Fang Bai chimed in, "Yes, you won't be like that soon."
Two more days.
They've reached adulthood.
Ji Yuning's eyes flickered, and she said, "Today doesn't count."
Fang Bai didn't react for a moment, "What?"
Perhaps it was because she had opened her heart, or perhaps it was because she was about to reach the age she had been waiting for, but Ji Yuning boldly spoke her mind: "When I come back, celebrate my birthday again."
"Then why not count today?"
After Fang Bai finished asking her question, she and Ji Yuning made eye contact unintentionally. She watched as Ji Yuning's face gradually loomed closer until Ji Yuning leaned on her shoulder.
Ji Yuning's voice was in her ear: "Like last time, just the two of us."
Fang Bai blurted out, "If Xiao Mu knew you thought this way, she would be very sad."
“…” Ji Yuning said, “I will apologize to her.”
"No, Auntie was just joking," Fang Bai asked. "Why would you want to do it again?"
Ji Yuning rested her head on Fang Bai's shoulder and said in a coquettish tone, but in a very soft voice, "I want to eat noodles."
Fang Bai paused for a few seconds, then forced a smile and said, "Okay."
Ji Yuning stared at Fang Bai's smile for a few seconds, then let out a soft "hmm" through her nose.
In the distance, Mu Xuerou's voice interrupted the two.
"Yu Ning, Aunt Fang, what's wrong with you?!"
Fang Bai glanced in Mu Xuerou's direction and replied, "It's alright, I'm coming."
Her gaze returned to Ji Yuning, who had already stepped out of her embrace.
However, both of their hands were still in their pockets.
Fang Bai mimicked Ji Yuning's actions from a few minutes earlier, squeezing Ji Yuning's hand, raising an eyebrow, and softly saying, "Can I let go now?"
Ji Yuning: "Mm."
Fang Bai felt Ji Yuning release one of his hands.
After Fang Bai withdrew that hand, she moved her other hand, which was still being held, and asked, "What about this one?"
The next second, Ji Yuning obediently let go of his hand.
Before Fang Bai could take his hand out of his pocket, Ji Yuning said, "It's a bit cold, Auntie, can you help me warm it up?"
Fang Bai stopped pulling away.
A gust of wind blew by, and a chill hit my face.
Fang Bai grasped Ji Yuning's hand in the pocket of his cotton-padded jacket.
KTV.
Mu Xuerou booked a medium-sized private room, which can accommodate up to eight people. After the four of them entered, there was plenty of room.
After the waiter left, Mu Xuerou took He Ziyan to order songs, while Fang Bai pulled Ji Yuning to sit in the middle.
Three minutes later, He Ziyan sat down next to them, while Mu Xuerou turned to ask, "Yu Ning, Aunt Fang, do you have any songs you'd like to sing?"
Ji Yuning shook her head.
After thinking for a while, Fang Bai gave a song title.
Mu Xuerou smiled slightly upon hearing this and said with a hint of happiness, "I've heard this before! My mom often sings it~"
Fang Bai's eyebrows curved slightly, but he remained silent.
At this moment, He Ziyan said to Mu Xuerou, "Xuerou, let Aunt Fang sing first."
Fang Bai tilted his head slightly: "Why?"
"I want to hear what it's like to hear you sing, Auntie." After saying that, He Ziyan's gaze skipped over Fang Bai and looked at a certain pretentious person, saying, "Ji Yuning must think the same way. If you don't believe me, Auntie, you can ask her."
Why is it called being hypocritical?
Because He Ziyan saw it.
On the way here, realizing that the two behind her had not followed, He Ziyan turned around and saw Ji Yuning adjusting Fang Bai's clothes and hugging Fang Bai.
That moment had a significant impact on He Ziyan.
She never expected... that Ji Yuning would do something that resembled showing concern for others and having close contact with them.
To put it dramatically, it somewhat overturned He Ziyan's perception of Ji Yuning.
When the two walked up to them, they saw Fang Bai's hand in Ji Yuning's pocket. He Ziyan deliberately asked why, and Fang Bai replied that he was warming Yuning's hands.
If this had happened before, and someone had told her that Ji Yuning would have someone else warm her hands, just thinking about that cold face and that unapproachable defensive wall, He Ziyan wouldn't have believed it at all.
But now, seeing is believing, and He Ziyan has no choice but to believe it.
I believe that some of the behaviors Ji Yuning displays are just a facade.
Warming hands?
What a sly player!
She even strode forward with Mu Xuerou, hoping to give Ji Yuning and Fang Bai a chance to be alone and explain things...
He Ziyan is not feeling well right now.
Fang Bai listened to He Ziyan's words, then turned his head to Ji Yuning, but didn't speak, instead asking with his eyes.
Ignoring He Ziyan's resentful glare, Ji Yuning turned to Fang Bai and curled her lips, "Hmm, I want to hear it."
Seeing Ji Yuning smile, Fang Bai's eyes curved into a smile, "You're not allowed to say anything if you don't sing well."
Mu Xuerou has already selected the song.
Fang Bai chose Teresa Teng's "I Only Care About You," an old song.
As the intro began, Fang Bai's attention was drawn to the screen.
A few seconds later—
If I hadn't met you
Where will I be...?
Fang Bai's voice is perfect for this song; it's gentle as water and carries an indescribable emotion.
Ji Yuning's heart suddenly pounded.
"...
If that day
You said you were about to leave
I will lose myself
Walking into the boundless sea of people
…”
Upon hearing the lyrics, Ji Yuning looked at the singer. Under the dim light, Fang Bai's facial features were shrouded in an illusory light and shadow, making him difficult to see clearly. It was as if Fang Bai would disappear into the darkness if the light went out.
Suddenly, the image of Fang Bai leaning against the wall and curled up in the lake a few days ago flooded my mind, along with Fang Bai's somewhat unusual response...
Ji Yuning felt a sudden emptiness in her heart, and her hands, which were hanging by her sides, clenched involuntarily.
A sense of panic spread through every corner of her body, and subconsciously, Ji Yuning reached out and grabbed Fang Bai's clothes.
Ji Yuning's palpitations only gradually subsided after the song ended.
Chapter 70
"That sounds wonderful!"
"Aunt Fang is amazing!"
Faced with Mu Xuerou and He Ziyan's praise, Fang Bai smiled and said no, then handed the microphone to He Ziyan, "You guys sing."
He Ziyan didn't say anything else this time. After taking the microphone, she said, "Okay."
Then he discussed with Mu Xuerou what to sing.
He Ziyan's singing style was somewhat different from her usual demeanor, and Fang Bai listened very attentively.
Midway through the song, Mu Xuerou joined the chorus.
Hearing Mu Xuerou and He Ziyan's voices blend together, Fang Bai suddenly realized that Mu Xuerou would be a star in the future.
Fang Bai unconsciously looked at Ji Yuning, whose entire body was shrouded in shadow, making it impossible to see her expression.
But Fang Bai noticed that Ji Yuning was looking at her.
Fang Bai was stunned for a moment when their eyes met.
Fang Bai then noticed that Ji Yuning's arm was reaching towards her. Looking down, she saw the hand tugging at her clothes.
"What's wrong?" Fang Bai asked.
Her voice was drowned out by the music, and she couldn't even hear what she was saying.
Fang Bai had no choice but to remove the arm beside him and lean towards Ji Yuning.
Her wrist was grasped, the warm touch burning her skin. Ji Yuning's eyes flickered. Could this be considered Fang Bai taking the initiative to hold her hand?
Fang Bai didn't know what Ji Yuning was thinking. He moved a little closer to her and then let go of her. "Are you uncomfortable?"
Ji Yuning was probably visiting a karaoke bar for the first time, so it's understandable that she felt out of place.