After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive - Chapter 44

Besides being famous for its hot springs, Qing City was also a popular tourist destination, ranking high in the number of National Day visitors compared to other cities every year.

Fang Bai didn’t want to stay in the hotel for several days, so on the way there, she told Ji Yuning and Mu Xuerou that she would take them around.

Therefore, before going to bed, Fang Bai set an alarm clock, afraid that the two early risers would sit in the living room waiting for her again like they did in the afternoon.

The next day, Fang Bai woke up with the alarm.

Slipping on her slippers, Fang Bai opened the bedroom door and subconsciously looked towards the place where Ji Yuning and Mu Xuerou had done their homework yesterday. She saw Ji Yuning wearing headphones with a book in front of her.

“…”

Okay, even with the alarm, she didn’t wake up as early as Ji Yuning.

Fang Bai first went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water. After coming out of the kitchen, she approached the sofa and glanced at the book – it was an English one.

Sensing Fang Bai’s approach, Ji Yuning took off one headphone and looked up.

Fang Bai’s hair was a bit messy from sleep, with a strand sticking up on top, swaying as she walked, looking playful.

However, Fang Bai didn’t notice her hair at all because she thought she had woken up early and no one would see her sleepy appearance when she went out to get water. Then, Ji Yuning had caught her attention, and she had long forgotten about her image.

Drinking her water, Fang Bai said to Ji Yuning, “I ordered breakfast. Send a message to Xiao Mu and tell her to come up to eat.”

Ji Yuning’s gaze rested on the top of Fang Bai’s head. “Mmm.”

Seeing Ji Yuning looking at her, Fang Bai thought it was strange. Usually, Ji Yuning wouldn’t even give her a second glance, but today she hadn’t looked away yet.

Fang Bai sat down opposite Ji Yuning. Opposite her was glass, and the reflection showed her shadow. Fang Bai saw her messy hair and raised her hand to smooth it down.

After tidying it, Fang Bai saw that Ji Yuning wasn’t looking at her anymore, and thought, “That’s more like it.”

Fang Bai would often find topics to chat with Ji Yuning about, and now was no exception. Drinking her water, she asked, “What time did you wake up?”

“6 o’clock.”

Fang Bai hummed in acknowledgment and continued, “What were you listening to?”

“Vocabulary.”

The water in the glass ran out, signifying the end of the chat.

Fang Bai put down the glass. “I’m going to wash up. Remember to open the door in a bit.”

Fang Bai was afraid Ji Yuning would be too focused on studying to hear the knock.

Ji Yuning: “Mmm.”

After Fang Bai turned away, Ji Yuning took off her headphones and paused her phone.

After a quick wash, Fang Bai changed her clothes.

Fang Bai didn’t think it took long, but when she came out of the bedroom, Mu Xuerou had already arrived, and breakfast was set on the table.

Seeing Fang Bai, Mu Xuerou immediately got up from the sofa and said obediently, “Good morning, Aunt Fang.”

Fang Bai squinted. “Morning~”

Then, Fang Bai looked at Ji Yuning, who was still studying, and said, “Let’s eat first.”

After the three sat down, no one spoke while eating.

Fang Bai was full after only half a sandwich. She pulled out a tissue and wiped her hands. “You guys eat slowly, I’ll go tidy up my things.”

Fang Bai’s bag had been left on the living room sofa. She went back to the bedroom and put the things she had brought out one by one into her bag.

Among them, three lollipops caught the eyes of the two at the dining table.

Looking at the candies being put into Fang Bai’s bag, Mu Xuerou looked at Ji Yuning and said, “Yuning, I just asked the waiter, and she said they sell candies on the third floor of the hotel’s children’s area. Do you still want to buy some? I can go with you after we eat.”

Last night, when Mu Xuerou returned to her room, she ran into Ji Yuning in the elevator, and Ji Yuning had asked her if there was a place to buy candies.

Ji Yuning instantly glanced at the sofa, saw that Fang Bai probably hadn’t heard their conversation, and her pursed lips relaxed slightly. “No need, I bought some.”

Mu Xuerou said, “Oh, that’s good.”

Ji Yuning nodded, and seeing Mu Xuerou eating slowly, she said softly, “You…”

Mu Xuerou looked up. “Hmm?”

Yesterday, when she met Mu Xuerou, Mu Xuerou had been flustered, her face very red, but at the time, Ji Yuning had things on her mind and only hurriedly asked Mu Xuerou a question. After hearing her say she was okay, she didn’t pay any more attention.

Now, thinking that Mu Xuerou was still thinking about what happened to her last night, Ji Yuning felt a bit guilty. She asked, “What happened to you yesterday?”

Mu Xuerou was taken aback, then seemed to remember something, her face instantly turning red. She quickly shook her head. “Ah? Ah, n-nothing.”

Fang Bai walked over at this moment and asked softly, “Nothing what?”

“N-nothing.” Mu Xuerou stammered, afraid that Fang Bai and Ji Yuning would continue to press her, so she quickly changed the subject. “Aunt Fang, you look really beautiful today.”

“Thank you, you look very nice too.” Fang Bai could tell that Mu Xuerou didn’t want to be questioned, so she politely replied.

Not forgetting to compliment Ji Yuning, Fang Bai turned her eyes to the other side, her smile mixed with tenderness. “Xiao Ning too.”

Fang Bai’s lips, carrying a faint smile, entered Ji Yuning’s eyes along with the light.

She had returned to her usual self, smiling brightly.

But for some reason, Ji Yuning always felt that the smile didn’t reach her eyes, that she was just smiling to make others think she was smiling.

“…”

After eating, the three rested for a few minutes before heading out.

After getting off the elevator, they slowly walked towards the lobby.

There were many people in the lobby. Besides a group surrounding the front desk doing procedures, there were also tourists like Fang Bai and them walking out to have fun.

Fang Bai glanced at the crowd. A figure flashed by, but Fang Bai didn’t pay much attention and continued walking forward after looking away.

Just as they walked past a corner and entered the center of the lobby, someone in the crowd Fang Bai had glanced at called out, “Aunt Fang!”

The voice was very familiar.

The three of them stopped in unison and looked towards the sound.

They saw… He Ziyan.

He Ziyan wore a light-colored short denim jacket, darker denim jeans, and a pair of pure white sneakers.

When He Ziyan walked up to the three of them, Fang Bai said softly, “Student He.”

He Ziyan snorted. “Aunt Fang, why didn’t you say hello when you saw me?”

Fang Bai raised an eyebrow, realizing that the familiar figure in the crowd was He Ziyan.

Mu Xuerou looked at the person in front of her and asked in confusion, “He Ziyan? What are you doing here?”

“Here to have fun.”

He Ziyan glanced at Ji Yuning, who was standing behind Fang Bai and had no reaction to seeing her. After receiving a cold look from Ji Yuning, He Ziyan turned back to Fang Bai. “Aunt Fang, are you going out?”

Fang Bai hadn’t even finished saying “Mmm.”

He Ziyan immediately asked, “Can I come with you?”

Clearly a young lady who always got what she wanted, she always acted like a well-behaved girl in front of Fang Bai.

Ji Yuning glanced sideways at He Ziyan, slightly parted her lips, and said to the person in front of her, “The car is at the door.”

Fang Bai responded and looked at He Ziyan. “You’re coming with us? Does your mom know?”

Mentioning Zhu Ping, He Ziyan’s expression wasn’t good. She pursed her lips and said, “I came to Qing City alone.”

He Ziyan kicked the ground with her toe and said in a tender voice, “My mom and dad are both busy with work. They gave me money and told me to have fun on my own. The people I used to hang out with all transferred abroad because of what happened at the Fang family’s place last time. I have no one to accompany me. I saw Mu Xuerou’s WeChat moments and saw you guys were here, so I specifically came to find you.”

“…”

Parents don’t care, no friends, and she came all the way to find them.

From any perspective, there was no reason to refuse.

Fang Bai sighed softly and asked, “Have you checked in yet?”

He Ziyan nodded. “All done.”

“Then let’s go.”

••••

When Fang Bai said she would take the two of them around Qing City, Mu Xuerou told Fang Bai that she had also done some research, so Fang Bai gave Mu Xuerou the role of a little tour guide.

Mu Xuerou blushed and took on the responsibility.

The car was arranged by the hotel, a sedan, meant for one person in the front and two in the back. But because of He Ziyan’s sudden appearance, three people had to sit in the back.

To make it easier for Mu Xuerou to communicate with the driver, Fang Bai let her sit in the front.

After Mu Xuerou got into the car, Fang Bai turned her head and saw the other two standing still.

Fang Bai frowned. “Why aren’t you getting in the car?”

He Ziyan looked at Ji Yuning. She also wanted to ask Ji Yuning this question.

Ji Yuning glanced sideways at He Ziyan and silently walked around to the other side of the car.

Fang Bai saw everything clearly.

Didn’t these two say they wanted to be friends? Why were they still unwilling to sit next to each other?

She opened the door on the same side, got in, and waved at He Ziyan. “Come on up.”

After getting in the car, Fang Bai told the driver to listen to Mu Xuerou’s arrangements entirely, and to go wherever Mu Xuerou said.

The driver readily agreed.

Listening to the conversation between the two in the front, Fang Bai slowly closed her eyes.

The alarm had been set too early.

She was so sleepy.

Fang Bai originally planned to just doze off for a bit, but as the car slowly started moving, she unknowingly fell asleep.

She didn’t know how long had passed, but at the same time the car stopped, Fang Bai happened to open her eyes.

Her intertwined eyelashes separated, and her slightly heavy eyelids lifted as the driver said a hearty “We’re here.”

But as soon as she opened her eyes, Fang Bai realized something was wrong.

She seemed to be… leaning on someone’s shoulder.

Fang Bai’s half-opened eyes closed again as she tried to remember… When she got in the car, Ji Yuning was sitting on her left, and He Ziyan was on her right, and her head was now tilted to the left—

Fang Bai sat up and looked to her left at the same time. Ji Yuning’s cool profile came into view.

Her gaze shifted downwards, and the smooth clothes on her shoulder were wrinkled.

Had she been sleeping?

Not only had she slept leaning on Ji Yuning, but she had also wrinkled Ji Yuning’s clothes?

It was a miracle that Ji Yuning hadn’t pushed her away.

Fang Bai cleared her throat softly and smoothed Ji Yuning’s shoulder with her hand. “I accidentally fell asleep, it wasn’t intentional.”

He Ziyan next to her snorted softly, then asked with concern, “Auntie, didn’t you sleep well last night?”

Yes, last night she had been so scared that she had no sleepiness at all, tossing and turning until dawn before finally falling asleep.

Mentioning last night, Fang Bai felt the body under her hand stiffen, and then she heard Ji Yuning say, “You can sleep.”

Fang Bai: “…?”

Ji Yuning said she could sleep, but Fang Bai took it as just words. She withdrew her hand and said with a light smile, “I’ve already slept enough.”

Hearing Ji Yuning being rejected, He Ziyan, who had already gotten out of the car, couldn’t help but chuckle. As Ji Yuning looked at her, He Ziyan held onto the car door and said to Fang Bai, “Aunt Fang, we’re here.”

Fang Bai didn’t notice that in the moment she bent down to get out of the car, out of sight, He Ziyan raised an eyebrow at Ji Yuning.

She was saying: So you didn’t want to bring me along at the hotel!

He Ziyan hadn’t known why she made that gesture towards Ji Yuning, but when they arrived at a bustling commercial street, He Ziyan understood.

They stopped in front of a small stall on the street.

Mu Xuerou said she wanted to buy some souvenirs and asked Fang Bai to help her choose.

Why not ask Ji Yuning or He Ziyan to choose?

Because of what He Ziyan had done to Ji Yuning before, Mu Xuerou didn’t really like He Ziyan. Plus, she wasn’t familiar with He Ziyan, so she didn’t ask her.

As for Ji Yuning… whatever she asked, Ji Yuning would only say “Mmm,” and Mu Xuerou felt she had no sense of aesthetics.

So Mu Xuerou could only ask Fang Bai, and Fang Bai was also very enthusiastic in giving Mu Xuerou suggestions.

The two of them were choosing seriously, while Ji Yuning and He Ziyan stood beside them.

In the distance, a tall, burly man was talking to the person next to him, and his friend was doing the same. Neither of them noticed that they were about to bump into someone in a few steps. Just as the man was about to hit Fang Bai, two hands reached out from beside Fang Bai. The slightly faster hand grabbed Fang Bai’s arm, pulling her away from the man about to collide with her.

The man didn’t even realize what had happened until he had passed.

Fang Bai, however, looked at the person who had suddenly pulled her into their embrace, a look of surprise and doubt flashing across her face. “What’s wrong?”

Ji Yuning released her hand and said calmly, “Nothing.”

Fang Bai: “…”

What did she pull her for if nothing was wrong?

Before Fang Bai could ask, Mu Xuerou called her away again. “Aunt Fang, does this look good?”

Fang Bai ignored Ji Yuning and continued to help Mu Xuerou choose.

The two behind her exchanged a silent glance.

Ji Yuning was the first to turn her head, her gaze coolly fixed on the person choosing ornaments.

He Ziyan stayed looking at Ji Yuning for a moment, then silently turned her head away.

Author’s Note:

Xiao He: Why does it look different after not seeing you for a day?