The two people present were stunned. Fang Bai had never changed his way of addressing her in all these years. What was going on today?
It's nothing much. On the way here, Fang Bai heard from Uncle Li that Chang Suyao had taken good care of him and Wu Mei over the years. Sometimes when Ji Yuning returned to Hushi, Chang Suyao would ask Uncle Li to invite Ji Yuning to her home for dinner, but Ji Yuning always refused.
Fang Bai understood that Chang Suyao's attitude stemmed from her departure.
Once there are no longer any conflicts of interest, enemies can become friends.
Ji Yuning and Lu Raomei, and her relationship with Chang Suyao.
It was a joyous occasion, and under Fang Maozhou's watchful gaze, Chang Suyao quickly responded, "Bye-bye."
Fang Bai nodded.
Chang Suyao chuckled awkwardly, "It's hot outside, let's go inside first."
After entering the house, Chang Suyao made room for the father and daughter, saying, "I'll make you some tea."
After saying that, he left the hall.
Fang Maozhou looked at Fang Bai, his smile undiminished, and asked, "Did you have fun in Nancheng? I heard you became friends with that girl from the Hao family?"
When Fang Bai returned to Nancheng, Fang Maozhou wanted to go to Nancheng to see him, but Fang Bai stopped him. He only gave up after hearing that Fang Bai would return to Hushi.
However, Fang Maozhou would call Fang Bai from time to time to chat. Even though they hadn't seen each other for several years, Fang Bai didn't feel unfamiliar with Fang Maozhou.
She naturally replied, "Yes, Yingman and I have known each other for a long time."
Fang Maozhou nodded again and continued, "Dad also heard that the girl is working with Xiao Ji?"
Upon hearing Ji Yuning's name, Fang Bai's eyes flickered slightly, but not noticeably. He nodded and said, "Yes."
After a few seconds of contemplation, Fang Maozhou suddenly exclaimed, "Xiao Ji is such a good kid."
Then Fang Maozhou looked at Fang Bai and asked in a low voice, "She came back with you, right? Why didn't she come?"
After several phone calls, Fang Maozhou already knew that Ji Yuning had found Fang Bai.
Fang Bai replied using Ji Yuning's words: "We have to have a meeting."
Fang Maozhou rested his hand on his lap, twirling the jade thumb ring on his thumb, and sighed inexplicably, "Sigh."
Fang Bai glanced over and wondered why Fang Maozhou was being so sentimental.
Fang Maozhou muttered to himself, "I guess he either doesn't want to come because he's in a meeting."
Although he didn't know why Fang Maozhou said that, Fang Bai subconsciously defended her, saying, "Xiao Ning is really busy; she's even busy working on the road."
Fang Bai paused for a moment, then asked, "But... why do you say that?"
Fang Maozhou looked at Fang Bai, remained silent for more than ten seconds, then stood up and said, "Come with me."
Fang Bai pursed his lips and paused for a few seconds before following Fang Maozhou upstairs.
In front of the original master bedroom door.
Fang Maozhou pointed to the door and said, "Open it and take a look."
"What's wrong with my room?" Fang Bai asked, turning the doorknob.
When Fang Bai pushed open the door, he was stunned by the scene inside.
There were many gift boxes neatly arranged on the ground; a quick glance revealed about thirty of them.
"...What is this?" Fang Bai looked at Fang Maozhou.
Fang Maozhou looked at them and said in a deep voice, "They were all sent by Xiao Ji."
Fang Bai's eyelids twitched, somewhat puzzled.
“From the day you left, Xiao Ji would come to the house every day to ask me where you were. Later, after you went to Beijing, Xiao Ji would come back about every two months to ask me about you.”
Fang Maozhou said, "Besides bringing gifts every time she comes, she also asks her assistant to send some over on holidays. Dad just puts them all in your room, and they've gradually piled up like this."
Fang Bai strolled over to the person holding the gift box, his pale fingertips gently tracing its surface.
Fang Maozhou stood to the side and said, “At first, Su Yao said that Xiao Ji was just putting on an act, but as time went on, she not only stopped talking about Xiao Ji, but sometimes she even sided with Xiao Ji and tried to get information out of me. But Dad promised you that he wouldn’t tell anyone, and he has kept his mouth shut. I haven’t even told Lao Chen.”
When Fang Maozhou didn't get a response from Fang Bai, he continued, "Although Dad doesn't know what conflict you had with Xiao Ji that made you leave for so long, I don't think Xiao Ji intentionally provoked you."
For three years, he visited Fang Bai without fail, his attitude even more sincere than when he visited Zhuge Liang three times. Fang Maozhou almost gave in several times, but the promise he made to Fang Bai was more important, so he had to harden his heart and say that he didn't know.
Fang Maozhou looked at Fang Bai and saw that she was lost in thought with her head down. Perhaps to make amends to Ji Yuning, Fang Maozhou cleared his throat and said:
"Dad thinks Xiao Ji cares about you a lot."
Author's Note:
Xiao Ji: You've won over your father-in-law just like that?
Aunt Fang: ...
Chapter 101
At 10 p.m., Fang Bai returned home.
As Fang Bai was changing his shoes in the entryway, Ji Yuning, who happened to be coming downstairs, heard the noise at the door and stopped.
When Fang Bai walked around the entrance hall, he looked up and met the eyes of the person standing on the stairs.
It was already late, but Ji Yuning was still wearing the clothes she had worn during the day. She looked a little tired, indicating that she had been busy until now.
Fang Bai's mind was still reeling from Fang Maozhou's words that afternoon. Touched by them, she spoke to Ji Yuning first, "Just finished working?"
Ji Yuning: "Hmm, why is Auntie so late?"
"I had a meal with the old man and the others." Speaking of meals, Fang Bai asked, "Did you have dinner?"
She was afraid that Ji Yuning would be so busy that she wouldn't even have time to eat.
Ji Yuning nodded: "I've already eaten."
The simple conversation did not suppress the emotions in Fang Bai's heart; on the contrary, when Ji Yuning responded to every question she asked, a warm feeling spread throughout her body.
Ji Yuning was about to go downstairs.
But as soon as she made a move, the gaze fixed on Fang Bai forced her to stop.
Fang Bai opened his arms wide, his fingers pointing diagonally at the ground, as if he was about to hug someone.
Fang Bai really wanted to hug someone. She looked at Ji Yuning with her watery eyes and said, "Come here, let Auntie hug you."
Ji Yuning raised her eyebrows slightly, surprised by the woman's initiative.
Although strange, the situation was rare, and Ji Yuning wouldn't ask any more questions.
The fatigue on her face vanished, and Ji Yuning stepped down the stairs.
When he was only one step away from Fang Bai, Fang Bai stepped forward and embraced Ji Yuning, burying his head naturally in Ji Yuning's shoulder without saying a word.
The scent of each other filled their nostrils.
Ji Yuning went downstairs to get water. At this moment, she was still holding a cup in her right hand. She could only use her free hand to stroke Fang Bai's back, patting it gently twice as if to comfort her. She tilted her head down and asked, "Why is Auntie suddenly so enthusiastic?"
A hug is the best comfort medicine; after a brief hug, Fang Bai's emotions were relieved.
She released Ji Yuning, took a step back to create some distance between herself and Ji Yuning, and said softly, "It's nothing, I just saw the gifts you gave to the old man."
Ji Yuning's expression remained unchanged as she asked, "President Fang didn't put it away?"
Fang Bai chuckled and said, "They're all in my room, piled up neatly. I even took pictures. Do you want to see them?"
Ji Yuning said no need: "I know what they are."
Fang Bai thought of what Fang Maozhou had muttered quietly after they came out of the bedroom. She smiled and said to Ji Yuning, "The old man said it's better not to give those supplements for middle-aged and elderly people."
This time, Ji Yuning's mood changed, and she asked, "Does President Fang mean that I sent the wrong gift?"
Fang Bai thought Ji Yuning had misunderstood, so he chimed in, "No, he likes it a lot, it's just that he feels he doesn't need it right now."
Ji Yuning smiled faintly and asked knowingly, "What I mean is, if I give the right gift, will Mr. Fang tell me some information about Auntie?"
Fang Bai's heart skipped a beat. No matter what he gave Fang Maozhou, Fang Maozhou wouldn't tell Ji Yuning without her permission.
Feeling a little guilty, Fang Bai took a step back when Ji Yuning leaned closer, pressing her heels against the sofa wall.
Fang Bai sat down and said to Ji Yuning, "Next time, just give me a gift, and I'll tell you where I am."
Fang Bai propped himself up on the sofa with one hand, crossed his legs, and sat on the edge of the sofa. Ji Yuning stood straight, looking down at Fang Bai with a condescending air. Her already cold eyes became even more icy because of her downcast gaze.
Fortunately, Ji Yuning's eyebrows were relaxed, and her lips were slightly upturned. She said in a light tone, "I know where Auntie is."
Fang Bai's eyes were languid as he looked up at Ji Yuning, waiting for what would happen next.
Her brown hair was draped over her chest on one side, covering half of her face, while the other side was draped over her back shoulder, with slightly curled ends and wispy strands around her ears, giving off a lazy vibe.
The temperature seemed to be rising. Ji Yuning drank the last sip of water in her cup. As the cool water slid down her throat, the coolness suppressed the heat in her body. Only then did she say, "Auntie will always be by my side from now on. There's no need to ask about her anymore."
Fang Bai was joking, so according to her thinking, Ji Yuning must have said the same thing, and then the topic would be passed by in jokes.
Upon hearing Ji Yuning's words, Fang Bai, for some reason, did not follow her lead and instead said, "How is that possible?"
Fang Bai's smile faded slightly. "You can't expect me to keep living with you after you marry your girlfriend, can you?"
A few seconds after Fang Bai finished speaking, she realized something was wrong. Based on her interactions with Ji Yuning, she didn't know Ji Yuning's sexual orientation. On the contrary, Ji Yuning knew that He Ziyan liked her, but it was hard to say whether she knew about her sexual orientation.
She wanted to take back her words but had no chance. It wasn't on WeChat, and her voice was very clear. She could only pray that Ji Yuning hadn't heard her.
“Am I right?” she asked.
Fang Bai calmly stood up and said naturally, "That's enough for today. I'm a little tired, so I'll go upstairs first."
As Fang Bai walked past Ji Yuning, Ji Yuning remained silent, which relieved Fang Bai. She walked briskly towards the stairs, and just as she was about to step onto the stairs, Ji Yuning's soft murmur sounded behind her: "Girlfriend?"
Fang Bai's feet stopped in mid-air. After a pause, he continued to fall, when he heard Ji Yuning ask again, "How did Auntie know?"
Fang Bai lowered his head, his features contorted in a quick frown, and when he turned to look at Ji Yuning, his expression was completely unreadable. She asked, puzzled, "Know what?"
Fang Bai thought that as long as she pretended not to know, Ji Yuning would act as if nothing had happened, just like her.
But the usually shrewd Ji Yuning suddenly became honest, saying, word by word, "I know I like girls."