Those three expensive camisole nightgowns are all comparable to this short-sleeved shirt.
It's not short sleeves that can silence Ji Yuning.
She pointed to the suitcases filled with white luggage in the corner and asked in a flat tone, "Where is Auntie planning to go?"
Chapter 96
Where to?
This is a good question, and it's also the topic that Fang Bai has been hesitating about all day, switching back and forth between Ji Yuning's profile picture, unsure how to start.
Hao Yingman came to help her pack her luggage and tidy up her house. You could tell that she had already packed most of her things, and some that couldn't fit were thrown away. Hao Yingman took a shower because she was sweaty and sticky after packing.
When Hao Yingman said she would pick her up before she left, she meant she would take her to the airport.
She's leaving tomorrow.
Facing the cold screen, pondering the words that couldn't be spoken, everything became effortless under Ji Yuning's gaze.
Fang Bai said softly, "Let's go on a trip."
After saying that, Fang Bai inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
Why did she hesitate all morning, unable to even send Ji Yuning a simple "Are you there?" when it was something so simple to say?
It's probably just imagination.
She wondered what Ji Yuning would think after seeing the message. Would she think that she had left again and disappeared without a trace, just like before?
This doesn't apply to Fang Bai, but she's not Ji Yuning and doesn't know what the other party is thinking.
So, following this line of thought, Fang Bai wondered if she was going to make a promise to Ji Yuning, assuring her that she wouldn't lose contact and would keep in touch during that time. Thinking about this, Fang Bai wondered why she needed to make such a promise to Ji Yuning? Why did she need Ji Yuning's permission to go on her trip to feel at ease? Was it because of guilt?
Or is it...?
Does she care about Ji Yuning's thoughts?
Fang Bai's eyelashes trembled; she still didn't understand her hesitation.
Ji Yuning's raised fingers slowly curled up, and finally her whole arm deflated like a punctured balloon, falling limply to her side.
She had a bad feeling from the moment she entered the room in the afternoon. Every few minutes, she would suddenly feel uneasy. She thought it was because of Hao Yingman, but even after Hao Yingman left, the feeling did not disappear.
She didn't see the suitcase until she went into the bedroom.
Ji Yuning lifted her eyelids and looked silently at Fang Bai.
After their eyes met for a few seconds, Fang Bai sighed inwardly. Sure enough, she cared a little about Ji Yuning's thoughts.
She moved her toes toward Ji Yuning, stepped to the bedside, and, feeling the gloom surrounding Ji Yuning, Fang Bai hesitated before reaching out her hand toward Ji Yuning.
Fang Bai paused for a moment during the process. Seeing that Ji Yuning did not intend to dodge, she placed her hand on the top of Ji Yuning's head, gently rubbing it from side to side to feel the softness of the hair. Fang Bai comforted her, "It's not that Auntie didn't want to tell you, it's just that when I was about to send you a message, you appeared in front of me in surprise."
"You started cooking as soon as you walked in, and it was bitter melon, which Auntie hates the most. I was so disgusted by the bitterness I couldn't even speak. I wanted to talk to you after we finished eating," Fang Bai withdrew his hand. "Now that you've found out first, I'll just tell you. You know I came back to help Yingman. Before that, we agreed to go on a trip after work. Now that the cooperation is stable, we—"
Fang Bai was interrupted by Ji Yuning before he could finish his last few words.
Ji Yuning said, "I'll stay with you."
Fang Bai's gaze fell on Ji Yuning's face. Seeing her serious expression, which didn't seem like she was joking, he refused without thinking, "No."
The refusal was said too quickly, clearly without any thought.
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai, remaining silent.
The air around them slowed down, and the room became somewhat stuffy.
Fang Bai's breathing quickened. She took a step back, thinking it might make her feel better, but as soon as she moved, Ji Yuning followed her, asking in a low, emotionless voice, "Why?"
Fang Bai's eyes flickered. "You still have studies and work to do."
That's really what she was thinking. The second she blurted it out, Fang Bai was thinking about what would happen to Ji Yuning's life if she went with her.
This time, Ji Yuning broke her silence and said, "The final exams are over, and I've arranged all my work for the near future. I can work remotely from now on."
She had stayed up several nights in a row to find time to come to Nancheng, and hadn't been able to contact Fang Bai because she was so busy. She was initially angry that Fang Bai hadn't reached out to her, but now she realized that there was an even bigger surprise waiting for her.
Ji Yuning narrowed her eyes slightly, her thin lips curving into a shallow arc, which was not quite a smile, but Fang Bai even sensed a hint of danger in it.
When Fang Bai blinked and looked again, he could only see a slight plea and an undisguised sincerity in Ji Yuning's expressionless face.
Ji Yuning is waiting for Fang Bai's agreement.
Without saying a word, she conveyed to Fang Bai with an undeniable gaze that she wanted her to agree.
This gave Fang Bai the feeling that no matter what excuse she used to reply to Ji Yuning, Ji Yuning would always find a suitable reason that she couldn't refute.
Unlike the relentless pressure, this feeling is more like the helplessness of drowning; no matter how much you struggle, you can only let the water bind you.
For the first time, Fang Bai felt that when facing Ji Yuning, she was like a defenseless deserter, needing courage even to resist.
The spot on her neck that had been rubbed against in the afternoon was hot and itchy, like being brushed by a feather. She couldn't help but put her hand on her neck and cover that spot of skin.
Fang Bai gently stroked her fingertips twice, and as the itching gradually subsided, she moved her lips as if to speak, but when she smelled the faint strawberry scent on her fingertips, all her words caught in her throat.
Some things she hadn't taken seriously in her daily life suddenly came flooding back like a torrent.
Unbelievable, half-believing.
Fang Bai's gaze towards Ji Yuning clearly changed, and he swallowed the words of persuasion that were about to come out of his throat.
Suppressing the burning sensation rising in his neck again, Fang Bai temporarily suppressed his thoughts and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Ning, we all have our own lives."
Fang Bai glanced up at Ji Yuning, ignoring all the emotions she expressed, and said in a more serious tone, "You don't need to stay by my side all the time."
As soon as she finished speaking, the calmness in Ji Yuning's eyes finally wavered.
It's not that it's impossible, but that it's unnecessary.
In other words, she is dispensable; Fang Bai can live without her.
My heart suddenly clenched, and bitterness spread from my heart to my whole body.
Before her limbs went weak, Ji Yuning replied, "So you don't have me in your life."
Ji Yuning spoke in a calm voice and her expression was also quite composed, simply because she was gambling on her place in Fang Bai's heart.
But what she got in return was Fang Bai's long silence.
As Fang Bai fell silent, the hope in Ji Yuning's eyes was gradually swallowed up by the desolate beasts, leaving her with nothing but bones and utter despair.
As the hope of life vanished, Ji Yuning's gaze fell on Fang Bai's fair neck, where wisps of hair covered a patch of pinkish skin.
His cold, austere eyes were clouded with a dark light.
Fang Bai didn't notice Ji Yuning. Overwhelmed by the surging thoughts in her mind, she lowered her eyes and looked at the corner of the bed. Her pupils were already dilated and unfocused.
Perhaps because the idea was too shocking, Fang Bai kept jumping back and forth between possibility and impossibility.
Hao Yingman's words echoed in his ears, piling up and slowly merging into a single thought:
Does Ji Yuning like her?
How could that be?
How could Ji Yuning like her?
But how do we explain the current situation?
"I see."
Fang Bai, who was caught in a vortex of confusion, was awakened by Dao Qing's cold voice. She came back to her senses and looked up at Ji Yuning.
What do you know?
Ji Yuning didn't reveal what she knew, but instead asked, "Where is Auntie planning to go?"
His tone was casual, as if he were asking Fang Bai what he had eaten.
Fang Bai, whose mind was a complete mess, didn't react for a moment: "?"
Ji Yuning continued, "When you see some beautiful scenery, Auntie, can you share it with me?"
Fang Bai murmured, "You...aren't you coming with me?"
This time it was Ji Yuning's turn to be surprised. She said, "Auntie changed her mind?"
Fang Bai pursed his lips and shook his head.
Things didn't go as planned, and Fang Bai dared not say more.
Ji Yuning's voice was clear and crisp: "I was just saying it casually. I've never traveled before, and I was just curious, wondering if there was a chance I'd be taken along by Auntie, but I never expected..."
She left it at that, but a look of dejection appeared between Ji Yuning's brows.
Fang Bai couldn't bear it: "I just thought..."
Fang Bai realized he was wrong halfway through his sentence. He couldn't very well let her say, "I thought you liked me, so you deliberately said harsh things."
Leaving things unfinished is more like running out of words when making a defense, concealing the truth.
Fang Bai wanted to explain further, but Ji Yuning said:
“I know that Auntie has her own life, and my presence will only disturb her.”
Fang Bai pursed her lips as she saw Ji Yuning take a card out of her pocket and hand it to her.
Fang Bai recognized it at a glance as the card she had left for Ji Yuning.
Fang Bai suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with confusion and doubt.
What does it mean to give her the card?
Ji Yuning quickly provided an answer.
Ji Yuning said, "The money in my card is three times what it used to be. The money to start the company was borrowed from my aunt, and now I'm paying her back with interest."
Fang Bai's rosy lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but it was as if a stone was stuck in her mouth, and she couldn't say anything.
Even though she was the one who first used harsh words to distance herself from Ji Yuning, Ji Yuning directly showed through her actions that she owed her nothing and would not take anything from her.