Chapter 274 Brother, what should I do if I can't sleep?
"In my heart, within the ten simple strokes, there are four parts of spring breeze, three parts of moonlight, two parts of memories, and one part of your brows and eyes. Every stroke, every line, I must write with utmost seriousness, not daring to be even the slightest bit careless. Only in this way can I write your name!"
"You… why…"
Ning Xi's clear eyes carried a hint of shyness. She bit her red lips lightly and stammered, "It's just a name… that's all. You can write it however you want. Why go to such lengths?"
"It's necessary."
Ye Fan smiled slightly, his smile filled with sincerity. "Only in this way can I write the perfect you. Even if it's just your name, I must write it perfectly because… I like you."
Faced with such affectionate words, even a seasoned romantic would struggle to withstand them, let alone Ning Xi, an innocent little bunny who knew nothing of love. At this moment, her cheeks flushed a deep cherry red, her eyes lowered slightly, and her heart pounded like a frightened fawn.
"I…"
Ning Xi's red lips parted slightly, but she didn't know what to say.
To be precise, she didn't know how to respond.
Ye Fan had never hidden his feelings for her, and after nearly three months of being around him, she had long been drawn in by his meticulous care and his excellence.
If she were to be honest, she had an answer in her heart.
But due to her shyness and a girl's reserved nature, she lacked the courage to face her feelings. At moments like this, her instinct was to run away.
This time was no exception.
"I need… to write my essay. You keep reading."
After saying that, she hastily grabbed the pen and paper, her hands flustered. Out of Ye Fan's sight, her eyes flickered with complex emotions.
Ye Fan wasn't particularly surprised by her reaction—in fact, he was already used to it.
Every time he expressed his love, she would react this way. But this time, he wasn't planning to let her avoid the topic so easily.
Ye Fan took a soft breath, gently holding Ning Xi's small hand. His gaze was deep with emotion, as if it had substance. His voice was warm as he asked, "Xiao Xi, you can't keep running away. You should be able to feel my feelings for you."
"I'm not forcing you to give me an answer right now, but I hope you'll seriously think about it. Ye Fan likes Ning Xi."
"…Mm."
Ning Xi buried her head on the desk, whispering so softly it was almost inaudible, "I… I will think about it seriously. Give me… some time, okay?"
"Alright."
For Ning Xi to answer this way already showed her heart's inclination.
Ye Fan was more than satisfied with this. He picked up the book in front of him and continued reading. He knew Ning Xi needed time to calm down. This girl was easily flustered—he couldn't push her too hard.
The atmosphere in the study was filled with subtle ambiguity, three parts youthful innocence, three parts warmth, three parts heart-throbbing excitement, and one part of a love hidden deep within.
Time ticked by, and soon it was past five in the afternoon.
It was only when Lan Xi entered the study that this delicate atmosphere was broken.
"Stop for a moment, it's time to eat."
"Oh… okay."
Ning Xi let out a relieved sigh, crumpled up the draft paper in front of her—which looked like a chaotic mess—and quickly ran to her mother's side, clinging to her arm with reliance as she urged, "Hurry up, I'm starving!"
"Hm?"
Lan Xi looked at her in surprise. "Xiao Xi, why are you so enthusiastic today? You're not usually like this!"
"I…"
"Maybe Xiao Xi didn't eat enough at lunch."
Ye Fan spoke up to help Ning Xi out of the situation, nodding slightly toward Lan Xi. "Sister Lan, you've worked hard these past few days."
"It's no trouble, no trouble at all."
Lan Xi covered her mouth and chuckled, her tone teasing. "I've been quite happy these days. Watching a real-life idol drama unfold every day—where else can you find such a great show?"
"Mom!"
Ning Xi wasn't foolish—she could clearly hear the hidden meaning in her mother's words. Her face turned bright red, and she stomped her feet repeatedly in protest.
"Ahem—"
Lan Xi quickly straightened her expression, feigning seriousness. "What? I didn't say anything just now!"
Ning Xi: "…"
How could she be like this?
Such a troublemaker!
…
Halfway through dinner, Ning Xiang Tian rushed home in a hurry.
The moment he stepped into the dining room, Ye Fan immediately stood up. "Uncle, you're back."
"Mm, just sit and eat."
Ning Xiang Tian's attitude was very kind—compared to his usual demeanor, he seemed less distant and more approachable.
He nodded toward Ye Fan, then sat beside his wife. His gaze swept over his daughter and Ye Fan as he smiled and said, "Tomorrow is the college entrance exam. You two mustn't feel pressured—just perform at your usual level, and that will be enough."
"Remember, compared to other examinees, you both already have a significant advantage. Most nervousness comes from self-doubt. You don't need to feel that way. Your results in the three national mock exams have already proven everything."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "So, have confidence. Confidence is the peak!"
"Thank you, Uncle."
Ye Fan's delicate face showed his sincerity. "Xiao Xi and I will do our best. You and Sister Lan just wait for the good news."
"Exactly!"
Ning Xi nodded vigorously, waving her small fist. "My brother—I mean, Ye Fan and I will definitely make it into the Genius List!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she secretly pursed her lips, feeling a wave of panic.
That was close…
Luckily, she reacted fast enough!
If she had called Ye Fan 'brother' in front of her parents, she'd be doomed!
Only Ye Fan noticed this detail, and a faint smile flashed through his eyes.
This little girl… has she gotten used to calling me that?
Not bad at all.
Lan Xi's expression carried a hint of surprise. Under the table, she nudged her husband's leg and whispered, "Hubby, it's rare to see you like this. What's going on?"
Ning Xiang Tian cut his steak as he murmured, "The college entrance exam is here—I should encourage these two kids. Is that so strange?"
"Mm."
"…"
Lan Xi chuckled at his exasperated expression. "It'd be normal if it were someone else, but who are you? The richest man in Xia Country! Usually, aren't you cold and distant toward little Fan? Just now, you looked like a completely different person. If I didn't know better, I'd think you took the wrong medicine."
"Cough—"
Ning Xiang Tian naturally caught the teasing in his wife's words. His expression became a little unnatural as he muttered, "Just eat. Don't talk while eating or sleeping. Do I need to remind you of that?"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Lan Xi smiled playfully and dropped the subject.
After dinner, the two were immediately ushered into their rooms by Lan Xi under the pretense of 'getting a good rest.'
Ye Fan didn't mind. He lay on his bed, reading for more than two hours. Once he started feeling sleepy, he prepared to go to bed.
Just as he was about to drift off, the sound of a WeChat message woke him up.
Drowsily sitting up, Ye Fan reached for his phone on the nightstand. His sleepiness gradually faded, replaced by a smile.
[Brother, what should I do if I can't sleep?]
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