After Transmigrating Into A Cannon Fodder Character, I Only Want To Survive - Chapter 68

Realizing that Ji Yuning was about to come of age, Fang Bai only felt flustered on the first day. The closer it got to Ji Yuning’s birthday, the more stable Fang Bai’s emotions became.

It wasn’t that she had become indifferent to life and death, but rather that she held the mindset of “aren’t there still half a year left?” feeling that she could still let herself linger for a few more days and wasn’t in a hurry these days.

A few more days passed in the blink of an eye, and only three days were left until Ji Yuning’s birthday.

Fang Bai was busy with work, and Uncle Li had been picking up Ji Yuning from school these past few days, which gave Fang Bai an indescribable feeling of “incompetence.”

On this afternoon, Fang Bai finished her work early. After calculating the time, she drove to the school gate.

Fang Bai’s timing was perfect. Just as she stood in her usual spot, the school gate opened, and students poured out one after another.

Fang Bai was beautiful and had a good temperament. After standing at the school gate a few times, her name spread throughout the school. Many students were already familiar with her, and they knew that the person she was picking up was Ji Yuning, the top student in her senior year who was pursued by many.

She didn’t know when it started, but when Ji Yuning’s name spread through the school again, it was no longer those dirty, contemptuous insults, but rather rumors of a piano princess, a cool and aloof school beauty, the top student, etc. All the nicknames acknowledged her excellence.

Fang Bai would occasionally hear these things from some people, and at those times, she felt proud.

When several students who knew Fang Bai walked out of the school gate and saw Fang Bai, they all subconsciously looked behind her, searching for Ji Yuning’s figure, but they themselves were quickly swept away by the crowd, unable to find anyone.

No matter how many people passed by, no matter how noisy the environment, Fang Bai stood there, doing nothing, always attracting many gazes.

The moment Mu Xuerou saw Fang Bai, her eyes brightened. Not noticing the stiffness of the person beside her, she grabbed her hand and trotted up to Fang Bai.

“Aunt Fang!” Because she hadn’t seen Fang Bai for a long time, Mu Xuerou’s tone was full of joy, her soft voice like it was coated in honey.

Fang Bai’s eyes involuntarily narrowed slightly. After Mu Xuerou stopped in front of her, she said softly, “Xiao Mu, long time no see~”

Then Fang Bai’s gaze shifted to the person Mu Xuerou had dragged along, her tone unchanged. “Xiao He, long time no see.”

Since that birthday, Fang Bai hadn’t run into He Ziyan, as if someone was deliberately avoiding her.

He Ziyan was silent for a few seconds before finally letting go of the resentment she had held during this time. “Aunt Fang.”

Fang Bai nodded and then looked at Mu Xuerou. “Why isn’t Xiao Ning with you?”

Mu Xuerou said obediently, “Mmm, Teacher He called her to the office. She was afraid you’d be waiting, so she told us to come out first.”

He Ziyan looked at Mu Xuerou. When had Ji Yuning said she was afraid Fang Bai would be waiting anxiously? Hadn’t she suggested coming out first to tell Fang Bai, and Ji Yuning had just said “Mmm”?

Glancing at Fang Bai’s obviously pleased expression, He Ziyan turned her head and didn’t say anything, but muttered in her heart that Mu Xuerou was indeed Ji Yuning’s good friend.

After smiling slightly, Fang Bai said, “Did you two make plans for what to do?”

“Yes,” Mu Xuerou said. “Yuning is going to the competition tomorrow and won’t be back for several days. We wanted to celebrate her birthday tonight in advance.”

Fang Bai was taken aback. “Competition?”

Fang Bai’s obviously clueless look also surprised Mu Xuerou, and even He Ziyan looked at Fang Bai.

“Didn’t Yuning tell you?” Mu Xuerou asked.

Fang Bai’s expression softened, and the smile in her eyes didn’t reach the depths. “No.”

He Ziyan saw through Fang Bai’s forced smile. Although she felt a bit jealous, she couldn’t bear to see Fang Bai like this and explained, “It’s a provincial competition. She has to go for a few days of training first, then the exam.”

“Is it the same as the last one?” Fang Bai remembered the last competition, but it didn’t seem like they had mentioned training.

“The competition types are a bit different, but the nature is similar,” He Ziyan said. “The difference is that this time, if the results are good, there will be a direct recommendation for university.”

Fang Bai’s eyelashes lowered. “I see.”

“That’s right, Aunt Fang. I think Yuning is so amazing. Only she and a classmate from the next class were selected by the school,” Mu Xuerou chimed in.

Fang Bai chuckled softly. “When was it decided?”

Mu Xuerou thought for a moment. “Teacher He mentioned it a month ago.”

The smile on Fang Bai’s face faded a bit.

It had been mentioned a month ago, and she only found out today, and not even from Ji Yuning.

At this moment, Fang Bai felt an indescribable feeling in her heart. Was it the child hiding something from her guardian? Or—

Fang Bai’s emotions stopped abruptly, and she smiled sarcastically in her eyes.

What child and guardian?

There never had been.

It was just a lie she had woven to get closer to Ji Yuning. She hadn’t expected Ji Yuning not to fall for it, while she herself had enjoyed playing the part and even gradually gotten into character.

There were still students passing by, discussing games, exploring topics, or talking about anime.

The noisy sounds covered up Fang Bai’s sudden silence.

But Fang Bai’s abnormality was still noticed. He Ziyan opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say. Seeing Mu Xuerou about to say something else to Fang Bai, He Ziyan had no choice but to tug at Mu Xuerou’s clothes, changing the subject when Mu Xuerou looked at her.

If she continued, the “wingman” title she had just given Mu Xuerou would be revoked.

Although that was what she wanted to see, compared to that, she couldn’t bear to see Fang Bai sad.

Those things were better left for the people involved to resolve.

Thinking that there were still two little ones beside her, Fang Bai eased her own mood and asked, “Then what are you three kids planning to do?”

Mentioning this, Mu Xuerou smiled and said to Fang Bai, “Nothing much, just wanted to have dinner first, and then go to…”

When Ji Yuning walked out of the school gate with her backpack, she saw the three people gathered in a circle not far away, each with a smile on their face.

Fang Bai was the first to notice Ji Yuning because she was facing the school gate.

While chatting with the two little ones, Fang Bai had already suppressed her emotions, but when she saw Ji Yuning, the curve of her lips inevitably lowered.

Ji Yuning quickly walked out of the school gate. The moment her eyes met Fang Bai’s, her thin lips parted slightly. “Auntie.”

A faint smile floated between Fang Bai’s brows. “Why were you so late coming out?”

Mu Xuerou looked at Fang Bai in surprise. She seemed to have explained it for Yuning a few minutes ago. Just as Mu Xuerou was about to speak again, He Ziyan put her arm around Mu Xuerou’s shoulder and asked, “Where was that restaurant you mentioned earlier?”

Mu Xuerou’s attention was diverted. She took out her phone. “Let me check…”

Ji Yuning’s gaze swept over He Ziyan and Mu Xuerou, then landed on Fang Bai. “Teacher He had something to discuss with me.”

The surrounding air froze for two seconds, and Ji Yuning didn’t speak again.

Fang Bai chuckled inwardly, wondering what she was waiting for. She didn’t know why she felt awkward. Whether Ji Yuning said it or not was her own business. Could she, a mere cannon fodder, really interfere with the female lead’s affairs?

After a pause, Fang Bai glanced sideways at Mu Xuerou. “Did you find the address?”

Mu Xuerou turned her phone screen towards Fang Bai. “Found it. It’s over on Nanning Street, not far.”

“Then let’s go. I’ll take you there.” Fang Bai noted the address and opened the navigation on her phone.

Seeing this, Mu Xuerou held her phone closer to Fang Bai so Fang Bai could see the address clearly. “Aunt Fang, aren’t you coming with us?”

“Can I?” Fang Bai looked at a certain person out of the corner of her eye. “Won’t I be bothering you?”

It was Mu Xuerou’s birthday celebration for Ji Yuning. Would she be a bit redundant?

“Of course not, it’ll be more fun with Aunt Fang there.”

What fun would she be?

Fang Bai was about to refuse when she suddenly caught another glimpse of He Ziyan beside her.

For a moment, Fang Bai found a sense of shared fate in He Ziyan.

Both were redundant people.

While speaking, Fang Bai and Mu Xuerou had almost reached the car.

He Ziyan, however, turned back to look at Ji Yuning. When the latter walked up to her, He Ziyan hesitated and asked, “Why didn’t you tell her you were going to the competition?”

Ji Yuning’s gaze moved away from the distant figure.

She had some understanding of Fang Bai’s earlier strange mood… was it because she hadn’t told her, so she was angry?

Ji Yuning said calmly, “I planned to tell her today.”

He Ziyan choked. “Why not just tell her tomorrow after you leave on the high-speed train?”

Ji Yuning glanced coldly sideways at He Ziyan.

He Ziyan also realized she was meddling, but thinking of the gloom in Fang Bai’s eyes, she mumbled, “She’s angry.”

Ji Yuning hummed in acknowledgment.

He Ziyan was annoyed by Ji Yuning’s attitude.

Fang Bai’s concern was something she yearned for, but the person being cared for by Fang Bai seemed completely indifferent.

He Ziyan crossed her arms and looked at Fang Bai, who had already gotten into the car. Her gaze then fell on Ji Yuning. “Do you think she’ll still pick you up from school every day if she knows you like her?”

He Ziyan’s tone carried a deliberate threat, as if if Ji Yuning made her unhappy again, she would rush to Fang Bai and tell her a certain fact.

But He Ziyan forgot that the person in front of her wouldn’t be threatened by her childish words.

Unexpectedly, Ji Yuning cooperated and said, “She will.”

He Ziyan paused. “Why?”

Ji Yuning glanced sideways at He Ziyan, her tone flat. “Aren’t you still talking to her?”

“.”

He Ziyan felt she must be sick, otherwise why would she bother talking to Ji Yuning for no reason?

This kind of personality that was fine when silent but could infuriate someone after only a few sentences of conversation, she didn’t know how Fang Bai could tolerate it for so long.

“You… you’re really annoying.”

He Ziyan angrily dropped a sentence and strode away from Ji Yuning.

Ji Yuning, however, lowered her eyes, thinking about He Ziyan’s question: What would happen if Fang Bai knew she liked her?

The answer wasn’t as firm as when she had replied earlier. She didn’t know.

The two walked one after the other. When He Ziyan reached the car, Ji Yuning heard Fang Bai say to He Ziyan, “Xiao He, sit next to me.”

Ji Yuning slowed her steps. After reaching the car, He Ziyan sat in the passenger seat and raised an eyebrow at her.

The meaning was: Serves you right.

Once everything was ready, Fang Bai saw Ji Yuning was still outside the car and reminded her, “Xiao Ning, you sit in the back with Xiao Mu.”

Was this the consequence of making the other person angry?

Ji Yuning pursed her lips. “Mmm.”

Fang Bai wasn’t angry, just had the self-awareness of a redundant person.

The restaurant wasn’t far from the school, only a ten-minute drive.

Mu Xuerou had booked a private room. After they went in and ordered, apart from the waiter pushing in a birthday cake and the others wishing Ji Yuning a happy birthday, the meal was very quiet.

Mu Xuerou treated, but Fang Bai paid the bill.

Eating with younger people, how could she let them spend money?

Especially… it was to celebrate Ji Yuning’s birthday.

After eating, according to Mu Xuerou’s plan, the group would go to a karaoke bar a few hundred meters away from the restaurant.

Because it wasn’t far, the four of them decided to walk, which would also help them digest their food.