What Do You Call a Benevolent and Reasonable Person in Xianxia? An Impossibility!

In the reception room of the Nalan family, Qing Lin silently ate the snacks that Nalan Yanran had ordered the servants to bring. Zi Yun sat with her legs crossed, resting her face on one hand while gently stroking her son the Little Lion King’s head with the other, watching Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yixian chat.

She couldn’t help but ponder.

It’s really hard to understand humans.

When they first entered, both sides were full of hostility towards each other, but after some conversation, they were getting along harmoniously.

Are all human emotions this fickle? Or is it just girls who are special?

As Zi Yun thought about this, the Little Lion King beside her yawned widely, then lay down wearily and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Looking at the Little Lion King sleeping soundly at her feet, a motherly affection flashed in Zi Yun’s eyes.

The Little Lion King had been sleeping more and more frequently lately, a sign that it was about to advance. As an experienced magical beast, Zi Yun understood that this was the precursor to leveling up.

Currently, the Little Lion King was a Rank 3 magical beast. Once it successfully advanced to the fourth rank, she could feed it the Purple Crystal Essence.

At that time, the Little Lion King would be able to leap to rank 5.

(I need to find a safe place to stay for a while.)

Zi Yun made this decision internally. Protecting her child’s growth was her motherly instinct, regardless of being human or beast.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yixian was recounting her history with Xiao Yan to Nalan Yanran. After listening, Nalan Yanran remained silent for a long time, her eyes showing a trace of complexity.

Xiao Yixian’s experience was truly tragic. In comparison, Nalan Yanran’s life had been smooth sailing, and the grievances she had suffered were not even a fraction of Xiao Yixian’s.

Nalan Yanran knew that if her family had died because of her, she would have already despaired of the world.

Xiao Yixian’s survival until now was not only because of her strong nature but also because two very important people had saved her.

One was Boss Yao, and the other was Xiao Yan.

If either of these people had not been there, Xiao Yixian would no longer exist.

Xiao Yixian shared her story with Nalan Yanran to make her understand why she liked Xiao Yan and to demonstrate her genuine affection and determination.

This goal was achieved.

After hearing Xiao Yixian’s story, Nalan Yanran thought for a long time but couldn’t find any words to deny Xiao Yixian’s feelings.

Anyone who is in Xiao Yixian’s position, who is in their most desperate moment, and got saved by someone like Xiao Yan who didn’t abandon them, would inevitably fall for him.

Thinking this, Nalan Yanran couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

On reflection, wasn’t her affection for Xiao Yan for a similar reason?

Ten years ago, the image of the young Xiao Yan standing resolutely to protect her had been unforgettable. That moment of deep emotion she felt back then was similar to what Xiao Yixian felt when Xiao Yan saved her from despair.

“Ha…”

Nalan Yanran sighed deeply, covering her eyes with both hands.

Behind her hands, her eyes showed nothing but helplessness and resentment.

How could she fight against this?

What made her even more troubled was that there was no one to blame, not even Xiao Yan.

If she blamed Xiao Yan for making Xiao Yixian fall for him, then what did the image of him engraved in her own heart represent?

Denying Xiao Yixian’s feelings was akin to denying her own.

Ultimately, the only difference between her and Xiao Yixian in their feelings for Xiao Yan was the engagement.

But after spending the New Year with the Xiao Clan six months ago, Nalan Yanran understood deeply.

If she truly loved Xiao Yan, she shouldn’t use the engagement as leverage.

The title of fiancée was her trump card, one that should not be used until the very last moment.

If she used this trump card, it meant she had nothing else left.

Nalan Yanran’s pride couldn’t accept that.

After a long silence, Nalan Yanran removed her hands from her eyes and looked at Xiao Yixian.

“If I may ask, hypothetically.”

“If I do marry Xiao Yan in the future, what will you do?”

“Even if he ends up with someone else, will you give up?”

Hearing Nalan Yanran’s question, Xiao Yixian hesitated, pursed her lips, and her delicate fingers tightened.

Xiao Yixian understood that Nalan Yanran’s words were not impossible.

Xiao Yan would eventually marry someone.

And that person might not be her.

When that time comes, what should she do?

Xiao Yixian thought quietly.

After a while, Xiao Yixian relaxed, looked at Nalan Yanran, and smiled sadly but calmly.

“Then I might… give up.”

“I’ve already caused him enough trouble. If he marries someone else in the future, I won’t make things difficult for him.”

“After giving up, I might stay by his side as a maid to take care of him, or I might leave forever and never see him again. Anything is possible.”

“But for now, while I still have a chance, I want to do my best. I don’t want to have any regrets about my feelings for Xiao Yan, even if I fail. I can tell myself I tried.”

Xiao Yixian’s gaze at Nalan Yanran was filled with genuine affection.

Sincerely, she said.

“I really, really like him.”

Hearing Xiao Yixian’s confession, Nalan Yanran was stunned and couldn’t respond for a long time.

In her heart, she felt a bit of reluctance.

Her feelings for Xiao Yan were real, she never denied that.

But Xiao Yixian, a girl her age, had suffered too much already.

Would it be too cruel to take away her hope?

Nalan Yanran’s eyes lowered slightly.

There were still many beautiful aspects in her life.

But Xiao Yixian had nothing left besides Xiao Yan.

Telling her to find new meaning in life after leaving Xiao Yan was something Nalan Yanran could not say.

Anyone who had gone through what Xiao Yixian had experienced would find it nearly impossible.

Xiao Yan was the sole reason Xiao Yixian still chose to live till this day, if Xiao Yan were to die or to disappear, she would have already killed herself.

Whether it was enjoying new things, tasting new foods, or enjoying shopping like other girls, it was all based on the foundation that it’s something that would not cause problems for Xiao Yan.

For a girl whose fate was so pitiful, how could she bear to tell her to give up?

Nalan Yanran felt deeply conflicted.

She had thought dealing with Xiao Yu from the Xiao Clan was trouble enough, but Xiao Yixian was even more difficult.

With Xiao Yu, Nalan Yanran didn’t know how to deal with her.

But with Xiao Yixian, she didn’t even have the heart to confront her.

At this moment, Nalan Yanran even found herself blaming Xiao Yan.

I knew with your excellence, many girls would like you; I realized this when I visited the Xiao Clan.

I was prepared for this.

But why are the girls who like you all those whose stories are so heart-wrenching that I can’t bring myself to fight them?

Nalan Yanran’s eyes were full of sorrow.

At this moment, she even missed Xiao Xun’er.

At least with Xiao Xun’er, she could fight dirty without any psychological burden or moral dilemma. If she managed to defeat Xiao Xun’er, she would feel nothing but satisfaction.

But if she used the same tactics against Xiao Yixian, even if she won, she would feel a deep sense of guilt.

Even if it wasn’t her fault.

Nalan Yanran’s eyes were filled with melancholy.

Seeing Nalan Yanran’s tightly furrowed brows, Xiao Yixian seemed to understand her inner conflict and spoke softly.

“Miss Nalan, please don’t worry about me.”

“Hmm?”

Xiao Yixian’s sudden words startled Nalan Yanran.

Then, she heard Xiao Yixian continue.

“I never thought Xiao Yan should be with me just because of my past.”

“No matter how tragic my past was, it’s my own. I would never use it to gain your sympathy.”

“In fact, if I used Xiao Yan’s sympathy to win you over, I would utterly betray my feelings for him.”

“If that were the case, I might as well give up now.”

“I hope that Xiao Yan genuinely likes me, not that he accepts my feelings out of pity.”

“This is my responsibility to myself and fairness to Xiao Yan.”

“The one who saved me from the depths of despair was him, and if I used that to make him stay with me, how would I be different from someone ungrateful?”

“If I did that, my mother and Boss Yao in the afterlife would surely be disappointed in me.”

“Honestly, I am not as compatible with Xiao Yan as you think.”

“While I really like him, his upright nature is something I respect but also find frustrating.”

“Even if I end up with Xiao Yan in the future, I will never become as upright as he is.”

“In other words, I am not the most suitable person for him.”

“So, Miss Nalan, please don’t think that my tragic past makes me deserving of Xiao Yan.”

“This world should not be about who is more pitiful deserving everything they want. That’s unfair to everyone.”

“If you let me be with Xiao Yan out of sympathy, it would feel like you doubted my feelings for him.”

“It would seem like you lost not to me but to your own sympathy.”

“Such an outcome would mean I took advantage of your kindness and received a charity I did not deserve.”

“While I may not agree with Xiao Yan’s righteousness, I am not so despicable.”

Xiao Yixian looked directly at Nalan Yanran and solemnly expressed her thoughts.

Nalan Yanran silently gazed into Xiao Yixian’s eyes, feeling a deep sense of shame.

She had once demanded Xiao Yan marry her based on their engagement, which seemed despicable compared to Xiao Yixian’s unwillingness to use sympathy to gain Xiao Yan’s heart.

At this moment, Nalan Yanran was immensely grateful for her visit to the Xiao Clan six months ago, where she clearly understood her previous mistakes.

Otherwise, she would have been the least likely person to end up with Xiao Yan.

She had only considered her own wishes without ever thinking about Xiao Yan’s feelings.

This realization was profoundly mistaken.

Nalan Yanran took a deep breath, her face returning to normal, and her gaze towards Xiao Yixian regained its determination.

However, the hostility was no longer as intense as before.

Zi Yun and Qing Lin noticed the harmonious atmosphere between the two. Just when they thought everything was fine, the atmosphere between Xiao Yixian and Nalan Yanran suddenly changed again.

“If you say so, then I won’t hold back.” Nalan Yanran’s lips curved into a triumphant smile. “If I do marry Xiao Yan, don’t run around. Come be my steward.”

“Hehe…” Xiao Yixian raised her eyebrows, her smile becoming less friendly. “Killing me is one thing, but breaking my spirit is a bit much, isn’t it?”

“Aren’t you the one who said you might serve as Xiao Yan’s maid if you lost? I’m just fulfilling your wish.”

Nalan Yanran shrugged lightly, and Xiao Yixian narrowed her eyes, smiling darkly at her.

“Miss Nalan, not listening to others isn’t good. Serving as Xiao Yan’s maid and being your steward are two entirely different things. Please don’t mix them up.”

“Oh~~~ Is that so?” Nalan Yanran tilted her head indifferently. “Sorry, I’ve been focused on training lately and might not have paid much attention to literary matters.”

Watching Xiao Yixian and Nalan Yanran expressions, although they smiled amicably, the atmosphere between them was anything but harmonious.

Zi Yun’s eyes revealed a deep sense of realization and certainty.

As a magical beast, she seemed to understand humans better.

Indeed, humans are truly fickle creatures.