Chapter 0416


    Shawn spoke gently. Candice hesitated for a moment before replying, “There’s no rush. When are


    you going for the check-up? I''ll apany you."


    "It’s just a small check-up, nothing serious." Shawn waved his hand, then he couldn''t help but


    nce at Alex, saying, "It would be great if this brat here could annoy me less in the future."


    Seeing Shawn lively and looking rtively healthy, Candice felt a bit relieved. She then looked at


    Alex, who had a conspicuous water stain on his shoulder; his eyes drooped, and he didn’t bother to


    argue with Shawn.


    Candice, who came here at thest minute, didn’t inform the organizers. As the event approached


    its end and seeing that Shawn was okay, she intended to return to the meeting hall.


    Shawn wanted her to join them for lunch, but Candice politely declined, mentioning her pending


    work.


    Unable to reject the old man further, and with Bruno reminding him about taking medication,


    Candice promised to join him for dinnerter.


    The weather had been gloomy these days, with a dark view from the window.


    Candice packed her things and prepared to leave. Just as she walked out of the room, Alex


    followed her, holding a jacket.


    He calmly said, "I''ll take you there. There''s something I need to discuss with you about Redshade


    Corporation and Blue Artifact."


    Candice, lookingposed, didn''t refuse. After changing into a different outfit, Alex led Candice


    downstairs.


    Sawyer was still the one driving, so they waited in the hotel lobby.


    Outside, pedestrians had bundled up in winter wear. Candice, observing the dark and overcast sky,


    asked, "What do you need to talk to me about?"


    "It’s about the documents Zane sent mest night. Hanley made somest-minute changes to


    certain designs, and the cost estimates will exceed the budget again. When can you give me the


    details?" Alex said casually, not lifting his eyes from his phone.


    Candice responded, "I''ll contact Hanley tonight to sort it out as soon as possible."


    Alex chuckled lightly, his tone giving away little emotion.


    Right then, someone entered the hotel, bringing in a gust of cold air, which caused Candice to


    shiver slightly.


    Fortunately, Sawyer arrived promptly, and the car''s heating made her feel warm as soon as she got


    in.


    Quentin had been making some moves behind the scenes, particrly in the Dorrington area, so


    Candice wasn''t surprised when Alex brought up this topic.


    "However," Alex shifted the topic while saying slowly, "Jensen ising back."


    Jensen Bruce was Quentin''s uncle and the actual head of Redshade Corporation, as Abel had


    informed her earlier.


    Candice raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of worry showing. "When is heing back? Quentin will


    surely spread many biased rumors then."


    Everyone had noticed the recent targeting by Quentin, and he needed a valid reason for his actions.


    Once absorbed in her work, Candice tended to be overly serious. She stared at her fingertips


    absentmindedly.


    Looking up, Alex captured her expression through the rearview mirror.


    His pitch-ck pupils flickered, and a trace of casual helplessness surfaced but was quickly


    suppressed. He restrained his emotions while saying lightly, "Don''t worry. Even if Jensen is upset,


    he''ll go after Aether Corporation first."


    While he sounded indifferent, his choice of words reminded Candice that Burning Star Studio was


    currently linked with Aether Corporation, and Aether Corporation would back them up in all matters.


    Due to being caught up and bad traffic, Candice arrived at the meeting hall nearlyte. She had


    nned to grab a quick lunch nearby but didn''t have time anymore.


    As she entered, she noticed Ang walking out with an unhappy expression. Candice asked, "Who


    upset you?"


    "Sonia is here," Ang grumbled. "She''s been criticizing me since she arrived, making snide


    remarks. It''s really annoying."


    Candice observed Ang with growing bewilderment. Ang wasn''t someone with a soft


    temperament; if Sonia crossed the line with her, Ang would surely hit back.


    Candice was about to go inside when she spotted Sonia, with Quentin and Ang''s boss by her


    side.


    No wonder Ang was upset.


    Candice nced at the scene, then she turned around to look for Ang.


    Ang''s expression was grim. "She''s really good at ttery. She even hinted to Mr. Osmond that


    our studio''s matters haven''t been finalized."


    Candice had a hunch that Sonia''s targeting of Ang was likely because of her.


    Trying tofort her, Candice said, "I heard Jensen ising back."


    Ang''s expression brightened momentarily, but soon it fell again. "Mr. Bruce is not easy to deal


    with. He''s notoriously strict, and none of us here are to his liking."


    Ang sighed and was about to continue venting when a voice interrupted them.


    Alex held a small food container and, without looking at Candice, gazed at the container in his hand


    for a moment before saying, "It''s from Grandpa."


    Candice looked at the contents and realized it was bought from a nearby restaurant. She didn’t take


    it from him right away.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Alex looked up, his eyes calm like a quietke. He exined in a deep voice while looking at


    Candice, “He’s worried that you’re skipping lunch. It’s bad for your body.”


    Recalling Shawn’s invite for her to stay for lunch earlier, Candice hesitated for a while before taking


    the food container from Alex, saying, “Thank you.”


    Alex''s slightly furrowed brows rxed imperceptibly. He hummed in acknowledgment and left


    without saying anything more.


    Watching him leave, Ang couldn''t help but make a teasing remark. "If I didn’t know better, I


    would’ve taken him as your boyfriend. He treats you so well."


    Candice, holding the container, said, "Don''t make such jokes."


    Ang raised an eyebrow and cast a nce at Candice. She then put her arm around Candice,


    saying seriously, "I''m telling you the truth. People like Alex are good at pretending. Think about what


    happened between him and Sonia—don''t let these small favors sway you."


    Candice''s eyes showed little emotion. She understood this truth even better than Ang did.


    However, the reasons behind it were not easy to exin to Ang.


    Carrying the food, Candice was about to enter the meeting room when she met Sonia''s gaze.


    Sonia stared straight at Candice, her eyes slowly moving down to the bag in Candice''s hand, clear


    hostility evident on her unnaturally pale face.


    Although Candice was ustomed to Sonia''s res, she still felt ufortable being stared at like


    this.


    Her expression slightly darkened, and she was about to avoid Sonia when Sonia looked away first.


    Then, in the next moment, Candice heard her saying, "Mr. Howles, when do we inform Burning Star


    Studio that their participation is rejected?"