area51novel Chapter 7 You don't want to be just friends with me? Do you want to be my enemy?
Chapter 7 You don't want to be just friends with me? Do you want to be my enemy?
"What's going on between you two?"
Inside his room, Xiao Zhan was completely bewildered.
From the moment the two people in front of him arrived, chatting and laughing, to when they introduced Nalan Yanran's identity, and then to when they brought up the matter of annulling the engagement, he was completely bewildered.
I couldn't even process what was going on.
"No, wait a minute, you unfilial son, I know you're unhappy with this engagement, and I've been thinking about how to talk to Old Master Nalan about it. But isn't it inappropriate for you to just lure... his granddaughter here and then break off the engagement without his consent?"
Xiao Zhan scratched his head. He knew that his son seemed dissatisfied with the marriage, but the close friendship between the previous generation made it difficult for him to speak to the Nalan family.
When Xiao Yan's fighting spirit disappeared, he had subtly mentioned it to Nalan Jie, but the other party refused very decisively. Even when he brought it up again, the other party still refused verbally, saying that once or twice was acceptable, but not a third time.
Xiao Zhan had no choice but to put it aside for the time being and did not bring it up with Xiao Yan again.
We need to discuss this further.
Why did it happen so suddenly today?
He had just received news that a group of people from the Yunlan Sect were coming, but before he could investigate what was going on, Xiao Yan arrived with Nalan Yanran.
"It's alright, Uncle. This is my own decision. Yan and I share the same idea; it's better for us to make our own decisions about important life events."
With a faint smile, Nalan Yanran spoke in a gentle and mild tone.
"My grandfather doesn't know about this, but it's ultimately my own business, and he can't make that decision for me."
Seeing that Xiao Zhan didn't say anything, Nalan Yanran added another sentence.
"Yes, yes, it's alright, Dad. Anyway, she was the one who came to us to break off the engagement, so it's her fault."
Xiao Yan, beaming, crossed his legs and took a few fruits from the fruit plate on Xiao Zhan's table, starting to eat them.
Seeing Xiao Zhan glare at her, she immediately pouted, put her legs down, and tossed a fruit to Nalan Yanran.
"Try it, this fruit was carefully cultivated by me."
"Smack smack" x2
"You know what, this fruit is quite sweet." Nalan Yanran's eyes lit up.
Xiao Zhan, standing to the side, was even more bewildered.
Is this a normal situation? Is this what happens when you want to break off an engagement?
Is it because he's getting old and can't keep up with the way young people think?
After another incense stick's time had passed, and having confirmed that the two were on the same page, and seeing that their attitudes were becoming increasingly arrogant, Xiao Zhan's face immediately darkened.
Fine, I'll quit! It's none of his business what young people do!
"Go away, go away, here's the engagement contract, you two can discuss it yourselves." She shoved the engagement contract at Xiao Yan with a disgruntled expression, managing to give Nalan Yanran a smile. Xiao Zhan immediately got up to go to the back room to calm down.
This unfilial son is good in every way, except that he can be really infuriating at times!
"Then I'll take care of this?" She smiled gently at Xiao Zhan, walked out of the inner room, and came to the hall.
Picking up the engagement contract, Nalan Yanran waved it at Xiao Yan and put it away without waiting for his reply.
"Aren't you going to tear it up?" Xiao Yan scratched his head.
"Why tear it?" Nalan Yanran tilted her head back. "Wouldn't it be better to keep it as a souvenir?"
Xiao Yan: "..."
After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan looked into Nalan Yanran's bright eyes and understood her thought process.
"So this is your first step in successfully defying fate, is that it?"
Nalan Yanran nodded happily.
Their eyes are brighter now.
"Let's go, I'm in a good mood, how about I buy you some more drinks?"
"Alright."
Xiao Zhan, who was eavesdropping from behind: (一`ˊ一)
Watching the two figures leave, chatting and laughing, Xiao Zhan looked up at the sky speechlessly.
He seems to be really out of touch with the times.
Why do these two kids look like best friends? Is this a sign of annulment of their engagement?
………………
In the pavilion that Xiao Yan built himself on the back mountain of the Xiao family.
After chatting for a long time, Xiao Yan refilled their glasses with the sound of splashing water.
He raised a glass of plum wine and gently clinked glasses with Nalan Yanran.
"Yanran has traveled far and wide, and knows many heroes under heaven... cough cough..."
"How does it feel to have solved the problem that has bothered you for years?" Xiao Yan, who was switching channels, asked casually after clearing his throat. Nalan Yanran, on the other side, was clearly used to it and even seemed to be enjoying it.
"It feels really good to be in control of your own destiny." Nalan Yanran's cheeks flushed slightly as she drank the wine in her cup in one gulp. She didn't use her fighting spirit to neutralize it, and just stared at Xiao Yan intently.
"So, are we... friends now?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and lightly touched Nalan Yanran's arm.
Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran fell silent for a moment, then nodded and shook her head.
"We're friends, but I don't want to just be friends with you."
Xiao Yan was stunned.
After a two-second pause, his gaze suddenly sharpened.
"Do you want to be my enemy?"
Nalan Yanran: ? ? ?
Her cheeks, which had been slightly flushed, turned bright red instantly, and Nalan Yanran's breathing became heavy.
A young girl's blush speaks louder than any sweet words.
After catching her breath for a while, seeing that Xiao Yan still didn't reply, Nalan Yanran glared at him and grabbed his neck.
"Hey, stop playing dumb, and don't give me the silent treatment!"
Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened.
"You want to fight me?"
"I'll slap you in the face!"
Yanran was furious and wanted to kill Xiao Yan with her spear.
She stretched out her jade-like legs, straddled Xiao Yan, and frantically pounded on his chest.
As he continued hammering, he sensed Xiao Yan's defiance, his face turned even redder, and he stood up angrily.
Xiao Yan: (∥•/ω/•∥)
He now completely understands what this girl is thinking.
This guy is just like me; we both had a pretty good first impression of each other and were quite fond of each other.
So why did they call off the engagement?
Seemingly noticing the thoughtful look on Xiao Yan's face, Nalan Yanran rolled her eyes.
"You know what I mean."
Xiao Yan recalled his days in Konoha, a time when he suffered constant envy and disdain from others.
【What do I know?!】
But after thinking about it, Xiao Yan understood what Nalan Yanran meant.
Judging from how things are developing, she seems to have a good impression of me and doesn't even mind being with me.
However, this does not conflict with the other party's perspective on breaking off the engagement.
Nalan Yanran's philosophy seems to be that her own choices are paramount, and even if she approves of the fate arranged for her by others, it is not acceptable; she must choose for herself.
Although it sounds contradictory, it's not unusual for a teenage girl with such strong opinions to do so.
Xiao Yan actually quite liked this kind of sharp and outspoken personality.
However, it would be laughable if this single-mindedness were to become a double-edged sword.
Xiao Yan thought to himself, seriously suspecting that Nalan Yanran had picked up the wrong script.
If she doesn't cooperate with the other party, then this is nonsense.
And according to the usual plot, this should clearly be a scene of a broken engagement, right? Why is it developing in such an unusual way?
However, after thinking about it, Xiao Yan's expression became increasingly strange, as if this was still his fault.
It seems that these years of correspondence, and the unintentional remarks, have made Nalan Yanran's thoughts increasingly clear...
Even if I like someone, I will directly reject them if they are not someone I chose myself.
Has a unique personality.
After brainstorming for a while, Xiao Yan immediately raised his head slightly, met Nalan Yanran's gaze, and revealed a smile.
"However, this seems a bit unnecessary."
No.
Nalan Yanran shook her head.
"I want to break off the engagement because I want to rebel against my family's decision."
As for liking it... it's because I follow my heart.
Some of the words were spoken in a very low voice, like the buzzing of mosquitoes, and Xiao Yan could not hear them clearly.
However, it is not necessary to hear clearly.
With a wicked smile, he forcefully pulled Nalan Yanran into his arms.
"So, are you willing to write the destiny we want together with me?" Nalan Yanran adjusted her sitting position on Xiao Yan's lap and leaned on his shoulder.
Xiao Yan smiled and, under Nalan Yanran's expectant gaze, held up a finger and shook it from side to side.
"But I refused."
You can't just quit whenever you want, or chase whenever you want. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Do you think I, Xiao, would be led by the nose?
"What, are you scared?" Nalan Yanran wasn't annoyed at all, she just smiled and raised her eyebrows. "Want to have a duel with me?"
"...Using reverse psychology? That works very well."
With a helpless smile, Xiao Yan could only shrug.
Although it felt a bit strange, he had to admit that Nalan Yanran was indeed to his liking, and the two even had some similarities in personality.
He does indeed quite like that strong-willed personality.
The dashing and spirited older sister is his favorite.
"Since you've brought this up, it would seem like I'm unromantic if I didn't fight you."
"That doesn't have to be now."
Seeing that Xiao Yan was about to get up and go to the training ground, Nalan Yanran slowly shook her head.
"If you think your cultivation is higher than mine, then there's no need." With that, Xiao Yan clenched his fist slightly, and the first gate of the Eight Gates Formation opened in an instant. With a loud bang, his fighting spirit surged.
In the blink of an eye, his aura had reached the level of a peak nine-star Dou Zhe, half a step Dou Shi, but he withdrew it in an instant, without even breaking a sweat, giving the tax bureau no chance to collect realm tax.
"I'm not surprised that you could go from level three to level nine in a single day and have such strength." Despite feeling that terrifying strength, Nalan Yanran didn't show much surprise. In fact, in her opinion, this was nothing compared to Xiao Yan, who jumped from level three to level nine in a single day.
"The world misjudged you yesterday, misjudged you today, and will misjudge you tomorrow. And how can I be any different?"
Just like you said.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, never underestimate a young man's potential."
"Three years. Give me three years, and give you three years. After three years, we'll meet again atop Yunlan Mountain."
As Nalan Yanran spoke, her sharp edge shone through, showing no sign of weakness. She was full of vigor, and her eyes sparkled with an incomparably brilliant light.
"So? Interested?"
For some reason, Xiao Yan felt a little dizzy. He didn't say anything, but his lips curled into a slight smile.
Seeing that Xiao Yan did not deny it, Nalan Yanran's lips curled up even more, a glint of light flashed in her eyes, and she slowly approached.
"As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' As our arch-rivals three years from now, should we have a match now?"
"...?" Scratching his head, Xiao Yan felt that things were developing a bit too far-fetched, and even his own racing thoughts couldn't keep up, but he didn't refuse.
If it's just a friendly sparring match, that wouldn't be a problem...
...........................
Half a day later, at the back mountain of the Xiao family.
Xiao Yan rubbed his kidneys, his face turning somewhat yellow.
He slumped down in his usual cave and lightly tapped his index finger to remove the seal on the ancient ring in his hand.
As soon as the seal was broken, Yao Chen floated out and looked Xiao Yan up and down, marveling at him.
"Damn it, kid, you've been tricked by that girl."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's face darkened further. "I fucking realized it, but... she has leverage over me!"
God knows how things went from one friendly exchange to a massage.
"It's alright, she's your fiancée after all." Yao Chen chuckled strangely.
After Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran started having an ambiguous relationship while drinking plum wine, he was sealed away. Anyone with a brain can guess what happened next.
He played with far more fancy things in his younger days than this.
"Don't mention this, it makes me angry! How come this woman is independent one minute and not independent the next?!" It would have been better if this hadn't been mentioned, because as soon as it was brought up, Xiao Yan's eyebrows shot up. Just as he was about to explain something, Yao Chen sighed and slowly shook his head.
"No need to explain anymore, it all boils down to you being a lecher."
Xiao Yan: "..."
Silence, a long silence.
Oh no, now there's really no way to refute it...
The air in the cave suddenly became awkward. However, while some were happy, others were sad. Yao Chen didn't feel awkward at all; on the contrary, he felt the air was exceptionally cheerful.
Xiao Yan's face turned bright red as he stammered his explanation.
"What do you mean by being lustful? That's just a young man's business. Can you call that lust? That's just youthful vigor."
"As someone once said, food and sex are human nature."
The air suddenly became even more cheerful.
After a long while, when the casual conversation between master and disciple was over, Yao Chen finally got down to business.
"Since you've agreed to a battle in Yunlan Mountain three years from now, what are the plans?"
"Since the teacher asked this question, it seems that you have some ideas."
"I have many ideas, but we have to take it one step at a time."
How about... I teach you alchemy first? Among your inheritances, some enhance soul power, while others require soul power. Learning alchemy will definitely be more than the sum of its parts for your improvement.
Furthermore, you know how to craft weapons, so you have a good foundation.
"Then, shall we practice?"
...............
In the city of Utan.
The inn where the Yunlan Sect members stayed.
"Yanran, you're back." Ge Ye stood up to greet Nalan Yanran's return.
However, after Nalan Yanran walked past him, Ge Ye felt that something was off.
He immediately looked up and couldn't help but scrutinize him.
Aside from the overall aura seemingly undergoing a transformation, there was no change in her physical form, but why did her face seem to have become even more beautiful?
"When are we going to the Xiao family to return the money...?"
Before Ge Ye could finish speaking, Nalan Yanran waved her hand and laughed.
"No need, I've already taken care of it."
Kuzue was shocked and quickly recounted the information he had gathered over the past few days.
Nalan Yanran only showed a smile.
"Heh, no matter how talented he is, he's just someone I can manipulate."
Ge Ye was astonished by his extraordinary talent.
"Oh, by the way, you don't need to worry about what happened after this. Don't tell anyone..."
.........
A courtyard of the Xiao family.
Xiao Xun'er rested her hands on the windowsill, gazing silently at the peach blossoms outside.
"I was here first..." After a long silence, accompanied by the sound of grinding her teeth, Xiao Xun'er's pretty face showed an inscrutable expression.
How did things turn out this way? Is something wrong somewhere?