…It's really impossible to live without a cell phone.
Fang Bai suddenly realized that if Ji Yuning never used her phone, how would she contact her?
Messages delivered by carrier pigeon?
Fang Bai was standing next to the lounge, where the door wasn't fully closed. Several students were standing on either side, craning their necks to look inside and whispering amongst themselves.
Why do you think she would steal a phone?
"What else could it be? She doesn't have it. Look at the shoes she's wearing, do you think she can afford a phone?"
"But I don't think she's the kind of person who steals."
"Why not? Just because she's the first in her grade?"
"No, it's just that she looked so beautiful playing the piano just now, so I..."
Before the girl could finish speaking, someone poked her shoulder.
The girl turned her head and saw a pretty woman asking her, "Excuse me, who is the thief you're talking about?"
The girl thought it was a teacher, swallowed hard, and whispered, "From Class 3, Ji... Ji Yuning."
“…”
When Fang Bai heard them say they were first in the grade, he had a guess in his mind, and he didn't expect it to be true.
Did Ji Yuning steal the phone?
Isn't this a complete joke?
She was eager to give it to them, but they refused.
Fang Bai was a little angry, but he couldn't figure out whether he was angry because Ji Yuning had been slandered or something else.
The students gathered around the door exchanged glances upon Fang Bai's arrival, then left hand in hand.
Voices from inside the house drifted through the crack in the door:
"How does your school educate its students? They actually steal!!"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. He, we cannot confirm at this time whether it was student Ji who stole it."
"If it was found in her backpack, how can it not be something she stole?"
Fang Bai pushed open the door, and the small room was packed with people.
The people inside were engaged in a heated discussion and did not notice the door being pushed open. Only Ji Yuning, who was standing in the corner and being protected by He Wei, caught a glimpse of it.
Upon seeing Fang Bai, Ji Yuning's eyes flickered, then the indifference in her eyes disappeared, replaced by a look of helplessness, as if she had no idea what to do.
From Fang Bai's perspective, Ji Yuning looked like a rabbit who had lost its carrot and was suspected of stealing it; she had no trace of the wolf's malice.
Tsk.
He's still a child, as expected.
After Fang Bai withdrew his gaze, he didn't see Ji Yuning's flickering expression and the intense interest in her eyes.
"If it was found in her backpack, how does that prove she stole it?"
A female voice rang out from inside the room, her tone languid and tinged with disdain.
Everyone turned to look and saw a person wearing a blue sundress and a white gauze coat walk in.
When Madam He, who had just been speaking, saw Fang Bai, her eyes lit up, and she immediately smiled and said, "Miss Fang, what brings you here?"
Fang Bai said calmly, "I'll attend the school anniversary celebration."
"I asked you a few days ago, and you said you weren't coming?" Madam He asked in a flattering tone.
There was no other way; her family's business had recently become connected with the Fang family, and her family had been insisting that she contact Fang Bai. A few days ago, she obediently invited Fang Bai for afternoon tea. When the topic of the school anniversary came up, Fang Bai looked disgusted and told her not to mention it.
Knowing that Fang Bai disliked Ji Yuning, Madam He twisted her body and went to Fang Bai's side, trying to take his arm, but Fang Bai dodged her.
Madam He was only stunned for a moment, then remembered that Fang Bai didn't like to interact with others, so she didn't take it to heart. She leaned closer to Fang Bai and whispered, "That thing you raised stole my child's phone. I'm having my boss punish her."
"That thing?" Fang Bai looked at Madam He, smiling, but his voice was cold. "You mean Xiao Ning?"
Madam He was taken aback by the coldness in Fang Bai's eyes. She wasn't slow to react; recalling what Fang Bai had said when he entered the room, she vaguely sensed that Fang Bai was quite different from usual today. Then, Madam He suddenly realized that Ji Yuning's punishment was a slap in the face to Fang Bai...
But the fact remained that Ji Yuning had stolen something, and Madam He had no intention of backing down, so she said awkwardly, "It was Ji Yuning."
Fang Bai smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "You've got it wrong. Xiao Ning wouldn't steal anything. You might as well punish your daughter instead."
Madam He's expression changed. She was a shrewd person; how could she not understand Fang Bai's meaning?
Isn't she just saying that Ji Yuning was deliberately slandered by her daughter?
Fang Bai didn't look at her. He turned to the corner and looked at Ji Yuning. His tone was completely different from when he treated Madam He. He said in a gentle tone, "Come here, I'll take you home."
Author's Note:
Fang: Sending a message by carrier pigeon~
Ji: Coo coo coo! Coo coo! Coo coo coo! Coo!
Fang (frowning): Can someone help me translate this? #
Chapter 9
Before Ji Yuning could make a move, He Ziyan, who had been observing Fang Bai since he entered, shouted sharply, "You can't leave! The matter of her stealing my things hasn't been resolved yet, how can you leave so easily?"
Fang Bai glanced at Madam He and saw that Madam He looked embarrassed but did not stop her daughter. She knew that Madam He had not taken what she said when she entered the room to heart.
"Ms. Fang, I've already asked the students to check the surveillance footage. Shall we wait a bit?"
The speaker was Qu Zheng, the dean of students. He had been called over by the students the moment the incident occurred. He was dressed neatly and wearing square glasses.
Fang Bai hummed in agreement, turned around and sat on the sofa, looking at Madam He and said, "Zhu Ping, my time is very precious."
Zhu Ping's expression froze for a moment, and she didn't say anything.
Fang Bai turned his gaze to Ji Yuning and said softly, "Xiao Ning, come over here."
He Wei, who had been protecting Ji Yuning behind her, whispered to Ji Yuning not to be afraid, and then patted Ji Yuning's shoulder to signal her to come over.
Seeing Fang Bai sit down, Qu Zheng invited Zhu Ping to sit on the sofa opposite him.
For a few seconds, the room was quiet.
Ji Yuning ignored the provocation in He Ziyan's eyes and stood calmly beside the sofa.
Feeling her clothes being tugged, Ji Yuning looked down and saw two slender fingers twisting her clothes. Then a soft voice entered her ears: "Is the thing for you in the dorm?"
Ji Yuning looked in the direction of the voice and saw Fang Bai looking up at her with wide eyes and fluttering eyelashes, which unexpectedly revealed a bit of playfulness. His neck was fair and slender, matching the black swan pendant hanging on his collarbone.
Fang Bai didn't specify what the item was, but Ji Yuning knew it was simply the bag that had been delivered that day.
Ji Yuning withdrew her gaze from Fang Bai and said softly, "Mm."
Fang Bai: "Where did you put it?"
“The locker,” Ji Yuning paused, “is locked.”
Where is the key?
Ji Yuning changed out of her performance clothes and was now wearing her school uniform. She put her hands in her pockets and finally took out a small key from her pocket.
"Knock knock knock"
A knock came at the door.
As soon as Zhou Xuan entered the room, she saw Fang Bai, followed by Ji Yuning standing next to her.
So her child is Ji Yuning?
The person walking behind Zhou Xuan led him to Qu Zheng and said, "Teacher Qu, we went to check the surveillance footage. He Ziyan's phone was lost in the changing room, and there were no surveillance cameras in the changing room, so it's unclear who stole it."
Qu Zheng frowned: "Who went into the changing room before and after He Ziyan lost her phone?"
Zhou Xuan recorded the surveillance footage, then took out his phone and handed it to Qu Zheng: "Only... Ji Yuning is there."
He Ziyan jumped out, looking smug: "See! She stole my phone! The evidence is right here, what else do you have to say?"
This part wasn't mentioned in the original text, and we don't know why Ji Yuning was suddenly framed. However, the text does mention that He Ziyan dislikes Ji Yuning and will make things difficult for her later.
Is this ahead of schedule?
Fang Bai's gaze swept over He Ziyan, and he suddenly noticed that there was another person standing behind He Ziyan.
Fang Bai hadn't noticed the person who had been hiding in the corner.
A dark glint flashed in Fang Bai's eyes as he said to Qu Zheng, "Director, could I take a look at the video?"
Qu Zheng: "Okay."
After watching the video, Fang Bai understood. He returned the phone to Zhou Xuan and called out to He Wei, "Teacher He, could you help me run this errand?"
He Wei squeezed past the group and stood before Fang Bai. "Miss Fang, what can I do for you?"
Everyone saw Fang Bai whisper a few words in He Wei's ear, and then he handed her something. Just as He Wei was about to leave, Fang Bai stopped her, "Teacher He, why don't you bring someone with you? Otherwise, people might easily misunderstand that you're doing something bad for me."
He Wei was taken aback, and Zhou Xuan, who was standing by the door, immediately said to Fang Bai, "Sister, I'll go with Teacher He."
Fang Bai smiled at Zhou Xuan: "Thank you for your trouble."
After He Wei and the other person left, Fang Bai looked at Qu Zheng and asked, "Director Qu, do you know where He Ziyan's phone is?"
Qu Zheng pointed to the phone on the table, "Here."
When Qu Zheng was called over, his phone had been sitting on the table untouched.
Fang Bai opened the bag next to him, which was worth five figures. Inside was only a lipstick. After taking out the lipstick, Fang Bai said to Qu Zheng, "Put your phone in this bag."
He Ziyan frowned: "What are you doing?"
Even Zhu Ping and Qu Zheng looked over in confusion.
Fang Bai leaned back lazily and said, "Take it to the police."