Chapter 48

Afraid oversleep again—Bai Xu insisted alarm—last morning woke early instead.
Weak light through clear roof—gray dawn.
Bai Xu saw Yanxiao still asleep—waist grip tight—careful shift—didn't wake him.
Waves faint outside—Yanxiao's steady breath at ear.
"..."
No sleep left—no rush up.
Not first time studying Yanxiao asleep—early Shang days fake coma—master bed daily.
Then "asleep" Yanxiao felt guarded cold—nothing like now loose safe.
Hand from blanket—finger air-traced sleeping outline.
"Shang. Yan. Xiao."
Silent name—thoughts drifted.
Half year transmigrated—book one-liners became real days with Yanxiao.
Timeline estimate—after Hatchling bid ends—book "Shang Yanxiao" should wake too.
Old Master Shang critical hospital—loses grip on group—Shang internal war brutal—accidents chain.
"..."
Book ending for Yanxiao—pupils shook.
Original POV hero Shang Queyan—
Brother "Shang Yanxiao" coma long—wakes once—dies blocking disaster for brother—last straw Queyan sanity.
After—revenge no restraint—Zhang family alliance—cleans all opposition—chairman seat steady.
"..."
Bai Xu stared sleeping face—panic won't leave chest.
First lake manor meet Queyan—reviewed brothers' plots—mood not this mixed.
Then "Shang Yanxiao" paper people—no extra feeling—future self—detached transmigrator.
Today different—can't imagine—
If world follows timeline—not just Old Master Shang in trouble—but Yanxiao sleeping in front of him!
Brow tight—air hand landed cheek. "Shang Yanxiao."
Dream Yanxiao heard—caught face hand. "Hm?"
"..."
Too late to pull free.
Yanxiao slow awake. "Up so early? Alarm not yet?"
Voice lazy sexy—hook easy.
Bai Xu pressed mess. "Mm—woke can't sleep."
Yanxiao noticed held hand—guess. "Can't sleep so peeking? Touching too?"
"No such thing."
Deep breath—hand back. "Not sleeping anyway—wash first—you do you."
Gone from air mattress—speed Yanxiao couldn't catch.
Flap open.
Morning sea damp hit—cool heart—quieted stray thoughts.
Bai Xu washed—back—Chu Yate already up—coffee at camp table.
Surprise both ways.
"Morning."
"Why you up early?"
"You too?"
Chu Yate coffee—resigned shake. "Not early—no sleep all night—thank god return today—few more days I'd break."
Bai Xu tease. "One more day you'd swim home overnight."
Chu Yate sip. "Guess why I left tent?"
Bai Xu tilt. "Not coffee?"
Chu Yate shake. "Wanted sunrise—forgot we're west shore."
"..."
Bai Xu laughed. "Sleep debt makes dumb."
Dressed Yanxiao out—eyes Bai Xu—straight wash area.
Chu Yate glance Yanxiao—remembered. "I'm not Little Chairman Bai—nightly company coax—sleep good—energy full."
Bai Xu cough. "Don't talk nonsense."
"Where nonsense?" Chu Yate whisper. "After mahjong Zhou asked me—you two obvious couple."
"..."
Couple?
Bai Xu tasted word—no deny.
Can't tell outsiders FWB—mutual help only—nothing further yet.
Chu Yate curious burst. "Bai Xu—one question?"
"What?"
"Shang Yanxiao rough that way?"
"..."
Slow catch—Chu Yate eager eyes. "What are you asking?"
Chu Yate foreign open—zero shame. "Friend—I care—what—you top?"
Self deny instant. "No impossible—you don't look capable."
"..."
Not as capable as Yanxiao?
Who's he looking down on!
Doubt hit—competitive fire—panic tossed aside.
"Huh?"
Cold laugh Chu Yate—Yanxiao washed over—finger hook. "Come here."
Yanxiao heading them—quickened. "What?"
Bai Xu yanked chair—slammed unprepared Yanxiao down—held—leaned in and kissed him.
Yanxiao blank—no struggle—accepted.
Shallow—unexpected hard good-morning kiss.
Bai Xu to stunned Chu Yate—competitive finish. "Sorry wrong guess—I am capable!"
Last words bitten heavy.
Chu Yate doubtful clap. "Impressive."
Yanxiao got topic—laugh. "Mm—Little Chairman Bai very capable."
Chu Yate stopped clap. "Am I couple show prop?"
"..."
Bai Xu met Yanxiao thick smile—shame delayed—pulled him up—buzz. "Stop praising—ruins it!"
"Little Chairman Bai—I was cooperating."
Yanxiao saw other chairmen out—stopped joke.
Bai Xu saw too—mutter. "What kind of cooperation?"
...
Day three simple.
After breakfast—random draw two teams—cooperative mini games—group photos.
Group photo—Yanxiao excuse dodged.
Three day industry event done clean.
Seasick lesson—Yanxiao supervised pill and patch—return ride fine.
Pier dock.
Before off—Cheng Ye pat shoulder. "Little Chairman Bai—this week sit down proper? Zhou and I both free."
Bai Xu won't refuse door knock. "Sure—assistants schedule tomorrow?"
"Mm—see you."
"Okay."
Zhou after. "Little Chairman Bai, Chairman Yan—pleasure meeting."
Handshake polite. "Chairman Zhou—long road ahead—see you."
Watched drivers take them—Bai Xu exhaled. "Finally done."
"Ah—"
Chu Yate had been with them the whole trip—yawn unbearable. "Can't—home sleep—Bai Xu, Chairman Shang—call if need."
Rushed his car.
Yanxiao looked back. "We go too?"
Bai Xu nod. "Yes."
Car still pier parking—never moved.
Door shut—noise gone.
Bai Xu guard down—long sigh. "Over—and good result."
Yanxiao said. "Rest well tonight."
Bai Xu nod. "Material list needs split—Zhou Cheng joint now."
"Easy—tomorrow."
Yanxiao dropped work—ask. "Nightmare this morning?"
Bai Xu blank. "No."
"Then why bad mood?"
Just woke—Yanxiao caught suppressed mood—carried till now.
"..."
Didn't expect detection—strange moved.
Book Yanxiao ending—can't stay spectator. "Mm—kind of nightmare—can't recall now."
For Bai Xu—here long another real world—
Yanxiao Queyan Zhang brothers Shang clan—all living people!
Fate gears turn—plot pushes—but individual choices shift details.
Bai Xu never submits to fate—won't wait for "destined" end.
What to fear—forward fearless.
Trust self—trust Yanxiao more.
Mood sorted—eyes bright. "Shang Yanxiao."
"Hm?"
"Let's go home."
Yanxiao heard word—light laugh. "Okay."
...
No supplier block—prep smooth—team hired six more—bid prep day by day.
Blink—registration deadline.
Knock knock.
Chu Yuncheng head down signing files. "In."
Assistant entered. "Chairman Chu—Hatchling bid list—official just posted—seven companies."
Two knew weak—stopped at signup.
Count as expected.
Chu Yuncheng smug smile. "Zhouye withdrew?"
Assistant hesitate. "They—they're still on list—preliminary qualified for next round."
"..."
Chu face changed—snatched list. "Still? Found material partners?"
Zhouye Investment bold on list.
Assistant intel. "Mm—Yuansheng Steel Chairman Zhou..."
Before finish—Chu threw folder back. "Maybe? I pay you for maybe?"
"Sent people watch Zhouye and Bai Xu—this is how you work!"
Assistant swallowed scolding—silent—disagreed inside—
Open bid fair—skill vs skill—but boss after last loss treats Bai Xu as nail in eye?
Early pressure on big suppliers—shady targeting.
Now Zhouye broke through—how's that his fault?
Chu saw silence—fire worse. "Mute? Speak!"
Assistant tablet evidence fast. "Chairman Chu—Construction Association team build had Bai Xu—group photo—"
Handed up.
Chu brow knit. "Bai Xu qualified how? Invitation from where?"
"Yuansheng Zhou, Linggang Cheng, Saint Paulina GM..." listed possible partners—pause—"back row left third."
"..."
Back row third left?
Look—Chu Yate grin—instant clear.
"Fine—him again!"
Face ugly—rage up. "He's at company now?"
Assistant sensed war—hard answer. "Yes."
...
Large office.
Chu Yate knew bid list—coffee machine—watch drip—amused.
Outside—noisy footsteps.
Three two one—bang!
Expected—Chu Yuncheng door crash—disgust rage bare. "Chu Yate—what's your game!"
Chu Yate assistant couldn't stop. "Young Chairman Chu—this—"
Chu Yate knew why—wave assistant out.
"Big brother—what happened—so angry?"
Playing dumb—coffee ready—step offer. "Coffee?"
"Stop acting!"
Won't bite—flipped coffee.
—bang!
Cup floor—halves.
Splash Chu Yate clothes cheek—warm sting.
"..."
Chu Yate eyes close brief—open—zero smile—tissue wipe slow.
Words sharp too.
"Boar can't taste fine—instant coffee for you—wasted not sad."
Chu Yuncheng red face. "Chu Yate you bastard say again! Your dirty backroom tricks—I know!"
Chu Yate hate flash—wipe harder.
Chu Yuncheng still going. "Your mother never entered Chu house—you still no right—"
—bang!
Office door slammed open again.
Seventy Chu Tian entered—face dark shout. "What's all this noise?"
Chu Yuncheng didn't expect father—anger frozen. "Dad—why here?"
Chairman Chu Tian weak lately—long absent from group.
"Quarterly meeting today—big brother forgot?" Chu Yate needle—trash tissue—"Dad sit—we'll clean."
Chu Tian saw mess—coffee on younger son—look culprit.
Chu Yuncheng silent question—choke out. "Dad! Chu Yate white-eyed wolf—arms outside!"
"Knows group must win Hatchling—helps outsiders against family!"
"..."
Chu Tian brow furrow. "Yate—true?"
Chu Yate sideways. "Big brother—evidence? Burst my office—I offer coffee—you splash—"
"Staff outside—you call me bastard."
That word—glance Chu Tian. "Dad—see who's biased—targeting who?"
Chu Yuncheng grit. "Chu Yate you dare—"
"Enough!"
Chu Tian face down—eyes warning both. "Not enough scandal? Fight outside—don't disgrace group!"
Both quiet.
Chu Tian breath steady—stare Chu Yate. "Answer—helping competitors against family?"
Chu Yate knew unavoidable. "No!"
Chu Yuncheng disbelieve. "Still lying!"
"I wanted this project—big brother blocked me—remember Dad said—"
"Win fair and square—that's right—I'm doing what I think right."
Bai Xu Yanxiao fight Hatchling—Yate special status—won't touch core bid.
Win—split per ally treaty.
"Dad—you care about group—whoever wins—group gains—how is that betrayal?"
Chu Yuncheng still attack. "What if you leak bid data—"
"Stop—I know you." Chu Tian one line shut him. "You lock Yate out—how see data?"
"..."
Chu Tian knows brother hate—doesn't care. "Fine—sometimes fight good—true skill each!"
Chu Yuncheng resentful. "Dad!"
Chu Tian hand stop. "Weak throws tantrums—excellent enough to fear rivals?"
Chu Yate permitted—smile. "Dad speaks truth."
Chu Tian order. "Meeting soon—both calm before room! Another scene—no quarterly for you."
Left first.
Chu Yuncheng swallowed rage—
Bang!
Door slamed vent.
Chu Yate rubbed ringing ears—phone—message Bai Xu first.
Buzz.
Bai Xu skim text—look Yanxiao across. "Chu Yate says Yuncheng knows our Zhou Cheng deal."
Yanxiao eyes flicker. "Guard before bid starts."
Bai Xu same thought—cold laugh. "Yeah—bid is price—someone won't stay honest."
We won't cheat—rivals might malicious bid.
Yanxiao not wait victim. "Move first?"
Bai Xu spun e-pen—leisure. "Sure—play properly."