She made a bowl of noodles just in time for midnight, which was Ji Yuning's birthday.
Fang Bai guessed that she probably made noodles for someone else's birthday at the very first second.
However, she was determined to do something special that Ji Yuning would never forget.
As Fang Bai whispered, Ji Yuning heard her own heartbeat, each beat pounding against her defenses.
Back in her room, Ji Yuning sat on the sofa for almost half an hour, but her heart was still pounding. Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could think of were the blushing images she had imagined at the dining table.
The next day, Ji Yuning forgot how she finished the late-night snack, how she went upstairs with Fang Bai, and whether Fang Bai said goodnight to her.
She remembered that in her dream, Fang Bai stood in front of her wearing that nightgown, gently smiling and calling her "Xiao Ning".
Author's Note:
Xiao Ji's Diary:
11.20 Oh, it was a proper massage after all T_T
Chapter 54
Fang Bai slept soundly through the night. When he woke up, he blinked his sleepy eyes, curled up in a C-shape under the covers, and took nearly three minutes to get up.
Fang Bai picked up his phone from the bedside table. He usually turned off the internet when he went to sleep, but as soon as the phone connected to the internet, several WeChat messages popped up.
It was a message from Liao Li reminding her to help deliver the gift.
After replying with an "okay," Fang Bai got out of bed, changed into her pajamas, and after a quick wash, took out the gifts she had prepared and Liao Li's gifts and went up to the attic.
Then I saw the door was tightly closed.
Fang Bai didn't rush forward, but stopped at the top of the stairs and glanced down at the time.
7:30.
Although it was Saturday, according to her usual routine, Ji Yuning would get up very early even on weekends, so she was probably studying.
Knowing he wouldn't disturb Ji Yuning's rest, Fang Bai continued walking forward.
I knocked twice on the door, not too loudly, just enough for the person inside to hear.
After more than ten seconds, the door still didn't open.
Fang Bai thought Ji Yuning wasn't inside. He hesitated between opening the door and putting the things inside or taking them downstairs to give to Ji Yuning. Just then, with a "click," the door was pulled open from the inside.
Ji Yuning was still wearing her pajamas, a gray long-sleeved shirt and pants, exuding a cool and aloof aura. Her hair was slightly messy, as if she had just gotten out of bed and hadn't had time to tidy it up. There was a dark circle under her eyes. Although she looked calm, the weariness on her face was hard to hide.
Fang Bai was taken aback, but quickly realized what was going on. She whispered, "I'm sorry, Auntie didn't know you were still sleeping."
Even the most disciplined person has a day when they relax.
"What's up?"
Ji Yuning's voice was a little hoarse and very low, making her sound angry.
Fang Bai thought this reaction was normal; if she were woken up from sleeping in, she would also get angry.
Fang Bai held the bag between the two of them and said softly, "Come and give our Xiao Ning a birthday present~"
The bag blocked Fang Bai's view, so she didn't see the unnatural look that flashed across Ji Yuning's face when she heard the words "Xiao Ning".
Fang Bai waited for a while, but Ji Yuning didn't respond. She had no choice but to put down the bag awkwardly and ask softly, "May I come into the room?"
Ji Yuning tightened her grip on the doorknob, her lowered eyes concealing her emotions, and a few seconds later she turned to the side.
Stepping inside, Fang Bai's eyes subconsciously swept around the room.
The desk was neat and tidy, the schoolbag stood upright on the chair, and the blanket on the bed was lifted up at one corner, but the rest of the bed was flat, showing that Ji Yuning did not move around much while sleeping.
Fang Bai quickly looked away and handed the bag to Ji Yuning, saying, "This is for me and Liao Li. Take a look and see if you like it."
Ji Yuning didn't open it because Fang Bai asked her something when she took the bag.
Fang Bai asked, "Did you take a shower in the early morning?"
The bathroom on the second floor is very close to Fang Bai's room. Even if the room is well soundproofed, the sound of water running late at night can still disturb light sleepers.
Half-asleep, Fang Bai guessed it was Ji Yuning.
A blush crept across Ji Yuning's eyes as her mind involuntarily replayed last night's dream. The overly sweet dream jolted her awake just as she was about to succumb to its allure.
She woke up from the dream, but couldn't shake it off; all she could do was wash it away with water.
Ji Yuning's lips were a little dry. "Mmm."
"I didn't check the time, but it must have been very late. Aren't you asleep yet?" Fang Bai asked.
Ji Yuning's eyes hardened with emotion. "I'll be more careful next time."
Fang Bai knew immediately that Ji Yuning had misunderstood her. "I didn't mean to blame you. I was just worried that you were under a lot of pressure and concerned about your sleep quality."
Ji Yuning's composed expression softened slightly, and she said softly, "She fell asleep, but woke up in the middle of the night."
Fang Bai said, "That's good." She didn't delve into why Ji Yuning went to take a shower after waking up. Instead, after staring at Ji Yuning for two seconds, she noticed that Ji Yuning's lips were a little dry. When Fang Bai stepped forward to take a closer look, she found that Ji Yuning would take half a step back for every step she took closer.
"?"
Fang Bai was a little confused, but she didn't lean closer to Ji Yuning anymore. She simply said, "My lips are a little dry. Do you have any more of the lip balm I gave you?"
Ji Yuning nodded.
Fang Bai paused for a moment, then said, "Then I won't bother you any longer, I'll go downstairs first."
"…Um."
Fang Bai closed the door behind him as he left, blocking Ji Yuning's view of his retreating figure.
She wasn't intentionally avoiding Fang Bai; it was just that as Fang Bai approached, she could always smell that faint fragrance. When the scent was strong, it painted like a brush, depicting the extravagant desires of the previous night.
Ji Yuning thought she had hidden it very well.
However, when Fang Bai reached for the napkin next to Ji Yuning during the meal, he noticed something amiss when he saw Ji Yuning quickly move her hand away.
Then, Fang Bai would intentionally or unintentionally reach out to Ji Yuning, and each time he could see Ji Yuning's furrowed brows and tense body.
After two attempts, Fang Bai finally confirmed that Ji Yuning was deliberately avoiding close contact with her.
What did I do to offend this little devil?
Fang Bai was puzzled.
After dinner, Ji Yuning left after saying something and went upstairs. Fang Bai responded and sat on the sofa with Bei Bei in his arms, eating fruit.
She ate a strawberry, and then fed one to Beibei as well.
After eating two, Beibei ignored the food Fang Bai offered to its mouth and began licking its fur.
Fang Bai couldn't help but complain that her attitude changed so quickly, "No wonder she's someone's cat."
Yesterday I ate the noodles she fed me, but today I'm avoiding her.
I sat in the living room for a while when the doorbell rang abruptly.
After checking, Wu Mei said to Fang Bai, "Miss, we have a guest."
Fang Bai, holding Bei Bei's foot, asked casually, "Who?"
“It’s Xiao Ji, who came last time,” Wu Mei said. “I’ve already opened the door.”
Those who have been here before? That would only be Mu Xuerou.
"Hmm." Fang Bai picked up the cat and got up. Just as he walked to the entrance, he bumped into the two people who were entering.
Fang Bai thought that only Mu Xuerou had come, but he didn't expect He Ziyan to be there as well.
When did these two become able to travel together?
Fang Bai was slightly surprised, and asked softly, "Why did you all come together?"
The two women who entered were taken aback when they saw Fang Bai; they hadn't expected him to greet them at the door.
He Ziyan looked at Fang Bai. She had never seen Fang Bai dressed so casually before. His long hair was tied up behind his head, and he was wearing a beige knitted sweater, which made him look virtuous and gentle.
Moreover, she finally saw Fang Bai's profile picture, the cat.
Does this mean I've gotten to know Fang Bai better?
Seeing that He Ziyan remained silent, Mu Xuerou pointed to the bags the two were carrying and said softly, "Hello, Aunt Fang. Ziyan and I made an appointment to deliver a gift to Yu Ning."
"Oh, thank you so much." Fang Bai thanked them on behalf of Ji Yuning, then turned to the side, "Are you cold? Let's go inside."
The group went to the living room. Following Fang Bai's instructions, Wu Mei poured hot water for the two of them and then went upstairs to call Ji Yuning.
During this time, Mu Xuerou said thank you, but the person sitting next to her remained silent.
Fang Bai looked at He Ziyan, wondering why the little peacock wasn't displaying its feathers today. It's usually quite talkative, isn't it? Could it be nervous?
He Ziyan had no idea what Fang Bai was thinking. She simply looked away from the cat in Fang Bai's arms and then met his gaze the next second.
Before He Ziyan could react, Fang Bai asked her, "Why did you take leave from the last parent-teacher conference?"
He Ziyan was taken aback. "You went?"
Fang Bai laughed, "Otherwise, how would I know you took leave?"
A warm feeling washed over her, and He Ziyan glanced away, saying, "It's nothing, just something at home."
Fang Bai nodded in response and did not ask any further questions.
She wasn't really curious about why He Ziyan had taken leave; she just wanted to ease the tension since He Ziyan wasn't saying anything.
The atmosphere did ease, because the little peacock, who had been hanging its head, shook itself, took small steps, and sat down next to Fang Bai, asking, "Aunt Fang, may I hold the cat?"
Beibei wasn't afraid of strangers, but it wouldn't let He Ziyan hold it no matter what. Whenever He Ziyan reached out to Beibei, it would wriggle wildly.
Fang Bai could only hold Bei Bei and let He Ziyan pet it.
As Ji Yuning stepped down the stairs, she saw Fang Bai and He Ziyan sitting on the sofa, with Mu Xuerou leaning over in front of them. All three of them were smiling as they played with the cat. From Ji Yuning's perspective, He Ziyan and Fang Bai looked like they were glued together.
“Yu Ning,” Mu Xue Rou was the first to notice Ji Yu Ning. She stood up straight and said to Ji Yu Ning, “Happy birthday.”