Mu Xuerou was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "I saw that a hot spring hotel opened there before. Are you going there?"
"Um."
"Are you with Aunt Fang?"
For some reason, Mu Xuerou's intuition told her that Ji Yuning's trip to Qing City must be because of Fang Bai.
The pen that had been sliding across the paper stopped, Ji Yuning hummed in response, and looked at Mu Xuerou: "What's wrong?"
“It’s alright,” Mu Xuerou said with a hint of regret. “I originally wanted to ask my parents to go to the hot springs in Qing City with me, but they had something to do and couldn’t come. So I was wondering if you could come with me, but now…”
The hot spring hotel had been advertised months in advance, and she had saved up money for a long time in order to enjoy the hot springs.
Now it's all gone.
Mu Xuerou seemed to remember something and asked cautiously, "Yu Ning, can I go with you? I mean, I'll just fly with you to Qing City, and I promise I won't bother you and Aunt Fang once we get there..."
Besides Ji Yuning, Mu Xuerou couldn't find anyone else to go out with. She would be scared if she went by herself, so it was better to go with Ji Yuning and Fang Bai. She would feel more at ease if someone accompanied her on the way there and back.
Ji Yuning paused. What did she and Fang Bai have to do with being disturbed?
Before Mu Xuerou could finish speaking, the person next to her said, "Okay."
Ji Yuning goes home at seven o'clock every night. After returning home, she goes upstairs to do her homework or goes to the second-floor side bedroom to find Beibei. If Fang Bai doesn't speak up, Ji Yuning rarely takes the initiative to communicate with Fang Bai.
Fang Bai was already used to it.
Fang Bai wasn't the type to get close to people. He would only call out to Ji Yuning and say a few words to her if he felt the need to connect with her. Once he had talked to Ji Yuning, he wouldn't call her again.
Appropriately close, appropriately far away.
Maintaining a certain distance is key to avoiding annoying others.
Fortunately, Ji Yuning never took the initiative to get closer to them. Fang Bai held the reins, and he could easily control how close or distant they wanted to be.
So when Fang Bai saw Ji Yuning carrying her schoolbag and standing in front of her after walking around the coffee table, she was slightly surprised.
But soon, Fang Bai skillfully pulled the string.
Fang Bai patted the seat next to him, gesturing for Ji Yuning to sit down, and said softly, "Did you need something from me?"
Ji Yuning glanced at the spot where Fang Bai had taken a picture, but showed no intention of sitting down there. She explained why she had come to see Fang Bai: "Mu Xuerou wants to accompany us to Qing City."
Ji Yuning readily agreed, but only after agreeing did she realize that it was Fang Bai who had suggested going. She realized that having an extra person suddenly meant she needed to tell Fang Bai.
Fang Bai put his hand on his lap and then on Bei Bei's body. "Just go with her? You mean she'll go to Qing City with us, but won't play with us?"
“Yes,” Ji Yuning said, “but she also went to the hot spring hotel.”
Fang Bai was slightly surprised: "She's alone?"
Ji Yuning nodded.
Without a second thought, Fang Bai said, "Let her come with us."
“It’s not safe for a young girl to be out alone,” Fang Bai said. “I’ll ask for her identification information and have Uncle Li book another plane ticket and a room.”
Fang Bai didn't find anything wrong with it at all. Although there was one more person, that extra person was Mu Xuerou.
Even though the novel is plot-driven with very little romantic interaction between the two characters, and Fang Bai only read the novel to see Ji Yuning's career path, it doesn't stop her from lightly shipping the two.
Seeing that Fang Bai agreed, Ji Yuning said, "She will pay for it herself."
"What kind of adult takes a younger person out to play and makes the younger person pay for it themselves?" Fang Bai chuckled. "You should talk to Mu and ask her to send me everything I need. Remember to have her discuss it with her family."
Fang Bai's smile was too gentle, and so were his words.
If it was out of guilt towards her that he wanted to change his ways, then why did he act this way towards others?
The thick cloud that had been weighing on my mind for some time was gradually thickening after several attempts to clear it up.
“…Okay,” Ji Yuning replied.
Fang Bai hummed in response and waited two seconds. Seeing that Ji Yuning was standing still, he looked up and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Ji Yuning suppressed her thoughts and said with a solemn expression, "No."
Fang Bai responded with an "oh".
As she turned around, Ji Yuning's eyes flashed out of Fang Bai's sight. She left with a "Thank you, Auntie" and went upstairs.
Fang Bai watched Ji Yuning's retreating figure.
Why are you calling me "Auntie" again?
Logically, Fang Bai shouldn't be conflicted about the terms "Aunt Fang" and "Auntie," since they both mean the same thing. But when it comes to Ji Yuning, it just doesn't seem as simple as it appears on the surface.
Fang Bai couldn't figure out the reason, so he could only suppress his doubts and search for the pattern on his own.
National Day is just around the corner.
In October, the temperature in Hushi remained in the twenties, while in Qingshi, which is further north, the temperature fluctuated in the single digits, only occasionally rising to the teens.
Upon disembarking from the plane, Fang Bai immediately felt the chill brought by the low temperature.
Fang Bai only felt better after getting into the rented car.
In the van, Fang Bai sat in the middle row by the window, while Ji Yuning and Mu Xuerou sat in the back.
Fang Bai was a little sleepy. He rested his hand on his forehead and looked out the window. With Fang Bai around, Mu Xue Rou was reserved and playing with her phone with her head down. Ji Yuning was a man of few words. Even when she took the initiative to talk to him, she would only nod in response.
The car was extremely quiet the whole way.
This was the first time the driver had encountered a group of people traveling together during the National Day holiday, but they didn't say a word.
"What grade are you in? Or are you in college?"
Fang Bai's eyes did not stray.
Ji Yuning remained silent.
Mu Xuerou waited two seconds, and only after no one responded did she raise her head and obediently answer, "Grade 11."
The person who called to rent the car was a mature male voice. The owner even said that the customer was of high status and told him not to talk nonsense. But to his surprise, the three young girls got into the car and didn't say a word. He tried to lighten the mood, but no one paid any attention to him.
Having received a response, the driver's talkative nature kicked in, and he asked again, "Only a high school sophomore? Aren't your family worried about you guys going out to play?"
"I'm not worried."
Mu Xuerou looked at Fang Bai, who was propping his head up and continuing to look out the window. Mu Xuerou pursed her lips and said, "We have parents."
"Did they arrive at the hotel to wait for you?" Before Mu Xuerou could reply, the driver muttered to himself, "Your parents are really carefree, letting you go to the hotel by yourself. Luckily, your uncle is a good person. What if you had encountered bad people?"
The driver changed the subject again, "Hey, why aren't those two girls saying anything? Did they argue or get angry? When you're out having fun, you should be happy. If you're unhappy, you can talk about it when you get back. Give each other a hug when you get off the bus, or if that doesn't work, your parents can take you to have some fun—"
Seemingly annoyed by the driver's chatter, the person who had been repeatedly mentioned finally put down his hand, glanced sideways at the front seat, and said, "I am their parent."
What kind of parents are this young? Sister?
The driver opened his mouth, but swallowed the words he was about to say. He remembered his boss telling him to talk less and not offend anyone.
The carriage fell silent once again.
This time it was even more awkward.
They arrived at the hotel quickly, and the driver helped Fang Bai and his group unload their luggage before leaving in a hurry.
Mu Xuerou couldn't help but laugh out loud. She said to Fang Bai, "Aunt Fang, you're too young. That's why that uncle mistook you for a student."
Fang Bai, no longer feeling drowsy in the car, smiled and said, "Really?"
Mu Xuerou nodded emphatically, "Really, when I first met Aunt Fang, I thought she was my older sister."
Fang Bai smiled.
In fact, the original owner became an aunt at the age when her older sister was older.
Mu Xuerou's tense nerves relaxed because of Fang Bai's smile. Remembering what the driver had said, she said, "That uncle thought Aunt Fang and Yu Ning had quarreled, so he made you get out of the car to hug."
Fang Bai's heart skipped a beat, and he turned to look at Ji Yuning.
Ji Yuning happened to be looking at her too.
Fang Bai raised an eyebrow. "Want a hug?"
Not a second after she finished speaking, Fang Bai wrapped her coat tighter around himself and said to the two of them, "Let's go into the hotel first."
It was too cold, and she hadn't expected Ji Yuning to reply to her.
“…”
The three entered the hotel and completed the formalities at the front desk. Because Fang Maozhou had reserved the presidential suite for Fang Bai, a waiter led them to the elevator.
Fang Bai handed the extra room key to Mu Xuerou, "Xiao Mu, since we booked a room just for you, your room is not on the same floor as ours. Xiao Ning and I will be sharing a room. You can come to us anytime if you need anything."
One room?
Ji Yuning's gaze involuntarily fell on the room key in Fang Bai's hand.
Mu Xuerou reached out and took the card, saying sincerely, "Thank you, Aunt Fang."
When Mu Xuerou received a message from Ji Yuning saying that Fang Bai had agreed to let her come along, she was very happy. Then she received another message saying that Fang Bai invited her to Qing City. Mu Xuerou's perception of Fang Bai changed greatly after just a few short interactions.
Mu Xuerou had a feeling that Fang Bai in front of her was different from the person she had heard about before, but she quickly denied this feeling, believing that it was all due to the discrepancy between hearsay and practical experience.
Fang Bai said no need, then glanced at Ji Yuning out of the corner of his eye and asked Mu Xuerou, "Are you okay by yourself? Are you scared? If you're scared, you can call Xiao Ning and ask her to come downstairs and keep you company."
Mu Xuerou glanced at Ji Yuning, only to see the other woman slowly looking at her, her eyes cool yet filled with concern.
Mu Xuerou felt a warmth in her heart and shook her head at Fang Bai, saying, "I'm not afraid."
Fang Bai hummed in agreement.
The four of them got on the elevator, which quickly arrived at Mu Xuerou's floor. Fang Bai asked the waiter to help Mu Xuerou.
Once the elevator doors closed, only Fang Bai and Ji Yuning remained in the large space.
The elevator is made of transparent glass, allowing a clear view of the lobby below, where a throng of people, small as ants, can be seen.
Ji Yuning's gaze remained fixed on the room key in Fang Bai's hand. She glanced at the elevator floor number, and when they were three floors away from their destination, Ji Yuning's eyelashes fluttered: "Why are we sharing a room?"
Ji Yuning's voice was very soft, but it was very clear in the ascending elevator.
With a "ding", the elevator stopped.
In the few seconds it took for the door to open, Fang Bai turned his head and said, "It's a suite, so the rooms are separate."