A Family of Hopeless Romantics, Except for the Evil Little Junior Brother

“Reporting to the Princess, Xiao family patriarch Xiao Chengshan has arrived with his son Xiao Ran!”

A tall middle-aged man entered the main hall with a handsome young man in tow.

Xiao Chengshan first bowed to the City Lord, then looked toward Zhao Lu who was seated in the main position.

“Xiao Chengshan greets Her Highness the Princess.”

Zhao Lu returned the greeting with proper etiquette.

Then Xiao Chengshan saluted Mount Shushan Peak Master Lu Ziyin.

Truly, he left no one out.

Only after that did he look at Su Wan.

“Su niece, long time no see. You’ve grown more and more beautiful.”

“Good, good, everything is good.”

Though Su Wan was speaking to Xiao Chengshan, her eyes had already landed on the young man beside him.

Xiao Ran.

They had met in childhood, but had little impression of each other.

Su Wan stood up—it looked like she was going to speak of the annulment right here.

Li Xuanxiao’s expression grew heavy. Right here in the City Lord’s mansion, in front of so many people—an annulment?

This seemed just a bit too inappropriate.

No one could stomach this.

Even someone shameless would find it humiliating.

“Uncle Xiao, I’ve come this time with something to discuss,” Su Wan said.

“Speak freely.”

Lu Ziyin and Zhao Lu both knew the purpose of Su Wan’s trip, but it still surprised them.

Su Wan was really going to bring it up now.

Su Wan opened her mouth: “I... uluuluuluulu....”

Everyone in the hall: (⊙o⊙)…

What kind of bird language is that?

Su Wan blinked, her tongue—

No, her whole mouth had gone numb.

The next moment, Su Wan’s steps faltered and her body swayed.

She fell straight onto the table.

In that moment, from the corner of the hall, Li Xuanxiao gave a faint smile and said:

“Looks like Senior Sister Su Wan is drunk. She’d already had a lot to drink before we got here. Everyone, I’ll take Senior Sister Su Wan to her room to rest.”

As he spoke, Li Xuanxiao helped Su Wan up and left the banquet, heading to the rooms arranged for them by the City Lord.

Good thing I came prepared.

..........

“As for the matter of the missing Mount Shushan disciples, our Panlong City will fully cooperate with the investigation!”

In the main hall.

Panlong City Lord Yue Tianqi expressed the city’s stance to Lu Ziyin.

With the Mount Shushan Peak Master personally present, it clearly showed how seriously Mount Shushan regarded the matter.

Lu Ziyin nodded, “We’ll be troubling you then.”

“To be honest, there are three mountain peaks near Panlong City, full of fierce beasts, and there are even heretic cults hiding in the city,” said Yue Tianqi. “I’m afraid those five Mount Shushan disciples have met with misfortune.”

Lu Ziyin said in a deep voice: “Rest assured, Mount Shushan is not unreasonable—we won’t wrongly accuse Panlong City.

But no matter who it is, if they chose to kill Mount Shushan disciples, then they have chosen to become enemies of Mount Shushan!”

The City Lord smiled and took a sip of tea.

...........

The next day.

After sobering up, Su Wan learned that the Xiao father and son had already left the City Lord’s mansion and returned to the Xiao residence,

so she immediately decided to go to the Xiao family to annul the engagement.

As if she couldn’t wait a single moment longer.

“I want to show my stance! I’ll use my actions to tell Junior Brother Xuanxiao that I understand his feelings—and I’m responding to him!”

Su Wan swung her long legs and quickly left the City Lord’s mansion.

Just as she stepped out, her eyes happened to catch a sign by the side.

【Courtesy requires reciprocity, communication connects the world】

Su Wan suddenly remembered.

Even if she was annulling the engagement, she couldn’t go empty-handed.

Thinking deeper, she realized she might have been a bit too impulsive.

As for the engagement, Xiao Ran had done no wrong.

He was a victim too.

Going in with such a confrontational attitude—wasn’t that just hurting him?

At the very least, she should give him something in return.....

Thinking this, Su Wan checked her storage ring—there wasn’t anything particularly valuable inside.

Senior Brother Lu Ziyin definitely had something.

With that, Su Wan turned to look for Lu Ziyin.

After she left, a hand emerged from the ground and took back the sign that read “Courtesy requires reciprocity, communication connects the world.”

“...........”

Xiao residence.

Xiao Ran lay on his bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

After meeting Su Wan yesterday, he had a vague bad feeling.

“Young Master, the patriarch asks for you in the reception hall.”

Just then, a maid entered.

“Reception hall? Who’s here?”

The maid shook her head.

Xiao Ran already had the answer in his heart.

He sat up and did a quick wash.

The simple pendant around his neck shimmered with a faint, eerie light.

Xiao Ran left his room and headed toward the clan’s reception hall.

Along the way, many of the Xiao family’s disciples looked at him strangely.

Reception hall.

At this moment, all the elders of the Xiao family were gathered in the reception hall.

In the main seat was the current patriarch of the Xiao family, Xiao Chengshan.

And seated across from him—was Su Wan.

Su Wan wore a purple brocade dress with delicate hidden patterns.

She was still young, but every move she made exuded a distinct elegance.

And coupled with the pair of weapons on her chest—

Li Xuanxiao had once commented that Su Wan had the natural physique of a perfect wife.

Xiao Ran looked at Su Wan, and that bad feeling resurfaced.

No, it wasn’t just a feeling anymore.

“Xiao Ran, what are you doing here?” one of the clan elders asked in surprise.

Xiao Ran stood in place, confused.

“Xiao Ran, no one called for you,” said the second elder.

Xiao Ran glanced around—only now did he realize there wasn’t even an extra chair in the hall.

Heh!

Xiao Ran couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

So this is how low my status in the clan has become.

The warmth of human relations!!

Back in the day, when I reached Foundation Establishment at twelve, everyone in the clan tried to curry favor with me.

And now.....

At that moment, Su Wan spoke up: “This time, I came to discuss something with Young Master Xiao.”

“Someone, bring a chair,” Xiao Chengshan said coldly.

No matter what, Xiao Ran was still his son.

To see the elders treat him this way—how could he not be angry?

Xiao Chengshan was a seasoned man who always put the bigger picture first.

Ever since becoming patriarch, he had been suppressed by the family elders.

Especially after his son Xiao Ran became a cripple.

Many were ready to replace him.

“I’ve long heard that Su Wan niece is incredibly gifted, and now that you’ve joined Mount Shushan and reached the Golden Core Stage at such a young age, your future is limitless, truly limitless.”

Several elders laid on the flattery, making Su Wan feel a little embarrassed.

After some small talk,

Su Wan finally got to the point.

“Uncle Xiao, the engagement between me and Xiao Ran was arranged years ago by my grandfather and the Xiao family’s ancestor, without seeking my consent.

I was too young back then, my voice carried no weight.

Now I’ve come to the Xiao family, intending to dissolve the engagement.”

As the words fell, time seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

The stiff smile on Xiao Chengshan’s face could no longer be maintained—his expression turned unsightly.

The hand clenched into a fist trembled slightly!