DASFAM_44

The rain outside showed no signs of stopping.

Bai Xu finished applying medicine to Shang Yanxiao's shoulder, "Be careful when you sleep tonight. If the swelling hasn't gone down by tomorrow morning, find time to go to the hospital for a checkup."

Shang Yanxiao felt his concern, "Mm, I know."

"Then I'll head back. Get some rest early?"

Bai Xu put the ointment back into the medical kit. Just as he stood up, Shang Yanxiao caught his hand, "Bai Xu."

The warmth unique to that palm spread through him, making Bai Xu freeze and lower his eyes.

Shang Yanxiao was still sitting on the edge of the bed. The redness in his eyes hadn't fully faded, and without the composed, distinguished air he wore in front of others, he carried instead a rare vulnerability.

Shang Yanxiao didn't let go. His fingertips lightly traced Bai Xu's wrist as if absentmindedly, "Stay with me tonight. Is that okay?"

"......"

Bai Xu's thoughts, which had just settled, stirred again, "Shang Yanxiao?"

Shang Yanxiao gently pulled him closer, then leaned his head against him as if all strength had left him, "I'm a little tired. My head hurts too."

The contact shook something loose in Bai Xu's chest. He hesitated for a few seconds before gently resting his other hand on the back of Shang Yanxiao's head, "Okay."

Besides, they had already done far more intimate things under the name of 'friends with benefits,' What did it matter to simply sleep in the same bed.

The bedside lamp was dimmed to its lowest setting.

To avoid putting pressure on his swollen right shoulder, Shang Yanxiao could only sleep on his side for now.

Bai Xu lay on the left side of the bed and unavoidably met his gaze. The look that fell on his face burned, stirring a wave of restless heat.

Bai Xu pretended not to notice and turned over, putting his back to Shang Yanxiao, "Mm, I'm going to sleep..."

He hadn't even finished speaking when the person behind him pressed close.

"What are you hiding from? Your ears are red."

"......"

"Turn back over."

Warm breath brushed past his ear, sending a tingling rush through him.

Bai Xu, at the end of his patience, turned back around and muttered under his breath, "Are you going to sleep or not? Your shoulder is still hurt. How can you even be thinking about that kind of thing?"

Shang Yanxiao laughed out loud, "Oh~ so Young Master Bai always has that kind of thing on his mind?"

He reached out and pulled Bai Xu closer, shifting himself nearer as well, "I just wanted to hold you while I sleep. Nothing more than that. But if Young Master Bai really wants it, I can oblige."

Bai Xu caught the faint teasing hidden in his trailing tone and was instantly flooded with the embarrassment of having misread the situation.

He swallowed, too proud to admit defeat, "Who said I wanted anything? Third Young Master still has the mood to joke around? And here I spent all this time comforting you."

Shang Yanxiao just smiled, then tilted his head and pressed a kiss to his earlobe.

Brief, like a dragonfly skimming the water's surface, yet enough to send ripple after ripple spreading across the lake of his heart.

"A' Xu, thank you."

"......"

It was the first time anyone had ever called Bai Xu by such an intimate name. After two or three seconds of stunned silence, his breathing grew even more unsteady.

He gave in and closed his eyes, but his body drifted toward Shang Yanxiao on its own, "Sleeping now. Good night."

The palm Shang Yanxiao had rested against his back patted him softly, like coaxing someone to sleep, "Okay. Good night."

...

Old Master Shang was getting on in years, and his sleep had always been light.

After the argument with Shang Yanxiao the night before, his chest had grown tight one moment after another, and after a fitful sleep, he had woken early.

He sat alone in the hotel suite, watching the time inch toward noon, growing more and more unsettled with each passing minute.

"Lived this long, and not one son or grandson turned out worth anything."

Old Master Shang got up with nothing better to do and paced back and forth across the room, muttering to himself.

"It's already noon and not a soul in sight? Didn't you say just last night you'd come see me today? That little brat Bai Xu has a mouth that's good for nothing."

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang.

Old Master Shang's expression shifted slightly. Then he heard Bai Xu's voice from outside the door, "Old Master, are you in?"

"......"

The deep furrow in Old Master Shang's brow smoothed out in an instant. Without even reaching for his cane, he walked briskly to the door.

Ding-dong!

Ding-dong!

Two more rings, "Old Master, it's me, Bai Xu."

Old Master Shang drew close to the door, hastily composed himself back into the stern bearing of a family patriarch, and then opened it, "First thing in the morning, what's gotten into you, child?"

"......"

It was nearly noon. How was this first thing in the morning?

Bai Xu asked uncertainly, "Old Master, were you still sleeping? Did I disturb you?"

Old Master Shang's gaze drifted to the side. Seeing only Bai Xu and no one else, a pang of disappointment quietly rose within him.

He kept it from his face, "What are you here for?"

Bai Xu put on his most well-behaved smile and lifted the two tiers of food containers he had brought, "Old Master, may I come in? Yanxiao was worried you might not be eating well here, so he had me scout the place out and bring lunch."

"Hmph."

Old Master Shang turned away, but left the door open for Bai Xu.

Bai Xu hurried in and laid out the elegant food containers one by one across the dining table. The still-warm food immediately filled the air with its fragrance.

Old Master Shang pressed down the curve at the corner of his mouth, "Where did you buy all this?"

"Buy?"

Bai Xu shook his head and made a point of clarifying, "Old Master, Yanxiao made all of this for you first thing this morning. I was just there helping on the side. He also said..."

Bai Xu took out the clean utensils he had brought along, "These are dishes he learned from the Old Madam. Every one of them is something you love to eat."

Old Master Shang swept a glance over the table. Sure enough, every dish was one he was particularly fond of, "He can actually make these?"

"Definitely not up to the Old Madam's standard," Bai Xu moved closer to the old man and held the chopsticks out to him like coaxing a child, "Old Master, won't you do us the honor and have a taste?"

Old Master Shang took the chopsticks and slowly settled into his seat.

Bai Xu ladled him a bowl of warm millet congee and placed the spoon inside, "Here."

Old Master Shang drank two spoonfuls of congee to warm his stomach without changing his expression, then helped himself to some refreshing cold shredded chicken.

Bai Xu didn't touch his own chopsticks, only watched him, "Old Master, what do you think?"

Old Master Shang said, "Passable."

Bai Xu immediately broke into a smile, "Passable is good enough. The sincerity of an apology is in there too."

Old Master Shang had long grown used to Bai Xu's honeyed, ingratiating tongue and pushed back with feigned irritation, "You always have something to say for everything!"

Bai Xu was unbothered, "Old Master, I want to ask you something. Don't be in a rush to get angry first."

Old Master Shang glanced at him and wordlessly allowed the question.

Bai Xu ventured carefully, "What made you suddenly think of coming to Singapore? Does anyone else at home know?"

Old Master Shang caught the meaning beneath his words and paused his chopsticks for a moment, "The two of you have been deceiving so many people together all this time, and now you're finally feeling guilty and afraid?"

Bai Xu faltered.

Old Master Shang knew what Bai Xu wanted to hear and didn't beat around the bush, "The first and second branches don't know yet. The family doesn't even know I came to Singapore."

"......"

Bai Xu was startled, "Then how did you find out?"

Old Master Shang picked up another piece of water spinach, deliberately drawing it out, "Hmph. I, Shang Hong, have traveled all corners of this world for so many years. I've seen more of life than the two of you combined. What tricks could possibly slip past me?"

"I always had my doubts about him being in a coma. You two hid it well, but that doesn't mean everyone around you did."

"That Second Zhang boy sent me a video of Yanxiao lying in the hospital. But who was the one at the airport to receive someone? And who was it who showed up at the bar that same afternoon?"

Bai Xu understood in an instant, "Old Master, you... you hired a private detective to keep watch on Dr. Zhang and the others?"

They had calculated everything and never thought the gap would appear there.

Old Master Shang only said, "If it's a pretense, even the most airtight plan will have a crack."

Bai Xu conceded, "Yes."

After receiving the photos, Old Master Shang had guessed that Shang Yanxiao must have had his reasons for hiding things, so he said nothing to anyone and came abroad under the pretense of 'clearing his head'.

Old Master Shang thought back to last night's argument, and his expression, which had just softened, shifted again.

Bai Xu, ever sharp at reading people, immediately spoke up for Shang Yanxiao, "The accident had been weighing on him for far too long. He couldn't talk to Queyan about it, and he couldn't bring himself to open up to us either."

When any emotion goes unrelieved for too long, it's like a balloon being steadily inflated. It will burst at some point.

Old Master Shang said nothing, his eyes carrying something complicated and unreadable.

Bai Xu continued in his role as peacemaker, "Old Master, Yanxiao felt terrible last night for upsetting you. He has always deeply respected you as his grandfather. You can feel that, can't you?"

Old Master Shang said one thing while meaning another, "Respect? If he truly respected me, why doesn't he dare come find me himself?"

Bai Xu seized the moment, "Old Master, Yanxiao came with me! He just didn't want to come up in case your anger hadn't settled yet and his showing up made things worse, so he stayed downstairs."

He took out his phone and pressed a little further, "How about I call him up right now?"

"......"

Old Master Shang picked up a piece of food and said nothing to stop it, "Mm. The food is actually quite good."

Bai Xu held back a smile and quickly sent a message to Shang Yanxiao downstairs.

Old Master Shang caught a glimpse of his excitement while texting and once again sensed something, "Are the two of you together?"

"Huh?"

Bai Xu was caught off guard, "What?"

Old Master Shang came straight to the point, "Are you and Yanxiao in a relationship?"

"I..."

Bai Xu hesitated.

His relationship with Shang Yanxiao had indeed gone beyond that of ordinary allies, but bringing the term 'friends with benefits' before Old Master Shang would likely get him thrown out alongside Shang Yanxiao before the man even made it upstairs.

Old Master Shang saw his hesitation, "Why all the hemming and hawing? I'm not that narrow-minded. I'm not going to stand in the way of anyone."

Bai Xu had no choice and steeled himself to admit it, "Oh, we... we're just starting to get to know each other."

Old Master Shang gave a snorting laugh and, uncharacteristically, let something vague slip, "I knew it."

Bai Xu didn't catch on, "Huh? Knew what?"

Old Master Shang didn't explain and slowly helped himself to more food.

Soon, the doorbell rang.

Bai Xu got up to answer it. He met Shang Yanxiao's eyes at the door and quietly gave him one last reminder, "Go in and talk things out properly with the old master. It's fine to show a little vulnerability, even play up the sympathy a bit. Just don't be like you were last night."

Shang Yanxiao agreed, "Got it."

Bai Xu knew when to step back, "Then I'll wait for you on the restaurant floor?"

Some things were better said between the two of them behind a closed door.

"Okay."

The hotel suite door closed once more.

Shang Yanxiao took a deep breath and walked steadily over to the dining table, "Grandfather."

Old Master Shang didn't look at him, only turned the nearly empty millet congee bowl in his hands.

Shang Yanxiao understood the wordless opening being offered and reached out for it, "Grandfather, shall I ladle you a little more?"

Warmth was added back to the bowl, and the barrier between them dissolved without a word.

Old Master Shang gestured, "Sit."

Shang Yanxiao sat down and gave voice to the apology he had been holding for a long time, "Grandfather, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have deceived you, and I shouldn't have said what I said last night. I spoke out of turn."

Hearing his apology, Old Master Shang's brow and eyes lost the anger of the night before, "Yanxiao."

"Mm?"

"The overseas police did come to me. And I did file a report and withdraw it again."

"......"

"But not for the reasons you think. It wasn't because I found a lead and was deliberately hiding it for the first and second branches. It was because of your grandmother."

Shang Yanxiao immediately understood from those few words alone, and a wave of guilt surged through him.

Old Master Shang explained in full, "The accident that took your whole family was a devastating blow to your grandmother. During that time, she was burying the younger generation before her own time, and still running back and forth to look after the two of you brothers."

These were things that money could hand off to others, but how could the Old Madam Shang ever bring herself to do that?

She had been holding her grief down all along, and had fainted several times throughout.

When mention was made of his wife, Old Master Shang's expression softened considerably. He even brought himself to admit, "I withdrew the case because I was afraid."

"......"

It was the first time Shang Yanxiao had ever heard the word 'afraid' from Old Master Shang's lips.

Old Master Shang let out a sigh, "Aside from your little aunt, who never comes home and has no interest in starting a family, I know the three households have always had their conflicts over the group's interests, both openly and in the shadows."

"But what can be done? Your father, your eldest aunt, your second uncle—they are all children your grandmother and I brought into this world."

"If the investigation turns out to be nothing more than an accident, then perhaps the grief could slowly fade with time. But if the results turn out to be exactly as you say—"

"Have you ever stopped to consider how your grandmother and I would feel?"

A child of their own flesh and blood turning on family—plotting and scheming to kill a brother and his wife?

"I'm not sure I could bear it, but your grandmother certainly couldn't. Do you understand? I don't want her, at her age, to have to face what might come to light."

Old Master Shang, who had prided himself on being shrewd and exacting his whole life, found that on this one matter, he wanted to play dumb—for his own sake, and for his wife's.

Shang Yanxiao came back to himself only after a moment, yet didn't know how to respond, "Grandfather..."

"I tell everyone I meet that you take after me the most."

Old Master Shang drew a long breath, and in doing so, silently conceded, "I know. If this matter never reaches a conclusion, you'll never be able to move on or get past it."

"I can't stop you. I'm not able to. And I'm already a man with one foot in the grave. I don't want to face your parents' reproach when I get down there—"

"Truth be told, I'm also afraid they'll ask me: Father, why didn't you get to the bottom of it?"

A soreness rose again in Shang Yanxiao's chest, "Grandfather, don't think like that."

Old Master Shang cleared his throat, as if covering something up, "If you want to investigate, then investigate. Those two people you mentioned last night—after I return, I'll also make use of my own connections to look into them quietly."

"There is just one thing I need you to do."

Shang Yanxiao gave a nod, "Go ahead."

Old Master Shang said, "After I go back, I won't breathe a word of this to anyone. But I will video call you, and you must check in with your grandmother and let her know you're safe."

"She has always doted on you all. You cannot keep making her worry herself sick over you. Do you understand?"

That Shang Yanxiao was alive and well was what the old couple had hoped and been most grateful for, far more than any anger over being deceived.

Shang Yanxiao answered earnestly, "Understood."

Old Master Shang looked at his shoulder with concern, "How is your shoulder?"

Shang Yanxiao shook his head, "It's fine."

Old Master Shang knew the weight behind his own hand, "Go to the hospital when you have the time. If you ever talk nonsense again, I'll still hit you for it. Remember that."

The corner of Shang Yanxiao's mouth finally lifted a little, "I'll remember. Grandfather is right to discipline me."

"All right, no more talk of yesterday. Whether you stay in N City, come back to capital with me, or even take a break from the group for now, you still need to have something to build toward."

"But your parents and I worked our whole lives. Not so you'd have to start from nothing and suffer for it. Whenever any future project needs resources from the group, have Queyan quietly lend a hand."

Old Master Shang had never hidden how much he valued Shang Yanxiao, and he was firmly convinced his grandson had what it took to move across major projects.

Shang Yanxiao's mood finally eased, "Thank you, Grandfather."

Old Master Shang checked the time, "I have a flight at four this afternoon. It's about time to head to the airport."

"......"

Shang Yanxiao was startled, "So soon? Won't you stay another day or two?"

"How can I afford to wait?"

Old Master Shang had his own plan, "I came without telling anyone at home. If I don't go back soon, your situation will be even harder to keep under wraps."

Shang Yanxiao understood he was covering for him and felt a stir of emotion, "Grandfather, thank you."

"Enough of that," Old Master Shang had never been one for sentiment and gave a straightforward nod, "Let's go. Drive me to the airport."

"Okay."

Old Master Shang hadn't brought much luggage, so packing up was easy.

He glanced at the elegant food containers left on the table and only then thought to ask, "Where did Bai Xu disappear to?"

Shang Yanxiao carried his small suitcase for him, "He's waiting at the restaurant while we finish talking."

Old Master Shang heard that and smiled, which was rare for him, "You two little lovebirds planned it out, taking turns to come talk to me."

"......"

Little lovebirds?

A faint brightness came into Shang Yanxiao's eyes, "Grandfather, did Bai Xu tell you about us?"

Old Master Shang pressed the elevator button, "What is there to tell? I'm not senile. Last night he stood up for you, and you stood up for him. How did that leave me, an old man, as the villain?"

Shang Yanxiao tugged at the corner of his mouth and said without thinking, "Bai Xu is very good."

Old Master Shang saw the genuine joy on his grandson's face, yet what he praised aloud was, "When has your grandmother's eye ever been wrong?"

"It started out as a desperate remedy, thinking it would bring you some good fortune. Who would have thought it actually brought the two of you together. If your grandmother knew, there's no telling how happy she'd be."

Between the lines, it was as if he had entirely forgotten how firmly he had opposed this absurd so-called 'arranged marriage' from the very beginning.

They reached the restaurant floor and the elevator doors opened.

Shang Yanxiao spotted Bai Xu eating by the floor-to-ceiling windows in an instant, and there was a smile in his voice, "Grandfather, he's over there."

Old Master Shang noticed his mood lift all at once, saw through it, and said nothing, "Go on then."

Bai Xu saw the two of them walking over one after the other, the air between them nothing like the heavy oppressiveness of the night before.

He had a rough sense of how the talk had gone and smiled, "Old Master, did you two work things out?"

Old Master Shang gave a small nod.

Shang Yanxiao told him, "Mm, Grandfather has a four o'clock flight back to China. I'm going to drive him to the airport."

Bai Xu stood up without a second thought, "Then I'll come along?"

"Sure."

...

The car arrived at the airport parking lot shortly.

Just as Shang Yanxiao was about to get out to see him off, Old Master Shang stopped him, "Yanxiao, you don't need to get out. If you still want to keep up the pretense, keep a lower profile day to day."

The airport was full of people with all kinds of eyes. What if they ran into someone they knew?

Shang Yanxiao and Bai Xu exchanged a glance. Bai Xu picked up the thread without missing a beat, "Then Old Master, shall I see you off?"

Old Master Shang didn't refuse.

The two of them got out of the car one after the other.

Bai Xu took the initiative to pick up Old Master Shang's small suitcase and followed him into the elevator going directly up to the departure level.

The elevator rose slowly.

Old Master Shang looked at Bai Xu beside him, thought for a moment, then called, "Bai Xu."

"Mm?"

"Yanxiao has been steady by nature since he was small. He doesn't cry or make a fuss when things happen. He keeps things to himself."

"With his parents gone, and being the older brother, he won't burden his younger brother with his troubles. And he certainly won't open up to his grandmother or me."

Old Master Shang paused. What came out next sounded offhand but had been turning in him for a long time, "If you can, keep him company."

"......"

Bai Xu heard the care Old Master Shang had buried beneath his calm tone, and his eyes stung without him realizing.

Old Master Shang looked straight ahead again, carrying the composure of someone who had made his peace with life and death, "His grandmother and I are already at this age. There's no telling when we'll be gone. Of all the children right now, the two brothers are truly the ones I worry about most."

After all, the grandchildren of the other two branches still had elders who could look out for them no matter what.

Bai Xu thought of the storyline in the original book involving the Old Master's serious illness, and his heart was seized by an invisible hand.

He pushed back on instinct, "Old Master, you're still in fine health. Why say things like that?"

The elevator doors opened.

Old Master Shang gestured to Bai Xu, "All right, leave the things with me. I can manage from here. Go on back."

"......"

Bai Xu hesitated, but in the end took the risk of upsetting him anyway, "Old Master, when you have time, would you go and get your heart checked?"

Old Master Shang's expression shifted slightly.

Bai Xu quickly added, "I noticed you clutched your chest when you got angry last night. I was worried you might be feeling something there."

Old Master Shang took back his small suitcase, "I know my own body. I get checked every year. You don't need to waste your concern on me."

Bai Xu pressed his lips together, "That's good then."

The Old Master did look to be in genuinely good health.

And this world didn't necessarily move along on a fixed track. Perhaps the way events unfolded in the novel wouldn't actually happen in 'reality'.

Old Master Shang had no idea what was going through Bai Xu's mind, "Go on back. Don't keep Yanxiao waiting."

Bai Xu carried himself with just the right amount of courtesy and took the small suitcase back from his hands, "There's no rush on his end. Let me keep you company through check-in first and see you past security before I go."

...

Half an hour later, Bai Xu made his way back to the car.

He met Shang Yanxiao's eyes and gave an unprompted update, "Don't worry. Grandfather has already gone through security. At this time, it shouldn't be much longer before boarding."

"Good."

Bai Xu fastened his seatbelt and looked at Shang Yanxiao's shoulder, which couldn't move too much, "We should still make a trip to the hospital. I'm not at ease with your condition like this."

It wasn't that he didn't want to drive in Shang Yanxiao's place—it was that the original host had no international driver's license, so there was simply no way.

Just as the words left his mouth, both their phones buzzed with a message at the same time. They opened it to find it was a shared notification from the 'Eaglet Cinema Project Group'.

A team member had tagged all three of them directly, seemingly out of options.

"Mr. Bai, Mr. Shang, Mr. Chu—bosses, I am truly sorry to disturb you all, but the project preparation has run into a very thorny problem. We may need you to step in and sort it out!"

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