DASFAM_66

The engagement banquet ended on an unpleasant note.

After Bai Xu and the others finished watching the spectacle and were leaving, before they had even reached the elevator lobby, Bai Hui's best friend came chasing after them.

"Mr. Bai, please wait."

"......"

Bai Xu halted his steps and turned around.

Bai Hui's best friend got straight to the point, "Mr. Bai, do you have a moment? Xiao Hui would like to have a chat with you."

Bai Xu was a little surprised, "Chat with me?"

Bai Hui's best friend nodded affirmatively, then shifted her gaze to Shang Yanxiao beside them, "Third Young Master, please come with me as well. It's just a quick talk, it won't take up too much of your time."

Shang Yanxiao and Bai Xu exchanged a glance, then simply instructed Shang Queyan and Zhang Changning, "You two go wait in the car, we'll be right back."

"Alright."

The moment the door to the private dressing room was opened, a distinctive gardenia fragrance drifted out.

Bai Hui stood before her haute couture engagement evening gown, her fingertips gently tracing the handcrafted embroidery patterns on it. She heard the door open but did not rush to turn around.

Bai Hui's best friend stepped forward with concern, "Xiao Hui, I've brought Mr. Bai and the others. Are you alright?"

Bai Hui turned around, her reddened eyes clearly showing she had been crying.

No matter how rational, firm, and resolute she had appeared in front of everyone, this was after all an engagement banquet she had long looked forward to, and yet she was the one who had to 'ruin' it herself and even fall out openly with the groom's side.

Something like this, no matter who it happened to, was impossible to accept calmly and in its entirety.

Bai Hui took a deep breath and looked steadily at Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao, "Mr. Bai, Third Young Master, did my performance at this banquet give you quite a show?"

"......"

Bai Xu's eyes shifted ever so slightly.

Bai Hui caught that brief flash of tension in him and laughed softly with a sigh, "Miss Wu said it was the second branch of the family who acted as the go-between, which is how she 'happened' to cross paths with me. But I'm no fool."

"Even without having entered the Shang family, there are certain things I can still piece together and see clearly."

From beginning to end, the only ones who could truly rival each other in terms of capability were Shang Qishun and Shang Yanxiao, and as for Bai Xu, he naturally stood on the latter's side.

"You two husbands stood back and acted as though none of it concerned you, then turned around and pointed Miss Wu, who had come seeking help, toward the second branch. Together with the second branch, you made sure I learned of the matter, and in the end used my own hands to ruin Shang Qishun's reputation at the very banquet where he should have been at his most esteemed."

"This battle, you won it beautifully without ever making a move yourselves."

Even if a male-male alliance marriage was rare in the elite circles of the capital, the moral depravity Shang Qishun showed in his private affairs was something far more contemptible!

Bai Xu did not deny it, "Whether it was right or wrong, whether to stay silent or to speak out, those were all choices you made yourself, Miss Bai."

"Yes."

Bai Hui answered cleanly, her eyes holding no resentment toward the two of them.

"Being able to see someone clearly before the engagement is always better than finding out after the wedding. In other words, I should actually be thanking you, the second branch, and Miss Wu for helping me sidestep this whole mess."

Shang Yanxiao replied, "It was Miss Bai who had the strength to pick it up and let it go. Why thank us?"

Bai Hui said, "Things should be treated separately for what they are."

"The fact that you used me is real, but the fact that you 'saved' me is also real. I prefer to lay things out openly and speak plainly, which is why I asked you here to get a clear answer."

Bai Hui picked up a slip of paper from the table that had a phone number already written on it and held it out, "Zhongdi has an overseas railway construction project. This project was originally something I had wanted to help Shang Qishun compete for, but now..."

Bai Xu caught the key implication and felt a flicker of surprise rise in his chest.

Bai Hui said it plainly, "Now I would rather hand it to his competitor than give it to a scumbag like him. If you're willing to take on this project, consider it a free windfall."

Shang Yanxiao was in no hurry to take it, "You're giving us a project?"

Bai Hui looked Shang Yanxiao over, "Third Young Master, I heard the cross-sea bridge project was originally yours to handle? It was only because of the third branch's accident that it was handed over to Shang Qishun. What a pity, you and I were simply not fated."

"......"

Bai Xu's eyes flickered slightly.

Before any trace of sourness could creep up from the bottom of his heart, Shang Yanxiao beside him calmly spoke up, "My fate lies elsewhere."

Both stemmed from the same third branch car accident. Though the cross-sea bridge project had changed hands, the Old Madam Shang's desperate attempt to ward off misfortune through a marriage alliance had brought Bai Xu right to his side.

Something was lost, something was gained. All of it was fate.

Bai Xu's heart warmed, yet he did not dare let even his peripheral gaze drift toward Shang Yanxiao.

Bai Hui had more or less sensed the quiet sincerity Shang Yanxiao held for Bai Xu, and raised a brow before steering things back to the matter at hand, "This is the personal contact of the person in charge at Zhongdi. I have spoken with him twice, and he is very interested in working with the Shang family."

Only, this Shang was not that Shang.

Shang Yanxiao took the slip with the phone number from her hand, "Thank you."

Bai Hui, bold in love and bold in hate, said, "Don't mention it. Anything that makes Shang Qishun miserable makes me happy."

Bai Xu genuinely admired Bai Hui's spirit and offered a sincere wish, "Miss Bai, you deserve someone better."

Bai Hui smiled from the heart, "I know. I always have."

...

The moment the two returned to the car, Shang Yanxiao passed the phone number he had received to Shang Queyan.

Shang Queyan took it, "Brother, what's this?"

"Zhongdi has a railway construction project. This is the contact of the person in charge. Have someone look into it first."

Shang Yanxiao had already formed an idea in his mind, "If it's suitable to take on, see if Zhouye can go after it."

Bai Xu was a little surprised, "This project won't go through the Shang Group, but through Zhouye instead?"

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Think about it, if this project originally belonged to Shang Qishun and the Shang Group was the one handling the liaison, do you think he would let it go just like that?"

"Grandfather's condition is still unclear. We of the third branch must look out for ourselves."

Rather than letting the project pass through the conglomerate, it would be better to have it taken on as their private venture. Either way it was the same business of making money, so naturally the more secure approach should be taken.

Bai Xu caught on immediately and said to Shang Queyan, "Look into it first. If everything checks out, I'll put together a team on my end to take it over."

"Alright."

The words had barely settled when Zhang Changning's phone rang. He answered it right away, "Hello, Second Brother."

Zhang Changxu on the other end of the line seemed to say something.

Zhang Changning glanced toward Shang Yanxiao, "Third Brother is right here beside me. I'll hand the phone to him."

"Hello, Changxu."

Shang Yanxiao took the phone, "My phone was probably on silent and I didn't hear it. What's the matter?"

Zhang Changxu on the other end got straight to the point, "The old master has woken up. The Old Madam and the others have already been notified. Get to the hospital as soon as you can."

Shang Yanxiao's expression shifted, "Alright, we'll head over right away."

The moment the call ended.

Shang Queyan excitedly pressed him, "Brother, is it Grandfather? He's awake?"

"Yes."

Shang Yanxiao handed the phone back to Zhang Changning, but his gaze settled on Bai Xu in the passenger seat, "Everyone buckle up. I'll drive."

"Alright."

The tension in Bai Xu's heart quietly eased.

The Old Master Shang had been in a coma for more than half a month and yet had still woken up, rather than lingering in his hospital bed until his very last breath as the original work had described.

Did this mean that the fates of many characters in the original story could also be changed?

...

Forty minutes later, Shang Yanxiao and the others arrived at the hospital.

Zhang Changxu had received Zhang Changning's heads-up in advance and was waiting at the elevator entrance. The moment the elevator doors opened, the two sides met eyes.

Shang Yanxiao's mind was on the Old Master Shang's condition and he got straight to the point, "Changxu, how is the old master doing? Have the others arrived?"

"The Old Madam, Auntie Shu, and the second branch all came together. The old master has been awake for a little over half an hour, but his consciousness has been very hazy and his responses very slow. The specifics still need further examination."

"But the fact that he's awake is a good thing."

After all, the Old Master Shang was an elderly patient, and far too many patients in similar situations never came out of their post-operative coma and simply slipped away just like that.

Shang Queyan added, "That's right, the fact that he's awake is a good thing. As long as there's life, there's hope."

Bai Xu smiled, "Well said."

Zhang Changxu led them inside and remarked casually, "Has Shang Qishun's engagement banquet wrapped up? The first branch is the only one who hasn't shown up yet. I thought you all wouldn't make it here so quickly either."

Zhang Changning thought back to the spectacle that had just unfolded and couldn't help but laugh, "Brother, Shang Qishun's engagement banquet was a complete disaster! What a shame you were on duty at the hospital today and couldn't see the whole scene for yourself."

"A disaster?"

Zhang Changxu looked toward Shang Yanxiao and Bai Xu and asked quietly, "What went wrong?"

Shang Yanxiao said, "It's a long story. The first branch is probably still in the banquet hall dealing with the aftermath. They won't be here for a while."

Bai Xu glanced at Zhang Changning with a hint of teasing that couldn't quite be spelled out, "I can't explain it properly. Wait till you get home and have Changning talk your ear off about it."

Zhang Changning's mind hadn't quite caught up and he widened his eyes, "I'll be the one telling it, so I'll tell it!"

Zhang Changxu's gaze settled back on his younger brother's face, the corner of his mouth curving into a smile meant only for him, "Alright."

The group made their way toward the intensive care unit.

Shang Keshu and the others were seated alongside the Old Madam Shang on the long bench by the door, but the hospital bed inside the ICU was empty with no sign of the Old Master Shang.

Shang Yanxiao drew near and called out, "Grandmother."

The Old Madam Shang's eyes held a mixture of joy and worry, "Yanxiao, you've all come."

"Yes."

Bai Xu asked, "Where is the old master?"

Shang Keshu answered in his place, "He was just taken by the medical staff for examinations. The whole set of procedures takes some time, and the doctor told us family members to wait here."

"Second Brother and Songming went along. They should be on the third floor by now."

Shang Keshu looked toward Shang Yanxiao and, in a rare moment, assumed something of a senior's air, "You two brothers go have a look as well. There might be something you can help with."

Shang Yanxiao did not refuse, "Let Queyan stay here. I'll go."

As he said this, he glanced over at Bai Xu, "You stay and keep Grandmother and the others company. Call me if anything comes up."

"Alright."

The Old Madam Shang watched the retreating figure of Shang Yanxiao as he left, her mind awash with thoughts, "How did things turn out at the engagement banquet? Can the first branch handle it?"

Fang Yuhua said, "Mother, the most important thing right now is Father's condition. Why are you still worrying about Eldest Sister and the others? With the scene they caused today, who knows how much more face our Shang family is going to lose."

Shang Le'er quietly reminded her, "Mom, don't say that."

Shang Keshu, in a rare show of support, spoke up, "Le'er, your mother is right."

She too felt that what Shang Qishun had done was utterly disgraceful!

If it had simply been a normal relationship that ran its course, that would have been one thing. People come together and part ways all the time, and there is nothing unusual about that.

But with words like 'minor', 'abortion', and 'domestic violence' involved, it was nothing short of moral depravity, and he deserved every bit of criticism coming his way!

Shang Keshu urged, "Mother, the mess they made, let them clean it up themselves. In any case, this cannot reach Father's ears. The last thing we need is for him to get worked up the moment he's just woken up."

As juniors, Bai Xu and Shang Queyan listened quietly without a word.

The Old Madam Shang let out a weary sigh, "What a sin."

All of a sudden, Bai Xu's phone buzzed with a vibration, cutting the topic short.

He saw the caller ID and politely excused himself to the Old Madam Shang and the others, "Grandmother, I'm going to step out to take a call."

"Go ahead."

Bai Xu walked quickly to the emergency stairwell and answered, "Hello."

The call was from Xie Qi.

Through the receiver, the other party's voice carried a long-absent excitement, "Young Master Bai, we found it!"

Bai Xu seemed to have already had an inkling, his eyes flickering sharply, "You found information on that 'Brother Wang'?"

Because he knew how much pain Shang Yanxiao felt every time anything related to the car accident came up, Bai Xu had specifically instructed Xie Qi and the others to notify him first if any new information surfaced.

Xie Qi confirmed eagerly, "Yes!"

"His Chinese name is Wu Chengwang. The reason Chelkin and the others called him 'Brother Wang' came from the Chinese pronunciation. And just as you suspected, he is..."

A cold light surfaced in Bai Xu's eyes. This was now a hundred percent confirmed, "Wu Wei's illegitimate son!"

–

TL: Muji

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