Xu Xiaoyan's Heaven-Defying Logic

East Sea Hotel.

Today, the head of the Xu Family was hosting a banquet for distinguished guests. The hall was brightly lit, servants moved in an orderly fashion, and the guests were all prominent figures in the city.

Xu Handong, the head of the Xu Family, led a group to the banquet. Aside from his own people, the guests included Su Jiuyin and the two little ones.

Shen Nanxun and Na'er were already seated early, waiting for the banquet to begin.

Na'er leaned over and whispered, "Shen Nanxun, will there be enough food at this dinner?"

"Since someone is hosting, how could there not be? If you don't get full, I'll let you bite me." Shen Nanxun flicked her little head, feeling quite speechless.

Our Silver Dragon King, the half-grown adult, was still a bit too clever for her own good.

Na'er didn't take it to heart; instead, she covered her forehead, her eyes shining. "Really?"

"I was just joking, and you're already taking advantage of it."

While the two were bickering, the members of the Xu Family arrived, having changed into formal attire.

Beside Xu Handong was Xu Xiaoyan, dressed in a moon-white long dress. The young girl had clearly been meticulously groomed; the moon-white hem was embroidered with delicate star patterns, and her light blue hair was braided into a loose fishtail braid draped over her shoulder, tied at the end with a small star-shaped accessory.

However, her expression at the moment was completely at odds with her elegant attire. Her ice-blue eyes were fixed on Shen Nanxun across the table, filled with a probing look.

Shen Nanxun picked up his teacup and took a sip with a blank expression, pretending not to notice.

Beside Xu Xiaoyan stood a teenage boy. He was tall and slender, his shoulders and back as straight as a pine. His features were four or five parts similar to Xu Xiaoyan's—handsome and refined—but his temperament was entirely different.

It was her older brother, Xu Xiaoyu.

"Father." Xu Xiaoyu bowed slightly, his manners impeccable. He then turned to the side and bowed respectfully to Su Jiuyin, who was seated at the head of the guest table. He paused for a moment, as if weighing his words, but eventually called out respectfully, "Aunt."

Xu Xiaoyan also chimed in crisply, "Hello, Aunt!"

Su Jiuyin nodded slightly. Perhaps because she saw her nephew and niece, she revealed a genuine smile for the first time since her return.

"You look like them," her voice remained gentle and calm. "Xiaoyu looks like your father when he was young, and Xiaoyan looks like my sister-in-law."

The smile on Xu Handong's face faltered for a moment, then he lowered his head and gently wiped the corner of his eye with his finger. He didn't let anyone see the gesture, but Su Jiuyin saw it. She didn't speak, simply picking up the teacup before her and taking a sip.

Xu Handong quickly adjusted his emotions, looked up, and turned his gaze toward the two children sitting beside Su Jiuyin.

Su Jiuyin naturally understood his intent and said slowly, "The Ming Capital Shen Family."

Those four simple words made Xu Handong's eyes widen. As the Minister of Finance for East Sea City, he knew a thing or two about the major families in the Ming Capital.

He hadn't expected that the little ones eating dessert without any decorum here were actually on an incognito visit.

Truth be told, if the Ming Capital Shen Family were to stomp their feet, his Xu Family wouldn't be able to withstand it.

He set down his teacup, stood up, straightened his collar, and bowed solemnly toward Shen Nanxun. "So it is Young Master Shen and Miss Shen, please forgive my ignorance. I am Xu Handong, head of the East Sea City Xu Family. I was unaware of such distinguished guests arriving today; please forgive my poor hospitality."

Shen Nanxun set down his cup, stood up, and returned the bow with neither servility nor arrogance. "Master Xu is too kind. It is Na'er and I who are intruding today."

At home, he could be reckless and playful, but outside, he was the only son of the Shen Family. Naturally, he represented the face of the Shen Family.

Na'er also stood up, imitating Shen Nanxun. She clasped her small hands together in a bow; the movement wasn't standard, but it was earnest. Just as she was about to say something polite, her stomach gave a soft, uncooperative growl.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet banquet hall. Na'er's face turned bright red, her ahoge twitched violently, and she froze in place.

Shen Nanxun helplessly covered his forehead.

How embarrassing.

Xu Handong paused, then suddenly laughed. He waved his hand and said loudly, "Let the banquet begin! We cannot let our distinguished guests go hungry!"

As the banquet commenced, music and dance filled the air, lively and bustling—it felt a bit like a decadent emperor holding court.

Although Shen Nanxun grew up in the Shen Family, their family style wasn't that extravagant, and they didn't let him attend such banquets at his young age.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been sent to North Sea City for training at five years old.

As the dishes were served, Xu Xiaoyan, in her long dress, actually took the seat next to Shen Nanxun.

The young girl blinked her dark, glossy eyes and smiled. "Brother Shen, does what you said at the Spirit Ascension Platform still count?"

"What did I say?" Shen Nanxun didn't react for a moment.

"The part about giving me nightmares?"

"This..." Shen Nanxun didn't understand the implication and prepared to seek help from the "Ahoge King" beside him.

But the Ahoge King had already gone wild over the feast on the table, completely lost in the moment. She paid no heed to Shen Nanxun's plea for help.

Thus, he could only bite the bullet and answer, "Of course it counts."

"That's good." The curve of Xu Xiaoyan's lips deepened, a hint of cunning flashing in the depths of her eyes.

Shen Nanxun looked at her expression and felt something was off, but the words were already out and couldn't be taken back.

Xu Xiaoyan didn't press further. She just smiled, picked up her chopsticks, and elegantly placed a piece of osmanthus cake on the plate in front of him. "Brother Shen, eat some cake."

She called out so sweetly and crisply, paired with those ice-blue eyes curved into crescent moons—she looked for all the world like a little white rabbit that had set its sights on a carrot.

Heroine Xu wasn't stupid. Someone of this age with such strength, combined with top-tier looks, a background in a super-family, and the ability to show mercy and cherish the fair sex? This was even more impressive than the male lead of a romance novel!

For a high-quality future prospect, naturally... one must have him!

Shen Nanxun looked down at the piece of osmanthus cake on his plate, then looked up at Na'er, who was buried in her food beside him. The Ahoge King was holding a garlic vermicelli scallop in both hands, munching away happily, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster, completely oblivious to the situation. He resigned himself to his fate, picked up his chopsticks, and took a bite of the cake.

Xu Xiaoyu, sitting opposite, took in the scene. He raised his wine glass for a sip, the corners of his mouth curving into a polite arc. He set the glass down and turned to Shen Nanxun, his tone gentle yet solemn: "Young Master Shen, thank you for showing mercy to my little sister at the Spirit Ascension Platform today."

Shen Nanxun swallowed his osmanthus cake and wiped the corner of his mouth: "No need for thanks. The Spirit Ascension Platform is a place for sparring, after all; it's best to stop when the point is made."

Xu Xiaoyu nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Shen Nanxun for a moment. He considered himself well-traveled among the younger generation of East Sea City, but there was something about this ten-year-old boy that he couldn't quite see through.

"Three rings," Shen Nanxun answered truthfully, "Level thirty-three."

The wine glass in Xu Xiaoyu's hand wobbled ever so slightly. Three rings. Level thirty-three. He was nearly ten years older than Shen Nanxun, yet he was only a Spirit Elder himself.

At this age and level, he was already considered outstanding among the youth of East Sea City, but compared to the ten-year-old before him, the gap was self-evident.

He set his glass down, cupped his hands, and said solemnly: "Young Master Shen's talent is extraordinary. I am impressed."

Shen Nanxun shook his head, his tone calm: "Brother Xu is too kind. I just had a bit of luck."

The banquet ended late at night. Na'er was fast asleep, leaning against Shen Nanxun's shoulder, her cowlick drooping limply. Shen Nanxun carried her back to her room, tucked her in, and pulled the blanket back up after she kicked it off.

He finished these tasks before tiptoeing out. Upon returning to his own room and preparing to meditate, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

He pulled the door open to find Xu Xiaoyan standing prettily in the doorway. Her gorgeous moon-white dress was gone, replaced by a fuzzy pink bunny pajama set, complete with two long rabbit ears dangling from the hood and matching plush slippers on her feet.

She clutched a pillow to her chest and tilted her head up, her ice-blue eyes sparkling in the dim light of the hallway.

"What is the meaning of this?" Shen Nanxun's voice carried a hint of wariness.

Xu Xiaoyan was righteous: "You said you'd make me have nightmares tonight."

"So?"

"So I came to find you," she said, hugging the pillow tighter. "You beat us today, so my nightmare is you. You said you'd keep your word."

Nightmare = You.

What kind of cat-cursed logic was that!