Chapter 50

Ten minutes gone fast.
Evaluation committee returned—Sweet missing this time.
Bai Xu narrowed eyes. "Gone."
Xie Qi clicked. "Little Chairman Bai—that man left second seat?"
Kailing fill. "Sweet Bush—Hatchling overseas lead evaluator here—big say."
Bai Xu eyes Chu Yuncheng direction. "Brief eye contact—I feel off."
Xie Qi Kailing alarm—Kailing low. "Little Chairman Bai—Chu Yuncheng bribed for win?"
Xie Qi guess. "Anything for goal—not impossible."
Bai Xu steady—no rush prove. "This late—wait result."
"Okay."
Mutual dirty deal—competitors can't prevent early.
Even if Sweet Chu bribed—need evidence report—guess alone now stupid.
Wait result better.
Chu Yuncheng ignored stares—brow odd flicker. "Where's Sweet?"
Critical moment—why absent?
Assistant deliberate low. "Chairman Chu—backing out?"
Chu Yuncheng thought—teeth grind. "Impossible!"
Meeting pleasant—money not small!
Sweet pre-exit look said follow plan—accident?
Chu Yuncheng fast order. "Xiao Ge—backstage find—if Sweet plays games—he's dead!"
Assistant Xiao Ge eyes shift—fast yes. "Yes Chairman Chu—now!"
Left seat—side aisle sprint.
Back row Chu Yate elbow Yanxiao. "Chairman Shang—watch a show later."
Before entry Yanxiao guessed Chu Yate had separate "arrangement"—didn't tell them.
Yanxiao eyes calm cold thread. "As long as Zhouye unaffected—play how you want."
"Heh."
Chu Yate shrug laugh low. "Zhouye win—your and Bai Xu's skill—Chu Yuncheng though..."
Cut off—PA system—stage voice sync.
"Thanks for Hatchling Studios attention—after careful screen audit review—on behalf of evaluation committee North America Hatchling and authorities—I announce bid result."
Final segment—everyone locked on voice.
Long time no formal bid—calm all day Bai Xu sudden nerves.
Emotion over logic—look back audience.
Yanxiao same seat—never stage—always Bai Xu.
Eyes crash accidental sync—nothing said—understood—
"You believe me?"
"Of course I do."
Even if lose—effort trust never short.
Enough.
Reading final segment—air heavy.
Chu Yuncheng winning hunger bare—eyes locked committee.
"I announce—next five years New Country Hatchling Studios mega park including resort zone overall build will be—" eyes sweep companies—firm voice—"Zhouye Investment—congratulations!"
Result out—hall exploded talk.
"My god Zhouye actually won?"
"Chu Group how—bid lower than tiny company?"
"Not just Chu—two foreign firms lost too!"
"Zhouye hot property now!"
Mega project spans industries—government support—Zhouye name rocket sky!
Xie Qi Kailing cheer—project group chat good news instant.
Bai Xu string snap—look Yanxiao over crowd—proud chin lift.
Yanxiao caught pride—masked laugh. "Won."
Chu Yate smiled too—eyes elsewhere. "See Chu Yuncheng back like wood—shame can't see face."
Some joy some sorrow.
Right side hot—Chu project team silent.
From start confident—Hatchling in bag!
Result?
Lost to looked-down Zhouye! More humiliating?
Never imagined loss—Chu Yuncheng face awful—rage barely contained—breath sharp. "How possible?"
How lose! Even if Sweet failed—quotes?
Prior floor data—Chu shouldn't lose Zhouye!
"..."
Three staff eye each other—nobody poke Chu now.
Reluctant—but flower fell Zhouye.
Bai Xu invited stage—intent agreement Hatchling exec—photo.
Chu Yuncheng watched—eyes red unwilling.
Bai Xu off stage—stop their row.
Victory shouldn't swagger—but Chu pain many times—Bai Xu no saint—payback time!
"Chairman Chu—sorry—I won again."
"..."
One line—invisible slap face burning!
Chu Yuncheng slam table up. "Bai Xu—stop gloating!"
Bai Xu won't indulge. "Chairman Chu—crowd watching—save Chu Group face."
Chu Yuncheng squeeze. "Bai Xu—who educates me!"
Then click. "Wrong—Su Yang was your plant! Trap me!"
Start to finish—fake bid data Su Yang gave!
Too detailed—too real in private room—believed Chu quote beat Zhouye!
Crowd dispersing—some stopped front drama.
"Chairman Chu—words need evidence!"
Bai Xu loud counter. "Sounds like you bought our employee—stole bid files?"
"You—"
Chu Yuncheng stuck.
Paid Su Yang—assistant other account transfer—no trace.
Smart outsmarted!
Expose now—laughingstock!
Chu Yate saw Chu suffer—dark laugh. "Own rock own foot—Su Yang what? I thought he took Chu money."
Yanxiao sharp eyes last line. "How you know?"
Chu Yate slip—not panic.
Meaningful brow. "Who has no eyes? Besides I told you Su Yang 'sold out' Zhouye early."
But now Su Yang betrayal fake—trap Chu real?
Yanxiao shelved doubt—low explain—
Chu Yuncheng big scheme—they not weak—early prep fake tampered non-real quote file set.
Su Yang wedding fight girlfriend—Chu investigation bought him.
Su Yang didn't cross moral line—professional honor.
That night left hall—turned back—confessed all Bai Xu—became bait reverse.
Private room that night—acted partly—saw Chu true face—glad didn't fall deeper.
"..."
Chu Yuncheng front—no rebuttal word.
"Chairman Chu—lose is lose—skill lacking!" Bai Xu cold poke shell. "Behind scenes hits on Zhouye plenty—family name doesn't crown you!"
"Today public—I say here—"
"Other companies give Chu face—I Bai Xu look down on you—don't trouble Zhouye again!"
"Once more—I snatch one Chu project! Twice—I snatch two!"
Near arrogant words—core strong skill confidence.
Bai Xu calm all eyes—aura press Chu Yuncheng. "Guess—can I?"
"..."
Loss shame rage—Chu Yuncheng random bite. "Bai Xu—act pure—Zhouye didn't cheat this bid?"
Paid Sweet—no promised win—tiny Zhouye cut in!
Chu look other reps—lead topic. "Even if not Chu—others here—you treat others decoration?"
Sudden mud—Bai Xu face sank.
Xie Qi Kailing furious. "Chairman Chu—public—need evidence!"
Other bidder spoke. "Chairman Chu—don't talk reckless—loss sad—but respect opponent."
Look Bai Xu. "Little Chairman Bai and team capable—we accept loss!"
Bai Xu polite smile rep—slam both hands table.
—slap!
Lean Chu Yuncheng—mock full open. "Dog mouth no ivory—don't you smell your breath?"
Chu Yuncheng counted twice—rage burst. "Bai Xu—you're dead!"
Hand up—wrist grabbed—crush bone force!
Chu pain. "Ah!"
Turn Yanxiao—eyes cold abyss—heart jolt. "Y-you who?"
"..."
Yanxiao no answer—twist fold—public kick down.
Chu staff rush to help. "Ch-Chairman Chu! Okay?"
Crowd stunned:
Who is he?
Hits Chu eldest—zero Chu Group face?
Yanxiao scan—born control field. "Anyone doubts Zhouye—committee not far—go report."
Bai Xu didn't expect rush out—blank seconds.
Hear Yanxiao absolute strength claim—laughed with. "Yeah—welcome report."
Tear project off or shut up!
Chu belly ache—never such shame—hate spike—before stand—law enforcement entered.
Lead loud. "Chu Group Chu Yuncheng where?"
"..."
All look.
Xie Qi glasses—point rude. "Here."
Officers close trembling rising Chu Yuncheng.
ID out blunt. "Mr. Chu—real-name report you bribed evaluation committee large sum for win."
Chu heart drop—deny. "Who reported? Mistake?"
No chance—iron fact. "Evaluator Sweet confessed. Mr. Chu—come cooperate investigation."
"..."
Chu blood drained—mute.
Never thought—no win—exposed live!
Bai Xu guessed mastermind—near Yanxiao low. "Chu Yate did?"
Promised show.
Yanxiao micro nod. "We don't meddle."
Bai Xu silent.
Chu internal war—outsiders stay out.
Crowd no inside math—eyes shock or scorn Chu—
"So he broke law—still slander Zhouye."
"Big Chu company—underhand—disgrace—Old Chairman Chu allow?"
"Old Chairman maybe doesn't know!"
"Told you Chu eldest hollow—hand him group—dead."
"Illegal—jail?"
"..."
Wall push crowd down.
Talk crushed Chu pride—back rigid—want hole earth!
Officers evidence witnesses complete—no escape.
One beside. "Mr. Chu—go!"
Chu staggered push—eyes drift crowd Chu Yate—eyes full mockery.
Instant Chu brain clear—rush scream. "Chu Yate! You! You set me up!"
Rush blocked officers. "Mr. Chu—calm!"
Chu Yate innocent face. "Big brother—what? Not embarrassed enough?"
Chu fully lost—yell tear throat. "Chu Yate! Outside traitor beast—don't let me catch you—I kill you!"
Officers eye each other—force drag raging Chu out!
Absurd curtain fall.
Bai Xu look Chu Yate across—subtle heart:
Public face ground zero mercy.
From today gossip round—Chu chairman pick no longer two-way.
...
Half hour later Bai Xu committee final matters—formal contract date set.
Stone landed—veteran Xie Qi Kailing excited too.
Bai Xu read mood—smile arrange. "Back company—team feast—expense Chairman Shang's account."
Kailing look Yanxiao.
Yanxiao mask off slight nod. "Mm—Little Chairman Bai says—my account."
Xie Qi used to it. "Yes."
Big win—reward all levels.
Bai Xu generous continue. "Hard stretch—Wed to Fri paid leave—Monday new phase."
"Kailing—hire more—departments clearer than now."
"Yes Little Chairman Bai—draft recruiting—send you review."
Bai Xu nod. "Good—done here."
"Mm."
...
Elevator shut.
Bai Xu late worry. "You shouldn't rush up—recognized?"
"More worried than me about exposure?"
Yanxiao laugh—not regret. "That moment—I couldn't watch his fist hit you."
Bai Xu hm. "Don't underestimate—I block him."
Yanxiao heard pride—play along. "Yes—yes—I won't let you hurt one bit."
"..."
Near love words.
Bai Xu ears hot—fake look descending elevator. "Right—where's Chu Yate—gone again."
Yanxiao knew deflect. "After Chu taken—excuse bathroom."
Bai Xu frown puzzle. "How get bribery evidence—dare real-name report—Old Chairman Chu hear?"
Family vs family—outside ugly.
Yanxiao guess. "Maybe not Chu Yate real-name—but push tied to him."
"Then who?"
Ask instant—Bai Xu mind flash possible.
Same moment Yanxiao answer. "Notice Chu Yuncheng's assistant left mid-bid—never came back?"
Bai Xu brow know. "Figures."
Admin assistant looks small—knows boss best—secrets outsiders miss.
Bai Xu marvel. "Chu Yate bought him too?"
Yanxiao flat used to it. "Family intrigue nothing new—Chu Yuncheng just incompetent."
Stupid—closest man turned—can't control that—how control whole group?
Doors open.
Step out elevator—adjacent stairwell talk—
"Chu Second Young Master—I really can't stay at group anymore?"