DASFAM_CH 02

The midday sunlight streamed directly into the house through the skylight. Even if it was only early spring, the entire room was filled with a stifling heat.

Half-asleep, Bai Xu heard a buzzing sound next to his pillow.

He frowned and reached for his phone. When he opened it, he saw a text message from unknown number—

"Hello, Mr. Xiao Bai. I am Xie Qi, the assistant of Mr. Shang. Regarding the marriage arrangement between you and the third young master, the Old Madam has instructed me to handle everything. If there are no problems, I will arrive at the Bai residence at 2 p.m. sharp to pick you up. Awaiting your response."

In addition, there was another message from Huashang Bank.

A large deposit had just been made five minutes ago into a brand-new bank card linked to his phone number, amounting to a seven-figure sum.

“......”

Rich families certainly act with high efficiency and generosity. Even though this "marriage arrangement" was just a formality, the bride price alone was enough to struggle for a long time for an ordinary person.

Bai Xu's brows eased. Waking up to see such a large sum of money had significantly lifted his mood, even easing his morning grumpiness.

"Okay, see you at two o'clock."

Bai Xu replied simply to the text message then looked around—

This small attic was originally just an empty storage room, as simple as it could be, but the original host had lived there for so many years, which was enough to show his status in the Bai family.

Having missed mealtime, Bai Xu didn't want to go downstairs and face the unpleasantness of dealing with the Bai family. Feeling the sweat on his body, he grabbed some clean clothes and headed to the bathroom on the second floor.

His fatigue washed away as warm water fell.

Bai Xu’s muddled thoughts gradually cleared up, and since transmigrating into the book, he had fully understood everything about the original host—

Probably because of the experience of living under someone else’s roof from a young age, the original host was as timid as a ball of cotton.

When the Bai family didn’t provide him with living expenses, he would find a way to earn money on his own. He would endure whenever possible, rarely daring to defend himself. He had no close friends around him. Even the posts meant to vent his feelings on social media were set to be visible only to himself.

In the short description from the original novel, after the original host “married” into the Shang family, he became invisible once more. It wasn't until the power struggles within the Shang family began that his malleable nature made him a tool for the contenders, ultimately becoming the scapegoat who ended up in prison.

A life both despised and pitifully short.

Thinking of this, a sharp gleam flashed in Bai Xu’s eyes. His personality was entirely opposite to that of the original host, he wouldn't let himself to walk the same predestined path.

Using this marriage to leave the Bai family was merely his first step toward starting a new life.

After showering, Bai Xu quickly returned to the attic, but the moment he pushed the door open, his steps froze in place.

“Well, look who’s back from the shower?”

A slightly teasing voice came from ahead.

A faint trace of disgust flickered in Bai Xu's eyes as he discreetly sized up the person leaning against the desk—

Bai Yan was the real second young master of the Bai family. He was only a year older than the original host, with average-looking and spoiled by the whole family, which made him arrogant and domineering since childhood.

He always found amusement in teasing the original host, and many of the original host's ‘embarrassing incidents’ were made by him.

Bai Xu had no desire to entangle himself with someone like this, so he stepped aside and gave a clear hint for him to leave, “This is my room. Please leave.”

Though his tone was light, the meaning was clear.

Bai Yan sneered and stepped closer, “I heard from my dad that you’re about to ‘marry’ into the Shang family soon? Do you really think that having backing now means you can do whatever you want? Huh?”

“......”

Bai Xu's eyes were light, too lazy to talk to him.

Perhaps because he had just finished showering, Bai Xu still carried a faint, light fragrance on his body. His fair skin warmed by the hot water had a subtle flush, and his damp bangs fell messily, faintly revealing the tender wound left after the bandage was removed.

Bai Yan's eyes roamed over him with a hint of lewdness, and he suddenly felt a bit parched. He instinctively wanted to reach out and touch it, but Bai Xu quickly dodged.

“I said, please leave.”

Surprisingly, Bai Yan didn’t lose his temper after being rejected, but smiled, “Hey, I haven’t seen you for half a month. Your temper is getting worse?”

Speaking of which, the wound on Bai Xu’s forehead was entirely thanks to him.

Half a month ago, Bai Rendao asked Bai Xu to marry Shang Yanxiao, who was in a coma. Bai Xu was unwilling, he refused and argued loudly.

Bai Yan, who had just woken up, was annoyed by what he heard and took the opportunity to kick him unexpectedly.

Who would’ve thought that Bai Xu’s frail body couldn’t take the hit? His forehead struck the corner of the coffee table, causing him to bleed profusely and faint on the spot.

Knowing he had gone too far, Bai Yan had stayed away for over half a month. Unexpectedly, he heard the exact news about the marriage between Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao just after he came back.

Staring at Bai Xu’s face, Bai Yan, confident that he had a grip on the other’s timid nature, said, “Alright, I admit that I made a mistake that day. But who told you to be so ignorant? Come on, let me see if your wound is healed yet.”

— Slap!

Bai Xu quickly slapped the hand away, "Don't touch me."

After saying that, he walked past the stunned Bai Yan and headed towards the bedside.

Bai Yan stared at Bai Xu's back, feeling a tinge of numb pain where his arm had been slapped. The annoyance he had suppressed suddenly surged up, "Bai Xu, are you ignoring my warning?"

"What do you think you are? Do you really think that marrying into the Shang family will instantly make you the master? If it weren't for our Bai family giving you this opportunity, you'd probably still be working for someone else."

"Now that you've taken our family's money, you'd better behave and listen!"

Bai Yan showed his true face, and his words became more and more outrageous, "What kind of crap marriage is this? Isn't it just another way of being sold off? Looking at your skinny frame, even if you were selling yourself on the streets, you wouldn't be able to handle much."

"......"

Nothing good ever comes out of a dog's mouth.

When Bai Xu heard these disgusting and filthy words, a trace of anger flashed in his eyes.

This silence fell in Bai Yan's eyes, made Bai Yan think he had regained the upper hand, so he couldn't help but scoff.

His eyes drifted on the side of Bai Xu's fair and smooth neck, inexplicably drawn to the brown mole at the center of the nape. It was like a hidden feature crafted by the creator, tugging at his heartstrings.

Bai Yan took a deep breath, and the irritation in his heart grew stronger.

He had always harbored unspeakable, lustful thoughts about Bai Xu, but previously, he hadn't dared to act on them due to their nominal relationship and the authority of the old patriarch of the Bai family. He thought that someday, he would have his chance.

But as he waited, the old patriarch passed away, and now Bai Xu was about to leave the Bai family.

What kind of crap marriage was this?

As the saying goes, the pavilion near the water gets the moonlight first*! Even if Bai Xu were to be sold off, Bai Yan thought he should at least get the first taste!

*近水楼台先得月: is a metaphor for getting some benefit or convenience first because of being close to certain people or things.

Having made up his mind, Bai Yan closed the door behind him.

Hearing the sound of the door, Bai Xu quickly turned around and met Bai Yan's gaze, instantly understanding the unspeakable and dirty thoughts in the other's mind.

"……"

Okay, so he was practically asking for a beating?

Bai Xu lowered his eyelids, a subtle coldness flickering in his eyes. When he looked up again, his expression had suddenly changed, and he took a few steps back in panic.

“W-what are you doing?”

The bedside table blocked Bai Xu's path, causing his body to retreat slightly, half leaning against the table with no way to escape.

Bai Yan closed in, looking down at the little lamb waiting to be slaughtered in front of him, “Now you know you're scared?”

“You…”

Bai Xu’s Adam's apple rolled as he struggled to speak after being nervous for a long time, and could only squeeze out one word that was not threatening, “...Don’t even think about doing anything.”

The refusal, lacking any intimidation, combined with his faintly trembling body, stirred an inexplicable and perverse desire to dominate.

Sensing Bai Xu's weakening aura, Bai Yan felt he had the upper hand, “Bai Xu, back then, the patriarch foolishly believed in some feng shui nonsense and adopted you. Now that he’s gone, do you think anyone in this family will care about you?”

“Don’t forget, this is my home. I can do whatever I want. If you call for help now, who do you think they’ll side with, you or me?”

“......”

“Since my parents are going to send you off to be sold anyway, why not let me have a taste first?” Bai Yan continued to close in, making no effort to hide his desire, “If you behave and cooperate, I might go easy on you.”

Bai Xu appeared panicked, as if he had lost the will to resist.

“Looks like you know your place.” Bai Yan was pleased with Bai Xu’s apparent compliance. He leaned closer to Bai Xu’s ear. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you have the best experience.”

Just as he finished speaking, Bai Xu, who had been pretending to cooperate, seized the moment—

Taking advantage of the close proximity, he swiftly lifted his knee and delivered a merciless strike to the critical area.

“—Ah!”

Bai Yan couldn’t bear the sudden blow, lost his balance and fell onto the bed. His face turned red with pain as he contorted in agony, wanting nothing more than to curl up into a ball.

Veins bulged on his forehead as he looked at Bai Xu in disbelief, “You, you!”

“What about me?”

Bai Xu grabbed the desk lamp and smashed it down hard.

In an instant, the sharp pain on Bai Yan’s forehead made him let out an horrible scream. Blood blurred his vision, and through the crimson haze, Bai Xu stood there coldly, his gaze fierce and unrecognizable.

He no longer resembled a lamb waiting to be slaughtered but instead a snow leopard ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.

In just a few seconds, Bai Yan lost his earlier frivolous demeanor. Instead, a piercing fear surged through him. “You, what are you going to do?”

“Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?”

Bai Xu lightly touched the scar on his own forehead. “Just returning the favor.”

Naturally, he wanted to get back all the teasing and pain the original host had suffered in this family before leaving!

As soon as the words were spoken, the locked door was opened from the outside.

Qian Shuling, who had been on the second floor, heard her son's screams and quickly arrived with the servants to check the situation. They evidently had spare locks, and the original host had never had any privacy or freedom in this house.

Seeing the injury on Bai Yan’s forehead, Qian Shuling's face turned pale with worry, “What happened!”

“Xiao Yan, what’s wrong? Let Mom take a look!”

“Mom—”

Bai Yan was too painful to speak.

Despite being in his twenties, he could only seek refuge in his mother’s embrace, acting like a total mama's boy, which was utterly disgusting.

“Hurry up and get the medical kit! No, call an ambulance!”

Qian Shuling scolded the inept servants and then turned her hateful gaze towards the culprit, “Bai Xu, did you do this? How dare you get so bold now!”

Bai Xu narrowed his eyes. “Why are you making so much noise?”

“……”

Qian Shuling was stunned.

“Why don’t you ask him what he was going to do to me?”

Bai Xu asked back without any hint of guilt. He lowered his gaze slightly and accurately smashed the desk lamp down by Qian Shuling’s feet.

Clang.

The sound of the heavy object hitting the floor made both mother and son flinch.

“A cornered rabbit will even bites people when it's anxious, so I can only call it—” 

Bai Xu paused deliberately and gave the reason in a light tone, “Self-defense.”

–

TL: Muji

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