Chapter 166 There's Something on Your Face

Only uttering one word, Ye Fan's voice abruptly came to a halt.

Seeing this, Lan Xi chuckled and continued to ask, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Ning Xi blushed, hurriedly grabbing her mother's arm, and softly complained, "Mom, what are you doing?"

"Just joking."

"What kind of joke is that?"

"Never seen it before? Well, now you have!"

"…"

As the mother and daughter whispered to each other, awkwardness flashed through Ye Fan's eyes. He had almost blurted out what was in his heart earlier.

However, given his current relationship with Ning Xi, it wasn't quite appropriate to say something like that. Fortunately, he stopped himself just in time.

Stepping aside, he gestured with a polite motion, "Auntie, Xiao Xi, it's still early. Come in and have a seat."

"Alright."

Lan Xi smiled warmly and stepped into the house.

When Ning Xi walked past Ye Fan, he suddenly spoke in a low voice, "Xiao Xi."

"Hmm?"

Ning Xi stopped in her tracks, her eyes puzzled. "Wha-what's wrong?"

"You look beautiful today."

Ye Fan's eyes were filled with gentleness, his affection rolling like waves, layer upon layer. "Extremely, extraordinarily beautiful."

"… Thank you."

Ning Xi's cheeks flushed pink. "You look very handsome too."

As soon as the words came out, she regretted them. Even her delicate earlobes and fair neck turned crimson.

Ye Fan froze for a moment, then a smile slowly spread across his face. He raised his right hand and extended it towards Ning Xi. The meaning behind this gesture was clear, even to a fool.

Ning Xi's pupils slightly widened, and the redness on her face deepened. "No way, this… really no way."

With that, she hurriedly entered the house, her steps flustered, clearly startled by Ye Fan's gesture.

Had it been any other time, she might have agreed.

But was this just any other time?

No!

Her mom and Ye Fan's mom were both present. Doing something so intimate in front of them would be…

Ye Fan wasn't disappointed at being refused. He hadn't really expected Ning Xi to agree anyway; he was merely teasing her.

In the living room.

Lan Xi and Ye Xian sat across from each other.

"Lan Xi."

"Ye Xian."

Lan Xi extended her hand enthusiastically, warmly saying, "Xiao Xi keeps mentioning you, saying how approachable you are. Now that I've met you, it's just as she said."

"Oh, really?"

Ye Xian shook Lan Xi's hand briefly, her face full of smiles as she looked at Ning Xi, who stood behind her. "Xiao Xi, has Xiao Fan ever mentioned me before? That boy never said anything to me about it."

"I…"

Ning Xi felt like crying.

This wasn't just digging a pit—it was dragging her right into it!

When had she always mentioned it?

She had only brought it up once earlier that morning, and all she had said was the name "Ye Fan's mom," nothing more.

Lan Xi gave Ye Fan a knowing look. He immediately understood and quickly said, "Yes, I often talk about you with Xiao Xi."

Ye Xian's warm smile remained as her gaze fell on Lan Xi, a trace of doubt flickering deep in her eyes.

Lan Xi looked too young. No one would doubt her if she claimed to be in her twenties. If it weren't for her uncanny resemblance to Ning Xi, Ye Xian might have thought Lan Xi was Ning Xi's stepmother.

"With the college entrance exams approaching, I was worried about Xiao Fan being alone in the capital, so I thought I'd come to check on him."

Ye Xian took the initiative to make conversation. "I didn't expect to meet Xiao Xi by chance. She's such a delightful child, so I wanted to invite her for a meal. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not."

Lan Xi responded gracefully, her smile calm and poised. "However, since I'm a local here in the capital and you've come all this way, I really ought to be the one treating you."

Seeing Ye Xian about to respond, she quickly added, "I've already made the reservation, so please allow me this time."

"Alright then."

Seeing how proactive Lan Xi was, Ye Xian didn't insist further. It was just a meal, and arguing over it would be unnecessary.

The two exchanged a few words and decided to set off.

A group of four, Ye Xian and Lan Xi walked ahead, chatting quite harmoniously, while Ye Fan and Ning Xi trailed about ten meters behind.

Ye Fan's gaze kept circling Ning Xi's face. It was the first time he had seen her with makeup after his rebirth. While it was novel, he was also a little stunned.

In his previous life, he had seen her like this many times, yet seeing her again still left him in awe.

Feeling Ye Fan's gaze, Ning Xi lowered her head and scolded softly, "Keep your eyes on the road. Why are you… staring at me like that?"

"There's something on your face."

"What?"

"Just a bit of beauty."

"…"

Ning Xi glared at him with shy annoyance, deciding not to bother with him. If he wanted to look, let him look—she wouldn't lose anything.

That's what she told herself, but being under his gaze still made her feel a bit flustered.

Leaving the community, the four got into the car. Ye Xian, Lan Xi, and Ning Xi sat in the backseat, leaving Ye Fan sitting all alone in the front passenger seat. Yet, seeing Zhuang Li's astonished expression filled him with joy.

He was sure that Zhuang Li must be feeling incredibly conflicted at that moment.

And indeed, Zhuang Li's feelings were complex. Through the conversation between his wife and the unfamiliar woman in the back, he had confirmed her identity. But the more certain he became, the more complicated his emotions grew.

How long had it been?

And now… they were meeting the parents!

But Miss Ning and Ye Fan were only in their final year of high school. Wasn't this kind of progress… a bit too fast?

…

The dinner was set at Zhaiya Xuan as usual.

Within the twenty minutes on the way there, Ye Xian and Lan Xi had already begun addressing each other as sisters.

Inside the private room, Ye Xian couldn't help but take a sharp breath. Her son had told her that Ning Xi came from a well-off family, and she had prepared herself for it. But the extravagance she was witnessing today still caught her off guard.

A private chauffeur, a high-end restaurant, and a table full of dishes she couldn't even name—it all left her secretly amazed.

Lan Xi glanced at the juice on the table and said to her quiet daughter, "Xiao Xi, don't just sit there. Go pour some juice for your Aunt Ye."

"Oh… alright."

Hearing her mother's words, Ning Xi was momentarily stunned but nodded and was about to get up. However, Ye Fan pressed her shoulders down, saying, "Stay seated, I'll do it."

"…Okay."

The faint masculine scent drifted into Ning Xi's nose, and with elders present, she could only softly agree.

Ye Fan picked up the juice and poured a glass for each of the three women, then poured himself a glass of warm water. After finishing, he raised his glass with a smile. "Auntie, Mom, let me raise this glass of water to you as a toast."

This time, he didn't call her Sister Lan but changed it to Auntie.

After a brief round of polite exchanges, the atmosphere gradually became more casual.

Noticing Ning Xi sitting with her head lowered and not touching her chopsticks, Ye Fan smiled and asked, "Xiao Xi, with so much delicious food in front of you, can you really bear to reject it?"

"Stop… Stop joking."

Ning Xi picked up the small bowl in front of her, staring into space, a hint of restraint in her gaze.

It was clear she wasn't entirely at ease in front of Ye Fan's mother.

But Ye Fan didn't care about that. Catching sight of the sweet and sour ribs in the middle of the table, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He stood up and directly picked up the entire plate.

"Ahem!"

Ye Xian noticed her son's action and cleared her throat. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

Ye Fan swapped the plate of sweet and sour ribs with the dishes in front of Ning Xi and explained with a smile, "Xiao Xi likes this dish. It's too far for her to reach."

Ning Xi covered her face with both hands, and under the table, she stomped on Ye Fan's foot hard. She felt like she was dying of embarrassment and muttered weakly, "I… I'll just eat one piece."

"One piece isn't enough."

"It's enough!"

"No, it's not. Back in school, you could eat…"