Chapter 180: Crossing the River and Destroying the Bridge

"Don't… think about making a move on Ye Fan!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ning Xi's face turned as red as cherries hanging full on a tree branch, a blush spreading as far as the eye could see.

How could she say something like that?

She's doomed!!!

Now Su Ke is definitely going to make fun of her…

Su Ke made an exaggerated expression before laughing and teasing, "Xiao Xi, that's not fair. A high-quality guy like Ye Fan—if you don't want him, don't tell me I can't have him either?"

"As the saying goes, 'Don't let good things go to waste on outsiders.' We can't just let someone else benefit, right?"

"Ke Ke, you..."

Ning Xi's face filled with distress, and she took a deep breath.

Might as well go all in!

"I-I… never said I didn't want him."

By the end of the sentence, her voice had become as soft as a mosquito's hum, barely audible.

Su Ke laughed so hard she nearly collapsed, "Admit it, didn't you?"

"..."

"..."

Ye Fan, with a faint smile on his lips, casually grabbed another tissue from his desk drawer and continued wiping.

To him, Ning Xi's words were worth more than anything else.

"Ke Ke, you're the worst!"

Seeing Su Ke laugh so joyously, Ning Xi couldn't help but realize what was going on. Embarrassed and annoyed, she glared at her best friend before snatching the tissue from Ye Fan's hand. "N-No need, I'll do it myself."

"It's fine. I'm almost done."

Ye Fan gently took the tissue back from the girl's hand and patiently continued wiping.

Once he was done, he returned to his seat and, from an angle where Ning Xi couldn't see, gave Su Ke a thumbs-up.

That assist was perfect!!!

Su Ke slightly nodded, subtly returning the gesture to Ye Fan.

As her best friend, how could she not notice Ning Xi's special feelings for Ye Fan? She had known it all along.

After a few seconds, Ning Xi raised her head nervously and explained, "Ye Fan, just now I—"

"Don't worry."

Ye Fan interrupted, "Even if Su Ke offers herself to me, I still wouldn't accept."

"..."

"..."

The blush that had just faded from Ning Xi's face rose again.

At that moment, she really wanted to bury herself in the ground.

As for Su Ke, she stood there with her mouth agape, utterly stunned. Did she… just get rejected?!

This is too much! Burning the bridge after crossing it this quickly? That's just excessive!

Fine!

For the happiness of her best friend, she'd let it slide.

After all, that's what best friends are for...

…

Time passed, and it was the weekend again.

Early in the morning, Ye Fan got up, changed his clothes, freshened up, and headed out.

Today, he and Ning Xi had agreed to study at the Imperial Capital Library.

After all, studying at Ning Xi's home all the time could get a bit stifling. A change of environment might improve their mood.

Not to mention, he had practically gone through all the valuable books in Ning Xi's home. The remaining ones were of little worth, with rewards of a mere 5 or 10 experience points upon completion.

The Imperial Capital Library, on the other hand, was a different story. Its vast collection of books was enough to last Ye Fan for years.

"Thank you, driver."

At the entrance of Neptune District, Ye Fan paid the fare, stood under a willow tree on the left side, and took out his phone to check the time. It was 7:40 AM, twenty minutes before his 8:00 AM appointment with Ning Xi.

Seems like he was early again?

Fortunately, Ye Fan had come prepared. He carried a book with him, leaned against the willow tree, and began reading intently.

Before he knew it, time had flown by.

When Ye Fan finished the book in his hand, he realized with some helplessness that Ning Xi still hadn't shown up.

It was already close to 8:20 AM.

As expected, girls always liked being late.

Oh well!

She's his girl, so he'd just spoil her!

And so, another half hour passed.

Yet there was still no sign of Ning Xi. Just as Ye Fan was about to call her, a petite figure finally appeared through the gates.

Ning Xi was dressed in a loose, milk-white tracksuit. Her long, low ponytail draped over the left side of her chest. She ran up to Ye Fan, panting and out of breath. "S-Sorry, I turned off my alarm last night, and accidentally… overslept."

As she spoke, she lowered her head, lightly twiddling her pinky fingers.

"It's okay."

Ye Fan shook his head gently. Faced with such an endearing sight, he couldn't resist the urge to give her a head pat. But just as his hand was about to touch her soft hair, he remembered their agreement and froze mid-air.

For a moment, his face was filled with frustration.

He shouldn't have agreed to that deal back then!

Noticing Ye Fan's strange behavior, Ning Xi let out a soft giggle. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she stepped forward, nudging her head against his hand. In a soft voice, she said, "Don't be upset anymore. I'll let you pat, okay?"

"Good girl."

The frustration on Ye Fan's face vanished instantly, replaced by a handsome smile. "Xiao Xi, what do I do? I think I'm liking you more and more."

"Cool off!"

Ning Xi blushed and shot him a glare. "I shouldn't have let you pat me. You're so unserious all the time!"

Pouting, she dodged his hand and turned her head away in mock anger. However, the small smile on her lips couldn't be hidden.

"My bad, my bad."

Ye Fan grinned and asked, "Did you bring a mask?"

"Huh?"

Ning Xi froze for a moment, then playfully stuck out her tongue. "I was in such a hurry this morning, I… forgot."

"I knew it!"

Ye Fan chuckled, taking out a mask he had prepared earlier. He carefully helped her put it on, treating her as if she were a priceless treasure. "I figured you'd forget, so I brought two just in case."

He gently tapped her flawless forehead, his eyes full of affection.

"Ye Teacher is so thoughtful."

Ning Xi's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled sweetly, her expression incredibly heartwarming.

Although the two hadn't officially defined their relationship, the way they interacted was practically the same as a couple's—minus the more intimate gestures.

Ye Fan was well aware of this.

But he wasn't in a hurry.

A seed had only just sprouted. It still needed sunlight and time to grow into a towering tree.

No rush.

Patience was something he had plenty of!

By 9:30 AM, the two arrived at the Imperial Capital Library. By then, the reading area was already bustling with people.

Ye Fan found a relatively secluded spot and began their tutoring session.

"Did you understand what was taught in school yesterday?"

"Not yet..."

Feeling the warmth of his breath near her neck, Ning Xi shrank back slightly, her brows furrowed. She pulled out last night's draft notes from her bag, pointing to the formula at the bottom. "Every time I calculate to this point, it feels off."

"It's definitely off."

With a quick glance, Ye Fan memorized the content on the draft paper. After just a moment of thought, he pinpointed the problem. It made him marvel at the power of his Level 4 intelligence.

In the past, he could never have achieved this level of mental clarity.

"Xiao Xi, you made a mistake in the second step. You shouldn't have used—"

Time flowed peacefully as he explained, accompanied by the presence of an adorable companion. The warm and cozy atmosphere made one sigh with contentment—life was truly worth cherishing.