Chapter 2925

Chapter 2925: Dad Is Here

During her time in the Imperial Capital, Yan Xiwan had not had much time to truly play. This was precisely why Yan Zhicheng insisted on taking her out for a walk.

Although the Forbidden City was not crowded, its scenery and architecture still left Yan Xiwan in awe. She felt the thick historical atmosphere here and understood a simple truth: just as these buildings gained such profound aura through the baptism of history, people would naturally receive richer rewards if they worked hard and studied diligently.

After returning from the Forbidden City, Yan Xiwan studied even harder. She focused entirely on her books, and life remained peaceful until Yan Tieniu arrived in the capital. It was then she learned that her godfather had told Yan Tieniu about her and Ouyang Tianyun.

"Dad." Yan Xiwan was happy to see Yan Tieniu.

"Good girl, you’ve grown taller." Yan Tieniu was also happy to see her daughter. She was becoming more beautiful every day, which explained why those wolves were eyeing her.

Thinking of that wolf named Ouyang Tianyun, Yan Tieniu’s mood soured, but he would not show it in front of his daughter.

"Tell that Ouyang Tianyun to come see me tomorrow," Yan Tieniu said to Cheng Junnan during their private conversation.

She then looked at Cheng Junnan with dissatisfaction. "You, you… I sent my daughter here to study properly, and you handed her over to a wolf."

Cheng Junnan looked aggrieved. "Brother Niu, you love Good Girl, and I love Good Girl too. She is your daughter, but she is also my daughter. However, that boy Tianyun has a point."

Cheng Junnan regained her composure. "Look at our daughter; she gets more beautiful every day. If she doesn’t have someone backing her up, she might be schemed against. Don’t think that just because we are under the Emperor’s feet, there are no misunderstandings. There are many."

Cheng Junnan sighed. "Of course, our Cheng family can protect Good Girl, and there is Old Man Yuan. With her, no one will openly target her. But what about in secret? As long as Good Girl has no master, people will constantly scheme against her because of her conditions, her beauty, her talent, and her identity as the Cheng family’s daughter and Old Man Yuan’s final disciple. Everyone wants to attach themselves to her."

Cheng Junnan smiled bitterly. "So for Good Girl, the situation is that open attacks are easy to avoid, but hidden arrows are hard to defend against. Who knows who is trying to scheme against whom? And regarding the engagement with Ouyang Tianyun, to be honest, I considered it carefully."

Cheng Junnan lit a cigarette and continued. "The Ouyang family seems unremarkable, but this is a family that even the top noble houses in the Imperial Capital dare not offend. No one knows if they can escape unscathed when the Ouyang family decides to scheme against them. The Ouyang family members are usually low-key, but every son of the Ouyang family is extremely smart. It can be said that the Ouyang sons either do not participate, or once they enter a field, that field will inevitably undergo a revolution."

Cheng Junnan added, "And because of this brainpower, people covet the Ouyang family. But once the Ouyang family announces they have an engagement, no one will disturb them. Because Ouyang men only recognize one person in their lifetime. Once announced publicly, it means that even if someone kills their partner, they will never marry again. Not only that, but the Ouyang family will relentlessly retaliate."

Cheng Junnan took a sip of tea, feeling a bit thirsty. "Once Ouyang Tianyun and Good Girl are engaged, Good Girl effectively has double protection, because no one dares to offend the Ouyang family."

Yan Tieniu pondered for a long time before speaking. "I understand what you mean. Good Girl is the only daughter of my Yan family. How could I not feel heartache? But thinking that she is only ten years old and has to bear the shackles of marriage, I feel uneasy."

"Brother Niu, you are thinking too far ahead. Although Good Girl is ten and getting engaged, it is just an engagement. In essence, it just means she has one more fiancé."

Cheng Junnan added, "Besides, Good Girl hasn’t awakened yet. And Ouyang Tianyun proposing the engagement is mostly to use Good Girl’s name to avoid being纠缠 (entangled) by others. Moreover, Ouyang Tianyun has already told me that if Good Girl awakens in the future and likes another man, this engagement can be cancelled."

Yan Tieniu snorted. "Can marriage be so casual? Junnan, how have you become so mixed up?"

Cheng Junnan paused. "Brother Niu, how am I mixed up?"

"How are you not mixed up?" Yan Tieniu gave Cheng Junnan no face when arguing. "Good Girl is only ten. Are you only ten? You have been married. How can you not understand the sanctity of marriage?"

"How do I not understand?" Cheng Junnan was speechless.

Yan Tieniu sighed. "We are experienced people. Marriage is a lifelong matter. Once set, how can it be changed casually?"

Yan Tieniu looked at Cheng Junnan. "Good Girl is outstanding in appearance, I do not deny that. When she grows up, there will definitely be people who scheme against her. But even without marriage, can’t we protect her with our abilities? Not to mention, Good Girl herself has a skillful and elusive way of using medicine. Self-protection is absolutely no problem."

"Brother Niu…" Cheng Junnan did not expect Yan Tieniu to be so clear-headed.

Yan Tieniu added, "I don’t know what Ouyang Tianyun’s true intentions are in approaching our Good Girl. But since he approached her, it means the Ouyang family owes our Good Girl. Therefore, the initiative in this marriage should belong to our Good Girl."

Yan Tieniu’s meaning was clear. her daughter could marry in the future; why must she attach herself to the Ouyang family? Since Ouyang Tianyun came to her, the Ouyang family must be responsible for anything that happens.

Cheng Junnan also understood Yan Tieniu’s meaning. "Brother Niu, does this mean you are against the engagement?"

"Not exactly," Yan Tieniu said. "Since this Ouyang Tianyun has set his eyes on my Good Girl, he must have a purpose. Of course, for now, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for our Good Girl. But these benefits are not something we actively sought."

Yan Tieniu looked at Cheng Junnan.

Yan Tieniu was a fox, and Cheng Junnan was also a fox. As soon as Yan Tieniu spoke a little, Cheng Junnan understood.

Given the current situation, Yan Xiwan had the Cheng family and Old Man Yuan backing her, plus her rare medicinal skills. Those who wanted to target her would have to think twice, and success was not guaranteed.

According to what was known, Ouyang Tianyun approaching Yan Xiwan was his initiative. It brought Yan Xiwan little benefit, while most of the benefits went to Ouyang Tianyun. At least, Ouyang Tianyun did not have to worry about others纠缠 (entangling) him again.

So, calculating it out, Yan Xiwan was the one losing out.

Even if Yan Xiwan hadn’t awakened yet, and even if she didn’t like Ouyang Tianyun in the future, and the Ouyang family allowed Yan Xiwan to cancel the engagement, in today’s era, even in the new times, the word "cancel engagement" was not a good term.

Therefore, no matter how you calculated, it seemed Yan Xiwan was the one losing out.

Of course, the best outcome was that once engaged, neither would regret it.

It was precisely because he understood this that Cheng Junnan had spoken as he did earlier.

"Let’s meet this Ouyang Tianyun first," Yan Tieniu said after thinking. "If this Ouyang Tianyun is really good, even if he is a bit older, I don’t mind my son-in-law being older. As long as he can wait. If not, even if he is from the Ouyang family, I will not agree to this match."

Yan Tieniu looked at Cheng Junnan firmly, then paused. "However, since this person passed your and Uncle Old Yuan’s tests, he shouldn’t be too bad. But regardless, I want to see him first."

Cheng Junnan nodded. "Alright, I’ll arrange it. I’ll have that boy come over tomorrow. You can test him well."

Yan Tieniu smiled lightly. "What is there to test? I will just talk to him at most."

This was a conversation between a father and the other party.

Ouyang Tianyun had long known Yan Tieniu would come, but when Yan Tieniu actually arrived, he was still a bit nervous.

After all, his scheming against Yan Xiwan was real, so facing Yan Tieniu made him nervous.

Yan Tieniu looked at Ouyang Tianyun, observing him secretly.

Yan Tieniu observed Ouyang Tianyun with the mindset of an old father, without the aura of a superior. His attitude seemed very peaceful.

But it was this peaceful attitude that made Ouyang Tianyun even more nervous.

Ouyang Tianyun sighed silently in his heart. Meeting the father-in-law was indeed one of the hardest hurdles in the world.

"Sit down, let’s talk," Yan Tieniu said with a naive look, seeming none of the shrewdness he had shown when chatting with Cheng Junnan.

Seeing this, Cheng Junnan rolled his eyes directly. He was playing the pig to eat the tiger again.

She looked at Ouyang Tianyun with secret pity, hoping she could hold on.

"Uncle Yan, hello, I am Ouyang Tianyun." Ouyang Tianyun greeted him and then sat down.

Since sticking his head out or shrinking it back meant getting cut anyway, Ouyang Tianyun felt it was better to be proactive.

Yan Tieu nodded. "You should know why I want to see you."

"I know." Since Yan Tieniu was straightforward, Ouyang Tianyun was also direct. "It is about the marriage between Good Girl and me."

Yan Tieniu nodded. "Do you know how old Good Girl is?"

"I know, Good Girl is only ten." Ouyang Tianyun answered seriously. "But, Uncle Yan, Good Girl is only ten in physiological age. Her wisdom has long made her intelligence exceed this age."

"You don’t need to tell me. I also know my Good Girl is smart." Yan Tieniu glared at Ouyang Tianyun.