Kapitel 45: Chapter 45: Official Meeting
The two of them have an age difference of about three years, perhaps even a few more months.
This was their first official meeting. The last time Wei Yang saw Xiao Yan was from a distance when he was still a Dou Shi. The once high-spirited and prominent young man had changed significantly after nearly three years.
Despite the calm expression and slight smile on Xiao Yan's face, Wei Yang still caught a trace of melancholy and bitterness hidden in his brows.
But Wei Yang felt no sympathy or pity for him at this moment because this guy was about to gain a golden opportunity!
There were at most three months left until Nalan Yanran would come to withdraw from the engagement.
His golden chance was coming!
The cheat: the Ring Master's return was imminent.
Envy!
"Wei Yishi, we've arrived. Ahead are our patriarch and the three elders," Xiao Feng said respectfully.
"Mm." Wei Yang nodded, a gentle smile on his lips, and stepped forward.
"Wei Yishi, welcome to our Xiao family," the leading middle-aged man, dressed in luxurious gray clothing, exuded authority with his powerful stride and thick eyebrows that added a sense of grandeur to his face. He was the current patriarch of the Xiao family, Xiao Zhan. He stepped forward first, smiling warmly.
"Wei Yishi…" The other three elders and the present members of the Xiao family spoke one after another, some kindly, some respectfully, some flatteringly.
Except for Gu Xun'er, who had a faint smile on her lips and a calm expression.
At the first sight of Wei Yang, she felt a sense of familiarity. A brief thought revealed, "It's him!"
She remembered the young man she had seen from a distance at the entrance of the Xiao family marketplace more than two years ago, someone not even a nodding acquaintance.
Gu Xun'er remembered Wei Yang because of the relatively short time elapsed and because his powerful soul strength and talent had slightly surprised her at the time.
Seeing Wei Yang again, her surprise grew.
Although Wei Yang kept his aura well-concealed, when the golden flame flickered in the depths of her eyes, she was astonished to find that the young man's soul strength had grown several times stronger than it was over two years ago and that his realm had reached the high rank of Dou Ling.
More attention-grabbing than the Dou Ling realm was the exceptionally powerful soul strength of the young man, which made her truly pay attention to him.
"The soul strength is comparable to that of an ordinary Dou Zong!" Gu Xun'er thought with some surprise.
However, that was all there was to it.
She merely smiled reservedly, neither intimate nor distant, having greeted him. Most of her attention remained on Xiao Yan beside her.
Wei Yang noticed all this from the corner of his eye, his smile deepening.
Indeed, for Gu Xun'er, only Xiao Yan could truly catch her eye in the entire Xiao family, no, the entire Jia Ma Empire.
Everyone else?
Apologies, but to the Miss of the Gu clan, they were merely roadside weeds, utterly insignificant.
He had no intention of throwing himself into such a situation and simply glanced over her before ignoring her.
Gu Xun'er?
To be honest, whether in this world or when he read the original work, Wei Yang had little regard for Gu Xun'er.
Compared to Medusa, Gu Xun'er left a less profound impression among the many female characters in the story.
It wasn't because Gu Xun'er wasn't beautiful, nor because of a lack of body or talent.
Being from the Gu clan with divine blood and having a Dou Sheng father, she undoubtedly belonged to the top echelon in terms of family background, identity, talent, temperament, and beauty.
Logically, no man would find it easy to resist her charm.
Yet Wei Yang simply felt indifferent towards this character, which was odd.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
Facing the greetings from the Xiao family members, Wei Yang nodded with a smile, "Everyone, sorry to bother."
"Wei Yishi, you're too polite, it's no bother…" the patriarch Xiao Zhan replied, but before he could finish stating his pleasantries...
The action of interrupting like this was somewhat disrespectful in front of guests.
After all, Xiao Zhan was the patriarch and was in the middle of speaking with a guest.
Yet the great elder of the Xiao family still did this.
And the other two elders didn't seem to feel embarrassed at all.
Xiao Zhan frowned slightly but refrained from commenting further. Instead, he gestured invitingly, "Wei Yishi, please come inside."
Wei Yang, understanding the little intrigues of the Xiao family and uninterested in involving himself in family matters, just nodded and followed Xiao Zhan into the Xiao family house.
Once inside the Xiao family home, under Xiao Zhan's guidance, the group went straight through the front yard and finally arrived in front of the solemn guest reception hall.
Inside, numerous servants were bustling, setting out tea, fruit platters, and snacks.
Upon seeing the arrival of the group, an elderly butler immediately led the servants to quickly retreat to the rear hall.
"Wei Yishi, please come in," Xiao Zhan gestured to lead the way.
Wei Yang nodded and stepped inside.
The hall was quite spacious.
Everyone took their seats according to rank.
Seated at the top were Xiao Zhan and the three elders.
Wei Yang was arranged to sit at the first place on the left.
Other members of the Xiao family took their seats on the right.
Those seated in front were older members of the Xiao family with some influence and strength.
Behind or below them were the talented young members of the Xiao family.
"Wei Yishi, please have some tea," Xiao Zhan said, raising his cup, as did the Xiao family members.
"Thank you." Wei Yang raised his tea cup and took a sip.
After drinking tea, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
"Wei Yishi, not long ago you bought a large batch of herbs from our Xiao family marketplace. Last time, you left in such a hurry that we didn't have a chance to thank you for your support and trust in our Xiao family…" Xiao Zhan said with a smile.
"Xiao patriarch, you're too kind."
After some more polite exchanges.
Xiao Zhan finally tentatively asked, "Wei Yishi mentioned wanting to undertake a large transaction with our Xiao family. Could you elaborate on that?"
"Could the Xiao patriarch have someone prepare a large table?" Wei Yang replied with a smile.
At these words, Xiao Zhan immediately gestured, and a member of the clan rose to make arrangements.
Wei Yang turned his gaze to the corner of the hall, where Xiao Yan was sitting with Gu Xun'er, and seemingly casually spoke, "Speaking of which, I have always had a good impression of the Xiao family. And the reason for choosing to do business with the Xiao family, aside from trust, is partly because of Brother Xiao Yan."
A stir swept through the members of the Xiao family at these unexpected words.
In the corner, where Xiao Yan had been discreetly whispering with Gu Xun'er, he was startled and looked up in surprise, his mouth slightly agape, "Me?"
The three elders raised their eyebrows slightly.
But Xiao Zhan's face showed a hint of joy upon hearing this. He first glanced at the stupefied Xiao Yan and then looked at Wei Yang, with a warmer voice, "Oh? Could it be that Wei Yishi knows our Yan'er?"
Wei Yang waved his hand with a smile, "I wouldn't say I know him. To be honest, I'm also a native of Wutan City, so I grew up listening to the legends of Brother Xiao Yan. Therefore, I've long been in admiration of Brother Xiao Yan, although I regret never having had the opportunity to meet him properly."
With those words, Wei Yang turned to Xiao Yan, his face friendly with a smile, "Until today, I finally have the chance to meet you, Brother Xiao Yan, and fulfill a wish."
(End of this chapter)
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