DASFAM_30

Old Master Shang's earth-shattering remark instantly 'exploded' through the room, leaving some of those present unable to stay seated.

Shang Keyi and Shang Yun, for once showing a sibling's tacit understanding, cried out in unison in astonishment, "Father!"

All these years, they had fought tooth and nail to work their own connections and influence into the group, yet Old Master Shang had always been quick to find fault and slow to keep anyone, and now look at this—

He had just casually extended an olive branch to Bai Xu? On what grounds? He really had gone senile, hadn't he?

Fang Yuhua was so anxious she turned sour, while Shang Songming outright shouted on the spot, "Grandfather, even if Bai Xu is Yanxiao's marriage partner, the two of them haven't registered yet! He's an outsider, how long has he even been here? What right does he have to enter the group?"

Wu Wei, catching the eye signal from his wife Shang Keyi, added, "Right, this- this doesn't seem appropriate, does it?"

Shang Qishun, seeing that his parents had already voiced their opposition, wisely kept his silence.

Shang Queyan watched the faces across from him, one by one unable to sit still in their agitation, and felt a secret surge of satisfaction rise within him, "Grandfather, I think it's perfectly fine. Everyone outside already knows that Bai Xu is my brother's marriage partner. He's part of our third branch."

"Having him and me enter the group together to learn the ropes and lend a hand would be just the thing to fill the gap."

The moment these words left his mouth, a volley of sharp looks came flying across from the other side.

Shang Keyi showed her domineering side, too contemptuous to bother arguing, "When has our group ever kept idle people around? Even if there are vacancies, they should be filled by capable people."

She shot a displeased glance at Bai Xu and demanded, "Bai Xu never dealt with any of this back at the Bai family, did he? The cut-and-thrust of the business world isn't something you can navigate with a few honeyed words."

The implication was clear—she was convinced that Bai Xu had simply charmed the old couple at the banquet and was now reaping an undeserved windfall.

"What is all this clamoring about?"

Old Master Shang set his teacup down on the table with a heavy thud, "Every single word I say today is met with endless words waiting in return. Perhaps you'd all like to run this household instead?"

"……"

Old Master Shang looked toward Shang Keyi, who was seated closest to him, and brought up old grievances, "So you do know there's such a thing as 'honeyed words' in this world? All these years, I rather thought you only knew how to defy my wishes!"

"Father!"

Shang Keyi's brow instantly furrowed even tighter, her chest still blocked by a resentment she couldn't quite release.

How many years had she been married now?

Why did he still bring up this matter to lecture her every so often, what was the point?

Back then, Old Master Shang had insisted that Wu Wei was a kept man and a pheasant climbing his way up by riding on her family's name, insisting that the marriage would surely bring serious trouble down the line! And what had come of it?

Wu Wei had never once put a foot wrong all these years! He had remained faithful to their marriage and to her throughout!

Shang Keyi muttered under her breath, "No matter how sharp your eye is, you've still misjudged people before."

"……"

Beside her, Wu Wei could see things were heading the wrong way and quickly reached under the table to take his wife's hand, soothing her, "Alright, alright."

Old Master Shang paid her no mind, and instead fixed his gaze once more on Bai Xu, "Bai Xu, I'm asking you a question, why haven't you said a word this whole time?"

Shang Queyan, with a flicker of anticipation, asked, "Bai Xu? What do you think?"

Faced with the varied looks from everyone around him, Bai Xu calmly slipped the black ring back onto his middle finger, "Old Master, I'm grateful for your regard, but I have no wish to work at the Shang Group."

Shang Queyan's anticipation deflated, his confusion plain.

The others all let out a breath of relief without quite meaning to, and Fang Yuhua and Shang Songming, mother and son, even exchanged a glance, quietly laughing to themselves:

Such a golden opportunity laid right before him and he still didn't want it? He really was a fool!

Old Master Shang fixed his eyes steadily on Bai Xu, "Oh? And why is that?"

Bai Xu had long since settled into his composure and chosen his words, and smiled faintly, "The first reason, you've already seen it just now. I have no desire to become a target for everyone's arrows."

"……"

Hearing this, the first and second branches both felt as though an arrow had struck them squarely in the knee.

Bai Xu paid no attention to their reactions and continued, "The second reason is that I sincerely hope you and the Old Madam could feel genuine happiness on such a joyous occasion as your sixty-fifth wedding anniversary."

"That gift truly held no monetary value, but it was entirely free of any calculation. I have no need for this kind of return in favors."

A few words spoken with quiet ease—and the difference between them was made plain for all to see.

In the real world, Bai Xu's parents had divorced when he was very young, and his grandmother, Old Madam Bai, had passed away from illness when he was ten.

For Bai Xu, who had transmigrated into the novel, Old Master Shang reminded him not only of the grandfather who had raised him, but he also envied Shang Yanxiao for having a grandmother as gentle and loving as Old Madam Shang.

Most importantly, the steadfast love the Shang couple had maintained for decades moved him deeply and made him long for something he had never dared hope for—he who had grown up with no faith in marriage whatsoever.

If everything that followed would still unfold as the original story dictated—if Old Master Shang was fated not to escape the ending of 'falling gravely ill and eventually passing away' in the coming year—then Bai Xu's only wish was this:

That today's bowl of yellow croaker noodles could add one more cherished memory to the little time the old couple had left.

"……"

Old Master Shang had heard far too many honeyed words spoken with hidden purposes.

He sat in silence, scrutinizing Bai Xu, trying to find even the faintest trace of insincerity on his face—and found, to his rare surprise, that the effort came to nothing.

Old Master Shang steadied himself, "Is there more? Go on."

Bai Xu answered, "The third reason is for my own sake. Although my relationship with Shang Yenxiao is one of an arranged marriage, he still hasn't woken up, and the truth is we have no emotional foundation between us whatsoever."

"Old Master, I am an independent person, not an appendage of Shang Yenxiao or of the Shang family. I have no desire to be pointed at and talked about—to have people say I latched onto a powerful leg to climb or that I came in through the back door."

"I know the Shang family's standing in the capital circle. I have indeed relied on that standing to receive a degree of respect I never had before, and that is enough."

Making one's way through this world, having what people call a 'background' to lean on is certainly a fine thing—but to depend on it in everything would sooner or later leave a person hollowed out and useless.

Besides, Bai Xu had always been firm in his intention to leave the Shang family.

If he were to enter the group now for the sake of short-term gain, endless entanglements would inevitably follow, and extricating himself later would be far from simple.

"If possible, I would like to prove my worth somewhere outside of Shang's, using my own ability."

Bai Xu submitted a near-perfect answer in a tone that was neither servile nor arrogant.

After hearing his response, Old Master Shang let out a faint, not entirely obvious chuckle, "You've got backbone. In that case, do as you see fit. People have their own aspirations, I won't force anything."

Bai Xu returned a smile, "Thank you for understanding, Old Master."

Shang Qishun watched the exchange between Old Master Shang and Bai Xu, and a long-absent sense of crisis surged up within him once more.

The corners of his mouth tightened involuntarily for a brief moment, then curved back into their usual practiced arc—he still chose to play it safe, making no deliberate effort to assert his presence.

...

Just past nine o'clock, the shuttle bus pulled up at the villa entrance.

With the driver's assistance, Shang Queyan carefully maneuvered his wheelchair off the vehicle. The moment it hit the ground with a bump, a flash of pain crossed his expression.

Bai Xu noticed this and glanced down at his legs, "Are you alright?"

Even with prosthetics fitted, the rehabilitation process was never something that could be rushed—the fact that Shang Queyan had managed to reach that point in such a short time was no small feat.

After spending this period of time together, Shang Queyan no longer resisted Bai Xu's concern, "I'm fine."

The two entered the house one after the other.

Zhang Changning, who had been waiting in the sitting area, immediately stood up, "Bai Xu, Queyan, you're back?"

Shang Queyan asked, "You haven't left yet?"

"Yeah."

Zhang Changning stepped closer and gestured upstairs with his eyes, "After the banquet ended, my brother said he wanted to find Third Brother… to talk about something. He's still upstairs."

Zhang Changning had learned of Shang Yanxiao's true situation through his own elder brother. Of course, he had always stood firmly in the third branch's camp and would never let something so important slip carelessly.

"Oh, right. Bai Xu, that gift you sent tonight–" Seizing the moment with no outsiders around, Zhang Changning launched straight into praise, "It was absolutely stunning. Even my brother said you were something else."

"Did he?"

Bai Xu glanced toward the second floor and teased, "I always thought the Second Young Master Zhang only had eyes for you, his little brother. Didn't expect he'd spare some praise for me too."

The words had barely landed when footsteps sounded on the spiral staircase. Zhang Changxu came walking down, "What are you all talking about?"

Zhang Changning's eyes lit up, "Second Brother, you're done?"

Zhang Changxu met his bright, glittering gaze, "Mm. It's getting late, let's head back."

"Okay."

Zhang Changning agreed without a moment's hesitation.

Before leaving the villa, he didn't forget to remind Bai Xu repeatedly, "When the studio opens in a few days, you absolutely have to send me an invitation. I'll be there to show my support!"

Bai Xu smiled back, "Got it. Take care on the way."

"Will do."

The villa doors closed once more.

Shang Queyan steered his wheelchair toward the elevator, "I'm going up to check on my brother, do you want to come?"

Bai Xu knew full well what was meant, "Sure."

The moment the two stepped into the master bedroom, they were met with Shang Yanxiao's waiting gaze.

Shang Yanxiao had already learned the details of the banquet from his friend ahead of time, "The Old Master was very pleased with the gift you prepared."

Bai Xu didn't claim the credit for himself, "This gift was sent on behalf of the third branch together, without you sending Xie Qi to track it down, and Queyan personally going to verify it, tonight's effect wouldn't have been possible."

Shang Yanxiao's lips curved slightly, "It was your idea."

Even he himself wouldn't have been able to read through the autobiography and pick out a seemingly unremarkable detail, then turn it into a heartfelt gift.

Shang Queyan nodded, then recounted the family meeting to his brother once more. Thinking back to how Bai Xu had answered Old Master Shang, he felt genuine admiration.

"Bai Xu, very few people actually dare to turn down Grandfather's proposals. I thought you would have grabbed that 'opportunity'."

"People make different choices. My reasons for declining were already made quite clear just now."

Bai Xu smiled, without the slightest trace of regret.

His gaze met Shang Yanxiao's, then drifted to rest on Shang Queyan, "Too many people in your Shang family 'fear' the Old Master—it's simply because they see him as the one who controls the group and the family, above everyone, where a single word from him can determine a person's fate."

Deciding which projects each branch kept their hands on, deciding investment funds for subsidiaries, even deciding how the family assets would be divided in the future.

Only those who wish to gain have reason to fear.

Since Bai Xu had nothing to gain from Old Master Shang, he naturally had no reason to fear the man—and without fear, conversation could flow normally and on equal footing.

"Strip away the titles of 'head of the family' and 'group chairman,' and isn't he just an ordinary old man?"

Bai Xu cut straight to the truth, even with a pointed note of amusement, "The older people get, the more they're like children. When they throw a fit, just find the right approach, coax them a little, and it's sorted."

"……"

Hm?

Was that so?

Shang Queyan didn't quite follow, but was thoroughly struck by this, and couldn't help looking over at his brother.

Shang Yanxiao caught his younger brother's questioning glance from the corner of his eye, yet found it difficult to look away from Bai Xu, "You're not wrong. The Old Master isn't that hard to deal with, you just have to get the measure of his temperament."

Bai Xu received the agreement and raised an eyebrow, "Mm-hmm."

Watching his brother and Bai Xu play off each other so naturally, Shang Queyan felt a flicker of doubt, "How come I never got that impression?"

Shang Yanxiao said to him, "You spent most of your time abroad before. Once you join the group in a couple of days and have more contact with the Old Master, you'll see."

Bai Xu offered a concise summary, "On group projects, say less and do more. In family matters, go along with things more and question less. If you genuinely can't find common ground, don't force it, just let him be."

Shang Queyan gave a nod, then couldn't help muttering under his breath, "…How is it that you two always end up thinking alike on everything?"

Bai Xu hadn't caught it clearly, "What did you say?"

Shang Queyan shook his head, "Nothing."

Shang Yanxiao turned to the matter at hand, "Right. I just had a chat with Changxu. Now that the first branch has returned to the country, they're bound to probe my side repeatedly, and they'll keep a closer and more ruthless eye on things than the second branch ever did. If I keep staying here, I'll find myself restricted at every turn."

"On top of that, whether it's the subsidiaries or within the group itself, our third branch's assets are all tightly tied to Shang's."

A family business came with its advantages—and also no shortage of inconveniences.

Bai Xu grasped it immediately, "You're looking to step out from under the first branch's—and the entire Shang family's—watch, and build up a separate asset company elsewhere?"

Shang Yanxiao gave a slight nod, tacitly confirming the assessment.

Shang Queyan had always trusted his brother's decisions, "Brother, are you planning to use this as a chance to leave? Where would you go?"

"……"

Bai Xu suddenly recalled something mentioned in passing in the original novel, and ventured, "Singapore?"

Shang Yanxiao looked mildly surprised, "Mm, that's the current plan. Changxu will tell the Old Master that there's new medical equipment in Singapore that would help with my recovery."

Once there, Shang Yanxiao would arrange for a stand-in to lie in the hospital bed, then use the liquid assets already on hand to begin building a new enterprise from scratch.

He looked toward Shang Queyan, "Things here at home will be in your hands to watch over. I'll get you a new contact method when the time comes. If anything comes up with the subsidiaries or within the group that you can't handle, you can always reach me."

"Understood."

Bai Xu listened to the exchange between the two brothers, a quiet understanding settling over him.

Sure enough—any of the brief time skips in the original novel, when translated into 'reality,' concealed countless unfolding circumstances.

In the original story's glossed-over stretch of plot, Shang Yanxiao had gone to Singapore for nearly three months of treatment before suddenly 'waking up,' and only returned home after his condition improved.

During that same period, Shang Queyan had likewise gone through his own growth and transformation—not only was he able to move freely with his prosthetics, but he had gradually found his footing within the group.

Shang Yanxiao called out, "Bai Xu."

Bai Xu came back to himself, "Mm?"

A rare flicker of hesitation surfaced in the depths of Shang Yanxiao's eyes, "Are you staying in the capital? Or coming with me to Singapore?"

"……"

Bai Xu had never considered the question before, and found himself momentarily at a loss for an answer, "I don't know."

"There's still time, think it over at your own pace." Shang Yanxiao dimmed whatever had stirred behind his eyes and did not press, "It's getting late. Both of you, go and rest."

Bai Xu drew a quiet breath, "Alright."

...

Another night passed without incident.

Bai Xu didn't get to wake naturally—he was roused by a brief, urgent knocking, and with some effort he pried his eyelids open, only to hear Xiao Deng calling out from the other side of the door.

"Young Master Bai, are you awake?"

"……"

"Young Master Bai?"

The voice was deliberately kept low, but the urgency in it was unmistakable.

Bai Xu sensed something was wrong, and with a furrowed brow he rolled over and sat up. He got out of bed quickly and opened the door, "What's happened?"

It wasn't even nine o'clock yet.

Xiao Deng saw his bleary, half-awake expression, and the anxious look on his face softened with a touch of apology, "I'm sorry,Young Master Bai, for disturbing your rest, but the Eldest Young Master is in the master bedroom right now!"

Bai Xu was taken aback, and in an instant his mind was fully clear, "Shang Qishun?"

"Yes!"

Xiao Deng kept his voice down and quickly relayed the situation, "He said he's here to visit the Third Young Master. Brother Fei and I couldn't keep blocking him, and Assistant Xie left early this morning with the Fourth Young Master for the subsidiary."

Shang Qishun was nowhere near as easy to handle as those from the second branch. Choosing this particular moment to pay a 'surprise visit'—it was plainly suspicious.

"Brother Fei was worried the Eldest Young Master might notice something off, so he sent me to come get you…"

Xiao Deng didn't get to finish before Bai Xu was already heading toward the master bedroom, "I understand."

...

In the oppressively quiet master bedroom, the sense of constriction mounted steadily.

Shang Qishun stared at Shang Yanxiao, who lay completely motionless on the bed. The gaze concealed behind his lenses shed all its usual warmth and refinement, turning deep and cold.

Across the bed, Chen Yufei stood with a rigid expression, watching his every move without letting anything escape his notice.

Shang Qishun was the legitimate Eldest Young Master of the Shang family, and he had come under the perfectly proper pretext of a 'visit'—if they, as bodyguards, were to forcibly bar him from entering, it would only invite greater suspicion.

And so Chen Yufei could do nothing but stay close and keep watch.

Fearing that Shang Qishun might pick up on something, he had sent Xiao Deng to sound the alarm at the earliest possible moment.

Then, without warning, Shang Qishun bent slightly at the waist, as though intending to reach out.

Chen Yufei cut him off at once, "Eldest Young Master!"

Shang Qishun glanced at him sideways, "What are you so tense about? Could it be—"

—Bang!

The master bedroom door was pushed open, cutting off the unspoken confrontation.

Bai Xu strode in quickly. Chen Yufei looked as though he had just seen his saving grace, "Young Master Bai!"

Bai Xu caught the overwrought edge in his voice and kept his own deliberately easy, "Morning."

Shang Qishun pressed his fingertips together and turned unhurriedly to look at the new arrival, "Young Master Bai, up so early?"

Bai Xu returned a smile, "Not as early as the Eldest Young Master."

Coming at precisely this hour—it was obviously meant to catch them off guard.

Shang Qishun's expression didn't waver in the slightest, "I had breakfast and came by on the way. These past three months abroad, I've been thinking about Yanxiao quite a bit—but last night ran too late, so I didn't come with you and Xiao Yan right away."

Bai Xu tugged at the corner of his mouth and offered no reply.

"Though I'd say Young Master Bai has been taking good care of Yanxiao?" Shang Qishun glanced toward Shang Yanxiao on the bed, his expression thoughtful, "I've heard that people in prolonged comas often suffer muscle atrophy and weight loss from insufficient nutrition intake. And yet—"

He paused for two seconds. A cold glint refracted off his lenses, "The state Yanxiao is in, I almost thought he was just pretending to be… asleep."

The words carried a clear undercurrent. Chen Yufei felt his chest tighten.

Bai Xu, however, fielded it with complete ease, "Then we'll take that as a good omen from the Eldest Young Master."

"We'd actually prefer that the Third Young Master were simply sleeping—at least that way, there would always be a day he'd wake up. When that day comes, I'll make sure to have someone notify the Eldest Young Master at the very first moment~"

That last line was delivered with exceptional sincerity.

Shang Qishun smiled without a crack to be found, "Alright."

Bai Xu took two steps forward, inconspicuously pressing him to create some distance, "Eldest Young Master, if you wouldn't mind stepping aside, the Third Young Master's drip is nearly empty. I need to change it."

"……"

Shang Qishun stepped back.

Bai Xu signaled Chen Yufei to go fetch a new nutrition bag, while at the same time bending down to straighten the covers around Shang Yanxiao.

Sensing the fixed, unrelenting gaze at his back, he offered what seemed like an amiable suggestion, "Actually, Eldest Young Master, why not spend a bit more time attending to your own personal affairs?"

Shang Qishun's expression shifted almost imperceptibly, "Personal affairs?"

Bai Xu caught the sudden stiffening in his tone and turned to ask in return, "Aren't you and Miss Bai set to get engaged in the second half of the year? I've heard that wedding preparations are quite involved, doesn't that count as personal affairs?"

Shang Qishun's expression eased, "Is that all? A bit of money for a wedding planner takes care of it."

Bai Xu noticed the subtle shift between one moment and the next, and pressed on without letting it go, "I was only mentioning it offhand—look how tense that's made the Eldest Young Master. Someone who didn't know better might think you'd been keeping something from everyone."

Faced with Bai Xu's relentless stream of veiled implications, Shang Qishun parried without a single misstep, "Young Master Bai is nothing like the rumors, quite fond of jokes, aren't you."

The second branch hadn't sent some fool to humiliate Shang Yanxiao at all.

They had quite plainly found him a very capable ally.

"You flatter me."

Bai Xu's reply came lightly, but when it came to seeing someone out, he was anything but courteous.

"Eldest Young Master, here's the thing—in order to nurture the bond between Yanxiao and me as a couple, and to let Yanxiao get familiar with my voice in advance, I've made a habit of spending breakfast time alone with him. Having outsiders present isn't very convenient."

As he spoke, he even went ahead and made a gesture toward the door, "Since the Eldest Young Master has already eaten, I won't keep you. Please, go ahead."

"……"

In nearly thirty years of living, Shang Qishun had never once heard this particular brand of 'see yourself out' delivered quite like that.

He paused for a moment, the practiced curve of his mouth no longer sitting at its usual calibrated angle, "Bai Xu, you're more interesting than my third brother."

Bai Xu tilted his head slightly and gave no reply.

Shang Qishun wasn't about to make things awkward for himself. He cast one more glance at Shang Yanxiao on the bed, "Then I wish you… an enjoyable meal."

With that, he left the room without looking back.

Only once the door had closed did Bai Xu offer a dry aside, "Quite the hollow courtesy."

A little while later, Chen Yufei came back carrying breakfast, "Third Young Master, Young Master Bai. I watched him leave with my own eyes. He shouldn't be coming back."

Shang Yanxiao opened his eyes and sat up, the composed set of his brow drawing into something sharp and cold.

Bai Xu, having washed up, came back in and picked up an oat milk without much thought, "Caught you off guard, didn't he?"

Shang Yanxiao let out an imperceptible sigh, "I was prepared, just not prepared enough."

The two of them were only three or four years apart, and had been genuine rivals for as long as either could remember. They knew each other's ways well.

Shang Yanxiao had anticipated that Shang Qishun would never let others' words dispel his suspicions—and sure enough, here he had come.

Bai Xu thought back to Shang Qishun's probing just now, "With things as they stand, staying at the estate really isn't safe. There's a risk of being found out at any moment."

After all, no matter how convincing the act of being in a coma, the most instinctive physical signs of illness were near impossible to replicate.

"Yes."

Shang Yanxiao felt the tension in him ease slightly, "Lucky you got here in time."

Bai Xu took a few sips of his oat milk, a smug little laugh in his voice, "Now do you see how important it is to have me as an ally? At the critical moment, it still takes me to cover for you."

"……"

Shang Yanxiao caught a glimpse of the faint sheen of moisture on his lips, and something in his thoughts wavered, "Mm."

Knowing full well he had no right to push, he still found himself asking without thinking, "So, is this ally of mine coming abroad with me?"

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