After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive - Chapter 33

Only three students from Hu City No. 1 High School participated in the English competition: Ji Yuning, He Ziyan, and a senior.

Accompanying them was an English teacher who had been teaching for many years.

The school arranged for the four of them to take the high-speed train to Ping City. He Ziyan and the senior’s tickets were in the front row, but after the train started, He Ziyan went to the teacher and, using the excuse of wanting to discuss a problem with Ji Yuning, switched seats with the teacher.

During the seat change, Ji Yuning only glanced at her side and said nothing.

Instead, after sitting down, He Ziyan saw that Ji Yuning was wearing headphones and asked, “Did you buy headphones?”

Ji Yuning’s volume wasn’t loud, so she could hear the sounds around her.

“Mmm.”

He Ziyan clutched her bag. “Did you buy them yourself? Or did Aunt Fang buy them?”

Ji Yuning glanced sideways at He Ziyan, whose curled eyelashes fluttered, her face full of delicate arrogance.

Ji Yuning: “What do you want to ask?”

Ji Yuning’s tone was calm, but He Ziyan always felt that Ji Yuning saw through her true nature.

He Ziyan: “.”

“A question.” He Ziyan took out a workbook from her bag. “I have a few questions to ask you.”

He Ziyan was completely unaware of how flimsy her excuse was. After more than a year as classmates, He Ziyan, who was usually second in the class, was most unwilling to humble herself before Ji Yuning.

What had caused such a big change in He Ziyan?

A certain person’s face flashed through Ji Yuning’s mind.

Ji Yuning had already guessed that He Ziyan’s reason for coming to her side, claiming to want to get closer to her, was actually to get closer to Fang Bai.

That day, He Ziyan’s concern for Fang Bai didn’t seem fake but came from the heart…

While Ji Yuning was looking at the questions, He Ziyan took out her phone from her bag again, looking at the cat icon at the top of her WeChat list.

She opened it, and the last time He Ziyan and Fang Bai had chatted was three weeks ago.

The topic of their conversation revolved around Ji Yuning. After He Ziyan removed the parts about Ji Yuning, Fang Bai had said goodbye.

He Ziyan had been pondering for three weeks, thinking of various reasons, but she rejected them all. The only thing she could think of in the end was to try sending Fang Bai a message about Ji Yuning. Would Fang Bai reply then?

He Ziyan glanced at Ji Yuning, who was still looking at the workbook and hadn’t noticed her. He Ziyan’s fingers quickly tapped on the keyboard.

He Ziyan: [Aunt Fang, did you buy Yuning’s headphones for her? They’re very pretty.]

Just as the message was sent and before He Ziyan could receive a reply, Ji Yuning’s clear voice sounded in her ear, “Are we still going over the questions?”

He Ziyan put away her phone, looking slightly embarrassed. “Yes.”

He Ziyan really didn’t know how to solve this problem, so she listened very carefully when Ji Yuning explained it.

Two minutes later, the explanation was finished.

As Ji Yuning put her headphones back on and turned her head to look out the window while listening to music, He Ziyan put the workbook back in her bag.

She opened her phone, and there was a red dot on WeChat.

Fang Bai: [No.]

He Ziyan was delighted, knowing her attempt had been successful.

Ten seconds later, Ji Yuning’s phone vibrated. She opened it and saw that Aunt Fang had asked her: [Have you already gone to Ping City?]

Ji Yuning glanced at He Ziyan typing on her phone, understanding what was happening.

Ji Yuning: [Mmm.]

Aunt Fang: [Then good luck with the exam~]

Ji Yuning replied with an “Mmm.”

Fang Bai replied with a sticker made from a photo of Beibei. Ji Yuning silently saved it without replying to Fang Bai.

The exam lasted two days, and the four of them returned on the afternoon of the second day.

During the two days, aside from Ji Yuning contacting Fang Bai on the way to Ping City, Fang Bai hadn’t sent Ji Yuning any messages.

So, when Ji Yuning saw Fang Bai at the station exit after getting off the high-speed train, a slight surprise flashed in her eyes.

But Ji Yuning quickly understood the reason.

She had inadvertently glimpsed He Ziyan’s phone screen displaying the chat window with Fang Bai more than once. It must have been He Ziyan who told Fang Bai.

What was the female lead?

It was the kind of person who, even when thrown into a crowd, everyone would see at first glance.

Despite the bustling crowd at the exit, Fang Bai still saw Ji Yuning at the first moment.

Fang Bai walked up to Ji Yuning and said softly, “I’m here to take you home.”

As she spoke, Fang Bai took Ji Yuning’s wrist and walked towards the parking lot.

Ji Yuning’s gaze swept over Fang Bai’s hand, and she asked softly, “Aren’t we waiting?”

Fang Bai tilted her head in confusion. “Waiting for what?”

Ji Yuning: “…He Ziyan.”

Fang Bai thought Ji Yuning wanted her to take He Ziyan home and said, “Her driver is inside the station. I saw him just now, so she doesn’t need me to take her.”

That day, He Ziyan had suddenly sent her a message asking if the headphones Ji Yuning had were bought by her. Fang Bai guessed that the two of them must have gone to Ping City, so she sent a message to Ji Yuning. Who knew that after a few sentences, Ji Yuning had ignored her.

Thinking that Ji Yuning needed to study, Fang Bai didn’t contact Ji Yuning again, nor did she disturb He Ziyan.

Today, He Ziyan said they were going home, so Fang Bai felt relieved and chatted with He Ziyan for a bit, finding out what time they would arrive.

After Fang Bai finished speaking, she changed the subject and asked, “You can go straight home now, right?”

The Mid-Autumn Festival holiday happened to start today, and there were only a few hours left until school dismissal, so there was no need to go back to school.

Ji Yuning nodded.

Fang Bai: “Then let’s go.”

He Ziyan found Fang Bai’s figure through the crowded people and saw Fang Bai’s back as she led Ji Yuning away by the hand.

He Ziyan: “?”

So, Fang Bai asking her what time the high-speed train arrived was purely to pick up Ji Yuning?

After walking a few steps, Ji Yuning silently pulled her arm out of Fang Bai’s hand.

Fang Bai noticed, but didn’t pay much attention.

When they reached the parking lot, Fang Bai asked the person who got into the car as she fastened her seatbelt, “How was the competition? Do you think you can get first place?”

Ji Yuning didn’t know why Fang Bai was so confident in her. Thinking of the few people she had encountered in the examination room, she analyzed and said, “I’m not sure. There were a few people with very good English scores.”

Fang Bai said softly, “I believe in you. First place will definitely be yours.”

Putting aside Ji Yuning’s female lead aura, Ji Yuning’s English scores were very good in the first place.

Ji Yuning raised an eyebrow. “Aunt Fang is very confident in me?”

“Of course.” Fang Bai raised her own eyebrow. “Want to make a bet?”

Ji Yuning hadn’t intended to speak again, but looking at the eagerness in Fang Bai’s eyes, she was silent for a few seconds. “What should we bet?”

Fang Bai: “If you don’t get first place, you have to agree to one thing I ask. If you get first place, I’ll agree to one thing you ask.”

Ji Yuning: “…Okay.”

The book didn’t mention Ji Yuning participating in the competition. Fang Bai saying Ji Yuning would get first place was entirely out of trust for Ji Yuning. She was very much looking forward to this bet.

“When will the results come out?”

Ji Yuning: “Three days later.”

Which was the last day of the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Quite humane, not affecting the students’ happy holiday mood.

After Fang Bai hummed in agreement, she focused on driving.

Half an hour later, Ji Yuning realized the car was driving in the opposite direction.

Ji Yuning looked to the left, her gaze stopping on the navigation on Fang Bai’s phone screen.

The destination was a large supermarket nearby.

Ji Yuning calmly turned her gaze back to the window.

Ten minutes later, the car arrived at the supermarket parking lot.

Fang Bai pushed the cart and walked in front, Ji Yuning following a step behind Fang Bai.

They didn’t have to wear school uniforms for the competition. Ji Yuning was wearing casual clothes: a black short-sleeved shirt and light blue jeans, the shirt long enough to cover her hips.

Fang Bai was wearing a white off-the-shoulder shirt today, with the bottom tied in a bow at her waist, her waistline subtly visible with Fang Bai’s movements.

The black and white pairing, plus Fang Bai occasionally turning her head to look at Ji Yuning and say a few words to her, made them look like very good friends from any angle.

No one knew that the two people who appeared to be sisters on the surface had a river between their hearts.

The two of them first went to the snack area. In front of the dazzling array of shelves, Fang Bai stopped and said to Ji Yuning, “Take whatever you want to eat.”

Ji Yuning: “Nothing.”

The book didn’t mention whether Ji Yuning liked snacks or not. Fang Bai wasn’t sure what Ji Yuning wanted, so she could only let Ji Yuning walk ahead, planning to take whatever Ji Yuning’s gaze lingered on for a few seconds.

Who knew that after walking past three rows of shelves, Ji Yuning walked straight past them all, only glancing briefly without stopping for even a second.

Fang Bai: “…”

Why was it so difficult to buy snacks for the child?

Helpless, Fang Bai only took a few familiar snacks and put them in the cart.

She had thought Ji Yuning would accompany her through the supermarket in this “looking straight ahead” state, but when they reached the household goods section, Ji Yuning’s gaze clearly lingered longer on the notebooks and pens.

Fang Bai seized the opportunity. Without asking, she stepped forward and picked up the pens and notebooks that Ji Yuning had looked at a few more times and put them in the cart.

Meeting Ji Yuning’s gaze, Fang Bai chuckled softly. “Is there anything else you want?”

“No more,” Ji Yuning said.

Fang Bai hummed in agreement, tilting her chin towards the distance. “Then let’s go take a look over there.”

After Fang Bai finished speaking, she pushed the cart ahead, and Ji Yuning followed behind her again.

The two of them browsed through the deli section, the fruit and vegetable section, and the cold drinks section in order. During this time, Ji Yuning just watched Fang Bai buy this and that. Fang Bai would occasionally ask for her opinion and then continue shopping.

When Fang Bai carefully picked out fresh vegetables, the feeling she gave Ji Yuning wasn’t that of a pampered young lady who had never lifted a finger, but more like a down-to-earth… older sister next door.

Ji Yuning frowned. When had Fang Bai ever done these things?

Ji Yuning’s doubts were answered when they returned home.

As soon as they entered the house, Ji Yuning felt the silence.

Wu Mei, who usually greeted Fang Bai when she came home, didn’t appear even after she and Fang Bai had put the large bags of groceries on the dining table, and the rustling sound of the plastic bags hadn’t drawn Wu Mei out.

Ji Yuning looked towards Wu Mei’s room on the first floor. After waiting for a while and not seeing the door open, she asked, “Where’s Aunt Wu?”

Fang Bai shook her hand, which had turned red from being squeezed by the bag straps. “Went home.”

Ji Yuning: “Home?”

“It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival. I gave Sister Wu and Uncle Li a five-day holiday so they could go home and reunite with their families. They left the day before yesterday.” Fang Bai put the car keys on the dining table. “I’ve eaten most of the food in the fridge these past two days. Now that you’re back, it’s perfect timing to take you grocery shopping.”

Fang Bai’s words surprised Ji Yuning.

“You…” Ji Yuning asked, “Made the food yourself?”

Fang Bai looked up, seeing the other girl’s furrowed brows. “So surprised?”

Fang Bai smiled. “Tonight, let Auntie treat you to her cooking.”

Ji Yuning nodded slightly, her eyes darkening, and then asked, “When did Aunt Fang learn to cook?”

Fang Bai replied naturally, “During the time you were at school.”

Fang Bai said, “I was bored at home, so I watched tutorials online and learned how to do it.”

While taking out the items that couldn’t be refrigerated from the bag, Fang Bai asked Ji Yuning, “Do you want to take a shower? I saw you sweating.”

Ji Yuning: “Mmm.”

Fang Bai: “Go ahead, I’ll prepare the ingredients for dinner.”

Fang Bai walked towards the kitchen carrying the emptied bag, subconsciously saying, “But it’s just the two of us for dinner, so I probably don’t need to prepare too much.”

Ji Yuning’s turning motion stiffened.

Only… the two of them?

Author’s Note:

Xiao Ji: There’s a river between us. Do you know what river it is?