DASFAM_39
The dim overhead light in the car was promptly turned off, leaving only the faintly shimmering canopy of stars.
There was no so-called agreement needed. The moment Bai Xu had voiced the question, the clamoring hormones had already taken full charge, driving him forward to press his lips against the other's.
Bai Xu’s right hand braced against Shang Yanxiao's shoulder as he kissed him, tentative and brief. He had little experience, relying on instinct to softly nip at the other man's thin lips.
Warm. Soft.
Bai Xu seemed to have discovered new territory. He drew back slightly, “Shang Yanxiao? So soft.”
“…...”
Shang Yanxiao brushed his nose almost imperceptibly against Bai Xu's, struggling to rein in his ragged, nearly explosive breathing, “Bai Xu, was the wine good?”
“Hmm?”
Bai Xu murmured a belated reply, “Good.”
The hand Shang Yanxiao had been resting on Bai Xu's wrist withdrew, only to cradle the back of his head instead, “Then let me have a taste too.”
“Mmm… ngh!”
Another kiss descended.
The lingering wine transitioned and spread between their lips and teeth, growing more intense by the second.
Bai Xu hooked his arms around Shang Yanxiao's neck, almost offering his entire self into the other's embrace. Shang Yanxiao increased the pressure of his palm, his movements stroking the soft hair of the person in his arms, partly soothing, and partly compelling.
Moonlight, gentle breeze, the sound of waves, the shadows of trees. All of it intertwined into a haze of passion and confusion.
“Easy now. Breathe. Don’t suffocate yourself.”
“…I… I don’t need you to teach me, umh.”
That innate competitive spirit proved remarkably resilient even in such a setting. Testing, teasing, intimacy. Raw and unrestrained, neither willing to yield.
No one knew how much time had passed.
It was only when the air inside the car had burned to its peak that Shang Yanxiao finally allowed a sliver of distance between them.
Bai Xu tilted his head back, freeing himself from the prolonged confinement. His desperate gasps for air trembled with a loss of control, the sheen of moisture in his eyes appearing especially enticing.
Shang Yanxiao leaned in, resting his forehead against Bai Xu's, his thumb gently smoothing over the corner of an eye, “More?”
“…...”
Yet, just from the act of kissing, Bai Xu felt as though he had expended every last ounce of his strength.
He didn’t bother to parse the meaning in Shang Yanxiao’s words. Instead, he simply closed his eyes, turning his head to nestle comfortably in the other’s embrace, finding a cozy sleeping position.
Shang Yanxiao sensed his drowsiness, yet still felt a lingering reluctance, “Bai Xu?”
Bai Xu raised a limp hand and aimlessly patted Shang Yanxiao’s cheek, “Don’t be noisy.”
Smack.
The painless slap felt more like an indescribable form of flirtation.
“…...”
It was the first time in his life Shang Yanxiao had ever been treated like this. After a few seconds of surprise, he 'angrily' turned his head and nipped at Bai Xu’s palm.
“Mhmm.”
Bai Xu withdrew his hand with a wince of pain but still buried his face and mumbled, ignoring him.
Helpless, Shang Yanxiao tightened his arms around him, “Sleep now. Goodnight. I’ll take you home a bit later.”
...
Another sunrise began to rise.
Chen Yufei had spent many years in the military, where he developed a remarkably strong biological clock. Every day, he woke up on time to run and exercise in the morning.
At exactly six o’clock, Chen Yufei got up and dressed quickly as usual.
To avoid disturbing Shang Yanxiao and Bai Xu on the second floor, he opened the front door gently and quietly. But what followed froze him in place—
Shang Yanxiao, who should have been sleeping upstairs, unexpectedly appeared in front of the garage. Dressed only in thin silk sleepwear, he was carefully carrying Bai Xu out from the passenger seat.
For a moment, Chen Yufei wondered if he was hallucinating. Only when Shang Yanxiao glanced his way did he hurriedly step forward, “Third Young Master, what happened to Young Master Bai? You two…”
Halfway through his concerned questioning, Chen Yufei suddenly sensed something unusual—
The collar of Shang Yanxiao’s sleepwear was left rather open, revealing a suggestive red scratch that ran from his neck down to his shoulder.
And in his arms, Bai Xu’s lips also showed an unusual shade of red.
As a man, even someone as straightforward as Chen Yufei could tell what had happened.
Immediately, his gaze shifted away, not daring to look further, but his heart was filled with shock—
When exactly did I miss a step?
How did Third Young Master and Young Master Bai’s relationship progress so far, so fast?
They drove out in the middle of the night yesterday, could it have been for… that? And was it really that intense?
Shang Yanxiao remained completely unaware of his bodyguard’s uncharacteristically rich inner monologue, and showed no sign of embarrassment at being seen, “Yufei, come help tuck his blanket over him.”
They should have actually driven back in the early hours of the morning, but at that time, the two had just finished their heated intimate moment, and Bai Xu was already drifting heavily into sleep.
Afraid of waking him, Shang Yanxiao had stayed and lain down with him for a while, only to end up falling asleep himself without realizing it.
There was only one blanket in the car, and it had covered Bai Xu all night.
With the temperature difference between inside and outside the car at this hour, Shang Yanxiao worried Bai Xu might catch a chill, but he couldn’t adjust the blanket himself while holding him.
Chen Yufei stepped forward and quickly fixed the blanket, which had been about to slip off Bai Xu, then swiftly pulled his hands back, “Done.”
Shang Yanxiao instinctively held the person in his arms a little tighter, “Go ahead with your morning run. I’ll take him back first.”
“Alright.”
Shang Yanxiao carried Bai Xu back to the second floor. As he approached the two bedrooms, his steps hesitated for only a brief moment before he decisively brought the person in his arms into the master bedroom.
The sleep in the car hadn't been restful, he needed to hold him and make up for it properly.
...
When Bai Xu woke up, the sunlight had long since streamed through the gauze curtains, filling the master bedroom with a bright, clear glow.
“Mmm.”
A dull, throbbing pain, latent in his mind, gradually stirred awake. Bai Xu instinctively chose to escape it, furrowing his brows as he burrowed deeper into the covers. But soon, he realized something was off—
The scent lingering on the quilt was familiar, even somewhat intense.
“……”
Bai Xu slowly opened his eyes. When his gaze fell on the deep blue and black bedsheets, he abruptly sat up, fully awake.
A headache from the aftermath of drinking washed over him. Frowning, he stared at the furnishings in the master bedroom, and the fragmented images that should have been lost from his memory gradually pieced together, ultimately becoming astonishingly clear—
He had clung to Shang Yanxiao, asking for a kiss, and Shang Yanxiao had pursued him, claiming it.
It was as if both were fighting for a decisive victory, their kisses inseparable and intense. Under the moonlight, the distant sound of ocean waves, their ragged breaths and muffled groans.
The memory rewound to the very end, to the impulsive words he had spoken at the start: “Shang Yanxiao, can I kiss you??”
“……”
Damn.
Bai Xu’s dry throat moved as he swallowed, feeling so absurd that he even cursed himself, “Have I lost my mind?”
Kissing Shang Yanxiao?
And it had actually gotten that intense?
The more Bai Xu thought about it, the more unbelievable it seemed, and for a moment, he even forgot the racing heartbeat triggered by his memories. Glancing at his phone on the bedside table, he quickly picked it up to check—
It was already 2:40 in the afternoon.
Overwhelmed by a sense of guilt from 'messing around after drinking', Bai Xu didn’t dare stay a second longer in Shang Yanxiao’s master bedroom.
Fortunately, the room was empty, sparing him the awkwardness of facing the other man right after waking up. He threw off the covers, intending to slip away, but the moment his feet touched the floor, his legs went weak, nearly sending him tumbling.
“......”
Stumbling briefly before steadying himself, Bai Xu muttered, “Drinking really complicates things,” as he hurried back to his own room.
...
Half an hour later.
After doing his best to compose himself, Bai Xu finally made his way downstairs.
The housekeeper was the first to notice him and greeted him with a smile, “Mr. Bai, you’re awake? Would you like something to eat?”
Bai Xu nodded, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings, “Where’s Shang Yanxiao?”
The housekeeper replied, “He and Assistant Xie went out unexpectedly. I heard it’s a private appointment, and they won’t be back for dinner tonight.”
“......”
A private appointment? With whom?
Why hadn’t Shang Yanxiao mentioned this to him?
A faint sense of possessiveness stirred within Bai Xu, and his brows tightened slightly.
Observing his demeanor, the housekeeper added, “Mr. Bai, would you like some sobering tea? Mr. Shang specifically reminded us about it before he left.”
Bai Xu responded indifferently, “En.”
A few minutes later, sobering tea and steaming hot food were brought to him.
Bai Xu ate absentmindedly, but the lingering images in his mind refused to fade. Just as he furrowed his brows for what felt like the umpteenth time, Chen Yufei, who was off duty at home, finally emerged from his room.
Their gazes met.
Chen Yufei seemed even more reserved than usual, “Young Master Bai.”
Bai Xu responded with an 'Hmm', then tentatively asked, “How did I get back last night? Did I make a scene after returning?”
He had absolutely no memory of what happened after the kiss.
Recalling the scene he had witnessed early that morning, Chen Yufei answered honestly, “Young Master Bai, Third Young Master carried you back. You were sleeping in his arms.”
“…...”
Did he have to describe it in such detail?
Bai Xu silently ladled another spoonful of soup for himself. After a long silence, he finally couldn’t hold back, “Who did Shang Yanxiao make plans with tonight?”
Chen Yufei stuck only to what he was certain of, “Third Young Master has an old acquaintance here in Singapore, someone quite reliable.”
Bai Xu blurted out, “Man or woman?”
Chen Yufei replied, “A woman.”
“…...”
Clink.
Bai Xu’s teeth clenched down on the soup spoon with a sharp sound, and he couldn’t suppress a quiet huff.
Unable to read Bai Xu’s expression, Chen Yufei tried to change the subject, “Young Master Bai, you don’t have any arrangements this afternoon. Would you like to go out for a bit?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Xu’s phone buzzed.
He looked down, it was a message from Chu Yate: “Young Master Bai, free tonight? We didn’t drink enough last night. How about finding a place to hang out again? Invite Mr. Shang too. I’ll treat you both to dinner.”
“…...”
Why look for me?
Third Young Master has friends everywhere, it’s not like he’s lacking dinner plans.
Bai Xu silently let out a hint of jealousy and casually typed a reply to accept the invitation: “Send me the address. I’ll go.”
...
At six o’clock in the evening, Disheng Private Restaurant.
As soon as Bai Xu entered the private room, he spotted Chu Yate, dressed flamboyantly, “Young Master Bai, over here.”
Bai Xu took a seat opposite him, “Second Young Master Chu’s taste in clothing is truly... distinctive.”
Relying on his striking mixed-race looks, Chu Yate dared to wear shirts of any pattern. Right now, the vibrant butterflies on his outfit were nearly blinding.
Chu Yate spread his arms open, unbothered, “Isn’t it good-looking? This is custom-made.”
Bai Xu offered a light smile, silently conceding the point.
Some people carried an innate aura. No matter how exaggerated the style, when worn by Chu Yate, it exuded a dazzlingly charming and romantic flair.
Shang Yanxiao was the same.
No matter what he wore, he effortlessly exuded the reserved arrogance of a wealthy, privileged young master.
“…...”
Realizing his thoughts had drifted to Shang Yanxiao again, a flicker of annoyance crossed Bai Xu’s brows.
Chu Yate chose that moment to ask, “By the way, where’s Mr. Shang? How come he’s not here again?”
Bai Xu picked up the warm water on the table, replying quickly, “Never mind him. He already had plans for tonight.”
“Oh?”
Chu Yate didn’t pick up on the hint of sourness in the remark. Instead, he snapped his fingers at the dedicated server, “You can start serving the dishes, and bring out the red wine I left here last time. Tonight, we’re going to treat Young Master Bai properly.”
“Wait,” Bai Xu stopped him, “I won’t be drinking tonight. Just get me a juice or a soda.”
Chu Yate looked puzzled, “No drinking?”
Bai Xu naturally wouldn’t disclose anything about what happened the previous night and brushed it off, “Not feeling great today. Drinking again might lead to trouble.”
Chu Yate felt it was a bit dull but didn’t want to pressure Bai Xu, “Alright then, I’ll drink by myself. You do as you like.”
The wine and dishes were promptly served.
Chu Yate took the initiative, “Young Master Bai, shall I propose a toast?”
Bai Xu raised his soda instead of wine and clinked glasses with Chu Yate first, “You’re probably two or three years older than me, right? Just call me by my name, no need to be so formal.”
“Alright.”
“Chu Yate, you didn’t invite me today just to drink, did you?”
“Originally, it was for drinks and chat, but since you can’t drink, I’ll get straight to the point.”
“What is it?”
“Yesterday, weren’t you asking if I had any projects suitable for investment?”
Chu Yate was straightforward by nature, once he committed to something, he wouldn’t just talk without action, “I actually found two. Want to hear about them?”
Bai Xu pressed further, “Tell me first.”
Chu Yate began without hesitation, “For the first one, I have an actor friend who’s planning to leave his current agency to start his own film and television company. He has solid resources and connections in the industry, so it’s got pretty good prospects.”
His friend had originally wanted Chu Yate to invest, but Chu Yate had little interest in the entertainment sector.
“Bai Xu, if you’re interested, I can introduce you two. However, my friend wants to hold the majority stake. You’d just be a passive investor, putting in some money and waiting for dividends each year.”
Bai Xu raised an eyebrow, “That does sound quite effortless.”
Chu Yate spoke candidly, “Exactly. Wealthy people have plenty of ways to make money. Starting a film company might carry risks, but there’s no denying that the entertainment industry is one of the fastest for raking in cash.”
As long as one project takes off, recovering costs and turning a profit can happen in no time.
Bai Xu didn’t argue, “It’s just that there’s not much challenge in it.”
Seeing his reaction, Chu Yate adopted a mysterious tone, “If you want something more challenging, I have another, bigger project.”
Bai Xu’s curiosity grew, “What is it?”
Chu Yate countered with a question, “Have you heard of North America’s Eaglet Industry?”
Upon hearing the name, Bai Xu nodded.
The world of the novel wasn’t much different from reality, many things were nearly identical replicas.
North America’s Eaglet Industry was the world’s largest film and television production hub, with a long history and connections to major international film festivals.
Eaglet Film Industries held numerous IPs, with countless blockbuster hits. The 'Eaglet Studios' theme parks derived from these were among the world’s most famous entertainment destinations.
Chu Yate got straight to the point, "Inside sources say the government and Eaglet Industries have reached an initial cooperation agreement. The world's latest film and television entertainment base is set to be built in Singapore."
“The first round of initial bidding is expected to start within three months, covering everything from the early construction to subsequent joint operations.”
Bai Xu understood the weight of these words, his expression gradually turning serious.
Although the lion’s share of the profits after the theme park’s completion would still go to Eaglet Industry, securing even a slice of the pie would mean considerable benefits.
Chu Yate left it at that, “Young Master Bai, are you interested?”
Bai Xu, however, asked, “With such a promising project located right here in Singapore, wouldn’t your Chu Group go all out to secure it?”
Upon hearing this, Chu Yate revealed an unprecedented confidence, yet it didn’t come across as off-putting, “This project will definitely go to the Chu Group, but the lead role has to be fought for. Even within the same family, interests aren’t always aligned.”
Bai Xu understood now, “No wonder you weren’t interested in the Juesheng or AW projects, your focus is really here?”
“Exactly. The old man is about to retire. Whoever secures this project gets the real key to the door.”
Chu Yate didn’t hide his ambition but also acknowledged his own shortcomings, “I joined the group later than Chu Yuncheng. To be honest, handling this alone isn’t easy.”
Within the same group, it also wasn’t feasible to have two separate teams bidding, as that would invite ridicule from outsiders.
Bai Xu caught on immediately, “You want me or Shang Yanxiao to step in, with a final shareholding partnership?”
Chu Yate nodded clearly, “As long as we secure this project, I don’t care about the final share of profits, big or small.”
“…...”
This project was indeed challenging and incredibly tempting.
If it were the real world and funds were sufficient, Bai Xu would have agreed without hesitation. But right now, he genuinely lacked the financial muscle.
Suppressing the frustration of 'not having enough money', Bai Xu replied, “Let me think it over some more.”
Chu Yate nodded, implicitly acknowledging that Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao were a unit, “Sure. Discuss it further with Mr. Shang when you get back. I’ll wait for your response.”
...
When Bai Xu returned to the villa, it was already past 10:30 in the evening.
Looking up, he saw the light still on in the study on the second floor. The images he had barely managed to suppress rose to the surface once again. He stood hesitantly at the foot of the staircase, unable to bring himself to go upstairs.
Creak.
A soft sound of a door opening echoed.
In just a few seconds, Shang Yanxiao’s figure appeared by the stair railing, looking down at him from above, “You’re back?”
“En.”
Bracing himself, Bai Xu climbed the stairs. In those brief moments, he quickly adjusted his emotions.
“When did you get back?”
“Did you go out to dinner with Chu Yate?”
Both of them asked questions almost simultaneously, then fell silent at the same time.
Bai Xu was the first to break the silence, “En, Second Young Master Chu invited me for dinner, so I went.”
Shang Yanxiao’s voice sounded slightly hoarse and muffled, “You’ve only met a few times, yet you already get along so well?”
He had been thinking about Bai Xu and ended his dinner with an old friend before eight o’clock, rushing home eagerly.
And what did he find?
Not only had the other person not sent him a single message after waking up, but he had also gone out for dinner and chatted until this late before coming home.
Bai Xu sensed the stiffness in those words and instinctively retorted, “Is the Third Young Master allowed to have a beautiful companion tonight, while I’m not allowed to make a new friend?”
Shang Yanxiao’s gaze deepened, “I was just…”
Bai Xu realized his tone had been inappropriate and quickly corrected himself, “I was joking.”
Meeting Shang Yanxiao’s unwavering stare, he felt an indescribable unease, and the words that followed slipped out without thought.
"By the way, I blacked out from drinking last night, so I don't remember much."
"……"
"I didn’t cause any trouble for you, did I?"
Bai Xu feigned ignorance, trying to brush it off lightly, "Anyway, don’t take it to heart. I’ll definitely drink less in the future."
Shang Yanxiao’s breathing suddenly grew heavier. He didn’t respond directly but instead took a step closer, "You forgot?"
Bai Xu took a step back, pretending to be surprised, "Ah, d-did I really do something?"
"……"
Shang Yanxiao noticed the other's retreat and, after a long silence, went along with the answer Bai Xu wanted to hear, "No, you just wore yourself out and fell asleep."
"Oh."
Bai Xu secretly breathed a sigh of relief but didn’t dare stay in front of Shang Yanxiao any longer, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back to my room first? I'm a bit tired."
Shang Yanxiao stepped aside to let him pass, "Alright."
Bai Xu pressed his lips together, "Good night."
With that, he quickly slipped back into his room.
Click.
The sound of the door closing lightly struck Shang Yanxiao’s ears, tightening his heart.
Xie Qi, who had been waiting downstairs, walked up a moment later, holding a freshly prepared cup of cold medicine, "Third Young Master, drink this before you sleep. Should we call a doctor?"
Shang Yanxiao took the cup and downed the medicine, which was at a perfect temperature, in one go, "No need. A good sleep will be enough."
Xie Qi glanced at Bai Xu’s closed door and ventured, "Should we let Young Master Bai know?"
Shang Yanxiao refused, "It’s just a minor cold. Why tell him? Go and rest too. Tomorrow, contact Queyan and have him coordinate with Sister Lan regarding the project."
Xie Qi nodded, "Understood, Third Young Master. Rest well, then."
"Hmm."
...
Naturally, Bai Xu knew nothing of the conversation happening just beyond the wall. He quickly finished his shower and collapsed onto the bed.
Once the night deepened, his thoughts seemed to hit a pause button.
The images from last night kept replaying in his mind, impossible to shake off, making sleep elusive no matter how hard he tried.
Wrapped in his blanket, Bai Xu’s mind raced through countless thoughts—
Why didn’t Shang Yanxiao refute him just now? Did he also find last night’s events too absurd, so he didn’t want to acknowledge them?
Wait, that’s not right. Shang Yanxiao hadn’t been drinking at all last night, so why did he silently allow that to happen? He’d even kissed back more fiercely than Bai Xu had!
"……"
The more Bai Xu thought, the more tangled his thoughts became. He could only force himself to close his eyes. After a while, a hint of drowsiness occasionally flickered through.
But in his brief dreams, there was only relentless, lingering intimacy, startling him awake, too afraid to fall back asleep.
This cycle of waking and dozing lasted until the sky began to lighten. Only then, having been forced to stay up half the night, did Bai Xu finally sink into deep sleep, surrendering completely to the persistence of his dreams.
When he woke again, Shang Yanxiao was once more absent from home, and even Chen Yufei and Xie Qi were nowhere to be seen.
For once, Bai Xu felt a sense of abandonment. He had little appetite, so he only asked a servant to prepare a cup of oatmeal milk before heading back upstairs.
With nothing else to do, Bai Xu decided to look into land leasing regulations and rules concerning large-scale amusement facilities in the Singapore.
To be honest, he was quite interested in the cooperative project Chu Yate had suggested, so he began conducting targeted preliminary research and, before he knew it, became deeply absorbed.
It wasn’t until his stomach, having gone hungry all day, protested loudly that Bai Xu reluctantly pulled himself away from the pile of professional materials.
Just then, familiar sounds—faint, rustling, hard to make out—emerged from the master bedroom next door.
Unable to resist, Bai Xu got up and pushed open his door.
At that very moment, Xie Qi was stepping out of Shang Yanxiao’s master bedroom with a doctor, "Young Master Bai."
They came face-to-face.
Seeing the unfamiliar person beside Xie Qi, Bai Xu felt a rising sense of unease, "When did you get back? What's wrong with Shang Yanxiao?"
"……"
Xie Qi had originally intended to say 'It's nothing', but the words stopped short on his lips. Looking at the visibly worried Bai Xu before him, he thought of his boss—
In that instant, years of accumulated experience as an assistant prompted him to emphasize the situation, "Young Master Bai, the Third Young Master just had his fever-reducing injection. He’s almost delirious with fever!"
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