DASFAM_33

Dinner was prepared lavishly. Learning from past experience, Shang Yanxiao had instructed the servants in advance to prepare Chinese food that Bai Xu was more accustomed to—almost all dishes he had eaten before.

Bai Xu slowly ladled pork rib soup to warm his stomach, "Where did you and Xie Qi go this afternoon? It's only the second day since arriving in Singapore, and you're already heading out casually. Aren't you afraid that the first branch will send people to secretly keep an eye on you?"

"We do need to be on guard, but we've already been careful enough."

Shang Yanxiao thought of something important, "There's a rather urgent project. I need to help Queyan get it secured as soon as possible, so he can establish a firm footing in the group quickly."

Bai Xu pressed further, "What project? Is it convenient to say?"

Shang Yanxiao had never intended to hide it from him, "An AI-assisted medical device developed by Germany's AW Technology."

"AI-assisted medicine?"

Bai Xu felt he had heard of this somewhere before, a flicker of thought crossing his brow.

Quickly, he pulled out the thread from his memory, "At the last family meeting, I heard the Old Master reprimanding Shang Songming for losing money on a medical project. Is it similar to what you're describing?"

"Mm."

Everyone knew that internet digitalization was where the money was, and the AI technology carved out from it had been the centerpiece of recent years.

When AI serves as a higher-grade aid in the medical field, the market prospects are very promising. However, although this piece of meat is tempting, not everyone can get a share of it.

"In the past few years, Germany's AW Technology researched a brand-new cancer-targeting electronic device. It has already passed reviews from various departments, but the initial investment was too large and there is no longer the capacity to continue the subsequent R&D and production."

A month ago, the executives filed externally for bankruptcy liquidation. Currently, quite a few companies both domestically and abroad have their eyes on this piece of meat—and the Shang Group, which had already carved out its territory in the internet space years earlier, is one of them.

Bai Xu caught on immediately, "You want this project?"

Shang Yanxiao didn't deny it, "I want to take the whole thing, but the best window has already been missed."

Bai Xu frowned, "What do you mean?"

Xie Qi explained on Shang Yanxiao's behalf, "AW's directors have a close personal relationship with the directors of Singapore's Juesheng Medical. Through that connection, the latter has already gotten ahead and signed a letter of intent with AW."

However, by conservative estimates, AW would still need over a hundred million US dollars for subsequent R&D, by no means a small sum.

This project was absolutely profitable, but it required continuous and uninterrupted investment. After all, any product needs ongoing R&D and iterative upgrades—there is no such thing as a one-time solution.

Perhaps because it was a plot point glossed over in the book, Bai Xu found the company Shang Yanxiao mentioned somewhat familiar, yet couldn't recall the specific details.

"Juesheng Medical?"

"Mm."

Shang Yanxiao shared the background investigation he had only learned about that afternoon, "Juesheng Medical's development momentum in recent years has been quite good, but based on the publicly released financial reports from the past two years, if the company were to put out the full amount all at once, their subsequent cash flow would be stretched thin, so..."

Bai Xu jumped in with the answer, "So they need capital injection from external enterprises, and will follow up with a dual-class share structure?"

"......"

Hearing his correct answer, a flicker of pleased admiration swept through the depths of Shang Yanxiao's eyes.

It was Xie Qi beside him who was caught off guard, visibly stunned, "Young Master Bai, how do you even know about all this?"

Although the terms he had rattled off weren't particularly difficult, they were hardly the kind of thing an outsider from a 'ceramic arts' background would have a clear grasp of.

Bai Xu calmly took a sip of his soup, "I just know."

Shang Yanxiao didn't dig further, simply going along with his words, "According to insider information, Juesheng's Director Zhang has this intention. It just hasn't been publicly announced yet."

"Xie Qi found out that there's less than a month left until the final deadline on their letter of intent."

In other words, within this one month, Juesheng Medical's top director, Zhang Songyang, would definitely be finding himself the right 'ally'.

Shang Yanxiao made his thinking clear, "The first step for Queyan to establish himself in the group shouldn't be too big a stride. If the third branch can secure a share of this project's equity, the results delivered in the short term would already be worth showing."

Bai Xu nodded, "Then you need to get in front of Zhang Songyang as soon as possible?"

"That's exactly the point I wanted to get to—"

Shang Yanxiao looked at Bai Xu—it was both a request between allies and a consideration born of personal feeling, "Bai Xu, my current situation makes it inconvenient for me to appear in public. I'd like to ask you to step in on my behalf."

Bai Xu raised an eyebrow, "Me?"

Shang Yanxiao explained plainly, "Xie Qi has already found out that Zhang Songyang will be attending a business banquet this Saturday. It's the best opportunity in the near future to meet and speak with him formally. I can find a way to get the invitation, it's just the matter of attending..."

Bai Xu finished the thought easily, "You want me to go?"

Shang Yanxiao was silent for two seconds, still not wanting to make things too difficult for him, "It's up to you. If you're not willing, I'll find another way."

Bai Xu caught the concession in his tone, and something in him shifted gently.

If it had been before, Bai Xu would absolutely have been unwilling to get involved in the third branch's business affairs. But last night, his sudden allergic reaction had left him in such a bad state—it was thanks to Shang Yanxiao's attentive care that he had come through unharmed.

Besides, he had come to Singapore in the capacity of an 'ally' to begin with, and business project negotiations like this were something he handled with ease. On every count, there was no way he could turn down this request.

Xie Qi pressed on his employer's behalf, "Young Master Bai?"

"Alright." Bai Xu agreed, "Everything related to this project, including materials on Juesheng Medical and Director Zhang, needs to be given to me. I'll need to familiarize myself in advance."

Today was only Monday—there were still five days to prepare. There was time.

At the same time, he put the unpleasant words out there first, "I can only say I'll do my best within my abilities, but I can't give a hundred percent guarantee that this project will definitely be secured."

Bai Xu never doubted his own capabilities and competence, but this project wasn't something he was fighting for on his own behalf after all—one always had to leave a little room in everything.

Shang Yanxiao's lips curved slightly, "Don't worry. With me here, we can consult each other at any time if something comes up. If there's any misstep with this project, I'll bear the responsibility."

Bai Xu caught a hint of something, "You're going too? Didn't you say it was inconvenient for you to appear publicly?"

Shang Yanxiao, in a rare moment, left him with a riddle, "You'll know by Saturday."

Bai Xu tucked away that small spark of rising curiosity, keeping up a stubborn front, "Fine, don't say it then. It's not like I'm dying to know anyway."

Shang Yanxiao gave a quiet laugh, "Eat more."

"Mm."

Bai Xu bit off a piece of beef and swallowed it, asking offhandedly, "Right, how come Allen left after barely a day on the job?"

Shang Yanxiao's hand holding the chopsticks paused, his gaze flicking toward Xie Qi.

"......"

Xie Qi met his eyes and, reading the room perfectly, picked up the thread, "Oh, the background check on Allen wasn't thorough enough beforehand. His social circle outside of work was a bit mixed. I mentioned it to Third Young Master, and for safety's sake, we swapped him out."

Bai Xu found it a little odd, "Is that so?"

Someone as meticulous as Shang Yanxiao, and with Xie Qi's working style—there was no way they would only realize last minute that the butler candidate wasn't right and make a sudden swap.

Shang Yanxiao pressed his lips together slightly and steered past the topic with a nudging tone, "Come on, eat. The food is going to get cold. And remember to take your medicine again later."

Bai Xu gave a small hum, and let the topic go.

...

Another wave of night settled in.

Bai Xu, freshly washed and ready for bed, lay back down and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The blanket near his nose still held a faint trace of a particular scent—

The sharpness of medicinal ointment mingled with the smell of mint shower gel—light, yet unexpectedly pleasant, the kind that made one involuntarily breathe in deeper and linger.

"......"

It was only after this calming scent had seeped into his heart that Bai Xu snapped back to his senses, a barely perceptible flicker of annoyance crossing his brow.

"What am I doing lying here wide awake in the middle of the night?"

The words had barely left his mouth before Bai Xu flipped over and sat up. He looked around the room, then, unable to resist his restless nature, got out of bed and left the room.

The careful motion of opening the door made only the faintest sound—yet what surprised Bai Xu was that the door to the master bedroom next door opened almost immediately after—

Shang Yanxiao, equally freshly washed, stepped out and met eyes with Bai Xu, who was wearing thin pyjamas.

Bai Xu's footsteps halted, "Is- is the soundproofing really that bad?"

"......"

Perhaps from all the tossing and turning in bed earlier, Bai Xu's collar had unconsciously fallen open a little too much. Shang Yanxiao felt a brief moment of discomfort, though what rose more at the tip of his heart was nerves.

He asked, "Why aren't you resting yet at this hour? Is something bothering you again?"

Bai Xu waved it off, "No. I just slept too long during the day, so now I can't fall asleep. I was thinking of going to the study and seeing if there's anything suitable for helping me doze off."

After all, playing on his phone in the middle of the night would only make a person more and more alert.

Shang Yanxiao, hearing his plan, said, "We've only just moved in. The study is quite bare, and there's hardly anything on the shelves yet."

Bai Xu had no choice but to abandon the idea of reading himself to sleep. Rethinking, he asked, "Shang Yanxiao, are you sleepy?"

"Not particularly."

"How about..." Bai Xu ventured, "We chat for a bit? Maybe somewhere along the way, I'll start feeling drowsy?"

Shang Yanxiao laughed inwardly, "So you're using me as a sleep aid?"

Bai Xu thought of how soundly he had fallen asleep after the lights went out in the early hours of the morning, and his heart skipped a beat without him noticing.

He gave a muffled cough, "I- I suppose so?"

Shang Yanxiao didn't refuse, "Let's go to your room then. It's late and a little cold, be careful you don't catch another chill."

"I won't. My constitution isn't that weak."

Bai Xu argued back with his mouth, but obediently did as he was told and returned to his own room.

Shang Yanxiao followed him in, casually pulling over a chair to sit down, "What do you want to talk about?"

Bai Xu lay back on the bed without any inhibition, shifting his gaze to look at him, and asked a little uncertainly, "Can we talk about your parents? What were Mr. Shang and Madam Chi like?"

Bai Xu's parents had divorced when he was very young, and the motherly love he experienced growing up was next to nothing. Though the book had only touched on it briefly, Bai Xu had still felt Shang Yanxiao's mother's gentleness between the lines.

Shang Yanxiao hadn't expected Bai Xu to open with this—he hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "My dad, like the other elders in the family, studied business management abroad. My mom, when she was young, was the lead dancer of the Chinese Classical Dance Troupe."

"One year, the troupe was invited to go on an overseas tour, and she happened to cross paths with my dad, who had been dragged along by a friend to watch the performance."

Bai Xu curled up on his side with the blanket, fully engaged, "So Mr. Shang fell for the Madam at first sight?"

Shang Yanxiao smiled, "That's probably right. From what my dad said, he wasn't the only one pursuing my mom back then. He put in no small amount of effort on that front."

Due to his lack of experience in romance, even though Shang Qi had been known in the capital social circle as an exceptionally accomplished young man, he had suffered quite a bit over this.

That said, everyone in the Shang family took after the Old Master when it came to matters of the heart—once they'd set their sights on someone, they didn't let go!

Even Shang Keyi and Wu Wei, whose match had been the most opposed at the time, had in the end persisted and made it work.

Bai Xu pressed further, "The Old Master didn't object at the time?"

"He didn't."

Shang Yanxiao's maternal grandparents were both distinguished artists of great virtue and skill. Chi Li, having been raised by them, was naturally accomplished and outstanding.

After the Old Master Shang had someone look into her background, he was satisfied. On top of that, his second son Shang Qi had never given him cause for worry from childhood to adulthood—so both families gave the marriage their wholehearted blessing.

Bai Xu asked curiously, "Were you two brothers especially endearing when you were little? Madam Chi couldn't have been strict with you either, right?"

Shang Yanxiao said, "I was alright. Queyan had a more mischievous temperament as a child. My parents were both very even-tempered people—they almost never got angry at us two brothers..."

He paused, then recalled something, "The one time they were both angry was during a trip, when I failed to stop Queyan from climbing a tree in his restless way, and he slipped and fell down from it."

"I went to catch him immediately, but I didn't have enough strength and couldn't quite hold him."

Even though it was all old history, Bai Xu tensed for a moment, "And then?"

Shang Yanxiao said with a helpless tone, "Queyan took me down with him. I scraped my forearm and got a gash on my arm from the stones. It took several stitches."

As he said this, he rolled up his pyjama sleeve, revealing the old scar from the stitches.

Bai Xu's brow furrowed slightly, "That must have hurt quite a bit at the time."

Shang Yanxiao had long forgotten the pain. He only said, "Queyan had it worse. He fractured his right leg and cried his eyes out from the pain."

With both their precious sons injured, the couple of the third branch was naturally distressed and upset, and their words came out sharper than usual. They even ordered the two brothers not to go out until they had fully healed.

Hearing this, Bai Xu's earlier tension instantly gave way to amusement, "Shang Queyan was the troublemaker. You were just the unlucky one dragged into it."

"What can you do when it's your own little brother? You just put up with it."

Shang Yanxiao smiled, then casually steered the conversation toward Bai Xu, "What about you?"

"......"

Bai Xu was silent for a few seconds, then picked out a couple of honest words that wouldn't give anything away, "I don't really remember. I have no memories of my mom to speak of. Though she must have been a very beautiful, very gentle woman."

After the divorce, Bai Xu's mother had gone abroad to pursue her career, and in all the years since, the two of them had never met again.

Bai Xu knew she had a new life of her own, and had never dared to disturb it.

The shade in Shang Yanxiao's eyes dimmed slightly, "I'm sorry."

Bai Xu brought his smile back, "It's fine. I was the one who brought it up. Shang Yanxiao..."

Shang Yanxiao's gaze remained steadily on his face, "Mm?"

Bai Xu said whatever came to mind, "Before the accident happened to you, had your family ever pressured you about that sort of thing?"

Before transmigrating into the book, he had been around the same age as Shang Yanxiao—twenty-six or twenty-seven. Though still relatively young, that hadn't stopped the elders in his family from already entertaining thoughts of setting him up on blind dates.

The trouble was, Bai Xu had never placed much importance on romance and love from the start. Not once in his life had a girl caught his heart, so every time he would just smile and brush it off.

Shang Yanxiao was once again caught off guard by Bai Xu's question, but answered honestly all the same, "I never gave it much thought before. Romance and marriage, to me, were never necessities."

Bai Xu heard this expected answer and the corner of his mouth curved upward.

Sure enough, Shang Yanxiao was fundamentally the same kind of person as him—better to have nothing than to settle.

Shang Yanxiao continued on the topic, "My mom did bring it up once or twice. She even asked what kind of person I liked, and said she could help me look properly."

Bai Xu couldn't hold back a smile, "And what did you say?"

Shang Yanxiao caught sight of Bai Xu's expression—the look of someone who loved watching a good spectacle—and swallowed back the "I brushed it off" that had been on the tip of his tongue, changing course instead.

"I told her I don't like girls."

"......"

In a rare moment, Bai Xu lost control of his expression entirely, eyes going wide with shock and bewilderment.

Shang Yanxiao took in his reaction, and pushed the trivial little joke a step further, "Otherwise, why do you think Grandmother had a so-called 'master' read the birth characters and then sought out a boy like you?"

"......"

Ah?

Was that the reason behind it too?

All traces of drowsiness gone, Bai Xu said, "Shang- Shang Yanxiao, you're not joking?"

Shang Yanxiao kept a straight face and continued to tease him, "Mm. I told my mom I like someone who seems well-behaved on the surface, but is fiercely competitive at heart—has to be sharp, has to have absolutely common ground with me, so that even with just a single glance..."

Shang Yanxiao deliberately slowed his speech, his deep eyes never letting Bai Xu go, "I'd know what they're thinking."

There wasn't a single aggressive move, yet Bai Xu felt inexplicably rooted to the spot.

His throat bobbed without reason, "Oh, so- so that's your type? Well, um, I'm feeling a bit sleepy."

The words had nothing to do with each other—a rare moment of flustered incoherence.

Shang Yanxiao noticed the unspoken nervousness Bai Xu was trying to hide beneath the surface, and couldn't hold back a full, open laugh.

"Bai Xu?"

"Hm?"

Bai Xu turned over and pretended to rub his eyes, "I really am a bit sleepy."

Shang Yanxiao knew when to stop, "I was teasing you. What are you nervous about?"

"......"

Bai Xu froze, then immediately realized he had walked right into Shang Yanxiao's trap. He spun back around, "Shang Yanxiao!"

Meeting Shang Yanxiao's expression, still lingering with amusement, he grasped for his dignity and forced out a scolding, "You—are—so—boring!"

Shang Yanxiao gave a noncommittal hum, "Oh? It really is getting late. Goodnight?"

Bai Xu yanked the blanket up over his head, "Who wants to say goodnight to you– just go back already."

Shang Yanxiao saw Bai Xu fuming under the blanket, suppressed a laugh, and turned off the light for him, "Goodnight. Sweet dreams."

He got up decisively and headed for the small connecting door for convenience. At the very moment he pressed down the handle, a muffled sound came from beneath the blanket.

"Goodnight."

...

Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye. Bai Xu changed into the dinner suit the butler had prepared in advance—

Summer in Singapore ran even hotter, so a conventional three-piece suit was naturally out of the question. The silk shirt, in a shade like moonlight, had a beautiful drape to it, and the smooth, cool sensation against the skin was wonderfully comfortable.

The collar bore no buttons at all—instead, two wide ties had been sewn in, needing only a light knot to freely adjust how much of the chest was on display.

Bai Xu casually tied a loose knot at the collar in front of the mirror—not tight, leaving the chest to fall open slightly and hint at a stretch of collarbone.

"Not bad."

Bai Xu appraised his reflection and raised an eyebrow in quiet satisfaction.

Knock, knock.

A knock at the door sounded.

Xie Qi's voice followed, "Young Master Bai, may I come in?"

Bai Xu didn't turn around, "Come in."

Xie Qi walked in carrying a large watch case, and opened it in front of Bai Xu, "Young Master Bai, Third Young Master would like you to pick one to wear."

"......"

Eight luxury timepieces were laid out in the case—the cheapest worth at least a million, the most expensive over ten million.

Bai Xu swept his gaze over them, knowing exactly what he was looking at, "Does it really have to be this grand?"

Xie Qi replied, "Tonight's banquet is a high-calibre affair. Third Young Master said your presentation can't fall short."

At a social dinner of this commercial nature, women showed off their diamonds and jewellery, men displayed their watches and brooches—the most basic and straightforward way to express one's standing.

Bai Xu understood tonight was no small matter, "Fine then."

He studied each watch carefully, and in the end selected one set with white and blue diamonds, a fitting match for his outfit that evening.

Click.

The clasp of the watch snapped lightly into place.

Perhaps because of the price tag attached, even that small sound seemed somehow particularly pleasing to the ear.

Bai Xu took in the long-missed grandeur of the wealthy, and let out a quiet inward sigh, "Right. Where's Shang Yanxiao? Didn't he say last time that he'd also be attending tonight's banquet?"

He glanced at the time, "It's five o'clock. Shouldn't we be heading out?"

Xie Qi closed the watch case and deliberately left him in suspense, "Young Master Bai, Third Young Master is already ready. He's waiting for you downstairs."

The curiosity Bai Xu had just managed to push down came creeping back, "He's ready?"

Xie Qi nodded, "Mm."

"What's he up to, all this mystery."

Bai Xu's words were calm enough, but the pace of his steps heading out quickened somewhat.

He had only made it halfway down the spiral staircase when he spotted, from some distance away, a figure standing by the refreshment bar on the ground floor—

A slim black shirt, black trousers—an outfit as simple as could be, yet one that traced the man's exceptional frame in full, undisguised view.

Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs—it was genuinely difficult to look away. A natural, living clothes hanger.

Hearing the sounds coming from the staircase, Shang Yanxiao turned around, "Ready?"

Bai Xu quickened his steps down the stairs, "What's all this?"

Shang Yanxiao picked up a flat cap and black face mask from beside him and armed himself from head to toe, "How's this? Am I passable as your stand-in bodyguard, someone to tail you and slip into the banquet alongside you?"

Dressed in black from head to foot, the look made his eyes seem even deeper than usual.

Bai Xu rose onto his toes, leaned in, and tugged down his mask, "Third Young Master, forgive my frankness. You were simply not born to be a bodyguard."

"No matter how plainly you dress or how thoroughly you cover up, standing in a crowd you'd still be the most conspicuous one there."

Hearing the compliment folded into those words, Shang Yanxiao's eyes brightened slightly, "So tonight, I'm still going to need you to cover for me."

Bai Xu smiled and lowered his heels back down, "Mm, I'll do my best. But are you sure you want to go?"

Shang Yanxiao came back to the point, "Don't worry. Those who are truly powerful and prominent in business know how to recognise a good close-range bodyguard."

Like Chen Yufei, who had always worked alongside them—a standard one-eighty-five and above, and when that man put on a formal suit and wore a straight face, the presence he commanded was quite formidable.

"Once we're inside the banquet, just say I'm your accompanying bodyguard. I'll stand to the side and play dumb."

As he said this, he pinned a brooch he had custom-ordered in advance onto Bai Xu's shirt, "There's a small listening transmitter inside. If there are particular situations where it's inconvenient for me to get close, it'll let me keep real-time track of your situation."

Bai Xu was mildly surprised, "Third Young Master, you've prepared this thoroughly?"

"Just in case."

Shang Yanxiao fastened the brooch for him, then let his gaze slide upward—

In the few steps it had taken to come down the staircase, the silk tie at Bai Xu's collar had already come somewhat loose. Never mind the collarbone—the view further below was half-concealed and half-not.

"......"

Shang Yanxiao's thoughts stilled for a brief moment, and when he came back to himself, his hands moved faster than his mind.

Bai Xu noticed him reaching for the tie and instinctively drew back, "What are you doing?"

"Don't move!"

Shang Yanxiao stopped him in time and stepped half a pace closer.

With swift, sure hands, he tightened the loose tie completely—even knotting it firmly, concealing the distracting view once and for all.

Bai Xu couldn't quite make out what was happening from the corner of his eye, "Shang Yanxiao, don't tie it so high. It's too tight."

Shang Yanxiao released his hands only once he was satisfied it was secure, "It won't be tight. The banquet will definitely have air conditioning, and this shirt of yours is thin to begin with, being covered up properly is just right."

Bai Xu wasn't entirely convinced, "Is that so? Couldn't I just bring a light jacket instead?"

"A jacket has already been prepared. If you get cold, tell me." Shang Yanxiao changed the subject, yet with a natural ease leaned his head down a fraction closer.

"Young master?"

"......"

The low, deep voice reached his ears.

Bai Xu, catching the form of address on his lips and meeting the handsome face so close to his own, answered somewhat unsteadily, "Mm?"

Shang Yanxiao put the question to him, "It's not convenient for me to interact much with others tonight. This evening is entirely in your hands. Is that alright?"

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