DASFAM_37

"......"

Chu Yuncheng's tone was far too arrogant, practically a naked provocation.

Zhang Songyang hadn't expected that a casual invitation from him would lead to something like this. "Mr. Chu, let's just keep it friendly for this little match. There’s no need to take things so seriously."

Chu Yate spoke up immediately after, "Big Brother, Bai Xu is unfamiliar with this place. Setting up these match conditions right off the bat is just too tricky, isn’t it?"

Zhang Songyang’s golf skills weren’t bad at all, and this course was practically his home turf. A contest like this was hardly fair!

"Tricky?"

Chu Yuncheng scoffed as if he’d just heard a joke, spinning his golf club lightly, "The battles in the business world are far trickier than this. Young Master Bai, surely you’re not lacking in courage?"

Compared to the usual 'stroke play', 'match play' was more suited for one-on-one duel. It was all about fast-paced excitement and real-time mental adjustments.

"If you don’t want to compete, that’s fine too," Seeing Bai Xu stay silent, Chu Yuncheng gestured dismissively, "You may leave now."

The next moment, Bai Xu responded lightly, "Mr. Chu, I’ll play against you."

Chu Yuncheng hadn’t expected Bai Xu to actually accept the challenge, his haughty expression freezing slightly.

Bai Xu took it a step further, "But I’ve never tried this course before. How about I take a couple of practice swings first to get a feel for it? Mr. Chu, you don’t mind, do you?"

Chu Yate, worried that Chu Yuncheng would make things difficult for Bai Xu, quickly added, "Why would there be any objection? Big Brother wouldn’t be so petty as to fuss over something like this."

Chu Yuncheng snorted coldly but didn’t object.

In his view, Bai Xu was nothing more than a half-baked amateur, just trying to show off in front of Zhang Songyang. It was likely he had teamed up with Chu Yate to deliberately stir up trouble.

He had full confidence in his own golf skills. No matter how much the other party postured and pretended now, he’d only end up losing more embarrassingly later!

Bai Xu turned and walked back to Shang Yanxiao’s side, who fetched the set of golf clubs from the cart. These clubs had been purchased just before their arrival and hadn't been broken in or practiced with yet.

"Bai Xu, do you know how to play?" Shang Yanxiao lowered his voice, sounding concerned, "Maybe I should do it instead?"

Golf, as a high-level sport, was often included as part of team-building activities in business settings. Shang Yanxiao had naturally learned it and even played a few amateur matches before.

However, based on past background checks, Bai Xu should have had no prior experience with golf.

In a volume only the two of them could hear, Bai Xu replied, "If you, as a 'bodyguard', step in to play for me now, you’ll almost certainly give us away."

"Chu Yuncheng and Chu Yate have completely different temperaments and can’t be considered allies. You need to tread carefully."

Shang Yanxiao understood Bai Xu’s concerns, but his expression remained tense.

Bai Xu deftly put on his sports wrist guards, meeting his focused gaze, "Shang Yanxiao, a person fights for dignity. Even if I lose the match, it doesn’t mean I’ve lost face. And besides…"

Shang Yanxiao paid close attention to the shift in his mood, "Besides what?"

"How do you know I can’t play?"

Bai Xu picked out the club that felt best in his grip, his confident expression making him especially captivating, "I want you to believe in me."

Shang Yanxiao’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly realizing there was something more important than winning or losing, "Of course I believe in you."

...

Bai Xu walked back with the golf club in hand.

Chu Yuncheng raised an eyebrow and urged, "Young Master Bai, don't waste time. Take your practice swings, and let's get this over with quickly."

Ignoring the impatience hidden in his tone, Bai Xu found his spot.

He positioned himself sideways, letting his arms hang naturally to find the proper swing angle. Just by the look of his stance, there was an indescribable sense of skill and precision—certainly not something a beginner could easily manage.

"......"

Zhang Songyang and Chu Yate, watching from the sidelines, brightened up at the sight. In contrast, Chu Yuncheng's brow furrowed slightly.

—Thwack!

The shot played out in an instant.

Chu Yuncheng’s expression relaxed, a faint sneer crossing his face, "Young Master Bai, don't be nervous. That shot went completely off course."

"......"

Unfazed, Bai Xu focused solely on adjusting his stance.

It was true he wasn't familiar with the course, and it was true he was still getting a feel for the new club.

No matter how much Chu Yuncheng taunted him, he allowed himself a margin of error for three shots.

Another ball was struck, grazing past the hole.

Seeing the result, Chu Yuncheng grew even more dismissive and relaxed, "Young Master Bai, keep it up. You've got one more shot to try."

Zhang Songyang frowned, feeling that Chu Yuncheng’s voice was unbearably grating.

Beside him, Chu Yate had lost any trace of playfulness. He stared intently at Bai Xu’s practice shots, his mind fully focused on the outcome of the upcoming match.

Thwack!

Another ball was struck!

Shang Yanxiao stood at a higher vantage point behind, watching Bai Xu's near-perfect swing, and felt a sense of reassurance—

As expected, this shot showed no deviation, rolling smoothly into the hole.

Chu Yate cheered on the spot, "Beautiful!"

Chu Yuncheng narrowed his eyes, convinced Bai Xu had simply gotten lucky, a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, "It's just a short-distance shot into the hole. What's there to cheer about?"

Pretending not to hear, Bai Xu asked, "Mr. Chu, just five holes? How exactly are we playing?"

Chu Yuncheng had already sent a caddy to prepare and gestured with pride, "Simple. We play the same five holes over the same distance. The player with fewer strokes per hole wins, and we tally the total number of holes won at the end."

It was indeed a simplified version of the rules, but the core of the competition remained the same.

Bai Xu agreed, "Fine. Mr. Chu, will you go first?"

Chu Yuncheng, thinking to take the initiative, had no intention of yielding, "Very well."

The match officially began.

Chu Yuncheng selected his spot in the designated tee area and swung his first shot with ease—

Thwack! A perfect shot into the hole!

Faced with this expected result, Chu Yuncheng curled his lips in satisfaction, "Young Master Bai, your turn."

Bai Xu stepped forward steadily. After a brief preparation, he swung his first shot. Unfortunately, it lacked a bit of power, and the ball came to a stop just over ten centimeters short of the hole.

"Tsk~"

Chu Yuncheng let out a subtle sound, "Looks like I'm taking the lead right from the start."

Bai Xu's heart tightened, but his expression remained neutral as he stepped aside from the tee area.

Chu Yuncheng swung for his second shot—another swift, precise, and powerful stroke that sent the ball straight into the hole.

Chu Yate and Zhang Songyang exchanged a glance, silently sweating for Bai Xu:

No matter how much they disliked Chu Yuncheng's arrogant and conceited attitude, they had to admit that his golf skills were indeed impressive.

Under Chu Yuncheng's gaze, Bai Xu walked forward again. He turned sideways, adjusted his breathing, and with complete focus, swung his second shot.

Swish! It, too, successfully landed in the short-distance hole!

Chu Yate breathed a sigh of relief, "This hole counts as a tie?"

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

Even if the second hole ended in a tie, he was still leading by one. With Bai Xu's inconsistent playing style, his true form would only be revealed in the final three holes. The farther the distance to the hole, the more he would struggle.

With these distracting thoughts, Chu Yuncheng swung again. The moment the club made contact, he sensed something was off.

"......"

Bai Xu watched his swing closely, a subtle gleam in his eyes.

From his distant vantage point, Shang Yanxiao also noticed the problem: the swing angle was too wide, there was no way this shot would go in.

Sure enough, the ball flew far off to a diagonal angle from the hole, rolling and rolling away.

Chu Yuncheng was acutely aware of his mistake, his breathing suddenly growing heavier. He met Bai Xu's gaze but refused to acknowledge it, "Young Master Bai, your turn."

Bai Xu didn't respond. Instead, he calmly found his spot.

Even with Chu Yuncheng's mistake right before him, he didn't deliberately slow his pace. After finding the perfect angle and position, he swung swiftly.

Thwack!

The ball traced a perfect arc through the air and, to the anticipation of everyone watching, glided smoothly into the hole once more.

Zhang Songyang understood the significance of this shot, "Young Master Bai, that was impressive!"

It was clear he had found his rhythm, showing not a trace of amateurishness.

The player who wins the hole gets the honor of teeing off first.

This time, Bai Xu didn't let Chu Yuncheng dictate the pace. With just a glance in his direction, he repositioned himself and swung for his fourth shot.

Chu Yuncheng felt a pang of irritation at being slighted, grinding his back teeth, "Think you can keep making them in a row?"

As if on cue, Bai Xu, standing nearby, seemed to have activated some cheat code. He delivered yet another extraordinary shot, slapping Chu Yuncheng's arrogance right back at him!

"Excellent!"

Chu Yate couldn't help but laugh, gleefully glancing at Chu Yuncheng, "Big Brother, if you mess up your next shot, Bai Xu will be leading by a hole."

Their relationship had never been close, and this kind of barbed confrontation was nothing new.

"Chu Yate, shut up!"

Chu Yuncheng's expression darkened, a surge of anger already rising as he brushed past Bai Xu and took his stance at the tee.

Chu Yate pressed on relentlessly, "Big Brother, don't be nervous. Take your time."

Feeling the weight of the gazes fixed on him, Chu Yuncheng instinctively tightened his grip on the club.

"......"

Nervous? Making a mistake? Impossible!

The moment the thought solidified, he swung.

But alas, things rarely go as planned. The more he fixated, the more he erred. This shot went astray by a mile, landing directly in the water hazard.

Plop.

The distant splash seemed to drench Chu Yuncheng from head to toe with icy reality.

Even though the final hole would determine the winner, the best outcome for him now was only a tie—a complete victory was no longer possible.

What difference did that make from losing outright?

Chu Yuncheng felt an inexplicable surge of anger. His eyes, filled with implication, shot a fierce glare toward his assistant watching from outside the area, "Are you just going to stand there? Get over here and bring me a different club!"

The assistant caught his meaning and hurried over with the oversized golf bag, "M-Mr. Chu."

The assistant glanced around and, steeling himself, lied, "Sir, you have a cross-border video conference at four. It's almost time. Perhaps we should call it a day here?"

"......"

Could he really not handle losing?

Bai Xu chuckled inwardly at the clumsy excuse.

Chu Yate, of course, wouldn't miss this chance to mock him, "It's barely past three. What's the hurry?"

"And didn't Big Brother arrange to discuss the cooperation with Chairman Zhang? Why weren't the meeting times spaced out properly?"

"Big Brother, you're not trying to run away, are you?"

"......"

Faced with the mockery, a knot of frustration caught in Chu Yuncheng's throat. He couldn't swallow it, nor could he spit it out.

Continuing meant losing the match! Leaving meant losing face anyway!

Chu Yuncheng had never been in such an awkward, lose-lose situation before, and the person who had caused it was none other than himself!

Zhang Songyang didn't want to get entangled in the rivalry between the Chu brothers, "Mr. Chu, the company meeting is more important. I've already enjoyed watching a high-level match today. Let's save the suspense for another time. We can always find another opportunity to play together."

Chu Yuncheng clenched his teeth to maintain his composure, "Chairman Zhang, I'll take my leave then. We can talk another day."

Zhang Songyang nodded, "Alright."

Bai Xu stared at Chu Yuncheng's fleeing figure, the lingering resentment from being looked down upon finally dissipating.

He turned to Zhang Songyang beside him, "Chairman Zhang, I need to use the restroom. If you're not in a hurry, how about I join you for a couple of rounds when I get back?"

Zhang Songyang replied, "Sounds good."

He hadn't played much golf today, and after seeing Bai Xu's skills, he was itching to play himself.

Chu Yate stepped in, "Bai Xu, go and freshen up. I'll keep Chairman Zhang company for a couple of rounds in the meantime."

"En."

Bai Xu excused himself and left.

As he turned and met Shang Yanxiao, who had been waiting in place all along, his taut nerves suddenly relaxed, and his pace quickened unconsciously.

Shang Yanxiao met his gaze, a hint of a smile softening his eyes beneath the brim of his hat.

Bai Xu casually tossed the golf club to him, "So? Didn't I tell you to believe in me?"

Shang Yanxiao caught it smoothly and praised him, "Young Master Bai's skills were quite a surprise. You didn't look amateurish at all."

In front of him, Bai Xu dropped the pretense and let out a long breath, "Those first couple of practice shots felt so stiff. I almost thought I was going to lose embarrassingly today. My palms were sweating the whole time."

In his real life, Bai Xu had always had a wide range of hobbies.

He had systematically learned various sports like fencing, golf, equestrianism, and tennis. He wasn't a master at any, but he was competent enough.

"Chu Yuncheng's golf skills are indeed better than mine. If we had played a full stroke play match today, I probably wouldn't have stood a chance. It's a pity he was too arrogant."

His initial intention was to humiliate Bai Xu, so Chu Yuncheng opted for the relatively simpler match play format, settling it in just five holes. This lowered the difficulty of the match and handed Bai Xu an opportunity.

Most importantly, his opponent, thinking he had victory in the bag, was far less composed under pressure than he was.

"You see, all I had to do was stay steady, keep biting at his heels, and he ended up cracking first."

The two walked side by side toward the washbasins.

Listening to Bai Xu's excited chatter, Shang Yanxiao felt a stir in his heart, "Bai Xu."

Bai Xu quickly washed away the sticky sweat from his hands and grabbed a paper towel to dry them, "Hm?"

"......"

Shang Yanxiao didn't respond, his gaze fixed intently on him.

Bai Xu's breath hitched almost imperceptibly, "W, what is it?"

Before the words even faded, Shang Yanxiao suddenly reached out, "Don't move."

The pad of his thumb paused on the tip of Bai Xu's nose, brushing gently with the utmost tenderness.

The shiver that curled up from the touch left Bai Xu defenseless, his protest stuttering in his throat, "Shang Yanxiao! You..."

"......"

Shang Yanxiao realized the inappropriateness and quickly withdrew his hand, "You had a bead of sweat on the tip of your nose."

Bai Xu's eyes darted away, "Oh? Maybe I was just a bit nervous from the match. It's a little hot."

Shang Yanxiao took another tissue and pressed it against Bai Xu's forehead, his addition sounding slightly deliberate, "En, your forehead too. Wipe it before we go out."

Their eyes met, then both shifted away with a subtle awkwardness.

"Oh."

Bai Xu wiped his forehead hastily, his thoughts thrown into disarray, "Uh, let's head out. We shouldn't keep Chairman Zhang waiting. With Chu Yuncheng gone, it's a good chance to discuss the project further."

Shang Yanxiao caught the hint of fluster buried beneath his hurried words but didn't call it out, "Alright."

...

A gentle breeze brushed past as another ball wobbled its way into the hole.

Bai Xu applauded in appreciation, "Chairman Zhang, great shot."

Zhang Songyang's previously gloomy mood brightened considerably, "Young Master Bai, there's no need to flatter me. I'm just here to indulge a bit. Can't compare to you young folks with your sharp eyes and stamina."

Chu Yate, having already paved the way for their negotiations, had tactfully excused himself earlier.

Seizing the moment, Bai Xu handed Zhang Songyang a bottle of water, "Chairman Zhang, you're nearly two generations older than I am. The experience you have far surpasses the paths I've walked. I'm sure you understand my purpose for being here today."

Zhang Songyang took the water, understanding dawning, "I know. I've rarely met anyone more straightforward than you, Young Master Bai."

Bai Xu pressed further, getting to the point, "Regarding the AW project held by Juesheng Medical, I've come with sincere intentions for cooperation. Chairman Zhang, would you consider it?"

"Although Chu Group has a strong capital chain, I suspect, given Mr. Chu's temperament, he wouldn't be content with just a minor stake in the project, would he?"

"......"

Zhang Songyang remained silent, but the deepening furrow between his brows spoke volumes. He didn't impulsively agree to Bai Xu's proposal. Instead, he pointed out the practicalities:

"Young Master Bai, this isn't a small matter. The funds required for post-acquisition R&D into the AW project won't be insignificant."

It wasn't that he looked down on Bai Xu's Zhouye Investments, but for the sake of future stability, he had to be extremely cautious in choosing a partner.

Hearing this, Bai Xu knew there was potential. He was just about to push further when—

Suddenly, Zhang Songyang's phone buzzed with an incoming call.

"Apologies, one moment."

"No problem at all, Chairman Zhang. Please, go ahead."

Zhang Songyang walked a few steps away and answered the call attentively.

In just about a minute, he returned, "Young Master Bai, I'm truly sorry. I have a meeting with my mentor tonight, and it's about time I should get going."

Zhang Songyang pondered for a moment before proposing a follow-up, "If you're willing, Young Master Bai, how about you come to my company tomorrow afternoon? We can sit down and have a proper discussion."

Since the other party had come with sincerity, he was willing to offer an equal measure of sincerity in return for negotiations.

Even if a deal couldn't be reached, goodwill would remain, they could at least consider it as making a new acquaintance.

Bai Xu agreed without hesitation, "Of course."

...

The two walked back to the small path at the edge of the course.

Shang Yanxiao, who had been waiting, stepped forward. With practiced ease, he took the golf club from Bai Xu's hand and offered a bottle of energy water he had prepared earlier.

Though quiet, his actions were thoughtful.

It was only then that Zhang Songyang noticed this other person's presence, "Young Master Bai, who is this?"

Bai Xu took a couple of sips of the energy drink and stuck to the original explanation, "Chairman Zhang, this is my personal assistant and bodyguard. He's usually very quiet, doesn't talk much when he's with me."

Shang Yanxiao proactively took the golf bag from Zhang Songyang, "Chairman Zhang, let me carry this to the car for you."

"Thank you."

Zhang Songyang was taken aback by Shang Yanxiao's stature, "Young Master Bai, your assistant is quite exceptionally tall."

"Chairman Zhang, you're not the first to say that," Bai Xu smiled slightly, intentionally adding some humor, "When I bring him along, it certainly makes a statement, doesn't it? Pretty intimidating?"

Zhang Songyang was amused by Bai Xu's joke, "Yes, it certainly does make a statement."

Shang Yanxiao signaled for a golf cart and deliberately lowered his voice a notch, "Mr. Chu Yate has already left. Chairman Zhang, are you heading to the parking lot?"

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

Bai Xu remembered their private car was still parked at the A3 course, "Chairman Zhang, we'll talk more tomorrow? Until then."

Zhang Songyang nodded, "Alright, you're welcome anytime tomorrow."

The two watched as Zhang Songyang rode away in the cart before boarding another one themselves to return to the A3 course where their private car was parked.

Click.

The car door shut.

Only then did Shang Yanxiao relax his guard slightly, pulling his mask down a bit.

Bai Xu asked with a smile, "Stuffy in this weather today, wasn't it?"

"It was alright," Shang Yanxiao motioned, "Buckle your seatbelt."

Bai Xu complied obediently and proactively reported, "I suspect Chairman Zhang's negotiations with Chu Yuncheng hit a snag. He's now inclined to explore working with us more seriously. The only concern is probably whether we can sustain the funding chain in the later stages."

Shang Yanxiao started the car, "That's manageable. As long as he's interested in cooperating, our branch can reveal our cards at any time."

"En, have Queyan prepare for the handover," Bai Xu felt fairly confident about the current progress, "I'll push for a favorable equity stake tomorrow. That should seal the deal."

Hearing this, Shang Yanxiao felt a sense of reassurance, "En."

The car slowly drove out of the golf course. As it neared the outermost parking area, Bai Xu's sharp eyes suddenly caught sight of something, "Wait."

Shang Yanxiao promptly hit the brakes.

Bai Xu gave him a look before rolling down the window. Shang Yanxiao understood perfectly and casually pulled his mask back up.

The window slid down.

Bai Xu called out to the familiar figure not far away, "Chairman Zhang, what's wrong?"

Zhang Songyang walked closer, looking helpless, "My car suddenly broke down. My driver is trying to figure it out."

As he spoke, he glanced at his wristwatch, a hint of anxiety showing.

Remembering the dinner appointment Zhang Songyang had mentioned earlier, Bai Xu proactively offered help, "Chairman Zhang, will you make your dinner on time? Why don't we give you a lift? Your driver can stay and handle it."

Zhang Songyang gave an address and asked, "Won't that be too much trouble, Young Master Bai?"

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

Bai Xu seized every opportunity to build goodwill, "Not at all. I don't have any plans tonight anyway. It's no trouble."

"Alright then, sorry for the inconvenience."

Zhang Songyang was indeed in a bit of a hurry. After instructing his driver, he decisively got into the back seat.

The car started again and left the Luofu Manor estate.

Remembering Zhang Songyang's dinner plans, Bai Xu turned slightly to make casual conversation, "Chairman Zhang, the 'mentor' you're meeting tonight, is that your teacher from your medical school?"

"Yes, Professor Yan Chunhui."

The Old Mr. has taught thousands of students throughout his life and officially retired not long ago.

Mentioning his mentor, who guided him both academically and in life, Zhang Songyang’s tone became much more respectful.

"Back when I was still a chief surgeon, I ran into some trouble. A patient’s family pursued and slandered me. It was him who stood up for me in front of everyone, patiently helped me through the negative emotions, and even reconsidered a new career path for me..."

Zhang Songyang has never forgotten such a great kindness.

Perhaps because the conversation had opened up, he talked intermittently throughout the journey.

Bai Xu listened attentively and, as they neared the destination, finally asked, "How is the Old Mr.’s health?"

"His health has declined quite a bit over the past two years, so his family has insisted he stay at the old house in the suburbs to rest."

"But at his age, he just can’t sit still. He insists on wandering around here and there. Just the other day, while shopping at a mall, he had a sudden heart attack. Thankfully, someone nearby knew first aid, so it didn’t turn into a major incident."

Mentioning this, Zhang Songyang was filled with both helplessness and concern.

"......"

A mall? A heart attack? First aid?

Hearing these overly familiar details, Bai Xu barely had time to form the thought before the car stopped in front of a standalone old Western-style house.

Shang Yanxiao looked at Zhang Songyang in the rearview mirror, "Chairman Zhang, we’re here."

"Thank you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Songyang spotted the elderly figure emerging from the house and hurriedly got out of the car, "Teacher, why did you come out?"

"Thought you’d be arriving around now, so I came to greet you."

The Old Mr. patted his student’s shoulder with a smile, but his gaze drifted toward the black car at the gate, "Whose car is this?"

The car window rolled down.

Bai Xu’s subtly searching gaze fell on the old gentleman’s face.

In the next moment, the other man seemed to recognize him too, stepping forward in surprise to confirm, "Is... is that you, Young Master Shang?"

–

TL: Muji

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