Chapter 77: Holding hands again?

"I, I want to drink lemonade."

Her soft voice was almost inaudible, but Ye Fan heard her loud and clear. A speck of light appeared in his black pupils, and in the blink of an eye, it spread throughout his eyes.

"Okay."

A simple word, laced with a hint of undisguised joy.

"...Thank you."

Ning Xi lowered her head, kicking her feet slightly as the temperature on her face rose rapidly.

She just wanted to drink lemonade, there was absolutely no other meaning behind it.

Yes, absolutely not!!!

Following behind the girl, Ye Fan walked very slowly. With every step he took, the affection in his eyes grew stronger. When they were about to reach the exit, the affection in his eyes was almost tangible.

There was no longer any need to hide it.

He was very happy!

Although there was no one to share it with, it didn't affect his happiness.

Looking at the beautiful figure in front of him, Ye Fan took a deep breath and returned to his usual smiling self. He then followed her.

The two of them walked out of the alley side by side.

Ning Xi nodded at Zhuang Li, who was in the driver's seat and pointed at the entrance of the neighborhood not far away. She lowered her head slightly, feeling guilty.

"Let's go."

Ye Fan placed his hands on Ning Xi's shoulders, turned her around, and pushed her toward the neighborhood.

This scene made Zhuang Li's eyelids twitch.

Could he hit someone?

However, after his gaze landed on Ning Xi, his eyes were filled with helplessness. Ning Xi didn't seem to want to refuse.

What was going on?!

Miss, where was your aloofness? Where was your guardedness?

"Sigh!"

Zhuang Li sighed and started the car.

The heat from her shoulders seeped through the fabric of her clothes, causing Ning Xi's cheeks to flush slightly. She instinctively wanted to dodge, but before she could move, another voice sounded in her heart.

"You're good friends, isn't this kind of behavior normal?"

"Besides, you don't hate Ye Fan's behavior, do you?"

The girl shook her head repeatedly, suppressing this thought and frantically denying it.

No, no, no!

She hated this kind of behavior!!!

"Then why aren't you dodging?" The voice rang out again.

Ning Xi was speechless.

Yes, why wasn't she dodging?

Because, because she and Ye Fan were… good friends, that was all!

"Stop daydreaming, let's go upstairs."

At the entrance of the staircase, Ye Fan stopped in his tracks and observed the conflicted look on the girl's face. The smile in his eyes was very obvious. After hesitating for two breaths, he slowly extended his right hand to the girl.

"Come."

Ning Xi stared at the large hand in front of her in a daze. Her first reaction was to turn her head and look behind her. Seeing that Zhuang Li wasn't following them, she secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

At this moment, she was caught in a dilemma. She bit her red lips out of habit.

Hold hands again?

This didn't seem right, but…

Ye Fan wasn't in a hurry. He patiently waited for Ning Xi's decision.

After waiting for more than ten seconds, a soft little hand appeared in his.

His spirits lifted, and the corners of his lips curled up subtly. He led Ning Xi upstairs.

The close contact allowed Ning Xi to feel the warmth of Ye Fan's palm more clearly, and her heart skipped a beat.

Wh, what was wrong with her?

Why…

"Clang."

Ye Fan led Ning Xi into the living room and pressed her onto the sofa. He turned and walked to the fridge, taking out two glasses of chilled lemonade.

This time, he didn't sit opposite Ning Xi. Instead, he chose to sit beside her. The girl's fragrance filled his nose, and he felt more relaxed than ever.

"Drink it."

"...Okay."

Ning Xi held the glass with both hands, her head lowered as she took small sips. However, the blush on her cheeks refused to fade.

"Xiao Xi."

"Yes?"

"Have you ever thought about what you want to do in the future?"

"I want to paint."

A troubled look appeared on Ning Xi's face. "However, I'm not very talented in painting. My father wants me to play chess, saying that it can cultivate one's temperament and concentration."

"Play what chess? Chinese chess?"

Ye Fan was very surprised by Ning Xi's answer.

In his previous life, he had never heard Ning Xi mention anything about this, nor did he know that she knew how to play chess.

"Go!"

Ning Xi raised her clear eyes slightly, her cheeks puffed up.

This person was so silly. What kind of Chinese chess would a girl like her play? It was definitely Go!

Ye Fan was even more surprised. He asked, "You know how to play Go?"

"Humph."

A rare look of pride appeared on Ning Xi's face.

Her expression amused Ye Fan. He raised his hand and rubbed her little head, saying gently, "Whether it's painting or playing Go, as long as you like it."

"Don't worry about other factors, just follow your heart."

"You..."

Ning Xi blushed and protested, "C, can you stop patting my head? It's not right!"

"What's wrong with it?"

"..."

Looking at Ye Fan, who was smiling, Ning Xi opened her mouth slightly, unable to think of a suitable retort for a moment.

Seeing that Ning Xi wasn't speaking, Ye Fan continued, "We're good friends, it's no big deal to pat your head. You can pat my head too."

"Like this?"

Ning Xi tilted her head, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

Why was it different from what her mother said?

However, it seemed to make a little bit of sense…

"Don't be nervous tomorrow, just do your best."

Ye Fan finished the lemonade in his glass and instructed softly, "None of the students participating in the competition are simple. You just need to perform to the best of your ability. Understand?"

"...Oh!"

Faced with Ye Fan's rambling way of chatting, Ning Xi was obviously unable to keep up.

The setting sun cast its rays into the living room. The girl's adorable appearance was imprinted in Ye Fan's eyes.

A light flashed across his eyes, a light that belonged to Ning Xi.

After a few minutes of silence, Ning Xi gently put down her glass and got up to pick up her school bag. However, before she could reach it, someone beat her to it.

Ye Fan slung Ning Xi's school bag over his shoulder. Facing the window, his features were bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.

"I'll walk you back."

"Thank you."

Ning Xi glanced at him and hurriedly lowered her head. The blush that had just faded crept back onto her cheeks.

This time, Ye Fan didn't ask for her opinion. He directly took Ning Xi's small hand and walked out.

"Don't..."

"Watch your step, be good."

"..."

At this moment, Ning Xi really felt like Ye Fan was treating her like a daughter. This feeling was too obvious.

Be good?

This—

This was strange!!!

When they were about to reach the entrance of the neighborhood, Ye Fan let go of Ning Xi's hand.

Ning Xi took a step to the left, putting some distance between herself and Ye Fan. Her eyes were fixed on the entrance of the neighborhood, and her face was filled with guilt, like a thief.

Seeing this, Ye Fan chuckled softly and pushed the girl's shoulder towards the entrance.

"D, don't do this. There are people here, we'll be misunderstood."

After taking two steps, Ning Xi dodged to the side and quickened her pace.

Ye Fan followed, chuckling. "I understand. So you're saying it's okay to do this when there's no one around, right?"

"..."

Ning Xi's delicate body stiffened, and she stopped in her tracks. She turned to stare at Ye Fan. "Sigh, you..."

"Am I not very smart?" Ye Fan blinked, knowingly asking.

"Smart my foot!"

Ning Xi spat softly and turned to leave, her back looking a little flustered.

Watching the girl get into the car, Ye Fan waved and said, "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

The girl in the car replied softly with her head lowered.

The car drove away. Ye Fan stood rooted to the spot. It was only when the car disappeared from his sight that he turned around and walked into the neighborhood.

Always!

The distance between him and his Ning Xi was always closing!!!

This feeling was great~

...

7:30 am the next morning.

Ye Fan stood at the entrance of the alley east of Zhaohua Road, flipping through a book from time to time.

"Huh?"

As soon as she got out of the car, Ning Xi saw Ye Fan at the entrance of the alley. Her eyes flickered.

Was he waiting for her?

The girl shook her head, dispelling the messy thoughts in her mind. She turned and nodded at Zhuang Li.

"Uncle Zhuang, be careful on your way back."

"Don't worry, Miss."

Zhuang Li smiled. Before leaving, he glanced at Ye Fan, who was standing at the entrance of the alley. The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

This kid...

Alright, you have the guts to chase after her!

If you two can get together, I'll take your surname!!!

Watching Zhuang Li leave, Ning Xi turned to look at the entrance of the alley more than twenty meters away. Her eyes flickered, and a mischievous smile appeared on her face.

She lightened her footsteps and quietly walked up to Ye Fan, preparing to frighten him.

However, before she could speak, Ye Fan raised his head and said with a smile, "Xiao Xi, it's not nice to scare people."

"I..."

Ning Xi opened and closed her mouth, but she couldn't bring herself to say the words "I'm not."

Ye Fan's eyes narrowed with a smile. He closed the book in his hand, and with a slight movement of his feet, he appeared behind Ning Xi.

He raised his right hand, placed it on her left shoulder, and pushed her into the alley.

Only after taking seven or eight steps did Ning Xi come to her senses. Just as she was about to dodge, Ye Fan's laughter rang out from behind her on the left.

"It's okay to do this when there's no one around. You said it yourself, you can't go back on your word."

"..."

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