The small space was filled with the light scent of shower gel, and the air was thick with moisture, making the bathroom feel a bit stuffy due to the warm humidity.
There was no sound from the person outside the bathroom. All Fang Bai could hear was the dripping of water droplets from the showerhead and the faint sound of a heartbeat.
Fang Bai finally had some time alone. The chaos of the entire night subsided, and she could calmly analyze the sudden appearance of Ji Yuning.
As it turned out, all her previous precautions were correct. Despite returning to China so cautiously, Ji Yuning found out about her whereabouts in less than a month.
Compared to the growing Ji Yuning, it would be much more difficult to leave in front of the current Ji Yuning.
However, Fang Bai felt that something was not quite right.
Fang Bai had already taken off all her clothes and let the water soak her. She looked up at the washing machine two steps away.
Hanging above it was a pair of washed underwear.
Plain gray, without any patterns or designs, it was definitely sexy compared to her panties with lace stitched on both sides.
This is also what Fang Bai finds strange. If you hate someone, would you wash your underwear at her house, or even wear the underwear she gave you?
Fang Bai looked away from the washing machine, lowered her eyes and pursed her lips. She knew the answer to the question in her heart: she didn't know the answer.
According to Fang Bai's observation throughout the night, Ji Yuning did not show any hatred towards her; she only said a few words that evoked her guilt.
Was Ji Yuning hiding it too well? Or was Ji Yuning doing this on purpose to lower her guard? But what was Ji Yuning trying to do?
Ji Yuning was a woman of deep thoughts; Fang Bai couldn't discern her intentions from her few outward expressions.
Fang Bai couldn't understand it. She had nothing of value on her now, nothing that Ji Yuning could gain by lurking by her side. If it wasn't for revenge, then was Ji Yuning staying by her side... for the sake of family?
Fang Bai's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
A few seconds later, Fang Bai gave a silent, bitter smile, realizing he had overthought things, and then slowly dismissed the thought.
Puzzled, Fang Bai continued showering without stopping, but didn't notice how long he spent in the bathroom.
In the small space, the humidity gradually increased, and Fang Bai felt a tightness in his chest.
Just as Fang Bai turned off the shower and finished showering, there was a knock on the bathroom door, and Ji Yuning's voice, which traveled through the steam, reached Fang Bai's ears, "Auntie?"
Fang Bai picked up a bath towel and wrapped it around himself. "Hmm, what's wrong?"
Upon receiving a response, Ji Yuning's anxiety slowly subsided.
Fang Bai took a long time to shower. The bathroom was too small and the ventilation was poor, so he easily felt dizzy and had chest tightness after a while.
Ji Yuning was worried that Fang Bai might faint inside.
Or perhaps it's because he doesn't want to face her that he's hiding inside and not coming out?
Ji Yuning's gaze darkened, and she said softly, "It's nothing."
Two minutes later, the bathroom door opened.
Fang Bai walked out from behind the door and immediately saw Ji Yuning standing with her head down, texting, leaning against the wall at the corner opposite the bathroom.
Ji Yuning wore the short-sleeved shirt she had given her, the length of which covered her hips, and her two legs were straight and long under the shirt.
Hearing the door open, Ji Yuning put away her phone, straightened her back, and looked at Fang Bai.
The heat was so intense that Fang Bai's cheeks turned bright red, and water droplets clung to the tip of her upturned nose. The light in her eyes was softer than ever before, and her wet hair was spread out on both sides, with water droplets sliding down her hair and dripping onto the towel on her shoulders.
"What are you doing here?" Fang Bai asked.
Even her voice was soft and moist.
Ji Yuning felt her mouth was a little dry. She ran her tongue across her lips and whispered, "Waiting for you."
Fang Bai paused, dried his hair with a towel on his shoulder, and said, "You go to sleep first, I still need to dry my hair."
With the towel removed, Jieying's shoulders and collarbone were no longer covered.
The straps, as thin as a little finger, couldn't hide the view from the shoulders and neck at all.
Fang Bai had no idea how alluring she looked, like a cherry garnished on a cream cake, glistening and moist.
Ji Yuning lowered her eyelids, “...Okay.”
After saying that, she didn't go back to the bedroom, but turned around and went to the living room to pour herself a glass of water.
As the water went down her throat, the rage in Ji Yuning's eyes was slowly suppressed.
Reason and impulse clashed in my mind, but in the end, reason prevailed.
Now is not the time.
…We can't scare people away anymore.
Forty minutes later, Fang Bai dried his hair and finished his bedtime skincare routine before entering the bedroom.
The bedroom light was on, as if it was left on for her on purpose.
Ji Yuning was covered with the blanket she had just hugged, lying flat on the inside of the bed, probably asleep. Fang Bai turned off the light and made a noise, but Ji Yuning didn't open her eyes, her eyes still peacefully sleepy.
Fang Bai tiptoed to the bedside using the light from his phone.
As soon as Fang Bai lay down, someone grabbed his hand.
Fang Bai blinked, turned his head and scanned the area with his phone. Ji Yuning's eyes were still closed, but her brows furrowed due to the sudden light.
Fang Bai raised an eyebrow. Why is he still pretending to be asleep?
Fang Bai turned off his phone's light, looked at the outline of Ji Yuning's face in the darkness, and softly called out, "Xiao Ning."
This was the first time Fang Bai had called Ji Yuning by her name tonight.
As before.
Ji Yuning curled her index finger in her other free hand.
After her breathing became slightly heavier, Ji Yuning slowly opened her eyes and said, "Hmm."
"Do we need to hold hands while sleeping?" Fang Bai asked.
“No need,” Ji Yuning said, “but I’m afraid you’ll run away.”
Fang Bai remained silent, then, with a strong sense of being a hostage, said, "Then why didn't you tie it up with a rope?"
Ji Yuning closed her eyes. "I looked, but I couldn't find it."
Hearing that Ji Yuning had actually had this idea, Fang Bai couldn't help but feel annoyed. He twisted the hand that Ji Yuning was holding onto the ground a couple of times, but instead of pulling it out, it was gripped even tighter.
Fang Bai sighed, "Ji Yuning looks thin, but she has a lot of strength."
In the room without air conditioning, Fang Bai felt a slight heat from these few movements.
After resting for a while, she continued working, humming, "It's hot."
However, as soon as she moved, her hands were pinned to the bed.
Just as Fang Bai was about to speak, Ji Yuning whispered in his ear, "Auntie, be good."
"I didn't sleep last night, and then I drove all the way here to see you. I'm really tired now." Ji Yuning gently scratched Fang Bai's hand with her thumb. "Please don't move anymore, okay?"
As soon as Ji Yuning finished uttering the first word, Fang Bai stopped moving.
It wasn't about being obedient, but rather analyzing the content of the words word by word:
Tell her to behave? She has no manners!
Didn't you sleep last night? What were you doing?
Did you drive here? Ji Yuning should be in Beijing, right? How long does it take to drive from Beijing to Nancheng?
Fang Bai thought for a moment and could only estimate the approximate time.
Why didn't you fly here if you were so tired?! Why didn't you sleep last night?
“…”
Fang Bai paused for a moment, realizing that now was not the time to feel sorry for Ji Yuning.
Two minutes later, her hands were no longer pinned to the bed by Ji Yuning, and Fang Bai didn't try to pull them away again.
She still felt sorry for Ji Yuning.
Fang Bai was actually quite tired after spending the whole day shopping with Hao Yingman.
Listening to the rhythmic breathing around him, Fang Bai slowly closed his eyes.
I slept without any dreams.
The next day, Fang Bai was woken up by a ringing bell.
Opening her sleepy eyes, Fang Bai first glanced to her side and saw that Ji Yuning was no longer on the bed. Knowing she wouldn't disturb her, she slowly reached for her phone.
The call was from Hao Yingman.
As soon as the call connected, Hao Yingman's energetic voice boomed: "Sister Bai, I forgot to ask last night, what time is your flight? Have you gone to the airport yet? If not, I'll take you there."
Fang Bai frowned slightly and moved his phone away a little. "I'm not leaving for now."
"Hmm? Not leaving?" Hao Yingman asked curiously. "What's wrong? Are you reluctant to part with me?"
Fang Bai closed his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "Something came up."
Ji Yuning entered the bedroom and saw Fang Bai on the phone.
People who have just woken up speak in a soft, almost stiff way, and their nasal tone sounds like they are being coquettish.
"Aunt."
Suddenly, a third voice rang out, and Fang Bai opened his eyes to look at Ji Yuning, who had appeared in the bedroom at some point.
I felt a little less sleepy.
Ji Yuning glanced at Fang Bai's phone and said, "Breakfast is ready."
His voice was a few octaves higher than usual.
Not only Fang Bai heard it, but Hao Yingman on the other end of the phone also heard it clearly.
Hao Yingman froze for a moment, then asked excitedly and in surprise, "Who? Why is there a woman's voice next to you?"
Fang Bai ignored Hao Yingman and, in the few seconds it took Ji Yuning to ask her question, walked to the bedside and was looking at her.
Ji Yuning leaned over, her hands supporting her on the edge of the bed, and asked gently, "Did you sleep well last night?"
Although Ji Yuning spoke softly this time, she was so close to the phone that it sounded to Hao Yingman as if she was asking if she was sleeping well.