DASFAM_90

Perhaps it was from finally unburdening the secret buried deep in his heart, or perhaps it was the high fever—either way, Bai Xu fell into a deep sleep afterward.

When he woke again, it was already past three in the afternoon. He freshened up briefly and made his way downstairs, his body still heavy with fatigue.

Shang Queyan was sitting in his wheelchair, about to head out. Hearing the movement, he turned his gaze over.

The butler, Uncle Lin, spoke with concern, "Young Master Bai, are you feeling better?"

"I'm fine," Bai Xu came down the stairs and caught sight of Shang Queyan's complexion, which clearly showed he was still running a high fever, "Where are you going?"

Shang Queyan pushed himself to stay alert, "To the company."

At a critical juncture like this, the third branch of the family could least afford to let their guard down. Since Shang Yanxiao was handling things at the hospital, it was only natural that he keep watch over the company.

Bai Xu offered no further persuasion, only reminding Guo Wangquan nearby, "Keep track of the time and make sure the Fourth Young Master takes his medicine on schedule. If the fever doesn't come down, no matter how busy things get, he still needs to find time to get an injection."

Only by keeping his body in good shape would he have the energy to face the hard battle ahead.

Bai Xu thought of something else and stepped closer, "Queyan, do you have a way to get a tracker on short notice? Preferably one with a listening function."

"......"

Shang Queyan's expression shifted slightly. The next moment, he turned to the butler, "Yes. Uncle Lin, go to my room, the bottom drawer of the writing desk."

Bai Xu had not expected Shang Queyan to have one on hand. He was a little surprised.

Shang Queyan explained honestly, "When I had a tracker installed in Grandfather's watch over the New Year, I had Xiao Guo buy two different types."

The reason he had set aside the one with the listening function was that Old Master Shang had always been a proud man. Even with his speech impaired, he would certainly not want others listening in on his surroundings around the clock.

In the brief moment of explanation, the butler Uncle Lin had already retrieved a small iron box.

Bai Xu took it and opened it. Inside was a circular metal disc about the size of a fingernail, only a few millimeters thick.

It was something Shang Queyan had purchased through special channels, at considerable cost.

"The black dot on top is the button. Inside is a special sensor that can automatically connect to a phone signal and transmit to a specific mobile app."

Bai Xu closed the tin, "Alright, got it."

Shang Queyan reminded him, "Are you planning to use it on Shang Qishun? Given how guarded he is, it probably won't stay hidden for long."

On top of that, 'eavesdropping' could easily cross into illegal territory if one wasn't careful. If Shang Qishun discovered it, he would most likely make a big deal out of it.

Bai Xu was well aware that Shang Qishun had a sensitive and suspicious nature. He only said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. This thing has another use."

"I'm going to the hospital to find your brother."

"It's on the way. Ride with me."

"Sure."

...

In the premium private ward of Center Hospital.

Old Madam Shang had been silent ever since she woke. The warmth that usually graced her eyes was gone, replaced by a blank, reddened gaze. She had cried so much that no tears were left.

Shang Keshu forced herself to hold back her grief and picked up the warm millet porridge from the bedside cabinet, "Mother, do it for us if nothing else. Please eat something. Father would want to be here with us, and he definitely wouldn't want to see you like this."

Old Madam Shang only sat quietly, running her hands over the scarf in her lap, murmuring, "How could your father just leave like that? I only just finished knitting this scarf for him, and he never even got to wear it."

"......"

Shang Keshu turned away, fighting back tears.

Knock knock.

The door to the ward opened again.

Shang Keshu's eyes met Bai Xu's as he pushed the door open. She quickly wiped at the tears threatening to fall, "Bai Xu is here? Come in, come in."

Bai Xu walked over quickly, "Grandmother, are you feeling any better?"

He looked at Old Madam Shang, who had aged and worn visibly in less than a day, and his brow furrowed slightly, "Little Aunt, where is everyone else?"

Shang Keshu said, "Second Sister-in-law and Songming have been here all night. I sent them home to rest. Yanxiao and Second Brother should be outside discussing the obituary."

With Old Madam Shang right there, Bai Xu lowered his voice, "What about the first branch? Has Shang Qishun come?"

Shang Keshu seemed to sense something as well. She glanced carefully at the bed, "Big Sister just stepped out to wash some fruit. Qishun... Qishun hasn't come yet."

Old Madam Shang's fingers tightened around the scarf. She said nothing.

Bai Xu steered the conversation away in time. His eyes fell on the bowl of millet porridge in Shang Keshu's hands, and he moved closer to the bedside, "Grandmother, Queyan told me that Grandfather was still calling your name right up until the end."

"......"

Bai Xu looked at the brand-new scarf in her hands and swallowed down the ache rising in his throat, "I've heard that the hospital morgue only has cold iron beds. You know what Grandfather is like. He definitely wouldn't be happy in a place like that."

"You need to eat. You need to keep your strength up, so you can bring Grandfather home as soon as possible. Isn't that right?"

Old Madam Shang was moved, and her tears began to fall again. The grief in her heart was endless.

"Yes, I have to bring him home. I can't leave him lying alone in the morgue. He's been waiting too long. He'll throw a fit."

Shang Keshu, her eyes brimming with tears, quickly scooped up another spoonful of porridge, "Mother, please eat a little. We want to be able to bring father home together with you."

Old Madam Shang's expression softened. Even though everything was tasteless to her, she forced herself through the grief and drank nearly half a bowl.

Not long after, exhausted in both body and spirit, she drifted off to sleep again under Shang Keshu's care.

Bai Xu seized the moment while no one else was in the ward, "Little Aunt, there's something I'd like to ask of you."

Shang Keshu fixed her eyes on the small iron box he drew from his pocket, as if she had already guessed what it was about.

The next moment, without a second thought, she agreed, "Alright. What do you need me to do?"

…

Above the hospital rooftop, the sky was thick with dark clouds.

Shang Yanxiao had just finished confirming the obituary arrangements with Shang Yun, "Second Uncle, I'll leave the obituary and the funeral planning to you."

"None of that. Before the Old Master, I was his eldest son. Before all of you, I am your elder. This sort of thing should naturally fall to me."

Shang Yun waved it off, his expression heavy with sorrow.

In the past, when Old Master Shang was still alive, he had ruled with a strict hand. Even Shang Yun, his own son now past fifty, had never been given any real authority.

Back then, Shang Yun had still harbored thoughts of fighting for the second branch's share. There were even moments, in a flash of anger after being scolded, when he had thought some disloyal things, silently cursing the old man under his breath. But now that the Old Master had gone so suddenly, the desire to fight had left him entirely.

Shang Yun said with a sigh, "The Old Master always cared deeply about appearances and keeping face. Even in death, this funeral has to be done properly, and done beautifully."

The words had barely left his mouth when the sound of footsteps came from the corridor.

Shang Yun, facing the corridor, was the first to spot Bai Xu. He gave Shang Yanxiao a look with his eyes.

Shang Yanxiao turned around and found himself instinctively moving toward his lover, "A' Xu, when did you get here? Are you feeling better?"

Bai Xu answered warmly, "Just a little while ago. I went to see Grandmother first. She's asleep now."

Shang Yun still wasn't quite used to the fact that those two youngsters had turned their act into something real. He gave a dry cough, "Yanxiao, I'll head back to the company then. The obituary still needs to go out at six."

"Alright."

Shang Yanxiao watched Shang Yun leave, then reached over and touched Bai Xu's forehead, "The fever's gone?"

Bai Xu nodded, "Yes. I feel fine now."

Shang Yanxiao took his hand, "The rooftop wind is strong. Don't catch a cold again. Let's talk inside."

Bai Xu didn't refuse, "Okay."

The two walked past the elevator. Then, without warning, a "ding" rang out and the elevator doors slid open. A familiar figure caught the edge of their vision.

With an almost instinctive, unspoken understanding, Bai Xu and Shang Yanxiao both stopped in their tracks and turned to look.

"......"

"......"

Shang Qishun had not expected it either. Before he had even stepped out of the elevator, he was met with two pairs of identically cold, piercing eyes.

He held their gaze with a blank expression. Only when the elevator doors were about to close did he finally step out, long legs crossing the threshold unhurriedly.

"What a coincidence. Which room is Grandmother in?"

"......"

The hand hanging at Shang Yanxiao's side clenched into a fist. For the first time, he made no effort to conceal his hatred, "You dare to come here?"

Shang Qishun put on a look of bewilderment, "What do you mean by that? Something this big has happened at home. As the eldest grandson, how could I possibly not come?"

He pushed his glasses up slightly, "Or is it that you two just want to block me from going in, so you can have Old Madam all to yourselves and soak up all the attention?"

"......"

Shang Yanxiao didn't waste a single word. He threw his fist cleanly and without hesitation.

Thud!

Shang Qishun hadn't expected Shang Yanxiao to strike him outright. His back slammed hard against the elevator doors, and he crumpled to the ground.

Bai Xu's expression shifted slightly, but he made no move to stop his lover's rare act of violence.

"Do you think everyone else is as cold-blooded and heartless as you?" Shang Yanxiao lunged forward and grabbed Shang Qishun by the collar.

"Shang Qishun! You know full well what you've been doing behind our backs! You know what you've been plotting!"

"This punch is for Grandfather!"

"This punch is for my brother!"

Punch after punch. The commotion immediately alarmed a nurse making her rounds, "Family members! This is a hospital! You cannot fight here!"

Shang Yanxiao paid her no mind whatsoever. He swung with everything he had, all restraint gone.

Seeing this, the nurse had no choice but to turn and go call for help.

"......"

The taste of blood, like rust, filled his nostrils and mouth, almost giving rise to a fleeting sensation of being near death. A murderous intent stirred behind Shang Qishun's eyes.

He may have lost the upper hand, but there was no way he would simply let Shang Yanxiao beat him without fighting back.

In the blink of an eye, Shang Qishun felt around on the ground and found his fallen lens. With a swift backhanded motion, he made to drag it across the artery in Shang Yanxiao's neck.

Bai Xu's heart lurched, "Yanxiao!"

Shang Yanxiao's expression hardened in an instant. With sharp reflexes, he pulled back.

Shang Qishun seized the moment and flipped himself over, again trying to use the lens as a blade.

Bai Xu, who had been watching from the sidelines until now, rushed forward immediately and drove a fierce kick into Shang Qishun's abdomen.

"...Hiss!"

Shang Qishun lost his footing again. The wild look in his eyes gave way to a flash of pain.

"Stop it!"

Zhang Changxu, who was on duty making his rounds, came running over with Shang Keyi and the others, "Everyone stop right now!"

Shang Keyi saw her son's blood-covered face and was both frantic and shocked, "Qishun! What, what happened here?"

Zhang Changxu immediately moved to stand beside Shang Yanxiao, "What's going on?"

Shang Yanxiao was still breathing hard, his knuckles faintly red, clearly from how hard he had been hitting.

Bai Xu spoke up in his lover's place, "He brought it on himself."

Shang Keyi looked at the blood pouring unchecked from her son's nose and mouth, and turned her gaze toward the one responsible, "Yanxiao, couldn't you have just talked it out!"

Even if Shang Qishun had disappointed her, he was still her only son. It would be a lie to say she felt nothing.

Bai Xu shot back coldly, "Someone like him, what room is there for talking? Don't you know yourself what kind of person your own son is behind closed doors?"

"......"

Shang Keyi was left speechless.

Shang Qishun forced himself upright and pressed his hand haphazardly against the blood on his face, "Mom, you saw it yourself. It's not that I didn't want to come see Grandmother. These two had it in for me from the start."

Shang Yanxiao's eyes darkened, "Even now, you still won't admit it?"

"Admit what? You want to pin Grandfather's death on me again?" Shang Qishun let out a cold laugh, jabbing right at his sore spot, "Shang Yanxiao, why don't you blame your brother for being useless?"

"He got into a car accident and killed his own parents! And now he's gotten Grandfather killed too! If he hadn't tipped them off, would Sun Chuan have lost control and pushed Grandfather?"

Zhang Changxu stepped forward, "Mr. Shang, this is a hospital! It is not a place for you to hurl false accusations!"

"The cause of Old Master Shang's death is still under police investigation. If you have a clear conscience, shall I help you call the police? So your whole family can go sort it out at the station directly?"

"......"

Shang Qishun spat out a mouthful of blood, "Zhang Changxu, stop playing the neutral voice of reason in your white coat!"

Zhang Changxu was unfazed, "If you're unhappy with me, you're welcome to file a complaint with the hospital anytime."

Shang Qishun laughed coldly, turning his hostile gaze back to Shang Yanxiao once more. Knowing he didn't have the upper hand here, he had the good sense to make his exit.

"Now that the Old Master is gone, there's nothing left to put on a show for in this family. We'll see how this plays out!"

He threw down those words, turned, and stepped into the elevator.

Shang Keyi had been about to follow, but Bai Xu suddenly called out her full name from behind, "Shang Keyi."

Inside the elevator, Shang Qishun had absolutely no intention of waiting for his own mother. He let the doors close without a second thought and left.

Shang Keyi turned around, "What?"

Bai Xu went straight for the target, "It was you who tipped Shang Qishun off last night, wasn't it?"

After Old Master Shang had been taken away by Sun Chuan, only a very small number of people in the Shang family knew about the tracker in the watch. Shang Keyi was one of them.

If someone hadn't leaked the information, how could Sun Chuan have known to make an urgent escape with the Old Master? And how would the watch on the Old Master's wrist have ended up smashed on the floor of that rented room?

"......"

Shang Keyi's pupils trembled slightly, then she let out a disbelieving laugh, "Bai Xu, what are you talking about? The one who kidnapped my father last night and caused the accident was Sun Chuan. What does any of that have to do with Qishun, or with me?"

She, Shang Keyi, had not lost her mind to the point of helping her own son go after her elderly father!

"I know the third branch has never liked the two of us! But even so..."

Before Shang Keyi could finish her rebuttal, Shang Keshu finally emerged from the ward at the far end of the corridor, "Big Sister, what's all this arguing about? Mother just fell asleep. Don't wake her up."

Shang Keyi dropped the subject, "It's nothing."

Shang Keshu handed the bag in her hands back to Shang Keyi, and shot a brief glance toward Bai Xu, "You two stay here and keep watch. We need to go back and get some fresh clothes. Big Sister, shall we?"

"......"

Shang Keyi, thinking of her son with blood all over his face, no longer had the heart to keep arguing with Bai Xu and the others. She stepped into the elevator and left, her mind full of worry.

The elevator doors slid shut with a heavy thud.

Zhang Changxu turned his gaze back and let out a helpless sigh, "Yanxiao, the two of you were too impulsive just now. This is a hospital. If a dispute gets filed, the hallway cameras have everything on record. You two will be the ones at a disadvantage."

Shang Yanxiao only said, "I want to beat him to death."

Bai Xu understood the pain and fury in his lover's heart and turned to him, "Someone like Shang Qishun, beating him to death would be letting him off easy."

Bai Xu reached over and gently cradled Shang Yanxiao's reddened knuckles, "Does it hurt?"

Shang Yanxiao shook his head, "I'm fine."

Zhang Changxu said it as it was, "Of course you're fine. But looking at Shang Qishun with that swollen, bruised face, anyone could tell you didn't go easy on him."

As if to ease Shang Yanxiao's mood, Bai Xu actually gave a thumbs up, "Well done. Win again next time."

Shang Yanxiao let out a short laugh.

Zhang Changxu beside them covered his mouth with his fist, feeling like he couldn't bear to watch, "You two are something else."

Bai Xu took Shang Yanxiao's hand back in his own, not daring to let his guard down for a moment, "Let's go. Shall we head back to keep Grandmother company?"

There would probably be more to come later, and they still had something important waiting for Old Madam Shang to decide!

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