The night air was cool as Xiao Yan stepped into his room, gently closing the wooden door behind him. The soft click echoed through the quiet space, lit only by the dim glow of a spirit lantern swaying near the window. He rolled his shoulders, exhaled, and walked over to the small chest tucked beneath his bed.
Kneeling, he pulled it out.
Inside lay a neatly tied bundle of letters—creased edges, faded ink, and the lingering scent of something subtly floral. His fingers hovered for a moment before lifting them, thumb brushing the parchment worn soft by too many readings.
He glanced through the most recent exchange.
---
[Letter 1 – Spirit Carrier Falcon]
From: Nalan Yanran
To: Xiao Yan
Subject: Definitely Not Missing Wu Tan City
> Xiao Yan,
Just broke through to 8-star Dou Qi yesterday. Master praised me. I blame you. Ever since I heard you reached Dou Zhe, I've been training like a lunatic.
Also: the capital teahouse can't brew spirit mint tea properly. It reminded me of that "experiment" of yours that nearly poisoned us.
...I kind of miss it. A little.
P.S. Tell your little brother I still remember how he rigged the log. He's not slick.
– Yanran
---
[Letter 2 – Slightly Singed at the Corner]
From: Xiao Yan
To: Nalan Yanran
Subject: Not Poison, Just Creative Ratios
> Yanran,
That wasn't poison. It was innovative herbal theory.
You should be glad you left. Ranyu's been experimenting again. He made me eat an "Energy-Infused Cookie." It glowed. I choked.
Garden's quiet now. No flying slippers. Fewer insults.
(Not saying I miss it. Just… noticing.)
Hope Yunlan hasn't made you too soft. Next time: no flying beasts, no fancy robes. Full spar. No holding back.
– Xiao Yan
P.S. Ranyu says: "Tell her I've developed Snacks and I think they are good. She can try it next time."
I'm not helping him test it.
---
[Letter 3 – Spirit Pigeon with Ribbon on Leg]
From: Nalan Yanran
To: Xiao Yan
Subject: You're Terrible at Compliments
> Xiao Yan,
I saw the moon last night and thought of the lake pavilion.
(Don't read into that. Just a lunar observation.)
Master says I'm stiff with the sword. I told her, "At least I don't walk like a stubborn mule."
She didn't get it.
You would've.
– Yanran
P.S. Tell Ranyu I don't want snacks. Ever.
---
[Letter 4 – Delivered via Merchant Caravan, Hidden in a Book]
From: Xiao Yan
To: Nalan Yanran
Subject: Better at This Than We Thought
> Yanran,
It's strange not seeing you trip over the log. Or call me annoying every five minutes.
(Not that I miss it. Just... noting patterns.)
Ranyu drew diagrams of us in his notebook. One had me with rabbit ears. He called it "social modeling."
I burned that page.
I think we're getting better at this.
– Xiao Yan
---
Xiao Yan chuckled to himself, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. Then he sat down, brush in hand, the soft scratch of ink on parchment echoing in the still room.
He paused often.
To think.
To smirk.
To hear a certain voice in his head again.
> "Go do something useful—like tell that girl to come visit already."
His mother's voice. Dry, amused, unrelenting.
> "She's getting way too lively," he muttered, rubbing the spot where a flying twig had struck him. "And her aim hasn't aged a day."
Outside, moonlight painted silver ribbons across the window. Night birds chirped distantly.
Xiao Yan dipped his brush again, frowning thoughtfully. This wasn't just another letter. This one came with expectations—a maternal one. Hopeful. Gentle. Direct in that impossible-to-refuse Gu Wenxin sort of way.
He started writing.
He paused when he got to the phrase "future daughter-in-law."
He stared at it.
Flushed a little.
Almost scratched it out.
Didn't.
> "No pressure," he muttered. Then added:
"...Okay. Maybe a little pressure."
---
[Letter 5 – Spirit Pigeon, Tied with Red Thread]
From: Xiao Yan
To: Nalan Yanran
Subject: Unexpected Requests from My Mother
> Yanran,
Mother's been improving faster than we thought. She's trimming courtyard trees, scolding the servants, and throwing twigs like it's a martial art.
She said, and I quote: "Go do something useful—like tell that girl to come visit already."
I said, "What girl?"
She gave me the look. You know the one.
Anyway, she wants to meet her "future daughter-in-law."
I told her we're not married. She waved me off and said, "Engaged, married—same headache."
So… yeah. Just thought you should know.
No pressure.
(Okay, maybe a little.)
– Xiao Yan
P.S. She says she makes good tea and sharp observations.
He folded the letter neatly, tied it with the red thread, and sent it off into the quiet sky.
Leaning on the windowsill, he watched the spirit pigeon fade into the night.
A small smile stayed on his lips longer than he expected.
---
The sun was barely up when the spirit pigeon landed on Nalan Yanran's balcony with all the smugness of a bird carrying something juicy.
Wrapped in her morning robe, sipping lotus-blossom tea, Yanran squinted. "You again? You fly like you've got gossip."
The bird blinked. Judgmentally.
She untied the scroll, reading with sleepy eyes—until:
> "...tell that girl to come visit already."
She nearly dropped her tea, bursting into laughter.
> "She attacked him with a twig?" she snorted. "Years of training, and a twig takes him down?"
Then came the words: "future daughter-in-law."
She choked.
> "What?!"
Sputtering, she stared at the letter like it might explode.
> "We were exchanging letters! There was no talk of titles!"
She muttered to the ceiling, "Engaged, married—same headache? Gods, he definitely gets it from her…"
Still laughing, cheeks warm, she pulled out parchment and ink.
> "Alright, Xiao Yan. You want sass? I'll give you sass."
---
[Letter 6 – Spirit Pigeon with Extra Fluff]
From: Nalan Yanran
To: Xiao Yan
Subject: Tea, Twigs, and Terror
> Xiao Yan,
I was doing sword meditation when your chaos pigeon showed up like it had drama to deliver.
Read your letter. Sliced a hole in my sleeve.
Future daughter-in-law?!
You're skipping character arcs and jumping straight to the series finale.
I've fought spirit beasts, sect elders, and my master's flying stick—but mothers? Mothers see your soul.
So yes. I blushed. A little.
Fine. A lot.
But tell her this:
I would be honored to meet her. Truly.
Next spring, once training lightens. I want to visit as myself, not a sword-wielding zombie with tea bags under her eyes.
I'll bring tea. Wear soft colors. No shoulder spikes. Promise.
– Yanran
P.S. If she throws another twig, I'm hiding behind you. That's what fiancés are for, right?
---
Xiao Ranyu's Notebook
> Operation: Make Them Talk
Step 24: Letter phase stable.
Humor Compatibility: 73%
Emotional Resonance: Moderate-to-High
Step 25: Research magical paper that se
lf-folds into hearts. For unrelated reasons.
Operation: Mother-In-Law Introduction
Status: Imminent.
Estimated Blush Quotient: 87%
Side Plan: Bake "Nervous Daughter-in-Law" cookies.
(Flavored with calming herbs and just enough sugar to distract from cross-examination.)