After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive - Chapter 41

The first half of Fang Bai’s sentence was the answer Ji Yuning wanted. As for the second half… Ji Yuning didn’t think too much about it.

However, the second half dispelled Ji Yuning’s doubts even more than the first, so she didn’t offer any explanation.

Fang Bai also turned her head away without speaking.

Soon, the two arrived at their room. The suite’s layout was similar to some apartments, spacious and bright, with wide views from the floor-to-ceiling windows. It had a kitchen and a large living room.

As Fang Bai was about to assign rooms, Ji Yuning had already entered the master bedroom with her suitcase.

Fang Bai: “.”

After a quick unpack, Fang Bai wasn’t in a hurry to go downstairs to play. Instead, she ordered lunch for Ji Yuning and Mu Xuerou and went to bed herself.

In the afternoon, Fang Bai slowly woke up.

She pulled the curtains closed, and the heavy fabric blocked out every bit of light. The dim room made it impossible to tell what time it was.

Her arm, feeling weak from sleep, propped her up on the bed as Fang Bai lazily sat up.

Pulling out her phone, it was 4:30 in the afternoon.

She had slept her fill and, miraculously, didn’t even feel hungry.

She wondered what Ji Yuning and Mu Xuerou were doing. Had they already gone downstairs to play?

Besides the hot springs, the hotel also had many recreational activities, attracting young people to enjoy them.

Fang Bai got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and slowly opened the room door. Stepping out, she saw Ji Yuning and Mu Xuerou, whom she thought had gone downstairs, sitting on the carpet in the living room, leaning over the long coffee table… doing homework?!

Fang Bai was stunned and could only sigh inwardly at their academic diligence.

Hearing the movement, Mu Xuerou looked up and asked, “Aunt Fang, are you awake?”

“Mmm.” Fang Bai smoothed her messy hair. “Why did you two bring homework on vacation?”

Mu Xuerou offered a sweet smile. “Before we came, I asked Yuning what to bring, and Yuning said to bring homework. I thought about it and brought mine too. It’s good to combine work and rest. My grades aren’t that great, so I can’t fall behind.”

Not that great?

If she remembered correctly, Mu Xuerou’s grades hovered in the top five.

Wasn’t that considered good?

Thinking about it, Mu Xuerou was probably comparing herself to Ji Yuning.

Fang Bai glanced at Ji Yuning. If she didn’t know what kind of person Ji Yuning was, Fang Bai would definitely think of her as just a bookworm who only knew how to study.

She had been out of her room for so long now, and Ji Yuning hadn’t even lifted her eyelids.

Fang Bai’s throat felt a bit dry from sleeping. She opened the refrigerator, took out two drinks, handed one to Mu Xuerou, and then took a room-temperature one from the side table for Ji Yuning.

The bottle stood in front of her book. Ji Yuning paused before writing down the calculated answer.

After the last physical exam, Fang Bai had told her that Liao Li advised her to avoid cold and spicy food, as this would effectively reduce menstrual pain.

Ji Yuning had been following that advice ever since.

After Fang Bai drank her drink and moistened her throat, she asked, “Then why don’t you go downstairs to play? You can write after you’re done playing.”

Ji Yuning’s gaze swept over the bottle, and she said calmly, “Waiting for you.”

Mu Xuerou chimed in, “That’s right. When I came up, Aunt Fang, you were sleeping. I originally wanted to ask Yuning to go downstairs with me, but Yuning said she wanted to wait for you, so we did our homework first. Now that it’s done, we can have fun these next few days without worrying.”

Ji Yuning looked at Mu Xuerou. She hadn’t said she *wanted* to wait for Fang Bai; she had said she was *waiting* for Fang Bai.

Fang Bai also noticed the word “wanted” in Mu Xuerou’s words. She raised her eyebrows in surprise and looked at Ji Yuning, their eyes meeting.

The latter looked away with an expression that said, “I didn’t say anything like that.”

It was completely different from how Mu Xuerou described it.

For some reason, Fang Bai suddenly found Ji Yuning’s cold face adorable, and a soft chuckle escaped her lips. “Then I’ll go wash my face to wake up, and then we’ll go downstairs.”

Mu Xuerou nodded obediently. “Okay, Aunt Fang.”

Hearing Fang Bai’s laughter, Ji Yuning’s fingers under the table curled up, and after a few seconds, she finally said, “Mmm.”

Fang Bai was about to turn around when she remembered something and asked, “Do you want to change clothes before going down?”

“Okay, I brought my clothes up.” Mu Xuerou turned to Ji Yuning. “Yuning, can I use your room?”

Ji Yuning lowered her eyes. “Mmm.”

After getting ready, Fang Bai came out of her room and saw that Mu Xuerou had already put away her homework and changed clothes, standing in front of the sofa.

Ji Yuning, however, was still sitting on the sofa in her casual clothes. Seeing Fang Bai come out, she got up to walk out.

This eagerness was unusual.

Fang Bai raised her hand. “Aren’t you going to change?”

Ji Yuning stopped and said flatly, “I don’t have any.”

“Ah? Yuning, didn’t you bring a swimsuit?” Mu Xuerou stepped forward in surprise. “But I only brought one, I don’t have an extra. How about we go downstairs and buy one?”

Fang Bai crossed her arms. “What about the one I prepared for you?”

Ji Yuning said naturally, “Forgot to bring it.”

Ji Yuning’s tone was frank, but Fang Bai didn’t believe her.

When packing, Fang Bai had specifically instructed Wu Mei to give Ji Yuning a swimsuit and tell her to bring it.

Now she was telling her she forgot it?

Perhaps the understanding in Fang Bai’s eyes was too obvious. Ji Yuning pursed her lips. “I can skip the swim—”

Before Ji Yuning could finish speaking, she saw Fang Bai smile at her and then turn back into her room.

Ji Yuning’s right eyelid twitched uncontrollably. Her intuition told her that what Fang Bai was going back to her room to do was not something she would like.

Sure enough, a dozen seconds later, Fang Bai came out holding a black swimsuit with a skirt.

Fang Bai stuffed the swimsuit in her hand into Ji Yuning’s arms. “Luckily, Auntie prepared an extra one for you, but I forgot to give it to you because it was in my suitcase.”

Ji Yuning held the smooth fabric, words caught in her throat.

Amusement flashed in Fang Bai’s eyes as she said to Ji Yuning, “Go put it on.”

Fang Bai said softly, “Xiao Mu and I will wait for you outside.”

Mu Xuerou continued to chime in beside her, “Yuning, hurry up and put it on.”

Ji Yuning: “…”

The swimsuits Fang Bai had prepared for both of them were on the more conservative side, looking like short skirts when worn.

After Ji Yuning put it on, apart from her dislike for the tight fit of the clothes, she couldn’t find any other fault.

Ji Yuning calmly walked out of the room after changing. The gazes of the two people in the living room couldn’t help but stop on her.

Facing their gazes, Ji Yuning remained expressionless throughout, not showing any shyness at being stared at.

Under Fang Bai’s careful attention to Ji Yuning’s diet, the current Ji Yuning had undergone a qualitative change compared to the Ji Yuning she had first met.

Her sallow complexion, although not as milky white as milk, had turned into a normal person’s color, looking very healthy. Her thin arms and knees, which had shown protruding bones, were no longer just skin and bones; they had gained some flesh.

Fang Bai snapped out of her thoughts about Ji Yuning’s changes, her gaze falling on the clothes she had chosen. She nodded and boasted, “My taste is still pretty good.”

The black color perfectly highlighted Ji Yuning’s composure, while the lace at the waist softened the coldness around her, adding a touch of gentleness that suited Ji Yuning’s age.

Once all three were ready, Fang Bai clapped her hands, her gaze sweeping over Ji Yuning and Mu Xuerou. “Let’s go, you two little beauties.”

Ji Yuning walked towards the door with a calm expression.

She had long been accustomed to the various praises that popped out of Fang Bai’s mouth, but the slightly curled fingers at her side betrayed her true thoughts.

On the other hand, Mu Xuerou, who was following behind Fang Bai, blushed instantly.

Aunt Fang… actually said she was beautiful… Clearly, Aunt Fang herself was the most beautiful among the three of them.

Fang Bai’s swimsuit was the same style as Ji Yuning’s, except Ji Yuning’s was black, while Fang Bai’s was a pure blue tone.

A circle of lace was inlaid at the waist. When Ji Yuning wore it, it was age-appropriate purity, but when Fang Bai wore it, it was the blooming of a blue enchantress.

Although a coat hid it, Mu Xuerou could still see the mature charm that only an adult possessed, something she envied but couldn’t attain.

The hotel’s private hot spring.

The pool was very large, enough to accommodate more than ten people. After Mu Xuerou and Fang Bai got in, the pool was still very spacious.

Sinking into the warm pool, she had the thought that her few hours of flight to get here were worth it. The fatigue from the journey was swept away, and she felt relaxed and happy.

In the dozen seconds Fang Bai closed her eyes to enjoy the feeling, she heard Mu Xuerou ask softly, “Yuning, aren’t you going to soak for a bit?”

Her eyelids flickered open, and Fang Bai immediately saw the person sitting in the rest area, head down, writing…

Writing?

When did Ji Yuning take out her homework?

Clearly, before they left the room, besides a bag for clothes, she hadn’t seen anything else…

Fang Bai scooped up a handful of water.

Mu Xuerou was still trying to persuade Ji Yuning, “It’s really comfortable! Come down and try it~”

“…” Ji Yuning raised her head slightly. “In a bit.”

Fang Bai smiled. Ji Yuning said “in a bit,” but she knew it was impossible.

The forgotten swimsuit was enough to prove that Ji Yuning didn’t want to soak in the hot spring.

She was afraid.

Afraid of the water in the pool.

Then why did she agree to come with her?

Ji Yuning seemed to be doing problems, but her mind had long wandered off.

She thought that after the incident at the Fang family’s place last time, she wouldn’t be afraid of this kind of pool, so when Fang Bai suggested going to the hot springs, Ji Yuning didn’t refuse. She wanted to verify her thoughts.

But thinking was thinking, and it was different from practice. To prevent exposing her weakness in front of Fang Bai and Mu Xuerou, Ji Yuning went downstairs before Mu Xuerou came to her room and scouted the area.

But the result was vastly different from Ji Yuning’s expectations.

Not only had the fear not lessened, it had even spread further. At the Fang family’s place, she still dared to walk by the pool, but now she stopped three small steps away from the edge of the pool, lacking the courage to continue forward.

Returning to the room, Ji Yuning stuffed the swimsuit that had been placed on top into the bottom of her suitcase.

Everything was prepared, but she hadn’t guarded against Fang Bai.

A soft “splish” of water sounded as someone got out of the hot spring.

The sound of footsteps gradually approached Ji Yuning.

Ji Yuning, lost in thought, didn’t hear it.

It wasn’t until the light above dimmed and a shadow fell over her book that Ji Yuning realized someone was standing beside her.

The next second, Ji Yuning’s wrist was grabbed by a wet hand, and a few drops of water slid down Ji Yuning’s arm.

Before Ji Yuning could lift her gaze from the book, the figure in front of her leaned down, bringing a sense of pressure.

Ji Yuning’s hand holding the pen suddenly tightened.

The figure seemed to notice Ji Yuning’s abnormality and tilted slightly, the pressure instantly disappearing.

A head leaned close to Ji Yuning’s ear.

“Don’t be afraid.”

The three words were spoken softly into her ear. Her ear couldn’t handle the warm breath and felt a little itchy, even starting to heat up.

Ji Yuning turned her head a second before her earlobe turned red, Fang Bai’s face inches away.

Don’t be afraid of what?

Because she had been soaking in the hot spring for a while, Fang Bai’s cheeks were slightly flushed, and water droplets clung to her neck and collarbones. Her thick, curled eyelashes were damp.

Seeing Ji Yuning look at her, Fang Bai’s eyes smiled, her voice soft yet with a firm strength that made people unconsciously trust her.

“Auntie will protect you,” Fang Bai said in a volume only she and Ji Yuning could hear, “just like last time.”