Xiao Yan behaved badly on the spot, sitting directly on the ground next to the seats of the Three Elders of the Xiao Family.
"Xiao Yan, you!"
The Three Elders were infuriated, their faces turning red.
Because of Xiao Yan's actions, it was equivalent to indirectly telling everyone present that the three of them were scheming behind the scenes, causing Xiao Yan to be embarrassed without a seat. Although this was indeed the truth, Xiao Yan bringing the sabotage behind the scenes to light made the situation very unpleasant!
"What's wrong with me? Isn't it that Second Elder has a short memory and didn't reserve a seat for me?"
Xiao Yan lay ungracefully on the ground, looking at the Three Elders with a face full of grievances.
"You, get up first!"
"All the guests from Misty Cloud Sect are here. Xiao Yan, what kind of demeanor is this?"
Faced with the peculiar gazes from everyone, the Three Elders were embarrassed to the point of stomping their feet, wishing they could kick Xiao Yan out on the spot.
"Hehe!"
Xiao Yan sneered, thinking to himself, "You three old coots deliberately tried to discredit me today. Don't even think about saving face now!"
The desire for revenge is strong! Indeed, a protagonist!
Yun Tianming observed quietly; in the original book, Xiao Yan's character was just like this—resolute, patient, a bit rogue, and vengeful. If someone tried to harm him, he would retaliate even at the cost of mutual destruction! He might even detonate a Fire Lotus, willing to harm himself to inflict damage on the opponent!
It's only because the current Xiao Yan lacks strength; otherwise, he would definitely confront the Three Elders head-on right now!
"He is Xiao Yan?"
Nalan Yanran's gaze paused, and she carefully assessed the disheveled youth in front of her. Her first impression of this ostensibly "fiancé" was extremely poor—like a ruffian causing trouble.
"Brother Xiao Yan."
Xiao Xun'er pouted, wearing a sullen expression on her face.
It's not that she looks down on Xiao Yan's current unruly appearance; she just doesn't understand why he would rather be disgraced than sit with her. Could it be that she did something to cause his disdain?
"That's enough, Yan'er!"
"You should get up first!"
Xiao Zhan reprimanded sternly. Although he knew that the Three Elders were intentionally teasing his son, and retaliation was understandable, as the patriarch of the Xiao Family, he had to consider the family's reputation.
"Yes, Father."
Xiao Yan instantly changed his expression, stood up, and sat down on a chair brought in belatedly by a servant.
"Huff, huff, huff~"
The Three Elders were so disgusted that they couldn't speak, leaning back in their chairs and exhaling heavily.
"Cough, cough~ My unruly son has made a fool of himself, embarrassing our friends from Misty Cloud Sect."
Xiao Zhan looked helpless, bowing and smiling towards Ge Ye.
"Hahaha~ Xiao Family's unruly son, it's quite amusing."
Ge Ye chuckled, doing it intentionally.
"."
Xiao Zhan's expression stiffened. It was acceptable for a father to call his son unruly with humility, but when an outsider like Ge Ye referred to Xiao Family's son as unruly, it carried a taste of insult. The rest of the Xiao Family members wore embarrassed expressions but dared not express their anger.
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth with his head lowered, clenching his fists, allowing his nails to pierce his palms. In his eyes, it was one thing for Xiao Family members to mock him behind closed doors, but when outsiders did it, the nature of the mockery was completely different!
"Hoo~"
Xiao Zhan took a deep breath, realizing faintly that the group from Misty Cloud Sect might not bring good intentions. Suppressing the urge to curse, he asked with a stern face, "My Xiao Family acknowledges no connection with Misty Cloud Sect. May I inquire, Mr. Ge Ye, the purpose of your visit to Xiao Family?"
Waiting for this moment!
Ge Ye responded smoothly, "Chief Xiao, I indeed have a matter to request during this visit to your esteemed family!"
While he verbally framed it as a request, his tone lacked any hint of a supplicant attitude.
"Feel free to speak, Mr. Ge Ye."
Xiao Zhan furrowed his brows tightly, sensing an ominous premonition.
Ge Ye, however, played the suspense card again, pointing to the girl beside him and asking, "Hehe, Chief Xiao, do you happen to know her?"
"Apologies for my ignorance, but who is this young lady?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan was initially stunned. He carefully observed Nalan Yanran and, with a slight hint of embarrassment, shook his head.
The engagement between Xiao Family and Nalan Family started with Xiao Lin and Nalan Jie. At that time, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had just been born. Xiao Zhan had only seen the nominal "daughter-in-law" once. Later, Xiao Lin died in a vendetta, and Xiao Family moved to the border city of Wu Tan City in the Jia Ma Empire. Since then, the members of Xiao Family had never returned to the Imperial Capital and naturally had not seen the grown-up Nalan Yanran.
"Her name is Nalan Yanran."
Ge Ye revealed a meaningful smile.
"Nalan Yanran? Is she the granddaughter of that Nalan old man?"
Xiao Zhan was first taken aback, then his face lit up with joy. He hadn't forgotten his father's dying wish regarding this marriage. His father had instructed future generations of Xiao Family to return to the Imperial Capital, continuing the marital ties with Nalan Family.
"Nalan Yanran? My pre-engaged fiancée?"
Xiao Yan, as the person involved, also froze. Thinking about his recent unruly behavior lying on the ground, even with his thick skin, he couldn't help but blush. What to do, it feels so embarrassing!
"."
Xiao Xun'er calmly took a sip of tea. She was well aware of Nalan Yanran's arrival and had learned that they most likely came to call off the engagement, not to entangle her brother Xiao Yan.
But facing a direct cancellation of the engagement by the fiancée, her brother Xiao Yan must be feeling uncomfortable, right?
Xiao Xun'er sighed inwardly.
"Yanran greet Uncle Xiao."
Nalan Yanran, well aware of the longstanding connection between Nalan Family and Xiao Family, took the initiative to stand up and bow respectfully to Xiao Zhan.
"Haven't seen each other in over a decade. Niece Nalan has grown so much. I heard you also joined Misty Cloud Sect. Your future seems boundless!"
Xiao Zhan carefully observed the other party and couldn't help but praise repeatedly.
"Not only a disciple of Misty Cloud Sect but also a personal disciple of our Sect Master!"
Ge Ye squinted his eyes, emphasizing this point.
"Sect Master of Misty Cloud Sect, Lady Yun Yun, is that right?"
"A prominent figure among the top ten powerhouses in the Jia Ma Empire!"
"So impressive."
The members of the Xiao Family cast admiring glances.
Even Xiao Yan couldn't help but look at Nalan Yanran a few more times. With such outstanding talent, she might even surpass him when he was considered a genius in the past.
However, unlike the admiration from the Xiao Family juniors, Xiao Zhan's smile at this moment became stiff. He exchanged a glance with the Three Elders beside him, both understanding the concern in each other's eyes.
Nalan Yanran turned out to be the personal disciple of the Sect Master of Misty Cloud Sect!
Can the Xiao Family really match up to such nobility? Now the question arises: what is the purpose of their visit to the Xiao Family? It couldn't possibly be to advance the wedding with Xiao Yan, right?
Seemingly considering some dreadful possibility, Xiao Zhan's expression gradually turned unpleasant.
Finally realizing it? A bunch of foolish people!
Ge Ye coldly snorted in his heart, then put on a strained smile and said, "Hehe, Chief Xiao, the matter I request today is related to Yanran. Moreover, Sect Master wishes to personally address this matter. I hope Chief Xiao will agree!"
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