With a creak, the door was pushed open from the outside. Hearing footsteps, Fang Bai didn't even look up, but asked softly, "Sister Wu, why aren't you asleep so late?"
"Sister Wu" remained silent, watching Fang Bai idly lying on the edge of the bed, chin resting on his arm, eyelids half-closed, and followed Fang Bai's gaze...
"Sister Wu" saw a water glass that had been overturned.
So the sound we just heard was because of this?
The footsteps grew closer.
Fang Bai licked her lips; she couldn't drink this water, so she could only ask Wu Mei to pour her another cup.
Thinking of this, Fang Bai said, "Sister Wu, could you please—"
Fang Bai saw a pair of black and white striped slippers. Their owner wasn't wearing socks, and two feet with an almost sickly white complexion were in front of him. The toes were rounded, and the nails were neatly trimmed, pink and white.
It looks great.
Fang Bai then realized that this wasn't Wu Mei's foot...
No, these aren't Wu Mei's slippers.
The moment Fang Bai looked up, he met Ji Yuning's dark eyes.
It was dark and deep, and you couldn't see the emotions in the other person's eyes.
Fang Bai asked in surprise, "Xiao Ning?"
"Hmm." Ji Yuning slowly squatted down, picked up the fallen water glass, and then took out a few tissues to wipe the water off the floor.
While Ji Yuning was doing these things, Fang Bai quietly sat up. Even though he was exhausted, he couldn't show too much weakness in front of the child.
"Why aren't you asleep so late?" Fang Bai asked.
Ji Yuning threw the soaking wet tissue into the trash can. "I just finished doing my practice problems and came downstairs for a drink of water."
When water was mentioned, Fang Bai couldn't help but lick his lips again. "I was just about to drink some water... and then I accidentally knocked over my glass."
The mess caused by the spilled water glass has already been cleaned up by Ji Yuning.
Ji Yuning: "I can tell."
Fang Bai leaned against the pillows and looked at Ji Yuning, who was wearing a black long dress nightgown. "Could you pour Auntie a glass of water?"
Ji Yuning glanced at Fang Bai expressionlessly, then turned and left the room.
He neither agreed nor refused.
Fang Bai couldn't figure out Ji Yuning's thoughts for a moment.
Two minutes later, there was a knock on Fang Bai's door.
After Fang Bai spoke, he saw Ji Yuning walk into the room carrying a glass of water.
"I thought you wouldn't care about me," Fang Bai said with a smile as she took the cup Ji Yuning handed her.
The cup contains warm water, which is at the perfect temperature for drinking.
Ji Yuning waited until Fang Bai finished drinking the water before speaking, "...After all, you got caught in the rain because of me."
That was a perfect answer, explaining that everything Ji Yuning did was simply a well-intentioned encouragement from the heart.
Fang Bai held the cup with both hands and whispered to Ji Yuning, "You know that, right?"
She thought her efforts had gone unnoticed.
Fang Bai's tone was soft, and because his throat was uncomfortable, his voice was hoarse.
It sounds more like she's being coquettish...
Ji Yuning turned her head away, avoiding Fang Bai's gaze.
After drinking water, drowsiness crept in, but this was a good opportunity to get closer to Ji Yuning, and Fang Bai didn't want to miss it.
Fang Bai took another sip of water, his voice tinged with amusement as he asked, "Did you come downstairs specifically to take care of me?"
"?"
Ji Yuning frowned and repeated, "...I just finished doing practice problems and went downstairs for a drink of water."
"Oh?" Fang Bai asked, "Why did you knock on my door to ask for water?"
“…”
Upon reaching the second floor, Ji Yuning intended to check on Beibei, but just as she reached the door of the side bedroom, she heard a loud bang coming from Fang Bai's room. By the time she realized what was happening, she was already standing in front of Fang Bai's door.
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai, "Want some more?"
Fang Bai shook his head, "No."
Ji Yuning didn't say anything after hearing this, and turned to walk towards the door.
Upon seeing this, Fang Bai hurriedly called out, "Xiao Ning."
Fang Bai shouted very quickly, but his voice was very weak.
Ji Yuning did not stop.
Just as Ji Yuning opened the door and was about to leave the bedroom, Fang Bai said what she wanted to say to Ji Yuning, "Thank you."
A "click" sound rang out, and the door closed.
Fang Bai withdrew his gaze, his last look falling on the water glass in his hand. Looking at the faint fingerprints on the surface, a gentle smile played on his lips. "Stubborn kid..."
-
on Monday.
Ji Yuning acted as usual.
However, while Ji Yuning was eating breakfast, Wu Mei walked up to her and said cautiously, "Little Ji, Miss's fever hasn't gone down yet. Let Old Li take you to school today. He's already waiting outside the villa. You can just go out after you finish eating."
Ji Yuning paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."
Seeing that Ji Yuning agreed, Wu Mei prepared to bring breakfast to Fang Bai.
But as soon as she turned around, Wu Mei saw Fang Bai, dressed neatly, coming downstairs.
She went to see Fang Bai just half an hour ago, and Fang Bai was still lying weakly on the bed.
Wu Mei hurriedly went to Fang Bai's side and took her arm, "Miss, why did you come downstairs?"
Fang Bai was helped to sit in the main seat by Wu Mei.
Wu Mei: "Miss, I'll go get you your food."
Fang Bai nodded: "Okay."
As Wu Mei walked towards the kitchen, Fang Bai turned to Ji Yuning and smiled, "Good morning, Yuning."
Ji Yuning lowered her eyes: "...Good morning."
Wu Mei served Fang Bai a bowl of white porridge. When Fang Bai had drunk half of it, Ji Yuning got up and picked up her schoolbag.
Fang Bai asked, "Have you finished eating?"
Ji Yuning: "Mm."
Fang Bai stood up, the chair sliding backward and scraping against the floor with a screeching sound, attracting the attention of the two people in the living room.
Wu Mei: "Miss, aren't you going to eat?"
"Hmm, I can't eat anymore," Fang Bai said to Ji Yuning. "Let's go."
Ji Yuning slowed down her pace of carrying her schoolbag.
Seeing the question in Ji Yuning's eyes, Fang Bai said, "I promised to take you to school every time, and I won't break my promise."
Ji Yuning paused for a moment, then remained silent.
Upon hearing this, Wu Mei swallowed the words of protest that were about to come out and reminded her, "Miss, you haven't taken your medicine yet."
Fang Bai turned to Ji Yuning and said, "Give me a minute."
Three minutes later, Fang Bai and Ji Yuning sat together in the back seat, and Uncle Li finally resumed his work.
Ji Yuning was wearing her school uniform. Fang Bai glanced unintentionally at the two white stripes on the hem of her school uniform pants. "Did Sister Wu give you your living expenses?"
Ji Yuning: "Mm."
Fang Bai's throat was a little itchy, so he couldn't help but cough. "Eat more. You can send me a WeChat message if you need more."
Ji Yuning: "Mm."
Fang Bai finally succumbed to his physical discomfort and stopped talking. He intended to close his eyes and rest for a while, but unexpectedly, he drifted off to sleep.
When Fang Bai opened his eyes again, Ji Yuning was no longer in the car. He looked out the window and realized that they were already on the return route.
“…”
The little ingrate didn't even say goodbye before getting off the bus.
Fang Bai sat up slightly and said to the person in the driver's seat, "Uncle Li, turn off the air conditioning."
Fang Bai wrapped his coat tighter around himself. "I'm a little cold."
Although it's summer, it had rained yesterday, and the temperature was already low this morning, so Uncle Li didn't turn on the air conditioner at all.
Hearing Fang Bai's words, Uncle Li said worriedly, "Miss, I'll take you to the hospital."
"No need," Fang Baitou said weakly, leaning against the back of the car seat. "I've already taken my medicine."
Going to the hospital would undoubtedly mean getting an IV drip, and the sharp needle piercing the vein makes my hand ache just thinking about it.
She won't go to the hospital because the injections are too painful.
On the day he "beared the thorns to apologize," Fang Bai didn't lie to Ji Yuning; she was genuinely afraid of pain.
Chapter 24
When Fang Bai got home, the medicine he took after dinner took effect, and after Wu Mei took his temperature, it had returned to normal.