DASFAM_35

The newcomer appeared to be in his early thirties, dressed in a bespoke champagne-colored suit, accompanied by a female companion and an assistant—quite an imposing entourage.

Zhang Songyang extended his hand first, "Mr. Chu, good evening."

"Director Zhang, you're too kind."

Mr. Chu briefly shook it, then cast a cold sidelong glance at the assistant behind him, "My people don't know how to do their jobs. How did no one notify me the moment you arrived?"

The assistant bowed his head in apprehension, letting the blame land squarely on him, "I'm sorry, Mr. Chu. That was my mistake."

Zhang Songyang stepped in to smooth things over, "Ah, I'm nobody important. I just showed up, there's no need for Mr. Chu to personally receive me. Please, don't stand on ceremony."

"Director Zhang is too modest."

"......"

Bai Xu listened to the pleasantries between the two and quietly sized up Mr. Chu.

The man's narrow, elongated eyes gave off an unapproachable air, and his every move made no effort to conceal his sense of superiority and arrogance.

Zhang Songyang noticed Bai Xu's silence, "Come, let me introduce you to each other. Mr. Bai, this is the eldest son of the Chu family, Chu Yuncheng, currently the General Manager of Chu Group Investment."

"Mr. Chu, this is Mr. Bai of Zhaoye Investment. We only just made each other's acquaintance ourselves."

Out of courtesy, Bai Xu offered Chu Yuncheng a faint smile, "Mr. Chu, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Seeing Bai Xu's outstretched hand, Chu Yuncheng made no move to return the gesture. He left her hanging for a good moment.

He looked her over from head to toe, then merely raised his glass, "Mr. Bai? The face is unfamiliar. The name, too."

Bai Xu calmly withdrew her hand, unbothered by his rudeness, "I'm from China. I haven't been in Singapore long, so it's perfectly normal that Mr. Chu wouldn't recognize me."

"No wonder."

Chu Yuncheng offered that offhand reply and turned back to Zhang Songyang, "Director Zhang, I've been a bit swamped lately. How about we set a time tomorrow. Sunday? We can sit down properly and talk through the AW project you have on your hands."

"......"

The moment those words left his mouth, Bai Xu's expression shifted.

Zhang Songyang caught the deepening look in Bai Xu's eyes and glanced back at her involuntarily.

Chu Yuncheng caught the barely perceptible exchange between the two and asked, "What's this? Is Mr. Bai interested in this project as well?"

Zhang Songyang, ever the businessman, answered for her, "Mr. Bai happened to bring it up just now. Just casual talk."

"Oh? Just casual talk, that's fine." Chu Yuncheng gave a short laugh, his tone carrying a note of preemptive dominance.

"I'm sure Director Zhang is well aware that when it comes to this project of yours, within all of Singapore, Chu Group stands as one of the top partnership candidates—if not the top."

Zhang Songyang saw no point in dancing around it, "If Mr. Chu is genuinely interested in working together, that would naturally be a good thing."

"Of course. Shall I have our assistants coordinate a time shortly?"

"Sure."

Hardly had the words settled when another greeting rang out nearby, "Director Zhang!"

Spotting his old friend, Zhang Songyang seized the chance to step away from the battlefield where no smoke had risen, "Please excuse me for a moment, you two."

Bai Xu replied, "Go right ahead, Director Zhang. I'll come pay you a proper visit another day when you have time."

Zhang Songyang, without so much as a glance at Chu Yuncheng still standing there, said, "Sure."

At the same time, the assistant who had been standing in the back appeared to receive some message on his phone and leaned close to Chu Yuncheng's ear, murmuring something.

"......"

Chu Yuncheng's expression darkened instantly, and the gaze he turned on Bai Xu grew openly unfriendly, "Mr. Bai?"

Bai Xu sensed the shift in his attitude, "Mr. Chu, what would you like to say?"

"Not saying anything in particular, just want to give Mr. Bai a word of advice." Chu Yuncheng stepped half a pace forward, "As a China asset manager, you won't find it so easy to make headway in Singapore."

"Don't set your sights on projects you shouldn't, and don't meddle in matters that aren't your concern. Understood?"

His voice was low, but the threat was unmistakable.

"The projects I've set my sights on, the people I've set my sights on. Unless I decide I no longer want them, it's hardly your place as some new face to stick your nose in."

Having been belittled and provoked one too many times, a cold edge had long since crept into Bai Xu's heart, "Oh? Duly noted."

She steadied herself, smiling a smile that concealed a needle beneath silk, "Mr. Chu speaks with such confidence, I genuinely have to admire it. Most people simply don't have that."

The last half of that sentence carried a double meaning—no matter how you heard it, it sounded like a pointed jab.

Chu Yuncheng frowned, "You..."

Bai Xu lightly clinked her glass against his champagne, cutting off his retort, "Excuse me, I'll take my leave first."

With that, she turned and walked away without sparing him so much as a single glance.

Chu Yuncheng stared at her composed retreating figure, overcome by the helpless feeling of throwing a punch at cotton. He downed a mouthful of champagne in one go and took out his unnamed frustration by digging his fingers hard into the waist of the female companion beside him.

She winced in pain but forced herself to endure it without a sound.

Chu Yuncheng instructed his assistant, "Arrange the meeting with Director Zhang's assistant as soon as possible for tomorrow."

The assistant replied, "Understood."

...

Bai Xu walked back to the lounge area and coldly poured the champagne he had 'clinked' with Chu Yuncheng into the trash.

With Shang Yanxiao, someone he was long familiar with, he finally let his true feelings show, "Another one who thinks the world owes him something just because of his family name and background."

Shang Yanxiao removed his mini earpiece and offered some comfort, "Don't stoop to his level."

Bai Xu knew nothing about this person who had suddenly appeared, "You hadn't heard of him before either?"

Shang Yanxiao said, "I've heard of the Chu Group in Singapore, but I don't know much about them. We've never had any project dealings with them before. I've already sent Xie Qi to look into the specifics on Chu Yuncheng."

What was both frustrating and unexpected was that the two of them had done a good deed by helping a young actress, only to end up walking straight into this kind of trouble.

Bai Xu pushed down the irritation in his chest, "The materials Xie Qi gave me made absolutely no mention of Chu Yuncheng having any intention to collaborate with Zhang Songyang."

"That's true, I only just found out myself."

Shang Yanxiao's brow furrowed slightly, but he quickly worked it out, "They probably haven't fully reached an agreement yet. Both sides are playing it safe, so they deliberately haven't let the news out."

Bai Xu followed up, "That makes sense. Before Chu Yuncheng came over, I could clearly see that Director Zhang was inclined to get a deeper understanding of what our side had to offer."

"Even though Zhang Songyang came from a medical background, he's now who running a company. When it comes to business projects, it's unavoidable to compare multiple options and find the most suitable partner."

Nobody was a fool.

If the talks with Chu Group hit a snag, there always had to be a second candidate.

Just now, Zhang Songyang had been careful not to offend either side, and through what he said and left unsaid, he had cleverly used each party to provoke the other. Of course, that was standard practice in the business world—nothing to take offense at.

Shang Yanxiao glanced at the time, "Do we keep staying? I think tonight, our dealings with Zhang Songyang have gone as far as they can."

After all, Chu Yuncheng had made his move openly and signaled his intent to collaborate. In a public setting like this, there was no way Zhang Songyang would continue to engage with them further.

Bai Xu had little interest in this kind of glamorous banquet full of strangers, "Why don't we just head home? There's nothing more to it."

Shang Yanxiao took out his phone and sent a message to Chen Yufei, "Let's sit for another half hour, then we'll go."

"Alright."

...

Half an hour later, the hotel's underground parking garage.

Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao got into the car one after the other. Only once the car door shut did Xie Qi turn around from the front seat to ask, "Third Young Master, Young Master Bai, did tonight not go well?"

"Drive first."

Shang Yanxiao instructed Chen Yufei, casually pulling off the mask that had been getting in his way, "We'll talk when we get home."

Bai Xu explained, "We did run into a bit of a problem. It's a long story. How is the background check on Chu Yuncheng and the Chu family coming along?"

Xie Qi glanced at the time, "I've already asked someone to look into it. There should be news by the time we get home."

Hardly had the words settled when Chen Yufei, who was usually a steady driver, suddenly slammed on the brakes.

—Screech!

With no warning whatsoever, the other three in the car all lurched forward from the momentum. Shang Yanxiao had buckled his seatbelt a step earlier than Bai Xu and immediately twisted sideways to pull him back and shield him.

"Bai Xu, are you alright?"

"......"

Bai Xu had knocked his head against the back of the seat in front. Feeling a little dazed, he waved a hand, "I'm fine."

Shang Yanxiao's expression was not particularly pleasant, "What happened?"

Chen Yufei, usually so composed, showed a rare flash of panic and rushed to explain, "Third Young Master, Young Master Bai, I'm sorry. A sports car suddenly cut in from up ahead."

If he had been even a step later with the brakes, they very well might have collided right then and there.

Hearing this, Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao looked toward the front windshield at the same moment. A silver-red supercar was stopped directly in front of them, and from the distance between the two vehicles, it was clear just how dangerously close it had been.

Shang Yanxiao said warily, "Stay alert."

Honk. Honk.

Chen Yufei kept a stern expression and honked twice as a signal.

Within five seconds, a young man in a red suit stepped out of the sports car.

Perhaps noticing the gazes coming from inside their vehicle, he leaned against the car door with evident interest and made a 'surrender' gesture in their direction, one that carried far more of a playful air than any actual remorse.

Xie Qi rolled down the window, "Excuse me, sir, you..."

The man in the red suit replied breezily, "Sorry about that, I was in a bit of a rush. But I'm looking for someone. Just a quick word and I'll be on my way."

As he spoke, he made his way over step by step.

Bai Xu watched through the car window as the distance between them closed, a growing sense of puzzlement rising in his chest. The next second, the man in the red suit knocked on the window on his side.

Knock. Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock.

A rather light and brisk rhythm that effortlessly cut through the frozen atmosphere.

"......"

Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao exchanged a glance, and Bai Xu lowered the window only halfway.

Up close, Bai Xu noticed for the first time that the man actually had mixed-heritage features. His deep green eyes carried a trace of roguish amusement—conspicuous, but without any hostility.

The man in the red suit bent forward slightly and cast a brief, quick glance at Shang Yanxiao on the far side. The latter had already put his mask back on and was looking straight ahead, showing only half the outline of his face.

"......"

Something flickered in the man's eyes. He shifted his attention, landing his now far more interested gaze on Bai Xu, "Mr. Bai, first time meeting you. That just now was a bit out of line on my part. My apologies."

Bai Xu studied him and asked in silence, "And you are?"

The man in the red suit raised an eyebrow with a meaningful air, "I know what you're hoping to discuss with Director Zhang of Juesheng. I can be the one to broker that connection for you."

Bai Xu's eyes sharpened, "Oh?"

The man in the red suit fished a slip of paper from his pocket—a phone number jotted down on the spot, "Tomorrow afternoon at two-thirty, they'll be at Steven's private golf course. If you trust me, feel free to reach out anytime before then."

"......"

Bai Xu took it in silence and naturally was not about to place easy trust in a stranger who had shown up out of nowhere.

The man in the red suit was unbothered by the wariness he saw. He simply said, "You'll come around to trusting me. I'll go move my car and get out of your way."

With that, he got back into his car without looking back and pulled out of the underground parking garage in one clean move.

The window rolled back up.

Bai Xu handed the slip of paper with the phone number on it to Shang Yanxiao, "Who is this person?"

Shang Yanxiao didn't recognize him either, "Whoever he is, the fact that he did this at least proves he had been watching you, Zhang Songyang, and Chu Yuncheng from some other corner of the room the whole time."

Bai Xu caught on, "Since he's saying he wants to step in and broker a connection for us, does that not mean he actually doesn't want Zhang and Chu to reach an agreement?"

The enemy of an enemy might perhaps be a friend.

"It's too early to draw any conclusions."

Faced with 'help' that had arrived so unexpectedly at their door, Shang Yanxiao was more measured, "We'll talk when we get home. If we investigate these people one by one, we'll get to the bottom of it eventually."

"Mm."

...

By the time they got home, it was already past nine in the evening.

The two of them went upstairs together, and just before going into their respective rooms, Bai Xu couldn't help calling out to him, "Shang Yanxiao, hold on."

Shang Yanxiao obligingly stopped in his tracks, "What is it?"

Bai Xu smiled and leaned in, gesturing in the air at his cap and mask, "We're home already, why are you still wearing these? Isn't it stuffy?"

Shang Yanxiao only then remembered, and took them off, "Forgot."

He had actually already taken them off once he got into the car, but when they unexpectedly ran into the man in the red suit, he'd had to put them on again.

Shang Yanxiao noticed Bai Xu's gaze still fixed on his face, "What?"

"Right here."

Bai Xu reached out again, teasing, "The mask left a red mark on your face right here. It actually looks kind of cute~"

His soft fingertips grazed across the cheek in the lightest, most fleeting way—without ever quite making full contact, yet somehow still stirring a faint, lingering ticklishness that left something unsettled in its wake.

Shang Yanxiao instinctively closed his hand around those 'troublemaking' fingertips, "Bai Xu."

"......"

Fingertips caught within fingertips. Rough patches of skin pressing lightly against each other.

Caught off guard by the strange sensation, Bai Xu startled and tried to pull his hand back, only to have underestimated the grip Shang Yanxiao had closed around it, and found himself unable to pull free just like that.

"Shang Yanxiao?"

The most ordinary of names, and yet it came out carrying an uncharacteristic flutter of uncertain panic.

Shang Yanxiao released his hold on those fingertips and let his throat move in a barely perceptible swallow, "Are you tired? If you are, get some rest early tonight."

Bai Xu gave a muffled cough, "I'm alright. Aren't we still waiting on the background check materials from Xie Qi's side? I'll make use of the time and shower first."

"Sure."

The bedroom door closed.

Alone in his room, Bai Xu pressed his fingertips together, shook off that oddly untethered thought that had no business being there, and walked briskly toward the bathroom.

A few seconds later, he couldn't help muttering to himself inside the bathroom, "What is Shang Yanxiao playing at? Why did he have to tie it into a knot for me?"

...

Bai Xu took a little time with his shower, and when he came out in his pajamas, he saw that the study on the right side of the staircase had its light on.

He walked over slowly and knocked on the half-open door, "Shang Yanxiao?"

"Come in."

Xie Qi, who was also in the study, called out, "Young Master Bai, you've come at just the right time. I was just about to tell Third Young Master about the Chu family."

Shang Yanxiao indicated the seat beside him with a glance, "Sit."

Bai Xu sat down and noticed a cup of steaming oat milk sitting on the table, "Why is there milk?"

Xie Qi explained on his behalf, "Third Young Master had the housekeeper make it for you. He said it would help you sleep better tonight."

Bai Xu wrapped both hands around the cup, which was at just the right temperature, and somehow felt that warmth reach all the way to somewhere deeper.

"Thank you~"

He looked over at Shang Yanxiao with a bright smile, the cool front he kept up around outsiders entirely gone, his voice sounding unusually soft.

Shang Yanxiao smiled back, then promptly had Xie Qi get down to business, "What did you find?"

Xie Qi said, "The Chu Group is a prominent large-scale conglomerate in Singapore. They originally made their fortune in mining, then branched out into many other industries. It's a family enterprise."

Bai Xu looked at Shang Yanxiao, "Sounds like it should be fairly comparable to the Shang family?"

"A fair comparison."

Xie Qi affirmed this and continued with the background report, "The current chairman of Chu Group is Chu Tian, Chu Yuncheng's biological father. He's already seventy this year."

Bai Xu wasn't surprised, "How old is Chu Yuncheng? It sounds like Chairman Chu wasn't exactly early when it came to marriage and having children."

Xie Qi said, "Chu Yuncheng is thirty-two. In his early twenties he was a well-known playboy. From what I've heard, it was only about four or five years ago that he started seriously getting involved in the group's affairs."

Shang Yanxiao read the situation clearly, "Old Chairman Chu is already that age—it's about time he retired. If Chu Yuncheng hadn't started stepping up and learning to handle company matters, there was a real risk the side branches of the family would end up benefiting in the end."

Xie Qi nodded but went on to add, "And it's not just the side branches of the family who have their eyes on him, I'm afraid."

Bai Xu caught the implication, "What do you mean? Does Chu Yuncheng have other siblings?"

Xie Qi flipped the tablet around and held out the only photo he had managed to get his hands on for the two of them to see, "Chu Yuncheng has a half-brother on his father's side. The two are reportedly seven or eight years apart. He's a late-in-life son that Chairman Chu fathered with another woman after divorcing his first wife."

On the tablet was a group photo.

The person standing in the center was Chu Tian, chairman of the Chu Group. Standing to his left was his eldest son Chu Yuncheng, and the young man standing to his right was—

Bai Xu caught sight of that familiar mixed-heritage face and turned to Shang Yanxiao instinctively, "That's the person we ran into in the parking garage?"

Shang Yanxiao was also somewhat surprised, "Yes."

Xie Qi said, "This person's name is Chu Yate. His mother is reportedly German. Back in the day, Old Chairman Chu traveled to Germany for business negotiations and hired her as his accompanying interpreter."

To put it plainly, the two had developed a mutual, consensual physical relationship outside of work, though it never progressed to the point of marriage.

Once the business dealings were concluded, the two went their separate ways.

"But unexpectedly, the woman only came forward after giving birth to Yat. From what I've heard, she didn't ask Chairman Chu to take responsibility for her—only that he provide regular child support payments."

After Chu Tian confirmed that he and Yat were indeed biologically related, he was overjoyed. Far from keeping it under wraps, he made a great show of acknowledging his son publicly.

Over the years, Chu Yate had been going back and forth between Singapore and Germany, but had always been recognized both within the Chu family and by the outside world as the Second Young Master.

Shang Yanxiao speculated, "From the sound of it, the relationship between the two Chu brothers probably isn't particularly good."

Xie Qi said, "They've apparently always been at odds, especially after Chu Yate graduated from university and likewise began joining the Chu Group and taking on a number of projects."

With Old Chairman Chu's retirement on the horizon, the two brothers were most likely throwing everything they had into an open and underhanded struggle for position.

Bai Xu took a slow sip of his milk, and at this point was entirely certain, "What did I say? The enemy of an enemy is a friend."

Xie Qi, having long served as Shang Yanxiao's assistant, was no short of the ability to think several steps ahead, "Third Young Master, I also happened to look into this just now—"

"The golf course Young Master Bai mentioned that Chu Yate brought up is a private one, operating entirely on an ultra-exclusive membership system."

"Not only does it require a one-to-one nomination referral, but membership can only be obtained after accumulated annual spending reaches a certain threshold. There's currently no way for us to simply get in by spending our way in."

Bai Xu raised an eyebrow, "So what you're saying is, the only way to get us in is through Chu Yate?"

No wonder the man had said, before leaving, that they would reach out to him sooner or later.

If Chu Yuncheng and Zhang Songyang already had a firm intention to collaborate, and tomorrow's meeting was arranged at that golf course, then there weren't many opportunities left for the third branch of the Shang family.

Having confirmed the urgency, Bai Xu made up his mind without hesitation, "Shang Yanxiao, should I go and contact him?"

Shang Yanxiao knew this was the only avenue they had time to pursue, "Alright. Have Xie Qi reach out to him as your assistant."

Bai Xu didn't think much of it, "Mm? Sure."

...

The Louvre Estate in the western outskirts of N City—that was where Steven's private golf course was located.

Shang Yanxiao had changed back into his 'bodyguard' attire and brought the car to a gentle stop at the first security checkpoint.

A uniformed guard walked up and knocked on the window, "Hello. Please cooperate with the identity check."

Bai Xu rolled down the window and stated his name, "Zhaoye Investment, Bai Xu. I was invited by Second Master Chu."

The guard had already been informed of this by his supervisor, and shifted his eyes to Shang Yanxiao in the driver's seat, "Mr. Bai, you are Second Master Chu's invited guest, but I'm afraid your driver here cannot be granted entry."

Had Bai Xu been a senior member of the course, his accompanying bodyguard, driver, and assistant would all have been permitted through with him. The issue was that he was only a guest who had been invited, and did not have that right.

The guard phrased it diplomatically, "We have dedicated shuttle vehicles as well as a guest waiting lounge. Would this driver please move to wait there?"

"......"

Shang Yanxiao glanced over with an expression caught somewhere between speechlessness and something left unsaid.

In all his years, this was the first time he had ever experienced the absurdity of being turned away at a door because of his status.

Bai Xu suppressed a smile and kept his tone polite toward this conscientious guard, "One moment, let me get in touch with Second Master Chu."

The guard didn't dare refuse, "Of course."

Bai Xu got Chu Yate on the line, explained the situation once connected, then handed the phone to the guard, "Would you mind listening?"

The guard accepted it politely.

Apparently receiving Chu Yate's approval on the other end, the guard immediately stepped aside the moment he hung up and waved both the person and the car through.

"Mr. Bai, Second Master Chu is waiting for you in the A3 course lounge. Please follow the signs."

"Thank you."

The golf course grounds were vast, and it took the two of them nearly another fifteen minutes to reach the A3 course lounge.

Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao got out of the car together and walked in one after the other. The moment they pushed open the door to the lounge, a light, breezy whistle rang out from the direction of the bar.

Bai Xu turned his head and met Chu Yate's grinning mixed-heritage face.

The man was still dressed in his conspicuous red, and raised his glass in greeting, "Mr. Bai, not even twenty-four hours and we're meeting again."

Bai Xu gestured with his eyes for Shang Yanxiao to follow and walked over, extending his hand, "Second Master Chu, a proper greeting this time."

"Zhaoye Investment, Bai Xu. Pleasure to meet you."  

"Likewise." 

Chu Yate shook his hand warmly, then let his gaze drift past him.

Bai Xu followed the look and introduced Shang Yanxiao, "Oh, this is my assistant and bodyguard. My constitution has been poor since I was young, so I have to bring someone along when I go out. Thank you for helping sort things out at the gate just now."

Shang Yanxiao remained in his cap and mask, standing squarely beside Bai Xu like a post, not uttering a word.

"Think nothing of it."

Chu Yate's amused gaze swept over Shang Yanxiao with what appeared to be a casual air as he took a sip of his drink, "Whether it's for Young Master Bai's sake, or for Third Young Master Shang's, I'm happy to oblige either way."

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