Chapter 409: Marriage
"That's right, you used to always call her little snot-nosed girl, have you forgotten?"
Mother's words made Ye Fan let out an embarrassed smile, "How come Shen Li suddenly returned to the country?"
Ye Xian on the other end of the phone was silent for several seconds, sighed: "Xiao Li's dad passed away due to an accident. Now only Xiao Li and her mom are left to depend on each other. They have no relatives abroad, so they chose to return to the country."
Ye Fan's heart sank, didn't speak.
Ye Xian's voice continued to sound, "Now Xiao Li has grown into a young lady, unbelievably beautiful. Today she even asked why you weren't at home."
"Shen Li still lives next door to us?"
"Yes, back then Xiao Li's dad didn't find a suitable buyer for the villa, so he didn't sell it. Just right, it can be used now. Didn't you say last time you called that the ranking tournament or something had already ended? Since you're free, come back to Linhai for a trip tomorrow."
"So urgent?"
Ye Fan sensed something was wrong, directly asked: "Mom, why are you in such a hurry for me to come back? It's so good for me to accompany Xiao Xi in the Imperial Capital. Could it be your future daughter-in-law isn't as good as that little snot-nosed girl?"
Ye Xian was at a loss for words.
After being silent for nearly half a minute, just as Ye Fan thought the signal was bad and was about to hang up, Ye Xian's voice sounded again.
"Xiao Fan, there's something I haven't told you all along."
"What is it?"
"You and Xiao Li had an arranged childhood betrothal."
"What?!"
Ye Fan腾 (téng - sound of suddenly sitting up) sat up, his eyes wide with disbelief, "Mom, what did you just say?"
"You and Xiao Li had an arranged childhood betrothal!"
Quiet!
In the room, it was incomparably quiet, only Ye Fan's heavy breathing could be heard.
After a brief moment of disorder, he quickly stabilized his mind.
In his previous life, Shen Li had always been developing abroad, the two had almost no interaction.
But in this life, she returned to the country early, and even had an arranged childhood betrothal with him. Could all this be because of rebirth?
Ye Fan asked in a deep voice: "Mom, what exactly is going on? When did I have an arranged childhood betrothal with Shen Li? You can't just say such things!"
The girl he likes is only Ning Xi, and will only be Ning Xi!
"How could Mom possibly joke about this kind of thing?"
Ye Xian's voice carried some distress, "This engagement was set in the year your dad passed away. Originally, after Shen Li's family went abroad to develop, I no longer held any hope for this engagement, but never expected now…"
"Moreover, today Shen Li's mom specially pulled me into the bedroom to talk about the engagement back then. Looking at her meaning, she wants to… sigh!"
Hearing this, the corner of Ye Fan's mouth twitched, "Mom, what era is this? What arranged childhood betrothal? It's not like you don't know, the one I like is Xiao Xi. Shen Li at most can be considered a younger sister."
"Of course I know!"
Ye Xian sighed: "I also like Xiao Xi, but what about this engagement? Now that Shen Li's dad has passed away, they've come to our door. How can you expect me to say no?"
"Back then, because of your dad's passing, Shen Li's dad proactively requested to set this childhood betrothal, the purpose was to take care of our family. You tell me, what should Mom do now?"
Ye Fan was silent.
In the two years after his father passed away, how much Shen Li's family took care of him and his mother, he remembered very clearly.
Both by sentiment and reason, he couldn't refuse this engagement now.
Otherwise, what's the difference from an ungrateful wretch (白眼狼 - báiyǎnláng / white-eyed wolf)?
But...
Love, this kind of thing, and repaying kindness are fundamentally two different matters!
At this moment, Ye Fan's mood could only be described with two words: frustrating !
"Mom, I want to be alone for a bit, hanging up first."
Ye Fan threw his phone away, his brows knitted into a '川' (chuān - river) character.
He had never thought such a melodramatic plot would actually happen to him, simply… outrageous !
Ye Fan's thoughts turned rapidly. After analyzing the pros and cons, he had already made a decision in his heart.
He picked up his phone and dialed Ning Xi. It rang for a long time before the call was connected. Ning Xi's drowsy voice came through.
"Gege, what's wrong?"
"Xiao Xi, can you get up now? There's something I need to tell you."
"Can't it be tomorrow? Gege, I'm so sleepy…"
"Be good, bear with it for a moment, the matter is quite important."
"…Alright."
Hanging up the phone, Ye Fan quickly got dressed and walked out of the bedroom, came to the master bedroom door on the second floor, raised his hand and knocked.
"Uncle, Sister Lan; it's Ye Fan, I have something to find you for."
...
Ten minutes later.
In the living room on the first floor, the three members of the Ning family sat in a row on the sofa, their faces more or less still carrying sleepiness. All three's gazes converged on Ye Fan.
Ning Xiangtian's face was slightly dark, said exasperatedly: "Waking us up so late, what exactly is it? Quickly speak!"
"Can't your tone be a bit better?"
Lan Xi kicked her husband, "Xiao Fan waking us up so late, must be for something important."
Although Ning Xiangtian was somewhat unhappy, he didn't say anything more.
A wry smile appeared on Ye Fan's lips. He looked at Ning Xi who was in a daze. From the girl'sdazed eyes, it was clear she wasn't fully awake yet.
"Xiao Xi."
"Hmm?"
"Come, sit beside me."
"Oh."
Ning Xi slowly stood up and walked to Ye Fan's side to sit down, picked up a throw pillow and placed it in front of her, continuing to be in a daze.
Ye Fan's face turned serious, "Uncle, Sister Lan; really sorry for waking you up like this. My mom just gave me a call, told me something. After careful consideration, I still feel I should tell you."
Lan Xi lightly nodded "Xiao Fan, whatever it is, just say it directly."
Ye Fan took a deep breath, pondered for a moment: "When I was young, I had a neighbor... that's how things are."
Ye Fan spoke for nearly five minutes in one breath before explaining the entire incident clearly.
At this moment, the sleepiness in Ning Xi's eyes had long dissipated, her expression carrying a trace of nervousness, staring at Ye Fan's face without making a sound.
Arranged childhood betrothal?
These three words, made her heart feel as if a thorn was pricked in it, a heart-wrenching pain.
Ning Xiangtian's and Lan Xi's expressions were serious, the two slowly digesting this information.
After a while, Ning Xiangtian spoke first, breaking the silent atmosphere, his brows furrowed high: "What do you mean by telling us this matter? For us to understand your predicament, and agree to you and Xiao Xi breaking up?"
He waved his sleeve, quite displeased, said: "Let me tell you, I wish you would quickly disappear from Xiao Xi's sight. With her conditions, what kind of boy can't she find? Go wherever you want to go…"
"Dad!"
Ning Xi, whose mood was already very complicated, upon hearing her father's words, her eyes instantly reddened.
Seeing this, Ning Xiangtian's voice came to an abrupt halt.
"Would you die if you said one less sentence?"
Lan Xi glared exasperatedly, quickly comforted: "Xiao Xi, your dad speaks without thinking, don't take it to heart. Let's first hear what Xiao Fan thinks, okay?"
"…Mm."
Ning Xi's pearly teeth lightly bit her lip, her eyes carrying specks of crystal, "Gege, you… don't want me anymore?"
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