DASFAM_57

Capital Central Hospital.

The smell of disinfectant mixed with the scent of various medicines had long permeated the hospital corridors year after year.

Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao had just stepped out of the elevator when they heard a heart-wrenching cry nearby, "Old Zhu, what am I supposed to do now that you're gone!"

A gurney passed by them, the person lying on it already covered with a white sheet, announcing that a life had come to its end.

The wailing woman nearly collapsed to the ground, while her children standing around her wore equally grief-stricken expressions.

"......"

Bai Xu was reminded of the scene when his grandfather passed away, and his heart gave a sudden tremble.

Shang Yanxiao also caught sight of this scene, his breathing grew heavier, "A' Xu, stop looking, let's go."

No sooner had the words fallen than Zhang Changxu, who had received word ahead of time, came walking around the corner, "Yanxiao, over here."

The two met his gaze and walked over.

Zhang Changxu also noticed the heartbreaking scene by the elevator and casually mentioned, "I heard the one they just sent off was Old Master Zhou from Fuheng Hosiery. He was in critical care on life support for nearly two months, but still didn't make it through."

"......"

Shang Yanxiao didn't respond, his thoughts suddenly growing heavier once more.

Bai Xu sensed Shang Yanxiao's emotions and asked on his behalf, "How is the Old Master doing?"

As a doctor, Zhang Changxu spoke plainly, "It's a cerebral hemorrhage caused by an external impact, and the bleeding is quite severe."

"The moment he was brought in yesterday, Director Song personally performed the surgery, but the Old Master's intracranial pressure has been unstable and he hasn't yet passed the critical period."

Bai Xu pressed further, "What about the heart attack? Is it serious?"

Zhang Changxu glanced around with particular caution and lowered his voice, "That's actually the point I wanted to talk to you both about."

Shang Yanxiao immediately sensed something was wrong, "What is it?"

"Follow me."

Zhang Changxu did not rush to take them to the ICU where Old Master Shang was, but instead led them to a nearby emergency stairwell.

Bai Xu pressed on, "Is there something suspicious about the Old Master's condition?"

Zhang Changxu only spoke to what he was certain of, "The Old Master has his regular health checkups every year, and his heart has never shown any serious problems."

"I specifically asked the medical staff who were on duty yesterday. The truth is, the Old Master's heart attack symptoms weren't particularly severe."

"Simply put, if the Old Master had gotten into an argument with someone before the incident yesterday and became overly agitated, that level of strain would at most cause him to feel chest tightness and shortness of breath."

Shang Yanxiao vaguely grasped what his friend was getting at and ventured a guess, "Knowing Grandfather's temperament, he could easily have sat down to compose himself the moment he felt any discomfort. So for him to have felt ill enough to actually collapse..."

Zhang Changxu confirmed it, "It shouldn't have caused a complete loss of consciousness or a sudden violent fall, let alone external trauma of this severity."

Bai Xu's heart jolted, "You mean the Old Master may have been deliberately pushed and injured?"

Zhang Changxu made a gesture for silence, "As a doctor, I cannot rashly draw conclusions for you, but as a friend..."

He met Shang Yanxiao's darkening gaze, "I'd advise you to look into this carefully."

Shang Yanxiao steadied his breathing, "Understood. Thank you."

Zhang Changxu patted him on the shoulder in comfort, "No need for that between us. If there's any change in the Old Master's condition, I'll contact you both right away."

"Alright."

The three of them came out of the stairwell and made their way to the far end of the corner corridor.

Old Madam Shang was seated on the bench along the wall, hunched over with her head bowed low. A far cry from the composed and graceful woman she had been at the shareholders' meeting, she now looked unusually frail and worn.

Beside her were Shang Queyan and the head butler.

Zhang Changxu explained in a low voice, "The hospital has a clear policy that the ICU only allows one visitor per day. The Old Madam just came out after her visiting time was up."

"She says she wants to keep watch here for the Old Master and refuses to leave."

Bai Xu furrowed his brows, "How can that be acceptable?"

It was said that Old Madam Shang had stubbornly kept watch until the early hours of the morning yesterday, and had also spent considerable energy on the shareholders' meeting during the day. If this kept up, her body would surely not be able to take it.

Shang Yanxiao was the first to approach, "Grandmother."

Shang Queyan noticed him right away, "Brother, you're here!"

The head butler caught sight of Shang Yanxiao's long-absent figure and calmly stepped aside, "Third Young Master."

Old Madam Shang raised her head, the redness around her eyes unmistakable.

She took Shang Yanxiao's hand on her own initiative, overwhelmed with mixed emotions, "Yanxiao, let grandmother take a good look at you."

After Old Master Shang returned to the capital from N City last time, he had told her the truth the following day, and had also had Shang Yanxiao make a video call to let her know he was safe.

Old Madam Shang had been both shocked and overjoyed, and had since been hoping for the day her grandson would be able to return home.

"Yanxiao, I had originally thought that when you came back, we would set up a proper family banquet to welcome you home and wash away the ill fortune, but as it turns out..."

She looked toward the intensive care unit on the other side of the wall, her emotions stirring again, "Who would have thought your grandfather would fall ill first."

Shang Yanxiao held Old Madam Shang's hand in return and consoled her softly, "Grandmother, that family banquet will happen. Once grandfather has fully recovered, we will make up for it twofold."

Old Madam Shang was moved, "Alright."

Shang Queyan beside them urged again, "Grandmother, please come back and rest with us first. Otherwise your body won't be able to hold up."

Old Madam Shang shook her head, "No, I want to stay here and keep watch over your grandfather."

"......"

Shang Yanxiao's brows furrowed slightly as his gaze drifted involuntarily toward Bai Xu.

Bai Xu shot him a subtle glance as a signal. Before Zhang Changxu beside her could even react, Shang Yanxiao, who had caught the look, had already risen to his feet with perfect understanding.

He turned to the head butler, "Uncle Sun, Queyan and I have a few things we'd like to confirm with you. Could you come with us for a moment?"

Shang Queyan, ever perceptive, stood up and played along with his brother, "Mm."

The head butler seemed to understand, "Of course, Young Masters."

Bai Xu walked over in their place and sat down beside Old Madam Shang, "Old Madam, I have something to give you."

Old Madam Shang asked, "What is it?"

Bai Xu reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, opening it.

The prayer beads that had snapped and scattered were all gathered back, filling the entire box to the brim.

A trace of delighted surprise broke through Old Madam Shang's tired and somber face, "Xiao Xu, you picked them all up?"

"Old Madam, before you left the conference room, you lingered and looked back at the floor several times. I guessed you couldn't bear to leave them behind, so Yanxiao and I asked a staff member for a small box and picked them up one by one."

Bai Xu extended the small box a little further toward her, "Eighteen beads in total. Count and see if that's right."

A warmth welled up in Old Madam Shang's heart, "That's right. You thoughtful child."

She had indeed wanted to pick up the prayer beads before leaving, but the beads had scattered all over the floor, with a few even rolling under the tables. On top of that, the atmosphere in the conference room at that moment had been so oppressive, and many of the family members present had resentment weighing on their hearts.

Old Madam Shang's own health was poor and it was not convenient for her to pick them up herself, nor did she want to trouble the others.

And so she had forced herself to set the thought aside, intending to ask another staff member to help collect them afterward.

Rather than launching straight into persuasion, Bai Xu let the moment lead naturally into conversation, "Old Madam, the very first time I met you, you always had these prayer beads in your hands. Do they hold a very special meaning for you?"

Old Madam Shang picked up one of the beads and turned it gently between her fingers, "These prayer beads, A' Hong chose the materials himself and polished them himself, just for me."

Hearing that name, Bai Xu paused ever so slightly, "The Old Master made them with his own hands?"

Old Madam Shang had long since come to regard Bai Xu as one of their own from the third branch of the family, and spoke to him warmly, "My health was poor in my earlier years, and I had gone through two surgeries. Your grandfather does not believe in Buddhism or religion, but he knew that I had always held onto such beliefs."

"So he made these beads with his own hands, and even had someone specially bring them to a temple to be blessed and consecrated."

Given how wealthy the Shang family was, many material things could be easily provided, but what made this truly rare was the sentiment behind it, a testament to how deeply Old Master Shang cherished his wife.

Old Madam Shang explained, "Eighteen beads, symbolizing good health."

So that was why he had felt uneasy when he saw the prayer beads snap. Fortunately, Bai Xu had gathered them all back for her.

Bai Xu was moved and spoke with genuine feeling, "Old Madam, the Old Master treats you so well."

Old Madam Shang patted his wrist, "Why are you still being so formal with me? Your grandfather has already told me everything. You and Yanxiao are together?"

"......"

Bai Xu was at a loss for words.

Old Madam Shang simply assumed he was being shy, and her mood lifted somewhat at the mention of it, "Xiao Xu, don't worry. Among all the people in our Shang family, there is something of a shared tradition when it comes to matters of the heart and how we treat our partners."

Whether it was the Old Master and Old Madam themselves, or the couple of the third branch, or even Shang Keyi who was set on marrying Wu Wei, everyone in the family had always been earnest and steadfast when it came to love, and could find nothing but good in the person they chose.

With that thought, Bai Xu quietly ventured a light joke, "Grandmother, in the way us young people would put it, that's called being 'lovesick fools'."

"Oh?" Old Madam Shang only half understood, but vouched for Shang Yanxiao all the same, "I know Yanxiao's nature well. Once he has set his heart on you, he will never let you down."

"......"

Never let him down?

Could Shang Yanxiao be called a lovesick fool then? Probably not.

Bai Xu's thoughts drifted without meaning to, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile he hadn't even noticed himself, "Old Madam..."

Old Madam Shang spoke up, "Still not changing how you address me?"

Bai Xu had already intended to cheer her up, so he had no choice but to comply, "Grandmother, Grandfather is blessed by fortune and will surely recover."

"Think of it as doing this for him, and for yourself, and for all of us children. Please go home and rest tonight, won't you?"

Old Madam Shang turned the question back, "For you all?"

"Mm, I heard that Queyan stayed at the hospital until late last night? After picking up me and Yanxiao, he came back to the hospital in the early hours of the morning to keep you company?"

"Yanxiao too, he rushed back as soon as he heard the news yesterday, and hasn't been resting well these past two days."

"If you don't go back tonight, knowing those two brothers' personalities, they will definitely stay here to keep you company."

With all this back and forth, not only would the Old Madam Shang, being advanced in age, be unable to bear it, but even Shang Yanxiao and the others might not fare much better either.

Old Madam Shang let out a sigh, "The children of the third household are all good."

Bai Xu continued to persuade, "The hospital has medical staff checking in morning and night, and I heard that Dr. Zhang is also on night duty tonight. Why don't you come back with us to rest first, and tomorrow morning I'll have Yanxiao personally take you to the hospital? How does that sound?"

The moment she finished speaking, Shang Yanxiao and the others came walking back around the corner.

Old Madam Shang met the eyes of her two grandsons, and in the end listened to Bai Xu's persuasion, "Alright."

...

Five minutes later, the hospital parking lot.

Just like when they arrived, Shang Queyan and Old Madam Shang rode in one car with the others, while Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao rode alone in a separate car.

The car door closed.

Bai Xu looked at the sky, which had already gone completely dark, and the tension that had gripped his heart for so long finally eased a little, "Shang Yanxiao, ask me again what you said in the company parking lot earlier."

Shang Yanxiao took two seconds to register what he meant, "Tired?"

"Yeah, I really am a bit tired now."

Bai Xu admitted it honestly, then immediately followed up, "What did the head butler say? Were Shang Yun and Wu Wei still the last two people the Old Master saw?"

Shang Yanxu's eyes darkened, "It's consistent with what they said at the shareholders' meeting, and after Wu Wei left, the Old Master showed no signs of anything unusual."

Bai Xu frowned, speculating, "Do you think the head butler could be lying?"

Shang Yanxiao shook his head, "Uncle Sun has been by Grandfather's side for many years. He can be trusted."

Bai Xu couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, "That's strange then..."

But before he could put his finger on what was suspicious about the whole incident, Shang Yanxiao's phone buzzed.

Their conversation was cut short. Shang Yanxiao took out his phone, glanced at it, and answered the call right in front of Bai Xu.

"Hello, Xie Qi, what's up?"

"Third Young Master, did the shareholders' meeting go smoothly?" Xie Qi had stayed behind in Xinguo to handle matters and hadn't come back with them, "Do you... do you have a moment later?"

Shang Yanxiao replied, "Yeah, it went reasonably well. Just say what's on your mind."

Hearing that, Xie Qi on the other end of the line went straight to the point, "The overseas private detective sent word. They've found Chelkin!"

Shang Yanxiao's eyes widened with a jolt.

Xie Qi continued, "But the situation is more complicated than expected. Should I have them contact you directly a little later?"

Bai Xu caught the gist of it, and his expression turned serious.

Shang Yanxiao met his gaze for a moment, then made a quick decision, "Alright."

–

TL: Muji

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