DASFAM_24

"......"

The familiar silence spread out.

Bai Xu stared intently at the person beneath him. Shang Yanxiao's expression was calm, without a ripple, not even a slight tremble or change.

Rarely did Bai Xu doubt his own judgment. Defiantly, he leaned forward half an inch, "Shang Yanxiao?"

Their noses almost touched, and their breaths seemed to intertwine again, warm and moist with ambiguity.

The two of them faced off in silence, as if something was gradually rising in the air.

Thump—thump—thump—

In this slowly flowing quiet, before Shang Yanxiao could react, it was Bai Xu who, after a long time, became aware of his own heartbeat. The heavy rise and fall in his chest was hard to ignore.

Damn.

He couldn't really kiss him, right?

Bai Xu couldn't help but swallow hard, ultimately giving in first, "He really hasn't woken up yet?"

A hint of disappointment, unnoticed even by himself, condensed at the tip of his heart. As he supported himself with his hands, ready to pull away and get up, in an instant, his wrist was caught off guard and grabbed.

—Snap!

Bai Xu's breath hitched abruptly, and when he looked down again, he met Shang Yanxiao's deep, ink-like eyes.

Shang Yanxiao was like a black panther that had been lying in wait, ready to strike and flip the situation. Bai Xu momentarily lost the upper hand, and by the time he looked up, he was already pinned beneath Shang Yanxiao, his hands restrained.

"......"

Their gazes reflected each other, filled with a mutual, knowing scrutiny.

Bai Xu instinctively tried to break free but underestimated Shang Yanxiao's physique and strength. The grip on his wrists grew tighter, making it impossible to escape.

He had rarely found himself in such a disadvantaged position, and a hint of frustration flickered across his brow, "Shang Yanxiao, let go!"

Shang Yanxiao's voice was still slightly hoarse, his eyes fixed intently on him, "What's wrong? Is Young Master Bai drunk again today, like last time?"

"You..."

Bai Xu hesitated, then quickly understood, "So, it seems that night wasn't a dream after all? Third Young Master, you're quite the actor, huh?"

Shang Yanxiao neither confirmed nor denied, continuing to assert his dominance with an air of control, "I can't compare to Young Master Bai's repeated deliberate provocations. I just don't understand, there are so many ways to test me..."  

He recalled the intimate moments between them that had arisen from these provocations, his eyes narrowing slightly, "Why is it that Young Master Bai seems so particularly fond of this method?"  

"Can't I just tease you to relieve some stress? Let go of me!"  

Bai Xu struggled against his grip again, refusing to back down, "You're right. The first time, I should have just held a knife to your neck. The results of my test would have been much more straightforward."  

Shang Yanxiao didn't respond, but a faint, almost imperceptible laugh escaped his throat.

"......"

Bai Xu felt a numbing pain in his wrist and took a deep breath, "When exactly did you wake up? And how many people know you're awake?"  

Whether it was the nurse or himself, they had tested him so many times, yet he had managed to hold back and not give himself away! What's more, the current time was far from the 'awakening moment' mentioned in the original book!  

No wonder he hadn't noticed right away!  

Shang Yanxiao noticed the fleeting look of discomfort on Bai Xu's face and glanced down—  

Bai Xu's wrist, which he had been gripping tightly, had been struggling restlessly to break free. Now, the fair, jade-like skin bore red marks, clearly causing some pain.  

Shang Yanxiao loosened his grip slightly and tossed the question back, "Young Master Bai, you're so clever. Why don't you guess when I woke up? And who knows about it now?"  

Before the echo of his words faded, Bai Xu seized the opportunity!

His freed hands wrapped around Shang Yanxiao in a reverse embrace, using his own body as a counterweight. With his legs straddling, he mustered all his strength and suddenly pinned the 'overconfident' Shang Yanxiao down on the bed.

The already loose monitoring equipment wires on Shang Yanxiao's body fell to the ground, making some noise.

Outside the room, Chen Yufei keenly heard the commotion, "Mr. Xiao Bai, what's happening?"

Bai Xu had no time to respond. The ring on his hand came into play at this moment, the sharp soft blade pressing against Shang Yanxiao's neck, a mix of danger and a hint of triumphant pleasure.

"Don't~ move~"

Bai Xu whispered, his eyebrows slightly raised, "Now we're even."

Originally, he bought this black ring for self-defense, but he never expected its first use to be on Shang Yanxiao. How could this not be considered another kind of fate?

—Bang!

Unable to get an answer, Chen Yufei pushed the door open and entered, "Mr. Xiao Bai..."

His question abruptly stopped, and his hurried footsteps came to a complete halt because of the scene before him. From his angle, it looked like—

Shang Yanxiao was actually pinned under Bai Xu? Wait, what's going on here?

Chen Yufei's mind, never as quick as Xie Qi's, almost short-circuited on the spot. He called out uncertainly, "Third Young Master?"

Shang Yanxiao, seeing the satisfaction in Bai Xu's eyes for 'turning the tables', chuckled.

He had anticipated that the blade at his neck wouldn't cause any real harm and spoke calmly, "You may leave now. Don't come in without being called."

Chen Yufei didn't utter a word but retreated swiftly.

Click.

The door closed once again.

Shang Yanxiao wasn't in a hurry to resist, "Satisfied now?"

"Fair enough."

Bai Xu twisted the ring, retracting the soft blade, "You've been awake for a while, haven't you? At least since before returning to the Shang family? Zhang Changxu must know about this, using his position as a doctor to cover for you."

"Xie Qi, Chen Yufei, and Xiao Deng, as your personal assistants and bodyguards, clearly know about this too, since you rely on them to coordinate inside and out."

Shang Yanxiao asked, "What else?"

Bai Xu thought about Shang Queyan's suddenly improved mood a few days ago and finally understood the reason, "Your brother knows too, doesn't he? Can't keep anything hidden."

Everyone in this family is an actor, all in cahoots to deceive an outsider like me? Not cool.

Bai Xu stood up, proactively ending the standoff between them.

He sat back down on the side of the bed, tilting his head to look at Shang Yanxiao, "Now that I know too, how do you plan to deal with me?"

Since Shang Yanxiao has been hiding the fact that he's awake, continuing to feign unconsciousness, there must be a compelling reason, and as the only variable who has uncovered this, he can't just let it slide.

Shang Yanxiao leaned back on the bed, a flicker of interest in his usually stern eyes, "That depends on whether Young Master Bai wants a short-term ally for mutual protection, or an enemy for a mutually assured destruction right now?"

Bai Xu, being a smart person, directly ignored the latter part, "Third Young Master wants to talk cooperation with me? Fine, I can keep my mouth shut, but what's in it for me?"

"Young Master Bai hasn't enjoyed the existing benefits yet? During this time, haven't you used the resources of the third branch and even the entire Shang family, and had Xie Qi help you with private matters?"

First, he used the hand of the Shang family patriarch to terminate the cooperation project with Jinbai, then utilized the legal team and public relations connections of the third branch to thoroughly hammer Song Zhiqing.

It must be said, the person before him has some clever tactics.

Bai Xu admitted with a calm face, "Since I have the existing connections and resources at hand, wouldn't it be foolish not to use them? But..."

Shang Yanxiao asked, "But what?"

Bai Xu leaned forward slightly, as if accusing, "The third branch has its fair share of troubles too, and I've put in a lot of effort."

He was the first to notice the issue with the nurse, he resolved Shang Songming's harassment towards Shang Queyan, and even attended Sun Miaochun's banquet on behalf of the third branch to gain face.

Bai Xu reached out, his fingertips brushing almost imperceptibly over Shang Yanxiao's nearly healed burn, "Let's call it even?"

A slight tingling sensation rose in his arm.

Shang Yanxiao lowered his gaze and smiled slightly, "So, the investigation into Fang Xu and the studio for tax evasion is my welcome gift to Young Master Bai. Happy cooperation?"

"So, it was you who had someone report them."

Bai Xu appreciated such an effortlessly communicative partner and smiled in return, "You're welcome, happy cooperation."

Shang Yanxiao laid down the rules, "To the outside world, we remain marriage partners for now; internally, since we are allies, we should help each other out when issues arise, as long as it doesn't cross any bottom lines."

Bai Xu agreed readily, "Sure, no problem."

He originally saw the Shang family as a temporary sanctuary. Once he had accumulated enough financial leverage, he planned to withdraw at an opportune time.

After all, the plotline continues to unfold, and he doesn't want to get involved in the complex and cruel power struggles of the Shang family later on. Preserving his own well-being was the way to survive.

Such a non-interfering pact and an intelligent ally like Shang Yanxiao were indeed what Bai Xu desired most at the moment.

"......"

Shang Yanxiao watched Bai Xu's every move, a subtle feeling stirring within him once again.

This was the first proper conversation between the two, and Bai Xu was far more perceptive than he had imagined, exuding excellence and confidence from the very core.

These were things that couldn't be faked.

Shang Yanxiao recalled the background checks on Bai Xu, tinged with a curiosity he hadn't even realized he possessed, "Has Young Master Bai stopped pretending altogether since leaving the Bai family?"

Bai Xu didn't respond, letting him finish his skepticism.

Shang Yanxiao's tone was both questioning and affirming, "Why do I feel like the person sitting in front of me isn't the 'Bai Xu' from the Bai family?"

"If you think I'm not, then stop calling me 'Young Master Bai'. I don't care for that identity."

Bai Xu faced the scrutiny and curiosity in his eyes head-on, introducing himself openly, "The person before you now is Bai Xu. Besides, who doesn't have secrets in this world?"

"......"

Shang Yanxiao concealed the admiration in his eyes and conceded, "Yeah, you're right."

Bai Xu then remembered something else and shifted the topic, "By the way, can I now legitimately use all available connections and resources of the third branch?"

Shang Yanxiao nodded, "As long as you find them useful."

"Good."

Having confirmed this, Bai Xu straightforwardly stated, "Then have someone find me a quiet location for a house, preferably a standalone two-story, not too small in area, as I plan to open a studio."

He paused, then added, "The annual rent budget should be within 300,000. I'm tight on funds and can only afford that much for now."

The original host didn't have much savings, and the dowry he received from the marriage alliance was also limited. He could spend money, but it had to be on crucial things.

Shang Yanxiao caught on, "You're planning to open a ceramic studio?"

Bai Xu nodded, "Sort of."

Shang Yanxiao didn't refuse, "Why not just tell Xie Qi directly? You seem quite comfortable bossing my assistant around."

Bai Xu shrugged, "I simply think your word carries more weight. I want to get this settled as soon as possible."

"Alright."

Shang Yanxiao agreed casually, his gaze once again catching Bai Xu's wrist, where the red marks from being gripped hadn't faded but instead seemed to have deepened?

"......"

Why is it so fragile?

How long had it been pinched to turn red and bruised?

Shang Yanxiao frowned slightly, "Is your wrist okay? Should you apply some ointment?"

Only then did Bai Xu lower his gaze to notice the condition, casually rubbing it, "Now the Third Young Master realizes he was too heavy-handed? It's fine."

Knock, knock.

The sound of knocking came.

Xie Qi, who had rushed outside the master bedroom, was unusually cautious, "Mr. Xiao Bai, may I come in?"

"......"

Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao exchanged a glance, sharing an unexpected moment of tacit understanding, "Come in."

Xie Qi pushed the door open and only learned of the situation from Chen Yufei's account. Now, seeing Shang Yanxiao 'waking up' and facing Bai Xu, he wasn't the least bit surprised.

"Third Young Master, Mr. Xiao Bai."

Shang Yanxiao involuntarily reined in his genuine emotions, returning to his usual cold and stern demeanor.

Bai Xu stood up, "You two talk."

He walked up to Xie Qi and lightly dropped a comment, "You've been acting quite well lately, Assistant Xie."

Xie Qi coughed awkwardly, "Just doing my duty."

Bai Xu smiled, bypassed him, and left the room.

It wasn't until the door closed again that Xie Qi asked with some nervousness, "Third Young Master, are you alright? I heard from Chen Yufei that... Mr. Xiao Bai didn't give you a hard time, did he?"

"No."

Shang Yanxiao was concise and to the point. He got out of bed, "Since we can't keep it from him anyway, we might as well lay it all out."

Xie Qi pressed further, "So there's no issue with Mr. Xiao Bai then?"

Shang Yanxiao poured himself a glass of warm water, "No issues for now. By the way, have someone find a standalone villa in a suitable location as soon as possible."

Remembering Bai Xu's instructions, he added, "Preferably not too far from the central business district nearby, but it should be a quiet spot amidst the hustle and bustle. Make it as spacious as possible, for use as a studio. The annual rent..."

Xie Qi waited for his instructions, "Third Young Master, what's the budget for the annual rent?"

Shang Yanxiao took a sip of water and casually spent a large sum of money, "Buy it under my name and hand it over to Bai Xu to handle as he pleases. Let him decide on the rent."

Xie Qi was startled.

How did it suddenly come to buying a house?

Shang Yanxiao wasn't short of funds and couldn't be bothered to explain, "Get it done quickly and give it to him."

Xie Qi suppressed his emotions, "Alright, I understand."

...

Xie Qi's work efficiency remains as high as ever.

In less than half a month, he found a standalone villa that met Bai Xu's requirements and completed all the necessary procedures.

Bai Xu took Qiu Yi on a tour of the place and asked, "Sister Qiu, what do you think of this place?"

"Of course, it's great," Qiu Yi expressed her satisfaction. "This place is much better than the lousy location Fang Xu found. It just needs a bit of design work."

Whether it's the private offices or the public areas, the space is more than sufficient. Moreover, the front and back yards can be used for daily gatherings and small exhibitions, generating additional income.

Qiu Yi brought the conversation back to reality, "Bai Xu, the annual rent for this villa isn't cheap, is it?"

Bai Xu thought of the housing contract Xie Qi handed him yesterday, a ripple of emotion in his eyes, "Sister Qiu, don't worry about that. I have an 'investor' backing me up."

Qiu Yi was surprised, "Who?"

Bai Xu joked, "A wealthy deity~ and quite good-looking too~"

"You, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Qiu Yi was both amused and exasperated by him, "Why do I feel like your personality has become increasingly outgoing? It seems like I've heard more from you in this period than in the entire past year combined."

Bai Xu laughed, "People, you know, can't change without breaking the old. It's inevitable to evolve."

Qiu Yi nodded, "True, and this change is quite good."

Bai Xu set aside his jokes and returned to business, "So, Sister Qiu, as we previously discussed, this studio will be my investment, and you will handle the daily operations."

"If any employees from Taojing Studio are interested in joining us, feel free to recruit them."

The reputation of Taojing Studio has been pretty much ruined by Fang Xu and Song Zhiqing. Working under such bosses in a studio that could run out of funding at any time, it's better to start anew.

"Additionally, for the seniors who helped report and speak out on the forum, my promise remains the same—"

"As long as they still have ideas and works in ceramic design, our studio is open to collaborate on original designs. Of course, they are always welcome to join our studio directly."

Hearing Bai Xu's clear arrangements, Qiu Yi felt inexplicably moved, "Yes, I understand."

Although the report against Song Zhiqing was completely justified, the industry is too complex, and no one can guarantee that the graduates who reported will receive the fairest treatment from now on.

It's possible that some unscrupulous bosses in the industry might disdain them: employees who can 'backstab' their mentors are undesirable and should not be hired.

Bai Xu is actually using his own resources to protect these graduates who stepped forward to help as much as possible.

Although Qiu Yi was touched by Bai Xu's actions, she retained her rationality and analyzed for him, "Bai Xu, business is tough these days, especially in our industry. We could actually expand more slowly."

"Even if we incur losses later, at least it would be easier to manage."

Bai Xu understood Qiu Yi's good intentions and responded earnestly, "Sister Qiu, I can follow your advice on recruitment matters, and we can take smaller steps in the initial stages of the studio's establishment."

"But regardless of whether we incur losses in the future, I will continue to invest in this studio."

Hearing the latter part of his statement, Qiu Yi's face showed surprise, "Huh?"

Bai Xu didn't elaborate much, "Consider it my wish."

Actually, the person who truly harbored this wish was the original host, who had always longed for a ceramic studio of his own.

The former 'Bai Xu' was just the most inconspicuous cannon fodder in the book, despised, mocked, and sneered at by others. Those who knew him called him a coward and a pushover, but Bai Xu never saw himself that way—

No matter how rough his life was, 'Bai Xu' never complained about his fate.

No matter how poorly the Bai family treated him, 'Bai Xu' remembered the kindness of being adopted and never schemed for anything that wasn't rightfully his.

He relied on his own abilities to get into the Imperial Capital University and worked hard to support his studies; in the face of oppression from bosses and mentors, he would collect evidence for future use; he also had the perseverance to persist in his favorite field and always strive for his goals.

When the Bai family treated him as a 'marriage commodity' and forced him into a marriage, despite his timidity, he stood up for himself and refused, even if it ultimately led to a head injury.

Bai Xu always believed that the original host was a very good person.

He was a soul from a 'different world', who through a twist of fate, ended up occupying the other's body and taking over their life. He felt compelled to do something—

Whether it was to counter the malicious mockery the original host had faced or to reclaim the original works that belonged to the host.

Even now, with everything settled.

Even though Bai Xu knew he didn't possess the original host's talent in ceramic, he wanted to leave something behind for the other.

This studio is exactly that kind of legacy.

Bai Xu gathered his thoughts and smiled, "Sister Qiu, actually, I think our studio has a lot of potential; it might not turn out bad at all."

Qiu Yi smiled along, "Yes, the beginning is always the hardest, but once we start, we have to hope for the best."

"En."

"Have you thought of a name for the studio yet? I can help you register it."

"I've thought of one."

Bai Xu opened his WeChat on his phone and showed Qiu Yi the nickname and avatar that had never changed, "This one."

—Ning.

This was the WeChat nickname that the original host had never changed, and the avatar was a logo he designed himself with the same name.

Qiu Yi looked at the familiar nickname and logo and readily agreed, "Alright, it seems you've been planning to be a boss for a while now. Let's go with this then. I'll have someone make the studio sign in a couple of days."

"Thanks for your hard work, Sister Qiu."

Bai Xu then forwarded the contact information of the design team he had already contacted, "I've discussed the general design layout of the studio with the design team. Could you please pay more attention to the detailed aspects?"

Qiu Yi nodded, "No problem."

"Great."

They continued to discuss the follow-up issues of the studio smoothly for quite some time.

It wasn't until dusk began to show that Bai Xu proactively wrapped up the conversation, "Sister Qiu, it's getting late. Shall we call it a day here? Let me treat you to dinner?"

"Another time."

Qiu Yi didn't engage in false courtesy with him, "I didn't say I wouldn't be back before I left home, so the elderly at home must have cooked and are waiting for me."

Bai Xu didn't insist, "Then shall I have the driver take you back?"

Qiu Yi clicked her tongue, "Alright, I'll take the subway back. Who knows how long it might be stuck in traffic on the road? See you later!"

"Okay."

After Qiu Yi left, Bai Xu walked towards the nearby parking lot. The moment he opened the car door, Chen Yufei, who had been waiting, turned his gaze towards him.

"Mr. Xiao Bai, have you finished your business?"

"En."

Bai Xu calmly took his seat in the back and fastened his seatbelt.

Chen Yufei naturally asked, "Shall we head back to the manor now?"

Bai Xu looked out the car window at the row of standalone villas, his thoughts wandering.

The location here is quite good, surrounded mostly by private art studios. Normally, the rent for such a place would certainly not be cheap for a year.

Shang Yanxiao, knowing that he wanted to 'rent', still generously had Xie Qi step in to purchase it.

"Mr. Xiao Bai, the third young master said, you can use this house as you see fit under reasonable circumstances, and as for the rent, it's up to you."

The implication was that it was okay not to pay rent.

Thinking of this, a hint of a smile unconsciously escaped Bai Xu's brow:

Encountering such a generous and straightforward marriage partner, and an ally on the same front, feels quite nice, doesn't it?

Bai Xu signaled, "Wait, let's not go back to the manor yet. Let's find a nearby commercial area first, we'll go there."

Chen Yufei complied and casually asked, "Mr. Xiao Bai, do you need to buy something?"

Bai Xu rolled down the car window, the warm breeze brushing his face, "It's still early, and since we're out, it's a good time to buy a little gift for Shang Yanxiao~"

–

TL: Muji

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