Xiao Yan had originally thought that, as time passed, everyone would gradually forget the embarrassing mix-up from last time.
But he had never expected things to start developing in such a strange direction.
Xiao Zhan was naturally riding high.
Whenever he got the chance, he would pat Xiao Yan on the shoulder, offer a few words of encouragement, and tell him to prepare properly for Jia Nan Academy's recruitment in a few days.
He wanted Xiao Yan to astonish everyone in one fell swoop and bring his father even more glory.
The Third Elder, however, had gone completely off the rails.
"Yan, are you cultivating? Don't wear yourself out. Mei stewed some nourishing tonics for you. Drink them while they're hot!"
"Yan, Mei sewed these clothes for you herself. Try them on and see if they fit."
Almost every day, the Third Elder would drag Xiao Mei, whose face was bright red and who wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into, to Xiao Yan's courtyard like clockwork.
With all his solicitous inquiries and boundless concern, anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was Xiao Yan's own grandfather.
In any case, everything the Third Elder said implied that he already regarded Xiao Yan as his grandson-in-law.
At first, out of guilt, Xiao Yan would patiently humor him with a few words.
But after the Third Elder began publicizing Xiao Yan and Xiao Mei's relationship throughout the clan, Xiao Yan finally reached the end of his patience.
"Third Elder!"
When the Third Elder showed up yet again with tonics and Xiao Mei in tow, Xiao Yan finally erupted.
"I'll say this one more time: I have absolutely no romantic feelings for Xiao Mei!
I'm very sorry about the accident that day, but please stop doing this!"
Xiao Yan was truly sick of it!
If the Third Elder had been scheming against him or playing dirty tricks, Xiao Yan's temperament and methods meant he would have had nothing to fear.
He would certainly have made the elder suffer devastating losses and lose every scrap of dignity, just like Nalan Yanran!
But the Third Elder had come with his best interests at heart!
Besides, they belonged to the same clan. Although there was some competition and infighting, it all stayed within the rules.
That made it difficult for Xiao Yan to use ruthless methods to deal with him.
At Xiao Yan's words, the smile on the Third Elder's face instantly froze.
Then he stared at Xiao Yan with an expression of bitter anguish.
"You... you little brat! Just listen to what you're saying!"
The Third Elder bristled and glared, slapping his thigh hard as even his voice rose an octave.
"Our Mei is an unmarried maiden, and in front of the entire clan, you... you did that to her! Now you're saying you have no feelings for her?
If you don't marry her, how is she supposed to face anyone again? Is my branch of the family supposed to throw away all its dignity?"
Beside him, Xiao Mei was so distraught that she was on the verge of tears.
For more than a decade, she had only regarded Xiao Yan as a rival, never harboring any romantic feelings for him.
Who could have imagined that a sparring challenge would give rise to such an ill-fated entanglement?
And right out in public, with the entire clan watching!
When she had first returned home, she had only felt ashamed and angry. Nothing else had crossed her mind.
She had never expected her grandfather to make an immediate decision and insist that she latch onto Xiao Yan!
She had barely spent a moment in a daze before rumors had spread throughout the clan.
Of course Xiao Mei knew that this was her grandfather's handiwork.
In the past, whenever she saw how swiftly and decisively her grandfather acted, she had only felt admiration.
Now, however, she felt nothing but endless resentment!
Grandfather, why did your mouth have to move so fast?
Now I really can't marry anyone but Xiao Yan!
She and Xiao Yan had no feelings for each other. Suddenly being told to marry him was truly difficult for her to accept!
Even though her grandfather had explained the stakes to her over and over, telling her how much she stood to gain, she still couldn't make up her mind.
Yet although she remained undecided, she didn't dislike Xiao Yan. Deep down, she might well have harbored the thought, If he's interested in me, I could give him a chance.
But now, faced with Xiao Yan's blunt rejection, she was so ashamed that she wished she could sink into a crack in the ground!
Her maidenly reserve made her unwilling to remain there a moment longer!
Tugging at the Third Elder's sleeve, Xiao Mei said tearfully, "Grandfather, stop talking! Let's go!"
"Stop talking?" The Third Elder grew even more fired up. "This concerns your happiness for the rest of your life! How can I stay silent? Xiao Yan, you must give me an answer today!"
Xiao Mei raised her head and glanced at Xiao Yan. His face was full of impatience, without even a trace of affection.
Sorrow welled up inside her. All these days of being dragged here by her grandfather to fuss over Xiao Yan suddenly felt like one enormous joke!
Xiao Mei felt she couldn't remain in this room for another moment!
Wiping away her tears, Xiao Mei ran off like a gust of wind.
Xiao Mei had left, but the Third Elder refused to go, clamoring for Xiao Yan to give him an answer.
While the scene was descending into chaos, another voice came from outside.
"Oh, Third, quite a lively gathering you've got here!"
The First Elder strolled in with his hands behind his back, with Xiao Yu following him.
He had come to upset the applecart.
If his own granddaughter couldn't become the Clan Leader's wife, then neither could the Third Elder's!
Otherwise, who would be the First Elder in the future?
Wouldn't the Third Elder climb onto his head and shit all over him?
"Listen, Third, marriage requires both parties to be willing. Can a melon you twist off its vine by force ever taste sweet?
In my opinion, you should respect Xiao Yan's wishes and stop forcing the matter."
The Third Elder bristled and glared at the First Elder. "Your granddaughter wasn't... wasn't subjected to that, so of course you can stand there talking without feeling the pain!
If your granddaughter had the same ill-fated entanglement with Xiao Yan, let's see whether you'd be anxious!"
The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listeners took it to heart.
At the mention of an ill-fated entanglement, despite the drawn-sword tension in the room, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu couldn't help meeting each other's eyes.
But Xiao Yan only felt a brief stir inside before quickly regaining his composure.
Xiao Yu, however, suddenly flushed crimson.
Those vivid, sensual scenes at the pool on Back Mountain rose unbidden in her mind once again.
Seeing Xiao Yu's sudden blush, the Third Elder's expression changed. Then he sneered.
"First, that's not how you play this game. What's going on between your Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan? Have you come to offer up your granddaughter too?"
The First Elder turned to look at the crimson-faced Xiao Yu, somewhat surprised.
I brought you here to watch the show. Why are you reacting so strongly?
Still, he had come to disrupt things in the first place. Being misunderstood was even better-only a misunderstanding could muddy the waters!
The First Elder sneered as well. "Love between a man and a woman is a matter of mutual willingness.
What? Is my Yu not allowed to have feelings for Xiao Yan?
Third, I hate to say it, but your methods this time are rather too underhanded."
At those words, the Third Elder's expression changed furiously!
"First, there are some things you can't just say carelessly!
Do you think I want to be this shamelessly persistent?
If I could have prevented this incident and saved Mei's reputation, what would it matter if I gave up being an elder?
But things have already come to this. I must think of Mei and secure an outcome for her!
I'll make myself clear right here today: even if Xiao Yan never becomes Clan Leader, even if he becomes a good-for-nothing in the future!
I, the Third Elder of the Xiao clan, will never regret what I've done today!
First Elder, I advise you to stop pestering me with this nonsense!
This time, I'm serious!"
Looking at the Third Elder, whose exasperation was mixed with utter seriousness, the First Elder hesitated for a moment before finally sighing.
"Fine. We've been old brothers for decades. I'll give way to you this once!
Yu, let's go!"
The First Elder left with Xiao Yu.
The Third Elder immediately broke into a broad smile and began drawing Xiao Zhan into friendly conversation, as though the marriage had already been settled.
Looking at the Third Elder's expression of absolute confidence, Xiao Yan seethed with frustration, yet their family ties kept him from losing his temper!
He was indeed in the wrong, but being forced into marriage was something he absolutely could not accept.
Ugh, why hasn't Jia Nan Academy's recruitment started yet?
Before you continue