Chapter 28

“……”
Sudden question—Fang Yuhua back stiff.
Bai Xu read her face—went silent—low profile.
Guests reacted. “Chairman means—Bai couple not invited?”
Someone. “Probably—never saw Bai at this tier before? Back door?”
Flood open—one mock. “Circles have rules—can’t even gatekeep—cheap.”
“Quiet—less talk!”
“……”
Old Master face—whispers eased—but scorn on Bai Rendao piled—almost pierced him!
Bai Rendao lost composure—face burning!
Old Master at culprit—authority no rage needed. “Second daughter-in-law—I’m asking you.”
Qian Shuling salvage dignity—jumped answer. “Chairman—Second Madam invited us! We’re in-laws—congratulate you two—visit—”
Bai Rendao choke her. “Stop!”
Enough humiliation? More talk worse! Never this ashamed—want hole in ground!
Next second Fang Yuhua deny. “Mrs. Bai—nonsense! When did I invite you?”
Glare at Qian Shuling—want to strangle.
Her list drafted—Old Master approved—no Bai couple originally. Marriage business kept Bai–Second House contact.
High-value guest list—Bai wanted invite for network. Qian Shuling gifts and flattery private to Fang Yuhua.
Fang Yuhua floated lately.
Thought if quiet at party—two extra names fine—maybe pinch “small house” Bai Xu again.
Back door without reporting Old Master—thought she held power.
Bai couple walked into guns—dragged her down!
Shang Yun read Old Master face—silently dropped her arm. “Yuhua—what is this?”
Fang Yuhua empty hand—blank—excuse. “They claimed Third House kin—begged days for invites! I thought—”
Plea eyes Old Madam—paint herself kind. “They’re Bai Xu’s people—politeness—I agreed.”
---
Changning whisper Bai Xu ear. “Tsk—now use you as shield?”
Bai Xu watched—no need his act.
Too stiff bad for guests. Proper silence—good impression.
Old Madam wise. “Guests are guests.”
Looked silent Bai Xu and frozen Bai couple—smooth. “Bai Xu is ours. Second daughter-in-law right—for his face we invite Chairman and Mrs. Bai.”
High EQ one line—Bai came for Shang’s regard of Bai Xu.
Awkward Rendao Qian Shuling. “Our hospitality slipped—please forgive.”
“No no—how dare?”
“We only deliver gift—then leave.”
Bai Rendao no face to stay—down ladder fast. “Chairman Shang—next chance we visit.”
Old Master slight nod—zero polite keep.
If Old Master Bai still ran—some face. Rendao Qian Shuling—he despised.
Bai couple fled public—back hunched ugly.
Bai Xu looked away—secret smile:
Grabbing what’s not yours—rocks own feet. Bai family humiliated huge! Dijing tea talk +1!
“……”
Old Master deep glance Bai Xu—control topic. “Not everyone here?”
Shang Yun knew wife angered Chairman—stepped up. “Dad—all guests in. Family short some.”
Public emphasis other branches. “Eldest sister stuck traffic—won’t make soon. Little sister still abroad.”
Old Master remembered daughter refused marriage—only play. Snort. “Ignore her.”
Old Madam smiled. “Little sister video-called us. Oh—Xiao Yan?”
To Bai Xu.
Bai Xu didn’t mention Queyan rehab. “Old Madam—Fourth Young Master soon.”
Old Master heart off since morning—weird temper. “None of you care!”
What day is this?
Start time—half family missing!
Old Madam pat wrist soothe. “Kids coming is good. Early late—what matter? Seat everyone—grown-ups—no joke.”
Old Master breathed—host mode. “Everyone—sorry for the show—please sit!”
Old Madam. “Thanks all for coming.”
“Old Madam too kind.”
“Dijing knows your love story—today we came to envy.”
“Yeah.”
Flattery mixed real—seats found.
Bai Xu beside Zhang brothers.
Changning close. “Bai Xu—Queyan rehab how? WeChat he only says ‘okay.’”
Bai Xu smile. “Should be fine—see him later yourself?”
“Okay.”
Hall doors pushed—rear murmur.
Bai Xu look—backlight blur. Changning craned. “Who—what entrance?”
Changxu same side. “Looks like Shang Qishun’s family.”
“……”
First House?
Bai Xu shifted—legendary “Shang Eldest branch” clear.
Lead woman black suit dress—model body. Hair tight bun. Brow pride like Old Master.
Man beside—custom suit—maybe 175cm max—middle-age soft—extremely average.
Changning gossip close. “Bai Xu—first time seeing First House? Front is Chairman’s eldest daughter.”
Shang Keyi—graduation year Shang Group IPO crunch—she solved hard problems for Old Master.
Famous excellent beautiful—suitors countless.
“Her husband Wu Wei—is live-in son-in-law.”
“Started as her admin secretary—somehow together—Old Master furious.”
Changxu stared babbling brother. “Where you hear? Don’t talk random.”
“Grandpa told me before he died.” Changning nose up—continued to friend. “Father-daughter cold over it—Chairman suspended her post long while.”
Keyi stubborn—wouldn’t break up. Husband agreed uxorilocal—Old Master barely nodded.
---
“One son after marriage—Shang surname—nominal first grandson—Shang Qishun.”
Talking—Qishun entered Bai Xu’s view.
Dark champagne suit. Height from mother. Gold wire glasses—far look refined scumbag vibe.
Closer—why rear surprised—
Qishun hand in hand with striking young woman.
Changning noticed. “Whoa bro—Qishun got girlfriend? When?”
Changxu not close to Qishun. “No idea.”
Bai Xu skipped brother chat—audit locked on Qishun.
Qishun gaze swept—one second freeze on Bai Xu—gone fast.
“……”
First impression matters.
Book rival matching Yanxiao—trouble for Queyan—Bai Xu felt odd hostile wrongness.
Silent—First House front main table—greet Old couple.
“Dad. Mom.”
“Grandpa. Grandma. We’re back.”
Old Master unmoved. “Good you’re back.”
Old Madam saw girl beside grandson—surprise. “Qishun—this is?”
Qishun expected the question—tight hand. “Grandpa Grandma—my girlfriend Bai Hui.”
Bai Hui proper smile. “Chairman. Old Madam—first meeting—wish you health.”
Guests gossip. “Bai family? Which Bai?”
“Girl looks familiar?”
Keyi intro. “Dad Mom—Bai Hui’s father is Huaguo Foreign Commerce vice minister. Our cross-sea bridge project—Vice Minister Bai led. Kids met at work.”
Volume up at the pair. “Dating short—but fit well. Barring accident—engagement second half year.”
Simple lines—heavy gold—
Commerce vice minister’s daughter? Qishun engaged half year?
Shang plus that tie—overseas mega projects—extra approval and shadow help?
Guests congrats loud. “First House three months abroad—big surprise back! Congrats Chairman Old Madam—pretty granddaughter-in-law!”
Back row whisper. “Compare that ‘surprise’—Second House can’t beat—even Third House here loses?”
“If I recall—bridge project was Yanxiao’s? Pity—handed First House at the line.”
“Bai Xu luck-marriage vs Miss Bai background—heaven and earth.”
“Miss Bai and Yanxiao look matched actually.”
“Stop—engaging Qishun—what Third House matter?”
---
Changning heard loud back tables. “Eat and yap—ugh.”
Careful to Bai Xu. “Don’t take it to heart.”
Bai Xu eyes dropped—fun flicker. Book memory—
Qishun did have decent “fiancée”—engagement day blowup—never married.
“Bai Xu? Thinking what?”
“Huh?”
Bai Xu back. Spectator tone. “Not my turn to care. First House stole spotlight—someone’s sour.”
Changning blank. “Who?”
Bai Xu eye Second House. “There.”
Shang Yun Fang Yuhua diagonal front—watching First House—fake smiles same stiffness.
Fang Yuhua warm water—swallow acid with it:
Traffic excuse? On purpose—last entrance—max drama!
“……”
First House seated with permission.
Keyi to Fang Yuhua’s sour look—needle in cotton. “Second sister-in-law—busy lately—I heard—you ran this banquet hard.”
Like Second House already owned Shang.
Shang Yun heard the dig—defended wife. “Sister—Yuhua’s Shang daughter-in-law—effort due. Parents happy matters.”
Fang Yuhua husband backup—fight back. “Yes Sister Brother-in-law—late arrival—what surprise for parents?”
Pro-First guest. “Young Master Qishun and Miss Bai engaged half year—next year great-grandchild—four generations—beautiful.”
Last keywords—bitten clear.
Bai Hui faint rejection—held face for occasion.
Qishun. “Miss Bai and I—not rush. Bridge phase two soon—Grandpa got the news?”
---
Old Master satisfied nod. “Mm. Well done. No work talk today—later.”
“Yes Grandpa.”
Qishun pushed back. “Second Aunt’s setup—must be fine gift for grandparents? Oh—where Songming and Le’er?”
Fang Yuhua. “Thoughtful of siblings—Second House prepared gift.”
“……”
Guests watched duel—silent popcorn.
Bai Xu felt gift atmosphere ripe—phone quick message.
WeChat sent—invisible Songming entered with two servers.
They carried huge wood frame—center fully covered—mysterious.
“Grandpa Grandma—I’m late.”
Songming felt eyes—hidden excitement. “Just fetched gift for you two.”
Old Madam knew kids coaxing—cooperative. “So big? What is it?”
Fang Yuhua husband signal—helped Old Madam up. “Mom—pull corner see yourself?”
Guest for Second House. “Yeah Old Madam—Second House filial—show us too.”
Old Madam couldn’t refuse—pulled paper corner—cover slid—revealed—
Huge double-sided Su embroidery—Old couple walking together—front back faces and backs each side.
Old Madam loved classical—real joy. “Stitching exquisite.”
Fang Yuhua knew hit. “Mom—Songming and Le’er’s idea. Ten embroiderers—Songming supervised near a month for deadline.”
Size plus short window—this quality rare.
Praise sigh—flattery included.
Fang Yuhua pre-measured—strike while hot. “Mom—size perfect Third House master bedroom lounge wall!”
Bai Xu stared from far—Second House chess sharp—
Master bedroom?
Old couple see it daily—think Second House—imprint deep.
Old Madam didn’t yes—looked Old Master silent ask.
Old Master seated—flat—not kill mood. “Kids’ heart—hang wherever you like.”
“After banquet then.”
Old Madam no spot decision—patted Fang Yuhua hand. “Second family worked hard. Banquet well done.”
Fang Yuhua face back. “Mom—we should.”
First—Qishun girlfriend plus project news. Second—Songming giant embroidery. Neither yields—curry favor Old couple max.
Guest stir pot—
“First Second both gifted—Third House quiet?”
“Third Young Master out. Fourth absent. Bai Xu can’t lead—what to give?”
“Right—no company projects—no family money—nothing to show?”
“Bai Xu in Third House—useless.”
“After today Third House done for.”
“……”
Bai Xu kept rhythm—left ear in right out—even sipped champagne.
Buzz.
Pocket phone vibrate.
Songming malicious. “Bai Xu—Yanxiao out fine—why Queyan still missing? Third House celebrate grandparents like this?”
Still sore from last mock—want payback.
Old Master side-eye troublemaker grandson—smile gone:
One line—tell all!
Grown man—petty like what?
Bai Xu slow put glass—eyes steady. “Second Young Master—sure Third House prepared nothing?”
Big roles enter late.
Warm voice—no heavy attack—still caught ears.
All looked—Bai Xu calm to main table side. Polite Old couple. “Chairman. Old Madam—I invited someone back.”
Old Madam. “Oh? Invited someone?”
“Yes—no spare invite—I didn’t dare bring them into hall.”
Look at Fang Yuhua—stomp delivered.
“……”
Fang Yuhua got it—furious.
Bai Xu eyes moved on—ask Old Master. “If you don’t mind—I have them brought in?”
Old Master saw neither humble nor arrogant—curiosity rare. “Fine.”
What’s in Bai Xu’s gourd?
---
Approval got—Bai Xu public dial. “Okay. Bring them in.”