Chapter 234 Love Letter
"Y-You let go of me... We're studying!"
"We are studying."
Ye Fan's lips curled into a smile, his face full of innocence as he said, "Could it be that we were on a date just now?"
"Date your big-headed ghost!"
Ning Xi's delicate face grew even redder. Under the table, her jade-like foot stepped on Ye Fan, softly warning, "This is my house. If my mom and dad see us, even if I had eight mouths, I wouldn't be able to explain!"
"Why explain?" Ye Fan asked in return.
"..."
At this, Ning Xi was completely out of tricks.
Faced with Ye Fan's shameless behavior, she was no match for him at all.
She put down her pen, turned her delicate body toward him, and her fair, petite face blossomed into a charming smile.
"You're really not letting go?"
"Mm, not letting go."
Ye Fan instinctively nodded.
The next second, a pair of soft, boneless jade arms wrapped around his neck, and their faces were no more than five centimeters apart.
Between a man and a woman, at such a close distance—
Either they kiss, or they kiss!
Ye Fan was instantly stunned. Staring at the breathtaking face right before him, the usually composed and serious Ye Fan couldn't help but be momentarily dazed.
Ning Xi's jade-like hand pinched the back of Ye Fan's neck, gritting her teeth as she threatened, "Believe it or not, I'll bite you?"
"Bite my lips?"
Ye Fan chuckled softly. "If you're biting my lips, then..."
As he spoke, he closed his eyes, looking fearless.
"Go ahead, I'm not afraid!"
"..."
Ning Xi helplessly placed her hands against Ye Fan's chest. The thin fabric of his shirt couldn't block the firm sensation of his muscles. Her heart fluttered in chaos, and she instinctively withdrew her hands as if she had been shocked.
"Are you sure you're really helping me study?"
"Of course."
Ye Fan answered with absolute seriousness, "This is to train your ability to resist distractions, which will help you perform steadily in the college entrance exam."
"You... Shameless!"
"I have teeth."
Ye Fan grinned, even pointing at them with his right hand for emphasis.
"Click—"
Just then, the sound of a door opening echoed.
Lan Xi entered the study room, carrying a plate of fruit. As soon as she walked in, she saw her daughter lowering her head, her face flushed red.
"Have some fruit."
"Thank you, Sister Lan."
Lan Xi walked to the desk, set down the fruit plate, and, looking at the calm Ye Fan, said meaningfully, "The college entrance exam is coming soon. At this time, all your energy should be focused on studying. Even though both of you did very well in the last two mock exams and earned extra points..."
"However, the college entrance exam is the most important. If you don't perform well, all your previous efforts will be in vain. Do you understand?"
"Sister Lan, don't worry."
Ye Fan nodded solemnly. "We still have a bet, and besides, I want to take Xiao Xi to Linhai, so I'll definitely give it my all for the exam."
"That's good."
Lan Xi nodded in satisfaction. Thinking about that bet, a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Actually, we can loosen the bet's conditions a little. As long as you and Xiao Xi make it onto the Genius Ranking, I can agree in advance to let her go to Linhai with you."
"Really?"
Hearing this, Ye Fan's eyes lit up.
As expected... Sister Lan yyds! (Note: "yyds" is internet slang meaning "forever god-tier.")
"Don't be happy too soon."
Lan Xi chuckled, shaking her head. With a hint of a warning in her voice, she said, "Xiao Xi can go to Linhai for a few days, but let me give you an early warning: during that time, you are not allowed to 'bully' Xiao Xi. If you can't promise that..."
"Mom!"
Ning Xi, who had been silently lowering her head, couldn't take it anymore. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she looked up at her mother.
She wasn't stupid. She could clearly understand what her mother meant by "bully," and the thought made her want to dig a hole and hide in it.
"Ahem—"
Lan Xi didn't even glance at her daughter. "I won't disturb your studying. Remember to eat the fruit."
After saying that, she decisively turned and left.
"Too much!"
Watching the study room door close again, Ning Xi's chest rose and fell rapidly, her exaggerated movements leaving much to the imagination.
Ye Fan pinched her soft, chubby cheek with a smile. "Alright, Sister Lan was just joking. Why are you so mad?"
"It's all because of you!"
Ning Xi slapped Ye Fan's hand away, her small nose scrunching up. "It's your fault for insisting on that Linhai seven-day trip! If not for that, none of this would've happened!"
"Blame me, blame me."
Ye Fan admitted fault without hesitation, making no attempt to argue.
Seeing this, Ning Xi was somewhat surprised but didn't say anything further.
She pointed at the draft paper on the desk and softly said, "You've already explained ways to improve writing. Now give me a topic, and I'll try writing something."
"No problem."
Ye Fan pondered for a few seconds before saying, "Then... write a love letter."
"A love letter?"
Ning Xi was dumbfounded, instantly fuming inside.
What kind of topic was this?
Who writes love letters?
Most importantly, she had almost no experience with romance. Since childhood, countless boys had written love letters to her, but she had never read a single one—let alone written one herself!
Now that Ye Fan asked her to write a love letter, she had no idea where to start.
"Staring at me like that won't help."
Noticing her annoyed gaze, Ye Fan smiled and said casually, "This year's college entrance exam has been reformed, and essay topics will change. You need to adapt in advance."
"You're probably thinking, even with reforms, the exam would never have a love letter topic. Am I right?"
"Yes!"
Ning Xi pouted her lips high.
Ye Fan nodded and said unhurriedly, "It's indeed unlikely. The reason I'm asking you to write a love letter isn't to prepare for this specific topic, but to help you practice tackling subjects you're not good at."
Ning Xi was taken aback.
From Ye Fan's tone and expression, she saw only seriousness—no hint of a joke.
She bit her lip lightly and hesitantly said, "But I really don't know how to write a love letter. I've never written one before, and I have no clue where to start."
"It's fine."
Ye Fan picked up a pen. "I'll write the first part, and you can continue from there. That should be manageable, right?"
"Okay!"
Ning Xi thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
The hardest part of any task was starting.
If she only had to continue writing, even if she wasn't skilled at it, at least she had a direction.
As long as there was direction, she could write.
The soft scratching sound of a pen filled the air.
Ye Fan wrote seriously. In fact, this was his first time writing a love letter as well.
[I have no particular hobbies, nor favorite songs, but I have someone I particularly like. More than fearing the unknown, I dread seeing you frown or feel sad. I have no grand ambitions, only the desire to live a simple life with you—falling in love slowly, through the four seasons, three meals a day, just us two, for a lifetime.]
When he placed the final period, Ye Fan looked up at the girl beside him.
In his deep, whirlpool-like eyes, her silhouette merged seamlessly with his soul—
At first sight, joy; over time, still heart-stirring.