She's Here! She's Here!

Just as Xiao Zhan had said, the next morning, before dawn had even broken, the entire Xiao Clan was already bustling with activity, from Xiao Zhan down to the servants.

Yet even now, Xiao Yan, the leading man in this grand drama, still had no idea what was going on.

"Mr. Ning, what's happening today? Why is it so lively this early in the morning?"

Xiao Yan stepped into the solemn hall. Seeing Ning Chen—the only one there who seemed completely at ease, leisurely sipping hot tea—he couldn't help approaching him to ask.

At that, Ning Chen chuckled.

"As the Xiao Clan's third young master, how can you not know about your own clan's major affairs? Why ask an outsider like me instead?"

"Uh..." Xiao Yan was momentarily at a loss for words, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face.

He couldn't exactly say that ever since his Dou Qi had dwindled, no one besides his father and Xun'er had paid him any mind, could he?

"Brother Xiao Yan!"

Just then, Xiao Xun'er entered the hall gracefully and warmly called out to Xiao Yan.

Then she caught sight of Ning Chen beside him. Though she was wary of him and didn't like him, she still maintained basic courtesy and gave him a slight nod.

"Good morning, Mr. Ning."

"Mm."

Ning Chen returned her greeting with a faint smile, settling in to enjoy the show.

"Xun'er, you should know what's happening with the clan today, right?" Xiao Yan asked.

Xiao Xun'er paused at his question, a clear flash of displeasure in her eyes. But since Xiao Yan had asked, she couldn't very well say she didn't know.

"I heard from the clan elders that someone from the Misty Cloud Sect is coming..."

"Someone from the Misty Cloud Sect?" Xiao Yan asked, puzzled. "What would someone from the Misty Cloud Sect want with the Xiao Clan?"

"..."

Xiao Xun'er fell silent. Should she just tell him that the person coming was Nalan Yanran, his fiancée, and that she likely had no good intentions—that this probably wasn't going to end well?

Wouldn't saying that hurt Brother Xiao Yan too much?

While Xiao Xun'er hesitated, Xiao Zhan, the three elders, and a group of the Xiao Clan's core members filed into the hall. The room, which had seemed somewhat spacious, quickly grew crowded.

"Find yourselves a seat. Our honored guest will be arriving shortly," the Third Elder said, surveying the room as he gave the order.

Everyone took their seats as instructed. Before long, an awkward scene unfolded.

It seemed everyone had tacitly "overlooked" Xiao Yan. Not one of them had left him a seat.

"Heh..." A familiar chill and self-mockery rose in Xiao Yan's heart.

"Looks like my standing in the clan really has been going downhill. I could have let it go on any other day, but today they're doing this right in front of Mr. Ning... Those three old geezers are deliberately trying to humiliate me."

The young members of the clan couldn't help snickering as they watched Xiao Yan standing alone.

Across the room, Xiao Zhan had been making small talk with Ning Chen. When he saw his son being humiliated, his expression darkened instantly, and his fists clenched.

"Brother Xiao Yan, if you don't mind, come sit here."

Ning Chen rose unhurriedly and smiled warmly at Xiao Yan, gesturing toward his own seat of honor, which was in an excellent spot.

"Mr. Ning, this..."

The three elders' expressions changed. They looked bewildered, unable to figure out what sort of relationship Ning Chen had with Xiao Yan.

Xiao Zhan, however, was delighted. You old geezers dared to snub me—would you dare snub Mr. Ning?

"Thank you, Mr. Ning."

Xiao Yan was flattered, but also confused. Why had Mr. Ning helped him again and again? When had they become so close?

"But if I take your seat, then where will you...?"

"No matter." Ning Chen waved it off casually, his smile still warm.

"I'm a guest of the Xiao Clan. Sitting in the seat of honor would be presumptuous. The corner is quiet, just where I'd like to be."

His words were sincere, and his manner graceful. Xiao Yan felt a warmth in his heart, almost moved to tears.

See? This was what a good person looked like!

But Xiao Yan's gratitude lasted only an instant.

After leaving his seat, Ning Chen casually glanced around the hall, then headed straight for the corner and... sat down quite naturally in the empty seat beside Xiao Xun'er.

"..."

The corner of Xiao Yan's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. Looking at Ning Chen seated shoulder to shoulder with Xun'er, he suddenly thought the seat of honor looked rather hot.

He wanted to say, "I'll just sit in the corner," but under Xiao Zhan's urging gaze, he could only steel himself and take the seat.

"Good morning, Miss Xun'er."

Ning Chen turned to the young woman beside him, who carried a faint, delicate fragrance, and greeted her gently.

Xiao Xun'er's body tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment, but she kept a faint, polite smile on her face.

"Good morning, Mr. Ning."

"The Xiao Clan has an honored guest today. It's certainly lively."

Ning Chen acted as if he hadn't noticed her coolness and continued on his own, studying the girl's exquisite profile with interest.

"But I wonder what this honored guest from the Misty Cloud Sect is here for. Miss Xun'er, you're clever and perceptive. I imagine you already have a guess?"

Alarm bells rang in Xiao Xun'er's mind. What was this man up to, suddenly getting close to her again?

"You flatter me, sir. How could Xun'er know anything about the Misty Cloud Sect?"

"Is that so? I heard that the young lady coming, Nalan Yanran, has a rather... close relationship with Brother Xiao Yan?" Ning Chen said with a soft laugh.

"They were betrothed when they were children... How rare. After all, the Dou Qi Continent is full of unpredictable changes. Who knows whether a clan flourishing today might end up broken and ruined tomorrow?"

"When that happens, if the two families are no longer evenly matched, it won't be good for either side."

Xiao Xun'er's heart lurched. Her slender fingers tightened around her teacup, and her knuckles went pale.

How did this man know everything?! Had Uncle Xiao told him, or had he known all along?

And what did he mean by that last remark? Was he alluding to the Xiao Tribe, the Xiao Clan's predecessor?!

Watching Xiao Xun'er's expression shift repeatedly, and seeing the surprise value in his system steadily increase, Ning Chen chuckled to himself.

As Xiao Xun'er pondered how to respond to Ning Chen, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall. A guard from the Xiao Clan hurried in and bowed as he reported,

"Clan Leader, elders, the honored guest from the Misty Cloud Sect has arrived outside the residence!"

In an instant, the hall fell utterly silent. Everyone's gaze shot toward the entrance, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Xiao Zhan exchanged a glance with the three elders, took a deep breath, and said gravely,

"Invite them in!"

A moment later, under the gaze of everyone present, several figures appeared at the entrance to the hall.

At the front was a young woman dressed in a moon-white gown.

She was young, about fourteen or fifteen, and exceptionally beautiful. A green jade pendant dangled from her delicate earlobe, swaying with a clear chime and lending her an unmistakable air of nobility.

She stood tall, with an innate air of pride. Though she tried to rein it in, the sense of superiority she had inherited from the Misty Cloud Sect and the Nalan Family still showed in the way she carried herself.

Three golden stars were embroidered on her chest, representing her strength—a Three-Star Dou Zhe!

She was none other than the Misty Cloud Sect's young sect master, Nalan Yanran!

Her gaze was cool and appraising as it slowly swept over the Xiao Clan members in the hall.

When it passed over Ning Chen in the corner, it paused for a moment. A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes, then vanished as her expression turned indifferent again.

Introductions and polite small talk proceeded by the book in the oppressive atmosphere.

The smile Xiao Zhan forced onto his face was somewhat strained, while the three elders were especially deferential.

Nalan Yanran was courteous, yet she maintained a faint distance and air of superiority.

From the conversation, Xiao Yan, the leading man in this grand drama, learned Nalan Yanran's identity as well.

In an instant, seeing Nalan Yanran's attitude and the solemn expressions on his father's and the three elders' faces, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Nalan Yanran had come to the Xiao Clan to break off their engagement!!

Xiao Yan's expression changed, and anger surged through him. He wasn't angry because Nalan Yanran wanted to end the engagement and he could no longer marry such a beautiful woman.

He thought she was very beautiful, but he wasn't a fool ruled by his lower half. Being jilted would be a disappointment, nothing more.

But if she really asked to end the engagement in front of everyone, his father would lose all face as clan leader!

From then on, not only he, but his father and the entire Xiao Clan would become a laughingstock and the subject of idle gossip.

At last, after finishing a cup of tea, Ge Ye, who had come with Nalan Yanran, set down his teacup and rose to face Xiao Zhan, who sat in the seat of honor.

"Ahem." Ge Ye cleared his throat, clasped his hands to Xiao Zhan, and said with a smile,

"Clan Leader Xiao, we've come to your clan today because we have a favor to ask!"

Everyone in the hall held their breath.