DASFAM_19

"......"

The opening question left the room in dead silence.

Shang Yanxiao's capabilities were plain for all to see— even after the third branch's unexpected accident, none of the engineering projects or financial statements under their control had shown any problems whatsoever.

What's more, the Shang Group was now firmly under the control of Old Master Shang himself—

Even if he had reached his age and would inevitably be gone one day, who would dare to 'curse' the Old Master with a single ill word right now? And who would dare stir up a succession struggle right under his nose?

For the time being, the Shang family would still maintain its surface-level peace— and it was far from certain that the third branch had completely fallen!

The guests exchanged speechless glances. Anyone with even a bit of sense and experience had already read between the lines.

"Mr. Bai is right. With the Old Master holding down the fort, whatever happens won't affect the Shang Group too greatly."

Sun Miaochun stepped in to wrap up the exchange, then smiled with composure, "Chun has long admired the Old Master's great name. If the opportunity arises, I'd ask Mr. Bai to kindly make an introduction?"

Bai Xu refused to take any credit for himself, "Chairman Chun, if you want to meet the Old Master, naturally you have your own means. I'm just a junior, I won't butt in."

He raised his champagne glass, "Allow me to drink first as a toast."

A single offhand remark steered the room, brushing aside all topics and unnecessary trouble.

Sun Miaochun could only cooperate and raise her glass in return, feeling all the while that she had still underestimated this young man before her. But some things couldn't be rushed— and this banquet, with her as the host, couldn't remain frozen like this forever.

Sun Miaochun raised her voice, "Everyone, I apologize for my poor hospitality just now. I've already had a new banquet and musical performance arranged in the side hall, please do me the honor of moving over."

At a banquet like this, the food and drink were always the least important element; the social connections forged between guests were what truly mattered.

Everyone graciously obliged, filing one after another into the adjacent side hall.

Bai Xu knew his appearance tonight had already carried enough weight, and saw no reason to keep joining in the commotion.

He turned his gaze to Zhang Changning, who likewise hadn't moved from his spot, "Young Master Zhang, aren't you going? And, thank you for what you did just now."

"Just call me by my name. 'Young master' sounds really awkward to me," Zhang Changning was naturally easy-going, "I've never had any interest in banquets like this."

Bai Xu asked, "No interest, yet you still came? By the way, is Zhang Changxu your brother?"

"Mm!" Zhang Changning's eyes lit up the instant he heard his brother's name, "You know my second brother?"

Then he answered his own question, "Right, my brother and Third Brother have always been close. You and Third Brother are now... joined by marriage, so you must have met him."

Zhang Changxu and Shang Yanxiao were close friends; the latter was known to outsiders as Third Young Master, but in Zhang Changning's mouth he simply became Third Brother.

Bai Xu acknowledged this silently, and a clear answer took shape in his mind.

Zhang Changning before him was one of the important supporting characters from the original novel. He and 'the original novel's male lead' Shang Queyan had known each other since childhood, and with both of them studying abroad at the same institution, they had naturally become good friends.

Zhang Changning had grown up pampered by the whole family. Above him were a pair of older brothers— eldest brother Zhang Changfeng went into business, second brother Zhang Changxu went into medicine, while he himself studied art and design.

When the accident befell the third branch, Zhang Changning had been busy with the first art exhibition of his life. The moment the show ended, he immediately extracted himself and rushed back to the country.

"I'd only been back two days before I started hearing all sorts of rumors. I messaged Queyan but he never replied. I originally wanted to go find him, but my Second Brother told me not to disturb him rashly and affect his mood."

Thinking of his good friend's ordeal, Zhang Changning's worry was plain to see.

Bai Xu asked again, "So, you assumed the person from the third branch attending the banquet tonight would be Queyan?"

Zhang Changning nodded, "Yeah. After something that big happened to the third branch, who knows how ugly some people have been talking behind their backs? I was afraid that if Queyan showed up, he might get mistreated. I didn't expect..."

He looked at Bai Xu, a pleasant surprise entering his eyes, "That the one representing the third branch would be you. Bai Xu, you're actually pretty impressive, you were cool enough and tough enough back there!"

Zhang Changning had never liked attending banquets like this, and on top of that he had been studying abroad for years—

His previous knowledge of Bai Xu had been practically nonexistent, but today Bai Xu's series of maneuvers in front of everyone was simply breathtaking, enough to make one bow in admiration.

"If you ask me, someone should have stepped up long ago to properly put those baffling remarks about the third branch in their place."

Bai Xu's impression of Zhang Changning was quite favorable, "It was all thanks to that video of yours. The evidence was solid, which is why Song Qiancheng couldn't keep making a scene."

"Don't mention it."

Zhang Changning tilted his chin up with a hint of the spoiled arrogance that had been indulged into him since childhood, "I just can't stand the way people like that act."

Bai Xu thought for a moment, then said, "If there's an opportunity another day, I'll treat you as my way of thanking you."

"Another day?" Zhang Changning's round eyes shifted, an idea arriving as soon as it came, "Why wait for another day when today will do. Let's go grab a drink, just the two of us?"

His family kept a tight watch over him at home, and his second brother Zhang Changxu was a doctor who placed the greatest importance on healthy routines. Since returning to the country, he hadn't been able to enjoy even a single drink freely.

"......"

Bai Xu was caught off guard by his sudden idea, "Right now?"

Zhang Changning shot back, "Yeah. What, you'd rather keep standing around in this banquet hall? How boring is that?"

Bai Xu's gaze shifted slightly. He thought of how, since transmigrating into the novel, he had never truly relaxed over a drink, "Fair enough. Shall we go?"

"Let's."

...

Clink!

The glasses knocked together, and the spilling liquor traced a graceful arc through the air.

Zhang Changning tilted his head back and drained his glass of craft cocktail in one go, letting out a satisfied breath, "Ah, that hits the spot!"

Bai Xu paused, "You can hold your liquor, right? If you get drunk later, I'm not responsible for seeing you home."

"Don't worry about me, I hold it just fine."

Zhang Changning refilled his own glass. There was no one nearby to speak of, yet he lowered his voice all the same, "I used to drink all the time when I was studying abroad. Queyan's the one who can't hold his drink, he doesn't like alcohol, only cola."

He turned the question around, "You can drink, right?"

Bai Xu said nothing and simply raised his glass in answer, drinking alongside him.

A look of delight spilled into Zhang Changning's cat-like eyes, "Now that's what I call a good time! By the way, you're probably around the same age as me, right?"

"......"

Bai Xu hesitated for two seconds, "Mm, I'm a year older than Queyan."

In reality, his age in the real world was the same as Shang Yanxiao's, but now he could only go by the original host's age.

Zhang Changning nodded, "Then we're about the same age. That makes us friends from here on!"

"......"

Friends?

Just like that, they were friends?

Bai Xu stared at Zhang Changning with a trace of surprise and said nothing in return.

Perhaps it was the influence of the original host's upbringing, but he had nearly forgotten—not every young master from a powerful family was the sort of garbage who harbored ill will and took pleasure in others' misfortune.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Zhang Changning noticed the veiled meaning in his gaze and turned a little huffy, "I don't just make friends with anyone easily, you know. What, you're not happy about it?"

Bai Xu couldn't help but laugh, "Your personality is the complete opposite of Dr. Zhang's. It's hard to picture the two of you as brothers."

Not only were their personalities nothing alike, their appearances shared no resemblance either—

Zhang Changxu's looks were cold and severe, his manner upright and unsmiling; Zhang Changning, on the other hand, could be called bright and good-looking, with a liveliness that came as something of a surprise.

Zhang Changning blinked, "Really?"

The sweeping light from the rotating lamp high up in the bar swept past, casting a brief shimmer that caught a fleeting shadow of loneliness in Zhang Changning's eyes—so brief that Bai Xu thought it must have been his imagination.

The light swept on.

Zhang Changning broke into a smile again, "My second brother's never been one for words, even since we were kids. Since becoming a doctor he manages me so strictly it's ridiculous. Sometimes when he turns cold and starts scolding, I'm honestly scared of him."

Bai Xu's brow lifted slightly.

If he remembered correctly, the Zhang Changning in the original novel was extremely clingy with his second brother Zhang Changxu, so much so that even the male lead Shang Queyan had openly complained about it more than once.

"By comparison, my eldest brother is much warmer and more easy-going with me, and he's also tremendously capable in business dealings," When Zhang Changning brought up his two older brothers, his tone was full of both admiration and reverence, "Come on, another drink~"

Bai Xu drank another glass alongside him, then reminded him, "Slow down a bit.You'll get drunk faster if you go too quickly."

Zhang Changning paid no heed, "I don't care. I've finally managed to sneak away and have a good time tonight, so I'm drinking as much as I please!"

Bai Xu asked offhandedly, "Your family doesn't let you drink?"

Zhang Changning added, "It's my second brother who won't let me. Bai Xu, you probably don't have anyone keeping tabs on you, right? Third Brother's still out cold."

"......"

What did that have to do with Shang Yanxiao?

Bai Xu knitted his brow, not quite following, then said matter-of-factly, "Even if he woke up, he couldn't manage me."

Zhang Changning let out a small, tipsy hiccup, and for no particular reason felt a twinge of envy, "...Must be nice."

The two talked and drank, and before long, a small barrel of whisky cocktail bombs had been emptied.

Zhang Changning had drunk himself red in the face, yet was still unsatisfied, "Bai Xu, let's switch to a different cocktail! Another barrel!"

Bai Xu noticed a faint dizziness rising in his own head and shook his head with measured composure. He was just about to voice his refusal when Zhang Changning's phone rang.

The instant he saw who was calling, all of Zhang Changning's bravado promptly wilted.

He glanced at Bai Xu across from him, hesitated a moment, then resigned himself to answering, "Hello, Second Brother."

Zhang Changxu on the other end was as terse as ever, "Where are you?"

Zhang Changning caved at once, "I'll send you my location right now!"

"......"

Bai Xu, seated across from him, had watched the whole thing unfold. He stifled the slight dizziness of the drink and broke into a smile, "Dr. Zhang?"

Zhang Changning finished sending his location to the contact on the other end of the phone and drew in a short breath, "Bai Xu, next time there's an opportunity, let's sneak off and continue."

"Sure. I'll go settle the bill first."

...

The bar the two had chosen was not far from Qinya Mansion, and Zhang Changxu arrived much faster than either of them had expected.

"Second Brother!"

Zhang Changning shot to his feet, nearly lost his balance, and almost pitched forward headfirst, "Whoa, easy!"

Zhang Changxu caught him in time, his tone turning somewhat stern, "How much did you drink behind my back?"

"Just a little."

Zhang Changning answered guiltily, then caught sight of Bai Xu across from him and changed the subject, "Bai Xu, this stuff has a much stronger kick than I expected, how are you holding up?"

"......"

Bai Xu forcibly held back the wave of tipsiness rising inside him, stood up slowly, and steadied himself, "I'm fine."

He had nearly forgotten, being able to hold his drink in the real world didn't mean the current 'him' could.

Going by the original host's history, he had rarely touched alcohol, so his tolerance had never been built up. And Zhang Changning was right: this barrel of cocktail had gone down as smoothly and unassumingly as a soft drink at first, but the kick that came after was both fast and fierce.

Zhang Changxu kept one hand on his brother, but his gaze drifted toward Bai Xu, whose intoxication was equally apparent.

Zhang Changxu didn't know much about his good friend's marriage partner.

He had only just finished a highly demanding surgery that evening, and upon hearing that his younger brother had gone to the mansion banquet, had made his way over—but he hadn't expected Bai Xu to be there too, let alone that the two of them had slipped away early together and ended up drinking here.

"Young Master Bai, are you alright?"

"......"

Bai Xu was badly dizzy, but out of habit kept up a strong front in front of others, "I'm fine. You two go ahead. I'll get a cab back on my own."

Zhang Changning wasn't reassured, "Brother, it was me who dragged Bai Xu into this. You drove tonight, right? Why don't we drop Bai Xu off? Our families are in the same direction anyway."

Zhang Changxu sighed in resignation, "Alright."

Bai Xu had initially wanted to decline the offer, but the alcohol churning through him was surging far more fiercely than he had anticipated.

Leaving with someone he was relatively familiar with was still better than passing out drunk in some stranger's car, so he offered no refusal, "Then I'll trouble you, Dr. Zhang."

...

Outside the window, the night had grown ever deeper.

Xie Qi, who had been outside the room, hurriedly ended his call and returned to the master bedroom, "Third Young Master, I phoned the mansion to confirm, they said Young Master Bai got into some kind of trouble, a conflict, at the banquet tonight."

Shang Yanxiao's brow furrowed, "A conflict?"

He had never quite approved of Bai Xu going to represent the third branch at a banquet like that, but had been unable to refuse outright, hindered as he was by his 'coma'.

Taking him to be asking about the conflict itself, Xie Qi cut to the point, "It was the Song family, Song Qiancheng, from investment and financing. He slipped something into Young Master Bai's drink. Young Master Bai was sharp enough to see through it, and the two sides got into it. Apparently the dispute also drew the Shang family name into things."

Shang Yanxiao instinctively pressed further, "Where is Bai Xu now?"

Xie Qi shook his head, "We- we don't know yet. Chairman Chun stepped in afterward to smooth things over, but Young Master Bai left without a word to anyone, just slipped off on his own. It's been nearly two hours."

Shang Yanxiao's expression darkened, "A banquet of this caliber and they managed to lose a guest? What exactly are the Sun family's people there for?"

"......"

Xie Qi felt a jolt of unease, "I'll have Yufei and myself drive out to look for him right away."

The words had barely left his mouth when Shang Yanxiao's phone—unused for a long time now—buzzed with an incoming message. He glanced over, and found it was from a close friend.

Shang Yanxiao opened WeChat without thinking, and within a couple of seconds the tension in his expression eased, imperceptibly.

Zhang Changxu had sent a photo taken in the back seat of a car—

Bai Xu, seatbelt fastened, had tilted his head to rest against the window, eyes closed. His naturally well-behaved features were, unusually, tinged with a flush of pink, and looked drunk.

Beneath the photo was a text message from Zhang Changxu, the kind of teasing that only close friends would allow themselves:

—"Third Young Master, are you going to take of your household or not?"

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