However, thinking that Ji Yuning was still behind her, Fang Bai felt she couldn't lose face. She straightened her back, suppressed her discomfort, and continued walking forward.
Suddenly, the lights ahead flickered, the dark red light turning orange-yellow, then bluish-purple. A few seconds later, when the lights dimmed again, a long-haired head covered in blood suddenly appeared on the wall.
"!"
Fang Bai held his breath.
The next second, everything went black before Fang Bai's eyes as someone covered them from behind.
Fang Bai thought it was an NPC and couldn't help but call out. Just as she was about to break free, a fragrance wafted into her nose.
The faint fragrance washed away the pungent chemical smell in the corridor.
It's Ji Yuning.
Fang Bai turned around, instinctively raised his hand, and covered the eyes of the person behind him as well.
Her other hand naturally rested on Ji Yuning's shoulder. With a hug to lean on, Fang Bai's trembling body calmed down. Then she felt the person she was holding tense up, not knowing whether it was from fright or something else.
A pitiful scream came from ahead, lasting for three breaths before stopping. Fang Bai felt the hand on his face move away. He opened his eyes and quietly turned his head to look. The NPC's shadow was gone from the wall, and the light had turned white.
As his racing heartbeat gradually calmed down, Fang Bai turned to Ji Yuning and asked, "Why are you covering my eyes?"
Ji Yuning paused for a moment: "There's something fishy going on."
Fang Bai knew that she was concerned about something else: "You're not avoiding me anymore?"
During the time after entering the haunted house, although Ji Yuning did not deliberately keep her distance from Fang Bai, Fang Bai still felt that Ji Yuning kept a step's distance from her.
That's why Ji Yuning hesitated for a second before covering Fang Bai's eyes.
With the help of the dim light, Ji Yuning saw Fang Bai's slightly pale face. The woman was different from her; although she was indifferent, she had a kind heart, unlike her, who lived in hatred.
Ji Yuning recalled the hand that covered her eyes, cold and stiff, and the trembling arm resting on her shoulder…
Fang Bai just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Without waiting for Ji Yuning's reply, she turned and walked forward, saying, "Stay close to me."
After taking a couple of steps, Fang Bai's right hand was taken from behind. The other person's hand was warm, radiating heat.
Fang Bai looked at Ji Yuning, "What are you doing—"
Wasn't I avoiding her? Why did I hold her hand?
“I’m scared,” Ji Yuning said calmly as she led Fang Bai forward. “Auntie, protect me.”
Author's Note:
Schrödinger's fear?
Chapter 56
Are you afraid to still walk ahead?
Fang Bai quickened his pace and walked to Ji Yuning's side, walking forward side by side with her.
The hand holding hers was bony and slender, its fingers gripping her four fingers, its thumb pressed tightly against the base of her thumb. The tight grip gave Fang Bai a sense of security in the darkness.
sense of security?
Fang Bai paused, glancing sideways at the person beside her. The other person was now as tall as her, and when she turned her head, she saw a pair of bright eyes that shimmered in the dim light, but she couldn't discern the emotions hidden within them.
Suddenly, several ghostly roars came from the wall.
Fang Bai couldn't help but say, "Xiao Ning."
Although Ji Yuning was focused on the exploration, she still responded to Fang Bai immediately, "Mm."
Fang Bai was concerned about her image and didn't want Ji Yuning to think she was afraid. In addition, Ji Yuning had asked her to protect her, so Fang Bai said softly, "If you're scared, go to the back."
Several screams came from behind.
“…Never mind, let’s go together.” After saying that, Fang Bai put his other hand on Ji Yuning’s arm.
It was an act of seeking refuge that ordinary people would make, something Fang Bai himself didn't even realize.
Ji Yuning sensed it. She pursed her lips. Her deliberate avoidance all morning had failed to work, or rather, it had no effect at all.
No matter how far away Fang Bai is, those scenes still vividly appear in my mind.
The problem isn't with Fang Bai, it's with her.
After a short while, Ji Yuning silently led Fang Bai to search for the pass.
Time slowly passed, and all around was eerily quiet.
Fang Bai shifted his gaze from the rag doll in the distance to the child searching for the exit. Her figure blended into the shadows, and for a fleeting moment, her thin frame seemed reassuring.
"Actually, I originally wanted you to be paired with Xiaomu," Fang Bai said, thinking that this might be an opportunity to take their relationship to the next level.
As he spoke, Fang Bai remembered that He Ziyan and Mu Xuerou were in front of them, and the topic jumped abruptly: "I wonder if Xiao Mu and the others have gone out yet."
With a click, Ji Yuning found the hidden door.
After entering another passage, Ji Yuning did not respond to Fang Bai's question, but simply said, "There might be something scary ahead, cover your eyes."
After saying that, Ji Yuning looked at the person who had already covered their eyes and unconsciously curled up the corners of her lips.
I don't know if I'm laughing at Fang Bai's feigned fearlessness or at her trust in me and her obedient behavior.
"Do you need me to help you cover it up?" Fang Bai asked.
“No need,” Ji Yuning said calmly, “I can do it myself.”
Fang Bai was convinced: "Okay."
Ji Yuning pulled Fang Bai forward, and they came face to face with the NPC that suddenly appeared around the corner. Ignoring the "ghost" that was waving its arms and legs and making low, hoarse noises, they calmly continued to walk forward.
Fang Bai, who had covered his eyes and couldn't see anything, shuddered uncontrollably when the "ghost" scream rang out.
After walking a few steps, Fang Bai heard Ji Yuning say to her, "Okay."
The next second, she heard Ji Yuning call her: "Sister."
Fang Bai couldn't help but cough, lowered his hand, and said with a slight reproach, "Why are you calling me 'sister'? You're messing up the generational hierarchy, you know?"
"He Ziyan is suitable?"
The light was too dim for Fang Bai to see Ji Yuning's expression clearly, and even her voice was too flat for her to discern any emotion.
Fang Bai could only chuckle softly, "That was a joke. Can't you even tell it's a joke?"
Afterwards, Fang Bai said softly, "Still call her Auntie."
As they spoke, Ji Yuning led Fang Bai out of the passage. Looking at the two people waiting a few steps away, Ji Yuning tightened her grip on Fang Bai's hand and said, "Mm."
He Ziyan paused when she saw the two clasped hands, and only when Fang Bai walked up to her did she call out, "Aunt Fang."
He Ziyan's voice was somewhat low, and Fang Bai asked, "How are you? Were you scared?"
Hearing Fang Bai's question, He Ziyan was stunned. She immediately looked to her side to stop Mu Xuerou, but it was too late.
"Yes," Mu Xuerou covered her mouth and laughed, "She was so scared that she kept burrowing into my arms."
He Ziyan turned her head away. She never expected that Mu Xuerou, who looked so delicate and gentle, was actually very brave. While others would turn and run away when they saw a ghost, Mu Xuerou was startled for a moment before striding forward to ask where the ghost's exit was.
Hearing the laughter around her, He Ziyan turned her head to explain, but seeing Fang Bai and Ji Yuning still holding hands, she became annoyed and turned to walk out: "Let's go, let's go eat!"
After lunch, the group played two more rides before leaving the amusement park.
Fang Bai escorted Mu Xuerou and He Ziyan home. By the time they arrived home, it was already six o'clock in the evening, and it was dark.
As soon as I entered the house, I was greeted by the aroma of food, and a striking birthday cake stood on the table.
Ji Yuning stood there, watching Wu Mei's figure in the kitchen. Hearing the door open, Wu Mei hurriedly came out and said, "Little Ji, happy birthday."
Wu Mei chuckled and said, "Look at my memory, if Miss hadn't called me to pick up the birthday cake, I would have forgotten that today is your birthday. Luckily, Miss called early, so I had time to prepare."
Ji Yuning glanced at the person next to her without leaving a trace, then turned to Wu Mei and said, "Thank you, Aunt Wu."
"No need to thank me," Wu Mei said to Fang Bai. "Miss, why don't you and Xiao Ji come and see if there's anything else you'd like to eat? I'll make some more."
Fang Bai hummed in agreement, took Ji Yuning's hand, and led her to the dining table.
Because Ji Yuning took his hand in the haunted house today, Fang Bai's action of pulling Ji Yuning's hand was incredibly natural.
It's like... holding hands all the time.
Ji Yuning's eyelashes drooped.
Fang Bai felt that, just as described in the article, Ji Yuning's attitude towards her had been gradually softening since Ji Yuning's birthday.
Six months passed in the blink of an eye, during which time the two maintained a harmonious relationship without any problems arising.
Although the temperature remained stagnant and didn't rise, it was already quite good for Fang Bai. As long as it didn't drop to freezing point, it meant that her efforts were effective.
In mid-May, on a day off, Fang Bai planned to ask Ji Yuning to go swimming with her.
Fang Bai bought Ji Yuning several swimming lessons, and the results were remarkable. From someone who was afraid of water, she overcame her fear and swam freely in the water. Fang Bai couldn't help but admire the hidden ruthlessness in Ji Yuning's bones; she could succeed at anything she wanted to do.
Just as Fang Bai came out of her room and was about to go upstairs to find Ji Yuning, Wu Mei quickly ran upstairs and whispered, "Miss, that person has arrived."
Fang Bai didn't understand who Wu Mei was talking about, and frowned slightly. "Who is it?"
Wu Mei walked to Fang Bai's side and whispered, "Chang Suyao."
Fang Bai raised an eyebrow, showing surprise.
In the year or so since she came here, apart from her last contact with Chang Suyao at the Fang family home, she hasn't had any other contact. Even when Fang Maozhou invited her home for the Spring Festival, she flew abroad to visit Liao Li for two weeks to minimize contact with the Fang family, and only returned after the holiday.
Now that Chang Suyao has come to see her, Fang Bai's intuition tells her that this is definitely not a simple matter.
Going downstairs, I saw Chang Suyao, dressed in a black dress, sitting on the sofa, drinking tea with her head down.
Hearing the noise, Chang Suyao put down her cup and looked at Fang Bai with a smile, "Did I disturb you?"
Fang Bai walked over and picked up the tea that Wu Mei had poured for her. "No."
Without any preamble, Chang Suyao stated the purpose of her visit directly: "I'm not here for anything else, I'm just here to deliver an invitation to you."