Gu Yun looked at the young girl in front of him, his smile growing even kinder.
He couldn't help it; the girl was just too pretty, making him want his son and daughter-in-law to have another granddaughter…
"What's the young lady's name?"
Upon hearing Gu Yun's question, Ning Xi felt nervous, clutching the hem of her clothes. At this moment, she was like a fan meeting a famous sports star.
Excited, yet at a loss for what to do!
"Hello, Mr. Gu, I'm Ning Xi, an amateur Go player of the first rank."
"Oh?"
Hearing that the girl's last name was Ning, a hint of surprise flashed through Gu Yun's eyes, though he quickly regained his composure and asked, "How long have you been learning Go?"
If she had started learning Go from a young age, reaching the first amateur rank at this age would be a bit disappointing; her talent could only be considered average.
Sensing Ning Xi's nervousness, Ye Fan whispered reassuringly, "Don't be nervous. Mr. Gu is very kind, just speak your mind."
"…Okay."
Ning Xi took a deep breath, the tension in her heart slowly easing away. She met Gu Yun's gaze and politely answered, "I started learning Go at the beginning of this year. It has been more than four months now."
"More than four months?"
Before Gu Yun could say anything, Gu Ziyi, standing nearby, couldn't help but exclaim, "To reach the first amateur rank in such a short time?"
Influenced by her grandfather, Gu Ziyi was naturally familiar with Go. From a young age, she had been nurtured on this path, though she didn't particularly enjoy it. Still, her grandfather and father frequently gave her earnest encouragement and pep talks.
Over time, Gu Ziyi gradually developed a love for this intellectual game.
Back then, it took her a year and a half to move from the tenth amateur rank to the first rank, and even then, her grandfather praised her. She remembered that very clearly.
It was precisely because of this that she reacted with such shock upon hearing Ning Xi's words.
Reaching the first amateur rank in four months?
If that was true, then this girl named Ning Xi was undoubtedly a prodigy in the world of Go.
"Mind your manners."
Gu Yun glanced at his granddaughter, reminding her.
Then, he focused on Ning Xi, harboring no doubts, as her eyes were too clear—clear to the point of being free from any impurities. He sighed inwardly and said softly, "Reaching the first amateur rank in just over four months is quite an impressive talent."
"Thank you, Mr. Gu."
Ning Xi bowed her head slightly, showing a touch of shyness.
Seeing this, Gu Yun looked at Ye Fan, the young man who had saved his life, and smiled, "I heard from Ziyi that the first thing you asked before coming was if I was a Go player?"
"Yes."
Ye Fan admitted frankly. He was not one for beating around the bush and got straight to the point, "I apologize for the sudden visit. There's an immodest request I'd like to make."
"Oh, you want me to take this young girl as my disciple?"
As soon as he said this, Ning Xi's small hands involuntarily clenched, her eyes filled with surprise.
At that moment, she finally understood what Ye Fan's so-called "gift" was.
She turned her head slightly and secretly glanced at Ye Fan's handsome features, her heartbeat quickening. A crack opened in her heart, and a warm light seeped through, gently warming her heart.
The light was Ye Fan.
Ever since meeting Ye Fan, he had been unconditionally kind to her. Although he could be annoying at times, he truly expressed his feelings through one thoughtful detail after another.
It's not words that touch the heart, but actions; consistent, genuine efforts are what...
In her mind, Ye Fan's words echoed: "I'm going to pursue you!"
Thinking about this, Ning Xi's cheeks couldn't help but flush. She quickly suppressed the thought, not daring to dwell on it.
Ye Fan noticed Ning Xi's unusual reaction, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes. His kindness toward Ning Xi was not for any gain; he simply wanted to be kind to her, nothing more.
"Mr. Gu, you've guessed right."
Ye Fan's tone was neither arrogant nor humble as he said, "Actually, I didn't know about your identity at first. It was only this afternoon when Xiao Xi's father mentioned you that I started to suspect."
Gu Yun, carefully pouring the brewed tea, responded, "If I'm not mistaken, this young lady's father should be Ning Xiangtian, right?"
"Yes."
Ye Fan wasn't surprised that Gu Yun could guess Ning Xi's father's identity so easily. He said seriously, "I heard from Uncle Ning that he wanted Xiao Xi to be your disciple, which is why I reached out to Miss Gu."
At this point, his expression became earnest, "For this visit, I have shamelessly come to ask you to take Xiao Xi as your disciple."
Gu Yun did not reply immediately. His slightly pale face showed a smile as the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes gathered.
He slowly placed the brewed tea in front of Ye Fan and Ning Xi, without responding to the request. Instead, he pointed to the teacups, "Come, try the tea. Knowing you were coming, I brought out some treasured leaves."
A look of disappointment flashed across Ning Xi's face.
In contrast, Ye Fan remained exceptionally composed, his expression unchanged. As long as there was no outright refusal, it meant there was still room for discussion. And where there was room for negotiation, there was no need to rush.
He looked at the tea in his cup, brought it to his nose to sniff, and finally took a sip, letting the taste linger on his tongue before setting the cup down.
Observe, smell, savor—he did it all!
Gu Yun's eyes showed a hint of surprise. Ye Fan's tea-tasting movements were very precise, which was hard to imagine for someone so young.
"Can you tell what kind of tea this is?"
"Top-grade Longjing." Ye Fan replied confidently.
"Oh?"
Gu Yun took a sip from his own cup and asked, "Why do you say it's Longjing?"
Ye Fan smiled confidently and pointed at the tea leaves in the cup, explaining, "The shape is flat and slender, the color is green and fresh, and it has a pure aroma and mellow taste. When brewed, the leaves are green and the scent is fragrant without being overpowering. It's suitable for sipping slowly."
"Just now, I savored its aroma and aftertaste; the flavor is fresh and mellow, leaving a lingering fragrance in the mouth. It's not intense but light, yet it refreshes the senses. With so many characteristics, the answer is clear."
Tea tasting?
What a coincidence, he was quite familiar with it.
In his previous life, to entertain various clients, he had put a lot of effort into tea tasting. While he couldn't claim to identify all teas instantly, he could recognize about seventy to eighty percent, and with a famous tea like Longjing, he could tell just by the smell.
But doing that would have been too showy, so Ye Fan deliberately took a sip to appear more natural.
Both Ning Xi and Gu Ziyi stared wide-eyed at Ye Fan after hearing his explanation.
Clap clap…
Gu Yun clapped his hands, his expression tinged with emotion, "I didn't expect someone so young to have such deep knowledge of tea tasting. It's truly rare, truly rare!"
"Thank you for your praise, Mr. Gu."
Ye Fan remained humble, showing no signs of arrogance, and then fell silent.
The atmosphere in the living room became still.
After about ten seconds, Gu Yun squinted at Ning Xi, his aged voice breaking the silence.
"Taking on a disciple isn't out of the question, but…"
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