Song Family's Second Young Master, Song Yuan

The moment the tardy Song Yuan pushed open the door to private room 330, everyone inside fell silent for a moment when they saw him.

An exaggerated outfit paired with an expression that said he didn't give a damn about anyone—this was the standard public persona of the Song Family's second young master.

After the brief silence, someone immediately waved him over. "Young Master Song, you're way too late. We've already gone through several rounds of drinks. Get over here—today's your family brother's welcome-back party. Since you're late, shouldn't you punish yourself with three drinks?"

The speaker was Qian Xiangbei, one of Cen Muxiao's childhood friends. Like Cen Muxiao, he thought Song Anning was good in every way.

He was happier than anyone to see Song Anning return. He had taken the lead in organizing this welcome-back party. Not only had it been perfectly tailored to Cen Muxiao's wishes, but the moment he proposed it, Cen Muxiao—who rarely attended social gatherings—had agreed without hesitation.

Qian Xiangbei knew where to draw the line. He had invited everyone who was usually close to Cen Muxiao, naturally including Song Group's second young master, Song Yuan.

Song Yuan was not only Cen Muxiao's high school classmate, but also a relative with ties to the Cen family. Over the years, the relationship between their two families had only grown closer, making others envious.

Therefore, everyone in this circle regarded Song Yuan especially highly. But he was arrogant by nature; aside from Cen Muxiao, few others could catch his eye. He could not even be bothered to respond to their deliberate or casual attempts to curry favor with him.

Qian Xiangbei did not dare slight him, so he was the first to invite him inside. Yet Song Yuan did not give him a pleasant expression.

"I don't have any overseas-returned relatives."

He shot back coolly, his voice anything but quiet.

Qian Xiangbei choked, then hurriedly laughed it off. "Hey, we're all friends. It's just a gathering. Come on, sit inside!"

Song Anning, who was surrounded by everyone in the center of the room, stiffened almost imperceptibly at those words. Then he stood and faced Song Yuan, offering him a faint smile and his hand. "Song Yuan, long time no see!"

"Better if we hadn't."

Song Yuan could not be bothered to exchange pleasantries with him. His gaze swept past Song Anning, and he directly met Cen Muxiao's eyes. "Brother Xiao!"

"Mm. You're here."

Cen Muxiao showed no displeasure at his sour expression. He understood Song Yuan's temper best. Song Yuan was still resentful over Song Anning leaving without a word back then, and over the past few years, he had often felt that Cen Muxiao had not been worth it.

Still, Cen Muxiao had to consider Song Anning's feelings. He lifted his eyes and gave Song Yuan a look. "Where are your manners? Have I spoiled you too much?"

"Tch, so pretentious."

Song Yuan scratched the tip of his nose and muttered, but under Cen Muxiao's stare, he still took Song Anning's outstretched hand and said without the slightest sincerity, "Welcome back."

"Thank you."

After replying, Song Anning gave Cen Muxiao a grateful look. Just one look was enough to make the domineering CEO feel pleased with himself for quite a while.

Sure enough, as long as he stood by Song Anning's side and spoke up for him, always considering his feelings, he could bring Song Anning one step closer to him.

"Sit."

Cen Muxiao signaled Song Yuan to sit beside him, then gave Qian Xiangbei a look.

"Come on, come on, everyone's here now. This time, we can drink and have fun to our hearts' content!"

Having received the signal, Qian Xiangbei immediately livened up the atmosphere. He handed Song Anning a glass of wine, smiling smugly. "Anning, we've been good to you, right? Shouldn't you finish this glass to show us some appreciation?"

"Sure. It's only right."

Song Anning had always known how to read the room. Earlier, he had claimed that his stomach was uncomfortable and had not touched any alcohol. But now that even Song Yuan had arrived, it would be unreasonable for him to keep refusing.

"Anning, you..."

"It's fine. I'll only have a little. It won't matter."

Song Anning did not let Cen Muxiao finish. It was rare for everyone to show him such respect and support. It was only one glass of wine; that slight stomach pain was nothing.

Seeing the two of them being all lovey-dovey, Qian Xiangbei could not help smacking his lips. He grinned and teased, "Oh? Look at you two. Don't you look just like a pair of newlywed lovebirds? You're sweet enough to make people sick!"

"What are you saying? Young Master Cen is newly married, isn't he? It's just that Young Master Guo has nothing to do with it, hahaha!"

Someone, emboldened by alcohol, blurted that out loudly. Everyone present tensed for a moment upon hearing it.

The fact that Cen Muxiao was married really was not suitable to bring up on an occasion like this. Qian Xiangbei was reckless enough, but this guy was even worse!

"Anning, drink to your heart's content. You're living at Muxiao's place anyway, so it's not like you'll have nowhere to go if you get drunk!" someone promptly cut in, changing the subject.

Yet Song Anning did not find it awkward at all. Instead, he felt somewhat delighted. At the very least, it meant these people acknowledged him, while Guo Lantai was nothing more than a complete joke.

"I'll finish mine. Drink as you please!"

With that, Song Anning cheerfully drained his glass, immediately drawing a chorus of cheers.

"Good, bottoms up!"

"That's more like it! Now that's refreshing!"

Cen Muxiao watched Song Anning closely as he finished the glass. Only after seeing that nothing seemed wrong did he relax.

Just then, Song Yuan beside him suddenly laughed. "No wonder you two can go out and play separately. You're generous enough to let Song Anning move into your home."

But Cen Muxiao caught the hidden meaning in his words and frowned. "Go out and play separately? What do you mean?"

"Just now, when I came upstairs, I ran into the one from your home. I thought you'd brought him out with you."

Song Yuan deliberately spoke in a mocking tone. Then he leaned close to Cen Muxiao's ear and whispered a little piece of gossip, "I saw it clearly. He went into room 316 by the elevators. Once he shed that wedding-day skin, he looked like a completely different person. Much easier on the eyes than the one beside you."

Song Yuan was close to Cen Muxiao. He could not control whether Cen Muxiao liked men or women, nor could he interfere with his marriage, but he truly did not want Cen Muxiao to go against his own wishes and marry someone he had no feelings for. That was why he deeply disliked so-called business marriages.

That dislike extended to Guo Lantai. But now that Song Anning had suddenly returned, he realized his dislike for Song Anning was no less than his dislike for Guo Lantai.

Back then, Song Anning had stubbornly refused to give Brother Xiao a clear answer, then disappeared for three whole years. Returning at a time like this—wasn't that deliberately putting his brother in a difficult position?

Still, things had become interesting now. A new husband who did not quite count as a new love and a white moonlight who did not quite count as an old love were suddenly living under the same roof. What kind of dynamic would that be?

If marriage alliance partners were all this generous, there probably would not be so many grudges and feuds among wealthy families.

After hearing him out, Cen Muxiao lowered his eyes. His first thought was that Guo Lantai truly was troublesome. He had only just refused Guo Lantai's request to accompany him home, and Guo Lantai was already starting to act up.

To interfere with him and Song Anning, Guo Lantai had even followed them to the Golden Pavilion!

He certainly had some nerve!

Cen Muxiao tightened his grip on his wineglass and narrowed his eyes. Then he would wait and see exactly what tricks Guo Lantai wanted to play!

"How could he possibly be compared to Anning? Let him play if he wants."

Song Anning, who had just put down his glass, glanced at the two brothers whispering together. His breathing stalled as he sharply caught several words—the one from your home and 316...