After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive (GL) - Chapter 26
Fang Bai raised her eyebrows slightly. Although the little one was complimenting her, she didn’t even pause for a second while speaking, and didn’t even think of a complimenting phrase, just echoing with a simple “too.”
Too perfunctory.
Fang Bai didn’t even need to look at Ji Yuning’s micro-expressions to sense Ji Yuning’s casual evasion.
Fang Bai: “…”
… Oh well, at least she was sincere.
Fang Bai looked Ji Yuning up and down again, feeling something was a bit off, and finally asked the salesperson to change Ji Yuning’s half-high heels to flat shoes, then felt satisfied.
When they left the clothing store, Uncle Li was already waiting.
The car drove towards the West District.
They had been in the clothing store for nearly two hours. Twilight had fallen, a layer of orange-yellow was painted on the mountainside, the lights on both sides of the road lit up, acting as stars on the ground, and the surrounding buildings also lit up one by one.
Fang Bai looked at the surrounding high-rise buildings, feeling like she was in a cage, suffocating.
The only difference was that she was still free.
Fang Bai opened the car window, and the temperature-laden wind brushed her cheeks, taking away some of the suffocation.
But that feeling of suffocation was like someone who couldn’t swim falling into water.
Ji Yuning noticed the change in Fang Bai’s mood. She had been smiling and talking in the store, but after getting into the car, although Fang Bai didn’t say anything, the smile on her lips disappeared without a trace.
Ji Yuning didn’t want to care about Fang Bai’s mood, but when a gust of wind rushed into the car through the half-open window, blowing Ji Yuning’s loose hair, Ji Yuning couldn’t help but look out the window as she lifted her hair.
From Ji Yuning’s angle, Fang Bai was gazing at the scenery outside the window. She saw Fang Bai’s face, sometimes lit, sometimes shadowed by the lights, and her hair dancing in the wind.
Ji Yuning couldn’t help but think of Fang Bai walking gracefully down the stairs a few minutes ago.
“Miss, Master just called to ask when we’ll arrive. I told him you and Miss Ji were getting ready, and he was very happy to hear that.”
Uncle Li’s voice came from the front row, interrupting the two people in the back seat.
Ji Yuning realized her thoughts and frowned, turning her head back without saying a word.
Fang Bai didn’t notice Ji Yuning’s movements. She brushed off the dejection in her heart and looked at Uncle Li, saying, “Okay, I understand.”
Fang Maozhou had invited the original owner to the birthday party two months ago, afraid that if he invited her closer to the date, she wouldn’t attend. Although the original owner had agreed two months ago, Fang Maozhou had still called her several times before today, afraid that she would change her mind.
Of course Fang Maozhou was happy to know that Fang Bai would come.
Fang Maozhou only thought about inviting his precious daughter to her nominal younger brother’s birthday party, but didn’t consider that his daughter agreed to come to ruin the party.
In fact, it couldn’t be called ruining. To be precise, it was the original owner’s revenge on Fang Maozhou.
Using Ji Yuning.
In the original story, after Fang Bai brought Ji Yuning to the clothing store, she didn’t let her wear the current outfit, but casually picked one from a mannequin in the hall for Ji Yuning.
The ill-fitting clothes made Ji Yuning look fat and big, revealing the blue and purple bruises on her body. When they arrived at the Fang’s house, Ji Yuning became a laughing stock for the upper-class people there. When they thought of her as the child Fang Bai raised, they would think of Fang Maozhou.
It was Fang Maozhou’s face that was being disgraced.
And this was just to anger Fang Maozhou.
The original owner’s main plan was to push the second young master of the Fang family into the pool and frame Ji Yuning.
The two hated people fighting each other satisfied the original owner’s subtle feelings.
Although Ji Yuning proved her innocence in the end, an incident occurred during the process, which was also the main reason Fang Bai felt depressed just now.
When the original owner’s stepmother heard someone say that Ji Yuning had pushed Fang Yimu into the pool, she didn’t say anything and asked someone to hold Ji Yuning down in the pool.
For someone who hadn’t learned to hold their breath, weren’t the two minutes they were held underwater like every second was a brush with death?
Thinking of that scene again, Fang Bai’s heart suddenly ached, and she reached out to grab something in the air, but grabbed nothing.
Nothing.
Fang Bai turned her gaze to Ji Yuning.
Ji Yuning was sitting upright as usual, not looking at her phone, her eyes looking out the window.
The rushing scenery was blurred, but the curve of Ji Yuning’s face was clearly visible.
“Xiao Ning.”
Fang Bai’s voice suddenly rang out, and Ji Yuning, who was disturbed, frowned, but her eyes were calm.
Ji Yuning half-lowered her eyelids and was about to turn to look at Fang Bai when she felt her hand, which was propped on her side, being held.
Ji Yuning’s breath hitched.
The person’s palm was very hot, and the place where her palm touched hers felt hotter than the midday sun.
Like a hot potato, Ji Yuning wanted to shake it off and looked at the person holding her hand.
But before Ji Yuning could pull her hand away, Fang Bai held her hand again, changing from palm to back of hand to palm to palm.
Ji Yuning’s movement to shake off her hand stopped. During this pause, they felt each other’s palm temperature.
Fang Bai held Ji Yuning’s hand in silence for a few seconds, until she felt safe, and Ji Yuning also pulled her hand out of hers.
Fang Bai ran her tongue over her lips. “When we arrive later, stay by my side and don’t go anywhere.”
Ji Yuning’s eyes were fixed on the hand that Fang Bai had held, her eyes dim, and she half-fist, finally making an “um” sound from her nose.
Fang Bai looked at Ji Yuning’s clenched hand. It was thin and had no extra flesh, but it felt like it contained infinite power.
Fang Bai was afraid that Ji Yuning would punch her.
She hadn’t intentionally held Ji Yuning’s hand. She was just caught up in Ji Yuning’s experience in the book and felt a little overwhelmed.
Grabbing Ji Yuning’s hand was entirely out of instinct, like grabbing a lifeline.
Fang Bai coughed lightly and changed the subject. “Uncle Li, where’s the thing I asked you to get?”
Uncle Li replied, “I put it in Miss’s bag.”
Fang Bai nodded, picked up the backpack beside her, and pulled out a velvet box from it.
Fang Bai handed the box to Ji Yuning. “Here.”
Ji Yuning didn’t take it.
“Didn’t I say I’d give you a reward last time? You never asked for it, so I took the liberty of buying you something,” Fang Bai shook it. “Open it and take a look.”
Seeing that Ji Yuning had no intention of reaching out, Fang Bai showed the front of the box directly to Ji Yuning. “Then close your eyes, and open them when I tell you to.”
Ji Yuning didn’t want to cooperate with Fang Bai. She glanced at Fang Bai and asked directly, “What did you mean by holding my hand, Aunt Fang?”
“…” Fang Bai thought the topic had been skipped.
The car drove over a speed bump, and Fang Bai’s arm, which was holding the box, shook. She had noticed Ji Yuning’s indifference and her deliberate question to avoid cooperating.
Fang Bai smiled gently and found an excuse for herself. “Forget it, don’t close your eyes. It’s not anything valuable.”
After saying that, Fang Bai opened the box, which contained a necklace with a pendant in the shape of the letter N, encrusted with diamonds.
The initial of Ji Yuning’s last name.
Ji Yuning glanced at it. “I don’t need it.”
“Yes, you don’t need it. I’m just afraid you’ll feel inferior.”
Ji Yuning was stunned. “…?”
Why would she feel inferior?
Fang Bai lowered her head and took out the necklace from the box, clasping it while saying, “The old man invited a lot of people, including many students from your school. They’ll definitely be dressed up nicely. If they’re wearing beautiful jewelry on their necks and hands, and you don’t have any, you might feel left out. At your age, you’re prone to comparing yourself to others. So I prepared one for you too.”
Ji Yuning wasn’t prone to comparing herself to others, but her peers were.
In the original story, those people not only laughed at Ji Yuning’s oversized clothes, but also mocked her for not wearing any accessories.
Fang Bai didn’t want Ji Yuning to be talked about by those problematic kids. Even if Ji Yuning had a strong mental fortitude, those words would still hurt her.
Also, what other kids had, her kid should have too!
Fang Bai held the two ends of the necklace with her thumbs and index fingers, pulled them apart in front of Ji Yuning, and said softly, “Lean closer, I’ll put it on for you.”
Ji Yuning was still thinking about Fang Bai’s long speech.
Fang Bai’s words were euphemistic, saying she was afraid they would mock her, but Ji Yuning had already guessed what those people would say, since they had said those things to her face at school.
How did Fang Bai know?
Ji Yuning lowered her eyebrows in thought, not hearing Fang Bai’s words.
Seeing this, Fang Bai leaned towards Ji Yuning and put her hands around Ji Yuning’s neck.
With the close contact, Ji Yuning subconsciously raised her hand to resist, leaning back.
Fang Bai said softly, “Don’t move.”
Ji Yuning quickly reacted and slowly put her hand back on her lap.
The next second, her neck felt a cold sensation.
Fang Bai was wearing perfume tonight, a very elegant floral scent. Ji Yuning’s nose was filled with the fragrance.
Ji Yuning held her breath until Fang Bai’s arms moved away from her, then she relaxed.
Fang Bai returned to her original position, looking at Ji Yuning with the necklace on for a few seconds, then said, “Give me your phone, Auntie will take a picture of you.”
Ji Yuning: “…No picture.”
“Oh.” Fang Bai was used to Ji Yuning’s rejections and had a good way of dealing with it. “Then I’ll take a picture with my phone, and maybe I’ll post it on my Moments—”
Before Fang Bai could finish, a phone appeared in front of her.
The Fang’s house was on a hill. As they drove up, the lush greenery and the scattered lights of the city below were particularly striking.
When Fang Bai opened the camera, she happened to capture this scenery. At the same time as she pressed the shutter button, she saw Ji Yuning half-covering her face, blending with the scenery outside the window, giving off a veiled charm.
“Xiao Ning is so beautiful.”
Fang Bai showed the picture she took to Ji Yuning.
In the picture, Ji Yuning was covering her face, and none of her features were visible.
Beautiful?
“Uh,” Fang Bai corrected herself, “Auntie was talking about the overall atmosphere.”
Ji Yuning: “.”
The car slowly stopped in front of a courtyard, surrounded by luxury cars.
Uncle Li opened the car door and turned to Fang Bai. “Miss, I’ll wait for you outside.”
Fang Bai nodded. “Okay, thank you for your trouble.”
When Fang Bai and Ji Yuning got out of the car, they didn’t expect to run into Zhu Ping.
Zhu Ping saw Fang Bai immediately and hurried over. “Fang Bai.”
Fang Bai paused. “Mrs. He.”
He Ziyan, who was following Zhu Ping, saw Fang Bai and said sincerely, “Fang… Aunt Fang, you look so beautiful tonight.”
Fang Bai’s lips curled up. “Thank you.”
Zhu Ping looked at her daughter in surprise. She had never heard her daughter compliment anyone before. Remembering that He Ziyan had gone to Fang Bai’s house to do homework last week, Zhu Ping’s eyes wandered between Fang Bai and Ji Yuning, wondering when her daughter had gotten on good terms with them.
Zhu Ping held up her bag and said, “Xiao Yan went to your house to do homework last week. Did she cause you any trouble?”
Fang Bai moved slightly to the side, distancing herself from Zhu Ping, and smiled, “No.”
Adults were talking, and the follower had nothing to do with it.
He Ziyan walked up to Ji Yuning and walked around her, saying, “As expected, clothes make the person. You look much better in this than in your tattered school uniform.”
He Ziyan looked at the necklace in the middle of Ji Yuning’s collarbone. “This necklace is also beautiful.”
Ji Yuning glanced at He Ziyan and said calmly, “Yours is also beautiful.”
Fang Bai couldn’t help but glance at Ji Yuning. Ji Yuning’s compliment to He Ziyan was even more half-hearted than when she complimented her in the clothing store.
Zhu Ping followed Fang Bai’s gaze to Ji Yuning, opened her mouth, and then said to He Ziyan, “Xiao Yan, take Xiao Ji for a walk around. I’ll talk to your Aunt Fang.”
Before He Ziyan could speak, Fang Bai interrupted, “Let’s talk about it later. I’m going to take Xiao Ning to say hello.”
Zhu Ping paused, thinking that it made sense. After all, Fang Bai was returning to her own house. How could a guest stop her before she even entered the door? Zhu Ping awkwardly stepped aside. “Okay, then take the child to see Master Fang first. I’ll find you later.”
“Okay.” Fang Bai nodded slightly and looked at Ji Yuning. “Xiao Ning, let’s go.”
Ji Yuning silently walked towards Fang Bai.
When the two of them left, He Ziyan paused for two seconds, wanting to follow, but Zhu Ping grabbed her.
Zhu Ping asked, “Where are you going?”
He Ziyan made an excuse. “To say hello to Uncle Fang.”
Zhu Ping didn’t believe He Ziyan. She asked, “Why did you ask me for Fang Bai’s phone number yesterday?”
He Ziyan: “…Nothing.”
“Are you still thinking about harming Ji Yuning? I’m telling you, put away your little tricks. Can’t you see that Fang Bai’s attitude towards that girl has changed?”
Zhu Ping thought that He Ziyan wanted Fang Bai’s contact information to say bad things about Ji Yuning.
He Ziyan looked at Zhu Ping. “How has it changed?”
Zhu Ping scoffed, pointed to Ji Yuning’s back, and then pointed to the gold necklace around her neck. “Did you see the necklace around her neck? It’s more expensive than the one around your mother’s neck.”
Zhu Ping asked He Ziyan, “What does that mean?”
“It means…” He Ziyan bit her lip, “Fang Bai is afraid that Ji Yuning will embarrass her.”
Zhu Ping sighed and said helplessly, “You’re good at studying, but how come you don’t understand anything about social skills?”
He Ziyan looked at the two figures walking away. A dark black and a light gold were shining under the colorful lights, attracting the attention of many people in the courtyard.
The gaze on Ji Yuning was more surprised. The ugly duckling turned into a black swan, and everyone would pay more attention.
The gaze on Fang Bai was admiration for her outfit tonight.
He Ziyan didn’t not understand. She just didn’t want to admit it.