Chapter 13

Night again.
Black van rolled slow to a small villa.
Driver jumped out, opened the rear. To the fuming man inside—respectful. “Chairman Chen—we’re here. Young Master hasn’t left the building, per your orders these days.”
Chen Rong looked at the lit villa. Face stone. Walked closer—
Inside: loud club music. Mixed voices. Party noise.
“……”
Chen Rong’s face went black. “That ungrateful brat—I ground him and he still parties!”
Rage outside. Heat inside unchanged.
Chen Shaoxuan arms around two hot girls. Eyes drunk-blur. Head bobbing to the beat.
“Hell yeah! What kind of house arrest is this? Alive—always a way to play.”
Friend collapsed on the sofa. “Why’s your dad lock you in? What’d you do?”
Chen Shaoxuan beer breath. Spit. “What else? That trash Bai Xu—smart-ass recorded video.”
Online backlash hit Jinbai Group. Shareholders pissed.
Chairman Chen Rong chewed him out—mouth always starting fires—froze his cards. Grounded him.
Friend comfort. “Net noise? Poor people jealous. Forgotten in a week. No wave.”
Girl chimed. “I heard Bai Xu ties to Shang Third House? Not people you poke.”
Chen Shaoxuan brow up. Sneer. “Please. Three months ago maybe. Now whole Dijing knows—Shang Third Branch is the joke. I didn’t—”
Door burst open.
Smoke and booze hit Chen Rong’s face. Blacker. He yanked the speaker cord.
—Bang!
Silence. Party frozen.
Chen Rong looked at the crew. No courtesy. “Out. I talk to my son.”
“……”
“Dad.”
Chen Shaoxuan shook off drunk. Slow. “Why’re you here?”
Chen Rong’s belly full of fire. One slap. “You disgrace! You dare ask?”
Crack—everyone jumped.
Wrong vibe—friends vanished fast.
Chen Shaoxuan stunned. Hand on burning cheek. “Dad! In front of everyone—I have face!”
---
“Face? I think you want to die!”
Evening news still boiling. Second slap. “You wrecked Jinbai Group!”
Chen Shaoxuan neck stiff. “Not my problem! We don’t need poor keyboard warriors! Bai Xu’s guard hit me!”
“You deserved it!”
Chen Rong pointed. “We were signing with Shang Group—getting their money. Old Chairman Shang himself killed the deal!”
Jinbai sliding years. Cash flow bleeding.
“Cooperation” on paper—they needed Shang cash more. Now gone.
Worse—word spreads Shang walked away. Others watch. Nobody touches Jinbai—scared to offend Shang.
“All you know is wine and women! Group collapses—we go broke—you still play young master?”
“……B-broke?”
Chen Shaoxuan panicked. “Dad—you’re kidding?”
Shareholders had torn into Chen Rong tonight. This kid still didn’t get it. Rage peaked.
Looked around. Picked up a golf club. “Clueless fool—shut up! I don’t beat you to death—I’m not your father!”
Father hits son—natural law.
Chen Shaoxuan scrambled. Sober in a flash. “Ah!”
Too late for sorry. Club rose and fell—hurt worse than Chen Yufei’s fists.
…
Deep night.
Chen Yufei on master-bedroom guard heard knock. Opened—Bai Xu with toiletries. “Mr. Bai—you’re here?”
Bai Xu peeked in. “Xie Qi off tonight?”
Chen Yufei nodded. “His room. I’ve got the watch.”
Bai Xu thoughtful nod. Purpose clear. “My shower’s dead. No water. Borrow Third Young Master’s bath.”
Chen Yufei hesitated. “Dead?”
Bai Xu leaned on the frame. “Don’t trust me? Go look.”
Any other Shang family member—never leave the post. These days Bai Xu seemed solid.
Stepped aside. “Mr. Bai—I’ll see if I can fix it.”
Bai Xu nodded. “Thanks.”
Door shut soft. No need to lock.
Bai Xu walked in with clothes. Looked at the bed from a distance—
Dim bedside light on his outline. Monitors ticking. Weeks in bed—
Still too good-looking for a long-term patient. Like light sleep—eyes might open any second and kill you.
Bai Xu stared. Weird feeling he couldn’t name.
Acute brain injury “vegetative” doesn’t kill other functions. Rich care 24/7—
Still—Yanxiao looked too clean?
“……”
Caregiver probe flashed back. Brow tight again.
Faking coma? Unlikely—Zhang Changxu’s team checks on schedule.
Plus—reader with god view. Book plot set. Wouldn’t miss every clue?
Deeper look—then bathroom.
Water ran.
Yanxiao on the bed “woke” at once.
Head turned to frosted glass glow. Chest moved—
Bai Xu’s look lasted too long. First time Yanxiao felt “caught” tight. Suspicion?
High alert. Afraid Bai Xu left a trap. Phone from nightstand. Text to assistant:
“Come up.”
Time ticked. Click—bathroom door unlocking.
Bai Xu in his robe. Basin in hand—warm water, towel.
Didn’t leave. Sat on the bed edge.
—Swish.
Wringing the warm towel. Talking to sleeping Yanxiao. “Normally I wouldn’t do this. After last night’s dinner Old Madam pulled me aside again.”
Monologue—but on purpose.
“Marriage and all—I really should—” Bit the words. Took Yanxiao’s right hand. “‘Take care’ of you.”
Cool palm. Burn faded light.
Bai Xu’s eyes lit. Casual— squeezed his fingertips. Once. Twice. Three times—
Yanxiao’s face unchanged. Like he felt nothing.
“Tsk. Hands still cold.”
Hidden test. Wiped both arms quick. Stood closer.
Breath warm. Close.
Towel from forehead—brows—down the face.
---
Fingertips like a brush. Light trace—nose, cheek—earlobe rubbed with bad intent.
Gentle itch plus open teasing.
“Nice brows~”
“High bridge~”
“Soft ears~ Yanxiao—you gonna be whipped by your partner someday?”
“……”
Yanxiao’s breath shallow. Steady rise.
Smile hiding—eyes went darker. Doubt crept in:
This much groping—if he were faking—no reaction at all?
Eyes dropped. Brow up.
Try harder?
Blanket off. Fingers on buttons. One by one down.
Soon—shoulders, chest, waist. Lines clean—not bulky. Bed rest but training showed.
“……”
Bai Xu looked away a beat. Test urge faded. Cleared throat awkward.
Men see men—so what? Half done—couldn’t quit.
Towel wrung again. Breath slowed on purpose. Wipe became probe—finger circled his lower abs.
Like lighting a match.
Room heat climbed. Shower gel scent thin in the air between them.
For a flash—body under him tensed. Almost imagined. Then the door opened from outside.
—Bang!
Xie Qi froze in the doorway. Surprise unhidden. “Mr. Bai—you—what are you doing?”
“……”
Caught—half second awkward. Cover story ready. “Old Madam said share the room more. Care can’t always be on you guys.”
“But I’m bad at this—” Stood calm. Towel in basin. “You take over. Late—I’m out.”
Xie Qi wanted to speak.
Bai Xu ignored. Stride out.
Chen Yufei with toolbox—collision. “Mr. Bai—shower fixed. Tomorrow you’re good.”
Bai Xu. “Thanks.”
Chen Yufei read his face. “Mr. Bai—you hot?”
“……Oh. Just showered. A little.”
Slow line. Fast to his room.
Door locked hard. Like shutting heat out. Alone—big exhale.
Done.
No more tests.
Yanxiao let him go this far—couldn’t be awake. Almost got himself burned!
…
Master door shut sync.
Yanxiao bolted upright. Breath heavy sudden.
Looked at Xie Qi by the bed. Hoarse. “You could’ve been slower.”
“……”
What did Mr. Bai do?
Rare—Third Young Master not calm.
Xie Qi innocent. “Third Young Master—I was on branch reports. Missed the ping. Sorry.”
Yanxiao had no bandwidth for the look. Usually rationed water—this time drained a full cold cup—
Heat in the body pressed down some. Nose still held Bai Xu’s scent. Skin buzz after touch.
Throat moved on its own. Pulled clothes closed. Veins on the back of his hand said he wasn’t calm.
Xie Qi caught it. “Third Young Master—you okay?”
Mouth hard. “Fine.”
Pause two seconds. Couldn’t kill the weird heat. “……Turn the AC on.”