Chapter 11

Every head turned toward the voice—
Second-floor balcony. Old Master Shang dressed sharp at the rail. Eagle eyes on the garden.
High-rank pressure rolled out in seconds.
Songming met that sweep—rage wiped clean. Fear stuck in his throat. “G-Grandfather.”
Queyan in the chair straightened without thinking. Pulled the blanket tight. Voice tight. “Grandfather.”
Bai Xu felt both of them go stiff beside him. His eyes on Old Master Shang didn’t flinch. Mind drifted—
Old Master felt too much like his own grandfather who’d died two years back.
Real world: parents split when he was small. Bai family had the group. Father flew countries for work.
From seven, Bai Xu was raised at Old Master Bai’s knee.
Public face: tycoon. Retired home. Never soft on the grandson’s education.
Hard on big things. Gentle in small ones.
Of all the Bai kids, Bai Xu read Old Master best—and was the favorite.
---
Now Old Master Shang blurred into that memory. Unexpected. Weird fit. Book called him “odd-tempered” anyway.
“……”
Old Master met Bai Xu’s unhidden gaze. Look held a beat.
Then back to the two grandsons. “Cold snap these days. Come inside.”
Turned into the house.
Songming watched the back vanish. Heart dropped from his throat. “Hah.”
Scared stiff.
Thank god Grandfather didn’t hear the taunts.
Queyan read him. Stab. “You know fear?”
Songming had no fight left. “Just wait.” Rushed to the main house.
Uncle Lin shook his head at Songming’s back. Disapproval.
Remembered what just happened. Gratitude in his eyes for Bai Xu. “Mr. Bai—thank you.”
Bai Xu cut in—stopped Songming’s repeated pokes, threw needles back.
“You’re welcome. I just said what was true.”
Bai Xu hated Songming’s face and the habit of ripping scabs.
Looked at calmer Queyan. Kid-teasing tone. “If anyone should thank me—it’s Fourth Young Master.”
Queyan remembered yesterday’s lake fight. Mouth hard. “Dream on.”
Bai Xu smiled. “Fine. For your brother’s sake—I won’t beef with my little brother-in-law.”
“……”
“Little brother-in-law” choked Queyan silent.
Uncle Lin hid a smile. “Fourth Young Master, Mr. Bai—we should go in.”
“Okay.”
Three toward the main house.
Bai Xu caught Xie Qi waiting at the door. Look: come with us.
…
Dinner in the west side small dining room.
Inside—Songming already seated. Middle-aged couple beside him.
Uncle Lin announced. “Mr. Shang. Second Madam.”
Bai Xu knew them—
Shang Yun and Fang Yuhua. This marriage had their fingerprints all over it.
Shang Yun stood first—concern performance. “Xiao Yan, you made it. How’ve you been? Someone—move one solid chair. Easier for Xiao Yan.”
Fang Yuhua let her husband play good guy. Sipped water—hid the smile—
Most capable, most favored by Old Master—still in bed, no sign of waking. Visible Third House blood left was a cripple in a chair.
Tonight First House absent. Second House’s stage?
Bai Xu caught Fang Yuhua’s micro-expression. Almost invisible cold laugh.
Like mother, like son.
Xie Qi saw Bai Xu’s reaction. Low. “Mr. Bai—what?”
Bai Xu shook head. Hand over mouth. “First House? Nobody came?”
Xie Qi flat. “Left for overseas a month and a half ago. Not back.”
Overseas business was Shang Qi and Yanxiao’s lane. After the crash, First House “overseas project urgent”—grabbed it.
“……”
Overseas?
Something off. Before Bai Xu pinned it—footsteps at the door.
Chief steward escorted Old Master and Old Madam in together.
Second House stood at once. Shang Yun respectful. “Father. Mother.”
Old Master scanned the room. No waste. “Staff to the side room. Family sit. Zheng—kitchen can serve.”
Chief steward. “Yes, sir.”
Uncle Lin bent to Queyan. “Call if you need me.”
Bai Xu and Xie Qi traded looks. With Uncle Lin—tactful—they went to the side room and waited.
Old Master sat. Second House followed.
“Xiao Yan—brother’s not here. Sit by Grandma.”
Old Madam fussed over her hurt grandson. Waved at the newcomer too. “Little Xu—you sit close. Small family dinner. Few rules tonight.”
Bai Xu played original’s soft. “Thank you, Old Madam.”
Old Master heard the timid answer. Glanced at Bai Xu—
He hated Bai Xu’s background from the start. Absurd marriage. Wrong status.
But wife worried sick over the unconscious grandson—tears daily—he’d looked away and allowed it.
Balcony glance—thought the kid had spine. Up close—same useless type the file said.
Not good enough for Yanxiao. Send him packing in time.
Hot dishes prepped. Fast service.
No talk at table—Old Master’s rule. Quiet chew. Stiff air.
Main course done. Sweet soup. Old Madam opened the lock gentle. “Little Xu—settling in okay these days?”
“……”
---
Bai Xu didn’t expect the first word to be about him. Set spoon down. “Thank you, Old Madam. I’m fine.”
“Good. Don’t stand on ceremony at home.”
Old Madam smiled soft—kind surface. “You live with Yanxiao and Queyan now. Look out for each other.”
“Mm.”
Across the table Songming saw Old Madam care for Third House again. Remembered the fountain insults. Chest tight.
Fang Yuhua read her son. Hand under table—pat his wrist.
“……”
Mother and son traded a look.
Fang Yuhua returned it. Piled on. “Right. You’re family now.”
Eyes to Old Master. Borrowed his house rule. “Glory and shame together. Don’t disgrace the Shang name outside.”
Bai Xu’s eyes tightened. Fang Yuhua’s words had teeth.
Old Master caught it. “Second daughter-in-law—what’s that mean?”
Fang Yuhua looked at Bai Xu on purpose. Hesitate. “Father—I saw some gossip today. Not sure I should say.”
Old Master hated that setup. “If you shouldn’t, eat. If you’re saying it—skip the runway.”
Sharp. Pressure. Fang Yuhua’s heart jumped.
Phone out. “A friend sent me a clip. About Third House.”
“……”
Third House?
Queyan heard the label on purpose. Brow tight. “What clip?”
Chief steward handed the phone to Old Master.
Fang Yuhua prompt. “Father—doesn’t the fighter look like Third House’s bodyguard? And isn’t that Bai Xu standing there?”
“……”
Called it.
Bai Xu guessed the clip day one. Fang Yuhua’s aim obvious. Swallowed the laugh.
Funny. He hadn’t opened yet—Second House built his stage.
He’d planned a script for tonight. Didn’t expect them to raise the curtain.
Old Master watched. Chief steward beside him first. “Sir—that’s Third Young Master’s guard. Chen Yufei, I believe.”
Bystander—Bai Xu. Correct.
Old Madam took the phone, puzzled.
Old Master looked at Bai Xu. “The others in the fight. Who?”
Fang Yuhua thought she had the rhythm. Jumped in. “I checked—the one in black is Jinbai Group’s young master!”
“His friends booked the store. Ran into Bai Xu. Words got heated. Then fists.”
“……”
Small conflict?
Who threw first—not said?
Bai Xu listened to the soft sell. No rush to argue.
“Father—you don’t know—”
“Chen family’s son got hurt bad—still in the hospital!” Songming cut in. “Yanxiao’s guard—ex-military, right? Good hands. Why swing?”
Question tossed out.
“Bai Xu—Chen Yufei’s paid muscle. Your guard. Without your okay—would he?”
“I’m worried!” Fang Yuhua piled on—virtue act for the Shang name. “Bai Xu just joined. Nominal tie to Yanxiao—”
Old Master coughed. Displeasure. Brow down.
Fang Yuhua read the room. Fixed fast. “I mean—Bai Xu represents Third House outside. Offend Jinbai so fast—is that wise?”
“Shang Yun said Jinbai wanted to partner with us? This timing—Father—should Third House go apologize?”
“……”
Bai Xu finally saw the loop:
One—trash his image with the old couple.
Two—if Third House apologized publicly—face gone forever.
Two birds.
Wrong target.
Old Madam didn’t pick a side. She and her husband traded a look. Explanation handed back. “Bai Xu—what happened?”
“……”
Bai Xu brewed fast. Eyes up—red rimmed, hurt. “I didn’t—they looked down on me first—”
Voice shook—a rare tremble—then up a level. “They looked down on the Shang family!”