After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive (GL) - Chapter 29
Those by the pool only saw a flash of gold entering the water, swimming towards the person sinking into the pool.
The exquisite dress seemed to come alive in the water. The light refracted by the lights and the water waves shone on the gold threads of the dress, sparkling like fish scales. The hem of the skirt spread out with Fang Bai’s movements, fluttering like a fish tail.
Her hair was like ink spilled, her figure gracefully swimming. Fang Bai was like a mermaid, and the people by the pool were the audience.
Ji Yuning took a deep breath the second before she fell into the water. The moment she fell, she held her breath and closed her eyes tightly. After sinking to the bottom of the pool, Ji Yuning allowed the water to squeeze around her, keeping still.
Ji Yuning couldn’t swim, but she knew the basic common sense. She didn’t struggle after falling into the water to avoid choking on water. Plus, the pool was only about 1.6 meters deep. Ji Yuning had calculated that even if no one pulled her out, she wouldn’t be trapped in the pool. That’s why she deliberately provoked Lu Lili.
She wasn’t crazy enough to gamble her life for someone like Lu Lili.
Just as Ji Yuning was quietly waiting for the sound of the water around her to calm down, wanting to use her feet to touch the bottom of the pool and see if she could stand up, before she could move, she felt a tightness around her waist. An arm wrapped around her waist.
Ji Yuning couldn’t see anything with her eyes closed, but her sense of touch told her that the person who came to save her was a woman, a woman with slender but powerful arms.
The woman held her firmly in her arms with just one arm. The air Ji Yuning inhaled before going underwater had been used up, but she wasn’t worried about running out of oxygen because the person holding her was swimming upwards.
Ji Yuning knew that in two seconds, she would be able to breathe fresh air.
The moment she broke through the surface of the water, Ji Yuning opened her mouth slightly and exhaled.
Before Ji Yuning could open her eyes, she heard a voice that was too familiar to be ignored.
“How are you? Are you okay?”
With her eyes closed, her sense of hearing became more sensitive. Ji Yuning clearly heard the undisguised panic and concern in the person’s voice.
The eyelashes covered with water droplets were moistened into clumps. Ji Yuning was about to open her eyes, but water seeped into her eyes when she half-lifted her eyelids. Ji Yuning closed her eyes again uncomfortably.
Fang Bai had been observing Ji Yuning, so she naturally didn’t miss this small reaction. She called out softly, “Xiao Ning?”
Ji Yuning’s eyelids trembled. She hadn’t expected that the person who saved her was Fang Bai.
And in the water, she actually felt… a sense of security from Fang Bai.
Fang Bai reached out to wipe the water droplets around Ji Yuning’s eyes, and said softly, “Did water get in your eyes? It’s okay, it’ll be fine in a moment.”
This time, not only was her sense of hearing more sensitive, but even the skin that Fang Bai’s fingertips touched could feel the gentleness of Fang Bai’s movements.
Fang Bai’s arm was still around Ji Yuning, holding her waist.
The clothes that had spread out like a painting in the water now clung to her body after coming out of the water. Ji Yuning felt the warmth of Fang Bai’s body, the faint sound of her heartbeat, and… the softness that was touching her arm.
Fang Bai noticed the person in her arms tensing up. Thinking it was because she had touched her face, Fang Bai withdrew her hand after wiping away the last bit of water.
The moment Fang Bai withdrew her hand, the strangeness in Ji Yuning’s eyes disappeared, and her eyelashes fluttered open.
What she saw was Fang Bai’s face after coming out of the water. Her makeup showed no signs of smudging, a few strands of hair clung to her cheeks, and water droplets slid down her cheeks, past her chin, and flowed from her neck to her collarbone…
Ji Yuning inexplicably turned her head away, not looking at Fang Bai again.
“Let’s get out of the water first, don’t catch a cold.” Fang Maozhou’s voice rang out.
Although it was summer, the wind on the mountain was strong, and it was easy to catch a cold.
Fang Bai looked up and saw Fang Maozhou and the others walking to the edge of the pool.
Chang Suyao, who was originally behind Fang Maozhou, stepped forward and stopped the others, saying, “You men should all turn around first. Didn’t you see that Xiao Bai and the others are wearing formal dresses? And those who pushed someone into the water, you should also turn around. We’ll settle the score when your parents come later.”
Although the fabric of the clothes wasn’t transparent and didn’t reveal anything, the clothes would inevitably show their figures when they clung to their bodies after coming out of the water. Plus, they were a bit disheveled, so it was better not to let people see.
As she spoke, Chang Suyao said to the waiter behind them, “Bring over the towels.”
Chen Xiandong had asked the waiter to get the towels as soon as possible. Hearing the madam’s instructions, the waiter walked to the edge of the pool with the towels without hesitation.
The people in the backyard had already turned around when Chang Suyao mentioned them.
Fang Bai also brought Ji Yuning to the edge of the pool at this time.
When Ji Yuning put her hands on the edge of the pool, trying to push herself out of the water, a pair of hands supported her hips.
Ji Yuning pursed her lips, wanting to tell Fang Bai to take her hands away, but she heard Fang Bai say softly, “Slowly, I’ll support you.”
Ji Yuning: “…”
She didn’t need it, but she couldn’t say it. She could only hurry up and get out of the water, away from Fang Bai’s… hands.
After they both got ashore, Fang Bai draped the towel that the waiter handed her first over Ji Yuning, and then took one for herself.
Fang Maozhou waited a few seconds after hearing the sound of them getting out of the water, unable to hold back his worry, and asked, “Are you two alright?”
Chang Suyao glanced at Fang Bai, then walked to Fang Maozhou, swaying her hips. “Yes, they’re fine. It’s just a swim. What’s there to worry about? Your son’s birthday party is about to start, but I didn’t see you in such a hurry.”
Hearing Chang Suyao’s words, Fang Bai’s eyes, which were watching her back, deepened.
But as Fang Maozhou turned to her, Fang Bai suppressed her thoughts and turned to Ji Yuning. “Are you scared? Did you swallow any water?”
Ji Yuning lowered her eyebrows. “No.”
“That’s good. You—”
Fang Bai’s words were interrupted.
“Slap”
The crisp sound of a slap echoed throughout the backyard.
Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a woman standing in front of Lu Lili, scolding her.
After saying a few words, the woman pulled Lu Lili towards Fang Maozhou, saying, “Mr. Fang, I’m so sorry. This child has been spoiled by me. I didn’t educate Lili well. I’ll have her apologize to Miss Fang and… your granddaughter. I’m so sorry.”
…Granddaughter?
Fang Bai subconsciously looked at Ji Yuning. Ji Yuning pursed her lips, not showing any emotion. But it was clear that Ji Yuning wasn’t paying attention to the woman. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so calm when she heard herself being called Fang Maozhou’s granddaughter and Fang Bai’s daughter.
The evening breeze blew, and Fang Bai was worried that Ji Yuning would catch a cold. Suppressing her thoughts, she turned to Fang Maozhou and said, “Old man, this is your responsibility.”
Her gaze swept over Lu Lili, who was trembling with her head lowered, and then stopped on the woman. Fang Bai said coldly, “16 years old is not young. Pushing someone who can’t swim into the pool is attempted murder.”
The woman felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, knowing that this matter wouldn’t be easily resolved. And when Lu Lili heard Fang Bai’s last four words, she couldn’t hold back her tears, saying that she didn’t mean it…
But everyone present had witnessed everything.
Fang Bai didn’t want to stay any longer. She turned and naturally took Ji Yuning’s wrist, and whispered, “I’ll take you to change clothes.”
Chen Xiandong stepped forward. “Miss, I’ll go with you.”
Fang Bai politely declined. “No need, Uncle Chen. You can go take care of other things.”
Fang Bai raised her foot to leave, but the moment she lifted her foot, she felt a pain in the sole of her foot.
The waiter, who had been standing on the side with her head lowered after handing over the towels, saw the faint red color mixed with the water and immediately realized the reason for the red color. She exclaimed, “Miss, your foot is bleeding!”
••••
Side hall.
Fang Bai sat on the sofa, a towel covering her legs. Her injured foot rested on the knee of her other leg. She looked at the cut on the sole of her foot. It wasn’t a big wound, and the bl00d was only slowly seeping out.
–It hurt like hell.
Her attention had been on Ji Yuning, who had fallen into the water. She didn’t even know when she had gotten a cut. After thinking about it, Fang Bai guessed that she probably got it when she took off her shoes and ran to the pool.
She took the cotton swab that the waiter handed her, dabbed at the bl00d and water around the wound, tore open a band-aid, and gently stuck it on.
Fang Maozhou looked at his daughter’s somewhat rough behavior and asked, confused, “Is that all? Don’t you need to disinfect it? Put some medicine on it? Or wrap it with a bandage?”
If Fang Bai hadn’t insisted that he not call a doctor, Fang Maozhou wouldn’t have been so worried.
Fang Bai put down her foot, her heel pressed against her slipper. “It’s not that serious.”
Fang Maozhou hesitated and said, “Let Dad carry you upstairs.”
Fang Bai paused as she used the towel to dry her hair. She looked towards the front yard, where she could faintly hear people talking. “Isn’t the birthday party already started? You should go.”
When they returned to the side hall, Chang Suyao had already taken Fang Yimu to blow out the candles, and Chen Xiandong had been left by Fang Maozhou to deal with Lu Lili’s matter.
Fang Maozhou was very concerned about Fang Bai’s injury, worried that something serious might happen.
Fang Maozhou said, “It’s not too late to go after I carry you upstairs.”
Carry.
The word was too intimate. To Fang Bai, Fang Maozhou was a strange adult male.
Fang Bai wouldn’t agree to this suggestion.
“No need.” Fang Bai refused, then felt it was inappropriate. She paused for two seconds and looked at the person who had been standing silently. She said softly, “Xiao Ning is here.”
Fang Maozhou looked at the thin person, who was also soaking wet, and questioned, “Can she carry you?”
The tone was very disdainful, but Fang Bai couldn’t refute it.
If Ji Yuning carried her… she probably wouldn’t be able to take a step before being crushed to the ground.
“…” Fang Bai picked up the towel, slowly stood up, and said, “I’ll walk on tiptoes.”
Worried that Fang Maozhou would insist, Fang Bai imitated the original owner’s tone and said sarcastically, “If you don’t go out, people might think your marriage is falling apart.”
Fang Maozhou was surprised and happy that his daughter hadn’t argued with him today. He wanted to take advantage of her good mood to say a few more words to her. But when he heard the familiar tone, Fang Maozhou deflated, and the words at the tip of his tongue turned into a sigh. “…Alright, I’ll go out. But I’ll come upstairs to check on you when I’m done.”
Fang Bai: “Whatever.”
After Fang Maozhou left the side hall, Fang Bai turned to the waiter and said, “Please go outside and find my driver. Our clothes are in the car.”
The waiter respectfully replied, “Butler Chen has already arranged everything. The clothes you need to change into are already in your room, Miss.”
Chen Xiandong was dealing with things in the backyard. When did he arrange this?
Fang Bai was only surprised for a moment, then admired Chen Xiandong’s efficiency.
“Okay,” Fang Bai said to the waiter, “then can you help me?”
The waiter said “yes” and was about to step forward, but someone was faster.
Ji Yuning placed her arm under Fang Bai’s outstretched hand, as if inviting Fang Bai to lean on her.
Fang Bai raised an eyebrow slightly. Although she was surprised, she wouldn’t refuse Ji Yuning’s offer.
When Fang Bai leaned on Ji Yuning’s arm, Ji Yuning turned to the waiter and said quickly, as if trying to hide something, “My handbag is still in the backyard. Please go get it for me.”
The waiter snapped out of her daze and said, “Yes, Miss Ji. I’ll go right now.”
The waiter turned and headed to the backyard, and Fang Bai walked towards the elevator with Ji Yuning’s support.
Fortunately, there was an elevator, so they didn’t have to take the stairs. But Fang Bai still felt pain when she walked.
Fang Bai, who was holding Ji Yuning’s arm, changed her grip, holding onto the towel on Ji Yuning’s arm, and hissed softly, “Ouch~”
They had already entered the elevator. In the narrow space, Fang Bai’s deliberately lowered voice was amplified, and Ji Yuning clearly heard Fang Bai’s hissing.
Ji Yuning stared straight ahead, seeing Fang Bai looking down at her foot in the reflection of the elevator.
Perhaps because the water hadn’t been wiped clean, the edge of the band-aid was peeling off.
Fang Bai hesitated whether to tear it off when she heard Ji Yuning’s voice, “Does it hurt?”
The three words were emotionless, making it impossible to tell if it was concern or gloating about her injury.
Fang Bai felt a little awkward and said softly, “…It’s just a small injury. It’s fine.”
Actually, Fang Bai wanted to say, “I got injured saving you,” to gain some goodwill from Ji Yuning. But when she looked up and saw Ji Yuning, she changed her mind.
It was better not to play the victim in front of a child.
However, Fang Bai had forgotten that she had just told the woman that sixteen was not young. But even if Fang Bai remembered, she wouldn’t think there was a problem, because she was protective of her own.
Fang Bai’s answer wasn’t what Ji Yuning wanted to hear. She thought Fang Bai would say something like, “I got injured because of you” or “I said I’d be nice to you.”
But Fang Bai’s unexpected answer made Ji Yuning think of the moment she saw the bl00d in the pool, and the sudden feeling of irritability.
With a “ding,” the elevator reached their floor.
The elevator doors slowly opened. Ji Yuning half-lifted her eyelids and asked in a deep voice, “Why did you save me?”
Fang Bai replied without thinking, “Of course, I was worried about you.”
A strange light flashed in Ji Yuning’s eyes. She always doubted Fang Bai’s words, but this time, she felt that Fang Bai was telling the truth.
Although Ji Yuning wanted to deny this, the more she tried to deny it, the more she believed it.
Fang Bai walked out of the elevator on tiptoes, but once again pulled at the wound. The pain made Fang Bai feel depressed, and the anger she had been suppressing finally erupted. “Speaking of which, I want to ask you more. Didn’t you know to dodge when someone pushed you into the water? Why did you just stand there like an idiot? Don’t you know if you can swim? Don’t you know to stay away from the pool? You’re usually so smart when dealing with me. You—”
Although the words were all accusations, they were also filled with undisguised concern.
Fang Bai stopped mid-sentence.
Too many words were bound to slip out. With Ji Yuning’s vengeful nature, she might write everything down in her little notebook and settle the score with her later.
Unbeknownst to Fang Bai, her outburst was just a slightly louder version of her usual voice to Ji Yuning.
A gentle person’s anger was like a cat waving its paws and meowing loudly, with no real threat.
Author’s Note:
Xiao Ji: Actually… it’s all written in my diary—.