Chapter 145 Give Me Your Hand

"It's done."

Ye Fan looked at his handiwork, nodded in satisfaction, and stood side by side with Ning Xi. "Xiao Xi, if you make it into the Genius List, will you still choose to play chess?"

"Yes!"

Ning Xi almost didn't hesitate and nodded. "I won't neglect my studies, but I'll keep playing chess."

Hearing this answer, Ye Fan couldn't help but laugh.

Ning Xi was still Ning Xi, unchanged.

This girl, once she chose to do something, always put in the effort to do it well. He had never seen her give up halfway.

Ning Xi's eyes flickered slightly. "Why are you asking that?"

"It's nothing, just a casual question."

Ye Fan shook his head and extended his right hand. "Let's go, we shouldn't keep Uncle Zhuang waiting."

"I won't let you hold my hand!"

Ning Xi quickly slapped Ye Fan's right hand and ran toward the neighborhood gate, her ponytail bouncing on her back, exuding youthful energy.

Watching the graceful figure of the girl, Ye Fan smiled and stepped forward to follow.

They got into the car.

Originally, Ning Xi wanted Ye Fan to sit in the front passenger seat, but Ye Fan, being shameless, insisted on squeezing into the back with her.

To this, Zhuang Li was like a stone statue, remaining silent.

Once they were seated, Zhuang Li started the car and headed toward Zhai Yaxuan.

Not long after they started driving, Ye Fan, recalling the phone call from the night before, addressed Zhuang Li in the driver's seat. "Uncle Zhuang, does the road to Zhai Yaxuan pass by the Order Bureau?"

"It's on the way."

Zhuang Li replied casually.

Ning Xi was puzzled and poked Ye Fan's hand with her small finger, softly asking, "Why are you asking that? Are you going to the Order Bureau?"

"Yes."

Ye Fan nodded and explained, "There's something I need to handle at the Order Bureau. It's not a big deal; it should take about ten minutes, so it won't delay lunch."

"Oh."

Ning Xi didn't ask further and turned her head to speak softly. "Uncle Zhuang, could you stop by the Order Bureau first? We'll go to Zhai Yaxuan after Ye Fan is done."

"Yes!"

Zhuang Li responded, glancing at Ye Fan through the rearview mirror with a frown. "Why are you going to the Order Bureau?"

A high school senior going to the Order Bureau—it didn't add up!

Hearing this, Ye Fan chuckled lightly, "It's nothing serious. A few days ago, I went to the bookstore to buy books and ran into a fugitive. I knocked him out."

"After the investigation by the Order Bureau, they confirmed that the man was an S-class fugitive from Jiangbei Province. They called me last night to say there's a reward of one hundred thousand yuan, so I need to go claim it."

"…"

"…"

An S-class fugitive?

A reward?

These words left Ning Xi and Zhuang Li stunned. Neither of them had expected that Ye Fan's trip to the Order Bureau was for this reason.

The car was silent for several seconds before a gasp sounded.

Ning Xi covered her mouth with one hand and grabbed Ye Fan's arm with the other, exclaiming in disbelief, "Ye Fan, did you really catch an S-class fugitive?"

"Yes."

Ye Fan blinked, "Impressive, right?"

"So impressive!"

Ning Xi's head bobbed like a pecking chick, her eyes showing a hint of admiration. But soon, her emotions shifted, and she began examining Ye Fan from left to right.

"What's wrong?"

Ye Fan was puzzled.

Ning Xi's eyes held a trace of worry, "Y-You… were you hurt?"

"I read on the news that those fugitives are all extremely vicious and dangerous. You're supposed to stay far away from them! Why did you get involved?!"

Her reproachful words were full of concern.

A warm feeling spread in Ye Fan's heart, and he gently tapped Ning Xi's delicate, upturned nose. "I'm fine. If I were hurt, how would I be going to school these past few days?"

"Besides, I wasn't the one who approached voluntarily. I had no choice but to protect myself."

Ning Xi blushed, pushed Ye Fan's hand away, glanced guiltily at Zhuang Li, who was driving, and turned her head to softly remind, "Anyway, next time you encounter something like that, be more careful and don't play the hero."

"Alright."

Ye Fan shook his head with a smile.

Encounter an S-class fugitive again?

That would take a lot of luck!

"Ahem, ahem—"

Zhuang Li couldn't take it anymore and coughed twice.

Was this necessary?

A man in his thirties, without even a girlfriend, let alone a wife, why did he have to witness such a scene? It was too cruel!

Ning Xi shifted her position, propped her face with her delicate hand, and gazed out the window to cover her inner shyness.

Leaving Ye Fan alone, unable to clap with one hand.

Silence once again filled the car.

After a dozen minutes, the car stopped at the entrance of the Order Bureau. Civilian cars weren't allowed to enter, so Zhuang Li had to drop off Ye Fan and Ning Xi before finding a parking lot nearby.

After Zhuang Li left, Ye Fan reached into his pocket, pulled out a mask, and put it on Ning Xi, teasing, "Remember to wear a mask when you go out. First, the air quality in the capital isn't great, so wearing a mask is good for your skin. Second, you're too pretty and attract attention. You wouldn't want people staring at you, would you?"

"Thank you."

Ning Xi nodded obediently.

As Ye Fan said, she didn't like being stared at.

Usually, she would wear a mask when going out, but today she spent so long choosing an outfit that she rushed out and forgot.

"Give me your hand."

"No."

"Give it to me."

"No, I won't."

"Give it to me."

"You…"

Seeing Ye Fan's rare assertiveness, Ning Xi lowered her head, murmuring so softly it was barely audible, "We're about to meet the officer uncle, holding hands… isn't appropriate."

"Give it to me."

Ye Fan's response remained the same. He knew Ning Xi's personality well. If he didn't show a bit of dominance, this girl would never agree.

There was still a long road ahead, and he needed Ning Xi to gradually get used to all this.

"Fine, here."

Ning Xi bit her lip and muttered, "Why so fierce, annoying!"

Saying this, she turned her head away and placed her hand in Ye Fan's palm, her eyes filled with shyness, as if it could spill out at any moment.

Ye Fan's lips curled up, a smile in his eyes as he squeezed the soft hand in his palm, satisfaction evident on his face.

They entered the service hall.

Ye Fan took out his phone and dialed Xing Zhengtao's number. "Chief Xing, I'm already at the service hall."

After a brief exchange, the call ended.

Ye Fan sat down with Ning Xi on a seat by the wall, smiling as he asked, "Xiao Xi, have you ever been here before?"

"No."

Feeling the gaze of someone in their direction, Ning Xi instinctively wanted to withdraw her hand, only to find that Ye Fan's grip was like a clamp, impossible to break free from, leaving her both embarrassed and angry.

Sensing the girl's subtle movement, Ye Fan almost burst out laughing.

Silly girl, what are you thinking?

He wasn't letting go. Not in this lifetime!!!

Xing Zhengtao arrived at the service hall and immediately noticed Ye Fan and Ning Xi sitting on the bench.

Both were young, but their extraordinary presence was hard to ignore.

Especially the masked girl, whose serene and noble aura was not something nurtured in an ordinary household.

"Ye Fan, who's this?"

_____

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