Meanwhile.
Far away at the hotel.
"..."
"Fozi, what's wrong with you today?"
Nanali stood up, looking at Lan Fozi who had been spacing out ever since returning. She couldn't help but walk over and ask curiously.
She had a feeling the other party was pondering something rather extraordinary.
"Nothing."
"Just remembered some things I saw earlier..."
Lan Fozi snapped back to reality and quickly shook her head, though it was unclear what exactly she had been thinking about.
"But I haven't seen Yu Lai sister today..."
"Hm? Did you miss me, young lady!"
Before Lan Fozi could finish her sentence, a nether purple figure appeared in the next moment. Leng Yulai emerged with a smile, asking softly.
"Young lady, it seems today's match went quite well."
She asked cheerfully.
She hadn't expected the young lady to actually pay attention to her.
"Yu Lai sister!"
At this moment, Lan Fozi was momentarily stunned. Hearing the other's words, she couldn't help but shake her head.
"The match was just boring, really."
Her first-round opponent during the day was merely a Soul Ancestor, hardly requiring any effort. As the child of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, who once possessed God-level strength... this was indeed somewhat dull.
But she wasn't the worst off. According to what Lily sister said, Yuanen Yehui—whom she had fought before and who was always by Luo Chuan's side—seemed to have it even harder, facing a Soul Venerable as her opponent!
However, that poor girl had Luo Chuan to hold and comfort her, while she could only sit beside Lily sister, spacing out here.
"Hahahaha."
"That's how elimination matches are. I saw that little man Tang Luochuan had it about the same, quite straightforward too..."
Leng Yulai nodded with a laugh, speaking slowly.
"..."
"Yu Lai sister, you went to watch Luo Chuan too?"
Yet, upon hearing these words, Lan Fozi was immediately taken aback. A thoughtful look in her eyes, she couldn't help but ask suspiciously.
Beside her, Nanali also seemed to realize something at that moment, casting a similarly contemplative glance over.
"Hm?"
"After all, he's someone the young lady likes."
Leng Yulai said without batting an eye, though in truth, it had little to do with the young lady's affection for him.
That little man was both highly regarded by her elder sister and piqued her own interest—naturally, she had to go see for herself!
"You really went."
However, her frank and earnest demeanor only made Lan Fozi and the other freeze. They couldn't help but exchange a glance.
No way...
Her and Lily sister's progress was still practically zero. If Yu Lai sister also got involved now, wouldn't the three of them end up racing together?
"Yu Lai sister, are you very interested in Luo Chuan?"
Lan Fozi took a deep breath and asked.
This question was crucial!
"Hm?"
"I suppose so."
Leng Yulai replied without hesitation, not denying it. After all, given her relationship with that little man...
The guy even dared to call her by her full name!
She would definitely make him pay for that.
"Oh~"
"As expected!"
Lan Fozi muttered to herself, then quietly noted this down in her heart. Meanwhile, Nanali wrote in her diary that day:
Chasing after Luo Chuan ended halfway without success, yet discovered Yu Lai is also pursuing him. Will sisters become true sisters? Still unknown for now...
"Hmm?"
At this moment, Leng Yulai, as the person involved, glanced at Lan Fozi and then at Nanali beside her, unable to figure out what was going on with the two.
Was there something wrong with what she had said?
"..."
"Dad, Mom, what is this place...?"
Led by his parents, Tang Luochuan arrived at a luxurious manor. At this moment, he couldn't help but ask in confusion.
This temporary residence was even better than where he lived!
"This is our house in Xingluo."
Tang Ziran replied with a smile, laughing heartily.
"This..."
"How come I didn't know we had such a home?"
At this moment, Tang Luochuan was stunned and spoke blankly.
"Right, His Majesty just gifted it to us two days ago."
"He said that although you'll have a place to stay in the royal palace, you, Wu Lin, and we still need a place when you come back. So he arranged this house for us. I never expected it to be this big."
Hearing this, Tang Ziran immediately responded with a laugh, stating directly that for Luo Chuan, his father-in-law and the ruler of a nation, gifting a manor villa...
was nothing at all!
"Hmm..."
Hearing this, Tang Luochuan didn't deny it. Not to mention just gifting a manor, even granting a noble title wouldn't be impossible.
"..."
"Ah, you're here! Please, have a seat, everyone..."
In the evening, Xu Xiaoyan's family of four had also gathered here. During this dinner belonging to the two families, both households were joyful and harmonious.
Although no one mentioned the matter of the two children, the atmosphere at this moment unmistakably declared something.
As for the individuals involved, Tang Luochuan and Xu Xiaoyan, the former was relatively calm, while the latter...
Today, she wore an elegant light yellow dress. Although she always maintained a sweet and well-behaved smile on her face, whenever she looked at him, the shyness in her eyes was hard to conceal.
For her, this was more than just an ordinary experience; perhaps it was also a...
"Xiao Yan, is the food not to your taste?"
During dinner, Tang Luochuan leaned over to the side, looked at her who wasn't eating much, gently tugged her sleeve, and whispered.
"Ah!"
"No, it's not that. Uncle and Aunt's cooking is excellent..."
Xu Xiaoyan, who had been somewhat distracted, immediately snapped back to reality, her face glowing with a faint blush as she responded softly. At a time like this...
she really couldn't eat much!
"That's good, then eat a bit more, Xiao Yan."
Hearing this, Tang Luochuan acknowledged and smiled, frequently serving her dishes, which made Xu Xiaoyan somewhat embarrassed.
"Okay."
Facing the food offered by the person before her, Xu Xiaoyan softly agreed, eating small bites like a little rabbit. Yet, the beautiful emotions in her heart had already surpassed the splendid starry sky of this night.
In the future...
she wanted to have every meal with Brother Luo Chuan!
"..."
"Luo Chuan, it's still early. After you see Xiao Yan home, you should prepare for tomorrow's competition."
That night, the sky was filled with stars.
After having dinner with Xiao Yan's parents, Tang Ziran and his wife came to the main gate. Looking at the well-suited pair before them, they said with a smile.
"Of course,"
Tang Luochuan immediately responded with a laugh, then turned to look at Xu Xiaoyan beside him. After bidding farewell to their parents, they walked together toward the accommodations arranged by the Star Luo Royal Family.
"..."
On the way back, Xu Xiaoyan felt too shy to speak. Every time she opened her mouth slightly, she would gently close it again.
Yet despite this, whenever she saw him holding her hand, her heart felt exceptionally at ease. She wished he would keep holding it like this forever.
"Xiao Yan, we're here."
Arriving at Xu Xiaoyan's residence, Tang Luochuan smiled tenderly and gazed at the girl beside him, speaking softly.
"Mmm..."
Xu Xiaoyan responded sweetly, lifting her head as if hesitating between speaking up or remaining silent.
But in the end, blushing, she stepped forward and gently tugged at his sleeve, firmly grasping his hand.
"What's wrong, Xiao Yan?"
Tang Luochuan was momentarily taken aback, looking at the adorable yet shy girl before him as he asked gently.
"The night sky looks particularly lovely tonight..."
"Luo Chuan, could you stay and watch the stars with me?"
Xu Xiaoyan took a deep breath, gazed at him, lightly bit her lip, but spoke with determination.
"The starlight is so beautiful tonight..."
"I want to watch it with you."
――――――――――
(End of Chapter)