Chapter 76: Agreement (Part 2)

The two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.

"You said you were going to protect me, but in the end, I was the one who got pinned down by you."

Bai Youyou blushed, a playful smile on her lips, and she gently pounded on Bai Fan's chest, chiding coquettishly: "You only know how to bully people."

Bai Fan coughed lightly and said with feigned seriousness: "I was just trying to protect you earlier; it definitely wasn't intentional."

"I know, I know." Bai Youyou blinked and playfully stuck out her tongue.

Those lively little movements of hers, in Bai Fan's eyes, were like a silent temptation that stirred the deepest palpitations in his heart.

Bai Fan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his gaze became burning and focused.

Suddenly, he lowered his head and leaned in, gently catching the tip of her tongue that she had just playfully stuck out, feeling that faint, sweet fragrance between their lips and teeth as he sucked softly.

"Mmm… hnn…"

Bai Youyou was caught off guard by this sudden kiss. A soft whimper escaped her lips, carrying both shyness and resistance, yet she couldn't bear to truly push him away.

Her hands involuntarily climbed onto Bai Fan's shoulders, her body trembling slightly as she collapsed into his arms, as if she had turned soft and weak.

Bai Fan did not stop; he pulled her tighter, as if wanting to merge her into his own body.

A charming flush spread across Bai Youyou's face. She gasped for air, ripples of emotion fluctuating in her eyes, a mix of shyness and desire intertwined.

They clung to each other, letting their heartbeats and breaths interweave and entangle in the air.

They lingered passionately amidst the grass, startling a flock of egrets.

The egrets beat their wings and took flight, crying out as they flew into the distance, skimming over this Dream Marsh where love had quietly blossomed.

It is unknown how much time had passed before the two finally rolled apart amidst the deep grass of the Dream Marsh.

"You… are so bad…" Bai Youyou whispered, her voice filled with joy.

Bai Fan smiled, lowered his head to kiss her forehead, and said softly: "Then let me continue to be 'bad' like this forever."

Another day passed. The night was like water, and the bright moonlight spilled over the courtyard.

Bai Fan was sitting upright at the stone table in the courtyard, holding a book, reading with focused attention.

"Brother Fan, stop reading for a moment and come watch my dance. Is it pretty?"

Bai Youyou suddenly walked out from the room, her light gauze dress swaying in the breeze. She gently took Bai Fan's hand and led him to the center of the courtyard.

Bai Fan put down his book with some resignation, looked into her expectant eyes, and chuckled: "Alright, I'm watching."

Under the moonlight, Bai Youyou began to dance gracefully.

Her figure was graceful and lithe, as if a lively butterfly dancing lightly in the night. Her skirt flared up with her movements, fluttering like an immortal, as beautiful and moving as an elf under the moonlight.

Bai Fan stared at her, dazed, feeling as if everything before him was like a dream or an illusion.

That soft figure, those graceful dance moves, and that endless sense of rhythm deeply captivated him.

In the past, whenever she danced, he would always unconsciously lower his head to continue reading, but this time, he put down his book and watched her without blinking.

The moonlight spilled onto her cheeks, reflecting a luster like jade.

There was a slight shyness in Bai Youyou's eyes, yet she became increasingly immersed under Bai Fan's gaze.

Every one of her movements seemed natural and effortless; whether it was the raising of her hands or the gentle sway of her waist, it was breathtakingly beautiful.

A wave of tenderness surged involuntarily in Bai Fan's heart. For the first time, he realized seriously that her dance was so moving, as if it contained endless rhythm and vitality.

From then on, whenever the moonlight rose, Bai Youyou would dance gracefully in the courtyard.

And Bai Fan would always put down his book, stand quietly to the side, and watch her without blinking.

Until the day before the grand examination.

The wooden house stood by the lake. The setting sun hung on the horizon, casting golden radiance over the grass, creating ripples of warmth.

The deep grass of the Dream Marsh swayed gently with the breeze.

The lake surface was like a mirror, quietly reflecting the surrounding mountain scenery. The distant mountains were dark green, as if shrouded in thin mist like a light veil.

On the green grass by the lake, Bai Youyou followed closely behind Bai Fan. Her smooth dark hair draped over her shoulders, drifting gently with the breeze.

Bai Fan stood by the lake, his gaze cast toward the distant mountains, and he recited softly.

"Wooden house by the lake, the setting sun hangs low, Deep grass of Dream Marsh, the egrets' shadows slant. The lake surface like a mirror reflects the mountain colors, Distant peaks dark green, shrouded in a veil of mist. The breeze brushes the willow branches, sound by sound slow, Water strikes the stone bank, stirring up tiny spray. Floating clouds leisurely hide the evening glow, The parting soul leans on the door, longing for home. This scene and this feeling are hard to depict, Parting sorrows and longing wander to the ends of the earth. Floating clouds gather and disperse, there is always a time, The evening glow is brilliant, reflecting the evening glow. Hoping to return to my hometown early one day, To spend the good years together with you. Looking again at the sunset and the returning egret shadows, The blue waves ripple, reflecting the light of heaven."

After reciting the poem, Bai Fan took Bai Youyou's small hand. "Youyou, I must go."

Bai Youyou knew that with the grand examination approaching, parting was inevitable.

"Brother Fan…"

Tears welled up in the corners of Bai Youyou's eyes. She bit her lower lip gently and slowly took out an exquisite wooden carving from her bosom.

On the wooden carving, the young girl's figure was lithe; one foot touched the ground while the other was slightly raised, her skirt fluttering in the wind. Her arms were spread out like willow branches, her head tilted slightly back, and her long hair fell over her shoulders. It was exactly her appearance when dancing under the moon.

She gently pressed this small and exquisite wooden carving into Bai Fan's hand, her voice choked with sobs: "This is something I prepared for you. I hope that every time you see it, you will think of me."

After saying this, tears could no longer be held back and slid down. Bai Youyou threw herself into Bai Fan's arms, sobbing uncontrollably: "Brother Fan, I will wait for you to come back!"

Bai Fan felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist and tenderly stroked her hair: "I will definitely come back!"

He used a little strength to hold her tightly, as if he wanted to carve her figure into his heart.

Bai Youyou's body softened, and she seemed to melt into Bai Fan's arms. She raised her head slightly, her teary eyes filled with a hint of expectation: "Brother Fan… kiss me again!"

Bai Fan slowly lowered his head and leaned in tenderly, the distance between them gradually shortening.

"Mmm~"

Under the witness of the setting sun, Bai Fan gently kissed her lips.

It was delicate and warm, carrying a faint fragrance, making Bai Fan unable to help but close his eyes.

In the afterglow of the sunset, Bai Youyou responded affectionately, wanting to carve each other deeply into their hearts to cope with the impending separation.

After the deep kiss, Bai Fan gently pinched Bai Youyou's little nose, his eyes full of doting affection.

"I'm leaving. You hide yourself well and don't let others discover you. You are very precious, so don't let anyone catch you."

Bai Youyou giggled and blinked playfully: "Don't worry! I hide super well; no one can find me!"

Bai Fan chuckled softly. He knew that Bai Youyou had a clever mind and agile skills, so she would definitely be safe and sound.

"Alright then, you must be good and wait for me to return."

"Mmm!"

"I'm leaving!"

Bai Fan turned and walked slowly toward the setting sun.

He couldn't help but look back and saw that Bai Youyou was still standing in the same spot, head slightly tilted, her long hair drifting gently with the breeze.

Bai Youyou's gaze followed Bai Fan's figure closely, her heart filled with reluctance and expectation.

She knew that this separation was for a better reunion in the future. She silently prayed in her heart, wishing that he would successfully pass the grand examination.

Bai Fan felt that gentle gaze and expectation.

He quickened his pace, secretly vowing in his heart that he would do his utmost to achieve good results in the grand examination and return to Bai Youyou's side as soon as possible.

As the distance grew, Bai Youyou watched Bai Fan walk further and further away into the sunset, his figure gradually disappearing into the horizon.