Chapter 18: **Chapter 18: Inviting the Xiao Family Father and Son to the Banquet**
**Chapter 18: Inviting the Xiao Family Father and Son to the Banquet**
"Brother Chen Feng, Nalan Yanran doesn't like Xiao Yan and wants to cancel the engagement, but she's afraid of being criticized. So, she sent you instead to avoid backlash."
Ya Fei's beautiful eyes flickered with dissatisfaction as she gazed at Chen Feng. To her, Chen Feng was extraordinarily talented, born of noble blood, and destined for greatness. However, if word got out that he had gone to the Xiao family to annul Nalan Yanran's engagement, it could tarnish his reputation. People would inevitably gossip.
This thought made Ya Fei deeply unhappy. After giving herself to him, she already considered Chen Feng her man. The prospect of him bearing unjust blame upset her.
"Yanran... something happened. It's inconvenient for her to come."
Chen Feng, of course, couldn't reveal that Nalan Yanran was pregnant.
"Hmph, what could be more important than breaking off an engagement? She's just trying to protect her reputation."
Ya Fei didn't believe him. To her, Chen Feng was simply covering for Nalan Yanran, which sparked a tinge of jealousy.
"Brother Chen Feng, you're always protecting Nalan Yanran, but has she ever thought about you?"
Seeing Ya Fei speak up for him, Chen Feng couldn't help but pinch her soft cheek.
"It's just an engagement annulment. You're overthinking it. The Xiao family isn't even worth mentioning."
If not for Xiao Yan being the "Son of the Plane," Chen Feng wouldn't have been this careful. He wasn't like Yun Yun, who was overly concerned about the Yunlan Sect's reputation. Without Xiao Yan's special status, Chen Feng would have already broken the engagement without a second thought. A small family like the Xiao clan stood no chance against the Yunlan Sect. Even if Xiao Yan felt slighted, what could he do about it?
"That's true. Brother Chen Feng, are you heading to the Xiao family to break off the engagement now?"
Ya Fei nodded, acknowledging that the Xiao family was merely one of the three smaller families in Wutan City. Even the Mittel family could suppress them with ease, let alone a giant like the Yunlan Sect.
"Not quite. Before coming to Wutan City, my teacher instructed me to handle the engagement annulment quietly. It's not something to publicize."
Chen Feng shook his head. Provoking Xiao Yan's hatred was the last thing he wanted. In the Douqi Continent, having one's engagement broken was a grave humiliation for a man. In the original novel, Nalan Yanran had publicly humiliated Xiao Yan, shattering his pride in front of his family and the city. Even Xiao Yan's father had been disgraced. Such a bold and humiliating move—few men could endure it.
Chen Feng bore no personal grudge against Xiao Yan, and since he was the "Son of the Plane," Chen Feng preferred not to invite unnecessary trouble. That's why he decided to take a different approach this time. The goal was to annul the engagement discreetly, avoiding any public spectacle. This way, Xiao Yan could retain his dignity, and the Yunlan Sect's reputation would remain intact.
"Brother Chen Feng, what's your plan then?" Ya Fei asked curiously. To her, Chen Feng's identity as a direct disciple of the Yunlan Sect made him far too conspicuous.
"You've been in Wutan City for three years, Sister Ya Fei. You must be familiar with the Xiao family."
Chen Feng glanced at Ya Fei, who lay in his arms, and smiled.
"Of course. I've dealt with them often. Why? Are you planning to make me handle this annulment for you?"
As the head of the Mittel Auction House in Wutan City, Ya Fei naturally had connections with the Xiao family.
"I do need your help."
Chen Feng nodded.
"Please invite Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan to the auction house for a banquet. Send the invitation in your name and don't mention me."
"You want to discuss the annulment in private?" Ya Fei quickly caught on.
"Exactly. If I visit the Xiao family personally, it'll draw too much attention. Even if I want to stay low-profile, I doubt it would work."
As a direct descendant of the Mittel family and Yun Yun's disciple, Chen Feng's arrival in Wutan City would create a stir if made public. The engagement annulment would become impossible to keep under wraps, which was the opposite of his intention.
"Brother Chen Feng, aren't you overthinking this? It's just the Xiao family. Do you really need to host a banquet for them?"
Ya Fei frowned, perplexed. She felt Chen Feng was giving the Xiao family too much importance.
"Sister Ya Fei, Yanran's engagement involves me. This banquet is a way to apologize on her behalf. At the very least, it will save Xiao Yan some face."
Though Chen Feng spoke kindly, he had other motives. If Xiao Yan weren't the "Son of the Plane," Chen Feng wouldn't bother being polite.
"Hmph. Even without you, Nalan Yanran would never marry someone like Xiao Yan."
Ya Fei snorted. She had a good grasp of Nalan Yanran's character—proud and aloof. Someone like Xiao Yan, considered worthless by Wutan City's standards, was never on her radar.
"Brother Chen Feng, you're too kind-hearted."
Ya Fei sighed softly. To her, Xiao Yan's fate was inevitable. Whether Chen Feng was involved or not, Nalan Yanran would have annulled the engagement eventually.
"Kind-hearted? Am I getting a good guy card now?"
Chen Feng laughed inwardly. Ya Fei had misunderstood his intentions. If not for Xiao Yan's unique status, Chen Feng wouldn't have bothered with formalities. But misunderstandings weren't a bad thing. Getting labeled as a "good guy" didn't hurt his reputation.
"Really? Someone once called me a bad guy."
Chen Feng flashed a mischievous grin and pinned Ya Fei beneath him once more.
"You're at it again!"
Ya Fei rolled her eyes playfully and begged for mercy.
"Brother, I can't take any more… next time, alright?"
Only after her pleading did Chen Feng relent. The two lingered together, eventually bathing and resting until evening.
When Ya Fei returned to the auction house, her desk was stacked with gifts.
"What's all this?"
She opened the boxes and found various medicinal herbs for health and vitality.
"Miss Ya Fei, the guests attending today's auction heard you weren't feeling well, so they brought these as gifts," a steward explained with a smile.
Just then, Master Gu Ni entered, chuckling.
"Miss Ya Fei, I see you finally emerged. Did you forget about today's auction?"
Ya Fei's cheeks flushed red.
"Master Gu Ni, please send this invitation to the Xiao family."
Moments later, Ya Fei handed him the prepared invitation.
---