"You… the more you talk, the more unserious you become. Isn't it just a jigsaw puzzle? Give me two hours, and I'll finish it. Hmph!"
"How am I being unserious?"
Ye Fan, full of righteous confidence, said, "If you complete the task on time, there will be a reward. If you fail, naturally, there has to be a punishment."
"Even if there's a punishment, you can't hit…"
Ning Xi's cheeks gradually turned redder, her watery eyes filled with boundless shyness.
Spanking?
Something like that is just too…
Bad guy!!!
A barely perceptible mischievous smile flashed through Ye Fan's eyes as he deliberately asked, "Can't hit what?"
"You…"
Ning Xi kicked off her slippers, stepped on Ye Fan's foot with her delicate one, and then bit his shoulder—though the force was so light it felt more like a tickle.
After biting him, she widened her eyes, looking like an angry little bunny, and questioned, "Is teasing me fun?"
"Yes."
Ye Fan nodded with a smile, his expression full of sincerity.
Of course, it was fun. For him, teasing Ning Xi was the most enjoyable and interesting thing.
Ning Xi: "…"
In this regard, she was no match for Ye Fan at all.
No!
It seemed like, in any regard, she was never a match for Ye Fan…
So frustrating!!!
Seeing the girl turn her back on him, Ye Fan chuckled and comforted her, "Alright, this jigsaw puzzle is actually very difficult. The box contains a total of 5,200 pieces, and I've already destroyed the instruction manual. It's not something that can be completed in just a short while."
"Besides, for now, it's better for you to focus your energy on reviewing. Once the Triple Joint Exam tomorrow is over, the final college entrance exam will be next. Let's put in our best effort for these last ten days, okay?"
"…Mhm!"
"Pinky promise."
"You, you… you're really childish."
Even though she said that, Ning Xi still obediently linked her pinky with Ye Fan's.
After returning home, Ning Xi greeted her mother and immediately went to her room. She cleared her computer desk, carefully opened the puzzle box, and poured out all the pieces.
Seeing the countless tiny pieces, a troubled expression appeared on her face. She couldn't help but mutter in a low voice, "Why destroy the instruction manual? How long will it take to complete this many pieces?"
After trying for a while, she only managed to piece together four fragments.
In the end, Ning Xi chose to give up.
Completing the puzzle properly would indeed take a lot of time. Right now, she couldn't afford to waste even a second. She could only save it for summer break.
Day turned to night, and as the sun slowly rose from the east, a new day arrived.
"Ring—"
The third nationwide joint exam officially began.
It was a day filled with tension. All the students had lost their usual playful attitudes; their faces were heavy and serious.
Unlike the previous two times, after each exam ended, the test papers of Ye Fan, Ning Xi, and Su Qiaoyu were separated, sealed in an archive bag, and immediately sent to the corresponding grading teachers.
Of course, the three of them had no idea they were receiving such special treatment.
At 5:00 PM, the bell signaling the end of the exam rang.
The tense day was finally over. Students let out sighs of relief, their expressions carrying traces of relaxation and release.
This journey of accompanying the top students had finally come to an end!
For ordinary students, the sudden addition of three nationwide joint exams was nothing short of a disaster!
They didn't dare to dream of getting bonus points; all they hoped for was to use these three large-scale exams to find the right exam rhythm for the college entrance exam.
The Ministry of Education, considering that continuous high-intensity exams might exhaust the students, arranged for all senior high school students nationwide to have a day off after the Triple Joint Exam.
If the string is pulled too tight, it will break!
The Ministry of Education understood this principle as well.
So, after submitting their papers, the students packed their things and left school as soon as possible, feeling utterly relieved and joyful.
Walking out of the exam venue, Ning Xi immediately noticed Ye Fan a few meters away.
Dressed in a black sports outfit, Ye Fan's delicate and handsome features, tall stature, and outstanding aura made him stand out even more—especially the deep glimmer in his eyes, which enhanced his already extraordinary presence.
At that moment, three girls surrounded Ye Fan, their expressions full of enthusiasm.
Seeing this scene, Ning Xi pouted slightly and muttered under her breath, "Hmph, as expected, guys who are too handsome are all unreliable. They just attract bees and butterflies!"
She leaned against the nearby metal frame, crossed her arms, and quietly watched from a distance.
"Ye Fan, which university are you planning to apply to?"
"Yeah, can you tell us?"
"Ye Fan, do you have time tomorrow? I… I'd like to invite you to a meal, if that's okay?"
Hearing this, Ning Xi couldn't stand it anymore. She stormed over angrily.
Asking about university choices was still acceptable, but inviting Ye Fan to a meal—what was that supposed to mean?!
Too much!!!
Ye Fan had already noticed Ning Xi early on. Seeing her walking over, the rejection he was about to utter was swallowed back.
The girl who had just invited him out became anxious when he didn't respond. "Ye Fan, I just want to treat you to a meal. Can't you just say yes?"
"Why should he say yes to you?"
Ning Xi walked up to Ye Fan, and, as if possessed by some unknown force, she grabbed his hand and blinked at him with a warning look. "Don't you already have plans for tomorrow?"
"Do I?"
Ye Fan's eyes were full of amusement.
Ning Xi was furious but couldn't explode. After all, there were others present. She forced a smile and said through gritted teeth, "Yes, you already agreed to go shopping with me, didn't you?"
"Did I?"
Ye Fan pretended to think, sensing the growing storm in the girl beside him. He quickly nodded, "Oh, right, my memory is so bad. I almost forgot. My bad!"
He smiled apologetically at the three girls and said, "I'm really sorry, but I already have someone I like."
As he spoke, he lifted his and Ning Xi's joined hands.
The meaning was clear without words!
Having made it so obvious, the three girls—though reluctant—could only accept the truth and leave in disappointment.
Who would have thought that the famous school beauty, Ning Xi, also liked Ye Fan? And judging by their affectionate actions, they were very likely already a couple.
Compared to her, they couldn't compete in looks, aura, or academics…
How could they win?
Even smashing their heads against a wall wouldn't help!
Once the three girls were gone, Ning Xi immediately pulled her hand away and glared at Ye Fan through clenched teeth. "You were really getting into character just now, huh? Being surrounded by pretty girls—did it feel good?"
Seeing the girl's jealous expression, Ye Fan secretly laughed but spread his hands in an innocent manner. "Actually, it didn't feel good at all. It was very ordinary, even a little annoying. Want to know why?"
"Why…?"
"Because they're not you!"
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