As the bell tolling for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony rang out, Xiao Ze, Xiao Xun'er, and Ya Fei made their grand appearance. It was as if they were the true protagonists of the ceremony, drawing the gaze of nearly everyone present. Xiao Ze wore a smile, quickly pulling Xiao Xun'er along as he hurried toward the area reserved for the underage members of the Xiao Clan. Ya Fei, maintaining her composure, returned to the VIP seating area. She had seen scenes of such widespread attention many times over the years.
Standing on the high platform, Xiao Zhan coughed, pulling everyone’s attention back to himself. "Thank you all for your presence here today to attend the Xiao Clan’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony..."
Seeing Xiao Zhan launch into a rambling speech, the smile on Xiao Ze’s face stiffened slightly. It seemed that no matter where one went, long-winded speeches were an inevitability. On that platform were the core members of the Xiao Clan, including the Patriarch and the Elders. As a member of the main branch, Xiao Ze was qualified to stand there, but he preferred to stay with Xiao Xun'er, so he headed to the area for the underage clan members. The protagonists of the day—those of the Xiao Clan coming of age this year—were waiting in a separate area, preparing for their tests.
Chapter 22