’t say a word, watching Fang Bai lie listlessly by the bed, her chin resting on her arm, her eyelids half-closed, following Fang Bai’s gaze…
“Sister Wu” saw a spilled glass of water.
So that was the sound from earlier?
The footsteps grew closer.
Fang Bai licked her lips. She couldn’t drink the water now, and could only ask Wu Mei to pour her another glass.
Thinking this, Fang Bai said, “Sister Wu, could you please—”
Fang Bai saw a pair of black and white striped slippers. The owner wasn’t wearing socks, and two pairs of almost sickly white feet appeared before her. The toes were round, and the nails were neatly trimmed, pink and white.
Very beautiful.
Then Fang Bai realized these weren’t Wu Mei’s feet…
No, these weren’t Wu Mei’s slippers.
As Fang Bai looked up, she met Ji Yuning’s dark eyes.
They were deep and dark, and she couldn’t see the other person’s emotions.
Fang Bai was surprised. “Xiao Ning?”
“Yes.” Ji Yuning slowly squatted down, picked up the fallen glass, and then pulled out a few tissues to wipe up the water on the floor.
While Ji Yuning was doing this, Fang Bai quietly sat up. Even though she was weak, she couldn’t show too much weakness in front of the child.
“Why are you still awake so late?” Fang Bai asked.
Ji Yuning threw the wet tissues into the trash can. “Just finished studying, came downstairs for water.”
Mentioning water, Fang Bai couldn’t help but lick her lips again. “I was also going to get some water… and accidentally knocked over the glass.”
The mess from the spilled water had already been cleaned up by Ji Yuning.
Ji Yuning said, “I can see that.”
Fang Bai leaned against the pillow, looking at Ji Yuning in her black long skirt pajamas. “Can you pour me a glass of water?”
Ji Yuning expressionlessly glanced at Fang Bai, then turned and left the room.
Neither agreeing nor refusing.
Fang Bai couldn’t figure out Ji Yuning’s intentions.
Two minutes later, Fang Bai’s door was knocked.
After Fang Bai said “come in,” she saw Ji Yuning walk into the room with a glass of water.
“I thought you were going to ignore me,” Fang Bai said, taking the glass from Ji Yuning and smiling.
The glass was filled with warm water, just the right temperature for drinking.
Ji Yuning waited for Fang Bai to finish drinking before saying, “…You got rained on because of me, after all.”
A perfect answer, explaining that everything Ji Yuning had done was prompted by her inner kindness.
Fang Bai held the glass in her hands and said softly to Ji Yuning, “You know that?”
She thought her efforts had gone unnoticed.
Fang Bai’s tone was soft, and her voice was hoarse from her sore throat.
It sounded more like she was being spoiled…
Ji Yuning turned her head away, avoiding Fang Bai’s gaze.
Feeling sleepy after drinking the water, Fang Bai didn’t want to miss the opportunity to get closer to Ji Yuning.
Fang Bai took another sip of water and asked with a smile, “Did you come downstairs specifically to take care of me?”
“?”
Ji Yuning couldn’t help but frown and repeated, “…Just finished studying, came downstairs for water.”
“Oh?” Fang Bai asked. “Why did you knock on my door when you came downstairs for water?”
“…”
After going upstairs, Ji Yuning had wanted to check on Beibei, but as soon as she reached the guest room door, she heard a loud crash from Fang Bai’s room. By the time she realized it, she was already standing in front of Fang Bai’s door.
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai. “Do you want more water?”
Fang Bai shook her head. “No more.”
Ji Yuning didn’t say anything and turned to leave.
Seeing this, Fang Bai quickly called out, “Xiao Ning.”
Fang Bai said it quickly, but her voice was weak.
Ji Yuning didn’t stop.
Just as Ji Yuning opened the door and was about to leave the bedroom, Fang Bai said what she wanted to say to Ji Yuning, “Thank you.”
A “click” sounded, and the door closed.
Fang Bai looked away, her eyes finally landing on the glass in her hand. Looking at the faint fingerprints on the glass, Fang Bai smiled gently, “Stubborn child…”
••••
On Monday.
Ji Yuning’s routine was the same as usual.
However, when Ji Yuning was eating breakfast, Wu Mei walked up to her and said carefully, “Xiao Ji, Miss’s fever hasn’t gone down yet. Let Old Li take you to school today. He’s already waiting outside the villa. You can go straight out after you finish eating.”
Ji Yuning paused for a moment and nodded. “Okay, fine.”
Seeing Ji Yuning agree, Wu Mei prepared to take breakfast to Fang Bai.
But as soon as she turned around, Wu Mei saw Fang Bai fully dressed and coming downstairs.
Half an hour ago, when she had checked on Fang Bai, she was still lying weakly in bed.
Wu Mei hurried to Fang Bai and helped her by the arm. “Miss, why did you come downstairs?”
Fang Bai was helped by Wu Mei to sit in the head seat.
Wu Mei said, “Miss, I’ll get you some food.”
Fang Bai nodded. “Okay.”
As Wu Mei walked towards the kitchen, Fang Bai turned to Ji Yuning and smiled. “Xiao Ning, good morning.”
Ji Yuning lowered her eyes. “…Good morning.”
Wu Mei brought Fang Bai a bowl of plain porridge. When Fang Bai had eaten half of it, Ji Yuning stood up and picked up her schoolbag.
Fang Bai asked, “Done eating?”
Ji Yuning said, “Yes.”
Fang Bai stood up, and the chair scraped against the floor, drawing the attention of the two people in the living room.
Wu Mei asked, “Miss, aren’t you going to finish?”
“No, I’m not hungry anymore.” Fang Bai said to Ji Yuning, “Let’s go.”
Ji Yuning slowed down as she put on her schoolbag.
Seeing the question in Ji Yuning’s eyes, Fang Bai said, “I promised to take you to school every time. I won’t break my promise.”
Ji Yuning was stunned for a moment, but didn’t say anything.
Hearing this, Wu Mei swallowed the words of objection that were on the tip of her tongue and reminded, “Miss, you haven’t taken your medicine yet.”
Fang Bai turned to Ji Yuning and said, “Give me a minute.”
Three minutes later, Fang Bai and Ji Yuning were sitting in the back seat together, and Uncle Li finally resumed his job.
Ji Yuning was wearing her school uniform. Fang Bai inadvertently stared at the two white stripes on the side of Ji Yuning’s uniform pants. “Did Sister Wu give you your living expenses?”
Ji Yuning nodded. “Yes.”
Her throat was a little itchy, and Fang Bai couldn’t help but cough. “Eat more. If you need more, you can WeChat me.”
Ji Yuning nodded again. “Okay.”
Fang Bai finally succumbed to her physical discomfort and didn’t speak anymore. She had intended to close her eyes and rest for a while, but unexpectedly, she drifted off to sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, Ji Yuning was no longer in the car. Fang Bai looked out the window and realized they were already on the way back.
“…”
That ungrateful little thing didn’t even say goodbye when she got out.
Fang Bai sat up slightly and said to the driver, “Uncle Li, turn off the air conditioning.”
Fang Bai wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m a little cold.”
Even though it was summer, it had just rained yesterday, and the morning temperature was naturally low. Uncle Li hadn’t turned on the air conditioning at all.
Hearing Fang Bai’s words, Uncle Li said worriedly, “Miss, I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“No need.” Fang Bai leaned her head against the back of the seat and said weakly, “I’ve taken my medicine.”
Going to the hospital would undoubtedly mean getting an IV, and the thought of the sharp needle piercing her veins made her feel a pain in her hand.
Injections were too painful, she wouldn’t go to the hospital.
On the day she “apologized with thorns on her back,” Fang Bai hadn’t lied to Ji Yuning. She was genuinely afraid of pain.