Chapter 96
Where to go?
This was a good question, and it was also the topic Fang Bai had been switching back and forth on Ji Yuning’s profile picture all day, hesitating and not knowing how to bring up.
Hao Yingman would come to help her pack and tidy up the apartment. Fang Bai could tell that most of her things were already packed, and the things that couldn’t fit had been thrown away. Hao Yingman had taken a shower because she felt sweaty and sticky after cleaning up.
And what Hao Yingman had said before about picking her up meant picking her up to go to the airport.
She would be leaving tomorrow.
Facing the cold screen, repeatedly considering the words she couldn’t bring herself to say, at this moment, under Ji Yuning’s gaze, everything became easy.
Fang Bai said softly, “Going traveling.”
After saying that, Fang Bai inexplicably felt relieved.
Why had she hesitated all morning, not even daring to send Ji Yuning a simple “Are you there?” when it was so easy to say?
Probably imagination.
She had been thinking about how Ji Yuning would react after seeing the message, whether she would think she had left again without a word, just like before.
This didn’t hold true for Fang Bai, but she wasn’t Ji Yuning, so she didn’t know what the other girl was thinking.
So, following her guess, Fang Bai thought she should reassure Ji Yuning, promising that she wouldn’t lose contact and would keep in touch. Thinking of this, Fang Bai wondered why she needed to promise Ji Yuning these things? Why did she need Ji Yuning’s approval to go traveling to feel at ease? Was it because of guilt?
Or maybe…
Did she care about Ji Yuning’s thoughts?
Fang Bai’s eyelashes trembled, still not understanding her hesitation.
Ji Yuning’s raised fingers slowly curled up, and finally her entire arm fell limply to her side, like a deflated balloon.
She had had a bad premonition since entering the apartment in the afternoon, popping up every few minutes. She had thought it was because of Hao Yingman, but even after Hao Yingman left, that feeling hadn’t disappeared.
It wasn’t until she entered the bedroom and saw the suitcase.
Ji Yuning lifted her eyelids, silently looking at Fang Bai.
After a few seconds of their gazes meeting, Fang Bai sighed inwardly, realizing that she did care about Ji Yuning’s thoughts a little.
Her toes shifted towards Ji Yuning, and she walked to the bedside, feeling the gloom surrounding Ji Yuning. Fang Bai hesitated and reached out towards Ji Yuning.
During the process, Fang Bai’s hand paused for a moment. Seeing that Ji Yuning didn’t intend to dodge, she finally placed her hand on Ji Yuning’s head, gently rubbing the softness of her hair back and forth. Fang Bai comforted, “Auntie didn’t not want to tell you, it’s just that when I was about to send you a message, you surprised me by appearing.”
“You cooked as soon as you came in, and it was Auntie’s least favorite bitter gourd. I was so bitter I couldn’t even speak, I wanted to chat with you after dinner,” Fang Bai withdrew her hand. “Now that you found out first, I’ll just tell you. You also know I came back to help Yingman. Before that, we agreed to go traveling after work was done. Now that the partnership is stable, we—”
Fang Bai didn’t finish her last few words, interrupted by Ji Yuning.
Ji Yuning said, “I’ll go with you.”
Her gaze fell on Ji Yuning’s face. Fang Bai looked at her serious expression, not like she was joking, and refused without thinking, “No.”
The refusal came too quickly, showing it hadn’t been thought through at all.
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai, remaining silent.
The air around the two slowed down, the room feeling a bit stuffy.
Fang Bai’s breathing grew slightly heavier. She took a step back, thinking that might make her feel better, but as soon as she moved, Ji Yuning followed her step, her voice low and slow, devoid of emotion as she asked, “Why?”
Fang Bai’s eyes flickered. “You still have schoolwork, and work.”
That was what she really thought. The moment the words left her mouth, Fang Bai thought about what would happen to Ji Yuning’s life if she went with her.
Ji Yuning didn’t remain silent this time. She said, “Final exams have long been over, and I’ve arranged all my recent work. I can work remotely later.”
She had stayed up several nights to free up time to come to South City, busy without contacting Fang Bai. She had originally been angry that Fang Bai hadn’t proactively looked for her, but now she knew there was an even bigger surprise waiting for her.
Ji Yuning’s eyes narrowed slightly, a faint curve at the corners of her lips that couldn’t quite be called a smile. Fang Bai even sensed a hint of danger in it.
By the time Fang Bai blinked and looked again, she could only see a slight plea on Ji Yuning’s indifferent face and an undisguisable sincerity in her eyes.
Ji Yuning was waiting for Fang Bai to agree.
Just standing there silently, using an undeniable gaze to tell Fang Bai to agree.
This gave Fang Bai the feeling that no matter what excuse she gave Ji Yuning, in the end, Ji Yuning would find a suitable and unrefutable reason to answer her.
Different from a step-by-step pressing oppression, this feeling was more like the powerlessness of drowning. No matter how she struggled, she could only let the water bind her.
For the first time, Fang Bai felt that when facing Ji Yuning, she was like a disarmed deserter, even needing courage to resist.
The area on her neck that had been brushed against in the afternoon felt hot, itching like a feather stroking it. Her hand involuntarily pressed against her neck, covering that spot of skin.
Fang Bai’s fingers gently caressed twice. When the itch gradually subsided, her lips moved, about to speak, but when she smelled the faint strawberry scent on her fingertips, all the words caught in her throat.
Some words she hadn’t taken seriously in life now surged forth like a spring flood, overwhelming her.
Unbelievable, half-believing, half-doubting.
Fang Bai’s gaze towards Ji Yuning clearly changed, the words of persuasion that had reached her throat swallowed back down.
Enduring the burning sensation that rose again on her neck, Fang Bai temporarily suppressed her thoughts and said in a deep voice, “Xiao Ning, we all have our own lives.”
Fang Bai lifted her eyes to meet Ji Yuning’s, ignoring all the emotions the other girl had expressed, her tone becoming heavier. “You don’t need to be by my side all the time.”
As the words fell, the calmness in Ji Yuning’s eyes finally wavered.
It wasn’t “don’t need to,” but “can’t.”
That is to say, she was dispensable, even without her, Fang Bai could live on.
Her heart suddenly contracted, bitterness spreading from her heart to her entire body.
Before her hands and feet went weak, Ji Yuning replied, “So your life doesn’t have me.”
Ji Yuning’s voice was very faint, her expression could be considered calm, only because she was gambling on her position in Fang Bai’s heart.
But what she waited for was Fang Bai’s long silence.
As Fang Bai remained silent, the hope in Ji Yuning’s eyes was gradually swallowed by a desolate beast, the result would be no bones left, all hope lost.
As the hope of life vanished, Ji Yuning’s gaze fell on Fang Bai’s fair neck, a few strands of hair covering a certain spot that was faintly pink… skin.
A dark light clouded her cold eyes.
Fang Bai didn’t notice Ji Yuning. She lowered her eyes, overwhelmed by the surging thoughts in her mind, looking at the corner of the bed, her pupils already been dilated, and unfocused.
Perhaps the thoughts were too shocking, Fang Bai continued to jump back and forth between possible and impossible.
Hao Yingman’s words echoed in her ears, accumulating and slowly merging into one thought:
Ji Yuning liked her?
How could that be?
Why would Ji Yuning like her?
But how else could the current situation be explained?
“I understand.”
Fang Bai, trapped in a vortex of incomprehension, was awakened by a clear, cold voice. She regained her senses and looked up at Ji Yuning.
Understood what?
Ji Yuning didn’t say what she understood, but instead asked, “Where is Auntie planning to go to play?”
Her tone was ordinary, like asking Fang Bai what she had eaten.
Fang Bai, her mind a mess, didn’t react for a moment. “?”
Ji Yuning continued, “When you see beautiful scenery, will Auntie share it with me?”
Fang Bai murmured, “You… aren’t going with me?”
This time it was Ji Yuning’s turn to be surprised. She said, “Did Auntie change her mind?”
Fang Bai pursed her lips and shook her head.
The development of things was different from what she had expected, and Fang Bai didn’t dare to say more.
Ji Yuning’s voice was clear and cold: “I was just asking casually too, just because I haven’t traveled before, I was a bit curious and wanted to know if there was a chance to be taken along by Auntie, but I didn’t expect…”
Her words trailed off, but a hint of sadness appeared between Ji Yuning’s brows.
Fang Bai couldn’t bear it. “I just thought…”
Fang Bai only realized halfway through her sentence that something was wrong. She couldn’t possibly say, “I thought you liked me, so I deliberately said those harsh words, could I?”
And the unspoken words that stopped halfway through were more like a lack of words during an explanation, hiding the truth.
Fang Bai still wanted to explain, but she heard Ji Yuning say:
“I understand, Auntie has her own life, and my appearance will only disturb Auntie.”
Fang Bai’s lips moved slightly. She saw Ji Yuning take out a card from her pocket and hand it to her.
With just one glance, Fang Bai recognized it as the card she had left for Ji Yuning back then.
Fang Bai suddenly looked up, confusion and doubt flashing in her eyes.
What did giving her the card mean?
Ji Yuning quickly provided the answer.
Ji Yuning said, “The money in the card is three times the previous amount. The money for starting the company, consider it a loan from Auntie, and now I’m returning it to Auntie with interest.”
Fang Bai’s rosy lips parted, wanting to speak, but it felt like a stone was stuck in her throat, unable to say anything.
Clearly, she was the one who had first used harsh words to distance herself from Ji Yuning, but Ji Yuning directly showed with her actions that she didn’t owe her anything and wouldn’t want anything from her.
Ji Yuning continued to smile. She had smiled exceptionally often today. “Auntie can use the money in this card to travel. Every month, I’ll transfer money into it as thanks for Auntie raising me and taking care of me.”
What Ji Yuning said was: thank you for raising me, thank you for taking care of me.
Yes, Ji Yuning’s feelings for her were only between elders and juniors. She had actually suspected Ji Yuning liked her because of that almost-kiss?
Hao Yingman’s words had a basis, and Ji Yuning’s actions all had prerequisites. Why could she jump to the conclusion that Ji Yuning liked her?
Was she taking herself too seriously?
What was there about her that Ji Yuning would like?
Fang Bai’s mind was a mess. “I don’t want it,” she said.
Ji Yuning didn’t go along with her.
“Auntie always spent money on me before, now that I’ve grown up, it’s only right for me to spend money on Auntie.”
Ji Yuning didn’t withdraw her hand. Fang Bai didn’t take it. The two of them stood in silent opposition, their gazes locked.
Like a wooden man game, whoever moved or spoke first lost.
This game had its winner and loser decided from the very beginning.
Someone’s heart had been moved.
So Ji Yuning didn’t care about winning or losing. She was the first to withdraw her sore wrist.
Before Fang Bai’s tense nerves could relax, Ji Yuning walked past Fang Bai and placed the card on the standing suitcase in the corner. The small card formed a stark contrast with the huge suitcase.
After putting down the card, Ji Yuning didn’t even glance at it. Instead, she looked at the white short-sleeved shirt on the bed and asked, “Auntie was going to throw this away, right?”
Fang Bai looked over, but couldn’t bring herself to say “yes.”
Ji Yuning responded for her. She took the shirt in her hand and walked towards the door.
Fang Bai subconsciously asked, “Where are you going?”
Ji Yuning stopped, paused for a few seconds, then turned her head and said, “Helping Auntie throw away trash.”
After saying that, Ji Yuning continued walking out.
Fang Bai watched Ji Yuning’s back, feeling that those words had another meaning.
Before she could figure it out, Fang Bai saw Ji Yuning standing in the bedroom doorway, and then she heard Ji Yuning say, “Have a pleasant trip, Auntie.”
Fang Bai’s eyelid twitched violently.
A few seconds later, the door closed.
Ji Yuning had left.
Perhaps because one person was missing, the room didn’t feel so stuffy anymore. The familiar fragrance was the only thing lingering in the flowing air.
Fang Bai lowered her head and raised her hand. The faint strawberry scent on her fingertips had disappeared at some point.
It was as if it had never been there; she had smelled the wrong scent.
Author’s Note:
Why give the card to Auntie?
Because one sentence in someone’s fabricated criteria for a partner was: _________ (Fill in the blank, 2 points)
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