Chapter 17

Dong—dong—dong—
The antique pendulum in the hall center struck heavy. Dinner officially open.
---
Guests knew high-end drill. Found seats with their family nameplates.
Bai Xu looked down from the second floor. Slow scan of left and right tables—no “Shang Group” tag anywhere.
Song Qiancheng sat at the long table on the right. Bai Xu still hadn’t found his seat. Sneer—eye signal to the boy beside him:
Tease him?
Got it. Grin. “Bai Xu—can’t find your spot? Listen—tell the server add a chair at our table end. One more won’t hurt.”
Loud enough. Eyes turned.
“……”
Bai Xu pulled faces from memory. Their mean looks. Before he moved—a voice beside him. “Mr. Bai.”
Bai Xu turned—the event lead from Sun’s team.
Lead still respectful—in front of everyone. “Chairman Chun didn’t know you’d represent Shang—we failed hospitality. Our apology.”
Polite gesture. “Your seat is front row, head table.”
Faces changed around them. Shock. Doubt. Scorn. Suspicion.
Lead ignored the room. Hand up again. “Follow me.”
“……”
Bai Xu read the special treatment clear—
Sun Miaochun giving Shang proper face. He was just the one getting “price bumped” along for the ride.
High and low—standard at these parties. Since the ladder was offered—he took it without guilt.
Turned the black ring. Meaningful glance at Song Qiancheng’s crowd.
Bai Xu seated front head table under the lead’s guide. Guests traded whispers.
“Bai Xu represents Shang? He and Third Young Master—real?”
“Can’t fake it. Settled long ago.”
“Luck marriage—Shang probably kept it quiet. Shameful. Will Yanxiao wake?”
“Lucky streak for now—who knows later?”
“Bai family small potatoes. Fake young master title. Without Yanxiao’s accident—Dijing would queue to marry in. Not his turn.”
Buzz and stares. Bai Xu at the center heard none of it. Sat calm.
“……”
Song Qiancheng stared at Bai Xu’s back. That faint contempt in his eyes just now. Quiet curse. “Fuck—who’s he performing for.”
Fake young master—every past party they treated him as joke. Now Shang’s spotlight—acts like big shot?
Old Bai Xu jokes lowered the itch some. “Where’s that server? Don’t chicken out.”
“Relax—we ‘reminded’ him again. Do it—tip. Don’t—lose job. Easy choice.”
Friend low. Lazy grin. “We popcorn.”
Song Qiancheng eased. “Mm.”
Bai Xu was soft cotton, doormat at core. More he acts now—better the meltdown later.
Then the lead at front center. “Honored guests—before we start Chairman Chun asks me to apologize—”
“Sudden discomfort. She’ll rest briefly then join. Please enjoy dinner first.”
“……”
Bai Xu eyes to second floor. Doubt—
He was sure the one who met his gaze was Sun Miaochun. That top-down audit look—nothing like sick.
Plus the book’s “friend or foe,” “gray edges”—this dinner felt like a set trap from the start.
“Mr. Bai?”
Lead close. “What are you looking at?”
Bai Xu counter. “Nothing. Chairman Chun—serious?”
Lead unblinking. “Old palpitation. Rest helps.”
“Is that so. Rest well then.”
Bai Xu didn’t buy it. Eyes on the empty seat across. Casual. “Who sits there? Why empty?”
That slot—family tier matching Shang.
“Oh—reserved for the Zhang family young master. He should be here—where is he?” Lead scanned. Excuse to leave. “Mr. Bai—enjoy. I’ll find Young Master Zhang.”
Bai Xu caught the name. Eyes flicker. “Mm.”
…
Dinner rolled orderly. Uniform servers weaving—pour, plate, service.
Soon one reached Bai Xu’s side.
Bent. Took his unfinished red. Tray up with a fresh glass. “Mr. Bai—let me refresh yours.”
Normal at fine wine events—best taste, timely swap.
---
Bai Xu looked up quiet. Control in the bones—half showing.
“……”
Server met his eyes. Panic flash. Set-down too hard.
Bai Xu sharp. “Wait.”
Server throat click. “Huh?”
Wrong. Bai Xu lifted the glass to his nose. Wrist arc pretty—wine shimmer in the light.
Pretty picture—for the server, prelude to busted.
Bai Xu cold. Tiny sip—
As expected—fruit wine sour with a thread of bitter that didn’t belong. Faint.
Pre-transmigration Bai Xu’s life wasn’t poor. Private dinners. After his career—business galas. Good wine plenty.
He drank. He tasted.
Bad. Probe soft. “Who told you?”
Quiet. No alarm. Still pressure.
Server panicking inside. Face lying. “What?”
“Still acting?” Tone heavier. Guilty as sin. Drugged cup.
Bai Xu cold laugh. “Don’t talk—the blame’s all yours.”
Wage worker—no coercion from above—wouldn’t risk the job.
Server never thought Bai Xu would catch this much. Internal screaming.
Special “mood” powder in the wine. Small dose—enough for public humiliation when it hit.
He didn’t want this mess—reported to the lead right after Song Qiancheng’s order. Reply:
Do it. Someone covers fallout.
Now Bai Xu pressing—eyes flicked right to the long table mastermind. Silent.
Bai Xu followed the look. Target locked:
Song Qiancheng’s blind rich boys—picked “him” for fun again.
Wrong mark this time. With or without Shang—Bai Xu always paid debts.
Bai Xu poured a little into an empty cup—evidence. Stood fast.
Chair legs scraped carpet—soft—but head table noticed.
Someone saw the glass. “Young Master Bai—what’s wrong?”
More eyes.
Bai Xu didn’t answer. Straight to the puppet master. Named him. “Young Master Song.”
Song Qiancheng sideways. Server frozen. Wine problem.
Zero guilt. Wouldn’t even stand. “What’s this? Thought Little Master Bai flew up the branch—too good for us now.”
“How could I?”
Bai Xu face soft smile. Cold locked deep. “Rare—Young Master Song thinks enough of me to send a big gift through someone. I owe a return.”
“……”
Song Qiancheng quick glance at the glass. Stuck. “Return? I say skip—”
—Splash!
Bai Xu didn’t care for the room. Threw the wine hard.
Full cup on Song Qiancheng’s face. Suit and shirt stained. Gasps everywhere. Many didn’t process.
What?
Why did Bai Xu just—
Song Qiancheng eyes huge. Friends frozen.
“Bai Xu! You insane?”
“Fuck!”
Song Qiancheng wiped with a wet nap. Rage rising—Bai Xu moved first. Smashed the glass on his head.
Clunk!
Stunned—not concussed.
Right force—glass shattered floor. Short stem in palm. Broken glass edge cold and sharp.
Next beat—stem at Song Qiancheng’s throat. Low threat. “Make one more sound. Try.”
“……”
“……”
Chaos. Song Qiancheng and friends blank—
Wait.
When did Bai Xu change?
Public violence—crazy?
Song Qiancheng’s father bolted up. “Bai Xu! I warn you—assault’s illegal! Even with Shang behind you—Song family will pursue!”
“Illegal?”
Bai Xu cold look. “When your son drugged my wine—why didn’t you stand up and say illegal?”
“I’m just returning a gift. Chairman Song—suddenly righteous?”
“……”
Chairman Song blank—didn’t know about the drug.
Song Qiancheng forgot the forehead sting. Breath stopped.
Friend first—lie open. “Y-you got proof? Chairman Chun’s party—we—we’re not that stupid!”
“Yeah!”
Song Qiancheng found air. “B-Bai Xu—don’t hide behind Shang and run wild! Kill pays with life—you dare?”
---
Bai Xu pushed the stem half an inch closer. “Bet I dare?”
Song Qiancheng felt the calm scary madness on Bai Xu. Back rigid. Cold sweat. Breath wrong.
Bet?
How could he bet that!
Suddenly at the hall door—loud backup. “Whether Bai Xu dares—I don’t know. But the proof you want—I’ve got it!”