The boy who entered wasn't a stranger—it was Xiao Yan.
His arrival immediately caught Yun Xiu's attention, and he turned to look at the eight- or nine-year-old boy.
Even Xun'er, who was still sitting on Yun Xiu's lap, looked toward Xiao Yan at that moment.
Xiao Yan wore a black robe. He was rather thin and, truth be told, not particularly handsome—at least not by Yun Xiu's standards. In terms of looks, Yun Xiu felt he could outshine Xiao Yan by several leagues.
And yet—
There was something strangely pleasant about Xiao Yan's ordinary features. A kind of face you could never tire of looking at.
"Not bad,"Yun Xiu mused silently, evaluating his fellow countryman's appearance.
He wasn't ugly—his features were clean and defined. Combined with that faint aura of main-character energy, he could definitely be considered attractive.
Of course, compared to a true beauty, he still had a long way to go.
Someone like Yun Xiu, for instance.
In fact, Yun Xiu half-suspected that if he were to take off his mask, Xiao Yan might fall for him on the spot.
After assessing Xiao Yan's appearance, Yun Xiu discreetly probed his strength.
"Stage Eight.""Dou Qi: Level Eight.""Impressive... And he has soul force too."Yun Xiu murmured in his heart.
"He started cultivating at age four and reached Dou Zhe by eleven... that talent rivals even mine."
"If he had been born with Dou Di bloodline in the ancient Xiao Clan a thousand years ago, he might have been hailed as a future Emperor—just like me."
"What a pity… The once-glorious Xiao Clan that ruled the continent is now reduced to this."
"Their imperial bloodline was completely ruined by Xiao Xuan. Without Yao Lao's support, Xiao Yan would never have surpassed the Dou Huang realm."
At that moment, Xiao Yan involuntarily shivered.
"Why do I feel like I'm being watched? Someone's peeking into my soul?"
Xun'er slid off Yun Xiu's lap and walked over to Xiao Yan.
"Xun'er."Xiao Yan greeted her with a warm smile.
Xun'er didn't reply. Instead, she grabbed Xiao Yan by the hand and pulled him over to Yun Xiu.
"Xiu'er-gege, this is Xiao Yan-gege," she said cheerfully.
"…"
Yun Xiu was speechless.
He looked at Xun'er's sweet, smiling face, and felt his entire soul darken beneath the mask.
At that moment...
He felt like his beautiful black hair had suddenly turned green.
His body trembled slightly as he muttered inwardly:
"So I really came too late…?"
"Did I… just get cheated on?"
His fists clenched under his sleeves. His expression beneath the mask was so dark it could drip water.
"So he's my fiancé, Xiao Yan?"Nalan Yanran stared at the black-robed boy, her bright eyes flickering thoughtfully.
"N-Nice to meet you… I'm Yun Xiu."
Though his heart was bleeding, Yun Xiu still introduced himself for Xun'er's sake.
His voice stuttered and lacked its usual confidence.
Because—
If you listened closely…
You could hear the sound of a heart shattering.
When Yun Xiu remembered how Xun'er had just called the boy "Xiao Yan-gege", his heart broke completely—into so many pieces, it couldn't be put back together again.
Xiao Yan, clueless, assumed Yun Xiu was just a nervous stutterer.
He smiled brightly:
"Nice to meet you. I'm Xiao Yan."
At this stage, Xiao Yan was the pride of the Xiao Clan—full of spirit and confidence. His cheerful smile reflected his self-assurance.
"Xiao Yan…"
Yun Xiu muttered the name through gritted teeth, his jaw tightening audibly beneath the mask.
He turned to Xun'er and asked,
"Xun'er, are you close with this young man?"
His tone was… off.A sour aura filled the air—like someone had knocked over a whole jar of vinegar.
Yun Xiu was waiting.
Waiting for a response that would justify slapping Xiao Yan into the next life.
Damn it.
His jealousy flared to dangerous levels. He was ready to go full-on berserker.
"No, we're not."
Xun'er immediately sensed Yun Xiu's mood shift. She quickly returned to his lap and hugged him tightly, shaking her head sweetly.
"Don't be angry, Xiu'er-gege. Xun'er loves you the most."
She could tell her Soul Xiu-gege wasn't happy.
Remembering how she'd run over and introduced Xiao Yan just now, Xun'er instantly understood the problem.
Now, snuggled back in her rightful place, she felt warm and secure again.
"…Huh?"
Yun Xiu blinked, momentarily dazed by the warmth of her embrace and the familiar weight on his leg.
Gradually, the storm behind the mask lifted.
A smile crept back onto his face. His clenched fists relaxed.
He understood now—
He hadn't been betrayed. Xun'er was still Xun'er.Whether she was now Xiao Xun'er or once Gu Xun'er, she was still the girl who clung to him—the girl who was promised to him by a childhood engagement.
Yun Xiu was satisfied.
But Xiao Yan, watching this scene, suddenly felt he was the one being cheated on.
"Damn…"
He watched Xun'er, who had just been standing by his side, now cozying up in another man's lap.
His heart ached.
For four years, ever since Xun'er had first appeared in the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan had been working hard.
That night four years ago, when things hadn't gone as planned… he'd given up sneaking around at night, fearing for his own "little brother's" safety.
Instead, he trained by day while gradually getting closer to her.
Over those four years, their relationship had grown strong.
He had even subconsciously started to think of Xun'er as his.
And now?
The girl he'd been trying to win for four years was lying in someone else's arms—right in front of him.
His heart shattered.
In all that time, the most he'd done was hold her hand.
He'd been so proud of that tiny victory.
"We're making progress," he'd thought.
But now?
All that effort—snatched away by someone else.
He was furious.
If he hadn't known Yun Xiu was way out of his league, he might've tried to beat the crap out of him on the spot.
"Doesn't he know? You don't touch Flame Bro's girl!"
Though seething, Xiao Yan was helpless.
"I refuse to eat dog food," he thought bitterly.
He turned his gaze away—
And locked eyes with Nalan Yanran.
Their eyes met.
A moment passed.
Xiao Yan:"Wow. She's gorgeous. I like this one."
Nalan Yanran:"Not bad. My fiancé may not be handsome, but he's easy on the eyes. Doesn't irritate me either."
Xiao Yan walked straight up to her.
"Hi, I'm Xiao Yan."
If one door closes, open another. Life is about moving forward. There are plenty of flowers in the field—why cling to just one?
"Nalan Yanran," she replied crisply."I'm your fiancée."