A Cen Wife in Name Only

When Cen Muxiao returned to the villa that afternoon, it was unusually quiet inside.

Uncle Meng stood at the door to greet him as usual.

"You're back, Young Master!"

"Mm." Cen Muxiao glanced at the empty living room and asked, "Where are they? Have they eaten lunch?"

"They have. They've both gone back to their rooms."

Uncle Meng answered aloud, but inwardly, he was thinking: One had eaten his fill, while the other was full of anger. If they hadn't called a truce and gone back to their rooms, one would probably have burst from overeating, while the other's stomachache would only have gotten worse.

"Nothing happened, right?"

Cen Muxiao raised an eyebrow. He instinctively felt that Guo Lantai would take advantage of his absence to stir up trouble, so even when he returned to the old residence, he hadn't been able to eat a proper meal. He had kept worrying that Song Anning would suffer.

That man had been utterly fearless even in front of him. How much worse would he be behind his back?

"Uh, nothing happened."

Uncle Meng told the truth. They hadn't fought, and they hadn't cursed each other out. They had smiled and chatted, though there had been a little too much drama in their eyes. That counted as nothing happening, didn't it?

Still, he had vaguely heard that neither of them had gone a single sentence without mentioning their young master. They were merely competing for his affection. There was really nothing to worry about.

Cen Muxiao was still somewhat surprised and curious. Someone so adept at causing trouble had actually been willing to let such an opportunity go. Could he be gathering his strength and holding back some even nastier scheme?

"How did he react?"

"Huh? Who?"

Uncle Meng's thoughts couldn't quite keep up. There were two "hes" in that sentence. Couldn't Young Master stop testing him?

Besides, hadn't he just described their behavior? They had gotten along peacefully enough.

"Knowing that I didn't intend to take him back to the old residence, how did Guo Lantai react?"

Cen Muxiao simply asked directly. He had left Guo Lantai at the hotel on their wedding day, then deliberately refused to take him to meet the elders of the Cen family the next day. Even if Guo Lantai didn't pick on Song Anning, shouldn't he at least be dissatisfied with Cen Muxiao?

He must have complained quite a bit and felt terribly wronged.

"Uh..." Uncle Meng thought back and said hesitantly, "Eh? It seemed like he never asked me. He didn't ask where you went, and I don't think I took the initiative to mention that you had gone home either."

As Uncle Meng spoke, he became puzzled as well. They had been sitting at the dining table, yet Guo Lantai hadn't shown any concern or asked about his young master. Instead, he had eaten and drunk heartily, focusing only on exchanging looks and sparring with Mr. Song.

He looked completely unconcerned!

Song Anning, on the other hand, had asked him everything the moment he got up. Only after learning that Young Master would not be returning for lunch had he sat down to eat. Clearly, he cared greatly about their young master.

The difference was obvious when the two were compared. No wonder their young master liked Mr. Song so much.

Hearing this, Cen Muxiao sneered inwardly. Guo Lantai had some self-awareness, at least. Putting on a show and pretending in front of him was already the limit. How would he dare go perform in front of Grandfather?

No matter how thick-skinned he was, he wouldn't have that nerve!

That was just as well. It would directly crush any improper thoughts he might have in the future and save a great deal of trouble!

"What's that smell?"

Cen Muxiao's exceptionally sharp nose caught an unfamiliar scent, and he frowned.

"Uh, that... Mr. Guo doesn't like food that's too bland, so he had me prepare some barbecue. The smell is still strong, isn't it? I'll have someone deodorize the place again!"

Uncle Meng sniffed along with him. He had clearly deodorized and cleaned the place three times already. He had stopped only when he himself could no longer smell anything. He hadn't expected his young master's sense of smell to be so sharp that he would still notice it so easily.

"Forget it. Don't let it happen again!"

Cen Muxiao stopped Uncle Meng. Guo Lantai was the one who had made trouble, and he didn't want to make things difficult for his own people.

However, after thinking of something, he still reminded Uncle Meng, "He can't be considered a proper Cen wife yet. There's no need to keep calling him Young Madam."

"Ah? Then what should I call..."

"Mr. Guo!"

Cen Muxiao answered decisively. That scoundrel had turned his home upside down the moment he arrived. What dignity did he have as a Cen wife?

Since Guo Lantai himself didn't care, there was no need to give him too much face. Calling him Mr. Guo was meant to remind him that in this Cen family, he was an outsider. He should not think too highly of himself!

The moment he entered, he had put on airs, been picky about food and drink, and acted extravagantly. That was not how the mistress of the Cen household should behave!

Since he couldn't behave properly, there was even less reason to give him another chance!

"Yes, I understand!"

Uncle Meng naturally had no objections to Cen Muxiao's words. This was an outcome he could have predicted. Guo Lantai had been an outsider from the start, and he was probably not far from leaving.

"All right, go get busy. I'm going upstairs to check on Anning."

Only on the way back had Cen Muxiao realized that Guo Lantai's disruption seemed to have made him overlook something.

After carefully recalling everything that had happened the night before, he suddenly slapped his forehead. Song Anning had been injured too. His doctor had even come to the house, yet he had actually forgotten to have him examine Song Anning!

Whether Song Anning's injuries were serious or not, Cen Muxiao should have shown more concern. Yet it had never even crossed his mind!

How could he make such a low-level mistake?

That Guo Lantai truly had too much evil energy. He could cloud people's minds!

If Song Anning found out, would he overthink it and believe Cen Muxiao no longer valued him?

"Young Master!"

Uncle Meng called out to him the instant he turned away.

"Mm?"

"I just wanted to ask for your instructions. How should dinner be arranged?"

Uncle Meng had learned his lesson after one incident. The two men's tastes were complete opposites. Logically, as long as they made requests, the household should satisfy them as much as possible. After all, the Cen family had both money and staff; they could afford to feed them.

Mr. Song had always been pampered here, so his routine naturally had to remain as it had been. But their young master had just said that Mr. Guo could not yet be considered a proper wife. Did that mean they no longer had to indulge his unruly habit of eating and drinking whatever he pleased?

That was what Uncle Meng thought, but he didn't dare say it outright. If he merely brought it up, their young master would surely understand. Ah, best to leave the unpleasant task of offending people to their young master!

Cen Muxiao gave him a sidelong look, wearing an expression that said, What's so difficult about that? "Other than Song Anning's stomach-nourishing meals, keep everything else as usual."

The answer was perfectly clear. The only person Cen Muxiao was willing to accommodate and care for specially was Song Anning. No one else should dream of using this to make trouble.

Cen Muxiao went upstairs, cast a cold glance toward the upper floor, then went straight to find Song Anning. He had neglected him, and any explanation afterward would be unnecessary. He would simply find a way to make it up to him.

Thus, the two whispered together in the room for quite some time before finally leaving together.

Song Anning and Cen Muxiao had originally attended the same school. Later, Song Anning had stayed at Cen Muxiao's home and met quite a few of Cen Muxiao's brothers and friends.

He was modest and considerate, knew how to speak well, and also had Cen Muxiao looking after him openly and discreetly. As a result, those people had all treated him well.

Although Song Anning had suddenly gone abroad later and left Cen Muxiao in the cold for three years, anyone with eyes could see that Cen Muxiao neither blamed nor resented him. He had always kept a place for him in his heart!

Therefore, when they saw Song Anning suddenly appear at the wedding, they could not help getting excited. Their good brother's bleak, shadowed heart could finally be illuminated once more by his white moonlight!

And the welcome-back banquet they had arranged for him was being held today!