Chapter 34

Car entered banquet venue—
Fulida Five-Star Hotel—local tallest landmark.
Xie Qi slow roll—look back Yanxiao. “Third Young Master—sure enter with Mr. Bai?”
Abroad doesn’t mean unrecognizable.
Shang fame—someone spots Yanxiao—fake coma wasted?
“I know my measure.”
Yanxiao micro yes—eyes brooking no refusal. “Wait nearby—call anytime.”
Xie Qi Chen Yufei. “Yes.”
Bai Xu saw Yanxiao wrap again—laughed.
Yanxiao side look. “Laugh what?”
Bai Xu joke shake. “Nothing—my guard too handsome—cover ‘about to blow.’”
Yanxiao helpless calm. “Can’t hide—fine—not domestic—they’ll move faster anyway.”
Car stopped hotel front.
Yanxiao breath adjust—invisible—door first out.
Usher approached—Xie Qi window—invite ready. “Zhouye Finance—Chairman Bai.”
Temp invite—Bai Xu identity simple—Huaguo Bai young master—public solo investment firm.
Real capital—Yanxiao behind.
New guest—usher half doubt—phone verify long—trace distrust.
---
Bai Xu window down. “Done?”
Parted bangs—features full show—soft surface—fine impatience underneath.
One lifted eye—born pride aura out.
Usher confirmed—felt mood—forward. “Young Master Bai—sorry—rude—please—”
Hand to help out—
Wrist grabbed hard before cloth touch. “Our young master dislikes strangers touch—I’ll do it.”
“……”
Usher felt grip—looked.
Plain guard uniform—but height crushing—cap eyes cold deep—no extra stare.
Two seconds control—throat roll. “Sorry.”
Stepped back space.
Yanxiao bend door—hand out. “Young master—exit.”
Bai Xu read preemptive play—smile—took his hand.
Palm warm—steady down.
Face reset—usher aside. “Verified? I can enter?”
Usher no more slack. “Of course—please.”
Elevator up—usher exhale relief.
Colleague curious. “Devin—who were those two—so tense—faces new.”
Hotel reception years—half New Country elite seen.
Devin back cold sweat—sigh. “From Huaguo—Bai young master—call him Little Chairman Bai now?”
“Oh~”
Colleague whisper. “Pretty cute—gentle personality maybe?”
Not like rich bullies.
“……”
Gentle?
Devin disagree. “You should’ve hosted—feel his aura—not easy.”
“See his guard?”
Colleague nod. “Yeah—seen many bodyguards— that one looked special far off.”
“More than special.”
Devin wiped brow sweat—thought dared not say loud—
Grab wrist block touch—not guarding employer—like guarding lover.
…
Elevator rising fast.
Bai Xu look silent Yanxiao behind. “That move—scared the usher.”
Yanxiao low. “Not scare—make them remember new face—their level sees elites daily—private gossip net.”
“Often others’ read of you comes from their mouths.”
Bai Xu knew stakes. “So what am I in their mouths now?”
Yanxiao let him continue. “Mm?”
Bai Xu tease. “They’ll say—new guy Bai Xu—guard cold as ice~”
Yanxiao heard mock—mask corner smile. “Nervous? Performance after entry.”
“No.”
Bai Xu elevator mirror meet Yanxiao—confidence under calm. “If trouble—you cover bottom? Hope Chairman Zhang Songyang arrived?”
Yanxiao. “Find out inside.”
Ding!
Mechanical voice. “Floor fifty-nine—mind the gap.”
Doors open—gala air hit—
Wine flowers countless perfumes fused—mini sculptures fountains murals—crystal chandelier glitter.
Easy dazzle lose mind.
Bai Xu scan area. “Whole floor opened up? Huge.”
Yanxiao read subtext. “Ask someone.”
“Mm.”
Bai Xu outer wine tower champagne—flag server. “Hi.”
Server polite. “Sir—how may I help?”
Bai Xu direct. “Check if Juesheng Medical Chairman Zhang Songyang is here.”
High banquet—guests logged on entry—stats and safety.
Server no refuse. “One moment.”
Handheld system search. “Sir—opened one hour—Chairman Zhang not yet—but on list—enter and wait?”
“Thanks.”
---
Bai Xu quick in—Yanxiao silent behind.
“Sit aside first—don’t wander.”
Target clear—find Zhang Songyang Juesheng—first contact—solo meeting later.
Crowded—Yanxiao status—low profile best.
“Okay.”
…
Corner lounge—two seats farthest.
Bai Xu swirl champagne—about sip—Yanxiao block accurate. “Tonight no alcohol if possible.”
Bai Xu sulk. “One cup?”
Yanxiao coax. “Allergy less than week—outside careful? Changxu said you and Changning—half jin eight liang—both weak?”
“……”
Good intent—but tail words—Bai Xu mutter. “Guard—watch your words.”
Yanxiao missed beat. “What?”
Bai Xu firm. “I’m fine—all aspects.”
Yanxiao got it—eyes laughter. “Mm.”
Bai Xu squint. “That ‘mm’ so perfunctory.”
“No.”
Yanxiao deny—business pivot. “Zhang Songyang Juesheng files—you read?”
“Of course.”
Xie Qi Tuesday AM sent full background—
Zhang parents early immigrants Huaguo to New Country New City. University New Country medical school—hospital affiliate after masters.
Youngest chief surgeon class—bright future.
Ten years ago—medical dispute—suspended—hand injured—quit after dust settled.
Three years later—friend co-founded Juesheng Medical—return medicine different role.
Media interview—thanked mentor Academician Chen Zhen—support in dark—revival.
Recent years Juesheng under Zhang—top New Country med device tier.
Swallow AW—deep launch new AI instrument—Juesheng climbs another floor!
Bai Xu recap aloud. “Zhang Chairman forties plus.”
Yanxiao nod. “Forty-seven eight—what?”
Bai Xu low. “Different age—different deal mode—different negotiation.”
“Doctor-turned-merchant Zhang—time cost matters most—find incision one cut—beats waving scalpel in air.”
Save lives urgent—invest same.
Yanxiao got extension—no argue. “Young master knows negotiation?”
“So-so.” Bai Xu vague—stood. “Before Zhang comes—bathroom.”
Yanxiao eyes follow—Bai Xu stop. “Hey—you stay—watch when Zhang arrives.”
“……”
“Tonight all my orders~”
Bai Xu pressed—point pin ear—hint. “Need you—come then.”
Yanxiao no choice. “Okay.”
…
Restrooms other elevator side.
Done—slow return—wet wipe trash—turn corner—full collision.
“……”
Bai Xu two steps back—steady.
Sweet cloying perfume nose—uncomfortable brow—look down—
Pretty young girl collapsed in his arms—state wrong.
Eyes meet—lifeline grabbed—death grip. “Sir—please save me!”
“……”
Drugged?
Stranger instinct—push girl then talk.
Before move—oily young man corner chase—saw stranger Bai Xu—freeze.
Girl heard—looked back—terror worse on Bai Xu. “I—I didn’t want—tricked here—save—save me.”
Bai Xu measure. “Miss—let go first.”
Oily man saw Bai Xu unwilling—bold. “Qiao Xin—I tell you—Chairman Chu favors you—that’s luck!”
“Stop playing pure—little actresses—which aren’t selling?”
“……”
Bai Xu disgust brow.
Actress dirty drug—held Bai Xu then crumpled floor—tears despair.
Knew trap—still crawl out hopeless.
Oily man prey secured—smug laugh—pull Bai Xu camp. “Sir right? Which woman isn’t—”
---
Bai Xu snapped. “Shut your filthy mouth.”
Outsider shouldn’t touch dark trades—but mouth stank.
Not saint—but basic morals.
“Too dirty—don’t pollute my ears.”
Bai Xu sidestep seeming leave—actually shielded girl behind him.
Oily face changed. “Sir—don’t meddle! See evil—one eye open one closed!”
Bai Xu read wrong reply. “What? I meddle what?”
“……”
“Hallway not your name—I hate noisy hall—rest here illegal?”
Words say—oily forward—Bai Xu block again. “Hey—move—don’t block me.”
“Who blocks who?!”
Oily rage—finger Bai Xu forehead. “Where’d pretty boy crawl from—dare touch Chu Chairman’s pick? I warn—”
Threat cut—pointing hand twisted hard.
“Ah!”
Pain scream.
Yanxiao shoved oily to trash direction hard.
Bai Xu saw rescue—cold eyes gone. “Right—trash belongs in bin.”
Yanxiao first scan Bai Xu head toe. “Okay?”
Muffled mask—care there.
Bai Xu shake head. “Fine—you came—I don’t fight—but upfront—”
Stop—eyes helpless signal: not my fault—I didn’t start trouble.
Yanxiao saw floor girl plus listener content—understood.
No blame—soothe. “I know—you did well.”
Praise kid tone—heart subtle flutter—before feel—oily crawled up. “You—you—”
Yanxiao side cold glance—zero words.
“Scram.”
“……”
Aura crushed oily.
Wrist still throbbing—power gap clear.
Oily hesitate seconds—not opponent. “Wait—ruin Chairman Chu—you’ll regret!”
Weak threat—run fast.
“……”
Actress tension released—crawl wall pant. “Th-thank you.”
Bai Xu pitiful state—kind offer. “Can’t stay—hotel female staff help you? After—you handle yourself?”
Stranger—this much enough.
“Mm—I—I can—thanks.”
Five minutes—manager escorted girl safe.
Bai Xu look back—Yanxiao waiting. “Go.”
“Wait—tie crooked.” Yanxiao down remind—casual. “She hug you just now?”
Bai Xu collar adjust. “Not really—ran into me fleeing—how you know?”
Yanxiao arrived—they’d separated.
Yanxiao. “Perfume on you too sweet—bad.”
Last two words light—disgust clear.
Bai Xu sniff down. “Not that strong—dog nose? Through mask?”
Yanxiao didn’t get his meaning—teeth grind subtle. “Go—don’t forget tonight’s job.”
“Mm.”
Back main hall—familiar server urgent. “Sir—I was finding you—Juesheng Chairman Zhang arrived.”
Bai Xu alert. “Here?”
Server eye direction. “There—dark blue vest.”
“Thanks.”
Bai Xu target lock—look Yanxiao synced—“I go first.”
Talk banquet—guard assistant can’t cling forever.
Yanxiao slight nod. “Lounge wait—slow—intro first enough.”
“Mm.”
Bai Xu face set—champagne grab—steady walk.
Close—Zhang noticed.
Eyes meet—Bai Xu no fear. “Chairman Zhang—long admired—hello.”
“Hello.”
Zhang surprised stranger greet—still polite. “This young sir is?”
Gentle scholarly face—no greedy merchant stink—approachable.
Bai Xu side glance—Zhang right hand long scar finger to arm—old medical dispute mark.
No stare—back straight. “Chairman Zhang—first meet—you wouldn’t know me—I’m Zhouye Investment Bai Xu.”
---
Bai Xu card out—Xie Qi prepared before leave.
Zhang read—surprise affirm. “Little Chairman Bai looks young—already founded asset firm?”
Bai Xu humble. “Family grace—start only—here to learn—stable projects—eyes landed on Chairman Zhang.”
Zhang heard subtext—smile cooperate. “Little Chairman Bai—which sector?”
Old ginger sharp—hit point.
Bai Xu likes straight—test and declare. “AI medical assist devices—Chairman Zhang—how’s that?”
“……”
Zhang confirmed intent. “Young—big appetite.”
Bai Xu champagne toast joke. “Young—bold—heard Juesheng industry leader—fit project—take me play?”
“I eat well—I can eat.”
Last four words—calm control.
Zhang look deeper. “Is that so?”
Bai Xu no drag—invite. “Of course—Chairman Zhang willing—we set solo time detail talk?”
Direct invite beats circles.
First meet—Zhang impression not bad—interest brow—then voice beside—
“Chairman Zhang—when arrive? Didn’t tell me.”
Respectful tone—hidden arrogance boss.
Zhang recognized. “Chairman Chu.”
“……”
Chairman Chu?
Bai Xu title again—mind lock.
Lounge Yanxiao same beat.
Distance apart—sync eyes on “Chairman Chu.”