The water in the pool of fear.
Why did you agree to come with her?
Ji Yuning appeared to be working on the problem, but her mind had already wandered off.
She thought that after what happened at the Fang family's place, she wouldn't be afraid of this kind of pool, so when Fang Bai suggested soaking in the hot spring, Ji Yuning didn't refuse. She wanted to test her theory.
But what one thinks is different from what one actually does. In order to avoid exposing her weaknesses in front of Fang Bai and Mu Xuerou, Ji Yuning went downstairs first to investigate before Mu Xuerou came to her door.
But the result was completely different from what Ji Yuning had expected.
The fear did not diminish; in fact, it spread even more. At the Fang family's house, she dared to walk along the edge of the pool, but now she stopped three small steps away from the edge, lacking the courage to continue.
Back in her room, Ji Yuning stuffed the swimsuit that was on the surface into the bottom of the suitcase.
Everything was prepared, but Fang Bai was not guarded against.
A soft splashing sound rang out as people emerged from the hot spring.
The footsteps gradually approached Ji Yuning.
Ji Yuning was lost in thought and did not hear.
It wasn't until the lights dimmed and a shadow fell over the book that Ji Yuning realized someone was standing next to her.
The next second, Ji Yuning's wrist was grabbed by someone whose hand was wet, with a few drops of water sliding down Ji Yuning's arm.
Before Ji Yuning could take her eyes off the book, the figure in front of her leaned down, bringing a sense of oppression.
Ji Yuning's hand gripping the pen tightened suddenly.
The figure seemed to sense Ji Yuning's unusual behavior, and shifted slightly, instantly dispelling any oppressive aura.
She leaned her head close to Ji Yuning's ear.
"Don't be afraid."
The three words gently entered my ears, and my ears couldn't stand the warm breath; they felt itchy and even started to feel hot.
Just a second before Ji Yuning's ears turned red, she turned her head to the side, Fang Bai's face was right in front of her.
What are you afraid of?
Having soaked in the hot spring for a while, Fang Bai's cheeks were slightly flushed, and water droplets clung to his neck and collarbone, causing his thick, curled eyelashes to clump together.
When Ji Yuning looked at her, Fang Bai smiled, her voice soft yet firm, making people unconsciously convinced.
“Auntie will protect you,” Fang Bai said in a voice only she and Ji Yuning could hear, “just like last time.”
Chapter 42
Ji Yuning's attention was focused on Fang Bai's words.
Fang Bai told her not to be afraid, and that he would protect her, just like last time.
Why did Fang Bai say that?
The warmth near Ji Yuning's ear had not subsided.
It wasn't until her body was enveloped in warmth that Ji Yuning realized Fang Bai had brought her into the pool.
Mu Xuerou saw everything that happened after Fang Bai came ashore. Although she didn't hear what Fang Bai said to Ji Yuning, Ji Yuning, who had just refused her invitation and seemed very reluctant to soak in the hot spring, was pulled by Fang Bai's wrist and walked towards the hot spring.
They didn't show any sign of resistance.
Seeing Fang Bai pull Ji Yuning to the opposite side of her, Mu Xuerou asked with a smile, "Yuning, why are you acting like a little child, needing Aunt Fang to coax you down?"
The word "哄" (hǒng) was so intimate that both of the people mentioned paused for a moment.
Perhaps the water temperature was a bit high, because the heat that hadn't subsided from Ji Yuning's ears rose up again, while her face remained cold, even the warmth of the hot spring couldn't melt it.
Ji Yuning looked at Mu Xuerou, her brows furrowing. "No."
Ji Yuning's voice was too cold and stern, and Mu Xuerou's smile froze.
Mu Xuerou bit her lip, knowing she had said the wrong thing, but this was the first time Ji Yuning had spoken to her in such a cold voice.
Fang Bai glanced at Ji Yuning and thought to himself, with this attitude, no wonder Mu Xuerou, whom he only managed to win over after growing up, doesn't know how to coax people at all.
Fang Bai leaned against the poolside, brushing the strands of hair that clung to his cheek, smiled at Mu Xuerou, and asked softly, "Does Xiao Ning seem like the kind of person who needs me to coax her to calm down?"
Fang Bai hadn't expected that she would not only have to coax Ji Yuning, but also coax Mu Xuerou on Ji Yuning's behalf.
Hearing Fang Bai's question, Mu Xuerou's embarrassment eased slightly, and she said softly, "It looked like that before, but it doesn't now."
Mu Xuerou's words also carried a hint of accusation.
Fang Bai couldn't help but chuckle, "Now I've coaxed her back, haven't I?"
Mu Xuerou glanced at Ji Yuning and whispered, "Mm."
Seeing that Mu Xuerou had lost interest in chatting, Fang Bai turned to look at Ji Yuning, "How are you feeling? Are you comfortable?"
I felt nothing.
Ji Yuning felt the water temperature when she first entered the water, but her attention was no longer on the hot spring when Fang Bai and Mu Xuerou were talking.
But underwater, Fang Bai was holding her hand.
Before entering the pool, Ji Yuning was distracted by Fang Bai's words and didn't even realize he was pulling her along. But once in the water, Ji Yuning became alert, and Fang Bai released her wrist and then took her hand.
At this moment, she and Fang Bai are sitting hand in hand in the water.
Ji Yuning couldn't shake him off, nor could she shake him off.
She could only sit quietly and wait for it to end.
From Mu Xuerou's perspective, she could only see Ji Yuning and Fang Bai standing very close together, but she couldn't see their hands clasped together underwater.
Mu Xuerou sat alone on the other side of the two. She didn't feel isolated, but rather a sense of helplessness, as if she were superfluous.
She was content that Fang Bai and Ji Yuning were willing to travel with her, as she had suggested it.
Mu Xuerou glanced at the two of them and thought that their relationship seemed to be getting better and better. She hadn't seen any more injuries on Ji Yuning, and even in the past few weeks, when Fang Bai was mentioned, Ji Yuning no longer showed the same disgust as before.
Mu Xuerou admitted that no one would dislike Aunt Fang now.
After all, even the person who hated Fang Bai the most could sit next to her with a calm expression.
Seemingly noticing Mu Xuerou's gaze, Mu Xuerou exchanged a glance with Ji Yuning, who was looking at her.
Mu Xuerou's gaze froze. Recalling Ji Yuning's tone a few minutes earlier, embarrassment welled up in her heart again, forcing Mu Xuerou to turn around, place her hands on the edge of the pool, and open her phone.
Only the back of Ji Yuning's head was left.
Fang Bai could see the interaction between the two clearly from the corner of his eye.
See? I got angry with you! Did you really think everyone would tolerate your bad temper like I do?
Fang Bai was secretly chuckling to himself, wondering if Ji Yuning would overcome her fear and go to coax Mu Xuerou, when he turned his gaze and met Ji Yuning's deep black eyes.
The smile that hadn't quite faded from her lips was caught red-handed.
Fang Bai: "..."
No, why are you looking at me instead of thinking about how to coax Mu Xuerou?
Fang Bai blinked, his unease at being caught watching the show vanish, and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
The change of expression was so rapid that Ji Yuning paused slightly.
After a breath, Ji Yuning turned her head to look into the distance, and after confirming that Mu Xuerou wouldn't notice them while playing on her phone, she raised her eyelids and asked in a deep voice, "How did you know?"
"Know what?" Fang Bai asked.
Ji Yuning glanced at Fang Bai but didn't say anything.
Although he didn't want to admit it, Fang Bai understood the look in his eyes.
Fang Bai leaned his elbow against the edge of the pool, resting his chin on the back of his hand. "It's just that he's afraid of water, it's easy to tell."
Fang Bai leaned back, pulling Ji Yuning's hand backward, and Ji Yuning straightened her arm in response.
Ji Yuning shifted slightly without making a sound. "I'm not afraid."
Normally, if Ji Yuning were stubborn, Fang Bai might have pretended not to hear her, but remembering that he had been caught watching the commotion earlier, Fang Bai felt ashamed but also a little mischievous.
Fang Bai leaned towards Ji Yuning and whispered, "Then I'll let go."
As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Bai pulled Ji Yuning's hand out of the water.
Fang Bai wasn't deliberately teasing Ji Yuning; it's just that her hands had become wrinkled from soaking for so long, and she was too embarrassed to tell Ji Yuning that she wanted to switch hands.
Ji Yuning was slightly taken aback.
Contrary to expectations, she showed no reaction; she felt no fear, and her heartbeat was as steady as if she were not in the water.
Ji Yuning looked at Fang Bai.
Seeing this, Fang Bai thought Ji Yuning was scared. Knowing how stubborn Ji Yuning was, Fang Bai silently switched hands and held Ji Yuning's hand again.
Noticing that Ji Yuning's body stiffened visibly, Fang Bai's lips curled up, and he whispered, "Aren't you afraid?"
Ji Yuning looked away: "...Mm."
"Oh." Fang Bai made a gesture to let go of her hand again.
When the hands, which had been pressed together, were separated, water instantly filled the gap between them.
Just as Fang Bai's fingertips brushed across Ji Yuning's palm and were about to leave, her fingers were tightly grasped.
Ji Yuning's face was tense, and her voice was deep and muffled: "That's enough."
The sound of water Fang Bai made was quite obvious. Ji Yuning was afraid of attracting Mu Xuerou's attention, afraid that Mu Xuerou would discover that she and Fang Bai were holding hands.
Fang Bai looked down at the tightly clenched hand in the water, thinking that Ji Yuning had finally stopped being stubborn, so he stopped teasing her and chuckled as he replied, "It was easy to notice, wasn't it? You were holding me so tightly in the water last time."
In an instant, Ji Yuning's gaze briefly cracked.
It was all because of the second half of Fang Bai's sentence.