Ji Yuning nodded: "Thank you, Aunt Liao."
Fang Bai: "Why all this sentimentality?"
Liao Li turned to look at Fang Bai: "I didn't tell you, so don't listen."
Ignoring the two elementary school students bickering, Ji Yuning stood up and said, "I'll go pay the bill."
"I can handle it myself, there's no way I'll let you treat me."
Fang Bai said with a smile, "Didn't you tell us to invite them?"
Liao Li: "..."
How could she have known back then that Fang Bai's girlfriend was Ji Yuning!
She always gives Ji Yuning a red envelope when they meet during Chinese New Year!
ah!
In the end, Ji Yuning paid the bill.
After saying goodbye to Liao Li, I was on my way home.
Fang Bai finally had a chance to ask Ji Yuning, "What does Chairman Lu want with you?"
Ji Yuning gripped the steering wheel, her fingers curled, slender and long. "Let me go back to Lu's Group."
Fang Bai nodded: "You refused?"
"Um."
Ji Yuning turned her gaze: "What did Auntie mean by telling me to be mindful of my behavior before she left?"
"It's nothing, just trying to cheer you up."
Are you suggesting she say she's afraid Ji Yuning will go too far and upset Lu Zhengxin?
Fearing Ji Yuning would press for answers, Fang Bai asked, "Did he say anything else to you?"
“I didn’t listen much, but I’ve already made things clear. He won’t bother my mother anymore, and he won’t contact me again.”
Upon hearing the last sentence, Fang Bai knew that this was the best outcome for Ji Yuning.
The two quickly returned to the villa.
Ji Yuning went to the study for a meeting. Fang Bai sat downstairs for a while, then, carrying water, unknowingly went up to the attic.
Wu Mei cleaned the room very well, and the air smelled fresh, without the musty smell that comes from not having lived there for a long time.
Even the floor and tables were wiped clean, without a speck of dust.
The windows in the distance were brightly lit, and from Fang Bai's perspective, one could see particles in the air floating erratically in the light.
Light has a shape, just like now, it slants into the room and shines on the floor.
Fang Bai walked to the window and gently opened it, wanting to let in more fresh air.
An hour later, Ji Yuning came out of the study.
She couldn't find Fang Bai in the bedroom, nor in the side bedroom. She thought Fang Bai was watching TV downstairs, but he wasn't in the living room or the kitchen either.
There's only one place I haven't looked for.
Ji Yuning looked towards the stairs.
The closer Ji Yuning got to the attic, the lighter her footsteps became.
It's like the cautiousness one feels when reaching the final destination of a treasure hunt.
The attic door was not closed.
Ji Yuning stood in front of the door, looking at the person lying on the bed with their eyes closed, resting.
If Lake City were a coastal city, Ji Yuning might suspect that Fang Bai was a mermaid in disguise.
Her limbs were supple, and in contrast to her hips, her waist seemed to sag. Her head rested on her arm, resembling a beautiful woman reclining on a couch in an ancient painting.
Ji Yuning didn't know why Fang Bai had come upstairs, but when she saw him lying on her bed sleeping, a restless itch welled up in her heart—an indescribable feeling.
She stepped through the door with even lighter steps than before; the treasure had been found.
Ji Yuning sat on the edge of the bed, her hand slowly stroking Fang Bai's face.
Fang Bai won't wake up no matter how you touch her once she's asleep, so how does Ji Yuning know that?
Every night when Ji Yuning held the sleeping man in her arms, Fang Bai never woke up.
Even the next day, the woman would think that she had gotten herself into Ji Yuning's arms, and she would look embarrassed, with her ear tips turning slightly red.
However, Fang Bai had just dozed off when Ji Yuning touched her, and she woke up immediately.
Upon opening his eyes and seeing Ji Yuning, Fang Bai grasped Ji Yuning's arm, turned his back, and rested his head on Ji Yuning's lap.
Closing his eyes, Fang Bai asked sleepily, "Is the meeting over?"
Ji Yuning placed her hand on Fang Bai's head, stroking his hair gently, one strand at a time, and said, "Mmm."
It felt good to have someone touch your hair like that, so Fang Bai turned his head slightly, indicating to Ji Yuning to touch more areas.
Ji Yuning understood and slowly turned her hand toward Fang Baixin's newly exposed hair.
Bathed in the midday sun, a gentle breeze blew into the room through the open window of the attic, scattering and gathering the particles under the light.
On the double bed in the center of the room, one person was lying down and the other was sitting.
The person lying down closed her eyes, enjoying the comfort emanating from the top of her head, which made her drowsy. She casually grabbed the hem of her clothes beside her and rested with shallow breaths.
The seated person looked down at the profile of the person on her lap. In the quiet environment, her heartbeat was unusually noticeable, yet it became a hypnotic rhythm for someone.
Every frame is a refreshing tranquility.
Silence speaks louder than words.
Words cannot express it.
Chapter 130
This was the first time Fang Bai had ever eaten a family reunion dinner.
Two years ago, Fang Bai's attitude towards the Fang family still retained the original owner's coldness and indifference, so unless there were special circumstances, Fang Bai would not step into the Fang family.
Even during the Lunar New Year, Fang Bai was afraid of being called by Fang Maozhou to face Fang's relatives, so she flew abroad to find Liao Li.
But now, as time has passed and as she has come to appreciate Fang Maozhou's kindness towards "herself," Fang Bai has gradually softened his attitude towards the original owner.
Uncle Li drove them to the Fang family's house.
Upon entering, Fang Bai and Ji Yuning's first sight was Chang Suyao, who was sitting on the sofa talking to a little boy sitting next to her who was looking at his phone.
The little boy is the original owner's younger brother, Fang Yimu.
Hearing the noise, the two people on the sofa looked up at the same time. When they saw that it was Fang Bai and the other person, Fang Yimu immediately put down his phone and called out to them, "Sister! Sister Xiao Ning!"
Fang Bai had visited the Fang family a few times and got along quite well with Fang Yimu. The child was sweet-talking and always called her "sister," so they didn't feel awkward with each other.
As for his enthusiasm for Ji Yuning, it's because for the past three years, every time Ji Yuning visited the Fang family to deliver gifts, in addition to giving gifts to Fang Maozhou, she also prepared gifts for Chang Suyao and Fang Yimu. Children's world isn't that complicated; they become close to whoever gives them gifts, not to mention that Ji Yuning always gave them things they liked.
Fang Bai handed him the toy and said, "Long time no see, you seem to have grown quite a bit taller."
"It's too high," Ji Yuning said, estimating.
Fang Yimu took the toy, thanked him, and sat down on the sofa to take it apart.
At this moment, Chang Suyao stood up and said to Fang Yimu, "How many times have I told you? You have to call Xiao Ning 'Auntie,' not 'Sister.'"
If you call Ji Yuning "sister," then Ji Yuning will be on the same level as Fang Bai, right?
Ji Yuning smiled slightly: "It's alright, let him call me whatever he wants."
Fang Bai turned to look at Ji Yuning, whose thoughts were obvious.
Chang Suyao was unaware of the intricacies involved and assumed that Ji Yuning and Fang Bai didn't care about such things. She smiled and said, "Lao Mao is in the study. I'll go up and call him. Please have a seat."
After saying that, Chang Suyao went upstairs, and the nanny brought drinks to the two of them.
Upon hearing that Fang Bai had returned, Fang Maozhou immediately put down his work and went down to the corner of the stairs on the first floor. He saw Fang Bai and Fang Yimu playing with toys on the sofa, while Ji Yuning quietly watched the two of them. Fang Maozhou couldn't help but stop in his tracks.
It's been a long time—
I haven't seen such a heartwarming scene in ages.
It's fair to say that he never witnessed Fang Bai and Fang Yimu playing together.
Although Fang Bai's relationship with him had improved and he was willing to call him "Dad," Fang Maozhou felt that something was missing from Fang Bai's attitude towards him, and all the respect seemed to be separated by a layer of glass.
But seeing this scene, Fang Maozhou immediately stopped thinking about the problem; it was more worthwhile than anything else he could do.
Chang Suyao, who was following behind Fang Maozhou, said, "Hurry up and go down, don't keep them waiting."
“Yes, yes,” Fang Maozhou replied as he walked down the stairs.
"I received a call from Wu Mei yesterday, and I was wondering why we had to postpone dinner until today. Then Su Yao reminded me that yesterday was the anniversary of Xiao Ji's mother's death," Fang Maozhou said, looking at Ji Yuning as they walked. "Xiao Ji, don't mind me. I've gotten older these past two years, and my memory isn't as clear."
Ji Yuning stood up, nodded, and said, "It's nothing."
"Just don't take it to heart." Fang Maozhou walked to the sofa next to Fang Bai and sat down. Seeing that Ji Yuning was still standing, he quickly said, "Sit down, sit down! Why are you being so polite in your own home?"
Ji Yuning paused for a moment and then said, "Mm."
"I heard you've partnered with the Jiang family in Beijing? That's a big company! Well done!" Fang Maozhou praised. "If you need any help, just let me know."
Fang Maozhou has not forgotten the guilt he felt for deceiving Ji Yuning over the years.
He thought he could help in any way he could, as a way of making amends.
Ji Yuning sincerely said, "Thank you, Mr. Fang."
Fang Bai, who had been sitting quietly listening to the two of them, picked a grape and fed it to Ji Yuning's lips, gently reminding her, "Call him Uncle."
Ji Yuning subconsciously bit into the grape, a rare look of surprise welling up in her eyes.