It felt even more swollen and sore than when I ran 800 meters in my student days.
Fang Bai thought she might need to stay in bed for a few days to recover.
Despite thinking this, Fang Bai still prepared to go back to her room to get her phone and... clean up the mess.
She was still resting her head on Ji Yuning's arm, just like before, and Fang Bai moved gently.
But Fang Bai overestimated his endurance. As his legs bent, it affected a certain part of his body, then his waist, arms, and his entire body.
Fang Bai grunted.
The sound was faint, but it still disturbed someone who was a light sleeper.
Ji Yuning hugged Fang Bai, buried her head in the crook of Fang Bai's neck, and said in a hoarse voice, "Good morning, wife."
Fang Bai paused for a few seconds: "...Morning."
Last night, Ji Yuning called me "wife," and it was like a switch was flipped. All night long, she switched between calling me "Auntie," "Baby," and "Wife."
Every heartfelt shout moved Fang Bai.
Ji Yuning did not force Fang Bai to say those words, but corrected him again and again. When Fang Bai called out "Xiao Ning", Ji Yuning would stop at the crucial moment and gently coax him to say her full name.
Fang Bai didn't know the reason at first, but after calling out several times in a daze, he suddenly thought that maybe if he called her that way, Ji Yuning would feel that she wouldn't be like a child in her heart.
Ji Yuning woke up, but Fang Bai didn't move.
She asked softly, "What time is it?"
Ji Yuning sat up, leaning her lower back against the pillow, and picked up her phone: "Four o'clock."
Fang Bai's eyelashes trembled. She didn't know exactly what time she went to sleep last night, but she guessed it was close to the middle of the night, so it was impossible that she had only slept for a few hours.
So this 4 o'clock is in the afternoon.
Fortunately, today is not a workday, so I didn't miss work.
Fang Bai was about to speak to Ji Yuning when she noticed that Ji Yuning had knelt down beside her.
She said in a cold, aloof voice, "Auntie, turn over, let me massage you."
Ji Yuning noticed that Fang Bai was acting strangely.
She also knew that Fang Bai wouldn't have told her if she hadn't found out.
It was an irresistible offer, and Fang Bai found it hard to refuse. "Okay, thank you."
After saying that, Fang Bai, with difficulty and with Ji Yuning's gentle support, wrapped his arms around the pillow and lay face down on the bed.
As soon as he lay down, Fang Bai closed his slightly heavy eyelids.
The massage he had imagined didn't happen. Fang Bai, with his eyes closed, heard Ji Yuning get out of bed, followed by the sound of water.
...Did you go to wash your hands?
Fang Bai lay there without moving.
A moment later, I heard light footsteps.
The next second, Fang Bai felt a heat around his waist.
Turning her head, she saw Ji Yuning placing a hot towel on her waist.
Then two more were laid out on her two thighs.
It's warm and cozy.
The twisted blood vessels seemed to clear instantly, and Fang Bai felt completely revitalized, letting out a relaxed and comfortable groan: "Mmm~"
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai with a smile in her eyes: "I haven't pressed it yet."
"That's fine, don't bother." Fang Bai said contentedly, though with a touch of heartache.
She knew Ji Yuning was also tired.
Ji Yuning ignored Fang Bai's words and gently pressed her slender waist under her palms through the towel.
Ji Yuning had just the right amount of pressure. Although her technique was a little rusty, she became more skilled after a few massages.
Fang Bai marveled at Ji Yuning's nimble fingers; she could make anything she did feel comfortable and at ease.
Ji Yuning's bed is decorated mainly in black. The headboard is not made of wood, but of iron bars, all of which Ji Yuning painted black. Even the sheets and duvet cover are black.
Fang Bai was completely naked, her smooth and white body, like milk, sinking into the dark bed, like a rare treasure, like a supermoon under the pitch-black night sky.
However, at this moment, Ji Yuning was completely focused and not thinking much; all her attention was on the massage.
I just wanted Fang Bai to be more comfortable.
Ji Yuning massaged her lower back for a while, then placed her hands on two other towels.
This process is repeated.
Just as Ji Yuning was applying a hot towel to Fang Bai for the third time and wanted to continue massaging him, Fang Bai grabbed her hand.
Fang Bai stopped him, saying, "That's enough."
Fang Bai pulled Ji Yuning in front of him and massaged her wrists, saying, "You've worked hard."
Her wrists must be sore from massaging her for so long.
“I’m the one who’s happy now that Auntie has recovered,” Ji Yuning murmured with a smile, “so it wasn’t hard at all.”
The hardships you face now are not equivalent to happiness in the future.
The atmosphere instantly turned into something unserious.
Fang Bai's face flushed as he looked at Ji Yuning wearing a new black nightgown while he himself was naked.
After massaging both of Ji Yuning's wrists, Fang Bai put down Ji Yuning's hands and whispered, "Could you get Auntie a nightgown?"
Ji Yuning propped herself up on the bed, her fingertips tracing circles on Fang Bai's smooth back. "But Auntie looks so beautiful like this, I can't bear to let the clothes cover it up."
Fang Bai's ears turned red, his head rested on the back of his hand, and he glanced at Ji Yuning sideways, "Little hooligan."
Ji Yuning smiled calmly, her fingers moving to the towel, which was still warm.
She turned around, took out a pure white camisole nightgown from the closet, placed it next to Fang Bai, and said, "Apply the towel for a while longer, then get dressed."
"Mm." Fang Bai nodded.
Ji Yuning took such good care of him that Fang Bai had the illusion that their roles were reversed.
Ji Yuning's thoughtfulness didn't stop there. She brought Fang Bai water with a straw in it and asked, "Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?"
"Porridge."
Fang Bai took a sip of water, and his voice wasn't so hoarse anymore; it returned to its usual softness.
Ji Yuning hummed in agreement. "I'll do it."
Seeing Ji Yuning turn to leave, Fang Bai quickly called out, "Xiao Ning."
She said, "Just order takeout, you can rest in bed for a while."
Before Ji Yuning could refuse, Fang Bai spoke first, saying, "Come and keep me company."
Who can resist the charm of someone they like?
A minute later, the towel on Fang Bai's body had been taken off by Ji Yuning, and she was also put on the white pajamas that Ji Yuning had given her.
In the center of the bed, a black figure and a white figure nestled together.
Ji Yuning looked at her phone.
She rarely orders takeout unless it's from a store she's been to or seen before; she won't order from unfamiliar stores.
She was choosing takeout from a store she had visited before.
Fang Bai leaned against her arm, looking down at the phone that Ji Yuning had taken from him.
The two were busy with their own things, neither of them spoke, and the scene was ordinary yet heartwarming.
Suddenly a bell rang.
He Ziyan made a phone call to Ji Yuning.
As soon as the call connected, He Ziyan asked, "What have you been busy with all day? Why are you only answering my call now?"
He Ziyan called once in the morning and again at noon, but no one answered.
She also called Fang Bai, but no one answered.
If Mu Xuerou hadn't stopped her, He Ziyan might have rushed over to check if anything had happened to the two of them, such as carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ji Yuning asked calmly, "What's wrong?"
Hearing Ji Yuning's voice, He Ziyan breathed a sigh of relief. It was the first time she had ever felt that Ji Yuning's cold voice had any human touch.
He Ziyan said, "Shall we have dinner together tonight?"
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai, who shook his head.
Although she and Ji Yuning were a couple, Fang Bai still acted like an elder, and being covered in hickeys by the other two children was too embarrassing.
Ji Yuning replied, "No."
He Ziyan didn't press further. She continued, "Rou Rou is going to film a movie in a few days, and I'll go with her to a scenic area in Yun City. Aunt Fang likes to travel, right? Rou Rou asked Aunt Fang if she wanted to come with us; the scenery there is quite nice."
This was He Ziyan's main purpose in making the call.
Yunshi is located in a neighboring province. It has picturesque scenery and attracts many tourists throughout the year.
Ji Yuning's gaze had been fixed on Fang Bai since earlier, and she raised her eyes slightly after hearing He Ziyan's words.
Fang Bai did not respond.
Ji Yuning waited two seconds before replying, "Okay, I understand."
The call ended quickly.
Ji Yuning stared at Fang Bai and asked, "Are you going?"
Upon hearing that it was a scenic area, Fang Bai's heart skipped a second, but since the location was in another province, and considering Ji Yuning, Fang Bai shook his head slightly: "No, thank you."
She hasn't gotten over what Mu Xuerou said yesterday.
If Fang Bai agreed to go out with He Ziyan and the other girl, he couldn't even imagine what it would be like for Ji Yuning to be home alone.