"Hey, what are you thinking about?"
Hearing the familiar soft voice, Ye Fan slowly returned to his senses. The slightly vacant look in his eyes gradually regained focus. When he clearly saw the girl in front of him, he couldn't help but fall into a daze once again.
A girl in her late teens stood before him. Her jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, neither tied up nor adorned, with strands resting on her chest and back. Her long eyelashes curled slightly, framing her clear eyes, which seemed dreamy, as if they contained countless galaxies, shimmering with brilliance.
She wore a black long dress, but it couldn't hide her fair and delicate skin. Even through the fabric, her complexion appeared as smooth as white jade, faintly visible. Her slender figure was graceful and enchanting, and the curve of her chest was astonishingly pronounced, making one marvel at the wonders of creation.
Especially her pure and innocent gaze—it gave Ye Fan the illusion of sinking into it, yet he felt no trace of disrespectful thoughts.
Noticing Ye Fan's direct gaze, Ning Xi's face turned slightly red. She took a small step forward, closing the distance to just half a meter, then reached out and poked his arm, pouting, "Am I really that good-looking?"
"You really are. I'm not flattering you, just reminding you."
Ye Fan had a strong will. After a brief moment of distraction, he quickly regained his composure. He gently tucked a strand of Ning Xi's hair behind her ear, his eyes filled with admiration. "No matter how many times I see you, you're always this beautiful."
Ning Xi pushed his hand away and couldn't help but lightly pinch his waist. "You're always such a smooth talker! Never serious!"
As she spoke, she suddenly turned to confront him.
"My phone got confiscated! And it's all your fault!"
"Why couldn't you just send a WeChat message? Why did you have to call me instead…"
"It's my fault."
Ye Fan smiled slightly, spreading his hands in an exaggeratedly sincere manner. His attitude in admitting fault was incredibly earnest. "This was indeed my mistake. Miss Ning, if you want to punish me, I will accept it without complaint."
"You…"
Ning Xi stomped her foot in frustration, feeling somewhat helpless.
"Forget it, I won't argue with you about this. Luckily, the principal rewarded me with a new phone yesterday. As compensation, you need to get me a SIM card, understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Ye Fan saluted, his comical gesture making Ning Xi burst into laughter. Her clear, melodious laughter was as pleasant as wind chimes.
"We should head to Teacher Gu's place now."
"Let's go then."
Ye Fan nodded, took a face mask from his pocket, and put it on Ning Xi, lightly tapping her delicate nose. "How many times have I told you? Wear a mask when you go out. You always forget."
Ning Xi's eyes curved into crescent moons as she blinked a few times playfully. "That's because I have you."
Such simple words carried a deep sense of reliance.
Upon hearing this, Ye Fan's lips curled up slightly. He took Ning Xi's delicate hand and walked to the roadside to hail a taxi.
"Driver, to Phoenix Community."
"Alright!"
The driver wasn't too surprised. After all, they were standing at the entrance of Neptune Community. It was possible these two young people lived there.
For those who could afford to live in Neptune Community, it wasn't unusual to visit another top-tier residential area in the imperial capital.
After all, wealthy people tended to associate with other wealthy people.
It was just after nine in the morning when Ye Fan and Ning Xi arrived at the gates of Phoenix Community.
"I don't have a phone. You should call Sister Ziyi."
"No rush."
Ye Fan chuckled and asked, "Xiao Xi, you still haven't told me why we're here today. Didn't we agree yesterday to focus on your study plan? Why are we suddenly visiting Teacher Gu?"
Ning Xi tried to pull her hand back from Ye Fan's grasp, but after a few attempts, she realized she couldn't succeed. Resigned, she explained, "Sister Ziyi called me and said Teacher asked me to come watch a game of Go today. Apparently, Teacher will be playing against a nine-dan Go player."
"A match between two nine-dan players?"
"Mhm! Isn't it exciting?"
Ning Xi's mischievous expression melted Ye Fan's heart. He couldn't help but chuckle softly. "It's indeed a rare opportunity. Teacher Gu probably wants you to witness a high-level match firsthand. That's a great idea."
"I was asking if you're excited, not for an analysis!"
"Excited. I'm so excited I could die."
Ye Fan's voice was deadpan as he said this.
Ning Xi pouted. "You're so insincere!"
Ye Fan simply smiled.
There were only two active nine-dan Go players in the Xia Nation—Gu Yun and Guo Yuan.
Clearly, today's match would be between these two Go masters.
After calling Gu Ziyi, it wasn't long before she appeared at the community entrance. Even from a distance, she spotted Ye Fan and Ning Xi. It was hard not to notice them—their presence was too striking.
"Sister Ziyi!"
Ning Xi greeted sweetly before removing her mask, revealing her stunning features.
Gu Ziyi smiled and nodded, but when she noticed the two of them holding hands, her expression turned a bit playful. "You two… are progressing quite fast, huh?"
"Huh?"
For a moment, Ning Xi didn't grasp the meaning of her words. But when she followed Gu Ziyi's gaze and noticed their intertwined fingers, her face instantly flushed red. She murmured in a barely audible voice, "Let go of me!"
"No."
"…"
Ye Fan smiled lightly. "I came uninvited. Hope you don't mind."
"Don't be so formal."
Gu Ziyi waved her hand dismissively. "Grandpa will be happy to see you here. Let's go inside."
"Alright."
Gu Ziyi led the way, while Ye Fan and Ning Xi followed a few meters behind, walking at a leisurely pace.
Ning Xi glanced at Gu Ziyi ahead and quietly threatened, "Don't push your luck. Let go of me, or I won't let you hold my hand again in the future!"
Ye Fan's lips curled slightly. "You don't get to decide that. I'll still hold it."
Faced with such shamelessness, Ning Xi felt utterly helpless. She pouted angrily, turning her head away, sulking in silence.
Upon arriving at Gu Yun's residence and stepping into the living room, the scent of something burnt filled the air.
Ye Fan frowned slightly and asked, "Sister Ziyi, were you cooking something?"
Gu Ziyi, who had been leading the way, suddenly froze. Her expression changed drastically. "Oh no! My lotus seed soup!"
As soon as she spoke, she dashed towards the kitchen.
Watching her figure disappear, Ye Fan's mouth twitched, and a realization dawned upon him.
In this era, never let a girl cook. Otherwise…
Recalling the meal Ning Xi had prepared last time, he involuntarily shuddered. That tragic experience was unforgettable for a lifetime.
In the chess room, Gu Yun had been studying a Go board. Hearing the commotion outside, he stepped into the living room. When he saw Ye Fan and Ning Xi, a kind smile appeared on his aged face.
"Ye Fan is here too? Perfect timing. Today, I have a match with Old Guo. You should watch as well."
"Old Guo?"
Ning Xi was confused, her eyes full of curiosity.
Ye Fan leaned down and whispered in her ear, "It should be Guo Yuan—Master Guo. Go check on Sister Ziyi in the kitchen. I'll chat with Teacher Gu for a bit."
"…Okay."
Ning Xi nodded obediently. She gave Gu Yun a polite smile before heading toward the kitchen.
"Teacher Gu, how has your health been lately?"
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