New Year's Eve Party

After a long period of selection, the New Year's Eve Party program was finally decided. Amid the heated discussions of the Xiao Family Disciples, Xiao Yan sat in a chair, drenched in sweat and catching his breath.

"Good work~"

Xiao Yu smiled and handed Xiao Yan a towel. He took it and wiped the Sweat Beads from his forehead, watching the cheering Xiao Family Disciples with a helpless smile tugging at his lips.

"Everyone's enthusiasm grows greater every year than I imagined."

Xiao Yan had originally felt that this sort of event did not fit the overall tone of the Dou Qi Continent. Once the novelty wore off, he had thought people would stop taking it so seriously.

Yet, over the past few years, everyone's enthusiasm for the party had only increased rather than diminished, surprising even Xiao Yan, the one who had initiated it.

"After all, today is the only day of the year when everyone can truly relax completely~"

Gazing At the Xiao Family Disciples gathered together in lively discussion, Xiao Yu's lips curved into a faint smile.

This day had been brought by Xiao Yan.

If Xiao Yan had never proposed celebrating the New Year, then the Xiao Family would likely have spent the new year just as they spent every ordinary day.

No. It was not just the New Year.

Xiao Yu glanced sideways at Xiao Yan, her eyes narrowing slightly as her gaze brimmed with tenderness.

Xiao Yan had brought far too many changes to the Xiao Family, and every member of the family felt fortunate because of it.

Especially Xiao Family Disciples of the same generation as Xiao Yan. In Their Hearts, they felt even more grateful.

Xiao Yan had made everyone understand that what they needed and pursued in this world should not be strength alone.

He had also shown everyone through his actions just how warm the word "family" could be.

Hailed as the foremost among the Xiao Family Disciples, Xiao Yan deserved it without question.

At that moment, Xiao Yan Looked Towards the two people lying on the ground beside him with Full Face gloomy expressions. They were Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning.

"My masterpiece."

"My moment of glory."

Hearing their muttered words, Xiao Yan's eyes were full of helplessness. He lightly scratched his cheek and looked at Xiao Yu as he asked,

"Are they doing the same thing this year?"

"Ah." Xiao Yu clutched her head in distress and answered quietly, "I don't know whether they'll feel embarrassed after taking that program onstage, but I certainly can't stand it."

If the rest of the Xiao Family saw it onstage, they would probably wonder what the Juniors of their generation usually did with their time.

"Brother Xiao Yan, isn't it about time?"

Xiao Xun'er reminded him from the side. Xiao Yan Looked Up at the starry sky, then slapped his thigh, rose to his feet with the towel clenched in his hand, and called out loudly.

"Everyone! Start getting ready! The party is about to begin!"

"Yeah!!!"

The Xiao Family Disciples answered in unison. Xiao Yan smiled, then looked at Xiao Xun'er.

"Xun'er, go notify the elders. We'll finish arranging the venue."

"Mm~"

Xiao Xun'er nodded and left the Xiao Family Courtyard with light steps. Xiao Yan, meanwhile, clapped his hands at the still-dejected Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning.

"Alright, alright~ Don't be so down, you two. There'll be another chance next year~ Get up and make the final preparations!"

"You say that every year, but my sister rejects it every year..."

Xiao Ning muttered under his breath, and Xiao Yu shot him a fierce glare.

"If you could come up with a program within the bounds of human decency, I, your older sister, could turn a blind eye."

"Ugh..."

Hearing his older sister say that, Xiao Ning became even more depressed, while Nalan Yanran beside him furrowed her brows even more tightly.

She was truly curious about what Xiao Ning wanted to perform.

At Xiao Yan's call, Xiao Yu, Xiao Mei, and several others who were not performing began placing snacks, refreshments, and drinks on every table. Naturally, there were also the indispensable dishes to go with wine and plenty of fine liquor. Nalan Yanran and Qing Lin also volunteered to help.

By the time everything was nearly laid out, the Xiao Family elders had arrived one after another at the Xiao Family Courtyard under Xiao Xun'er's guidance. Xiao Yu led Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning in arranging their seats, while Xiao Yan went to make final confirmations with the Xiao Family Disciples performing in the show.

Once everything had been arranged, all the elders had arrived as well. Xiao Yan stepped onto the stage, lightly cleared his throat twice, and called out with a bright smile.

"Welcome, esteemed Xiao Family elders, to the New Year's Eve Party organized by us Xiao Family Juniors."

"I, Xiao Yan, the host of this New Year's Eve Party, hereby announce—"

"The annual New Year's Eve Party has officially begun!"

Clap clap clap clap clap~~~

The Xiao Family members below the stage burst into applause. Among them were those from the Xiao Family in Wutan City, as well as those who spent all year away managing the Xiao Family's businesses.

Yet no matter who they were, today, at this moment, they were all equally happy!

"Now then, please enjoy the first program of the evening, a spoken performance jointly presented by Xiao Ke and Xiao Xing."

Over the following period, the carefully prepared performances of the Xiao Family Disciples took the stage one after another under Xiao Yan's introductions.

As for the programs put on by these Juniors, the Xiao Family members below the stage either laughed heartily or were Moved and gratified. Even when a few performances went wrong, they still had everyone cheering with delight.

Inside the Ring, Yao Chen watched the Xiao Family Juniors perform onstage and found it especially interesting. Then, seeing the heartfelt smiles on the faces of the Xiao Family elders below, ripples stirred faintly in her heart.

She had thought that after falling asleep, she had completely sealed off her heart and would never again feel sorrow or joy in this life.

But now, she realized that she seemed to have been wrong.

When she saw things that truly touched the depths of her heart, she still could not suppress the emotion rising within her.

Yao Chen gazed at Xiao Yan's Pupils, which radiated dazzling light even in the night, and the door that had remained sealed in her heart All Along seemed to be slowly opening.

Xiao Yan, however, had no idea what Yao Chen inside the Ring was thinking. After announcing the final program, he stepped off the stage and said to Xiao Ning,

"Cousin Xiao Ning, once this program ends, get ready to light it."

"Oh! I've been waiting forever for this!!!"

Xiao Ning excitedly pumped his fist. His dejection over not being able to perform onstage had long been thrown to the clouds.

Hearing this, Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Xun'er in confusion and asked,

"Is there another activity after the party ends?"

"There's one final activity." Xiao Xun'er answered softly. Rarely, she gave Nalan Yanran a smile. "Look forward to it~ This activity is exclusive to the Xiao Family. It isn't something you can see whenever you want~"

"Hm?"

Nalan Yanran Raised an Eyebrow and looked at the Xiao Family Disciples performing onstage.

These programs really were interesting, and she had indeed enjoyed watching them, but they were not exclusive enough to warrant such a description.

In response to Nalan Yanran's confusion, Xiao Xun'er merely smiled mysteriously without explaining.

Some things could not be described through words alone.

Only upon truly seeing them would one understand just how precious they were.