The marks on the back were more noticeable than those on the arms, but they could only be seen upon close inspection.
Ji Yuning, holding her clothes, glanced sideways and saw Fang Bai staring at her body, the indifference in his eyes vanishing, and her throat tightening.
After a couple of seconds of rapid breathing, Ji Yuning looked away and tried to put the clothes down.
But at that moment, her body, which had been chilled by the wind, felt a warmth against her back.
As Fang Bai's fingertips traced the faint marks, Ji Yuning's body tensed instantly, and she felt a tingling sensation in both her heart and body.
Ji Yuning called out in a hoarse voice, "Auntie."
She spoke up to stop Fang Bai from continuing.
q衤君⒏⒎⒈⑥⑧③①㈤㈤
But the hand waving behind his back showed no signs of stopping; instead, it changed from fingertips to finger pads.
As he rubbed his fingertips together, Fang Bai recalled the scene of applying medicine to the child.
Ji Yuning's throat tightened. "Fang Bai, you—"
Before he could finish speaking, Fang Bai's voice rang in his ears: "Why don't you leave?"
His calm tone was enough to make Ji Yuning tremble, even more so than the temperature of the air conditioner.
Ignoring Ji Yuning's sudden trembling, Fang Bai pointed at her back with his finger, "Here, here, and those marks on your legs and arms are all left by me. You won't forget how painful it was back then."
"Why are you still by my side?" Fang Bai curled his fingers, murmuring the question that had been building up in his heart, "Don't you... hate me?"
She said the first part on purpose, wanting to provoke Ji Yuning into leaving. Fang Bai hadn't initially intended to ask the last question, but it had been on her mind for a long time, and she wanted to know the answer.
I don't want to have any regrets.
While Fang Bai was speaking, Ji Yuning listened quietly without saying a word.
Once the slight warmth on her back disappeared, along with the restlessness in her heart, Ji Yuning slowly put down her clothes.
The clothes fell down, completely covering any marks on the back.
All you'll see is pure white fabric.
Ji Yuning faced Fang Bai, seemingly unaffected by his words. Her face remained expressionless, though her gaze darkened slightly. "Before I answer these questions, I also want to ask you a question."
The person in front of him reacted in a way that Fang Bai had not expected. Hearing Ji Yuning's words, Fang Bai's feigned indifference was masked by surprise. "...Hmm?"
Seeing this, Ji Yuning's smile was hidden in her eyes, but her face showed sadness instead of a smile. "Auntie promised to answer me truthfully first."
Fang Bai hesitated, her intuition telling her there was a pitfall ahead, but she had no choice but to jump in.
Deliberately giving a vague answer, Fang Bai nodded: "Go ahead and ask."
Noticing the subtle tactic in Fang Bai's words, Ji Yuning seized upon it and whispered, "Say yes."
"..." Fang Bai said in a low voice, "I agree."
Ji Yuning hummed in agreement and took half a step forward.
The moment their eyes met, Ji Yuning slowly asked, "What did Lu Raomei say to you at the coffee shop three years ago?"
Invisible sparks of electricity erupted as their gazes met.
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The two stood there silently for what seemed like an eternity before Fang Bai finally turned his head away, ending the silent standoff.
Fang Bai had thought about many questions, but he never expected Ji Yuning to ask this one.
She said, "Does it matter?"
Ji Yuning lifted her eyelids slightly. "Important."
That way she'll know... why Fang Bai left.
They will also know how to act so that they won't worry about Fang Bai disappearing again.
Fang Bai hesitated, torn between speaking and remaining silent, when Ji Yuning said, "Auntie just promised me."
Ji Yuning's words acted as a catalyst, pushing Fang Bai to make a decision. Just a few seconds after she finished speaking, Fang Bai said, "Your background."
Ji Yuning had already guessed this from the beginning. Fang Bai knew she was working without even asking her, which confirmed the answer.
"Anything else?" Ji Yuning asked.
With that initial statement, the rest became much easier: "I refused the offer to join forces with me against you."
Fang Bai paused, glanced at Ji Yuning, then lowered his eyes and said the key thing that made her decide to leave: "There's also... your cooperation with the Li family."
Upon hearing the mention of the Li family and considering Fang Bai's question, Ji Yuning instantly understood.
Fang Bai thought she hated her, so he opposed the Fang family and then used the Lu family's power to eliminate the Fang family...
Ji Yuning frowned, feeling that something crucial had been overlooked.
She softened her tone and asked, "That's all?"
Of course not. The main thing is that I'm going to be your cannon fodder, but I can't tell you that.
Fang Bai let out a breath: "Yeah, that's all."
Fang Bai's arm was grabbed, and the next second he was pulled into someone's arms.
My nose touched the soft fabric, and a faint lemon scent wafted into my nostrils.
It smelled like the new laundry detergent she bought.
Fang Bai really liked the scent.
Just as Fang Bai was enjoying the lemon scent, he heard Ji Yuning say with a smile, "Silly auntie."
Fang Bai had never been described as stupid before. She subconsciously wanted to get out of Ji Yuning's embrace and retort, "You're the stupid one," but she couldn't break free from the hand that was holding her waist.
At this moment, Ji Yuning said again, "Just because of those few words she said, you've been avoiding me for three years? If I don't look for you, are you going to continue hiding?"
No. Yes. Fang Bai answered in his heart.
After waiting for a while, Ji Yuning knew she wouldn't get a reply from Fang Bai. She sighed silently and said, "We haven't cooperated with the Li family, not even once."
Fang Bai looked at Ji Yuning in surprise.
As Fang Bai looked over, Ji Yuning moved closer to him, saying, "Now I'll answer your question—"
When they were only ten centimeters apart, Ji Yuning whispered, "I don't hate you."
You're all I have left, how could I hate you?
The answer was almost exactly what he had expected, and Fang Bai was somewhat dazed: "Really?"
Releasing Fang Bai, Ji Yuning took a half step back, looked Fang Bai straight in the eye, and said, "I have never lied to you."
Immediately afterwards, Ji Yuning smiled and said, "It's my aunt who lies to me more often."
Perhaps Fang Bai felt guilty, because Ji Yuning said this with a smile, but she could hear a hint of grievance and complaint in his voice.
"Isn't it all about survival?" Fang Bai made up an excuse.
Hearing Ji Yuning say that, all the emotions Fang Bai had been holding in vanished. Embarrassment made her forget to ask Ji Yuning why she didn't hate her; she only remembered the question that Ji Yuning had always cared about.
Fang Bai cleared his throat and met Ji Yuning's dark eyes. "So, you mean you still consider me your aunt?"
Ji Yuning's gaze fell on Fang Bai's red lips, her eyes deepening slightly. "If Auntie wants to try other identities, I can too."
Fang Bai's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly licked his lips and said, "Stepmother, I've wanted to hear you call me that for a while."
In this way, she gained a new identity.
They actually got elected?
Ji Yuning smiled and gently patted Fang Bai's head. "Don't call me that."
Fang Bai didn't expect Ji Yuning to call her. If Ji Yuning really did call her, it would be really scary.
However, Fang Bai did not back down verbally. She said, "You said it yourself."
Ji Yuning nodded and said slowly, "I also want to experience what it feels like to lie."
"..." Fang Bai smiled slightly: "Is that so?"
Ji Yuning nodded.
Fang Bai took a step back and placed his hand on the bedroom door. "You'll sleep in the living room tonight."
Before Ji Yuning could react, the door was closed from the inside.
Three seconds later, the door was pulled open.
Fang Bai stuffed Ji Yuning's blanket and pillow into her arms and said, "Remember to close the balcony door so she doesn't catch a cold."
After he finished speaking, the door was closed again with a very soft "bang".
Ji Yuning had no intention of opening the door; she actually still had work to finish, and this would be convenient for her.
Looking at the door, recalling Fang Bai's actions, Ji Yuning's low laughter echoed in the empty living room.
Like a clear spring, it is extremely pleasant to the ear.
Fang Bai, who was leaning against the door waiting for Ji Yuning to knock or call out before opening the door to let her into the room, went straight back to bed after hearing the laughter.
I'll just sleep on the sofa.
Author's Note:
Xiao Ji's Diary:
How can you expect someone to stop taking off their clothes halfway through?
...Does your aunt like this style?
Chapter 84
When Fang Bai woke up the next day and saw that Ji Yuning wasn't by the bedside, she instinctively assumed that Ji Yuning had gotten up early as usual. But when she realized the blankets and pillows were gone, she remembered that she had asked someone to sleep on the sofa the night before.