"Nalan Yanran?"
Hearing the name, Xiao Zhan was stunned—then his expression changed drastically.
Now he finally understood why Ge Ye had insisted on speaking privately—he was trying to save Xiao Zhan's dignity.
There was no way Nalan Yanran came just to "visit her Uncle Xiao."
There was only one possibility: breaking the engagement.
"Hehe, so you're Old Master Nalan's granddaughter, Nalan Yanran. It's been many years… I didn't expect you to grow so much. I heard you were accepted by Sect Master Yun Yun and became a Dou Zhe at thirteen—truly exceptional talent."
"You flatter me, Uncle Xiao. Compared to true geniuses, I'm just an ordinary person."
Nalan Yanran smiled politely, without the slightest arrogance. Ever since she met "Xiao Huohuo," breaking through to Dou Zhe at thirteen was nothing worth bragging about.
"Uncle Xiao, I came today with an important matter. If possible… may we speak in private?"
"As expected…" Xiao Zhan sighed inwardly. What should come would inevitably come.
Ignoring the displeased glares of the three Elders, he stood to escort Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran out of the hall.
—
In the corner of the hall, Xiao Yan's heart was burning with rage.
In Xiao Zhan's eyes, Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran wanted privacy to save his dignity.
But in Xiao Yan's eyes?
He was currently only two years into his three-year baptism, just entering his transitional phase. His emotional maturity was nowhere near what it would be a year later. After Xun'er's "spoiler," he already knew Nalan Yanran came to cancel the engagement.
To him, their insistence on private discussion only meant:
They were planning to secretly bully his father into agreeing!
Cowards hiding behind closed doors!
The more he thought, the angrier he got—
Before Xiao Zhan could even respond, Xiao Yan abruptly stood and shouted:
"Nalan Yanran, Elder Ge! There is no need to speak privately. Whatever you intend to request, the Xiao family will NOT agree today!"
The hall fell silent.
Dozens of eyes turned toward Xiao Yan—his face twisted with anger.
Mocking smiles appeared one by one.
"Xiao Yan, stand down! This is no place for you to speak!"
The Second Elder—who detested him the most—snapped coldly.
"Xiao Yan, mind your status."
The Great Elder spoke as well, his tone dripping with disdain.
"The three Elders sure agreed quickly," Xiao Yan sneered. "But do you even know what Nalan Yanran wants to say?"
The three Elders paused.
They were annoyed by his tone—but curiosity got the better of them.
"What is it then?"
Xiao Yan stood, turned toward Nalan Yanran, and glared with unconcealed fury.
"Yan'er, enough."
Xiao Zhan's harsh voice cracked across the hall just as Xiao Yan prepared to unleash verbal artillery.
"Father, can't you guess their intentions?" Xiao Yan shot back.
Xiao Zhan sighed. "I naturally know. But Yan'er… the fact that they asked to speak privately already shows they wish to preserve our Xiao family's dignity. Don't create trouble."
"No, Father!" Xiao Yan clenched his teeth. "They're just trying to protect their own reputation—forcing you in secret so they won't be accused of oppression while still achieving their goal. Today, in front of everyone, I will expose their ugly faces!"
He dropped to his knees and kowtowed three times—hard enough to echo—
Then stood and pointed straight at Nalan Yanran.
"You are Nalan Yanran?"
"And what of it?" she replied coolly, brows knitting.
She had originally intended—under Nalan Jie's instruction—to resolve this matter discreetly, without harming either family's face.
Who would have thought someone would suddenly jump out halfway and cling like a rabid dog?
And to make it worse—this fool was the one she was here to break off with.
Her mood darkened significantly.
"What did you want to speak to my father about privately?" Xiao Yan asked, suppressing his fury.
"It has nothing to do with you," Nalan Yanran said flatly, turning her head.
For this persistent annoyance, she held not a shred of goodwill.
Compared to Xiao Huohuo, he was worlds apart—
No, calling Xiao Yan "earth" was too generous.
He was more like a croaking toad… dreaming of swan meat.
"Nothing to do with me?" Xiao Yan let out a cold laugh. "Quite the choice of words. You want to force my father into dissolving the engagement, don't you?"
The hall froze.
Then whispers began.
People looked at Xiao Zhan differently—not with respect, but ridicule.
Nalan Yanran herself blinked in surprise.
This guy… had he been brain-damaged by anger?
After a moment, she exhaled softly and said:
"I originally intended to resolve this discreetly, to avoid harming the Xiao family's reputation. But since you insist on saying it openly, then I'll speak plainly."
She turned to face Xiao Zhan.
Taking a deep breath, she said calmly:
"Uncle Xiao, I believe… you already know what this matter is."
Xiao Zhan nodded slowly.
If she had been arrogant and rude from the beginning, he might have exploded.
But his own son was the one who exposed everything publicly.
He had nowhere to vent his anger now.
In that moment, Xiao Zhan seemed to age several years.
"Father, now you see their ugly faces!"
Xiao Yan pointed at Nalan Yanran furiously.
But inside, panic had already begun to creep in.
The outrage he expected the crowd to feel toward Nalan Yanran never arrived.
Instead—they were silently judging his father.
"Yan'er, SILENCE!"
For the first time ever, Xiao Zhan shouted at him.
"Father, I—"
"Enough! Haven't you embarrassed us enough!?"
Xiao Zhan glared at him with profound disappointment.
Even if they were truly here to break the engagement—
it was not your place to announce it to the world!
"Yes…"
Xiao Yan lowered his head helplessly.
Inside, he cursed Nalan Yanran's entire ancestral line into oblivion.
(End of Chapter)
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