"Is Gege reasoning with me, right?"
The girl's crystal, slightly sparkling eyes made Ye Fan feel somewhat guilty. He gave a dry cough, unconcernedly looked up at the clock on the wall, choosing to change the subject.
"Xiao Xi, it's time to set off."
"Punish you by not allowing hand-holding!"
Dropping these six words, Ning Xi turned and left, the faint fragrance from her black silk hair filling the air.
Looking at the girl's retreating figure, Ye Fan couldn't help but sigh. His left hand fiercely slapped his right hand, muttering to himself: "This hand, how can it just not be controlled?"
(Right hand: Grandma Li's, a huge pot fell from the sky... / idiom: unexpected blame)
Zhuang Li drove the car, looking at the two in the rearview mirror who were in a cold war, feeling quite curious in his heart, smiled and asked: "Ye Fan, how did you make Miss angry?"
"I…"
"Not allowed to say!"
Ye Fan had just opened his mouth when he received Ning Xi's warning. Instantly, the words on his lips were swallowed back down into his stomach. He obediently closed his mouth.
Ning Xi huffed lightly, teased in a low voice: "Uncle, can't be distracted while driving, drive properly."
Zhuang Li was awkward, gave a dry laugh, "Miss is right to lecture, will definitely pay attention in the future."
The car stopped at the hotel entrance.
As soon as he got out of the car, Ye Fan noticed Shen Li not far away, who had been waiting for a long time. He beckoned, called out: "Xiao Li, come."
"Brother Ye, where's Ning Xi?"
When Shen Li walked up to Ye Fan, not seeing Ning Xi's figure, she couldn't help but feel somewhat surprised, "Isn't she coming for the recording today?"
Ye Fan pointed at the car, "In the car, didn't get out."
Saying this, he leaned closer to Shen Li's ear and quietly said a few words. Instantly, a trace of rosy blush appeared on Shen Li's face. She lightly rolled her eyes at him, "Serves you right. Do you boys just think about these things all day?"
Ye Fan: "…"
He wanted to see if Shen Li had any good ways to coax girls. Girls understand girls best. But he didn't get a method, instead got reprimanded. His mood was truly pathetic!
Shen Li pointed at the front passenger seat, "You sit in front, Ning Xi and I will sit in the back."
After speaking, giving Ye Fan no chance to refuse, she pulled open the car door and sat in the back row.
Ye Fan could only resign himself to his fate.
On the way to the Media Tower, Zhuang Li and Ye Fan in the front row didn't exchange a single word throughout the entire journey. Instead, the two girls in the back row kept whispering. However, the volume of their conversation was very low, even Ye Fan couldn't hear it very clearly.
Through the rearview mirror, Ye Fan discovered Ning Xi's small face was getting redder and redder, his eyes narrowed slightly.
After entering the Media Tower, Ye Fan looked at the two girls holding hands a few meters ahead, spoke up in protest: "Xiao Li, that's about enough. Holding hands for a bit to satisfy the craving is one thing, but endlessly? Is that it?"
Pick the soft persimmon to pinch !
Before Shen Li could speak, Ning Xi glared at Ye Fan, "Not allowed to hold my hand today. Xiao Li, let's go."
Ye Fan stood rooted to the spot, couldn't help but doubt life.
Seeing Ye Fan's be embarrassed) appearance, Shen Li couldn't help but chuckle secretly, said suggestively: "Brother Ye, doing wrong things requires paying the corresponding price. Who asked you to bully Ning Xi? This is you asking for it !"
"Can you not stir up trouble from the side?"
Ye Fan glanced at Shen Li, said lightly: "The matter between me and your sister-in-law doesn't need your concern."
Hearing the two words 'sister-in-law', Ning Xi's delicate body staggered. Releasing Shen Li's hand, she angrily walked to Ye Fan's side, questioned in a low voice: "What sister-in-law? Not allowed to mention this term of address again!"
"But…"
Ye Fan scratched his head, puzzled, said: "Didn't you say this term of address? What, want to go back on your word now?"
Ning Xi's red lips slightly parted, yet she was choked speechless.
"Still not allowed to say it again."
Admiring the girl's rarely seen willful posture, Ye Fan forcefully suppressed the laughter in his heart, leaned closer to the girl's earlobe, "Then you're not allowed to be angry anymore, and you still have to hold my hand."
"You… shameless!"
"Mm."
"…"
Ultimately, Ning Xi still lost the battle. Dejectedly, she lowered her head, her jade hand gently placed in Ye Fan's palm, said faintly: "This should be fine now, right?"
Ye Fan didn't answer, a sunny arc lifted on his thin lips. He pulled Ning Xi and walked towards the elevator, leaving Shen Li alone in utter disarray.
To think she even helped Ning Xi strategize, so the reward is a mouthful of dog food?
Excessive!!!
...
"Welcome contestants to the second round of the Brain Ladder elimination tournament."
On stage, He Dong's face was full of smiles. Holding a microphone, he announced: "Today's competition format is very simple. The program team has prepared an event that tests comprehensive abilities for everyone. 48 contestants will be randomly paired up. Winners advance, losers are eliminated."
"Are you all ready?"
"Ready!"
Accompanied by the contestants' resounding answers full of energy , the three guest judges ascended the stage in turn. The recording also officially began.
After the three guest judges were seated, a new ranking of the contestants appeared on the large screen on site.
Shen Li ranked first, second was Ye Fan, while Ning Xi ranked outside the top ten.
Seeing this ranking, Ye Fan squeezed Ning Xi's jade hand, comforted: "Don't take this ranking to heart, your strength is more than this."
Ning Xi smiled softly, "Gege, I'm not a glass heart ."
Ye Fan laughed along.
Shen Li's face was full of astonishment, very puzzled.
Yesterday, she, Ning Xi, and Ye Fan were all first in their respective events. Logically speaking, even if the three weren't in the top three, they should at least rank in the top five.
Her and Brother Ye's rankings were fine, but Ning Xi actually only ranked thirteenth?
Not scientific!
He Dong added: "This ranking is only temporary. After each round of competition, a professional judging panel will score the contestants' performance in the current competition. Scores will be accumulated. Until the group battles are completed, the top eight ranked contestants can advance to the final finals."
After He Dong finished speaking, Xia Jiuqi raised her hand high, "Teacher He, I have a question."
He Dong chuckled and waved his hand, "Jiuqi, what question do you have?"
Xia Jiuqi looked towards Ning Xi's direction from afar, said: "Does the judging panel's scoring have clear standards? Contestant Ning Xi achieved first place in the second event yesterday, how come she only ranks thirteenth? I can't understand!"
He Dong unhurriedly explained: "Jiuqi, this ranking is based on the contestants' performance yesterday, plus the initial basic ranking, to get the final ranking. Contestant Ning Xi indeed performed very well yesterday, but her initial ranking wasn't ideal, so she is temporarily only ranked thirteenth."
"So that's how it is."
Xia Jiuqi silently nodded, the doubts in her heart dispelled.
"Please have the large screen display today's competition event and rules!"
Following He Dong's announcement, stirring light music immediately sounded at the recording site. When the competition event and corresponding rules were displayed on the large screen, bursts of uproar sounded from the contestant seating area...
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