Ji Yuning replied calmly, "Me too."
Author's Note:
In the next chapter or the chapters after that, Xiao Ji will confess her feelings.
[The comments say that Fang Bai's inability to realize this stems from stereotypes (based on the book's setting) combined with this familial-like relationship, preventing him from noticing. Like before, he thought Xiao Ji was going to adopt her as his mother.]
Chapter 103
The time spent back in Hushi was too short, so short that Fang Bai didn't even have time to pack his suitcase. He brought all his belongings from Nancheng to Beijing untouched.
However, he only brought essential items; he thought he could just buy non-essential daily necessities online.
Before dinner, Fang Bai asked Ji Yuning for her courier address.
After pausing for a few seconds, Ji Yuning took Fang Bai's phone.
Fang Bai felt a warmth when he saw Ji Yuning open the shopping app and silently add her address.
Just then, He Ziyan came out of the kitchen carrying two plates of food. Fang Bai was worried that He Ziyan would burn her hands, so he quickly stepped forward and took one of the plates. "Why didn't you carry them one by one?"
He Ziyan: "This way we can avoid making one trip."
Fang Bai smiled silently after hearing this; she sometimes acted this way too.
Take a break now and then.
She knew she was somewhat lazy, and that this extended to her thinking as well.
When something happens, she might be too lazy to think about it at the moment, and things will eventually come to light. But after a while, she will suddenly remember it and start to think about why, and whether there is something she has not noticed. You could say she is slow to realize things.
Life was alright; she tried her best to live a good life, but Fang Bai would be too lazy to do some small things that didn't have a big impact.
It's like when she placed an order and found the recipient's name was Ji Yuning. If it were just one order, Fang Bai might have changed it, but with more than ten orders...
Fang Bai looked up at Ji Yuning and said, "Xiao Ning, you wrote your own information as the recipient."
Ji Yuning glanced at Fang Bai's phone, and after seeing that it was indeed her name, she said, "I just typed it in casually. Do you want me to contact customer service to change it for you?"
"No need, that's too much trouble," Fang Bai said. "This will do, it's your name anyway, not someone else's."
Ji Yuning's expression softened, but before her emotions could fully surface, Fang Bai said, "As long as the address is correct, it won't affect receiving the goods."
A seemingly romantic statement was defeated by reality.
The address was correct, and the packages arrived in about two days.
Fang Bai piled the packages on the floor and sat on the carpet next to him, tearing them open one by one with scissors.
Although the recipient was Ji Yuning, Fang Bai had bought all the items, so she didn't check the item information on the order.
Fang Bai opened another cardboard box and instinctively reached out to take something out, but after seeing what was inside, his hand froze at the edge of the box, unsure of what to do.
Inside lay... five boxes of finger cots.
Ultra-thin version.
Peach, strawberry... they all taste like fruit.
There were also some free gifts placed next to it.
She didn't buy it.
Fang Bai's first thought was that she had picked up the wrong package, so she quickly found the side with the waybill printed on it and carefully checked the recipient's information.
It's definitely Ji Yuning, so why is that—
Fang Bai paused in thought. She lowered her head and read the recipient's name again. After confirming that it was correct, she carefully opened the cardboard box she had closed. After seeing what was inside, Fang Bai was still a little incredulous. She quickly opened her phone to check her shopping messages.
In her memory, she hadn't bought this item, or even added it to her shopping cart. But it explained the current situation, making her very suspicious that she had bought it. But she couldn't remember, or perhaps she had sleepwalked and bought it?
Fang Bai checked several times but couldn't find the order for the finger cots on her shopping list.
It's hard to believe, but there's no doubt that these five boxes of finger cots were bought by... Ji Yuning.
After the initial shock, Fang Bai became flustered and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
She opened Ji Yuning's package!
If it were anything else, it would be fine, but this... is completely Ji Yuning's privacy!
This undoubtedly reminded Fang Bai of the day he took Ji Yuning to visit Nancheng last time, when Ji Yuning almost discovered the toy Hao Yingman had given him.
Fang Bai's mood was just like that day, so chaotic that her breathing became rapid and her ears felt hot.
Unlike last time, Ji Yuning may not have seen anything, but she not only saw it, but also clearly saw what it tasted like!
Fang Bai was stunned for a second before quickly getting up from the carpet.
At this moment, Fang Bai was extremely grateful. She had used scissors to cut along the seam of the cardboard box. Now, as long as she used that kind of wide, transparent tape to re-attach the cut, she might be able to cover up the fact that the cardboard box had been opened.
That way, Ji Yuning shouldn't know that she opened the package, and she won't feel embarrassed.
Yes, more than being afraid that Ji Yuning would find out that Fang Bai had opened her package, Fang Bai was more concerned about Ji Yuning's feelings.
Ji Yuning is only in her early twenties. Although she is an adult, she is still a little girl. If she knew that the finger cots she bought had been seen by her, she would definitely be embarrassed.
To be honest, Fang Bai found it hard to believe when she realized that Ji Yuning had bought it. She knew that Ji Yuning had grown up and was different from before, but she still treated Ji Yuning like a child... However, this feeling only lasted for a few seconds. Fang Bai slowly calmed down while looking at the shopping record. It was nothing, it was a normal thing.
In just a moment, when Fang Bai thought of Ji Yuning, the image of Ji Yuning in his mind was no longer the one he first met at sixteen, but the Ji Yuning who had grown up now.
Fang Bai searched the room for a long time but couldn't find any wide tape. She thought about asking Ji Yuning if she had any at home, and if not, she would go outside to buy some.
Fang Bai was standing in her room with his phone next to the package in the living room. Thinking about sending a message to Ji Yuning, Fang Bai walked out.
After leaving the house, Fang Bai glanced at the figure on the sofa and stopped in her tracks.
When did Xiao Ning come back?
She was so focused on her search that she didn't even hear the door open!
On the sofa, Ji Yuning's eyes were slightly closed, her expression so indifferent that there was no emotion in them. As if she heard the noise Fang Bai had made, her eyelashes trembled.
It's unclear whether Ji Yuning saw the opened package after she returned, but judging from the current situation, she most likely didn't.
The pile of packages was right next to the coffee table; you could see it with just a casual glance.
Fang Bai moved slowly, wanting to cover the box before Ji Yuning opened her eyes, and then find an opportunity to ask Ji Yuning for tape.
The idea was good, and Fang Bai did it smoothly, only two steps away from hitting the delivery box.
At this moment, Fang Bai's attention was entirely focused on the delivery, and he did not see the person on the sofa who was pretending to be asleep slowly lift their eyelids, and the mist in their eyes cleared up after seeing Fang Bai.
With a slightly hoarse voice, she called out, "Auntie."
The person who was moving stopped, and Fang Bai's neck stiffened. Even when he looked at Ji Yuning, he was stiff.
Seeing Ji Yuning wake up, Fang Bai became nervous. With Ji Yuning watching over her, it wouldn't be so easy for her to do things secretly. If she showed any abnormality, there was a possibility that Ji Yuning would find out.
As their eyes met, Fang Bai asked casually, "Didn't you say you had business to discuss? Why are you back so early?"
It's not actually that early; it will be dark in another hour.
It can only be said that Fang Bai had already acted abnormally without her knowledge.
Ji Yuning raised her hand, her fingertips touching her temples, and said in a low voice, "We're done talking."
Fang Bai lowered his eyes and replied, "Oh."
She lowered her head, wondering what excuse she could come up with to get Ji Yuning away from the sofa.
After thinking for a moment, Fang Bai said, "Xiao Ning, do you have any tape at home...?"
Fang Bai's voice grew softer and softer until it was barely audible, like a mosquito's buzz. You couldn't understand what he was saying unless you listened carefully.
She looked up at Ji Yuning while speaking, and saw that Ji Yuning was looking at the pile of express deliveries.
To be precise, Ji Yuning was looking at the package that she hadn't had time to cover up, which was... those boxes of finger cots.
Fang Bai glanced over and saw the contents clearly displayed before them, shattering her last hope.
Ji Yuning still saw it.
"..."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Fang Bai slowed his breathing and shifted his gaze from the express box back to Ji Yuning.
Sometimes Fang Bai admired Ji Yuning. No matter what happened, Ji Yuning could remain calm and composed.
Just like now, Fang Bai was so nervous that his palms were sweating, but the person in question was calm and composed, without the slightest bit flustered.
Fang Bai suddenly realized that it wasn't a big deal.
Ji Yuning doesn't care, so why is she embarrassed?
Despite thinking this, Fang Bai's voice still trembled slightly as he spoke, "I'm sorry, Auntie wasn't paying attention and accidentally opened it for you."
Ji Yuning looked away and said calmly, "It's okay."
Then Ji Yuning leaned forward, raised her long arm, opened the drawer of the coffee table, and took out the tape that Fang Bai had been searching for for a long time. "Here."
Fang Bai was speechless at himself. Why hadn't he looked for this place?
"No need," Fang Bai said.
Ji Yuning quickly understood the reason. Looking at the open box, she asked, "Auntie isn't trying to glue it back together, is she?"
Fang Bai wasn't embarrassed at having her secret exposed; she simply said, "Yes."
Ji Yuning chuckled softly: "Is Auntie shy?"
Fang Bai quickly denied it: "It's yours, why should I be shy?"
Ji Yuning smiled slightly, stood up, walked to Fang Bai, and asked, "What flavor does Auntie like?"
Fang Bai was taken aback, not understanding Ji Yuning's meaning, "Hmm?"
Then Fang Bai suddenly smelled alcohol. She moved closer to Ji Yuning, and the smell of alcohol became much stronger.