DASFAM_80

According to the rules set by Old Master Shang in the past, the New Year's Eve reunion dinner, which represents 'family reunion,' naturally requires the whole family to gather together in the main house.

The moment Bai Xu stepped through the main house door, he caught a rich aroma of food, "Smells amazing."

Shang Yanxiao looked at him, "Hungry? Eat more later."

"Mm."

The two of them had experienced a slight flight delay, but managed to make it back to the estate just in time before the New Year's Eve dinner began.

Shang Le'er, who was arranging flowers nearby, was the first to notice the sound of their arrival, "Third Brother, you're back!"

Shang Yanxiao responded, "Where is everyone else?"

Shang Le'er answered honestly, "Grandfather and Grandmother haven't come downstairs yet. Auntie talked Dad, Brother, and Fourth Brother into playing cards together in the tea room right now."

Bai Xu was surprised, "Playing cards?"

Shang Queyan and the second branch were playing cards together? That was truly remarkable.

He remembered Shang Yanxiao mentioning that Old Master Shang was very strict, and had never allowed the younger generation to touch card or board games in the past.

Shang Le'er glanced toward the second floor where there was still no movement, then smiled and lowered her voice, "Auntie had a mahjong table brought in this morning. She said it's not easy to wait until the Old Master 'wants to interfere but can't,' so why not take the chance to act up right under his nose?"

Shang Yanxiao was not surprised, "Auntie hasn't spent the Spring Festival at home for a very long time. This is honestly something only she would say and do."

And looking around, among the entire Shang family, only someone with Shang Keshu's temperament could have 'strong-armed' everyone into gathering around a mahjong table like this.

Bai Xu nodded and followed up with a question, "What about the first branch?"

Shang Le'er answered honestly, "Eldest Aunt and the others haven't arrived yet."

Ever since the first branch's scandal broke out, Shang Keyi had shut herself inside the villa every day, rarely showing her face in front of others.

As for Shang Qishun, his relationship with the second branch had never been particularly close, and no one really knew what he was up to.

Mid-conversation, a sound of exasperated wailing came from the tea room not far away, "I'm done, I'm done! I've been losing non-stop from the afternoon until now! I'm about to lose everything down to my last pair of underwear!"

Shang Le'er caught on immediately and said with disdain, "My brother lost again."

Bai Xu had some interest in mahjong and couldn't help but glance over at Shang Yanxiao.

Shang Yanxiao noticed his enthusiasm, "Let's go take a look. Walk slowly."

Bai Xu's right foot had not fully healed yet, "Mm."

The two walked side by side toward the tea room, and heard Shang Keshu mercilessly mocking Shang Songming, "You're so stupid it's unbelievable!"

She sat cross-legged on the soft chair, scolding him without a shred of mercy, "You and Queyan both only learned mahjong today, so how is his card skills so much better than yours?"

As she said this, Shang Keshu gave Shang Queyan a thumbs up.

Shang Queyan smiled and looked at Shang Songming sitting directly across from him, raising an eyebrow slightly, "If you're outmatched, you have to admit it."

The two had never gotten along, and even at the mahjong table there was no way they could manage to be brotherly toward each other.

Shang Songming flushed with embarrassment and anger, "You..."

"Hey!"

Shang Keshu promptly picked up the mahjong stick and pretended to knock Shang Songming on the head, "Your little aunt is still sitting right here, don't be a sore loser!"

"......"

Shang Songming swallowed his anger and shuffled the tiles in front of him aimlessly, "Then I quit! Is that good enough!"

Shang Queyan noticed the two figures at the doorway and stood up with some effort, "Brother, Bai Xu, you're back?"

"Mm."

Shang Yanxiao walked closer, "How are you doing?"

Shang Queyan said, "Pretty good. The group and the company are both on New Year's holiday, so it's a rare chance to relax."

Bai Xu looked at the already scrambled mahjong tiles, "Who won the most?"

Fang Yuhua sat beside her husband watching, and for once was in a rather good mood toward Bai Xu, "Everyone combined still couldn't match Little Sister alone. A whole afternoon, and she was practically just picking our second branch's pockets the entire time."

"Second Sister-in-law, we agreed that you win some you lose some. It's clear that your second branch took turns going up against them and still couldn't win."

"......"

Fang Yuhua laughed despite her irritation, "Alright, alright, I'll prepare a big red envelope for you later. Consider it the second branch paying off its debt."

Shang Yanxiao took it all in, yet felt somewhat surprised inside.

To be honest, this was the first time in a long while that he had felt such warmth from within his family.

Shang Keshu seemed to have seen through his thoughts and ran her fingers over the tiles in her hand, "Mahjong is a national treasure, it's a wonderful thing."

During the holidays, it was the perfect way to bring the whole family closer together.

Of course, the reason she had done all of this was so that the elder Shangs could set their minds at ease. Otherwise, at their age, the two elders would still have to worry about the relationships between their children and grandchildren.

Shang Yun stood up, "After playing all afternoon I'm tired too. Since Yanxiao and the others are here, you four should get together and play a round."

Shang Songming had long since had enough of Shang Queyan's provocations and mockery, and was more than eager to make a quick escape, "I've had my fill too!"

By now, the second branch knew they were no match for the third branch in matters of the group's affairs, and had simply given up competing.

As for the conflicts they once had, or the wounds that were better left unspoken, it was up to the third branch to figure out how to handle them.

For now, the relationship between Shang Queyan and Shang Songming was still not particularly good, though the former had tempered his disposition, steadied his mindset, and sharpened his tongue.

The latter never managed to come out ahead in any of it, and could only swallow his frustration each time.

Shang Yanxiao looked at Bai Xu, "Want to play?"

Bai Xu shook his head, "Maybe later."

He had just gotten off a plane and was hungry, so while he was interested, he had no energy for it.

Just then, the new butler walked in to pass on a message, "Everyone, the New Year's Eve dinner is ready. Please come to the table."

Upon hearing this, Shang Keshu said, "Alright then! We'll play again after dinner!"

The whole group made their way in full force to the grand dining room, where Old Madam Shang and a servant had already brought Old Master Shang downstairs in his wheelchair.

"Father, Mother."

Shang Yun quickly walked over and helped push Old Master Shang, whose mobility was limited, to the head of the table.

Old Madam Shang adjusted her shawl and looked around at the family, young and old, "Everyone take your seats. Where are Keyi and her son? Has someone gone to call them?"

The new butler answered respectfully, "Someone was sent to invite them again half an hour ago. The eldest young lady said she was not feeling well and would not be coming. As for Young Master Qishun, he does not appear to be home."

"......"

Old Master Shang gave a small wave of his hand and murmured two indistinct words, "Never mind."

Old Madam Shang's brow furrowed slightly, and her heart felt unsettled.

She looked over at the two brothers of the third branch and agreed with her husband, "Never mind, let's not wait for those two. Let's sit down and eat."

Even though Wu Wei had already gone to prison and cut off contact with Shang Keyi, it could not change the fact that he had been responsible for the deaths of the third branch's couple.

Between the first branch and the third branch, there was ultimately an unfathomably deep rift that could never be crossed again.

Rather than having the two families meet and be reminded of unhappy things, it was better not to meet at all.

The family gathered and sat around the large round table.

Shang Yanxiao asked, "Has Grandfather's rehabilitation been going smoothly lately?"

Old Madam Shang answered on his behalf, "There is some progress, just not very noticeable."

Bai Xu chimed in, "Grandmother, these things can't be rushed. As long as there is progress, no matter how slow, it has to be kept up over the long term."

Old Master Shang nodded slowly, as if in agreement with Bai Xu's words.

Old Madam Shang showed a faint smile, "That's true. Your grandfather doesn't seem to be in any rush himself, so I'll put my mind at ease too."

After all, this was a life snatched back from the jaws of death. Just being able to sit here and share a meal with her was already a blessing.

Shang Keshu took a sip of wine and casually made up a joke, "Mother, don't you believe in the idea of 'using joyful occasions to drive away illness'?"

"If you want father to get better faster, it seems our family just needs to have another happy occasion."

"......"

Old Madam Shang could do nothing with her headstrong youngest daughter, "Even eating can't keep your mouth shut. Are you poking fun at me for being superstitious in a roundabout way?"

Shang Keshu picked up a piece of shrimp with her chopsticks, "How would I dare?"

Fang Yuhua added, "Even if one truly believed in that kind of talk, where would our family find another happy occasion to speak of?"

"What do you mean there isn't one?" A flicker of amusement passed through Shang Keshu's eyes, "Isn't there one right at this very table?"

The moment the words left her mouth, everyone's gaze followed hers and landed on Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao.

Bai Xu froze, and could only use the excuse of drinking water to avoid the eyes around him.

Shang Yanxiao was helpless, "Auntie, why are you looking at me?"

"The entire capital circle knows that you and Bai Xu are a matched pair. Back then you were unconscious in bed and there was nothing to be done, but now that things are better, I can see that your relationship is quite stable."

Shang Yanxiao's expression shifted with a hint of something, "So?"

Shang Keshu went in directly, "So, when are you two going to register your marriage?"

"—Cough!"

Bai Xu suddenly choked on a mouthful of water and couldn't hold back a cough.

Seeing this, Shang Yanxiao immediately reached over and patted his back, "A' Xu, are you alright?"

Bai Xu waved his hand, his face flushed red for reasons he couldn't quite explain, "I'm, I'm fine."

Old Madam Shang noticed the warm and intimate atmosphere between the two, and felt genuinely delighted.

She looked over at Shang Keshu, who was gleefully stirring up trouble from the sidelines, "Alright, you as a little aunt are always so improper."

"What did I do?"

Shang Keshu was clearly intent on taking the joke all the way, "During the holidays, isn't it perfectly normal for relatives to bring up marriage? Yanxiao is also at the age where he should be getting married. Bai Xu, wouldn't you agree?"

"......"

Bai Xu steadied his breath and shot a sideways glare at Shang Yanxiao.

Of all things he had never expected, even after transmigrating into a book, he would still run into the classic holiday marriage-pressure scene.

Shang Songming had never imagined that Shang Yanxiao and Bai Xu could actually become a real couple, and let out a blunt laugh.

Shang Queyan's gaze swept over, and he stepped in to defend Shang Yanxiao and Bai Xu, "Auntie, my brother and Bai Xu aren't in any rush. After all, there's still Second Brother ahead of them, a confirmed bachelor holding down the fort."

Shang Songming was caught off guard by the jab, "You..."

On this topic, Fang Yuhua for once didn't take her son's side, "What do you mean 'you,' you're not getting any younger. Stop thinking about going out and fooling around all day. Once the New Year is over, it's time to properly set you up with some blind dates."

Shang Le'er showed her brother no mercy at all and burst out laughing.

Shang Yanxiao took the opportunity to steer the conversation away, "Bai Xu and I are not in any rush, but..."

He paused, and the left hand hidden beneath the table quietly took hold of Bai Xu's without drawing attention, "We will register and get married sooner or later."

The warmth from their joined palms traveled straight to his heart, melting into an indescribable and subtle sense of happiness.

Because his parents had divorced, Bai Xu had never given marriage much serious thought. When he had agreed to the arranged match in the first place, he only intended to go through the motions.

He never expected that so many things would happen in the blink of an eye, and that he and Shang Yanxiao would truly become lovers.

Register their marriage? Get married?

Bai Xu turned the two phrases over in his mind and let out a quiet, involuntary laugh.

Shang Yanxiao's attention never left him, "What is it?"

"Nothing."

Bai Xu spooned a mouthful of egg drop soup and didn't dare say what he was really thinking. He had simply suddenly realized that—

If it meant registering their marriage with Shang Yanxiao and spending a lifetime together, that actually didn't sound so bad.

...

The Spring Festival holiday was brief yet fulfilling, and in the blink of an eye it was already the end of February, with every industry resuming work for the new year in an orderly fashion.

Shang Yanxiao had asked Xie Qi to set up the headquarters of Zhaoye Company in the capital, and the very first order of business when the company opened its doors in the new year was to prepare to secure Zhongdi's railway project.

Knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door.

Xie Qi walked in with an unfamiliar new face, "Young Master Bai, this is the assistant recruited according to your requirements, Yan Cheng."

As he said this, he handed over Yan Cheng's file.

Xie Qi was after all Shang Yanxiao's personal assistant, and already had a great deal to manage on a daily basis.

Shang Yanxiao had returned to work at the Shang Group after the New Year, and having Xie Qi run back and forth between both sides was simply too much of a strain on him.

Bai Xu briefly flipped through the HR file, "Yan Cheng? Quite an unusual name. You worked at a foreign company before?"

Yan Cheng replied, "Yes. I studied in Germany and worked at a foreign company for two years after graduating. My family members haven't been in the best of health recently, so I wanted to come back to China to make it easier to take care of them."

"Alright, noted. Since Xie Qi recruited you, I have no concerns," Bai Xu firmly believed in the principle of trusting those you employ and not employing those you don't trust.

He handed the file back to Xie Qi, "Take him through the work processes, especially the project materials for Zhongdi. Get up to speed as quickly as possible."

Xie Qi nodded, "Understood."

...

The following morning.

Bai Xu had just arrived at the Zhaoye headquarters when Yan Cheng, who had been waiting early, fell into step beside him, "Mr. Bai, good morning. There is something I need to report to you."

Bai Xu strode swiftly through the office lobby and pushed open the door to his office, "Go ahead."

Yan Cheng wasted no time, "Assistant Xie handed over the full materials on the Zhongdi railway yesterday. In order to get up to speed as quickly as possible, I conducted an extensive investigation last night."

"I found that we are not the only party interested in this project. Or rather, from the perspective of the Zhongdi person in charge, we are not the only potential partner they are considering."

Bai Xu pulled out his office chair, his brow furrowed in quiet thought.

Going by what Bai Hui had said that day, the Zhongdi person in charge had been most inclined toward a partnership with the Shang Group through her introduction. Could it be that because the Shang name had been replaced by Zhaoye, the other party was no longer confident?

Bai Xu considered the possibility, his brow furrowing slightly, "What makes you say that? What other companies are involved?"

"Assistant Xie said to get in touch with the Zhongdi person in charge as soon as possible and arrange a meeting with you."

In order to learn about the person in charge's preferences and make it easier to book a restaurant for the meeting, Yan Cheng had casually looked through their social media.

"Three days ago, the Zhongdi person in charge uploaded what appeared to be a casual set of dinner photos."

The caption above read: Looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate in the future.

Yan Cheng handed over the photo he had saved in advance, "Mr. Bai, take a look at this group photo. Personally, I feel that at such a critical moment, the project person in charge releasing this kind of signal must carry some implication."

"......"

Bai Xu looked clearly at the people in the group photo, and his expression instantly became unreadable, "Yes, indeed."

Yan Cheng was unaware of the connection between Bai Xu and the people in the photo, and simply relayed what he had found out, "The woman in the group photo is the executive chairman of the Sun Group."

Bai Xu raised an eyebrow knowingly, "I know. Sun Miaochun, Chairman Chun."

Previous | TOC | Next