After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive - Chapter 31

He Ziyan was taken aback by Ji Yuning’s words. She hadn’t expected Ji Yuning to ask her that question, or rather, she hadn’t expected why Ji Yuning would ask her that.

He Ziyan blinked, stammering involuntarily, “Of, of course.”

As soon as she finished speaking, He Ziyan seemed to feel her momentum falter in front of Ji Yuning. She put one hand on her hip and said, “Otherwise, what do you think it’s for? Could it be… could it be to deliberately get close to you and lower your grades?”

Ji Yuning was slightly speechless at He Ziyan’s excuse. She glanced sideways at the other girl, then silently walked past He Ziyan and sat down on the sofa.

Seeing that Ji Yuning didn’t press the issue, He Ziyan slightly lowered her raised chin.

Ji Yuning didn’t look at the cake on the plate, but just picked up her water glass and drank.

He Ziyan sat back in her original position, her posture less affected than before. She took in Ji Yuning’s actions and asked, “Aren’t you going to eat cake? Fang Bai said you hadn’t had dinner and specifically asked the waiter to prepare it for you.”

“Aren’t you leaving yet?”

Ji Yuning held her water glass loosely and asked casually.

He Ziyan didn’t react immediately, confused. “Why would I leave?”

Ji Yuning said blandly, “Didn’t you say you came to see me? I’m fine, you can go.”

He Ziyan bit her lip. “I’m still waiting to apply medicine for Fang Bai.”

As He Ziyan spoke, she leaned back, her relaxed and comfortable demeanor suggesting she intended to stay.

Ji Yuning glanced sideways, repeating, “Fang Bai?”

Caught in her slip of the tongue, He Ziyan’s leaning back motion paused. “Aunt Fang.”

Ji Yuning looked away, indifferent. “She can apply the medicine herself.”

He Ziyan’s strained nerves snapped. She said with a cold sneer, “You can’t be serious, Ji Yuning. Aunt Fang got hurt because of you. Even if you don’t care, how can you say something like that?”

“.”

Ji Yuning took a sip of water.

The slight tilt of her head as she drank caused the hair covering her face to fall back, revealing the distinct curves and lines of Ji Yuning’s profile. Her eyes were clear and cold, showing no displeasure at He Ziyan’s sarcasm. Her indifference was even more ruthless than He Ziyan’s questioning.

He Ziyan: “You—”

He Ziyan suddenly thought of the rumors she had heard at school. Although she hadn’t seen it herself, she had believed the things said at school and occasionally deliberately targeted Ji Yuning.

But after she interacted with Fang Bai, which was backstage at the school auditorium, the woman’s faint fragrance and subtle air of nobility made her think… Fang Bai was different from the rumors.

He Ziyan sat up straight, staring at the corner of Ji Yuning’s eye, and said earnestly, “I don’t know what happened between you and Aunt Fang, but I know very well what happened between you and me.”

He Ziyan remembered what she had done to Ji Yuning before and felt a little ashamed, but now wasn’t the time to talk about her own affairs. “Aunt Fang might have shown you less concern before, but even my mom says she’s clearly changed now and cares about you a lot. Just look at the necklace on your neck. My mom said it was specially ordered and quite expensive. Since you can talk to me calmly, why can’t you do the same with Aunt Fang?”

Calmly with Fang Bai?

Hadn’t the role she played in front of Fang Bai during this time been calm enough?

Ji Yuning suppressed the rising anger in her eyes. “Does it,” her voice betrayed no emotion, “concern you?”

He Ziyan’s pupils contracted slightly. Realizing she had been stunned by Ji Yuning’s demeanor, she hummed uncomfortably. “It doesn’t concern me now.”

After speaking, He Ziyan picked up a small cake, took a small bite, and chewed slowly, not speaking to Ji Yuning anymore.

Indeed, she didn’t like Ji Yuning at all.

If it weren’t for seeing Fang Bai caring about Ji Yuning, she wouldn’t have interfered.

Fang Bai only realized when she finished showering and was about to change that she had been supported first by He Ziyan and then by Ji Yuning, causing her to forget to get the clothes she needed to change into from the bed.

She glanced at her soaking wet dress and decisively wrapped herself in a towel.

Fang Bai stood in front of the bathroom door, hesitated for a few seconds, then opened a small crack, squeezing her head into the gap to look into the room. She only saw Ji Yuning looking down at her phone.

Fang Bai called out, “Xiao Ning.”

Ji Yuning heard the door open, but didn’t hear Fang Bai walking.

Hearing Fang Bai call her, Ji Yuning looked up at the bathroom, only to see the bathroom door opened just a crack.

Ji Yuning: “Hmm.”

The voice from the crack asked, “Is He Ziyan gone?”

Five minutes ago, He Ziyan had received a call and left the room very reluctantly.

Ji Yuning: “Gone.”

That was great, no more awkwardness.

Fang Bai subconsciously pulled the door open, the narrow gap widening instantly.

Fang Bai originally wanted to open the door and get the clothes herself, but her foot was injured, and she was also worried that someone might suddenly open the room door. Fang Bai leaned her head out, holding onto the doorframe, and said to the person on the sofa, “Xiao Ning, can you please bring me the clothes from the bed?”

Ji Yuning hadn’t shifted her gaze, so she saw Fang Bai open the door and lean out completely.

Ji Yuning followed Fang Bai’s gaze to the bed and only stood up after the light blue color entered her eyes.

Taking the clothes, Ji Yuning turned and walked towards the bathroom.

At this moment, Fang Bai’s eyes were fixed on the dress in Ji Yuning’s hand. In the unfamiliar environment, the towel wrapped around her didn’t give Fang Bai a sense of security. She wanted to change quickly.

However, Ji Yuning walked unhurriedly, seemingly not concerned about delivering the clothes to her.

Fortunately, the distance between the bed and the bathroom was only a few steps. Just as Ji Yuning reached the bathroom door, Fang Bai reached out to take the clothes. “Thank you.”

With Fang Bai’s movement, the door she was holding was pushed open slightly. Ji Yuning saw Fang Bai completely through the half-open door.

Fang Bai was wrapped in a towel, a few drops of water falling from her slightly damp hair onto her rounded shoulders. Her collarbone and the area below were obscured by her other hand, making it difficult to see clearly.

A sudden knock on the bedroom door.

Fang Bai subconsciously looked at the bedroom door, and Fang Maozhou’s muffled voice sounded.

Fang Bai was secretly glad she hadn’t gone to get the dress herself.

Fang Bai looked up at Ji Yuning, who was standing by the door, and said, “Go open the door, I’ll change.”

Fang Bai held the clothes in her right hand and was about to close the door with her left hand covering her chest, but before her hand could move, the door was quickly pushed open from the outside.

With a “click,” the door closed tightly.

It was so fast, as if afraid of seeing something indecent.

Fang Bai leaned back slightly from the impact of the door, puzzled by Ji Yuning’s strange behavior.

When Fang Bai finished changing and came out of the bathroom after drying her hair halfway, she saw Fang Maozhou sitting on the sofa, and Ji Yuning standing to the side, looking down at her phone.

Hearing the door open, they both looked up at Fang Bai at the same time.

Ji Yuning put away her phone. “Aunt Wu sent a message asking what time we’re going back.”

Fang Maozhou glanced at Ji Yuning, wondering why the child didn’t tell him, then turned to Fang Bai. “Your foot is injured, so don’t go back. I’ll have Old Chen take you tomorrow.”

Fang Bai refused, “No need, Uncle Li will drive.”

Fang Bai turned her gaze to Ji Yuning. “Tell Sister Wu we’re going back now.”

Ji Yuning lowered her head. “Okay.”

Fang Maozhou opened his mouth, wanting to say something to persuade her to stay, but he knew that no matter what he said, Fang Bai wouldn’t stay overnight. Ever since he married Chang Suyao, Fang Bai hadn’t slept at home.

Fang Bai walked to the other side of the sofa and sat down. The band-aid hadn’t worked, so she prepared to try wrapping a bandage around it.

Both people in the room noticed Fang Bai’s actions. Fang Maozhou reached for the first-aid kit, but someone opened it faster and handed the bandage to Fang Bai.

Fang Maozhou: “…”

What’s wrong with this child?!

The bandage that appeared before her made Fang Bai look up in surprise.

Ji Yuning asked with a cold face, “Do you need help wrapping it?”

Fang Bai pondered for a moment, considering if there was another meaning behind Ji Yuning’s words.

Fang Bai hoped that being nice to Ji Yuning would elicit a response, but to be honest, she wasn’t used to Ji Yuning offering to help.

“…I’ll do it myself.”

Ji Yuning didn’t insist. “Okay.”

After Fang Bai took the bandage, Ji Yuning noticed a gaze fixed on her. When Ji Yuning turned her head, Fang Maozhou also turned his head away.

The room was quiet.

Three regular knocks sounded on the door.

Fang Maozhou said in a deep voice, “Come in.”

The person who entered was Chen Xiandong, but Uncle Li was also behind him.

Uncle Li was still the one Fang Maozhou had assigned to Fang Bai, so he was familiar.

Seeing that Chen Xiandong and Uncle Li’s expressions weren’t good, Fang Maozhou frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Chen Xiandong leaned forward slightly. “Sir, someone tampered with Miss’s car.”

Fang Bai had already tied the bandage. Seeing Uncle Li arrive, she was about to say goodbye to Fang Maozhou when she heard Chen Xiandong’s words, and she couldn’t help but be stunned.

“Uncle Chen, what do you mean by tampered with?”

“Butler Chen, let me explain.” Uncle Li stepped forward. “About fifteen minutes ago, I got out of the car to smoke. When I came back after smoking, I saw someone acting suspiciously near the car. When he saw me return, he quickly ran away. I had already gotten back into the car, but the more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt. Then I got out of the car and checked, and found that the brakes had been messed with.”

Brakes?

The way back was all downhill. If the brakes failed…

Then all three of them would die.

Fang Maozhou’s face darkened, his voice filled with anger. “What about the other cars?”

Chen Xiandong said softly, “We’ve already checked them all. Only Miss’s car was tampered with.”

Fang Maozhou slapped the sofa next to him. To attack his daughter right in front of him, they really had guts.

“Investigate.”

Chen Xiandong responded, “We’ve already asked to retrieve the surveillance footage from the parking lot. We’ll have the results in a moment.”

Fang Bai had already returned to her usual composure. She glanced behind her and saw Ji Yuning pursing her lips, seemingly also surprised by this.

Seeing that Fang Maozhou was about to say something, Fang Bai spoke first, “Xiao Ning is still here. Let’s not discuss this now. We’ll talk about it after we find out who did it.”

After speaking, Fang Bai looked at Chen Xiandong and asked, “Uncle Chen, are there any other cars available?”

Fang Maozhou was anxious. “You still want to leave?”

After something like this happened, why was she still arguing with him first?

“Yes,” Fang Bai said. “It’s just one car that’s damaged. Doesn’t the family have other cars?”

At the word “family,” Fang Maozhou was stunned for a few seconds before nodding quickly. “Yes, yes, we have several other cars. You can take whichever one you want.”

Fang Maozhou turned and instructed Chen Xiandong, “Old Chen, quickly go get all the car keys and give them to Bai Bao.”

Chen Xiandong: “…Yes.”

As expected, only the Miss could make the Sir lose control like this.

Ji Yuning glanced at Fang Bai, feeling that the woman was a bit too calm, as if she knew who had done it.

Seeming to notice Ji Yuning looking at her, Fang Bai turned her head. “Scared?”

Ji Yuning shook her head. “No.”

Fang Bai’s eyes curved into a smile, and she comforted softly, “That’s good.”

9:30 PM.

Several people who had attended the birthday banquet left early. Fang Bai asked Uncle Li to follow behind those cars.

The mood going down the mountain was completely different from when they went up. Fang Bai looked sideways at the scattered lights below, her expression calm. No one knew what she was thinking.

Uncle Li looked at the cars Fang Maozhou had sent to follow them in the rearview mirror and felt relieved. “Miss, who do you think would do such a bad thing?”

“I don’t know.” Fang Bai continued to look out the window. “The old man and the others will tell me after they find out.”

Uncle Li responded and didn’t ask any more questions.

The cars Fang Maozhou sent escorted Fang Bai and the others all the way home.

Wu Mei heard the sound of the car and hurried out of the house, just in time to see the car drive into the garage.

Wu Mei walked to the garage and asked Fang Bai, who had gotten out of the car, “Miss, why did you change cars?”

Fang Bai smiled. “Yeah, we had a flat tire, so we just drove a random car from the old man’s garage.”

Wu Mei didn’t suspect anything and nodded. “I see.”

Uncle Li’s living quarters were in a small room next to the garage. He usually didn’t enter the main house unless necessary.

When Fang Bai and the other two entered the house, the lights were bright. Wu Mei noticed that Fang Bai and Ji Yuning were wearing the same style of clothes. “Miss, did you and Xiao Ji intentionally coordinate your outfits?”

Fang Bai and Ji Yuning looked at each other.

The dresses were form-fitting, accentuating their slender waists and long legs.

Fang Bai was taller, her slightly curly hair falling around her shoulders, giving her a charming air.

Ji Yuning, on the other hand, exuded the innocence of a high school student. If a sweet smile appeared on her face, it might add a touch of sunshine.

Fang Bai smiled. “Yes.”

Wu Mei covered her mouth and laughed. “Miss, you two look like sisters standing together. You don’t look that far apart in age.”

Sisters?

Fang Bai raised an eyebrow at Ji Yuning.

“Meow~”

A cat’s meow sounded.

Fang Bai looked in the direction of the sound and said softly, “Beibei~”

Ji Yuning also looked over.

They saw a pure white kitten with a pink bow tie around its neck running towards them.

The moment Ji Yuning saw Beibei, the expression on her face relaxed. She slung the backpack she was carrying behind her, wanting to free her hands to hold Beibei.

But… Beibei ran to Fang Bai and stopped.

Fang Bai bent down and picked up Beibei, scratching it gently around its neck. She turned around and saw a hint of disappointment flash across Ji Yuning’s brows.

Ji Yuning hid it well, but Fang Bai still caught it.

Fang Bai bounced the kitten in her arms slightly and said softly, “Oh dear, is Beibei angry with someone? It thought coming home would be good, but then the person disappeared the next day. Is our Beibei very sad?”

Ji Yuning had already prepared to go upstairs, but hearing Fang Bai’s words, she paused and stopped to Fang Bai’s right.

Ji Yuning turned to Fang Bai, who wasn’t looking at her but was looking down and teasing the cat, as if those words were really meant for Beibei.

The white cat nestled in her arms, contrasting with the light blue of her dress.

Ji Yuning’s gaze slowly moved to Beibei, seeing Beibei staring at her with round eyes, seemingly silently agreeing with Fang Bai’s words.

“…”

After a five-second stare-down between the person and the cat, Beibei turned its head away.

It really seemed angry.

Ji Yuning wanted to raise her hand to rub Beibei’s head, but when she saw Fang Bai’s arm under Beibei, Ji Yuning lowered her hand and called out after a few seconds, “Aunt Fang.”

Fang Bai’s lowered eyelashes hid the smile in her eyes. When she looked up at Ji Yuning, her eyes were clear, feigning ignorance. “Hmm?”

“I…” Ji Yuning’s index finger curled, the words already at her lips but unable to come out.

She wanted to say: Can I hold Beibei?

Ji Yuning couldn’t say it.

This was completely asking Fang Bai.

After struggling for a moment, Ji Yuning half-clenched her fist. “It’s nothing.”

“Oh,” Fang Bai said. “I have something.”

Fang Bai handed Beibei to Ji Yuning. “Help me hold Beibei. I can’t walk while holding it.”

Wu Mei, hearing Fang Bai’s words, noticed that Fang Bai was wearing sandals and one of her feet was wrapped in a bandage.

Wu Mei quickly stepped forward to ask about it.

Ji Yuning held the cat, feeling the fluffiness in her arms, and looked at Fang Bai, who was being fussed over by Wu Mei…

A minute later, Ji Yuning turned and went upstairs with Beibei in her arms.