She asked Ji Yuning, "Why not if I'm there?"
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai with her dark eyes. The person in front of her was a gentle, intellectual, and generous beauty. The smile on her lips could calm her down whenever she saw it.
No matter how brilliant and successful she was in business, it was nothing compared to the peace of mind that Fang Bai gave her.
Compared to what Fang Bai said, those were things that could be obtained with a little effort, but no matter how hard she tried, she could never get them, except for Fang Bai.
Fang Bai is her biggest challenge.
Ji Yuning's eyes flickered, and she turned her head away. "Finding you is hard enough."
Fang Bai: "".
For a moment, she was speechless.
Fang Bai touched her nose, looking slightly guilty, and awkwardly walked up to Ji Yuning.
Without looking at her, Fang Bai cupped Ji Yuning's face in his hands and easily turned her head back to the side.
The moment Fang Bai met Ji Yuning's gaze, he said softly, "Since that's the case, why are you worried about what I think of you? Everything you do is for me, and perhaps there are other reasons as well, but no matter what, as long as you don't break the law, I will support you."
Fang Bai pinched Ji Yuning's cheek. Her face was too thin and didn't have much soft flesh, but it still felt smooth and tender.
She lowered her hand and said, "Auntie has never disliked you, not before, and not in the future."
Fang Bai said this from the perspective of an aunt, without any other emotions involved.
Ji Yuning could tell.
But there was no need to worry about that now. In a good mood, she grabbed Fang Bai's hand as he left and asked in a teasing tone, "What was Auntie thinking just now?"
She was certain she wasn't seeing things; there was surprise in Fang Bai's eyes.
The dishes that had been served on the table were emitting a fragrant aroma, but the two people standing beside the table paid no attention to them.
Upon hearing the question, Fang Bai, who was a caring aunt a moment ago, instantly switched to the mindset of someone being pursued.
Fang Bai was not surprised by what Ji Yuning said, but by the question that she had just questioned.
Ji Yuning said that she initially agreed to leave Lu Zheng's offer, so why did she later decide she didn't want to leave? Was it really because the "original owner" (the body's owner) had changed for the better? Or...?
Lu Raomei's words echoed in my ears once again.
What if Ji Yuning already liked her back then?
So, Ji Yuning's feelings for her have really been going on for more than three years.
Fang Bai first pulled his hand away from Ji Yuning's grasp, then hesitated before asking, "Why did you change your mind and not leave Hushi back then?"
After asking the question, her heart pounded; she wanted a definite answer.
Ji Yuning glanced at Fang Bai's hand, then looked directly at him with a smile, saying, "What do you think?"
Asking a question in return confirms Fang Bai's thoughts more than directly stating them.
So, does that mean that while she was still worried that Ji Yuning would be used as cannon fodder, Ji Yuning had already fallen for her?
Why?
Fang Bai asked directly, "After how I treated you before, how could you still...?"
The first part of her sentence referred to what the original owner had done to Ji Yuning, and the second part she didn't finish was—how could you still like me?
Fang Bai paused, wanting to continue, but couldn't say anything.
The fact that Ji Yuning likes her is as absurd as 1+13.
However, she occupied the original owner's body. Ji Yuning, the original owner, and she, doesn't that equal three?
That's how she sees it, but what Ji Yuning sees is still 1+12, isn't it?
That's what Ji Yuning likes...
Fang Bai's mind was in turmoil.
Just as she was forcing herself not to think about it, Ji Yuning's words made her feel like she was facing an iceberg.
Calm down completely.
Ji Yuning said, "You're not her, are you?"
Ji Yuning spoke in a very flat tone, so calm that it was as if she were saying something as ordinary as "Have you eaten?"
But those who heard it…
Fang Bai's pupils dilated as he looked at Ji Yuning; no words could describe her state at that moment.
For a moment, Fang Bai wondered if he was hallucinating.
But Ji Yuning's voice was so real, like a drumstick striking her heart, reminding her again and again that Ji Yuning knew she wasn't the original owner of this body.
After calming himself down a bit, Fang Bai pretended not to understand: "What do you mean I'm not her? Auntie doesn't know what you're talking about."
Ji Yuning raised an eyebrow, pulled up Fang Bai's hand that was hanging by his side, and stroked the soft back of his hand with her fingertips while touching it to Fang Bai.
Seeing the lingering panic in Fang Bai's eyes, Ji Yuning asked, "Auntie, how long has it been since you touched a piano?"
It hits the vital point directly.
The original owner played the piano almost every day, but after she arrived, she never touched it again.
But is it too hasty to conclude that she is not the original owner based on this alone?
Seeing that Fang Bai remained silent, Ji Yuning smiled and said, "It's not just this, there are many more. Whether or not you play the piano is just one clue."
She can follow this clue and uncover even more.
Ji Yuning spoke in a calm tone, and continued, "You are completely different from her. Even if you look the same, over time, the difference between you will become apparent."
Not to mention that Fang Bai only deliberately pretended to be Ji Yuning at the beginning, and gradually became himself later.
Fang Bai curled his fingers.
Ji Yuning gave Fang Bai a few seconds to catch his breath, then she said, "Do you remember that time I sank to the bottom of the pool?"
Fang Bai's eyelashes trembled; of course she remembered.
She even remembers the moment she saw Ji Yuning sink to the bottom of the pool, and how she felt suffocated along with her.
“That was the last time I was sure you weren’t her,” Ji Yuning said. “She wished I were dead. No matter how perfectly I acted, she would never save me if given the chance.”
They simply ignored it, then smiled and left the poolside.
As Fang Bai listened to Ji Yuning's explanation, something seemed off. Finally, he asked, "Did you do this on purpose?"
"..." Ji Yuning pursed her lips, "I'm sorry to have worried you."
Fang Bai was a little angry. "Just to confirm that I'm not her, you risked your life? Ji Yuning, you're really something."
Ji Yuning said meticulously, "Actually, I already knew before that. The second verification was just to confirm the answer."
Fang Bai didn't want to dwell on what happened a few years ago; her harsh tone was simply because she was worried about Ji Yuning back then.
Unable to hide it any longer, Fang Bai's heart trembled slightly, and he asked with a hint of helplessness, "Aren't you... afraid of me?"
Anyone would be scared in this situation, right?
Seeing that Fang Bai finally admitted it, Ji Yuning imitated Fang Bai's earlier action, cupped Fang Bai's face in her hands, and said softly, "Why should I be afraid of you? You came to my side to save me, and I am grateful to you."
Their eyes met, and Ji Yuning said tenderly, "Fang Bai, you are my angel."
Fang Bai blinked awkwardly, then removed Ji Yuning's hand. "It's okay as long as you're not afraid of me..."
Ji Yuning's hand stopped at Fang Bai's waist as it was hanging down, and she placed one hand on Fang Bai's lower back. "Don't be afraid, I will only like you."
The drumbeats in Fang Bai's ears started again, even more intense than before, so that she couldn't hear anything else.
Looking down at the person in her arms with faintly red earlobes, Ji Yuning resisted the temptation and asked, "Auntie, can I kiss you?"
Ji Yuning's eyes were full of sincerity, as if she were asking for candy.
This kind of problem...
Fang Bai looked away. "Let's eat."
She wasn't just asking if they could kiss, but also about Fang Bai's current attitude towards her.
Judging from this... it seems that being honest has been quite effective?
Ji Yuning chuckled softly, "Okay."
The meal was quickly finished, but Fang Bai was preoccupied and barely ate anything.
After the meal, Ji Yuning took on the task of washing the dishes.
Fang Bai sat on the sofa, swaying back and forth.
She wanted to get up and go back to her room, but she was afraid that Ji Yuning would think she was hiding.
She didn't want to be treated like an ostrich, but right now she really needed some peace and quiet.
Fang Bai never imagined that Ji Yuning hadn't noticed her true identity all these years!
Is it that Ji Yuning was too good at disguising herself, or that she was too slow to react?
If she had known sooner, she wouldn't have had to live in constant fear, and then spend three years hiding and running away...
When Ji Yuning came out of the kitchen, she saw Fang Bai hiding himself in the sofa cushions.
She walked over and called softly, "Auntie?"
Fang Bai stiffened and slowly raised her head from the cushion. Ji Yuning was standing in the backlight and couldn't be seen clearly, nor did she want to. She wanted to be alone for a while.
"Finished washing?"
Fang Bai's voice was a little hoarse, perhaps because he was feeling muffled.
She sat up and reached for the water glass on the coffee table, but someone else grabbed it faster than she could.
"Hmm." Ji Yuning held the cup to Fang Bai's lips. "What is Auntie doing?"
Fang Bai took the cup, took a sip of water, and said, "I'm sleepy, I want to go to sleep."
"Then Auntie should get some rest," Ji Yuning said.
This suited Fang Bai perfectly. A thought struck her, and she casually said, "Okay, then I'll go take a shower."
Ji Yuning nodded.