After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive - Chapter 45

After helping Mu Xuerou choose the items she wanted to buy, Fang Bai and the others continued walking forward.

Fang Bai wore sunglasses that covered most of her face, but passersby could still tell she was very beautiful. After all, the sunglasses only hid her face, not the charm emanating from her swaying figure.

Adding to that were the three people surrounding Fang Bai: two female leads and one female supporting character.

Their appearances were mostly set at sixteen or seventeen, and wouldn’t change much even when they became adults. It’s just that their faces still carried a hint of childishness now, but even so, their looks were hard to ignore.

Stopping and starting as they walked, the four of them were quickly becoming a new scenic spot on the street.

There were no other intentions, just admiration for their looks.

Ji Yuning acted as if she didn’t see the gazes cast on her, while He Ziyan was used to such attention. Neither of them reacted much, silently following behind Fang Bai.

Mu Xuerou, however, got so embarrassed by being looked at so much that her ears turned red, and she stammered when talking to Fang Bai because of the stares.

The four of them entered a small shop around the corner, which sold jewelry and various trinkets.

Fang Bai could see Mu Xuerou’s rabbit-like shyness even through her sunglasses, and the person who should have jumped out to protect her at this time—

Fang Bai glanced at Ji Yuning, who was looking at a shelf.

Fang Bai followed Ji Yuning’s gaze and saw a cat pendant.

“…”

Fang Bai walked over to Ji Yuning and asked softly, “Do you want it?”

Ji Yuning looked away. “No.”

Although she had seen it as soon as she entered the store, she hadn’t planned to buy it. It was just that the cat’s tail on the pendant was curled up, and she couldn’t help but look at it for a few more seconds.

Fang Bai didn’t ask again. That wasn’t her main purpose. With the conversation starter, Fang Bai casually moved closer to Ji Yuning.

The sudden closeness made Ji Yuning’s breathing slow down.

Then she heard Fang Bai whisper to her, “Do you want to go over and talk to Xiao Mu?”

It would be best if she could ease Mu Xuerou’s mood.

Ji Yuning glanced at Mu Xuerou, then said calmly, “Nothing to say.”

Fang Bai was speechless for a moment.

Thank goodness she was Ji Yuning’s career fan. If a CP fan transmigrated, they would probably be driven crazy by Ji Yuning, right?

Fang Bai shifted her feet, creating some distance between herself and Ji Yuning. “Then is there anything you want to buy?”

Ji Yuning paused and shook her head.

Fang Bai hummed in acknowledgment and turned to the other side. “What about Student He?”

He Ziyan had been speaking less since the beginning. Hearing Fang Bai call her, He Ziyan gave a small smile and said, “Nothing.”

Fang Bai noticed the change in He Ziyan’s mood, but she didn’t want to pry and could only hum softly before looking at Mu Xuerou.

Before Fang Bai could speak, Mu Xuerou immediately said, “I don’t need anything either.”

She had already bought enough, and… she wanted to leave here quickly now.

Fang Bai pushed up her sunglasses and turned around to say, “Let’s go, to the next scenic spot.”

Hearing this, Mu Xuerou was the first to follow behind Fang Bai and leave. He Ziyan glanced at Ji Yuning before also stepping out of the store.

Time was limited, and Mu Xuerou had only arranged three of Qing City’s more famous scenic spots. The four of them spent the whole day visiting them.

After eating outside, the four returned to the hotel.

This day was practically the day Fang Bai had exercised the most since transmigrating into the book. Being with the three kids made Fang Bai feel a lot younger.

Just a bit tired.

Back in the room, Fang Bai leaned against the sofa without even changing her slippers, her head tilted back against the backrest, closing her eyes to rest.

Her tilted chin elongated the visual of her neck, the resulting curve exuding an inexplicable attraction, causing Ji Yuning, who had unconsciously looked at her after changing her slippers, to linger her gaze on her for a few more seconds.

Her slightly parted lips breathed shallowly, and the eyes on her straight nose were lightly closed, her eyelashes curved and trembling.

After resting with her eyes closed for a while, the strength in Fang Bai’s limbs gradually returned, and the drowsiness began to disappear.

“Auntie.”

Ji Yuning called her.

Fang Bai lazily lifted her eyelids.

Ji Yuning stood by the sofa holding a glass of water. The moment Fang Bai opened her eyes, she handed the glass to Fang Bai.

Fang Bai was taken aback, then straightened up and took the glass. “Thank you.”

Ji Yuning said softly, “Mmm.”

Fang Bai put down the glass she had raised to her lips. “Is something wrong?”

Ji Yuning’s eyes darkened, surprised that Fang Bai could guess her thoughts.

What she didn’t know was that Fang Bai hadn’t even guessed; she had seen it at a glance.

Ji Yuning’s hand went into her pocket. When it came out, her half-clenched fist indicated there was something in her hand.

Fang Bai’s thumb rubbed against the wall of the glass, stopping when she saw this.

Could it be… she was going to give her candy again?

She hadn’t even eaten those three yet.

While Fang Bai was thinking, Ji Yuning’s hand had already opened in front of her.

Fang Bai stared blankly at a cat pendant lying in her palm, its eyes closed in contentment, its tail held high.

Fang Bai recognized it at once; it was the one Ji Yuning had been staring at in the store this morning.

“For me?” Fang Bai asked in surprise.

Ji Yuning: “Mmm.”

Fang Bai paused for two seconds before reaching out to take it. Her manicured nail accidentally brushed across Ji Yuning’s palm, creating a tingling sensation like a deliberate scratch.

Even though Ji Yuning quickly withdrew her hand, the itch in her palm lingered for a long time before dissipating.

Fang Bai held the ring and shook it, her gaze fixed on the little cat swaying with the movement. A laugh escaped her lips. “Why are you giving me this?”

Because it looks a lot like you.

Ji Yuning didn’t say these words. She paused for a moment and said, “Teach me how to swim.”

Fang Bai immediately put away the pendant, handed it back to Ji Yuning, and said decisively, “I don’t want it.”

Ji Yuning frowned slightly. “Why?”

Why didn’t she want it?

Why else?

She just didn’t want to teach her how to swim.

Fang Bai knew that Ji Yuning wouldn’t give her something for no reason; there must be a purpose.

But she couldn’t directly say she didn’t want to teach, otherwise Ji Yuning would hold a grudge again. After considering, Fang Bai said, “I can’t teach you well.”

Ji Yuning paused, realizing that Fang Bai had misunderstood her meaning.

It was no wonder. Her request came after Fang Bai’s question, making it seem like she was offering a gift to ask for a favor. The pendant was filled with the implication of benefit rather than coming from her sincerity.

Ji Yuning’s tone was a little rushed, but her voice was very steady. She said clearly, “This is a gift for you. It has nothing to do with asking you to teach me how to swim.”

Fang Bai raised an eyebrow, then retracted her hand after a few seconds.

Her heart softened again.

Just like yesterday, she hadn’t stopped being angry because of the three lollipops, but because of Ji Yuning’s attitude.

“I can teach you.”

Ji Yuning’s eyelid twitched.

“But you have to listen to me obediently.”

The word “obediently” had never belonged to Ji Yuning, but at this moment,

Ji Yuning looked away and said softly, “…Mmm.”

Fang Bai didn’t immediately take Ji Yuning downstairs but rested for an hour and a half.

When they arrived at the swimming room, there was only one person inside, but by the time Fang Bai and Ji Yuning walked to the edge of the pool, that person had gotten out and left.

The two walked to the edge of the pool.

“You’ve watched the videos, right?”

Fang Bai had found several swimming tutorial videos for Ji Yuning, all teaching from the basics.

Ji Yuning: “Mmm.”

Fang Bai nodded. “Then let’s start, from how to breathe—”

Half an hour later.

“Very good, relax your body.”

Fang Bai supported Ji Yuning’s abdomen with one hand and wrapped the other around her waist, supporting her on the other side. Unlike the other parts cooled by the pool water, the area touched by Fang Bai’s hand felt the warmth of her palm through the thin layer of swimsuit, scorching the skin.

Soon, Fang Bai withdrew her hand.

“You start now.”

The moment the warm palm left her, Ji Yuning felt a pinch on her waist.

Then she heard Fang Bai ask, “Xiao Ning, have you gained weight?”

There was flesh around her waist.

She remembered when she applied medicine to Ji Yuning’s back, her waist was still dry and thin.

Before Fang Bai could be proud of her child-rearing skills, Ji Yuning, who had just successfully swam a short distance, choked on some water.

The stress response that hadn’t appeared after entering the water now emerged. Ji Yuning’s hands involuntarily slapped the water surface.

Fortunately, Fang Bai was by Ji Yuning’s side. Seeing this, she quickly put her arms around Ji Yuning’s waist and pulled her up.

Out of instinct, Ji Yuning’s elbows rested on Fang Bai’s shoulders, and her hands hooked behind Fang Bai’s neck.

The two embraced without realizing it.

Hearing the suppressed cough beside her ear, Fang Bai gently patted Ji Yuning’s back. “Sorry, Auntie was just teasing you.”

She hadn’t expected Ji Yuning to react so strongly.

Before, no matter what she said, Ji Yuning would act as if she hadn’t heard, completely indifferent. So she hadn’t been careful with her words. How could it be…

Sure enough, no one liked being told they had gained weight.

The coughing continued beside her ear. Fang Bai moved her hand to Ji Yuning’s ear again, gently tugging at the earlobe twice. “Actually, you haven’t gained weight, you’ve just put on muscle, the healthy kind.”

A few seconds later, the coughing stopped.

Fang Bai looked at the person clinging to her chest. Her eyelashes were wet, her eyes were red from coughing, and her lips were pressed into a straight line.

For a moment, Fang Bai couldn’t tell if Ji Yuning was angry.

It was just that this expression was too common on Ji Yuning’s face.

Except for the red eyes, she hadn’t seen Ji Yuning cry before.

Fang Bai felt the earlobe she was pinching between her fingers turn red, the temperature gradually rising.

Fang Bai couldn’t help but tug it again.

On the second tug, a clear, cold voice filled with shyness entered Fang Bai’s ear.

“Let go.”

Fang Bai released her hand in response.

Without knowing when, Ji Yuning had withdrawn her arms from around her neck and shoulders. As soon as Fang Bai released Ji Yuning’s ear, the other girl backed away, distancing herself from Fang Bai.

Her face was wary.

It seemed like… she was annoyed?

“…” Fang Bai cleared her throat softly. “How about I hire a coach for you when we get back?”

She was just a half-baked instructor and couldn’t teach much. Up until now, it had all relied on Ji Yuning’s strong comprehension.

“No need,” Ji Yuning turned around. “Continue.”

Since Ji Yuning said no need, Fang Bai didn’t insist and followed behind Ji Yuning, protecting her.

The focused pair didn’t see a figure leave the doorway.

He Ziyan took two steps before her body froze. The scene of Ji Yuning and Fang Bai embracing floated into her mind again, impossible to shake off.

He Ziyan had already noticed during the day that Ji Yuning’s attitude towards Fang Bai had changed.

And it seemed, it wasn’t just a change in attitude—

He Ziyan looked down at her phone. The screen showed her WeChat Moments.

The one in the middle had been posted an hour ago. The friend’s name was tagged as Fang Bai.

[Fang Bai: Love it~]

Below the text was a picture of a cat pendant held in Fang Bai’s hand.

And He Ziyan was very familiar with that pendant. She had personally seen Ji Yuning take it off the shelf and buy it.

“…”

Mu Xuerou originally wanted to ask Fang Bai and Ji Yuning to go downstairs to the hot springs, but there was no response to her knocking, and no one replied to her messages, so she had to go downstairs first.

As a result, only He Ziyan was in the hot spring room. Because she didn’t want to be alone with He Ziyan, Mu Xuerou said she would go to the swimming room to see if Fang Bai and the others were there, but who knew He Ziyan would be even faster than her.

Mu Xuerou, wearing her swimsuit, walked towards He Ziyan. “Are Aunt Fang and the others inside?”

He Ziyan put away her phone. “Not here, didn’t see them.”

She would just pretend she didn’t see anything.

“Maybe they’re already resting.” Mu Xuerou hesitated and looked at He Ziyan. “Are you still going to soak in the hot springs?”

“You go ahead.”

After saying that, He Ziyan stepped away.

Author’s Note:

Xiao Mu: The hot spring is all mine!