Ji Yuning raised her eyelids and said bluntly, "Does He Ziyan know that you're picking a fight with me just to curry favor with her?"
Lu Lili was taken aback. "What's wrong, Sister Guan Yan? It's just that I don't like you."
Ji Yuning chuckled softly and said slowly, "Do you know that He Ziyan is trying to get on good terms with me now?"
Ji Yuning slowly raised her phone, and Lu Lili subconsciously looked at Ji Yuning's screen.
A contact named He Ziyan sent Ji Yuning a message: [Where are you? I'm coming to find you.]
Ji Yuning knew that He Ziyan had ulterior motives for approaching her, so she had no choice but to use each other's resources.
If she keeps causing trouble for Ji Yuning just so that the people around He Ziyan will know that He Ziyan's relationship with Ji Yuning has improved, then she will only feel like a clown.
That's exactly how Lu Lili is right now.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief, but that was the reality: He Ziyan's profile picture, He Ziyan's tone of voice, He Ziyan was looking for Ji Yuning…
Having achieved her goal, Ji Yuning slowly put her phone into her bag.
Lu Lili clenched her hands at her sides, licked her lips, and asked, "What does Sister Yan want with you?"
After asking, Lu Lili said, deceiving herself, "Oh no, don't think you can fool me just by finding someone to change their profile picture to Sister Yan's and changing their nickname to Sister Yan's."
As Lu Lili finished speaking, her breathing noticeably weakened, and she herself didn't believe what she was saying.
What does it feel like to lose face in front of someone you dislike?
Lu Lili felt ashamed and indignant.
Lu Lili's gaze fell on the shimmering swimming pool behind Ji Yuning.
Because of the banquet, the pool water was specially changed today; it was clear and clean, as if it could reflect the true nature of people's hearts.
A thought popped into Lu Lili's mind: if a person falls into a pool of water, will something be washed away?
Lu Lili stared at the shimmering pool, then her gaze shifted to Ji Yuning's face. "Do you think that if an ugly duckling disguised as a swan falls into the water, it will revert to its original form?"
Ji Yuning sensed danger and turned to the side, trying to distance herself from Lu Lili.
But just as Ji Yuning made a move, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure moving somewhere out of the corner of her eye. Ji Yuning immediately stopped and said in a voice that only she and Lu Lili could hear, "You can try."
A single, flat sentence completely enraged Lu Lili.
The boy spotted Fang Maozhou, Chen Xiandong, and the others in the distance. He wanted to warn Lu Lili, but it was too late.
Lu Lili raised her hand and pushed Ji Yuning hard.
With a "plop," Ji Yuning was pushed into the pool, creating a small splash.
Fang Bai walked out from behind Chen Xiandong and happened to see Ji Yuning fall into the water.
Unlike the original text where she was pinned down in the pool, Ji Yuning's hands and feet were not restrained.
Can…
Ji Yuning can't swim yet.
Seeing Ji Yuning being pushed into the pool, Fang Maozhou recalled his conversation with Fang Bai in the side hall. Just as he was about to call for help, a figure ran past him. The movement was so fast that Fang Maozhou didn't have time to react, and by the time he reached out to grab the person, they were already far away.
Chen Xiandong called out, "Miss!"
Fang Bai had taken off his shoes at some point and ran barefoot to the edge of the pool. The water was still calm where Ji Yuning had fallen. Seeing the dark shadow in the water, Fang Bai jumped into the pool without hesitation.
Author's Note:
Xiao Ji's Diary:
On [date], Aunt Fang and I, in full view of everyone, frolicked in the water (not really).
Chapter 29
Those on the poolside only saw a streak of gold enter the water and swim towards the person who had sunk into the pool.
The exquisite clothes seemed to come alive in the water. The light reflected from the lamps and water ripples shone on the gold threads of the clothes, making them shimmer like fish scales. The skirt spread out with the water, flowing like a fish tail along with the movement of the white fabric.
With her hair flowing like ink and her figure gracefully moving, Fang Bai was like a mermaid, while the people on the poolside were spectators.
Just before falling into the water, Ji Yuning took a deep breath. The instant she hit the water, she held her breath and closed her eyes tightly. After sinking to the bottom of the pool, Ji Yuning remained motionless, despite the water pressing against her.
Ji Yuning can't swim, but she knows the basics: don't struggle after falling into the water to avoid choking on water. Plus, the pool is only about 1.6 meters deep. Ji Yuning had calculated that even if no one rescued her, she wouldn't be trapped in the pool, so she deliberately provoked Lu Lili.
For someone like Lu Lili, she wasn't crazy enough to risk her life.
Just as Ji Yuning was quietly waiting for the sound of the water to subside and was about to touch the pool floor with her feet to see if she could stand up, before she could make a move, she felt a tightness around her waist as an arm wrapped around her waist.
Ji Yuning could not see anything with her eyes closed, but the sensations in her body told her that the person who came to save her was a woman, a woman with slender but strong arms.
The woman held her tightly in her arms with just one arm. The air she had taken before going into the water was all used up, but Ji Yuning wasn't worried about running out of oxygen because the person holding her was pulling her upwards.
Ji Yuning knew that in two seconds, she would be able to breathe fresh air.
The moment she broke through the water's surface, Ji Yuning slightly opened her mouth and exhaled.
Before Ji Yuning could even open her eyes, she heard a voice that was all too familiar to her.
"How are you? Are you alright?"
With her eyes closed, her senses became more acute, and Ji Yuning clearly heard the undeniable panic and concern in the questioner's tone.
Her eyelashes, glistening with water droplets, were bunched up. Just as Ji Yuning was about to open her eyes, water trickled into them as she half-lifted her eyelids. Uncomfortable, Ji Yuning closed her eyes again.
Fang Bai had been observing Ji Yuning, and this small reaction naturally didn't escape her notice. She called out softly, "Xiao Ning?"
Ji Yuning's eyelids trembled. She hadn't expected that the person who saved her would be Fang Bai.
While in the water, she actually felt a sense of security from Fang Bai.
Fang Bai raised his hand to wipe away the water droplets around Ji Yuning's eyes, and said softly, "Did water get in your eyes? It's okay, it'll be fine after a while."
This time, not only were their ears more sensitive, but even the skin touched by Fang Bai's fingertips could feel the gentleness of his movements.
Fang Bai hadn't pulled his arm away from Ji Yuning's; it was still around her waist.
The clothes, which had been unfolding like a painting in the water, clung tightly to her body after she emerged. Ji Yuning felt the warmth of Fang Bai's body, the faint sound of his heartbeat, and... the softness against her arm.
Fang Bai noticed that the person in his arms tensed up. Fang Bai thought it was because he had touched her face, so he withdrew his hand after wiping away the last bit of water.
The moment Fang Bai withdrew his hand, the strange look in Ji Yuning's eyes disappeared, and she opened her eyes with a slight tremor in her eyelashes.
What catches the eye is Fang Bai's face, as white as if emerging from water. Her makeup shows no signs of smudging, a few strands of hair cling to her cheeks, and water droplets slide down her cheeks, over her jawline, and down her neck to her collarbone...
Ji Yuning inexplicably turned her head away and didn't look at Fang Bai again.
"Come on up first, don't catch a cold," Fang Maozhou's voice rang out.
Although it's summer, the wind is strong on the mountain, making it easy to catch a cold.
Fang Bai looked up and saw Fang Maozhou and the others walking to the edge of the pool.
Chang Suyao, who was following behind Fang Maozhou, quickly stepped forward and stopped the group of people who were about to approach after hearing what he said. "All of you men, turn your backs first. Didn't you see that Xiaobai and the others are wearing formal dresses? And those of you who pushed people into the water, turn around too. We'll settle accounts when your parents arrive."
Although the fabric of the clothes wasn't transparent and nothing could be seen, having just come out of the water, the clothes were clinging to her body and inevitably revealed her figure. In addition, she was a bit disheveled, so it was better not to let anyone see her.
As she spoke, Chang Suyao turned to the waiter behind them and said, "Bring the bath towels over."
Chen Xiandong immediately asked the waiter to fetch the bath towel. Upon hearing his wife's instruction, the waiter carried the bath towel to the poolside without hesitation.
The people in the backyard had already turned around when Chang Suyao called their names.
Fang Bai then led Ji Yuning to the edge of the pool.
As Ji Yuning braced herself against the edge of the pool, struggling to get out of the water, a pair of hands supported her hips.
Ji Yuning pursed her lips, wanting Fang Bai to remove her hand, when she heard Fang Bai say softly, "Slow down, I'll support you."
Ji Yuning: "..."
She didn't need it, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. All she could do was hurry up and get away from Fang Bai's... hand.
After they both got ashore, Fang Bai draped the towel that the waiter had given her over Ji Yuning, and then took another one and draped it over herself.
After hearing the sound of water coming out, Fang Maozhou waited a few seconds, then couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Is it done yet?"
Chang Suyao glanced at Fang Bai, then turned and walked to Fang Maozhou's side. "Alright, alright, it's just swimming, what's there to worry about? Your son's birthday party is almost here, and you haven't been in a hurry."
Listening to Chang Suyao's words, Fang Bai's eyes held a deeper meaning as he gazed at her retreating figure.
But as Fang Maozhou turned to walk towards her, Fang Bai suppressed her thoughts and turned to ask Ji Yuning, "Were you scared? Did you choke on any water?"
Ji Yuning lowered her eyebrows. "No."
"That's good, you—"
Fang Bai's words were interrupted.
"Smack!"
The crisp sound of a slap echoed throughout the backyard.
Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a woman standing in front of Lu Lili, scolding her.
After exchanging a few words, the woman pulled Lu Lili toward Fang Maozhou, saying, "Mr. Fang, I'm so sorry. I've spoiled this child. I haven't raised Lili well. I'll have her apologize to Miss Fang and... your granddaughter. I'm so sorry."
…granddaughter?
Fang Bai subconsciously looked at Ji Yuning. Ji Yuning pursed her lips, and it was impossible to tell what she was thinking. But it was clear that Ji Yuning's attention was not on the woman. Otherwise, she would not have reacted so calmly when she heard that she was Fang Maozhou's granddaughter and her daughter.
As the evening breeze blew by, Fang Bai worried that Ji Yuning would catch a cold, but he suppressed his thoughts and turned to Fang Maozhou, saying, "Old man, I'm leaving it to you."
His gaze swept over Lu Lili, who was trembling with her head down, and then settled on the woman. Fang Bai said coldly, "16 years old, not young. Pushing someone who can't swim into the pool is premeditated murder."
The woman felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, knowing this matter wouldn't end easily. When Lu Lili heard the last four words of Fang Bai's name, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, and she kept saying she didn't mean it…
But everyone present witnessed it all.
Fang Bai had no desire to stay any longer. He turned to the side and naturally took Ji Yuning's wrist, whispering, "I'll take you to change your clothes."
Chen Xiandong stepped forward and said, "Miss, I'll go with you."
Fang Bai politely declined, saying, "No need, Uncle Chen. You can go and do other things."