DASFAM_43
The atmosphere in the living room grew increasingly tense.
Old Master Shang slowly rose to his feet, leaning on his cane, his face still marked by anger and disappointment, "So you still remember I’m your grandfather? Shang Yanxiao, you’ve really opened my eyes!"
"......"
Faced with Old Master Shang’s reprimand, Shang Yanxiao had countless thoughts swirling in his mind, yet he found himself unable to speak up and defend himself.
Bai Xu understood Shang Yanxiao’s predicament and stepped forward, attempting to explain on his behalf, "Old Master, the Third Young Master, he—"
"You shut your mouth!"
Old Master Shang sharply thumped his cane against the floor, showing none of his usual tolerance toward Bai Xu, "I am speaking with my grandson. As an outsider, you have no right to interrupt!"
Bai Xu had no choice but to fall silent, not daring to speak further and risk angering the old man.
Shang Yanxiao shot Bai Xu a reassuring look that said, "It’s fine, I’ll handle it," before taking a half-step forward, shielding Bai Xu from Old Master Shang’s line of sight.
"Grandfather, this matter has nothing to do with Bai Xu or anyone else. It was entirely my own decision. Please calm down first, and don’t let your anger harm your health. I’ll explain everything clearly if you have any questions."
His tone was neither submissive nor defiant, maintaining all the respect he had always shown.
Knowing Shang Yanxiao’s temperament, Old Master Shang lowered his voice and asked, "Where is the study?"
"Upstairs."
Shang Yanxiao gestured politely, "Let me take you there."
The grandfather and grandson made their way upstairs, one after the other.
Only after their figures disappeared around the corner on the second floor did the tense atmosphere in the living room finally ease slightly.
Xie Qi pushed up his slipping glasses, "That scared me to death."
Chen Yufei exchanged a glance with him, his expression still tense, "Do you think the Third Young Master will be alright?"
They had been by Shang Yanxiao's side for quite some time, but this was the first time they had ever seen the Old Master show such an expression toward their boss.
Bai Xu knew that the grandfather and grandson needed a quiet space to talk and did not follow them upstairs.
He reluctantly shifted his gaze back from the second floor, "Everything was fine, so how did the Old Master manage to find his way here? Why didn't you two give us any advance notice?"
Chen Yufei explained, "Young Master Bai, it's not that we didn't want to, but the Old Master ordered us not to."
Xie Qi, as the assistant, had always kept a close eye on the course of events, but this time he was also completely baffled, "None of us know how the Old Master uncovered the truth."
Shang Queyan back in the country hadn't given any prior warning, and the people Shang Yanxiao had arranged hadn't noticed the Old Master quietly leaving the country either.
This afternoon, Xiao Deng, the same bodyguard as usual, was stationed at the hospital when the Old Master arrived alone like an uninvited guest, catching him completely off guard.
"How could Xiao Deng dare to stop the Old Master? Once he let him in, the secret was out."
The Old Master was well aware that Xie Qi and the others were Shang Yanxiao's trusted subordinates. Knowing they would definitely report back once they learned of his arrival in Singapore, he sternly ordered Xiao Deng to keep it a secret first.
"Xiao Deng didn't dare to disobey the Old Master's instructions. When the Old Master arrived here, he also strictly forbade Old Chen and me from giving you any prior heads-up. He just sat in the living room, watching us and waiting for you."
The Old Master's imposing presence was simply too overwhelming. No one dared to act rashly under his watchful eye, fearing they might trigger his anger and provoke an even greater outburst.
As for the housekeeper and servants, they were truly outsiders in this matter. Neither the Old Master nor Xie Qi wanted them to know too much about the situation, so they found an excuse to send them away.
After hearing the whole story, Bai Xu felt a bit uneasy, "How long did the Old Master wait?"
Chen Yufei said, "He arrived around five o'clock."
"......"
Over four hours? Oh no!
Tonight's impromptu dinner with Shang Yanxiao had seriously delayed urgent matters!
Bai Xu frowned with regret, growing increasingly worried about Shang Yanxiao's situation.
Xie Qi asked, "Young Master Bai, what should we do now? The Old Master hates being deceived the most."
Now, the person linked to this 'deception' was Shang Yanxiao, whom he valued most. The anger and disappointment would likely be even more intense.
Assessing the severity of the situation, Xie Qi said, "The Old Madam isn't here, and this time even the chief butler didn't come. If they start arguing upstairs, who could possibly mediate?"
Bai Xu's eyes flickered slightly. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Xie Qi, I remember the Old Master enjoys drinking health tea. Do we have any at home? Brew a cup for me. I'll head up soon."
Xie Qi and Chen Yufei exchanged a glance. Xie Qi started moving, "There should be. I'll look."
Just as he finished speaking, a furious roar suddenly came from the second floor—
"Shang Yanxiao, kneel down now!"
"......"
The atmosphere in the study plummeted.
Shang Yanxiao did not utter a single word of protest. Without any hesitation, his knees hit the floor with a hard thud that sounded painful.
A man's knees are as precious as gold. If the Old Master hadn't been utterly enraged, he wouldn't have started with such a severe punishment.
Old Master Shang snorted coldly, "You certainly are stubborn!"
Shang Yanxiao remained rigid, his gaze lowered, "Grandfather, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kept it from you and Grandmother, making you worry for so long."
Old Master Shang got straight to the point, "When exactly did you wake up?"
Shang Yanxiao hesitated for two seconds, then answered truthfully, "I woke up not long after the car accident."
Old Master Shang, hearing this unexpected answer, tightened his grip on his cane.
He had originally thought that Shang Yanxiao had awakened due to successful treatment in Singapore, but for some unknown reason had deliberately concealed the news.
He never could have imagined that the other party had actually been pretending for over half a year? Playing the entire family for fools?
This was his most trusted and valued grandson, yet in the end, he had committed the most incomprehensible, and even the most detestable, act of deception!
Old Master Shang was so angry his breathing trembled slightly. The stern questioning returned in full force, "Shang Yanxiao, what on earth were you thinking? What did you take the family's concern for you for?"
"I'm asking you, what exactly was the purpose of teaming up with that second son of the Zhang family to go through all this trouble to come to Singapore? How hard has Queyan been pushing himself in the group all this time?"
"You, the elder brother, are hiding out here enjoying peace and quiet instead? If that car crash messed up your brain, get your ass back to the hospital right now and get it treated!"
The torrent of accusations came crashing down.
It was a kind of 'treatment' Shang Yanxiao had never experienced, from childhood till now.
"......"
Shang Yanxiao swallowed slightly, letting Old Master Shang vent his dissatisfaction and anger.
Old Master Shang's cane struck the floor hard with a thud, "I'm telling you to speak! What exactly was the purpose of all this elaborate pretense for so long?"
"Grandfather."
Shang Yanxiao lifted his head once more, his gaze meeting Old Master Shang's, filled with long-suppressed anguish, "Have you never suspected that the car accident involving the third branch might have been intentional?"
Old Master Shang's expression suddenly stiffened, "What are you saying?"
"Have you ever considered that perhaps my parents shouldn't have died? And Queyan—"
"He had a bright future ahead, could have pursued the racing career he loved, but just like that, he lost his legs! Grandfather, you must have heard how ugly those idle rumors were back then."
"Queyan has resilience in his bones; he forced himself to move on. But this pain, as his older brother, I remember it for him, I remember it for our branch!"
Old Master Shang tried to steady his breathing, a trace of helplessness hidden in his voice, "That accident, the overseas police had already issued their investigation report. What more are you doubting?"
A flash of hatred passed deep within Shang Yanxiao's pupils, "I suspect that the first or second branch hired someone to cause the fatal crash. And I also suspect—"
He choked back a nearly imperceptible sob, forcing his eyes to redden, "Grandfather, you knew there was something off about this accident, yet you didn't demand the police investigate further!"
The deepest suspicion in his heart was finally laid bare.
His words were resolute, carrying no tone of mere doubt.
Old Master Shang was instantly infuriated by this statement. With all his strength, he swung his cane and struck Shang Yanxiao's right shoulder, "You disgraceful wretch!"
—Thud!
Shang Yanxiao neither dodged nor avoided the blow. He gritted his teeth, not letting a single sound of pain escape.
The next second, Bai Xu couldn't hold back any longer and rushed in, "Old Master!"
He had just been quietly standing outside the study with a cup of hot tea, originally thinking about when would be the right time to enter, but upon hearing the concerning sound of a blow, he instantly couldn't restrain himself.
Old Master Shang pointed at him with his cane, "What are you doing in here? Get out!"
Bai Xu noticed the obvious droop of Shang Yanxiao's right shoulder, his heart tightening, "Old Master, please have a cup of health tea to calm down. Let's talk things out properly."
Old Master Shang looked at the hot tea offered before him, in no mood to entertain it, "Talk things out properly? Does he look like he's in any mood to talk properly?"
He redirected his attention back to Shang Yanxiao, still kneeling on the floor, his eyes revealing a hint of complex emotion he couldn't quite hide, "You suspected I was shielding the first and second branches in, so even after waking up, you deliberately hid it from us, is that it?"
"......"
Shang Yanxiao pressed his lips together without answering, silently straightening his posture which had been knocked askew.
Old Master Shang was so angry his heart ached. He raised his cane again, ready to strike, "Shang Yanxiao, you... you're doing just fine!"
Bai Xu saw the situation getting increasingly out of hand. Quickly setting down the teacup, he rushed to shield Shang Yanxiao, "Old Master, the pain of losing his parents is the same for Yanxiao as the pain of losing your son and daughter-in-law is for you."
"Everyone in the capital circle says the Third Young Master's temperament is most like yours. What Yanxiao's true attitude toward you is, whether he really harbors that kind of meaning in his heart, surely you, Old Master, can't be unaware?"
"......"
Old Master Shang's chest heaved violently, but the cane held high wavered, reluctant to come down. In the end, it could only be angrily slammed down beside Shang Yanxiao.
He took two steps back, collapsing into a chair as if drained of strength, "Fine! I, Shang Hong, truly raised an excellent grandson!"
Bai Xu turned back to look at Shang Yanxiao, concern and caution mingling in his gaze, "Yanxiao? Are you alright?"
"......"
Hearing this form of address, the tension in Shang Yanxiao's mind eased slightly.
Bai Xu simply half-knelt to meet his eye level, advising in a low voice, "Can you talk properly with the Old Master?"
Previously at home, it was he who had advised Shang Queyan on how to interact with the Old Master. How come, when it was his own turn now, he couldn't do it anymore?
Shang Yanxiao gave an almost imperceptible nod. When he spoke again, his tone had softened considerably, "Grandfather, I'm sorry. I just... I just need the truth."
He remained kneeling on the floor, not getting up.
"The truth?"
Old Master Shang's tone remained harsh, "What have you found out? Right now, you have no evidence! You suspect your own paternal aunt, your own uncles, you suspect them of harming their own siblings!"
His voice choked slightly on the last few words.
Bai Xu quickly stood up and pushed the cup of hot tea he had set aside earlier a bit closer to Old Master Shang, "Old Master, you're right. Everything must be based on evidence."
"Yanxiao understands that in his heart. He has never gone around spreading rumors."
Bai Xu deliberately softened his tone, apologizing to Old Master Shang on Shang Yanxiao's behalf, "Pretending to be ill and hiding it, causing you and the Old Madam to worry for so long—that was indeed wrong of him. But in his heart, he has always held you, his grandfather, in high regard."
Remembering something, he added as further proof, "By the way, that AI medical equipment cooperation the third branch helped the group secure a while back, do you know about it?"
"Yanxiao thought about your expansion needs in that area for the group. That project was actually negotiated by him personally with Chairman Zhang of Juesheng."
"......"
Old Master Shang was half-convinced and half-doubting as he looked at Bai Xu, who was trying to smooth things over, "Stop defending him and pleading on his behalf here. If he hid it from me, didn't you also help him hide it from me?"
"Weren't you quite firm not long ago, not wanting to have any ties with our Shang family? How long has it been? Have you really become Shang Yanxiao's person now?"
Bai Xu was choked up by the last sentence, unable to respond immediately, suddenly feeling too embarrassed to continue.
Shang Yanxiao had already readjusted his emotions and began to reveal the previously hidden investigative leads, "I paid for an overseas private investigator to look into it—"
"The truck driver who died in the accident, Charlie, had a warehouse colleague he worked closely with during his lifetime, named Chelkin."
Bai Xu was hearing about this for the first time, his expression instantly turning serious.
"Before the incident, Chelkin took sick leave due to illness, and after the incident, he resigned due to illness. But the private investigator, through hospital networks, couldn't find any medical records for him during that period.
"Instead, within half a month after the incident, Chelkin frequently entered high-consumption venues and purchased over ten thousand dollars worth of luxury goods."
Bai Xu glanced at Old Master Shang and deliberately asked a rhetorical question, summarizing the suspicious points for Shang Yanxiao, "As an ordinary warehouse worker, where did he get so much money?"
Shang Yanxiao also fixed his gaze on Old Master Shang, continuing to highlight the key point, "The transaction account he used for swiping the card belongs to our Shang Group's overseas bank account."
Old Master Shang's heart stirred with waves, but he didn't let any of it show on his face.
Shang Yanxiao continued stating the facts, "Later, I had Xie Qi use overseas banking connections to investigate—"
"The card Chelkin used was registered under his own identity, but the large sums of money in the account were deposited through offline banking."
The surveillance footage shows that the person who deposited this money was dressed very discreetly, fully equipped with sunglasses, a mask, and a baseball cap.
"Currently, we can only determine that the person is around 1.75 meters tall. Their build doesn't match Chelkin's, so we suspect they might be the behind-the-scenes contact person."
An ordinary warehouse manager suddenly striking it rich? And the person wiring him money is heavily disguised? There's no way this isn't suspicious!
If they could find these two people, it might become a breakthrough in the car accident case. But how easy is it to find a needle in a haystack?
Another three months have passed in the blink of an eye. They still haven't found Chelkin, nor have they found this mysterious person who made the wire transfer.
"Grandfather, I know I still lack substantial evidence, but my intuition tells me—there's more to the car accident. I must uncover the truth!"
Old Master Shang's eyes were filled with complexity, his tone stiff as he retorted, "What if the investigation ends up being all for nothing in the end?"
Shang Yanxiao was unusually stubborn, "It's impossible for it to be all for nothing."
"You've already made up your mind. No matter how much I say, it's useless."
To secretly investigate the truth of the incident and to prevent leaks, he was willing to give up the corporation, hide away here, and even disregard his elderly grandmother!
Old Master Shang rose, disappointed, "Shang Yanxiao, I can't control you anymore. From today on, do as you please! Since you can throw all the corporation's affairs onto your younger brother, then don't even think about coming back!"
Bai Xu was startled.
Old Master Shang stood up and walked around him, heading out.
Bai Xu quickly picked up the cane and followed, "Old Master, where will you rest tonight? Let me arrange..."
"No need. I've booked a hotel."
Old Master Shang cut off Bai Xu's inquiry, "If I stay under the same roof as you all tonight, I'll be furious to death!"
"......"
Bai Xu hurriedly tried to appease him, "Old Master, your health is just fine. How can there be lasting grudges between grandfather and grandson? Rest well tonight. Can we come see you tomorrow?"
Old Master Shang snorted and headed downstairs on his own.
Bai Xu signaled to Chen Yufei and Xie Qi waiting in the living room, "You two are responsible for seeing the Old Master safely back to his hotel, understand?"
"Understood, Young Master Bai."
Old Master Shang took his cane back from Bai Xu's hand, sounding both like a dissatisfied complaint and a deliberate statement, "If you hadn't suddenly barged in earlier, I would've broken both of that wretched boy's arms!"
With that, he was the first to walk out of the villa.
Three minutes later, the car drove off. Only then did the tension in Bai Xu's heart ease, and he quickly turned around and rushed back to the second floor.
...
The door to the master bedroom was wide open. As Bai Xu approached and looked inside—
Shang Yanxiao had already left the study and returned to his room. He was standing quietly by the window, and from his vantage point, he could watch as Old Master Shang and the others departed.
Understanding Shang Yanxiao’s thoughts, Bai Xu knocked on the door before stepping closer, "Don’t worry. With Xie Qi and the others there, they’ll definitely see the old master safely back to the hotel and take good care of him."
"Hmm."
Shang Yanxiao responded with an almost inaudible sound, then turned to meet his gaze, "Thank you."
If Bai Xu hadn’t appeared just then, softening the situation and mediating between him and Old Master Shang, he might have received more than just that one blow today.
"Why be so polite with me?"
Bai Xu’s searching gaze fell on his shoulder, "How’s your shoulder? The Old Master’s hit must have been quite heavy."
Shang Yanxiao shook his head, not showing any sign of pain, "It’s fine. It’s getting late. Why don’t you go take a shower first? I’d like to rinse off quickly too."
Bai Xu knew Shang Yanxiao needed some time alone to process things, "Alright, we can talk more later if needed."
...
Outside the window, a light drizzle had begun to fall without notice, thickening the oppressive atmosphere still lingering in the house.
Having changed into his pajamas after his shower, Bai Xu stepped out of the bathroom. Still worried about Shang Yanxiao, he walked over to the connecting door between their rooms.
Thud.
Right then, the sound of something falling came from the master bedroom next door.
Bai Xu knocked on the door, both as a courtesy and an inquiry, "Shang Yanxiao, are you finished showering?"
"Come in."
Shang Yanxiao's response was muffled, his breath inexplicably sounding a bit unsteady.
Sensing something was wrong, Bai Xu quickly pushed the door open and entered.
Inside the master bedroom, only the dim bedside lamp was on. Shang Yanxiao, already washed up, sat on the edge of the bed, bare-chested, bending down to pick up a tube of ointment that had fallen to the floor.
As Bai Xu moved closer and saw, his heart instantly clenched in alarm—
Shang Yanxiao's entire right shoulder was swollen. The most severe area was already bruised purple and streaked with traces of blood.
Noticing Bai Xu's tense posture, Shang Yanxiao said hoarsely, "Did I scare you? It's actually not that serious, just looks a bit intimidating."
"Don't give me that. It's swollen like this in such a short time, how can it not be serious?"
Bai Xu frowned as he approached, revealing a rare hint of displeasure towards Old Master Shang, "The Old Master was too heavy-handed. Wasn't he the one who always doted on you the most? What if it really damaged the muscles or bones?"
Shang Yanxiao's gaze lowered slightly, "From childhood till now, this is the first time he's ever hit me. I'm the one who pushed him too far."
Sensing his low spirits, Bai Xu took the initiative and gently took the ointment tube from him, "It's not easy for you to manage. Let me apply it for you."
Shang Yanxiao didn't refuse Bai Xu's kindness, "Alright."
Bai Xu took five cotton swabs and bundled them into a small bunch, then squeezed a generous amount of ointment directly onto Shang Yanxiao's shoulder.
The moment the bundled cotton swabs made contact with the swollen shoulder, Shang Yanxiao sharply inhaled a cold breath.
Bai Xu noticed his pain and lightened his touch even more, "Bear with it a little."
Shang Yanxiao endured it, "It's fine."
To distract him, Bai Xu asked, "Shang Queyan probably doesn't know about the things you discussed with the Old Master, right?"
The car accident that took their parents might have been deliberate, and the culprit could very well be someone within the family.
Shang Yanxiao replied, "He's already in enough pain. Until the facts and the outcome are settled, I don't want him to carry any more burden."
Bai Xu understood the sense of responsibility the man before him carried as an older brother and sighed, "You shouldn't have said all that in front of the Old Master today. He was initially just angry that you hid the fact you'd regained consciousness. An apology would have sufficed."
Shang Yanxiao understood Old Master Shang's temper better than anyone, "The Old Master came all this way, and once he realized I'd been deceiving him long-term, whether I said anything or not, he would have dug to the bottom of it. It was impossible to hide."
"That's true."
Bai Xu continued to comfort him, following his train of thought, "To the Old Master, your parents were his children, and the families of the eldest and second branches are also his own flesh and blood."
"You're acting 'without evidence', relying solely on intuition. From his perspective, getting angry is normal. Don't take it too hard."
Shang Yanxiao nodded, "I know."
Bai Xu's hands kept working as he cautiously asked further, "But, do you really suspect the Old Master himself?"
"......"
Shang Yanxiao met his gaze, the redness in his eyes not yet fully faded.
Bai Xu was taken aback, afraid of being misunderstood, "Uh... I didn't eavesdrop on purpose. I had just arrived at the door then, holding the tea and wondering when would be a good time to go in."
"I know."
Shang Yanxiao stopped Bai Xu's flicker of unease, "You don't need to explain those things to me. I trust you."
Because of this trust, Shang Yanxiao chose to lay everything out—
Although the initial investigation and the final verdict stated it was an accident, some officers suspected possible deliberate foul play based on the hit-and-run driver's delayed departure and sudden lane change.
"Back then, the police gave the Old Master a verbal suggestion, advising him, as a family member, to file for another round of investigation. Grandfather agreed at first, but he withdrew the case just three days before I woke up."
With no substantial evidence, the case was closed smoothly.
Shang Yanxiao learned about these details later.
"Grandfather has been strong-willed his whole life, always insisting on getting to the bottom of things. If he had any suspicion, he wouldn't have let it go so easily."
Shang Yanxiao's voice hitched as he paused, seeming to suppress a surge of bitter emotion, "I know I failed to control my emotions today. What I said earlier was too much, it must have hurt the Old Master deeply. It's all my fault."
The loss of his parents was not a scar that could be easily erased for Shang Yanxiao. The longer it dragged on, the more the festering in his heart spread.
As an older brother, he could advise Shang Queyan to always look forward, but he couldn't offer the same advice to himself.
No one knew about Shang Yanxiao's restless tossing and turning during countless late nights, how desperately he wished he could return to that day—
"I've thought more than once, if only I hadn't said I was tired from work that day, if I stopped Queyan from driving in my place... would the outcome have been different?"
"Maybe I could have helped them avoid that disaster. Even if not, at least the one who lost his legs wouldn't have been Queyan."
"Shang Yanxiao, enough. Stop."
Bai Xu called out softly to stop him, a dull ache spreading in his heart that even he couldn't quite explain, "You can't keep thinking like this. This matter was never the fault of either of you."
"En, it's already happened. It can't be changed."
Shang Yanxiao turned away with a bitter smile, not daring to easily reveal his vulnerable state, "It's very late. You should go back and rest. This minor injury on my shoulder is nothing."
Bai Xu stared at Shang Yanxiao's profile, feeling an indescribable sadness well up within him.
Almost instinctively, he gently grasped the man's wrist, "Yanxiao."
No longer the full name, but a softer, more intimate form of address.
Shang Yanxiao's heavy, gloomy mood shifted abruptly as he turned back to look.
Meeting his gaze, Bai Xu suppressed the inexplicable feeling of shyness at his heart's core, "I'll be with you."
Shang Yanxiao was taken aback, "What?"
Bai Xu spoke to him, word by word, "I'll go with you tomorrow to apologize to the Old Master. And I'll wait with you for the day the truth comes to light."
Even though Bai Xu hadn't read this book's specific plot to the end, he couldn't be mistaken—the car accident mentioned in the original summary was, in fact, a deliberate conspiracy!
"You're not wrong, and you don't need to blame yourself."
"Besides, aren't we allies? So—" Bai Xu found a reason for his actions, "I'll be here with you, even if the sky falls."
Shang Yanxiao finally let out a light chuckle, "Are you sure you want to stay with me?"
Bai Xu smiled along, completely forgetting the resolve he had made not long ago, "Of course, I always keep my promises."
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