Weren't We Here to Annul the Engagement?

Granted, upon learning that Nalan Yanran was Xiao Yan's fiancée, Xiao Mei's very first reaction was to go in and make a scene, to drive Nalan Yanran far away and make her never want to set foot in the Xiao Family's gates again! However, when Xiao Ning guessed that the other party was here to break off the engagement, Xiao Mei glanced lightly at the grand spectacle outside the Xiao Family gates, her displeasure growing deeper in her heart. She, Xiao Mei, raised both hands in approval of breaking off the engagement with Cousin Xiao Yan! But! Nalan Yanran had absolutely no business coming to break off the engagement with such a high profile and in a manner close to coercion! Everyone in Wutan City had witnessed Nalan Yanran's display today. If this engagement cancellation succeeded, where would Cousin Xiao Yan save face? Where would Uncle Xiao Zhan's face go? Where would the face of the entire Xiao Family go?! Although Xiao Mei was extremely furious in her heart. Yet helplessly, they were only juniors; no matter how furious they were, it was not their place to interfere in this matter. "Xiao Mei, go to the training ground and bring Xiao Yan over. He has the right to know about this." Xiao Ning instructed Xiao Mei. Having one's engagement broken off was bad enough, but if Xiao Yan, the person involved, only found out after the engagement was already broken, that would simply be too tragic. "Mn!" Xiao Mei nodded heavily and turned to search for Xiao Yan at the training ground. After Xiao Mei left, Xiao Ning cast a slight sidelong glance at Xiao Xun'er and lowered his voice. "Xun'er, you should have a way to resolve this, right?" Since long ago, Xiao Ning had sensed that Xiao Yan's sister was definitely not a simple figure. Very often, even his own grandfather, the Xiao Family Great Elder, had to act according to Xiao Xun'er's moods, which was enough to prove how vast the forces behind Xiao Xun'er were. "This is Brother Xiao Yan's own affair; I won't interfere," Xiao Xun'er said, a trace of killing intent flashing in her eyes. "Provided that this Nalan Yanran doesn't go too far." When all was said and done, this was an arranged marriage made privately by the two elders. Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan had never even met each other until now, so Nalan Yanran coming to break off the engagement could not be considered unreasonable. Yet she chose to do so precisely when Xiao Yan lost his talent and she herself had been accepted as a personal disciple by the Misty Cloud Sect Leader. Even that would be fine; it was merely an arranged marriage made on a whim by the old man. If explained properly, Xiao Zhan wouldn't be unreasonable—after all, the current Xiao Family indeed could not be considered a match of equal social status with the Nalan Family, and breaking the engagement was somewhat understandable. Besides, over the past few years, Xiao Zhan's mind had been entirely focused on Xiao Yan. To tell the truth, if Nalan Yanran hadn't come today, Xiao Zhan probably wouldn't even have remembered this engagement. The crucial point was that Nalan Yanran had put on such a massive spectacle just to break the engagement, making it known to everyone in Wutan City. Nalan Yanran fundamentally wanted to ensure Xiao Yan could never hold his head up in front of everyone in Wutan City again! And since even juniors like Xiao Ning and Xiao Xun'er could see through this, how could Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders fail to see it? Yet even knowing, what could they do? With the Xiao Family's current influence, let alone comparing it to the Misty Cloud Sect, they were far inferior even to the Nalan Family! If Nalan Yanran truly insisted on breaking the engagement today, their Xiao Family could only swallow their shattered teeth along with blood! Even if the other party slapped them across the face, they would still have to smile cheerfully and offer the other cheek! Ge Ye, the Misty Cloud Sect Elder who had come alongside Nalan Yanran, conversed with Xiao Zhan for a long time without ever getting to the main point, which made Nalan Yanran inevitably somewhat anxious as she cast a slight glare at Ge Ye. Seeing this, Ge Ye let out a deep sigh in his heart. Offensive chores were difficult no matter who the other party was. But there was no help for it; Nalan Yanran was the Sect Master's personal disciple and the future Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect. No matter how hard it was to open his mouth, he had to speak. "Clan Leader Xiao," Ge Ye offered a slight cupped-fist salute to Xiao Zhan, speaking slowly. "Actually, we came here today because there is a serious matter we wish to discuss with you." Here it comes! Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders felt a chill in their hearts, their eyes also revealing a trace of anger. Mixed within it, moreover, was a profound sense of helplessness. This was the current Xiao Family. Faced with a behemoth like the Misty Cloud Sect, even when being trampled on the head and pressed to the ground for humiliation, they could only take it. The law of the jungle; this continent was simply this cruel. Yet no matter how furious they felt inside, the facade still had to be maintained. "Hehe. Our Xiao Family lacks strength and influence. If there is anything we can help with, Elder Ge Ye, please feel free to mention it." Xiao Zhan cupped his fists in return salute to Ge Ye, who then spoke. "You have probably heard as well that Yanran has already been accepted as a personal disciple by our Misty Cloud Sect Leader and will inevitably succeed the Sect Master to manage the entire Misty Cloud Sect in the future. Recently, however, we discovered that Yanran has not been attentive to her cultivation lately, and after inquiring, we learned that she is troubled by the marriage engagement her grandfather arranged for her." ".So?" Xiao Zhan suppressed the surging resentment in his heart, feigning ignorance while the fist resting on the armrest had already quietly and unconsciously clenched tight. Naturally, Ge Ye perceived what Xiao Zhan was thinking. Feeling quite a headache over it, under Nalan Yanran's urging gaze, he forced himself to speak. "Therefore, regarding the engagement between Yanran and the young noble, we hope—" Before Ge Ye could finish speaking, a young man's voice suddenly came from outside the door. "Father, you looked for me?" Xiao Yan stood at the entrance of the reception hall, looking at his father. Just as Xiao Zhan was about to speak, Nalan Yanran abruptly stood up from her seat, staring at Xiao Yan in shock. "You—You are Xiao Yan?!" "You are?" Xiao Yan looked at this rather familiar young girl, lightly pinching his chin in thought for a moment before an ancient, petite figure surfaced in his mind, and he pointed at her in sudden realization. "Little Glutton!!!" "Who is a Little Glutton?!!" Hearing Xiao Yan's form of address for her, Nalan Yanran's face instantly flushed, brimming with shyness and anger. Yet this scene left everyone dumbfounded, both inside and outside the reception hall. Judging by this appearance, these two youngsters knew each other? Just as everyone was in doubt and astonishment, the flush on Nalan Yanran's face receded. Her expression turned extremely solemn as she turned to look at Xiao Zhan, cupping her hands together and speaking firmly. "Uncle! Yanran has only one objective in coming here today!" Hearing Nalan Yanran speak, Ge Ye immediately reacted, beckoning to a servant to bring forward the medicinal pills prepared in advance as compensation, while also preparing to speak and rescue the situation at any moment. However, Nalan Yanran's ensuing words caused him to instantly freeze in place. "I hope to immediately! Right now! Marry into the Xiao Family!" ??? In that instant, the entire reception hall fell dead silent. Ge Ye was left with a full face of question marks, his mind buzzing as he stared blankly at Nalan Yanran. Young Sect Master? Weren't we here to annul the engagement? How on earth did this turn into getting married???