Not interested?
Gu Yun and Guo Yuan were dumbfounded. The two of them were professional nine-dan Go players.
Logically speaking, when they extended an invitation, hardly anyone would refuse.
After all, in the Go world, getting the chance to play against a nine-dan player was incredibly difficult.
Yet Ye Fan casually rejected them, leaving the two feeling quite awkward.
At least give them some face!
Ye Fan took in their expressions but said nothing, continuing to pick up the Go pieces.
The reason he refused was that he had already drawn enough attention today. A supposed Go beginner defeating professional seven-dan players twice in a row was shocking enough. If he were to go against a nine-dan player now, how would he explain it if he won?
The word "genius" wouldn't even be enough to describe how ridiculous that would be!
As for deliberately losing?
Impossible!
Except for Ning Xi, no one was qualified to make him hold back.
And besides, he didn't want to lose!
Ning Xi placed the Go piece in her palm back into the container, her clear eyes flashing slightly as she softly asked, "Why did you refuse? Opportunities like this are very rare."
She had overheard their conversation earlier and didn't quite understand Ye Fan's decision.
If it were her, even knowing she couldn't win, she would have agreed without hesitation.
Playing against a nine-dan player—how could anyone bear to refuse?
But Ye Fan did.
Ye Fan paused, and after putting the pieces away, he removed the hair tie from his wrist, walked behind the girl, and gathered her loose hair into a ponytail. He explained in a low voice, "It's nothing. The only reason I learned Go was to entertain you. I don't actually have much interest in the game itself."
"…Mm."
His words, combined with his actions at this moment, made Ning Xi's heart race like a startled deer. She responded with a barely audible hum, flustered yet feeling as if she had just tasted something sweet.
After tidying up, Ye Fan took Ning Xi's small hand and led her toward Gu Yun and Guo Yuan.
"Professors, if there's nothing else, Xiao Xi and I will be heading out now."
Gu Yun and Guo Yuan exchanged glances, both showing a hint of reluctance.
They really wanted to gauge Ye Fan's true level, but unfortunately, he wasn't giving them the chance.
In the end, Gu Yun couldn't help but ask again, "Are you sure you don't want to play a game?"
"No."
Ye Fan smiled and declined. "Professor Gu, there's a prescription I wrote on the coffee table in the living room. Have Sister Ziyi prepare two doses for you and give them a try. I'll check on you next time."
"Goodbye, Professor."
"Sigh…"
Watching them leave, Gu Yun let out a helpless sigh.
Standing beside him, Guo Yuan couldn't help but tease, "What's wrong with you? Can't even talk properly? So embarrassing!"
"If you think you can do better, go ahead."
"If I went, I'd definitely do better than you!"
"Yeah, yeah, big talk after the fact…"
Hearing their voices gradually fading behind them, Ye Fan and Ning Xi couldn't help but laugh.
These two grandmasters were surprisingly… down-to-earth!
At eleven in the morning, the air was scorching, making it feel like stepping into an oven. Only the occasional breeze brought a trace of relief.
"So hot."
As soon as she got out of the taxi, Ning Xi darted toward the shade of a nearby tree, fanning herself with her small hands. Her fair forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, strands of hair sticking to her cheeks, while her low ponytail swayed in the air.
Ye Fan followed closely behind, gently fanning her with his right hand as he said helplessly, "No choice. We were too lucky—the taxi's air conditioning broke, so of course it's hot."
Ning Xi lowered her hand, looking up at the drooping willow branches above. Her eyes flickered as she thought of something fun.
"Gege~"
"Talk properly. Don't call me that. It's creepy!"
Ye Fan's face stiffened slightly, his back tensing.
To be honest, the girl's sweet and soft voice was very pleasant to the ears—definitely not creepy at all.
But Ye Fan knew Ning Xi well. Whenever she wore that expression, she was definitely up to something.
Ning Xi pouted her rosy lips and muttered, "Am I that scary?"
Ye Fan didn't even acknowledge it and cut straight to the point. "Just say it—what do you want me to do?"
Ning Xi giggled, pointing up at the willow branches. "I want you to make me a headband out of willow twigs. Can you do it?"
"I actually can."
Hearing her request, a smile flashed in Ye Fan's eyes.
In his past life, he had made a headband for Ning Xi before. However, it had ended in failure.
After that incident, he had specifically researched various ways to weave headbands and had studied them for quite some time.
Hearing this familiar request again, memories from the past surfaced in his mind, as if they had just happened yesterday.
"Really?"
Ning Xi hadn't expected much, but hearing Ye Fan's answer, her delicate face filled with joy. She grabbed his arm and shook it slightly, urging him, "Gege, make one for me!"
At this moment, anyone watching them would assume they were a couple. Ning Xi's behavior was exactly like a girlfriend acting spoiled with her boyfriend.
"Alright."
Ye Fan lifted himself slightly onto his toes and broke off two willow branches.
Seeing this, Ning Xi was envious.
Why couldn't she be taller?
Noticing her pout, Ye Fan chuckled and ruffled her hair, comforting her, "Xiao Xi, your height is just fine. Don't compare yourself to me—I'm a guy."
"No, it's not fine at all."
Ning Xi muttered with her head down, "You're so tall, and I can't even reach your shoulders. The difference is huge…"
"That's what makes it cute—the perfect height difference."
Ye Fan's smile deepened as he spoke, his hands skillfully working on the willow branches. His movements were quick, and in less than a minute, a simple yet elegant willow headband appeared before Ning Xi.
Though simple, it didn't lack beauty, especially with the ring of willow leaves on the outer edge, which significantly enhanced its appearance.
"Wow!"
Ning Xi cupped her hands over her mouth, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
Seeing her surprised expression, Ye Fan found it amusing. He gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear before placing the headband on her, making the already beautiful girl look even more like a summer dream—a breathtaking sight at the entrance of the neighborhood.
"Thank you, I really like it."
Ning Xi smiled radiantly, like a fleeting blossom, her joy infectious.
"As long as you like it."
Ye Fan extended his right hand toward her, his face carrying a warm smile. "Come on, take me inside."
"Okay."
Ning Xi placed her hand in Ye Fan's palm, without any hesitation, without any shyness. Everything felt so natural, so right.
Like the opposite poles of a magnet, they were drawn to each other, getting closer and closer.
Coming together completely was only a matter of time.
At that moment, a gentle breeze swept past, lifting the girl's skirt and ruffling the boy's hair—silently narrating the beauty of summer.
Summer. The vast sea of mist. The still waters of the moon. The endless shades of blue. The heat and the coolness.
The wind carried countless words, filling the summer to the brim…
____________________________________________________
stay ahead of the public release join us on patreon / more than 100 advanced chapters are waiting for you.
(avoid subscribing through the iOS Patreon app—it adds about 30% extra, so you'll end up paying more than the usual $5, $10, or $20. To save money, it's best to subscribe using your browser or computer or Android device instead!)
patreon.com/jodex7