Twenty minutes later, Fang Bai's mindset had calmed down, but his gaze would occasionally drift towards a certain person.
In the driver's seat, Ji Yuning's slender hands controlled the steering wheel.
Fang Bai felt that people who drove seriously always had a certain charm, but when that person became Ji Yuning, she suddenly realized: the Ji Yuning in front of her was no longer the sixteen-year-old girl she had first met.
During the time she was away, he/she grew and became more outstanding.
For example, Fang Bai never imagined that one day he would be sitting in the passenger seat of Ji Yuning.
The car stopped at the red light.
Ji Yuning turned her head and met the eyes of the person who hadn't had time to look away.
With a slight upturn of her lips, Ji Yuning called out, "Auntie."
Fang Bai was already looking ahead, his face showing no panic at being caught peeking. His heartbeat was disordered for a few seconds because of what happened that morning, but it quickly calmed down.
"Hmm, what's wrong?"
"No," Ji Yuning said softly, "I just noticed that Auntie kept looking at me, and I was wondering if she had something to ask me?"
She did want to ask, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Fang Bai said softly, "Because you're pretty."
He spoke very sincerely; there was no sign of hypocrisy in his words.
Ji Yuning's expression remained unchanged, and she even suggested, "Then I'll park the car on the side of the road so that the aunt can watch it for a while longer."
Fang Bai politely declined, saying, "No need, I've seen enough."
She was afraid that if she kept watching, something that was originally nothing would become something serious.
Ji Yuning said calmly, "Okay."
As the green light turned on and the car started moving, familiar music began to play inside.
"...
Time flies by
I only care about you.
…”
Fang Baimei raised her eyebrows slightly, not expecting that Ji Yuning, at her age, would listen to old songs.
"Do you like this song too?" Fang Bai asked.
Ji Yuning's grip on the steering wheel tightened suddenly. "Hmm."
Fang Bai smiled: "I also really enjoy listening to it."
Ji Yuning's eyes flickered.
She knew that Fang Bai had forgotten that this was the song she sang that night.
Ji Yuning could never forget that night. She wanted to go back to that night countless times. Even if Fang Bai laughed at her for being a child, she would never let go of Fang Bai's hand.
As it turned out, her premonition that night was correct…
After the song ended, Fang Bai wanted to hear what songs were on Ji Yuning's playlist, but the tune of "I Only Care About You" played again.
Fang Bai couldn't help but ask, "Did you set it to repeat?"
Ji Yuning shook her head and said calmly, "Just this one."
"Oh~"
Fang Bai thought it was strange. How could someone only like to listen to one song? Don't they get tired of it?
They drove in silence, and soon arrived at the location Fang Bai had navigated to.
It is the former residence of a famous person.
Fang Bai's plan for today was simple: to take Ji Yuning to visit the scenic spots she had visited yesterday. It wasn't that she was lazy and didn't want to rearrange things, but rather that the route arranged by Hao Yingman, a local, was very authoritative.
Even though they had already visited the area yesterday, Fang Bai's enthusiasm remained undiminished, even surpassing that of Ji Yuning.
Over three hours, Fang Bai took Ji Yuning to visit two nearby attractions.
After it ended, it was noon.
It was fun, but also tiring. Fang Bai hadn't recovered from the walk he took yesterday, and today it got even harder.
Outside the scenic area exit is a paved road, which is probably quite remote, with few cars and only tourists walking along the roadside.
As the two walked towards the parking lot, Fang Bai's feet were a little sore from the blisters. She looked at the person who was holding an umbrella in one hand and leading her hand in the other, and asked, "Xiao Ning, are you tired?"
Ji Yuning looked down at the fine beads of sweat on Fang Bai's nose and nodded, saying, "A little."
He added at the end, "I need to rest for a while."
These words struck a chord with Fang Bai, and she nodded in agreement: "Okay."
The shadows of the poplar trees swayed gently beneath them. Ji Yuning held up her umbrella, not giving Fang Bai a single ray of light a chance to shine through.
A gentle breeze blew by, and Fang Bai enjoyed the coolness of the wind.
Ji Yuning, afraid of blocking the wind, moved to the side. As she moved, the shadows of the two people on the road overlapped.
People walked by intermittently, but neither of them paid any attention; one was busy resting, and the other was busy watching the resting people.
Fang Bai's bag was carried by Ji Yuning, at Ji Yuning's request.
As soon as the wind stopped, Fang Bai leaned towards Ji Yuning and rummaged through his bag.
Ji Yuning stood upright, motionless, like a bag hanging on a rack.
At that moment, a couple walked past them:
"Shall we get a pair too?"
"What's so great about it? If you want us to go to a store or a DIY shop, these roadside stalls are too low-class."
"But I've heard that rings made by artisans like this carry blessings, and whether you're a friend or a lover, wearing them will ensure a long and lasting relationship, and you'll never be apart."
"It's all a lie, you actually believed that? I will love you for the rest of my life, what do I need that ring for?"
The woman was about to say something when the man grabbed her and pulled her away. "Look at his stall, it's all shabby and there's no one there. You can tell it's fake. Don't be superstitious. Go eat, you're starving."
After the two left, Ji Yuning followed the woman's gaze.
At the entrance of an alley in the distant residential area, an elderly man sat. He was quite far away, and it was impossible to see what was beside him, but it was clear that he was busy with something. Several couples were holding hands in front of him, contrary to what the man had said about not having anyone there.
The old man was talking to the couple in front of him, perhaps offering some blessings.
"What are you looking at?"
Fang Bai's voice drew Ji Yuning's attention back, and she half-opened her eyelids and said, "It's nothing."
Fang Bai wiped the sweat from the tip of his nose with a tissue, glanced towards the alley entrance, but didn't see anything, so he didn't pay any attention.
Her gaze returned to Ji Yuning, and she asked, "Shall we go eat?"
Ji Yuning nodded: "Okay."
Fang Bai asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Ji Yuning said softly, "Either is fine."
Fang Bai found the conversation quite familiar.
Ji Yuning's answer was something she had secretly pondered more than once.
At this moment, the restraint, wariness, and unfamiliarity that I had felt when facing Ji Yuning since last night disappeared.
It felt like going back to the beginning, except this time, Ji Yuning not only responded to every word and action of hers, but also took the initiative to communicate with her.
It seemed like nothing had changed between them, yet it also felt like a lot had changed.
Nancheng is a coastal city, so the most popular tourist destination is naturally the seaside.
In the evening, with half an hour left before sunset, Fang Bai and Ji Yuning arrived at the beach. Instead of taking Ji Yuning to the crowded viewing platform, she took her to a certain beach.
Of all the places on the itinerary for the day, this was the only one that wasn't brought to her by Hao Yingman; Fang Bai discovered it herself.
During her time in Nancheng, she would visit this place from time to time to watch the sunrise and sunset, and even listen to the sea alone at night.
In the past, she would sit alone on the beach, quietly waiting for the sun to set and rise.
She didn't seem so lonely today because someone was with her.
Looking up at the sea, Fang Bai looked up at the person standing next to her and said, "Aren't you going to sit down?"
Ji Yuning looked down at the sand at her feet and remained silent for a moment.
Fang Bai lowered her head; she had forgotten that Ji Yuning was a germaphobe.
"Standing is also acceptable."
Before Fang Bai could finish speaking, Ji Yuning slowly squatted down and sat down next to her.
Fang Bai glanced at Ji Yuning's profile, smiled silently, and then turned his head away.
Before them stretched the boundless sea, and the two figures sitting on the vast beach appeared minuscule.
Despite their small appearance, these two people are strong and fearless.
The waves crashed onto the shore, and the yolk-like sun slowly approached the horizon.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye, during which neither Fang Bai nor Ji Yuning uttered a sound.
Fang Bai was enjoying the evening breeze, while Ji Yuning was enjoying the company of the people around her.
The sky turned a gentle, warm orange, and the thick clouds were also tinged with color under the sunlight, while the sea shimmered.
Seaside, sunset, evening glow...
The person I like.
Ji Yuning glanced sideways, and Fang Bai's gentle eyes were filled with the glow of dawn.
The scene before she turned her head was far less impressive than the light and shadow in Fang Bai's eyes and the smile on her lips.
They are so close yet so far, seemingly unreachable.
Ji Yuning parted her thin lips slightly and called out in a hoarse voice, "Auntie."