Chapter 30

Old Master’s thunder line—someone couldn’t sit still.
Keyi and Shang Yun sibling sync—shocked. “Dad!”
Years fighting to plant people in Group—Old Master picky—kept few—now—
Casual olive branch to Bai Xu? Why? Gone senile?
Fang Yuhua sour panic—Songming yelled. “Grandpa—even luck-marriage partner—no certificate! Outsider how long? Qualify for Group?”
Wu Wei got wife’s signal. “Y-yeah— not proper?”
Qishun parents spoke—he stayed smart silent.
Queyan saw opposite panic—secret thrill. “Grandpa—I think good. Outsiders know—Bai Xu is my brother’s partner—Third House one of us.”
“Learn together—help fill gap.”
Line out—eye daggers multiplied.
Keyi strong mode—scorn. “Our Group never keeps idlers. Vacancy—capable people only.”
Unhappy look at Bai Xu. “Bai Xu never touched this at Bai house? Business war isn’t sweet talk.”
Meaning—banquet sweet talk bought this free pie.
“All yelling?”
Old Master cup slammed. “Every line I speak—you have ten back—or you run this family?”
---
Old Master looked nearest Keyi—old wound. “So you know ‘sweet talk’ exists? Thought years passed—you still only defy me!”
“Dad!”
Keyi brow tighter—blocked grievance chest.
Married how many years?
Still trot out that lecture—fun?
Old Master called Wu Wei freeloader phoenix—climbed on her family—marriage doom! Result?
Wu Wei zero missteps—loyal marriage years!
Keyi low mutter. “Your eye’s good—but sometimes wrong.”
“……”
Wu Wei pulled her hand under table. “Easy easy.”
Old Master ignored—locked Bai Xu again. “Bai Xu—I asked you—why silent half day?”
Queyan hopeful. “Bai Xu—what do you think?”
Mixed eyes—Bai Xu calm slid black ring to middle finger. “Chairman—thanks for regard—but I won’t join Shang Group.”
Queyan hope dropped—confused.
Others breath out together—Fang Yuhua Songming secret laugh:
Free feast refused—idiot!
Old Master stared Bai Xu. “Oh? Why?”
Bai Xu brewed state and words—small smile. “First reason—you just saw—I don’t want bullseye on my back.”
“……”
First Second—knee arrow again.
Bai Xu ignored—continued. “Second—I truly hope you and Old Madam happy on sixty-five anniversary.”
“That gift cheap—zero calculation—I don’t need profit return.”
Light paragraph—high and low set.
Real world—parents divorced early. Grandmother died when he was ten.
Transmigrated Bai Xu—Old Master like the grandfather who raised him. Envied Yanxiao’s gentle Old Madam.
Most—Old couple decades steadfast love—moved him who never hoped for marriage.
If plot continues—if Chairman next year bedridden death inevitable—Bai Xu only hoped—
Today’s yellow croaker noodle—one more good memory in their limited years left.
“……”
Old Master heard endless false flattery—all agendas.
Silent audit Bai Xu—seek fake trace—rare fail.
Old Master settled. “More? Continue.”
Bai Xu. “Third—for myself. Luck marriage—but Yanxiao never woke—zero emotional base.”
“Chairman—I’m independent—not Yanxiao or Shang accessory. Don’t want whispers—I hugged thigh—back door.”
“I know Shang rank in Dijing—got respect I never had—enough.”
Background helps walking society—cling everywhere—you’ll cripple yourself.
Plus Bai Xu always planned to leave Shang.
Join Group now—endless ties—exit harder later.
“If possible—I want prove value outside Shang—on my own merit.”
Not humble not arrogant—near perfect answer.
Old Master heard—throat almost-smile. “Backbone—you have. Your path then. I won’t force.”
Bai Xu smile back. “Thanks Chairman understanding.”
Qishun watched Old Master and Bai Xu—old crisis surged.
Mouth tight flash—back to usual arc—lay low—no presence flash.
…
Past nine—shuttle at villa gate.
Driver helped—Queyan wheelchair down careful—landing jolt—pain flash gone fast.
Bai Xu caught it—looked legs. “You okay?”
Prosthetics—rehab not instant—Queyan standing at meeting that hard—real effort.
These days Queyan didn’t reject care. “Okay.”
One after another inside.
Changning on sofa jumped up. “Bai Xu! Queyan—you’re back!”
Queyan. “You still here?”
“Mm.”
Changning close—eyes upstairs hint. “After banquet Brother said find Third Brother… talk. Still up there.”
Changning knew truth from brother—Third House camp—won’t leak.
---
“Bai Xu—that gift tonight—” no outsiders—praise instant. “Slaughter! Even Brother says you’re savage.”
“Yeah?”
Bai Xu glance upstairs—tease. “Thought Dr. Zhang only has eyes for you—praises me too?”
Footsteps on spiral stairs—Changxu down. “What’re you saying?”
Changning bright. “Second Brother—done?”
Changxu met shiny eyes. “Mm. Late—we go.”
“Okay.”
Fast yes.
Leaving—Changning triple remind Bai Xu. “Studio opening days—invitation! I’m coming!”
Bai Xu laugh. “Got it. Drive safe.”
“Okay.”
Door shut again.
Queyan wheelchair to elevator. “I’ll see my brother upstairs—you coming?”
Bai Xu knew. “Mm.”
Master bedroom—Yanxiao waiting look met them.
Yanxiao heard from friend first. “Chairman very satisfied with your gift.”
Bai Xu no solo credit. “Third House together—without you sending Xie Qi and Queyan confirming—no tonight.”
Yanxiao corner smile. “Idea was yours.”
Even he—read autobiography—wouldn’t catch throwaway detail for heart gift.
Queyan nodded—repeated family meeting—admired Bai Xu’s refusal answer still.
“Bai Xu—few dare refuse Grandpa—I thought you’d grab the ‘chance.’”
“Different choices—I said clear upstairs.”
Bai Xu smile—zero regret.
Eyes Yanxiao then Queyan. “You Shang people ‘fear’ Chairman—because he holds Group and family—one word life death.”
Projects per branch—investment splits—inheritance future.
Want gain—then fear.
Bai Xu wanted nothing from Chairman—no fear—normal equal talk.
“Strip ‘head of family’ ‘Group Chairman’—just an old man right?”
Bai Xu truth plus tease open. “Older—more child—tantrum—right medicine—coax works.”
“……”
Huh?
Really?
Queyan shocked—looked at brother.
Yanxiao felt brother’s question—eyes hard to leave Bai Xu. “Not wrong. Not hard—read his temper.”
Bai Xu got agreement—brow up. “Mm-hm.”
Queyan suspicious at their sync. “Why you two always same wavelength?”
Bai Xu. “What?”
Queyan shake head. “Nothing.”
Yanxiao business. “Talked with Changxu—First House back—will probe me harder than Second—tighter meaner. Stay here—every step limited.”
“Branch and Group—Third House assets tied tight to Shang.”
Family firm—benefits and shackles.
Bai Xu one step. “Avoid First House and whole Shang eyes—spin separate asset company?”
Yanxiao slight nod—default yes.
Queyan always trusted brother. “Bro—you leaving on excuse? Where?”
“……”
Bai Xu book memory flicker—probe. “New Country?”
Yanxiao surprised. “Mm—planning. Changxu tells Chairman New Country has new medical gear helps recovery.”
There Yanxiao will “lie” in hospital—use liquid capital—new industry from scratch.
Look Queyan. “Domestic—you watch. New contact later—branch Group stuck—call me.”
“Okay.”
Bai Xu listened—clear.
Book one-line time skips—reality infinite variants.
Book—Yanxiao New Country treatment three months—sudden wake—return domestic.
Queyan then grew—prosthetic walk—Group foothold firm.
“Bai Xu.”
Bai Xu back. “Mm?”
Yanxiao eyes rare hesitation. “Stay Dijing—or come New Country with me?”
---
“……”
Bai Xu never thought—stuck answer. “I don’t know.”
“Time left—think slow.” Yanxiao hid light—no force. “Late tonight—rest both.”
Bai Xu breath. “Okay.”
…
Quiet night again.
Bai Xu not natural wake—short knock—heavy eyelids—Xiao Deng outside urgent low.
“Mr. Bai—you awake?”
“……”
“Mr. Bai?”
Voice pressed low—ten-alarm fire.
Bai Xu wrong feel—frown sit up—fast door. “What?”
Not even nine yet.
Xiao Deng saw sleepy face—sorry urgent. “Sorry disturb—Eldest Young Master in master bedroom!”
Bai Xu sharp awake. “Shang Qishun?”
“Yes!”
Xiao Deng fast low. “Says visiting Third Young Master—we and Fei couldn’t block forever—Assistant Xie left early with Fourth Young Master to branch.”
Qishun worse than Second to fool—this hour “surprise visit”—trap!
“Fei feared exposure—sent me get you—”
Before finish—Bai Xu toward master. “Got it.”
…
Too quiet master—pressure climbing.
Qishun stared motionless Yanxiao—glasses-front warm gone—deep cold.
Across bed Chen Yufei stone face—every move watched.
Qishun legitimate Eldest—proper “visit”—guards block hard—more suspicion.
Chen Yufei close guard only.
Feared exposure—Xiao Deng alert first beat.
Qishun bent slight—seemed reach hand.
Chen Yufei stop. “Eldest Young Master!”
Qishun side eye. “Nervous why? Don’t tell me—”
—Slam!
Master door burst—cut unfinished question.
Bai Xu quick in—Chen Yufei saw savior. “Mr. Bai!”
Bai Xu heard tight voice—fake easy. “Morning.”
Qishun rubbed fingertips—turn calm. “Little Master Bai—up early?”
Bai Xu smile back. “Not as early as Eldest Young Master.”
This hour visit—ambush plan obvious.
Qishun face steady heart steady. “After breakfast—dropped by. Three months abroad—I missed Yanxiao. Yesterday late—didn’t come with you and Xiao Yan first.”
Bai Xu corner pull—no reply.
“But Little Master Bai cares for Yanxiao well?” Qishun look bed thoughtful. “Long coma—malnutrition—muscle waste—thin—but—”
Pause two seconds—lens cold flash. “Yanxiao’s state—I almost think he’s faking… sleep.”
Loaded—Chen Yufei heart tight.
Bai Xu easy catch. “Then borrow Eldest Young Master’s luck.”
“We’d rather he’s asleep—always hope wake someday. When he does—I’ll notify Eldest Young Master first~”
Last line—extra sincere.
Qishun smile watertight. “Good.”
Bai Xu two steps—invisible push distance. “Eldest Young Master—move please—nutrition bag empty—need swap.”
“……”
Qishun stepped back.
Bai Xu signal Chen Yufei new bag—bent adjust blanket.
Felt stare behind—friendly suggest. “Eldest Young Master—maybe spend time on your private business?”
Qishun face shift. “Private?”
Bai Xu caught stiff tone drop—turn back. “You and Miss Bai engage H2? Prep’s messy—isn’t that private?”
Qishun eased. “That? Hire wedding planner—money solves.”
Bai Xu caught before-after—wouldn’t drop. “Just a reminder—why so tense? Others might think you’re hiding something.”
Round after round subtext—Qishun flawless. “Little Master Bai—not like rumors—quite the joker.”
Second House didn’t send idiot to humiliate Yanxiao—
Sent a capable ally.
“Thanks.”
Bai Xu light—eviction not polite.
“Eldest Young Master—thing is—I cultivate couple bond with Yanxiao—train him know my voice—breakfast alone habit—outsiders awkward.”
Active gesture out. “You ate—won’t keep you. Please.”
“……”
Qishun near thirty—first time this “kick guest” script.
Blank beat—smile not template. “Bai Xu—you’re more interesting than my third brother.”
---
Bai Xu head tilt—no take.
Qishun no self-humiliation—last look bed Yanxiao. “Then… bon appétit.”
Gone without look back.
Door shut—Bai Xu mutter. “Fake polite.”
While later Chen Yufei breakfast back. “Third Young Master Mr. Bai—I watched him leave—shouldn’t return.”
Yanxiao sat up—calm brow turned cold sharp.
Washed Bai Xu returned—oat milk grab. “Scare you?”
Yanxiao subtle sigh. “Prepared—but too shallow.”
Three four years apart—rivals since memory—know each other’s moves.
Yanxiao bet Qishun wouldn’t drop suspicion—sure enough—here.
Bai Xu remembered suspicion. “Your state in estate—unsafe—expose anytime.”
Fake coma—hard replicate true sick body instincts.
“Yes.”
Yanxiao string eased. “Lucky you came fast.”
Bai Xu oat milk—smug hum. “Know ally value now? Cover still needs me.”
“……”
Yanxiao glimpse lip moisture—thought flicker. “Mm.”
Knew he shouldn’t force—still asked reflex. “So—this ally coming abroad with me?”