Chapter 554: Fireworks

A couple of minutes after the encounter with Chen Ping and his friends, Fang Xiaoyan led Yuan and his wives to a secluded spot where they could watch the fireworks show in peace and quiet.

They soon arrived at a park where many couples were enjoying romantic moments with their loved ones. Yuan and his wives headed toward an empty bench away from the crowd.

As they approached the bench, Anna exchanged a quick glance with Grace and the others before turning to Fang Xiaoyan.

"Xiaoyan, you should sit beside Yuan. We'll sit next to you," Anna said with a smile, causing Fang Xiaoyan's face to immediately turn red.

Despite her embarrassment, she didn't refuse and sat beside Yuan on the bench. Anna and the others followed, sitting down and gently nudging her closer to him.

'She can be so cute sometimes,' Yuan thought with a chuckle, noticing how shy Fang Xiaoyan was acting. He suddenly pulled her closer.

Feeling Yuan's arm wrap around her slender waist, Fang Xiaoyan's face grew even hotter, and her cheeks flushed a deep red.

"You don't need to be so shy around our darling, Xiaoyan. Relax, he won't eat you—at least, not right away," Emma teased, chuckling at Fang Xiaoyan's expression.

Anna joined in with a giggle. "Exactly. You don't have to be shy around Yuan or any of us. Since you already like him, we'll soon be family."

'Looks like Mom and the others talked with her earlier about something like this. No wonder she's been acting so shy around me,' Yuan pondered inwardly.

Yuan then tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her into his lap. He looked into her eyes with a gentle smile on his handsome face.

'What the...!' Fang Xiaoyan was shocked to suddenly find herself sitting on Yuan's lap, staring at him with wide eyes.

"So, Xiaoyan, do you really like me?" he asked, whispering into her ear, which had turned red from embarrassment.

"Umm," Fang Xiaoyan nodded after a moment, her face still blushing.

"I see..." Yuan nodded, smiling in understanding. Then, he gently cupped her face, his gaze lingering on her soft pink lips. He had wanted to taste them ever since they met, and now the moment had finally come.

"Yuan..." she mumbled his name softly and slowly closed her eyes.

Yuan understood her signal and gently pressed his lips against hers, savoring the softness of her tender lips. Fang Xiaoyan immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

Being in Yuan's warm embrace and feeling his lips on hers sent tingles through her body. She felt a foreign sensation—a thrilling excitement she had never experienced before.

They embraced each other in a tender hug, sharing a passionate kiss. For a moment, time seemed to slow around them.

"I've noted everything. Please wait for a while, I'll inform the chefs right away," the waiter said, before heading swiftly toward the kitchen.

Moments later, the waiter returned, accompanied by several servers carrying dishes in both hands. Under the waiter's instruction, they placed the dishes on the table one by one until the entire table was covered, with no space left for anything else.

"There's no more room for the remaining dishes. Would you prefer if we bring them out after you finish these?" the waiter asked, maintaining a polite tone and friendly smile.

"Sure, that works. But bring them quickly; I don't think it'll take us long to finish these plates," Yuan responded with a smile as he eyed the food.

"I understand, esteemed guests," the waiter replied, nodding before leaving the table with a slight bow.

Once the waiter was out of sight, Yuan and his wives began to eat, their faces lighting up with delight as they savored the delicious food.

"How can someone cook something this good?!" Mireya and Sylvia exclaimed, amazed by the quality of the dishes. As restaurant owners themselves, they had never tasted anything so exceptional, and the cooking techniques seemed far more intricate than what their own chefs used.

A few minutes later, the servers brought the remaining dishes, which Yuan and his wives finished quickly, shocking the staff with their enormous appetites.

"Now that we're full, let's head to the Red Pagoda. It'll take almost three hours to get there from here," Fang Xiaoyan said, handing a few spirit stones to the waiter as payment for the meal.

"Please come again, esteemed guests," the waiter said with a respectful bow as she received the payment.

Yuan and his wives stood up, following Fang Xiaoyan out of the restaurant.

As they headed toward the city gate, Leah suddenly asked, "Sister Fang, do you think that Chen Ping bastard will still try to pursue you?"

"Well, to be honest, I don't think he'll dare. He seems to be afraid of Yuan for some reason, though I'm not sure why," Fang Xiaoyan replied thoughtfully. "Besides, the City Lord himself fears our Fang Family. If we weren't so peaceful, we could easily wipe out the Ping Family, and none of them would live to see another day."

"In the past, my grandpa almost killed the patriarch of the Ping Family in a fight. Since then, they've been terrified of him. If he were here, they'd show their utmost hospitality to prove their sincerity," Fang Xiaoyan chuckled as she continued walking.

"I see..." Leah nodded, a relieved smile appearing on her face.

Once outside the city, the group retrieved their flying swords and soared into the sky, heading toward the Red Pagoda.

After nearly three hours of continuous travel, Yuan and his wives finally caught sight of the towering Red Pagoda at the heart of the Secret Realm. The structure stood proudly, massive and imposing, yet untouched by time. Its pristine exterior gave it the appearance of something newly built rather than ancient.

"Is that the pagoda your grandpa mentioned to us?" Rose asked, her eyes fixed on the distant structure.

Fang Xiaoyan nodded with a smile. "Yes, that's the one. It's the very same pagoda where our Lord resided before he mysteriously disappeared."

She then glanced downward, her expression turning serious. "However, we can't go there directly. This area is surrounded by countless powerful monsters. We'll need to clear them out before we can safely approach."