Chapter 27

Late June already. Early summer heat in the air.
Old couple’s anniversary banquet—held inside the estate to save trouble.
Walk-in closet—Bai Xu at mirror fussing with the silk bow tie that came with the suit. Couldn’t secure it. Irritated brow. “Tsk.”
Knock knock.
Bai Xu stopped. Leaned out of dressing room. “Who?”
“Me.”
One syllable—still pleasant.
Bai Xu knew the voice. “Unlocked. Come in.”
Door open shut. Yanxiao quick in.
Bai Xu turned back to mirror. Eyes through glass at him. “Third Young Master’s bold now—even master bedroom door.”
---
Yanxiao. “Today the estate focus is the banquet. Nobody comes here.”
Chen Yufei and crew on watch—alert anytime.
Still couldn’t show face. Time check. “Ready? Almost banquet time.”
Queyan just finished rehab—return still needs bit. Bai Xu represents Third House first.
“Mm. Almost done.”
Bai Xu tried tie again. Gave up. “Forget it.”
Yanxiao close. “What?”
Bai Xu turned. Rare annoyance. “Silk too slippery. Inner clasp too small. Can’t see looking down. Blind tie won’t hold. Annoying.”
Met Yanxiao’s eyes.
Short synced look—both spoke—
“You help me?”
“I help you?”
Same meaning collided. Bai Xu laughed. Stepped closer. “Then trouble Third Young Master?”
Chin up—height gap. “Mm~ help me.”
“……”
Yanxiao’s gaze brow to down. Still reached to help.
Silk slick. Tight clasp hard. Yanxiao focused—fingers brushed Bai Xu’s throat light.
Feather scrape again and again.
Bai Xu stared at that jawline—couldn’t take the buzz. Turned away.
Clasp Yanxiao finally set—pulled off. Helpless. “Don’t move.”
Bai Xu swallowed. Uncomfortable. “Ticklish.”
“……”
Yanxiao heard. Side glance.
Throat faint red—absurdly sensitive. Small gulp—unclear sexy.
Yanxiao’s stare turned direct. Bai Xu heart jump—instinct back. “Uh—I’ll change ties.”
Silk slipped fingers—light.
Yanxiao pinched tight unconscious—didn’t know what to catch. Watched Bai Xu dig drawer—
Nape center—small mole between pale red and brown. Only showed when head dipped—teasing.
“……”
Yanxiao breath tightened.
Bai Xu new tie turned—met his locked gaze. “Shang—Yanxiao? Staring at what?”
“Nothing.”
Voice tighter than expected. Cough. “Xie Qi said First House arrived Dijing yesterday. Didn’t stay estate villa last night…”
Normal tie—Bai Xu easy tied. Thread picked up. “You mean—suspect First House saved a big move?”
Yanxiao didn’t deny. “Grandparents joint banquet—rare. Flattery guaranteed.”
Old Master happy—might delegate group power.
First House Second House—relatives guests—all will fight.
“Third House’ll be table talk tonight. Hear it—don’t need to win every fight. Don’t hurt yourself. Careful.”
Bai Xu heard care under calm. Joke. “I don’t want trouble. What if they poke me? Can’t just take bullying.”
Yanxiao silent.
Take bullying? Not their style.
Bai Xu read same type. “I know limits. Still fight when needed. Third House can’t lose~”
“Our Third House”—Yanxiao corner smile. “Fine. Your call. Should be lively—how First and Second scramble?”
Bai Xu hidden expect. “Let them scramble—we’re not empty-handed? Gift okay?”
Yanxiao thought the special present for Old couple. Got it. “Xie Qi ready. Your signal—timed delivery. You coordinate on site.”
“Good.”
…
Banquet southwest corner estate.
Outdoor fake lawn lake into indoor hall—near thousand capacity.
Not everyone qualifies for Shang banquets.
Fang Yuhua under husband’s push—picked and picked—guest list Old couple approved—near hundred invited.
All Dijing nobility. Names with weight.
Bai Xu shuttle arrived—prelude already rolling. Couldn’t take outdoor heat—quick into hall—
Layout Chinese classical. Elegant décor—Old Madam taste clear.
Shang Yun and Fang Yuhua dressed sharp. Arm in arm fake sweet—greeting for Old couple still in lounge.
Many guests clustered drinking talk.
Bai Xu scanned—no crowd sucking.
Time before start—found half-screened rest nook. Fruit wine. Walked over.
---
Live band—Chinese orchestra. Bamboo silk comfort.
Bai Xu eyes closed enjoying—talk outside the screen.
“Chairman Bai—fortune meeting you here.”
“Director Chen—long time. My wife.”
“Director Chen hello.”
“Ah—Mrs. Bai.”
Voice familiar—Bai Xu placed them. Original’s cheap relatives—Bai Rendao and Qian Shuling.
Bai family had some assets—barely Dijing list. Shouldn’t qualify this tier banquet.
Bai Xu surprised—outside talk continued.
Director Chen casual. “Little Master Bai living Shang house lately? Greeted you today? I saw him enter alone.”
Someone chimed. “Yeah—his noise lately—tougher than before.”
“Wealth breeds polish. Shang life—no worry rest of days. Chairman Bai had vision?”
Rich talk curved—praise and stab. Last line—Bai Rendao schemed in via Bai Xu to Shang.
Bai couple awkward inside.
“Oh everyone jokes.”
Qian Shuling fake laugh. “We know Xiao Xu’s character—shy dull—won’t even hello. How Shang makes him fierce?”
“Third Young Master’s bad luck—Old Madam noticed him—just luck.”
Bai Rendao. “Yeah whole Dijing knows Third Young Master’s face. We Bai unworthy—dared not agree marriage.”
Tag team.
“Our Xiao Xu usually quiet—stubborn on this marriage. Said he’d stay even if Yanxiao bed forever.”
Qian Shuling scrubbed their forced marriage—painted Bai Xu gold-digger into nobility.
“……”
Bai Xu behind screen laughed.
Two three months apart—flip truth skill leveled up!
Outside polite back. “Chairman Bai modest. Who wouldn’t board Shang ship? Luck marriage—good for both.”
Bai Rendao polite deflection. “Our little industry—honest small business. Benefits not ours—we dare not touch.”
“……”
Joke!
You two touched plenty!
Mask too long—think you’re noble?
Bai Xu about to expose—familiar voice beat him—
“If Bai couple so detached—why crash today’s banquet!”
“……”
Zhang Changning. Bai Xu eyes lit.
Outside screen—Changning ignored brother’s pull. Three steps up.
Unhappy scan Bai couple. Another stab. “Don’t look down on me—small house should know this banquet’s tier and guests.”
“Without Bai Xu—you’re not standing here. What act?”
“……”
Sudden expose—Bai couple face couldn’t hold.
Director Chen broke awkward. “Both Zhang young masters here?”
Changxu had to step up.
---
Brow helpless hidden. To little brother. “Sorry—Ning’s young—truth no filter.”
Truth?
So Changxu also thinks Bai couple acting.
Guests heard disgust—watching the joke.
Changning still not enough. “Second Brother why apologize? I’m not wrong! Though I haven’t known Bai Xu long—he’s not greedy!”
“They as Bai Xu’s—”
Changning stuck. Toxic. “Whatever cheap relatives—publicly trash him—too much!”
Zhang family top tier—early on guest list.
Changning dessert table route—heard neighbor talk—couldn’t hold back.
“Chairman Bai—your age—don’t lie open-eyed?”
“……”
Bai Rendao public scolded by kid—face dark. “Young Master Zhang—face hides heart!”
“You said yourself—you don’t know him long—how know better than us?”
Changning frown—Qian Shuling cut in. “Our Bai not your tier—but steady growth these years!”
“Also—we kindly adopted Bai Xu—everyone knows! Just chat—wasn’t smearing him.”
“Subject not here—Young Master Ning urgent for him?”
---
Last line—clearly annoyed at meddling.
Changxu eyes on Qian Shuling shifted. Calm surface dark edge. Before erupt—screen ripped.
“Lively?”
Bai Xu out curtain. Interested scan. “Chatting what? Let the subject hear?”
“……”
Bai couple jumped—
Bai Xu behind screen? When? How long? All heard?
Changning up. “Bai Xu! I was finding you!”
Bai Xu smile at Changning. Soft sincere. “Changning. Thanks.”
Heart for heart.
Not first time Changning spoke up—Bai Xu remembered this friend.
“My mess—I handle. You stay by your brother—watch the show. Zhang family don’t touch trash.”
Second half not polite—volume not lowered.
Qian Shuling self-inserted. “Bai Xu—what’s that mean?!”
Forgot venue—old Bai house habit—sharp vicious face.
Others scorn:
Mask off? So petty!
Maybe eyes—maybe Bai Rendao tug—Qian Shuling woke—too late.
Bai Xu smile gone. “Meaning—you two know. For Old Master Bai’s adoption grace—I gave Bai face enough!”
Original top temper—swallowed wrongs. He couldn’t!
More guests looked.
Bai Xu expose live. “Why adopt me? Feng shui monk—my fate to extend your luck—charity PR outside! Hypocrites!”
Guests traded looks—believe or not.
Bai Xu guessed doubt. “Anyone checks—knows my scholarships part-time years!”
Guest reacted. “Right—professor boss squeezed him. If Bai family good—why scrape wages get bullied?”
Bai Rendao never followed Bai Xu news—blank now.
Situation bad—excuse again. “That was Old Master’s idea—you—”
Bai Xu no gap. Cut in. “Right—you two more mercenary than Old Master!”
“Dare say you didn’t force the marriage? Dare say zero business gain? Even your son—daily filthy thoughts!”
“……”
Boom!
Question chain blew a hole—Bai Rendao Qian Shuling couldn’t lie-fill fast!
Bai Xu had enough eyes—mood flip.
Deep breath—next questions pain shake. “If I refused marriage—how’d your family ruin me? Think everyone’s fools?”
“……”
Exactly.
Who’s the fool?
Luck marriage on display—Bai family got something. Not Shang begging them.
Guests’ scales tilted—Bai Xu red eyes—sympathy.
Director Chen who chatted quietly stepped back—distance.
Justice tilting—Second House couple late. Fang Yuhua fixed smile. “Why the crowd? What happened?”
Saw Bai Xu center—impatience flash. “Bai Xu—you again?”
Changning. “Second Aunt—it’s Chairman and Mrs. Bai running mouths. Wrong person.”
“Second Madam—you’re here!”
Qian Shuling saw savior—performance ready. “We’re guests—small chat—Third House’s guy got serious on us.”
“……”
Insane!
Pressure said Bai adoption?
Bad turn—switch Bai Xu to Shang Third House side?
Changning eyes huge—tugged brother silent outrage. Next second Fang Yuhua blamed. “Bai Xu—that’s your fault.”
“You know today’s occasion? Our family doesn’t bully with power.”
Fang Yuhua wanted Second House shine—and blunt Third House edge.
Free gift—smiling strike. “Chairman and Mrs. Bai are our invited guests. You don’t stop—you’re trying to upset Old Chairman and Old Madam!”
“……”
Big pot dropped.
Bai Xu saw selfish squeeze—rare anger flicker—before he moved—authority voice—
---
“Oh? Who’s upsetting me?”
One heavy line—outer guests parted—respect greetings—
“Chairman Shang.”
“Old Madam.”
“Chairman Shang.”
Old couple custom Chinese formal wear—hand in hand through stares.
Changning saw Bai Xu bad color—smart grabbed talk. “Grandpa Shang Grandma Shang—long time! Parents send regards~”
Pretty plus sweet mouth—likable.
Old Madam watched him grow. Bright. “Zhang family youngest here?”
Changxu met Old Master eyes. Calm polite. “Chairman—sister-in-law delivered province hospital yesterday. Parents visiting—can’t congratulate today. Please forgive.”
Old Master slight nod. “Give parents my regards.”
“Grandma—you’re perfect timing! Judge for us—” Changning cute one line—topic back—“Bai Xu can’t swallow outsider bullying!”
“……”
Bai couple gasped.
This Changning—must help Bai Xu win?
Assist delivered—Bai Xu mental thumbs up.
Quick composure—to Old Master sincere apology. “Chairman. Old Madam. My fault.”
“……”
Many confused:
Sudden apology? Surrender?
Old Master stone face. “What happened first?”
Bai Xu. “Small argument with Chairman and Mrs. Bai. Second Madam heard—advised me not upset you at banquet.”
No embellishment—but ears heard different—
Wait?
Somehow… wronged?
Old Master silent—eagle eyes on Bai couple.
Rendao Qian Shuling guilty under gaze. “C-Chairman hello.”
Old Master ignored greeting. Called. “Second daughter-in-law.”
Fang Yuhua late bad feeling—heart jump.
“Dad—”
Before excuse—Old Master boom whole hall. “I ask you—were they on my guest list? How did you run this?”