A Call with His Parents

On the rooftop terrace, Guo Lantai listened to a call from his mother, Lan Y येzi, while watching the two men drive away.

He recalled the early plot. Song Anning had returned in high profile, and Cen Muxiao's private little circle had become lively again.

To curry favor with Cen Muxiao, a gathering specifically to welcome Song Anning back had quickly been arranged. Cen Muxiao clearly wanted to use the opportunity to comfort Song Anning as well.

Heh! Always appearing in pairs, deliberately ignoring his existence!

"Tai Bao, why have you gone quiet?"

Just as his mind wandered, Lan Y येzi's questioning voice came through the phone.

"Mm, I'm listening. Go on."

"What else is there to say? I only want to ask you one thing. Tomorrow is technically your return visit after the wedding. Will that arrogant brat come back with you?"

After nagging him all afternoon, Lan Y येzi had finally asked the question she most wanted answered.

"Why are you asking that?"

Guo Huaiyuan, on the other end of the line, could not help cutting in. "Cen Muxiao's attitude has long been clear. This business marriage is exactly what it looks like on the surface; there won't be anything more to it. Since we've gotten what we wanted, we need to see the situation clearly. If he doesn't come, why should we make trouble for ourselves?"

Lan Y येzi's voice suddenly rose. "But our Tai Bao likes him! He's already gone this far, so there's nothing wrong with making an effort, is there? Don't you think so, Tai Bao?"

The couple had two sons and a daughter. Guo Lantai was their youngest, their precious baby, cherished like the apple of their eye.

Originally, when the marriage alliance had been discussed, their daughter Guo Lanxi had been chosen. She was close to Cen Muxiao in age, and the two were a perfect match in looks and talent. Even the Cen family elders had been very satisfied.

But who could have expected Cen Muxiao to catch them off guard by proposing that the alliance was fine, but the partner had to be changed to their youngest son?

Wasn't that practically admitting that he was gay and liked men?

The matter had already reached a critical point, and the cooperation between both sides was just one final step away. They could not afford to abandon it, which was why they had discussed it with Guo Lantai.

Their youngest son had originally been unwilling to become a pawn in such a marriage alliance. He had thrown quite a few tantrums over the proposal, only relenting after both sides agreed that once the cooperation project was complete, the engagement could be canceled at any time.

But things later changed. After the two sides formally met, their disappointing son actually declared that he had taken a liking to Cen Muxiao. Not only did he want the marriage alliance, he wanted a grand wedding and to announce to the whole world that his marriage partner was the new head of the Cen Group, the man everyone envied.

Sigh! What could she do? Since they had to take this step anyway, they could only get married first and deal with the rest later.

There were only two possible outcomes. One was that her son could win Cen Muxiao's affection through his own efforts, fall in love after marriage, and everyone would be happy.

The other was that his pursuit of love would fail. The engagement would be canceled as it should be, the business partnership would proceed according to plan, and the two children would each marry and have children in the future, owing each other nothing.

They said the first person to fall in love was the first to lose, but Lan Y येzi did not want her precious child to lose from beginning to end. Even if he could gain a moment of satisfaction while this engagement lasted, it was worth trying for.

What she had never expected was that before he had even begun trying, an annoying third party had openly provoked him. If she did not help her son now, he would not merely lose—he would lose terribly!

Even if he had no choice but to withdraw in the end, her precious child would never truly get over it for the rest of his life. How could they talk about his future happiness then?

Guo Lantai liked this mother of the original owner, who dared to love and hate so boldly. Seeing that she stood on his side in everything, he smiled knowingly. "Mom, don't worry. It doesn't matter whether he comes or not. Some things can't be rushed. Still, I'll give it a try. Besides, without him there, we can have a proper family gathering. Otherwise, if we bring an iceberg home, no one will feel comfortable. That would only make him dislike it more, and the loss would outweigh the gain. Don't you think?"

The husband and wife on the other end looked at each other and sighed almost at the same time.

Lan Y येzi softened her tone. "All right, we'll listen to you, Tai Bao. He didn't bring you to his home, so our family won't welcome him either!"

"Shh, don't say that!" Guo Huaiyuan hurriedly stopped his wife again. The mother and son had the same style of doing things. He had spoiled them both into this.

"What are you afraid of? There are no outsiders here. Honestly!"

Lan Y येzi grumbled before continuing to chat with Guo Lantai. "Are you used to living over there? Tell Mom if you need anything. I'll prepare it all tonight, and you can take it back with you when you come home tomorrow."

"It's pretty good. You don't need to worry."

Thinking of his room, Guo Lantai felt secretly stifled. The butler had changed the furnishings and daily necessities in his room, but the rest could not be touched for the time being unless the place was torn down and renovated.

Without Cen Muxiao giving the go-ahead, that probably would not happen either!

Forget it. He had not planned to stay there for long anyway. He could make do for the time being; it would not kill him.

He did not want to bring up unpleasant matters again, so he changed the subject. "Right, is everything okay with my brother?"

"Everything's fine!"

Lan Y येzi answered briskly. "Only the overseas portion of the cooperation with Cen Group remains. We'll let him handle it alone for the next few days. Once your side is settled, your father and I will go over to help him."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "There's a time difference where your brother is, so he might call you later. Don't blame him, you brat!"

Their eldest son, Guo Lanjun, had inherited his parents' capable and shrewd nature well. He had spent several years honing himself in the business world alongside them. Guo Group had flourished in the industry, and their eldest son deserved much of the credit. He could now stand on his own and had taken up the heavy responsibility of expanding the overseas market. He was already Guo Group's rightful next successor.

It was precisely because he could not leave the overseas business that Guo Lanjun had been unable to return for his younger brother's wedding. As his mother, she could not help defending him.

"I know. Big Brother dotes on me the most. Why would I blame him? I'm still counting on him to send me spending money!"

Guo Lantai smiled helplessly. The original owner had a good family, but unfortunately, they could not be reunited.

Thinking of that, he could not help asking another question. "What about my sister? Is she feeling any better?"

In the original novel, Guo Lanxi had also been one of Cen Muxiao's admirers. She had nearly gone mad with joy when the chance for a marriage alliance came along, only for devastating news to reach her soon afterward.

Cen Muxiao had refused to marry her and chosen her younger brother instead!

Unable to change anything, Guo Lanxi had been deeply hurt. She had gone abroad alone to travel and heal her wounds, and she had been gone for more than two months, not even returning for their wedding.

Guo Lantai still felt somewhat guilty on behalf of the original owner. After all, his sister Guo Lanxi had loved him no less than anyone else. Otherwise, she would not have found it so hard to face!

"Her? She's doing fine. She'll come back once she gets over it, so don't overthink it!"

Lan Y येzi was worried that the siblings would develop resentment toward each other because of Cen Muxiao, so she had deliberately concealed some information from both sides, hoping that time would fade everything.

"Mm, then I'll wait for my sister to come back."

Guo Lantai answered in a low voice, but inwardly he felt doubtful. He remembered the original novel mentioning that Guo Lanxi had gone overseas in heartbreak and met someone there. She had never returned even by the time the original owner died. He had no idea what exactly she had experienced abroad!