After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive - Chapter 43

Half an hour later.

Ji Yuning stood at the door, her hand knocking twice on the wood-grey surface.

The knock wasn’t loud, as if afraid a sudden sound would startle the person inside, but more like a cautiousness towards an unfamiliar territory.

The person inside didn’t seem to be busy with anything else. Two breaths after the knock, the door was opened from within.

Ji Yuning’s lowered gaze first saw a pair of feet in black slippers. The tender white and slightly red toes stood out starkly against the dark background.

Fang Bai, having changed out of her swimsuit, wore a pure white thin strap dress. It had a round neck and reached her calves. The fabric had a nice drape, was slightly fitted, and clearly defined her waist and hips.

Seeing it was Ji Yuning, Fang Bai released the doorknob and turned to walk towards her room.

She didn’t make a sound during this time, and the corners of her lips, which usually held a smile, were not upturned.

She was truly angry.

Ji Yuning stared at Fang Bai’s back, her voice low and soft. “Auntie.”

The figure in front of her paused for a moment, not turning to look at her, nor stopping her steps, but the direction she was walking changed.

Fang Bai sat on the sofa, lifted her eyelids to look at the person standing motionless at the door, and said, “What is it?”

Her tone was very calm, very flat. The usual cat-like flick at the end of her sentences was gone.

After Fang Bai finished speaking, Ji Yuning stepped into the room and silently approached the sofa.

Fang Bai crossed her legs, sitting sideways on the sofa, her arm casually draped over the edge. She had taken a shower and used the shower gel she brought from home, which faintly exuded a fragrance. Her hair was also dried, falling softly over her shoulders and neck, her collarbones half-hidden by her hair.

She exuded a lazy atmosphere, as if unwilling to say another word.

If it weren’t for the thought that Ji Yuning didn’t have a room key, Fang Bai would have locked herself in her room after showering instead of sitting on the sofa waiting for Ji Yuning to return.

Fang Bai wasn’t tired or sleepy, just temporarily unsure how to face Ji Yuning.

From the swimming room to the room, Fang Bai’s heart still held lingering fear.

The pool was clear and large.

Ji Yuning’s body had shrunk into a small ball, like a black dot adorning the bottom of the pool, without any signs of life, just for decoration.

At that moment, Fang Bai’s heartbeat had stopped abruptly.

It felt as if she was the one soaking in the water.

Even after pulling Ji Yuning out of the pool, Fang Bai’s heart, which had been pounding wildly from shock, hadn’t calmed down.

At that moment, she was angry.

Angry at Ji Yuning for disobeying and going into the water without permission, angry at herself for being so engrossed in the phone call that she hadn’t noticed, angry that she knew Ji Yuning was afraid but still wanted to teach her how to swim.

After the anger subsided, there was a wave of lingering fear.

Even after returning to the bedroom and showering, Fang Bai’s hands were still trembling.

Ji Yuning lowered her eyes to look at the person on the sofa, pursed her lips, and withdrew her hand from her coat pocket.

Then she opened her hand in front of Fang Bai.

Fang Bai subconsciously glanced at the hand in front of her, her gaze falling on the two fruit-flavored lollipops lying in the palm.

“…?”

Fang Bai’s gaze paused.

Before Fang Bai could understand what this scene meant, Ji Yuning’s low voice sounded from above, “Sorry, I scared you.”

Fang Bai was stunned again.

Ji Yuning was actually apologizing to her?

Fang Bai raised her head, her jawline tightening, the surprise and confusion in her eyes captured by Ji Yuning.

Relative silence.

Fang Bai stared at Ji Yuning’s face for a while, not seeing any sinister or disgusted expression in the other girl’s eyes, just the usual calmness. Then, Fang Bai half-lowered her eyelids and looked at the hand in front of her.

The hand held in mid-air seemed to feel no soreness, waiting silently for Fang Bai to accept.

The apology seemed genuine.

She just didn’t know why Ji Yuning had suddenly changed her attitude, or if she was acting again.

Fang Bai raised an eyebrow, her tone deliberately sarcastic. “You know that too?”

Ji Yuning, as if not hearing the sarcasm, nodded slightly. “Mmm.”

Ji Yuning’s response was neither cold nor warm, as if saying, “It’s okay if you forgive me or not, I’m just going through the motions.”

Fang Bai chuckled in exasperation. Surprisingly, the stuffiness in her chest dissipated. She pulled her legs in and straightened her back slightly. “You think two candies can solve this?”

She wasn’t a three-year-old.

“…”

As Fang Bai spoke, the hand that had been held in front of her was withdrawn.

Fang Bai’s heart skipped a beat.

Before Fang Bai could label Ji Yuning with the two-character idiom “wooden-headed,” she saw Ji Yuning take out something else from her pocket.

A cola-flavored lollipop.

Fang Bai: “…”

Wooden head!

Along with the two fruit-flavored ones, it was presented to Fang Bai again. Ji Yuning said calmly, “I haven’t seen you eat this flavor.”

So she was afraid Fang Bai wouldn’t like it, so she hadn’t prepared it for her.

As for buying it, it was because the boss said cola was the most popular flavor.

“.” Fang Bai wanted to ask Ji Yuning where she got the candies. After all, Ji Yuning didn’t like sweets and wouldn’t possibly buy two lollipops specifically for her.

But thinking that she was still angry, Fang Bai didn’t speak or take them. She just put her legs down and got up, saying, “Brushing my teeth.”

Fang Bai pretended to go back to her room. Just then, the screen of the phone she was holding lit up. Fang Bai raised it to look. Someone had sent her a WeChat message.

Ji Yuning also looked at the phone, but what she saw were the cracks on the screen and the broken corners.

The hand holding the candies clenched slightly, then dropped to her side.

Fang Bai was replying to the WeChat message and was about to walk away when Ji Yuning’s voice stopped her.

“Phone—” Ji Yuning stood up straight, looking at Fang Bai’s profile as she spoke. “I’ll get it fixed tomorrow.”

“No need,” Fang Bai glanced at Ji Yuning. “I have a spare.”

She had been using this phone for quite a while, and Fang Bai had been too lazy to change it. Today had given her an opportunity.

Ji Yuning’s hand holding the candies moved back slightly. “I’ll buy you a new one.”

Fang Bai was already about to return to her room. Hearing Ji Yuning’s words, she stopped and turned to face Ji Yuning’s eyes. “You’re going to buy me a new one?”

Fang Bai asked, “Where will you get the money?”

Ji Yuning looked away. “…Saved it.”

Fang Bai crossed her arms over her chest. “Saved it from what?”

“Pocket mon—” Ji Yuning stopped halfway through her sentence.

Fang Bai’s hands fell to her sides. She walked up to Ji Yuning, chuckled softly, and said, “I give you money to eat, not to spend on me.”

She knew Ji Yuning hadn’t spent that money.

However, the fact that Ji Yuning intended to buy her a new phone suddenly made Fang Bai feel less angry. After all, she also had some responsibility. There was no need to be angry with a child.

Fang Bai glanced at Ji Yuning, leaned down slightly, grabbed Ji Yuning’s wrist that was hidden behind her, and took the three lollipops she was holding.

Ignoring Ji Yuning’s stiff hand, Fang Bai said, “I quite like cola flavor. Remember to buy two more next time,” before turning and entering the bedroom.

The living room was quiet, the lights a bit glaring.

The spot where Fang Bai had grabbed her wrist still held residual warmth. Ji Yuning frowned and felt it for a moment before looking down.

There were no marks left on her wrist where Fang Bai had grabbed her.

The sound of a door opening creaked, and Ji Yuning looked over.

She saw Fang Bai leaning against the doorframe, pointing a finger somewhere. “The milk is on the kitchen counter. Drink it before you go to sleep.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the door closed again.

After staring at the closed door for a few seconds, Ji Yuning walked towards the kitchen.

The cup containing milk that had been mentioned sat steadily on the counter. Ji Yuning picked it up and took a sip.

The milk was warm.

It had been heated.

She didn’t usually like the sweetness of milk and always drank it as quickly as possible.

But the first sip she just took didn’t feel cloying at all.

Author’s Note:

Using candy to coax her wife, is there anyone more “pure” than Xiao Ji?!