DASFAM_CH 13
Another nightfall descended.
A black business car slowly came to a stop in front of a small bungalow house.
The driver quickly got out, opened the rear door with great respect, and said to the furious man inside, "Chairman Chen, we've arrived. The young master has followed your orders these past few days and hasn't left this building."
Chen Rong looked at the brightly lit house, his face stern as he walked over. As he got closer to the door, he could hear the heavy beat of dance music inside, mixed with the noisy chatter of men and women.
"......"
Chen Rong's expression instantly darkened, "That unfilial son! I grounded him, and he's still causing trouble!"
Rage flared outside the door, but inside, the party remained in full swing.
Chen Shaoxuan was nestled between two stunningly attractive women, his eyes hazy from alcohol as his head swayed to the music.
"This is great! Look at this. What kind of house arrest is this? As long as I'm alive, I'll always find ways to have fun!"
A friend, exhausted from dancing, collapsed onto the sofa across from him, "By the way, why did your dad ground you? What did you do?"
Chen Shaoxuan took a sip of beer, scoffing, "Tsk, what else? It's all because of that bastard Bai Xu, acting all clever and recording a video."
The online controversy had affected Jinbai Group to some extent, stirring discontent among the senior shareholders.
As the chairman of the group, Chen Rong naturally gave Chen Shaoxuan a harsh scolding. Worried that his reckless mouth would cause more trouble outside, he cut off his credit cards and put him under house arrest.
A friend tried to console him, "Come on, what's this kind of online public opinion anyway? Isn't this just how it is for the poor? Jealous and resentful of the rich, but they'll forget everything in a while. It won't cause any real waves."
One of the girls chimed in, "But I heard Bai Xu has some connections with the third branch of the Shang family. That family isn’t one to mess with."
Chen Shaoxuan raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Oh, please. that might have sounded intimidating three months ago, but who in the entire Imperial Capital circle doesn’t know by now? The third branch of the Shang family has become a joke. I wouldn’t—"
Before he could finish, the tightly shut door was suddenly thrown open.
The thick stench of alcohol and smoke immediately filled the air, making Chen Rong’s already darkened face turn even more grim. Seeing that the loud music was still blaring, he reached out and yanked the power cord from the speaker.
— Bang!
The room instantly fell silent. Everyone, still immersed in the lively atmosphere moments ago, froze in place.
Chen Rong glanced at his son's group of idle companions, no longer bothering to be polite, "All of you, get out. I need to talk to my son."
"......"
"Dad."
Chen Shaoxuan shook off his drunkenness and stood up, still confused, "Why are you here?"
Chen Rong, already fuming, strode over and slapped him hard across the face, "You bastard! You still have the nerve to ask me that?"
The sudden, loud slap startled everyone present!
Sensing the tension, they knew better than to stay any longer. Each one quickly slipped away as if the floor were on fire.
Chen Shaoxuan was stunned. It took him several seconds to react before he clutched his burning cheek, "Dad! You hit me in front of all my friends. Don't I, don’t I have any face?"
"Face? I think you don't want to live!"
Thinking about the news he received earlier that evening, Chen Rong’s anger flared again. He slapped his troublemaking son once more, "Do you have any idea how much you've ruined Jinbai Group?"
Chen Shaoxuan stubbornly raised his chin and yelled back, "What does that have to do with me? Jinbai doesn't need those broke nobodies who just rant online! Besides, that Bai Xu even had his bodyguard hit me!"
"And didn’t you deserve it?"
Chen Rong pointed at him, seething with rage, "Our company was about to sign a deal with the Shang family and secure their investment. But thanks to you, Chairman Shang personally ordered the collaboration to be canceled!"
In reality, Jinbai Group had been struggling for years, with serious financial difficulties.
On the surface, their partnership with the Shang Group was marketed as a mutually beneficial deal, but in truth, Jinbai desperately needed the financial support. Now, everything had fallen apart.
What made matters worse was that once word got out that Shang Group had severed ties with them, other companies would hesitate to work with Jinbai as well, afraid of offending the powerful Shang family.
"All you ever do is drink and play around! If the company collapses, if our family goes bankrupt, let’s see how long you can keep acting like some young master!"
"B-Bankrupt?"
Chen Shaoxuan was stunned, "Dad, you must be joking, right?"
Earlier that evening, Chen Rong had been harshly condemned by several shareholders. Now, seeing his unrepentant son, his fury boiled over.
He scanned the room, then grabbed a golf club used for entertainment, "You ignorant fool who doesn’t know his place, shut up! If I don’t beat you to death today, I’m not your father!"
A father disciplining his son was only natural!
Terrified, Chen Shaoxuan clutched his head and scrambled to escape. The alcohol in his system instantly vanished, "Ahhh!"
But it was too late for begging. Chen Rong swung the club down hard, and the pain that followed was even more brutal than when Chen Yufei had beaten him!
…
The night grew deeper.
Chen Yufei, who was keeping watch in the master bedroom, heard a knock at the door. When he opened it, he saw Bai Xu standing there with toiletries in hand.
"Mr. Xiao Bai, what brings you here?"
Bai Xu glanced inside the room and asked, "Xie Qi isn’t here tonight?"
Chen Yufei nodded, "He's in his own room. I’m on night watch."
Bai Xu nodded thoughtfully before explaining his purpose, "My shower is broken, no water coming out. I wanted to borrow Third Young Master's bathroom."
Chen Yufei hesitated, "Broken?"
Bai Xu leaned against the doorframe, "What? You don’t trust me? It really is broken. Go check for yourself if you don’t believe me."
If it were anyone else from the Shang family, Chen Yufei wouldn’t have left even for a second. But after spending the past few days with Bai Xu, he found him reliable.
Stepping aside, he allowed Bai Xu to pass, "Mr. Xiao Bai, I’ll go see if I can fix it."
Bai Xu nodded, "En, thanks."
The door closed softly, no need to lock it.
Holding his change of clothes, Bai Xu walked further inside. From a short distance away, he looked toward the bed where Shang Yanxiao lay.
The dim bedside lamp cast soft shadows over his sharp features. The medical equipment monitored his vital signs constantly, yet despite lying there for so many days—
Shang Yanxiao still looked nothing like a bedridden patient. It was as if he were simply in a light sleep, ready to open his eyes at any moment and deliver a deadly blow to whoever dared to approach.
Bai Xu's gaze lingered, a strange feeling stirring within him.
Typically, a vegetative state caused by acute brain injury didn’t mean complete bodily dysfunction. Even with the Shang family's wealth and their around-the-clock care—
Shang Yanxiao seemed almost too clean?
"......"
Bai Xu recalled the nurse's probing from that day and furrowed his brows again.
Feigning a coma? That seemed unlikely, right? After all, Zhang Changxu’s medical team conducted regular check-ups every other day.
Besides, as a reader with an 'omniscient perspective', the original novel’s plot was laid out before him, there was no way he wouldn’t have noticed even the slightest clue.
A glint of scrutiny flashed in Bai Xu’s eyes before he turned and entered the bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the room.
On the bed, Shang Yanxiao instantly woke up.
He turned his head, watching the shimmering light reflecting through the frosted glass of the bathroom. His emotions stirred slightly.
Bai Xu’s gaze had lingered for far too long just now. So long that, for the first time, Shang Yanxiao felt a trace of nervousness, a fear of being exposed. Did Bai Xu suspect something?
Shang Yanxiao was highly vigilant. Worried that Bai Xu might have more tricks up his sleeve, he quickly grabbed the phone from the bedside table and sent a message to his assistant:
"Come over."
As time passed second by second, click, there were signs that the tightly locked bathroom door was about to open.
Bai Xu had changed into the bathrobe he had brought with him, but he was also carrying a washbasin from the bathroom, filled with some warm water and a towel.
Instead of heading straight out, he walked over and sat down by the bed.
— Swish.
While wringing out the warm towel, Bai Xu spoke to Shang Yanxiao who was lying on the bed, "Honestly, I’m not someone who usually does things like this. But after the family banquet last night, the Old Madam pulled me aside and gave me a few reminders."
His tone was like idle chatter, yet deliberately blunt.
"Since we’re in an arranged marriage, I suppose I should…" Bai Xu deliberately emphasized his words before simply taking Shang Yanxiao’s right hand.
"Take better care of you."
A cool sensation from Bai Xu’s palm spread across Shang Yanxiao’s skin. The burn on the back of his hand had already faded.
A faint light flickered in Bai Xu’s eyes as he absentmindedly pinched Shang Yanxiao’s fingertips—once, twice, three times.
Yet Shang Yanxiao’s expression remained unchanged, as if he couldn't feel such a simple stimulus at all.
"Tsk, your hands are pretty cold."
Bai Xu concealed his unspoken probing as he casually wiped down Shang Yanxiao’s arms before leaning in closer.
The warmth of his breath lingered in the narrow space between them.
The heated towel started from the forehead, brushing over his brows before slowly trailing downward.
Bai Xu’s fingertips, gripping the towel, moved like a feather, tracing delicate lines, gliding over the bridge of his nose, skimming across his cheek, and even playfully rubbing his earlobe with mischievous intent.
Gentle tingles intertwined with his deliberately teasing words, spoken with an almost genuine fondness.
"Your eyebrows are pretty nice~"
"Tsk, and your nose bridge is quite high~"
"Your earlobes feel really soft… Shang Yanxiao, are you sure you won’t be afraid of your future partner?"
"......"
Shang Yanxiao's breathing was light and steady.
The amusement in Bai Xu’s eyes gradually deepened, doubt creeping in, had he misjudged?
He had already gone this far openly teasing him. If Shang Yanxiao were really faking a coma, wouldn’t he have reacted, even just a little?
Bai Xu’s gaze hesitated as it drifted downward, his brows raising slightly in uncertainty.
Maybe… he should push things a little further and see?
Without another thought, Bai Xu lifted the blanket covering Shang Yanxiao, turning his suspicion into action. His fingertips landed on the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one by one.
Before long, most of Shang Yanxiao’s physique was exposed—
Broad shoulders, well-defined muscles, and a lean waist. His muscle tone wasn’t overly exaggerated, but even after being bedridden for so long, the traces of past training were still evident.
"......"
Bai Xu rarely found himself momentarily dazed, and along with it, his intention to probe faded away. Before he could even gauge Shang Yanxiao’s reaction, he was the one who felt awkward first, clearing his throat uncomfortably.
They were both men, what was the big deal about looking at another man’s body? He was already halfway through this, and stopping now would just make things even weirder.
Steadying himself, Bai Xu wrung out the towel again, subtly adjusting his breathing. Taking advantage of the act of wiping, he resumed his probing, his fingertips suddenly tracing a slow circle over Shang Yanxiao’s lower abdomen.
For some reason, it felt like a spark had been lit.
The room’s temperature seemed to rise, the faint scent of shower gel lingering in the air, curling around the two of them.
In that brief moment, Bai Xu felt the body beneath him tense up, a fleeting reaction, so subtle it could’ve been his imagination. Then, the bedroom door swung open from the outside.
Bang!
Xie Qi, who had just stepped in, came to an abrupt halt, for once failing to conceal his shock, "Mr. Xiao Bai, w-what are you doing?"
"......"
Caught in the act, Bai Xu froze for half a second before coming up with a suitable excuse.
"Old Madam reminded me yesterday that I should spend more time in the same room as Third Young Master. Taking care of him shouldn’t always be left to you all."
"But I’m really not skilled at this kind of thing..." He calmly stood up, tossing the towel back into the washbasin, "I’ll leave it to you guys. It’s getting late, so I’ll head back to my room."
Xie Qi hesitated, looking like he wanted to say something, but Bai Xu ignored him and strode out of the master bedroom without a second glance.
Right at that moment, Chen Yufei walked out with a repair toolbox, nearly bumping into him.
"Mr. Xiao Bai, the shower has been fixed. You’ll be able to use it normally tomorrow night."
Bai Xu nodded, "En, thanks."
Chen Yufei studied his face, "Mr. Xiao Bai, are you feeling hot?"
"…Oh, I just took a bath. A little."
Bai Xu replied a beat too late, leaving the words hanging before swiftly retreating into his own room.
The door locked shut with a heavy 'click', as if sealing off the lingering heat in the air. Taking advantage of the solitude, Bai Xu let out a long sigh.
Alright.
No more testing.
Shang Yanxiao had let him mess around like that without any reaction. How could he still be awake?
He had almost gotten himself caught up in his own game!
…
At the same time, the door of the master bedroom was closed.
Shang Yanxiao abruptly sat up in bed, his breathing noticeably heavier.
He glanced at Xie Qi, who had just approached the bedside, and said in a hoarse voice, "You could’ve come a little longer."
"......"
Just what exactly had Mr. Xiao Bai done?
It was rare to see Third Young Master this unsettled.
Xie Qi, caught in the crossfire, looked innocent, "Third Young Master, I was handling project reports for the branch company. I didn’t check my phone right away. My apologies."
But Shang Yanxiao wasn’t in the mood to care about his assistant’s subtle scrutiny. Breaking his usual habit of conserving water, he tipped his head back and downed a full glass of cold water.
The lingering heat coursing through his body finally eased, somewhat. Yet, the faint scent of Bai Xu still clung to his skin, along with the tingling sensation from their brief contact.
His Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily as he wordlessly pulled his open shirt back together. But the veins subtly visible on the back of his hand betrayed his inner turmoil.
Xie Qi picked up on the unusual tension, "Third Young Master? Are you alright?"
Shang Yanxiao, ever composed, denied it immediately, "I’m fine."
He paused for two seconds, but in the end, he couldn’t suppress the strange warmth creeping over him, "…Turn on the air conditioning."
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