Waiting for Him to Show Concern First?

Cen Muxiao had not expected that the interview transcript he had specifically paid attention to contained nothing worth guarding against.

Who would have thought that Guo Lantai and Cindy's conversation would move from a "white moonlight" to sunlight, then completely shift from sunlight to women's skincare and the choice of beauty products?

Although Cindy brought up Song Anning several times during the process, Guo Lantai shamelessly and deftly brushed past every mention, leaving Cindy helpless. In the end, she simply focused on the promotion and publicity of Guo Group's new products.

What was even more astonishing was that Cindy, editor-in-chief of Nine Charms Magazine—a publication that usually focused on interviews with important figures supplemented by reports on major events—actually promised before the interview ended that she would personally try the Radiance Renewal line. If it worked well, she would create a dedicated promotional column for Guo Group's new products so that women everywhere could benefit.

Heh. As expected of someone steeped in a family business from childhood, Guo Lantai was remarkably familiar with women's cosmetics. He understood not only their ingredients, manufacturing processes, and usage methods, but even the skincare steps needed afterward.

He spoke with great authority, while Cindy listened with rapt attention. After their exchange, they seemed like two best friends who had known each other for years.

Cen Muxiao thought to himself that it was not only his mother, Lan Yezi, who had good skin. Even Guo Lantai, a man, had skin that was smooth and fair, no worse than any young woman's.

He even suspected that Guo Lantai had been soaking in women's skincare products since childhood.

What surprised him even more was Guo Lantai's understanding of women's psychology. At first, Cindy had maintained a poised and dignified demeanor, but as they talked, she became increasingly excited and bashful like a young girl, practically wishing she could use Guo Group's Miracle Water immediately and return to being eighteen overnight.

He really had a way with people! What a smooth talker!

Cen Muxiao stared silently at the entire interview draft. From beginning to end, there was almost nothing that needed his revision or deletion.

Other than that one line Guo Lantai had said about the Little Sun, the rest was harmless small talk with little room for elaboration.

He should never have tolerated Guo Lantai calling himself the Little Sun in his heart, but just as he was about to confirm the deletion note, he found himself somewhat reluctant.

He had to admit that although Guo Lantai's words had been frivolous and overly confident, they had delivered the strongest rebuttal to the "white moonlight" claim, completely shutting Cindy down from continuing to gossip about Song Anning.

What appeared to be the most useless sentence was actually the most crucial one. It could not be deleted!

So, he sent it back to Secretary Wu unchanged, only reminding him to keep a slight eye on it before the final draft was published.

Cen Muxiao continued working in the study. It was not until Uncle Meng came upstairs to call him before dinner that he rose and left the room.

As he passed Song Anning's door, he thought for a moment before knocking. "Anning?"

Song Anning's questioning voice soon came from inside. "Who is it? Muxiao? Come in!"

The instant his hand closed around the doorknob, Cen Muxiao suddenly stopped. He took a deep breath and said softly, "It's nothing. I just wanted to let you know that dinner is ready. You can come downstairs and eat with us."

Song Anning hesitated for a moment before replying warmly, "Oh, all right. I'll change and come down."

Hearing his response, Cen Muxiao answered him, then immediately turned and headed downstairs. After being busy all afternoon, he seemed to have forgotten something he needed to confirm with Uncle Meng.

Listening to the footsteps fade away, Song Anning lowered his head to look at the moon-white deep-V robe he was currently wearing, then narrowed his eyes slightly. Since when had Cen Muxiao cared so much about eating? He had already invited him in—couldn't he at least come inside and take a look?

He had carefully picked out this robe precisely for Cen Muxiao to see!

Hadn't they agreed to go downstairs together? Why had he gone off by himself first?

In the first-floor dining room, Cen Muxiao had just sat down at the table when he looked up at Uncle Meng, who stood waiting nearby. "Uncle Meng, did you make the call?"

"Uh? The call? Oh, you mean the call to Mr. Guo? I made it this afternoon!"

Uncle Meng suddenly realized that perhaps he was getting old and his memory was failing. Why was it that lately, whenever the young master asked him something, he was always slow to react?

"What did he say?"

Uncle Meng hurriedly recalled Guo Lantai's words, then answered respectfully, "Mr. Guo said there was an urgent matter at home, so he wouldn't be coming back today. He asked me to pass the message on to you. You had been busy in the study, so I didn't rush to tell you."

Cen Muxiao frowned slightly and asked again, "Was that all? He didn't say what happened at home?"

"No," Uncle Meng answered truthfully.

Cen Muxiao snorted inwardly. Even at a time like this, Guo Lantai was still putting on airs. Since he would not say it himself, was he waiting for Cen Muxiao to take the initiative and show concern?

Knowing that it was a joint project between their two families, Guo Lantai surely knew quite a bit. Yet he had chosen to ignore him. Did he think Cen Muxiao would draw such clear boundaries that he would not interfere even in a matter like this?

At least he finally knew his place.

"Did he say when he would return?"

"Uh, no, he didn't."

"I understand. Then leave him alone for now and prepare dinner."

Cen Muxiao simply stopped asking. Since Guo Lantai had not asked him for help, he must know the strength of the Cen family and feel too embarrassed to trouble him.

Every word of their conversation reached Song Anning's ears as he was about to come downstairs. He leaned against the wall, lips pressed tightly together, his eyes filled with surging hatred. Guo Lantai again—why had Cen Muxiao started thinking about Guo Lantai all the time?

No, there were some things he had to speed up!

Meanwhile, Guo Lantai was exceptionally calm. News had come from Country D that his elder brother's condition had stabilized and he had regained consciousness. With careful recuperation, he would recover and be discharged before long.

Cen Group had taken the lead in launching an investigation and accountability process over the problematic project. Guo Group only needed to cooperate with peace of mind.

He was not surprised by this outcome. He believed that with Cen Muxiao there, obtaining the results of the investigation would not take too long.

However, he had received another, more unexpected gain today. Uncle Meng had actually called him to ask whether he wanted to return, saying that he would send a car to pick him up. Before hanging up, he had even specifically explained that the arrangement had been personally ordered by the young master.

They had not seen each other for just one day, yet that guy's attitude had already changed. Was he pitying him for being alone at home with no one to care for him?

He was not a child!

It was just a pity that Cen Muxiao had not called personally. Otherwise, he really could have made something of it—pretended to be pitiful and sniffled a few times or something. Sigh, not very sincere at all!

Although that big brute had finally waved at him and shown some goodwill, he still could not happily rush over to cooperate. After all, even clinging to someone depended on the timing.

Then, thinking of something, he took out his phone and opened his photo album. Inside was a video Yu Tu had sent over—the so-called evidence Tang Xu had inadvertently recorded in the Golden Pavilion private room the night before, now fully restored.

Since he was not returning to the Cen Family Villa tonight, he could not simply give those two the chance to spend such a pleasant evening together for nothing. Why not send it to Cen Muxiao and let him take a good look at whether his white moonlight truly shone so brilliantly?

With that thought, he curled his lips and calmly sent it over...