DASFAM_CH 16
The sky was overcast, and a light drizzle fell.
The car smoothly passed the first security checkpoint and drove toward Qinya Manor.
Xiao Deng, the driver, couldn't help but sigh as he caught sight of the grand Republic-era architecture in the distance, "This is way too extravagant. Assistant Xie, what’s the deal with the Sun family? How do they have the connections to host their first banquet in a place like this?"
Qinya Manor was originally the private residence of a prominent figure from the Republic of China era. Later, it became the site of a diplomatic mission. After it was vacated, the authorities allocated funds to preserve it, making it a place rich in history.
Ordinary people wouldn't have the privilege of hosting a grand banquet here.
Even the renowned Shang family of the Imperial Capital had only held one private dinner at Qinya Manor over the years. Later, Old Master Shang found it too troublesome and preferred to pay for other venues instead.
Hearing Xiao Deng’s question, Xie Qi, sitting in the front passenger seat, glanced toward Bai Xu in the back—
For tonight’s banquet, Bai Xu had put on a custom-tailored suit and carefully styled his hair. Without his usual fringe covering his forehead, his delicate features were fully revealed.
He tilted his head slightly, gazing at the raindrops streaking down the car window. The interplay of light and shadow over his face made him appear less gentle and obedient than usual, giving him an air of aloofness, as if he were a noble young master returning from overseas.
Xie Qi reminded him, “Mr. Xiao Bai?”
Bai Xu lifted his gaze slightly. Even though he didn’t utter a single word, the aura he exuded effortlessly commanded the atmosphere inside the car.
Xie Qi blinked, suddenly reminded of Shang Yanxiao, who was still 'lying in a hospital bed'. Subconsciously, his tone became a little more respectful.
"I looked into it. The Sun family has long been rooted in the Shanghai business circle, dealing in iron and steel."
In terms of power and status, they were on par with the Shang family.
"The family business has now been passed down to Sun Miaochun, making her the fourth generation. However..."
Xie Qi paused for a second, and Bai Xu seamlessly picked up where he left off, "However, she’s the only daughter left to take over the family business."
Xie Qi was surprised, "You already knew?"
"Just a background check. Wasn’t hard to find."
Of course, Bai Xu wasn’t about to reveal that he had read about her in a book and already knew who she was—
Sun Miaochun had never been the favored child in her family. She had a younger half-brother, three years her junior.
That brother lacked any business sense and ended up being led astray, gambling away the family fortune that had been built over three generations. In the end, he jumped from a casino high-rise, leaving behind a massive mess.
At the time, Sun Miaochun had just turned thirty. But her courage and business acumen were on par with, if not superior to, the top players in the industry—
In just seven years, she pulled the Sun family back from the brink of bankruptcy, reestablished their footing in the shipping industry, and even broke the family’s long-standing tradition of only dealing in steel. With one bold move, she expanded their reach into other sectors!
In the original book, Sun Miaochun didn’t have many scenes, but she was portrayed as a formidable businesswoman who prioritized profit above all else.
She could scheme and outmaneuver the Shang family to secure billion-dollar deals, yet she was also pragmatic enough to collaborate with the original protagonist when it benefited her company.
Both righteous and ruthless, both an enemy and an ally, a striking, exceptional female character!
At that moment, the car finally pulled up to the main gate of the manor.
Xie Qi still felt a bit uneasy, “Mr. Xiao Bai, are you sure you can handle this alone?”
The invitation specifically stated it was for the Shang family’s third branch and their relatives, an assistant like him wasn’t qualified to enter.
Since they had business to handle at the company, they were only dropping Bai Xu off along the way.
Bai Xu glanced at the approaching attendants outside the car window and calmly replied, “I’m here as a representative of the third branch this time. I know what I should and shouldn’t do.”
He absentmindedly rotated the black ring on his finger. It was thick enough to conceal a small, razor-sharp hidden blade that would be exposed with a slight twist.
The original host of this body was naturally too weak, and in critical moments, small tools like this could serve as self-defense.
The car door opened.
The attendant who had come to receive him bowed respectfully, “Good evening, sir. Welcome. May I trouble you to show your invitation once more?”
Xie Qi handed over the invitation on Bai Xu’s behalf and introduced them, “Hello, I’m Xie Qi, assistant to the Third Young Master of the Shang family. This is Mr. Bai. He is the Third Young Master’s fiancé.”
With that, this marked the first time the Shang family’s third branch had officially acknowledged Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao’s relationship to the public.
“……”
The attendants at the manor had all undergone specialized training and were well-versed in even the smallest details of high-society affairs.
Hearing this, the attendant showed no surprise at all, “Understood. Please, Mr. Bai.”
Bai Xu stepped out of the car without looking back and instructed, “You can head back now.”
For banquets of this level, designated chauffeurs were always arranged afterward to ensure that guests could return home safely.
Xie Qi nodded, his form of address subtly shifting, “Understood. Contact us anytime if needed.”
“En.”
…
There was still some time before the banquet officially began.
Outside the hall, Song Qiancheng and a few other wealthy young men were gathered, casually smoking and chatting.
“So, what’s the deal with this Sun family? My dad practically forced me to come.”
“I heard they’re a big name in the Shanghai business circle, but who knows what they’re planning in the Imperial Capital?”
“Who cares what they’re planning? Honestly, if you guys weren’t here, I’d be bored to death at this banquet. It’s all just business small talk.”
Song Qiancheng exhaled a puff of vapor from his e-cigarette and said, “Yeah, we need to find some entertainment.”
Just as he finished speaking, someone beside him suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Wait, am I seeing things? Is that Bai Xu?”
Everyone’s gaze immediately shifted in the same direction—
Not far away, Bai Xu was walking into the main banquet hall under the guidance of an attendant.
His movements were composed and elegant, and even with just a few simple steps, he carried himself like a model on a runway.
There was no trace of the timid and reserved demeanor he once had.
“……”
Song Qiancheng narrowed his eyes, a bit surprised, “It really is him.”
Someone beside him frowned, “The Bai family didn’t send anyone today, did they? How does he have the qualifications to be here?”
“Haven’t you heard? He’s now engaged to the Shang family’s vegetative young master.”
“Yeah, my mom told me that Old Master Shang is actually quite protective of him. Just a few days ago, Jinbai’s Chen Shaoxuan had a conflict with him, and right after that, the Shang family cut ties with Jinbai.”
“Come on, Old Master Shang is obviously just looking out for his precious grandson, Shang Yanxiao. With the way things are going, the power struggles within the Shang family are only going to get more interesting.”
"......"
Song Qiancheng listened silently to the discussion around him, then casually beckoned a nearby attendant.
The attendant quickly approached, “Young Master Song.”
Song Qiancheng got straight to the point. “That Bai Xu just now, whose invitation was he using? Did he come alone?”
The attendant answered truthfully, “The Shang family’s third branch. And yes, he came alone.”
Song Qiancheng raised an eyebrow and smirked, then glanced at his friends, “Weren’t you all just saying this banquet was boring and that you wanted some entertainment? Well, here it is.”
One of the wealthy young men chimed in, “Oh, right! I almost got fooled by Bai Xu for a second. Isn’t he the most famous ‘banquet joke’ around?”
But another hesitated, “Is this really a good idea? Times have changed, he has the Shang family backing him now. We might not want to make an enemy out of them.”
“Who knows how much of that backing is real? With his timid personality, having support won’t make a difference.”
Song Qiancheng pressed his e-cigarette down forcefully, a flash of amusement flickering in his eyes, “We won’t go too far. Just enough to make him embarrass himself in front of everyone.”
He motioned for the attendant to lean in and whispered instructions.
The attendant felt an instinctive reluctance but didn’t dare disrupt the fun of these wealthy young masters, “Understood, Young Master Song.”
“I’ll make sure you’re tipped well once it’s done.”
Song Qiancheng flicked the name tag on the attendant’s uniform with satisfaction, then gestured to his friends, “Alright, the banquet’s about to start. Let’s head in.”
The group’s excitement visibly rose.
“Sounds good.”
“Let’s go enjoy the show.”
…
Knock knock.
There was a knock on the door of the main lounge on the second floor of the banquet hall.
“Come in.”
Without even looking up, Sun Miaochun signed her name on the contract and tossed it back to her secretary.
The banquet’s chief assistant stepped inside and greeted her, “Director Chun.”
Although Sun Miaochun’s surname was 'Sun', she disliked being addressed by her family name and much preferred this title.
The assistant exchanged documents with the secretary and handed over the finalized guest list, “The banquet is about to begin, and here’s the confirmed list of attendees, seventy-four distinguished guests in total.”
“Looks like the Imperial Capital’s elite are willing to give me some face.”
Sun Miaochun glanced at the list and specifically asked, “Did anyone from the Shang family show up? Was it the third branch?”
She knew she couldn’t expect Old Master Shang to attend but was hoping to meet the third branch, the one he valued the most.
“They did come, but Shang Queyan isn’t here. Instead, it’s Shang Yanxiao’s fiancé, someone named Bai Xu.”
Hearing this, Sun Miaochun took two steps forward, lifting the corner of the curtain. From her vantage point, she could oversee the entire banquet hall below.
“Director Chun, a waiter just reported something to me…”
The assistant stepped closer and quietly relayed the message that had just arrived, “What should we do about it?”
Upon hearing about the petty scheming taking place, Sun Miaochun scoffed, “A bunch of useless trust-fund brats, always looking for entertainment at someone else’s expense. Just like my good-for-nothing brother. Sooner or later, they’ll rot away their own families from the inside.”
The moment she finished speaking, her gaze suddenly froze—
At that exact moment, Bai Xu, standing near the dessert table, had somehow sensed her overlooking presence. Instead of avoiding her gaze, he met it directly—calm, unwavering, and entirely unafraid.
He even raised his champagne glass slightly and responded with a smile.
Sun Miaochun was taken aback, “Who is that? The one at the dessert table, wearing the dark blue suit.”
He looked young, but there was an unmistakable sharpness in his gaze, a predatory intensity.
The assistant squinted to locate him, “That… that’s Bai Xu.”
For once, Sun Miaochun showed a hint of surprise as she lowered the curtain.
The assistant hesitated before continuing, “Director Chun, should we just pretend we didn’t hear anything? Ignore Young Master Song’s request?”
“After all, Bai Xu is here representing the Shang family. If something embarrassing, or worse, something serious happens to him during the banquet, we won’t be able to avoid the consequences…”
“No.”
Sun Miaochun interrupted and then unexpectedly changed her stance, “Tell the attendants to follow Song Qiancheng’s instructions.”
The assistant was stunned, “Huh?”
Sun Miaochun adjusted her outfit in the full-length mirror, a glint of calculation and curiosity flickering in her eyes, “Just do as he says. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
She couldn’t shake the feeling that this young man, Bai Xu, was anything but ordinary.
Since she wasn’t the one orchestrating this mess, she might as well use the opportunity to test the true strength of the Shang family, and the third branch in particular.
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