DASFAM_37

"......"

Chu Yuncheng's tone was far too arrogant, even bordering on outright provocation.

Zhang Songyang hadn't expected that his casual invitation would stir up something like this, "Mr. Chu, we're all just here to exchange pointers with each other. There's no need to make it this serious."

Chu Yate immediately chimed in, "Brother, Bai Xu isn't familiar with the place at all. Throwing out competition terms right off the bat like this, isn't that a bit too harsh?"

Zhang Songyang's golf skills were decent enough, and this course was his familiar territory to boot. A match like this was simply unfair.

"Too harsh?"

Chu Yuncheng acted as though he'd heard something amusing. He twirled his club and said, "The competition in the business world is far harsher than this. Mr. Bai, surely you haven't come this far without even that much nerve?"

Compared to the standard stroke play format, match play was better suited for a head-to-head duel—it was all about the fast-paced thrill and the ability to adjust one's mindset on the fly.

"You don't have to compete." Seeing that Bai Xu remained silent, Chu Yuncheng gestured toward the exit, "You're welcome to leave right now."

The next second, Bai Xu responded lightly, "Mr. Chu, I'll compete with you."

Chu Yuncheng hadn't expected Bai Xu to actually take up the challenge. The arrogance in his expression stiffened slightly.

Bai Xu pressed further, "But I haven't tried this course before. Could I play two or three warm-up shots to get a feel for it first? No objections, Mr. Chu?"

Afraid that Chu Yuncheng might make things difficult for Bai Xu, Chu Yate got in first with a well-placed nudge, "What objection could there be? Brother wouldn't be so petty as to quibble over something like that."

Chu Yuncheng gave a cold snort but didn't refuse.

As far as he was concerned, Bai Xu was nothing more than a half-baked amateur, only going along with Chu Yate to make a show of himself in front of Zhang Songyang.

He had every confidence in his own game. The more stubbornly the other side talked tough now, the worse they'd lose in the end.

Bai Xu turned and walked back to Shang Yanxiao's side. The latter retrieved a set of golf clubs from the shuttle vehicle—equipment they had only just put together on short notice and never properly broken in.

"Bai Xu, do you actually know how?" Shang Yanxiao said in a low voice, concern evident, "Why not let me do it instead?"

Golf, as a high-caliber sport, occasionally featured in corporate team-building activities alongside business dealings. Shang Yanxiao had naturally learned the game at some point, and had even played a few amateur rounds in the past.

But from the background information gathered on Bai Xu, it appeared he had never touched a golf club in his life.

Bai Xu replied in a volume only the two of them could hear, "If my 'bodyguard' steps in for me right now, there's a good chance we'd be found out."

"Chu Yuncheng and Chu Yate are nothing alike in character, they can't really be called allies. You'd better tread carefully."

Shang Yanxiao understood Bai Xu's reasoning, though the tension didn't leave his expression.

Bai Xu slipped on his athletic wrist brace with practiced ease and met his focused gaze, "Shang Yanxiao, a person has their pride. Even if I lose the match, it doesn't mean I lose as a person. And besides..."

Shang Yanxiao watched the shift in his mood closely, "Besides what?"

"How do you know I won't win?"

Bai Xu selected the club with the best grip, the confidence in his eyes and brow strikingly compelling, "I want you to believe in me."

Shang Yanxiao's heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, something more important than winning or losing had made itself known, "Of course I believe in you."

...

Bai Xu walked back over with his club in hand.

Chu Yuncheng raised an eyebrow and urged him along, "Mr. Bai, stop dragging your feet. Get your warm-up in and let's settle this quickly."

Bai Xu paid no mind to the impatience lurking beneath his words and found his spot.

He turned to the side and stood steady, letting both arms hang naturally as he lined up the angle of his swing. The form alone carried an inexplicable air of ease and precision—the kind no novice could pull off so effortlessly.

"......"

The onlooking Zhang Songyang and Chu Yate both brightened at the sight, while Chu Yuncheng's brow furrowed slightly.

Thwack!

The shot produced its result in an instant.

Chu Yuncheng's brow smoothed out. With a barely concealed sneer, he said, "Don't be nervous, Mr. Bai. That shot was way off."

"......"

Bai Xu didn't react, only kept his focus on adjusting his stance.

Being unfamiliar with the course was a fact. Getting used to a new club was also a fact.

No matter how Chu Yuncheng chose to mock him, he allowed himself a margin of three shots to find his footing.

He sent another ball rolling—it just barely grazed past the hole.

Seeing this, Chu Yuncheng grew even more relaxed and dismissive, "Keep at it, Mr. Bai. You've still got one more shot to try."

Zhang Songyang's brow creased. He found Chu Yuncheng's voice unbearably grating.

Beside him, Chu Yate had lost any inclination to joke around. He kept his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Bai Xu's practice shots, his mind already turning over what the outcome might be.

Thwack!

Another swing!

Shang Yanxiao stood at an elevated vantage point some distance behind, watching Bai Xu's nearly flawless form, and felt something settle within him.

Sure enough, this shot came without any deviation at all, rolling cleanly and dropping into the hole.

Chu Yate shouted on the spot, "Beautiful!"

Chu Yuncheng narrowed his eyes, convinced it was nothing more than a blind cat stumbling onto a dead mouse, "It's just a short-distance putt. What's there to cheer about?"

Bai Xu pretended not to hear, "Mr. Chu, only five holes? How exactly are we playing this?"

Chu Yuncheng had already sent the caddie off to get everything prepared. He gestured with a haughty air, "Simple. Five holes at the same distance, played in full. Whoever takes fewer strokes per hole wins it, and the final count goes by total holes captured."

It was a simplified set of rules, but the core of what was being tested remained the same.

Bai Xu agreed, "Fine. Mr. Chu goes first?"

Thinking to seize the upper hand from the start, Chu Yuncheng didn't bother to yield, "Sure."

The match officially began.

Chu Yuncheng selected his spot in the designated tee box and swung his first shot with ease.

Thwack! A perfect hole-in!

Faced with this entirely expected result, Chu Yuncheng smiled with satisfaction, "Your turn, Mr. Bai."

Bai Xu walked steadily forward. After a brief moment of preparation, he swung his first shot—but the force fell slightly short, and the ball came to a stop a little over ten centimeters from the hole.

"Tsk."

Chu Yuncheng made a faint, loaded sound, "Looks like I've taken the first hole. Off to a good start."

Bai Xu's heart gave a tight squeeze. He stepped away from the tee box without any expression on his face.

Chu Yuncheng swung again for the second hole—another swift, precise, decisive hole-in.

Chu Yate and Zhang Songyang instinctively exchanged a glance and quietly worried on Bai Xu's behalf.

However much they disliked Chu Yuncheng's overbearing attitude, they couldn't deny in this moment that his game was genuinely something.

Bai Xu stepped up again under Chu Yuncheng's gaze. He turned to the side, steadied his breathing, then poured his full concentration into his second swing.

Thwack! The short-distance shot went in just the same!

Chu Yate let out a breath, "This hole counts as a tie?"

Chu Yuncheng didn't dispute it, "The match is far from over. What's the hurry?"

Even if the second hole ended in a draw, he was still leading by one, wasn't he?

With a game as inconsistent as Bai Xu's, the last three holes would only expose him for what he was. The farther the distance to the hole, the harder it would get for him.

Carrying that thought in his head, Chu Yuncheng took his swing—and the moment the club made contact, he knew something was wrong.

"......"

Bai Xu caught the motion of his swing clearly, a faint flicker crossing his eyes.

From the distance where Shang Yanxiao stood watching, he too had noticed something off. The swing angle was too wide. There was no way that ball was going in.

Sure enough, the ball flew wide to the diagonal of the hole and rolled and rolled without dropping.

Chu Yuncheng was acutely aware of his own mistake. His breathing grew subtly heavier. He met Bai Xu's gaze as it landed on him, and gave nothing away, "Your turn, Mr. Bai."

Bai Xu said nothing in return and simply went about finding his spot.

Even with Chu Yuncheng's mistake right in front of him, he made no effort to deliberately slow his rhythm. He lined up the angle and position as he always did, then swung without hesitation.

Thwack!

The ball traced a perfect arc through the air and, under the expectant eyes of everyone watching, slipped cleanly into the hole once more.

Zhang Songyang appreciated the weight of that shot, "That was something else, Mr. Bai!"

It was obvious he had found his touch. Not a trace of the amateur left in him.

Whoever wins a hole earns the right to tee off first on the next.

This time Bai Xu didn't let Chu Yuncheng set the pace. He spared him only a glance before finding his footing again and swinging into his fourth shot.

Chu Yuncheng felt a vague, prickling irritation at being so casually disregarded. He ground his back teeth, "Who do you think you are, sinking them one after another like that?"

The words had barely left his mouth when Bai Xu, standing just nearby, seemed to hit an entirely different level and sent the ball in with another exceptional shot that slapped him square in the face.

"Yes!"

Chu Yate crowed with delight and turned a gloating look on Chu Yuncheng, "Brother, if you miss your next shot, Bai Xu will be up by a hole on you."

The two of them had never been close to begin with, and pointed, barbed exchanges were nothing new between them.

"Chu Yate, will you shut up!"

Chu Yuncheng's expression darkened. He brushed past Bai Xu with anger already rising to the surface and planted himself at the tee.

Chu Yate kept pushing, "Don't be nervous, Brother. Take your time."

Chu Yuncheng felt the weight of the eyes around him and his grip on the club tightened instinctively.

"......"

Nervous? Make a mistake? Not a chance.

The thought had barely taken shape when he swung.

But things did not go as he willed. The more he cared, the more he erred, and this shot went wrong by a mile, landing squarely in the water hazard.

Plop.

A splash broke the surface in the distance without a sound—as if it had doused Chu Yuncheng from head to toe and left him cold to the bone.

Even with one hole still left to decide the match, the best he could hope for now was a draw. The possibility of a clean sweep was gone.

What was the difference between that and losing?

A sourceless frustration flared up in Chu Yuncheng. He shot a pointed look at his assistant hovering at the edge of things, "Get over here and hand me a different club!"

The assistant took the cue and hurried over with the oversized club bag, "Mr- Mr. Chu."

He looked around, then steeled himself and lied, "You have an international video call at four. It's almost time. Perhaps we should call it here for today?"

"......"

Such a sore loser.

Bai Xu laughed inwardly at how transparent the excuse was.

Chu Yate naturally wasn't about to pass up the chance to get a dig in, "It's barely past three. What's the rush?"

"And didn't Brother make plans to discuss a collaboration with Director Zhang? How is it that the schedules weren't sorted out beforehand?"

"Brother, don't tell me you're trying to cut and run?"

"......"

Faced with the mockery, Chu Yuncheng felt a mouthful of bitter frustration lodge in his throat, impossible to swallow down or spit out.

Keep playing, and he would lose the match. Walk away, and he would lose face all the same.

Chu Yuncheng had never found himself in such a wretched position, caught between two equally terrible choices—and to make it worse, he had no one to blame but himself.

Zhang Songyang had no desire to get tangled up in the strife between the Chu brothers, "Mr. Chu, the company meeting takes priority. This has already been a thoroughly satisfying match to watch. Let's leave a little suspense for another time, perhaps we can play again when the opportunity arises?"

Chu Yuncheng ground his teeth to pieces just to keep up some semblance of dignity, "Director Zhang, I'll take my leave then. We'll talk another day."

Zhang Songyang nodded, "Of course."

Bai Xu watched Chu Yuncheng's retreating figure as he fled the scene, and the pent-up frustration of being looked down on finally dissolved in a flash.

He turned to Zhang Songyang beside him, "Director Zhang, I'm going to make a quick trip to the restroom. If you're not in a hurry, how about a couple of rounds when I get back?"

Zhang Songyang answered, "Sure."

He hadn't gotten much golf in today himself, and after watching Bai Xu's technique just now, his hands were itching to play.

Chu Yate jumped in readily, "Go freshen up first, Bai Xu. I'll keep Director Zhang company in the meantime."

"Alright."

Bai Xu made his exit under the pretense.

He turned around and came face to face with Shang Yanxiao, who had been standing in the same spot all along. The tension strung tight inside him released all at once, and his steps quickened without him even noticing.

Shang Yanxiao met his gaze, and beneath the shadow of his cap, his eyes softened into a smile.

Bai Xu tossed the club over to him without a second thought, "Well? Didn't I tell you to believe in me?"

Shang Yanxiao caught it cooperatively and offered him his due, "Young Master Bai's skills were quite the surprise. Nothing amateur about them at all."

With no pretense left to keep up in front of him, Bai Xu let out a long breath, "Those two warm-up shots felt so rusty. I was half convinced I was going to lose badly today. My palms were sweating the whole time."

In the real world, Bai Xu had always kept an unusually broad range of interests and hobbies.

He had systematically studied fencing, golf, equestrian, tennis, and several other sports at one point or another. Not masterful, but enough to get by.

"Chu Yuncheng's game is genuinely above mine. If he had pushed for a full stroke play match today, I doubt I would have had any real shot at winning. But his arrogance was his undoing."

His original intent had been to humiliate Bai Xu, so Chu Yuncheng had opted for the comparatively simple match play format, five holes to decide the winner—lowering the difficulty of the competition and, in doing so, handing Bai Xu exactly the opening he needed.

More importantly, the other man had been convinced the win was already his, and his composure under pressure was nowhere near a match for Bai Xu's.

"You saw it yourself. All I had to do was stay steady, keep chasing him down on the score, and he was the one who fell apart first."

The two of them talked as they made their way to the washroom sink.

Shang Yanxiao listened to Bai Xu's barely contained, excitable stream of words, and something unsettled stirred in him, "Bai Xu."

Bai Xu quickly washed the sticky sweat from his hands, picked up a paper towel from nearby and dried them off, "Hm?"

"......"

Shang Yanxiao said nothing in return, and simply kept his eyes on him.

Bai Xu steadied his breath without letting it show, "What- what's wrong?"

The words had barely left his mouth when Shang Yanxiao suddenly reached out, "Don't move."

The pad of his thumb came to rest at the tip of Bai Xu's nose and gave the gentlest of brushes.

The tingling warmth that curled through him caught Bai Xu completely off guard, and even his attempt to stop it got tangled up in nerves, "Shang Yanxiao! You–"

"......"

Shang Yanxiao caught himself, pulled his hand back in time, "You had a bead of sweat on the tip of your nose."

Bai Xu's eyes slid away, "Did I? I must have gotten a bit overheated from the tension of the match."

Shang Yanxiao pulled another paper towel and pressed it to his forehead, adding with a touch too much deliberateness, "Mm, your forehead too. Wipe it before we go out."

Their eyes met, then drifted apart from each other in the same quiet, uncertain way.

"Oh."

Bai Xu wiped his forehead in a haphazard sort of way, his thoughts all tangled up inside, "Right, well, we should head back out. We've kept Director Zhang waiting long enough. And with Chu Yuncheng gone, it's a good chance to talk a bit more about the project."

Shang Yanxiao heard the faint fluster tucked beneath the pace of his words and let it pass without a word, "Alright."

...

A gentle breeze drifted past, and another ball rolled lazily into the hole.

Bai Xu joined in with a clap, "Excellent shot, Director Zhang."

Zhang Songyang's earlier gloom had lifted considerably, "You don't have to flatter me, Mr. Bai. I'm just here for the fun of it. I can't hold a candle to you young ones with better eyes and better stamina."

Chu Yate had already left them room to negotiate, and had sensibly excused himself ahead of time.

Bai Xu handed Zhang Songyang a bottle of mineral water at just the right moment, "Director Zhang, you've got nearly two decades on me. You've seen far more of the world than I have. I'm sure you know exactly why I'm here today."

Zhang Songyang took the water, his expression one of easy understanding, "I do. I've yet to meet anyone more straightforward than you, Mr. Bai."

Bai Xu pressed further and laid it out plainly, "The AW project in Juesheng Medical's hands. I've come with a genuine interest in working together. Would you give it some thought, Director Zhang?"

"The Chu Group's funding chain is formidable, but knowing Mr. Chu's temperament, I'd imagine he wouldn't be content with only a minor share of the project."

"......"

Zhang Songyang said nothing, but the furrow of his brow already gave him away. He didn't let himself get carried away and agree to Bai Xu's proposal on the spot. Instead, he raised a practical concern.

"Mr. Bai, this is no small matter. Once the AW acquisition is complete, the capital required for R&D going forward is no modest figure."

It wasn't that he doubted Bai Xu's investment capacity. It was that for the sake of long-term stability, he had to be as careful as possible in choosing the right partner.

Hearing this, Bai Xu could tell there was something to work with. He was just about to press his case further when Zhang Songyang's phone rang.

"Excuse me, one moment."

"Of course, go right ahead, Director Zhang."

Zhang Songyang stepped away a couple of paces and gave the call his full attention.

In under a minute he was back, "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Bai. I have a prior engagement this evening with my mentor, and it's nearly time to head off."

Zhang Songyang thought for a moment, then offered a time to meet again, "If you're agreeable, come by my office tomorrow afternoon and we'll sit down for a proper discussion."

Since the other party had come in good faith, he was willing to meet that with equal sincerity.

Even if nothing came of the deal, goodwill would remain, and at the very least they would have made a friend.

Bai Xu agreed without hesitation, "Of course."

...

The two of them made their way back along the path at the edge of the course.

Shang Yanxiao, who had been waiting all this while, came forward to meet them. He took the club from Bai Xu's hand in the most natural way and passed over an energy drink he had already prepared.

Quiet and unassuming, but thoughtful in every gesture.

It was only then that Zhang Songyang noticed there was someone else there, "Mr. Bai, and this would be?"

Bai Xu took a couple of sips of the energy drink and fell back on his usual explanation, "Director Zhang, this is my personal assistant and bodyguard. He's a quiet sort by nature. Doesn't talk much when he's around."

Shang Yanxiao took Zhang Songyang's club bag from him without being asked, "Allow me to bring this to your car, Director Zhang."

"Thank you."

Zhang Songyang was struck by Shang Yanxiao's stature, "That's quite an impressive height on your assistant, Mr. Bai."

"You're not the first to say so, Director Zhang." Bai Xu tugged at the corner of his mouth and played it up for fun, "Having him stand next to me when I'm out, doesn't it make quite a statement?"

Zhang Songyang was tickled by the joke, "It does. Quite a statement indeed."

Shang Yanxiao flagged down a shuttle and deliberately kept his voice low, "Second Young Master Chu has already headed back. Are you making your way to the car park, Director Zhang?"

Zhang Songyang replied, "Yes, my driver is waiting just outside."

Bai Xu remembered their own car was still parked at Course A3, "We'll pick things up tomorrow then, Director Zhang. Goodbye for now."

Zhang Songyang gave a nod, "Of course, you're welcome anytime tomorrow."

The two of them watched until Zhang Songyang's shuttle had carried him off into the distance, then boarded another shuttle back to Course A3, where their car was still waiting.

Thud.

The car door shut.

Only then did Shang Yanxiao let his guard down, reaching up to tug his mask down a little.

Bai Xu asked with a smile, "Must have been stifling in this heat today, no?"

"Not too bad." Shang Yanxiao gestured, "Buckle up."

Bai Xu did as he was told and began filling him in on the situation, "My read is that Director Zhang's negotiations with Chu Yuncheng hit a wall somewhere. He's now showing interest in learning more from our side. His only real concern is probably whether our funding chain can hold up down the line."

Shang Yanxiao started the car, "That's easily addressed. Once he shows genuine intent to cooperate, the third branch can put our cards on the table anytime."

"Right, have Queyan get ready to coordinate on that front." Bai Xu felt reasonably confident about how things were developing, "I'll push a bit harder on the equity angle tomorrow. That should be enough to seal it."

Hearing this, something settled in Shang Yanxiao as well, "Mm."

The car eased out of the course, and as they neared the outermost car park, Bai Xu's sharp eyes caught something, "Hold on."

Shang Yanxiao hit the brakes without delay.

Before rolling down the window, Bai Xu shot him a glance. Shang Yanxiao caught his meaning without a word and pulled his mask back up.

The window came down.

Bai Xu spotted the familiar figure not far off and called out, "Director Zhang, is everything alright?"

Zhang Songyang walked over, looking somewhat helpless, "The car broke down out of nowhere. My driver is trying to sort it out."

As he said it, he glanced at his wristwatch, a faint undercurrent of anxiety in his expression.

Bai Xu recalled the evening engagement he had mentioned offhandedly and offered without hesitation, "Director Zhang, will you make it in time for dinner tonight? We could drop you off first. Leave your driver here to handle things."

Zhang Songyang gave them an address, then asked, "Won't this be too much trouble for you, Mr. Bai?"

Shang Yanxiao stepped in, "It's not far from where we're staying. It's on the way."

Bai Xu seized every chance he could to make a good impression, "Not at all. I have nothing on this evening anyway."

"Alright then, I'll leave it to you both."

Zhang Songyang was indeed in something of a hurry. He said a quick word to his driver and got into the back seat without hesitation.

The car started again and pulled away from Louvre Estate.

Bai Xu thought of Zhang Songyang's dinner plans and turned slightly to make easy conversation, "Director Zhang, is the mentor you're meeting tonight someone from your days in medical school?"

"That's right. Professor Yan Chunhui."

The old professor had spent his entire life teaching thousands of students, and had only recently retired.

When the subject turned to the mentor who had shaped both his studies and his path in life, Zhang Songyang's tone took on a much deeper note of respect.

"When I was still working as a surgeon, I ran into some trouble. A patient's family came after me with false accusations. He stood up for me in front of everyone, patiently helped me work through the weight of it all, and even helped me think through a new direction for my future..."

That debt of gratitude was something Zhang Songyang had never forgotten.

Perhaps the topic had opened something up in him, because he went on talking in bits and pieces the whole way there.

Bai Xu listened attentively throughout, and only as they neared their destination did he ask, "How is the professor's health these days?"

"His health has declined quite a bit over the past couple of years. His family has more or less ordered him to rest and recuperate at the old house out in the outskirts."

"But he can't sit still at his age. Always has to be out and about, poking around here and there. Just a few days ago he was out at a shopping mall and had a sudden heart attack. It was lucky that someone nearby knew first aid, or it could have been much worse."

Bringing this up, Zhang Songyang was full of helpless worry.

"......"

A shopping mall. A heart attack. First aid.

The details were uncomfortably familiar. Before the thought in Bai Xu's mind could take full shape, the car had already pulled up in front of a standalone old villa.

Shang Yanxiao glanced at Zhang Songyang through the rearview mirror, "We're here, Director Zhang."

"Thank you."

No sooner had he spoken than Zhang Songyang spotted the elderly figure coming out to meet them through the car window. He got out quickly, "Teacher, why did you come out?"

"I thought you'd be arriving about now, so I came to meet you."

The old professor patted his student's shoulder with a warm smile, but his gaze drifted toward the black car by the gate, "And this car?"

The window rolled down.

Bai Xu's quietly searching eyes settled on the old professor's face.

The next second, the other man seemed to recognize him too, and stepped forward in astonishment to make sure, "You... you're Young Master Shang?"

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