Making his feelings clear

Xiao Zhan heard Xiao Yan's words and said, "As you should. Your friends were a great help today. Make sure you treat them well."

With that, Xiao Zhan unhesitatingly took a stack of gold notes from his Storage Ring and handed them straight to Xiao Yan, declaring generously, "There are a full hundred thousand gold coins here! Take it all! Be sure to entertain our honored guests properly. Don't neglect them in the slightest, and don't worry about saving money!"

A hundred thousand gold coins was more than they could spend even at the largest restaurant in Wutan City.

Xiao Yan took the gold notes, warmth filling his heart, and nodded firmly. "Thank you, Father!"

Then he turned to Jiang Xian, Ye Fan, Shi Hao, and Fang Han before looking tenderly at Xiao Xun'er, who stood beside him with a soft smile. He laughed heartily. "Brothers, Xun'er, my treat today! We're going to the Hundred Flavors Tower, the biggest restaurant in Wutan City."

Shi Hao's eyes instantly lit up, and he clapped excitedly. "Yay! I want lots and lots of tasty meat!"

"Haha, little Shi Hao, not only will there be plenty of tasty meat, you can also try some magical beast milk. It should taste different from what you've had before," Xiao Yan told Shi Hao with a smile.

"Yay! Brother Xiao Yan, let's hurry!" Shi Hao urged him.

Jiang Xian and the others could hardly help laughing as they watched Shi Hao.

"Everyone, follow me." Holding Xiao Xun'er's hand, Xiao Yan led the way. They walked out of the Xiao Clan courtyard together, with Jiang Xian, Ye Fan, Fang Han, and Shi Hao on either side. Xiao Xun'er stayed beside Xiao Yan, her green robes simple yet lovely, her expression gentle and serene.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan took the initiative to introduce the girl beside him. "Everyone, this is little sister Xun'er. She's lived with our Xiao Clan since childhood and grew up alongside me. She's the person closest to me, the one I cherish most."

Xiao Xun'er lowered her eyes slightly, a faint smile on her lips, and greeted them gently. "I'm Xun'er. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

Everyone greeted Xiao Xun'er as well.

Jiang Xian smiled and teased, "When I saw little sister Xun'er in the hall today, she never left your side and stood up for you at every turn. I thought she was your sweetheart, Xiao Yan!"

As those words fell, a light breeze brushed past the roadside.

A faint blush instantly spread over Xiao Xun'er's fair cheeks, and her ears grew slightly hot. Shy at heart, she hastily lowered her head, her long lashes trembling. Too embarrassed to look up at everyone, she looked utterly bashful. She merely moved a little closer to Xiao Yan.

"Sister Xun'er is really pretty. She and Brother Xiao Yan look so good together," Shi Hao said then.

Ye Fan and Fang Han exchanged a smile and watched the pair quietly, understanding in both their eyes. Everyone's gaze settled on the two of them.

As Xiao Yan looked at the blushing girl beside him, so gentle and shy, he could no longer conceal the feelings that had built up in his heart over the years.

For the past three years, he had lost all his Dou Qi, become a cripple, and endured endless mockery. Only Xiao Xun'er had never abandoned him, always keeping him gentle company and silently protecting him. Now that he had cast off his decline and regained his edge, how could he keep hiding his feelings?

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Yan reached out and firmly clasped Xiao Xun'er's soft, delicate hand. His palm was warm and strong, its touch unmistakably real.

Xiao Xun'er's body stiffened slightly, her cheeks reddening even more. Her heartbeat abruptly quickened, and she raised her eyes to stare blankly at the youth beside her.

Xiao Yan's gaze was clear and utterly earnest. In front of all his group friends, he spoke gently but firmly, laying his feelings completely bare.

"She is my sweetheart."

"Little sister Xun'er, today, in front of all my group friends, I'm going to tell you plainly."

"I once rose to fame at a young age. Countless people adored me, and everyone tried to curry favor with me. But over these past three years, my Dou Qi dissipated, and I became a piece of trash for others to ridicule. Everyone who once surrounded me distanced themselves from me and mocked me. Only you, little sister Xun'er, remained the same, always staying with me, never leaving my side. Through those three years when I was at my lowest and most wretched, you quietly accepted all my humiliation and hurt and silently kept me company."

"In my heart, you've never been a 'little sister.'"

"You're the only person I, Xiao Yan, want to protect in this life, the one I truly want to spend the rest of my life with. Now that the engagement has been broken off today, nothing else distracts me. All I want for the future is to be with you."

As soon as he finished, Xiao Yan tightened his grip on Xiao Xun'er's hand.

A gentle breeze blew along the street, and sunlight spilled over the two of them.

Little Xun'er stared dazedly at the spirited youth before her as he confessed his feelings openly. Tears instantly misted her eyes, and all the shyness in her heart turned into searing tenderness. She murmured a soft "Mm" and clasped Xiao Yan's hand in return.

Xiao Xun'er's eyes curved into a smile, her heart filled entirely with Xiao Yan.

Beside them, Jiang Xian wore a doting grin and chuckled, his face full of gratification. "You should have done this ages ago."

Ye Fan nodded lightly and said with a warm smile, "A talented man and a beautiful woman, with hearts in harmony. A match made in heaven."

Fang Han raised his eyes slightly, his voice calm and steady with a rare hint of warmth. "A bond forged through hardship is precious. Congratulations!"

Only Shi Hao seemed to half understand. He clapped and laughed merrily. "Congratulations! Congratulations!"

Holding Xun'er's little hand and gazing at the girl smiling sweetly before him, Xiao Yan felt thoroughly carefree, his heart brimming with joy.

"All right, everyone!"

He looked at them with a radiant expression, unable to keep a smile from lifting his lips. "Today brings two happy occasions. I've wiped away my past humiliation and made my feelings clear to little sister Xun'er. Let's feast at the Hundred Flavors Tower and talk to our hearts' content!"

Before long, everyone arrived in a private room at the Hundred Flavors Tower, the largest restaurant in Wutan City.

"Little sister Xun'er, are you curious about who these friends of mine are? It wasn't convenient to talk out on the street. Let me introduce them now!" Xiao Yan said to Xiao Xun'er beside him.

Just then, Jiang Xian suddenly looked out the window, sensing a presence. It was probably Ling Ying.

"Sister-in-law, could you ask the person outside to leave for now?" Jiang Xian asked Xiao Xun'er.

"Elder Ying, it's very safe here. Please leave for now," Xiao Xun'er said toward the window, blushing a little at the way Jiang Xian had addressed her.

"Jiang Xian, Ye Fan, Shi Hao, and Fang Han aren't from the Dou Qi Continent. They all come from different great worlds across the myriad heavens. We share a special magical treasure that lets us communicate across endless worlds and travel between them. It was thanks to the opportunities my group friends gave me that I recovered and broke through to Nine-Star Dou Zhe in such a short time..." Xiao Yan explained to Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Xun'er's gaze froze slightly, and she instinctively looked at the four people before her, her eyes full of wonder. "The myriad heavens? A magical treasure that crosses worlds... To think something so miraculous exists."

At that moment, Jiang Xian stepped forward, slowly walked closer, and looked at Xiao Xun'er as he spoke with a smile.

"I have a unique innate talent that can give someone one chance at Resurrection. When I met Ye Fan's girlfriend before, I gave her a chance at Resurrection. Naturally, I can't leave Miss Xun'er out today."

With that, Jiang Xian used his innate talent on Xiao Xun'er. Although Xiao Yan's chat group had it too, every sister-in-law had to be treated equally.