It turns out, they were the main characters.

The attendant hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"That's a bit strange... Even if the Mu family and the Bai family joined forces, the Gongsun family could have easily approached my father to form an alliance against them. Why would they—"

Huang Manting's smile suddenly froze on her face.

At this moment, countless scenes flashed through her mind, recalling how Mu Zhian chatted and laughed with her today, how he was embarrassed and shy like an innocent young virgin when she "teased" him, and the infatuation in Mu Zhian's eyes when he looked at her.

After a long while, she slowly exhaled, her face extremely pale, and came to a conclusion: I've been tricked!

The claim that "I've come today to satisfy your curiosity" is a complete lie!

Mu Zhian's purpose from the beginning was simply to stay at the Dawn Chamber of Commerce and chat with her, creating the illusion that he had a close relationship with the Dawn Chamber of Commerce.

Mu Zhian wasn't interested in her; he was after the three market towns owned by the Gongsun family!

"I'm actually inferior to just three market towns...?"

Huang Manting's face was extremely ugly. Recalling Mu Zhian's gentle attitude towards Bai Ruoxi during the day, and his embarrassed expression when facing her, she realized that he was probably laughing at her in his heart at that time.

“Mu Zhian…”

Huang Manting's eyes held a hint of anger, and the teacup in her hand unknowingly developed a crack, with tea slowly dripping down her knees to her toes.

The maid beside her leaned forward slightly, and Huang Manting glanced at her coldly, saying, "Just wipe it clean for me."

The maidservant couldn't help but feel a little regretful, but she still bowed her head slightly and said "Yes," then took out a handkerchief and held Huang Manting's toes to wipe them.

Huang Manting tapped her fingertips lightly on the edge of the chair, and those who knew her well would know that the eldest daughter of the Huang family was in a state of rage.

"Miss... is there anything else I can do for you?" the attendant asked cautiously.

"I'll write a letter in a bit. Could you please deliver it to the Mu residence and also tell Mu Zhi'an that he absolutely must attend the auction in two days. I'll be waiting for him in the private room," Huang Manting said coldly, her beautiful eyes deep and unfathomable.

Because of her preconceived notions about Mu Zhi'an, she thought he was just a playboy obsessed with beautiful women... But it seems she really underestimated Mu Zhi'an.

Although she lost this time... the next time might be different.

……

After a leisurely stroll, Mu Zhian finally returned to the Mu residence.

Upon entering the courtyard, one sees a tall, aloof beauty. She wears an elegant white dress that accentuates her curvaceous figure, revealing a hint of her fair skin. She sits sideways on a chair, chatting with Wei Mengrou.

She seemed to sense something, and when she raised her head slightly and saw Mu Zhian, a charming smile appeared on her face.

This is really strange, Sister Mengrou is actually chatting with other people... Mu Zhian also smiled at Bai Ruoxi and walked towards the two of them.

"What are you talking about? You seem to be having a lot of fun." Mu Zhian asked with a smile.

"About the snow lotus you gave me." A faint smile appeared on Bai Ruoxi's beautiful face. She paused, then continued, "Young Master Mu, the Morning Dawn Merchant Guild is holding an auction in a couple of days. Would you like to go together?"

Mu Zhian was slightly taken aback and asked in confusion, "What are you going to the auction for?"

“Miss Mengrou said that there will be a batch of Radiant Soil at the Dawn Auction in two days, so I want to bid for some of it so that I can temporarily preserve the snow lotus that you gave me.”

But I had already promised someone else that day... Mu Zhian was thinking about how to politely refuse.

Seeing that Mu Zhian remained silent, Bai Ruoxi was silent for a moment, her aloof face revealing nothing of her thoughts.

She raised her head slightly and asked, "Or is it inconvenient for Young Master Mu?"

"Or perhaps you had an appointment that day?"

Mu Zhian wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that when Bai Ruoxi looked up at him, her gentle gaze seemed to suddenly become much deeper.

Why do I feel like I still don't understand Bai Ruoxi enough...? Mu Zhian looked at the delicate and aloof beauty, and her dark little eyes, and this thought suddenly popped into his mind.

Just then, a servant walked into the courtyard.

Mu Zhian glanced at him and asked, "What is it?"

"Young Master, a servant from the Morning Light Merchant Guild just came to the Mu residence and asked me to deliver a letter from Miss Huang to you."

After he finished speaking, under the gaze of the two men, he respectfully handed the letter to Mu Zhian.

Chapter 63: That classic three-lane rout of 4.5K

"A letter written by Miss Huang...?"

Mu Zhian frowned slightly and looked the servant standing in front of him over and over again.

This young man is rather naive... Is this a place where we can talk? How could he so openly hand me a letter written by someone else?

"Oh, by the way, Miss Huang's servant also asked me to pass on a message." The simple-minded servant seemed oblivious to what was going on and spoke again.

"Please make sure he doesn't miss the auction two days from now. I'll be waiting for him in the private room... These are Miss Huang's exact words."

The courtyard suddenly became eerily quiet. A breeze blew by, and ripples spread across the water. Snow lotuses swayed gently in the pond, displaying their captivating beauty, as if mocking someone.

"Are you really not someone sent by the Gongsun family to assassinate me? You've really taken a wrong turn..." Mu Zhian said in a deep voice, "I understand. Go down."

After the servants left the courtyard, Mu Zhian turned to look at the two of them.

Bai Ruoxi looked disappointed and said softly, "It seems you had a very enjoyable chat with Miss Huang today."

This sounds like it's saying: You have a pretty good relationship with your mistress.

Mu Zhian said helplessly, "I went to the Morning Light Chamber of Commerce today purely for the three markets of the Gongsun family. As for the chat with Huang Manting, it was just to pass the time. I can't just sit there in a daze and not say anything, can I?"

Bai Ruoxi asked expressionlessly, "Then how about going to the auction with her in two days?"

You chatted with Huang Manting about the Gongsun family's three market towns, but what is the purpose of the auction two days later?

Seeing this, Mu Zhian wanted to hold Bai Ruoxi's small hand first, but she immediately withdrew her hand, not giving Mu Zhian the chance.

Clearly, Miss Bai is unhappy now.

Mu Zhian then looked at Wei Mengrou.

Noticing Mu Zhian's gaze, Wei Mengrou didn't even bother to utter a sound. She simply glanced at Mu Zhian with a look of disdain, as if he were an insect, and then quietly disappeared into the courtyard.

"Sister Mengrou's gaze is quite exciting..." Mu Zhian thought to himself as he silently watched Wei Mengrou's departing figure.

Fortunately, Wei Mengrou is not the jealous type. Although she is usually quiet and a bit withdrawn, she is generally a very understanding and mature woman.

She is leaving now to give Mu Zhian and Bai Ruoxi some space to be alone.

If only Bai Ruoxi were here, things would be much easier to handle.

Bai Ruoxi's personality is that she appears cold and aloof on the outside, but in reality, she is very soft-hearted. This is not hard to see from her heart... As long as you give her a reasonable explanation, she will not get angry.

Noticing that Bai Ruoxi was staring intently at him, Mu Zhian took out the letter written by Huang Manting from his pocket and handed it to Bai Ruoxi.

Bai Ruoxi tilted her head slightly, clearly puzzled, and asked, "What does this mean...?"

Mu Zhian sighed softly and said, "Ruoxi, I know you've been feeling insecure lately because of the changes in your family. I have indeed neglected your feelings."

"If you don't believe me, let's open this letter together and see what Miss Huang has written."

Bai Ruoxi was clearly surprised. She looked up at Mu Zhian with astonishment and asked, "Is it alright if I read the contents of the letter together with you?"

Mu Zhian gently held Bai Ruoxi's soft little hand and said earnestly, "As long as it puts your mind at ease, everything is worth it."

This time, Bai Ruoxi did not break free; she simply lowered her eyes shyly.

At the same time, Mu Zhian opened the letter, and as the words appeared on the paper, Bai Ruoxi's gaze also fell curiously into the contents of the letter.

"Young Master Mu: "

To be honest, before writing this letter, I had an urge to visit you directly at the Mu residence, but I've calmed down a bit now.

I must admit I underestimated you. Miss Bai has a pretty good eye. Although you're only at the third level of Qi Refining, you're quite clever.

I made a special trip to the Morning Light Merchant Guild to show the Gongsun family that you'd taken over three market towns—you've reaped all the benefits. But rest assured, I have no intention of blaming Young Master Mu. On the contrary, I admire your actions more and more now; after all, you're the first person to make Manting suffer a loss.

Manting will be waiting for you in a private room at the Morning Light Auction House the day after tomorrow afternoon. I hope Young Master Mu will do me the honor of attending.

Even from an outsider's perspective, it's easy to see the letter's author's gritted teeth. Imagine yourself in their shoes: a good-for-nothing playboy visits you, and you treat him like an idiot, making fun of him, only to discover in the end that you were the idiot...

Just thinking about it makes my blood pressure spike.

If Mu Zhian were to write another letter to Huang Manting now, it would be a true case of destroying her spirit.

Bai Ruoxi looked at the contents of the letter, then glanced at Mu Zhian slightly, and said in a soft, pleasant voice, "You lied to her?"

For some reason, those eyes, which had been somewhat dim, seemed to regain some brightness, and even seemed to have a sense of joy.

Mu Zhian shook his head and smiled, "I was just chatting with her, and I didn't lie to her about anything from beginning to end."

That's absolutely right. He just went to the Dawn Chamber of Commerce to chat with Miss Huang and satisfy her curiosity, that's all.

"That's true... but I really feel sorry for her." Bai Ruoxi sighed softly. "If someone as arrogant as Huang Manting finds out that she's been completely played, she'll probably be so angry that she can't sleep."

Mu Zhian turned his head to look at Bai Ruoxi's almost perfect and alluring profile, and smiled, "If you sympathize with her, why are you still secretly laughing?"

Bai Ruoxi frowned slightly and said, "I wasn't secretly laughing."

After speaking, she gently bit her lower lip, her face serious, as if trying to maintain her aloof image.

However, recalling the contents of the letter and Huang Manting's helpless rage at the Dawn Chamber of Commerce, Bai Ruoxi's brows relaxed involuntarily, and she felt exceptionally happy.

Mu Zhian was also in a great mood, gently putting his arm around Bai Ruoxi's waist.

The most beautiful woman in Tianxuan City felt a pang of shyness, but she did not break free. This situation was a stark contrast to her aloofness towards Mu Zhian in the past.

And so a crisis was easily resolved.

"By the way, are you going to visit her the day after tomorrow?" Bai Ruoxi suddenly asked.

Mu Zhian nodded and smiled, "If there's nothing else, it wouldn't hurt to go... I'm also quite curious about what other tricks Miss Huang is up to."

Bai Ruoxi was not happy and said in a low voice, "I also want to go to the auction."

Glazed soil is not rare, but it is hard to find near Tianxuan City. In order to preserve the snow lotus, she must buy a small handful of glazed soil no matter what.

The underlying meaning of these words was that she hoped Mu Zhi'an could stay with her, and Mu Zhi'an naturally understood.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded and smiled, "Okay, I'll go with you then."

As for Huang Manting, it doesn't matter. I can just go see her once and then leave.

Choosing between Huang Manting and Bai Ruoxi is not a difficult choice.

After all, the latter's popularity has completely overwhelmed Huang Manting's, and Mu Zhian currently has no intention of pursuing Huang Manting.

Feeling the warmth in the boy's arms, Bai Ruoxi felt a surge of heat in her heart. She glanced at him slightly, then shifted her body, pressing her shoulders against Mu Zhian's, resting her head on his shoulder, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.