After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive - Chapter 32

The next morning, Wu Mei brought Fang Bai’s breakfast directly upstairs. At the dining table, only Ji Yuning sat alone, eating her meal slowly and deliberately.

Ji Yuning wasn’t addicted to her phone. Aside from checking information and social chatting, she wouldn’t look at it at other times. So, after she finished eating and went upstairs to study for a while, she realized Fang Bai had sent her a message during breakfast.

Aunt Fang: [Liao Li will pick you up in an hour to go to the hospital for a physical exam.]

Ji Yuning’s gaze narrowed, her warm fingers tracing the cool screen.

Ji Yuning: [Okay.]

The message had just been sent when a reply came the next second.

Aunt Fang: [Liao Li is in my room. Come down when you’re ready.]

Ji Yuning pursed her lips and paused on the chair for a few seconds before getting up and walking towards the closet.

Upstairs, Fang Bai’s room.

Liao Li’s arrival was sudden. Fang Bai hadn’t had time to change out of her pajamas, nor had she had time to get out of bed.

At this moment, Fang Bai was sitting on the bed wearing a black silk camisole nightgown, the lower half of her body covered by the quilt, her injured foot exposed.

Liao Li had come to the villa intending to sit in the living room and wait for Ji Yuning to come downstairs. Who knew that as soon as she entered, the nanny told her that Fang Bai was injured and asked her to go upstairs to take a look.

Seeing the nanny’s anxious expression, Liao Li thought Fang Bai had suffered a serious injury. But when Liao Li unwrapped the bandage and looked at the three-centimeter wound, Liao Li raised an eyebrow. “If I had come a little later, it would have healed on its own.”

Was she saying she was being melodramatic?

Fang Bai wiggled her toes. “I didn’t ask you to look.”

She had been lying comfortably in bed. It was Liao Li who insisted on seeing her wound as soon as she entered the room.

But Liao Li’s words made Fang Bai feel embarrassed, so she added, “It wasn’t a big deal in the first place, it just hurt too much.”

“Still so afraid of pain?” Liao Li raised her eyebrow slightly. “So many years, and you haven’t changed a bit.”

The original owner, like Fang Bai, was also very afraid of pain.

Despite saying that, Liao Li still carefully examined the wound and said to Fang Bai after a few seconds, “It’s fine. Just don’t get the wound wet, and it’ll be better in a few days.”

Fang Bai: “Hmm…”

Being stared at her foot, Fang Bai felt a little unnatural and wanted to pull it back under the covers, but as soon as she made a move, Liao Li touched the back of her foot. “Don’t move. I’ll reapply the medicine for you.”

As she spoke, Liao Li couldn’t help but complain, “I knew something would definitely happen when you brought Yuning back to that house. Your stepmother… your clear choice not to live in the Fang family is right. If you lived there, with your IQ, you wouldn’t last a few days.”

“…Why are you telling me this?”

Liao Li’s expression froze. If Fang Bai hadn’t asked, she wouldn’t have realized she had said those things to Fang Bai.

Why? She had seen through Chang Suyao’s complicated nature three years ago, but at that time, she never had the thought of saying these things to Fang Bai. If Lu Xia hadn’t persuaded her to remind Fang Bai, she could be said to have been completely indifferent to Fang Bai three years ago.

Liao Li considered her relationship with Fang Bai to be not good.

Liao Li chuckled. “What can’t be said?”

Fang Bai: “…”

There was nothing that couldn’t be said, but the person with low IQ and who wouldn’t last a few days was the original owner, not her.

Liao Li hadn’t closed the bedroom door when she entered.

This resulted in Ji Yuning coming up to the second floor and reaching the bedroom, only to see Fang Bai sitting on the bed, the quilt half-covering her body, giving off a sense of coy invitation. Liao Li was sitting at the foot of the bed, her head lowered in concentration as she wrapped a bandage around Fang Bai’s foot.

Perhaps the bedroom environment was too warm and intimate. In Ji Yuning’s eyes, the two didn’t look like a doctor and a patient, but more like “good friends” helping each other.

Ji Yuning remained silent, stopping at the bedroom door without moving.

The moment Ji Yuning appeared, a dark shadow fell into Fang Bai’s peripheral vision. Fang Bai also noticed the still figure at the first moment.

Fang Bai turned her head, her eyes meeting Ji Yuning’s.

But when she saw Ji Yuning’s attire, Fang Bai was taken aback. A white short-sleeved shirt and straight-legged suit pants were very ordinary clothes, but they didn’t seem like Ji Yuning’s style, giving off a very formal impression, as if she was going to meet someone important.

Fang Bai quickly regained her senses. It didn’t matter what Ji Yuning wore, as long as she liked it.

Fang Bai’s lips curved slightly, and she asked softly, “Why don’t you come in?”

Liao Li also finished bandaging Fang Bai’s foot at this time. She pulled up the quilt and covered Fang Bai’s exposed calf, saying, “Don’t cover this foot, let it breathe.”

After speaking, Liao Li turned her head and called out to Ji Yuning, who had walked in, “Yuning.”

Ji Yuning nodded and called out softly, “Aunt Liao.”

With Ji Yuning present, Liao Li’s voice instantly became as gentle as Fang Bai’s. “Fang Bai told you, right? I’ll take you for a physical exam.”

Ji Yuning hummed in agreement. “She did.”

“I won’t go with you,” Fang Bai looked at Ji Yuning. “After the exam, you can call Uncle Li to pick you up.”

Having accidentally spilled some medicine on her hand while applying it to Fang Bai, Liao Li wiped her hand with a wet wipe as she stood up and said, “Yuning is so old, wouldn’t she know that?”

Throwing the tissue into the trash can, Liao Li walked up to Ji Yuning. “Alright, go with Aunt Liao. Let her get moldy in bed alone.”

Fang Bai: “…”

She really didn’t like Liao Li’s mouth.

••••

1 o’clock in the afternoon.

Fang Bai received a call from Liao Li.

After answering, Liao Li asked directly, “Is Yuning home yet?”

Fang Bai had been in bed the whole time and hadn’t heard Wu Mei say whether Ji Yuning had returned. “I don’t know, I’m in my room.”

“Really going to get moldy in bed? You can do some light exercise, it’s fine.” Liao Li’s laughing voice came through the phone.

“It hurts as soon as I move.” After Fang Bai said that, afraid that Liao Li would tease her again, she changed the subject. “Are all the tests done? What were the results?”

Liao Li: “Some results haven’t come out yet, but the ones that have don’t show any major problems, just some minor issues.”

Fang Bai frowned. “What?”

Liao Li looked at the report in her hand. “Her stomach has some problems, and she’s a bit malnourished. She needs to eat more nutritious food later and less spicy and cold things. The rest is very healthy.”

“Then what’s with her period cramps?” Fang Bai asked.

Liao Li: “Normal physiological phenomenon.”

Fang Bai hummed softly, her worried heart easing.

There was a burst of noise on Liao Li’s end, and then Liao Li said, “Okay, a patient just came in. I’ll hang up now. Just send me a message when Yuning gets home.”

After Fang Bai said okay, Liao Li hung up.

Fang Bai held her phone, staring at the screen in thought for a while. Although she hadn’t left her room, she guessed that Ji Yuning hadn’t returned home yet.

Fang Bai didn’t ask Wu Mei either. After pondering, she tapped on the black profile picture in her contacts list.

Fang Bai: [Where are you?]

The message was sent, and Ji Yuning replied ten minutes later: [Outside.]

Fang Bai looked at the one emotionless word that said nothing and interpreted the question for herself: [Are you going to play outside?]

Ji Yuning: [Yes.]

Fang Bai thought for a moment and transferred some money to Ji Yuning.

Without waiting for a message from the other person, Fang Bai said first: [Have fun.]

She added at the end: [Receive the money.]

A commercial building in the city center of Hu City.

In a small office, Ji Yuning sat on a swivel chair, across the desk from a woman in a suit with a neat hairstyle and frameless glasses perched on her nose.

The woman listened to the phone that had just beeped twice. Her voice betrayed no emotion as she said, “Miss Ji, do you understand everything I just said?”

Ji Yuning lowered her eyes. “Yes.”

“Good, then I’ll continue,” the woman said in a flat tone. “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me.”

Ji Yuning nodded slightly. “Thank you.”

The woman’s expression didn’t change. She said coldly, “I’m just following Chairman Lu’s orders. Miss Ji doesn’t need to thank me.”

Ji Yuning didn’t speak again, only a cold sneer welled up in her indifferent eyes.

••••

Ji Yuning didn’t return home until 7 o’clock in the evening. After changing into slippers and stepping out of the entryway, Ji Yuning immediately saw Fang Bai on the living room sofa, holding Beibei and lounging comfortably.

Soft piano music played in the living room. Ji Yuning recognized it as a recording of Fang Bai playing before.

Speaking of which…

Ji Yuning glanced at the piano in the hall. It seemed like Fang Bai hadn’t played the piano in a long time.

Ji Yuning said “seemed like” because she didn’t know if Fang Bai played during the weekdays.

But in any case, the woman clearly used to play a little every day.

Hearing a sound other than the piano music, the person and the cat lazily half-opened their eyelids and looked at Ji Yuning at the same time.

Beibei smelled Ji Yuning’s scent and slowly stood up in Fang Bai’s arms. After stretching, it jumped out of Fang Bai’s embrace and trotted to Ji Yuning’s feet.

The little head rubbed against Ji Yuning’s foot, letting out a few soft meows.

Ji Yuning picked up Beibei in her arms. As she stood up, the piano music in the living room stopped, followed by Fang Bai’s voice: “Have you eaten? If not, go wash your hands. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Fang Bai’s reaction was completely different from what Ji Yuning had expected. She thought Fang Bai would question what she had been doing, but Fang Bai didn’t. Instead, Wu Mei, who came out of the kitchen, walked forward with a worried expression and asked, “Xiao Ji, where have you been? Why are you so late getting back?”

Ji Yuning stroked Beibei’s fur. “Nowhere in particular.”

Seeing that Ji Yuning didn’t seem to be in any trouble, Wu Mei said kindly, “Don’t play so late next time. Come back quickly before it gets dark. It’s not safe for a young girl to be outside alone.”

Ji Yuning responded, “I know.”

Wu Mei still had dishes cooking in the pot and turned back to the kitchen after saying a few words to Ji Yuning.

Only Fang Bai and Ji Yuning remained in the living room.

Beibei jumped from Ji Yuning’s arms to the floor and returned to Fang Bai’s side to lie down in a few quick steps.

Just as Ji Yuning was about to go to the kitchen to wash her hands, Fang Bai stopped her and said, “The person from yesterday has been caught.”

Ji Yuning turned around, her expression a silent question.

“The old man told me that the person said someone gave him 500,000 yuan to tamper with the car.”

Fang Bai hadn’t originally intended to tell Ji Yuning about this, but Ji Yuning’s unusual behavior today made Fang Bai realize that not telling her would only make Ji Yuning less vigilant.

She couldn’t control Ji Yuning’s physical and mental freedom, nor could she send people to investigate what Ji Yuning was doing, so she couldn’t guarantee Ji Yuning’s absolute safety.

She was just a minor cannon fodder character in the book. Compared to the promising female lead, her protective instincts were insignificant.

Telling Ji Yuning the truth was the right thing to do.

Fang Bai considered her words, met Ji Yuning’s calm eyes, and said, “That person said the person who called him had a very obvious Beijing accent.”

Seeing Ji Yuning’s brows furrow slightly, Fang Bai knew that Ji Yuning already had a guess in mind.

After hinting, Fang Bai took the matter onto herself, continuing, “Maybe the old man offended someone in his business dealings, and they wanted to use me to retaliate against him. Although I’m the target, you should also be careful when you’re out.”

Ji Yuning half-lifted her eyelids. “Okay.”

Sunday.

Fang Bai didn’t wait for Wu Mei to bring her breakfast in the morning and slowly went downstairs herself.

There was no one at the dining table, only a used bowl was left on it.

Fang Bai walked to the kitchen, just as Wu Mei heard the sound and turned around.

Fang Bai asked, “Has Xiao Ning eaten?”

“Yes, she ate and went out again with her backpack.”

Fang Bai’s movement of pulling out a chair slowed down. “Went out again?”

Wu Mei nodded. “Yes, she said she was going to the library to study with a classmate.”

Fang Bai sat down and said softly, “I see.”

Like a switch had been flipped, for three consecutive weeks, Ji Yuning went out every Saturday and Sunday under the guise of going to the library to study, returning home around 6 or 7 o’clock in the evening each time.

At first, Wu Mei would ask Ji Yuning a few more questions, but gradually, she stopped asking and only reminded her to be safe.

From beginning to end, Fang Bai didn’t say much besides transferring money to her, only occasionally telling Ji Yuning to be careful, without asking anything else.

Although Fang Bai still took Ji Yuning to school every Monday and picked her up on Friday, their communication was noticeably less than before.

They both had their own thoughts and things to do.

This day, Fang Bai, as usual, stood under a parasol in their usual spot to pick up Ji Yuning after school.

After several weeks, they had formed a tacit understanding of where Fang Bai would stand. When Ji Yuning walked out of the school gate, she immediately looked towards Fang Bai’s location.

A light green dress, the hem fluttering in the breeze, made her look like a willow branch swaying in the late spring wind, full of budding life.

Ji Yuning maintained her pace, calmly walking towards Fang Bai.

But someone was faster than Ji Yuning, flashing past her and jogging up to Fang Bai with a smile.

Ji Yuning paused, watching He Ziyan greet Fang Bai with a beaming face. He Ziyan said something to Fang Bai, and Fang Bai nodded with a smile on her lips.

Seeing Ji Yuning walk over, Fang Bai asked He Ziyan, “Has your driver arrived?”

He Ziyan was about to say no, that she needed Fang Bai to take her. But before she could speak, a man’s voice came from the side, “Miss, Madam sent me to pick you up.”

He Ziyan’s driver quickly received a glare from his young lady, but afraid the woman opposite would see, the glare wasn’t very obvious.

But the driver still saw it.

Similarly, Ji Yuning also noticed it.

Fang Bai turned her head to look at the driver and said softly to He Ziyan, “Then goodbye.”

He Ziyan pouted. “…Goodbye, Aunt Fang.”

Turning to leave, He Ziyan glared at Ji Yuning again. Don’t think she didn’t see it. The way this person looked at her just now had an apologetic smile. “Goodbye, Ji Yuning.”

Ji Yuning narrowed her eyes. “Goodbye, He Ziyan.”

Getting into the car, Fang Bai held the steering wheel, thinking about how He Ziyan had rushed over to her just now, saying she was going to a competition and asking her for encouragement.

Fang Bai remembered that Ji Yuning and He Ziyan were going to participate in a competition together and asked, “He Ziyan said you’re going to the competition next week. What day are you going?”

Ji Yuning sat in the passenger seat holding her backpack, her gaze fixed on the license plate of the car in front. “Thursday and Friday.”

“Oh,” Fang Bai asked, “Where is the exam being held?”

Ji Yuning: “Ping City.”

Ping City… Fang Bai repeated silently.

The next city over, not far, a three-hour drive.

Fang Bai turned the steering wheel, and the car rounded a bend. “Going straight back to school after the exam?”

“Going home.” Anticipating that the woman would ask more, Ji Yuning said, “It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.”

The school would take the students back to the city, and then the students would go home on their own.

Mid-Autumn Festival?

Fang Bai sighed, time really flew by.

Fang Bai: “Three days?”

Ji Yuning: “Yes.”

Fang Bai didn’t ask any more questions.

Ji Yuning also didn’t speak proactively, but held her phone, seemingly chatting with someone.

But those few sentences were already the most they had spoken in the past few weeks.

Night.

After Ji Yuning finished a difficult math problem, her lips felt dry and she wanted to drink water, only to find that the water glass at her hand was empty.

Ji Yuning stretched her neck, hearing two soft cracks from her bones. She picked up the glass and got up to go downstairs to pour water.

Going from the attic to the first floor could be considered exercise.

Ji Yuning pulled open the door, but before she could step out of her room, she bumped into Fang Bai walking up the last flight of stairs.

Fang Bai looked at the water glass in Ji Yuning’s hand, then raised the glass and a small plate of cookies in her own hand, saying, “I came to bring you milk.”

After Ji Yuning’s stomach exam showed minor issues, Fang Bai would always bring different kinds of small cookies with the milk each time to prevent Ji Yuning from drinking milk on an empty stomach.

Fang Bai stood at the door and said to Ji Yuning that she was coming in. As Ji Yuning stepped aside, Fang Bai walked past her.

After placing the water glass and plate on Ji Yuning’s desk, Fang Bai walked back to the door. She didn’t rush to leave but asked, “Are you still going out to study these next two days?”

The distance between Fang Bai’s standing position and Ji Yuning was less than forty centimeters.

Very close.

Close enough for Ji Yuning to smell that familiar faint fragrance again.

Ji Yuning held her breath. “No.”

“I thought so too. You have a competition next week, so it’s better to study well at home for two days.”

Ji Yuning noticed a flaw in Fang Bai’s words: How was studying at home better than studying outside?

Although her going out wasn’t really for studying.

But before Ji Yuning could figure it out, the sudden weight on her head pulled her thoughts away.

Fang Bai hadn’t rubbed Ji Yuning’s head in a long time. Since her foot injury, she had asked Wu Mei to deliver milk to Ji Yuning. Even though she had delivered the milk herself last week, due to their lack of communication, Fang Bai wasn’t comfortable making such intimate gestures.

Fortunately, they had exchanged a few words in the car today, easing the tension between them.

Fang Bai’s hand rubbed Ji Yuning’s head. The hair in her hand was a bit stiffer than before, but the feel hadn’t changed. Compared to Beibei’s fur, the feeling Ji Yuning gave Fang Bai was also very nice.

Soft and making her want to keep touching it.

Fang Bai said softly, “Drink the milk and go to bed early.”

The soreness in Ji Yuning’s spine intensified with the repeated rubbing of Fang Bai’s hand on her head, making her stiffen for a few seconds.

Worried that rubbing further would make Ji Yuning angry, Fang Bai reluctantly withdrew her hand.

Looking down and seeing the unnaturalness flash across Ji Yuning’s face, Fang Bai chuckled softly, her eyes curving into a smile. “Good night.”