Dai Linxuan’s words were worth pondering. He only mentioned that the environment wasn’t private enough, but there was no hint of disgust toward the scene of carnal indulgence and rivers of alcohol.
Was it his upbringing that prevented him from showing such emotions in front of the host, or did he simply not mind it?
He Xunzhang smiled meaningfully. “Once you’re done with this busy period, let’s set up a more private gathering. We can have some real fun.”
“This busy period” naturally referred to after Dai Corporation’s shareholders’ meeting.
Dai Linxuan had been drinking and didn’t commit right away. “I might not have the time.”
“What’s the point of being busy every day? There are plenty of fun spots in the city, but you’ve always been like a spinning top—either taking care of the kid or buried in work. No one can get you to join them. A couple of years ago, you finally had some free time, and you ran off abroad to dabble in venture capital…” He Xunzhang clicked his tongue twice. “No personal life at all. If that were me, I’d have no reason to keep living.”
Dai Linxuan leaned back against the high stool, his forearm resting on the chair back that reached his waist. His black shirt formed soft folds. Though the buttons were meticulously fastened to the top, it didn’t make him seem stern—instead, it exuded a lazy sensuality.
He seemed to think of something, his gaze dropping slightly before he smiled faintly. “Everyone has different reasons to keep going.”
He Shuxin’s eyes darted around.
“Fair enough.” He Xunzhang half-jokingly complained, “My dad used to spur me on by comparing me to you. So when you went abroad, I actually breathed a sigh of relief. But now, you’re back and gunning for the board of directors. Everyone’s saying you’re the iron-willed heir to Dai Corporation… You’re running so far ahead, we can’t catch up even if we try.”
His peers were either still lost in wine, women, and song, or caught in endless infighting over a tiny turf because of too many brothers, scheming back and forth without the guts to venture out. The older generation refused to hand over power decisively, raising their kids like gu insects battling it out.
The He family was a prime example.
Dai Linxuan downed the rest of his red wine nonchalantly. “It’s not that bad. I just got scolded by the family the other day.”
He Xunzhang teased as if he knew nothing. “What happened? You actually messed up?”
“It wasn’t a big deal. I fell into someone else’s trap.” Dai Linxuan raised his empty glass to the server while saying breezily, “If I’d known it was this kind of gathering today, I probably…”
He caught himself mid-sentence and paused. “…wouldn’t have agreed to come.”
The remark revealed quite a bit. He Xunzhang pondered it for two seconds. It sounded like the “trap” Dai Linxuan had fallen into was connected to this kind of occasion.
In the past, He Xunzhang and Dai Linxuan had been fairly close, though that went back to their youth.
Their two families, along with the Huo family, had openly cordial relations on the surface. As leaders in their respective industries with no direct competition and bases in Danshi, the younger generation naturally grew up building ties—which could even influence each other’s succession rights.
Dai Linxuan had always been the most outstanding among their generation. While the elders praised him, they couldn’t help sighing over their own kids, which made many peers resent him.
He Xunzhang was different. From a young age, he knew that to smoothly inherit the family business, maintaining a good relationship with this most favored grandson of Old Master Dai was essential—
Even if Dai Linxuan acted superior and actually looked down on him.
He could sense it, but it didn’t matter.
No one had expected that the adult Dai Linxuan would suddenly bring home a child, then start his own venture while studying, cutting off nearly all social ties…
The timing coincided closely with Dai Enhao’s car accident. Everyone speculated that he’d been despised by Old Master Dai due to his mother Jiang Qiujun’s “murder of her husband to seize power,” and was half-kicked out of the family.
In those early years, everyone had been a bit arrogant, looking down on the cesspool of the entertainment industry. When Dai Linxuan chose that field, people watched eagerly for his downfall, even joking privately that he was going to sell his looks to make money.
Over time, He Xunzhang stopped putting effort into maintaining their relationship, and their interactions dwindled to just a few times a year at gatherings.
But fate favored Dai Linxuan. First, two veteran entertainment giants faced scandals—one with high-level harassment allegations, the other hit with tax evasion backlash. Then, the award-winning actress Yan Luan, known to every household, split acrimoniously from her agency…
Somehow, Dai Linxuan tapped into that path. Using Yan Luan, he gathered massive resources and, in just a few years, carved out half the industry for himself, raking in fortunes.
If that were all, it might have been fine—Old Master Dai cared about face and despised the sleaze of entertainment, so he wouldn’t let Dai Linxuan return to inherit…
But who could have predicted that Jiang Qiujun would solidify her position as president, while Dai Linxuan took an unconventional route into philanthropy? It earned immense social goodwill for him, for Jiang Qiujun, and for the Dai family, with his reputation soaring year after year, astonishing everyone.
Yet the higher you climb, the harder you fall. Was Dai Linxuan truly as “benevolent and selfless” as he appeared? Not necessarily. One misstep, and he’d shatter into pieces.
The more benefits the “philanthropist” title brought, the tighter the noose around Dai Linxuan.
“My bad for not thinking it through.” He Xunzhang clinked glasses with Dai Linxuan. “Next time, definitely a private spot.”
Dai Linxuan smiled and casually agreed.
This was He Xunzhang’s fifth “casual” invitation to hang out, but counting the club incident, Dai Linxuan had only shown up twice.
“I’m taking my brother over there to meet some friends.” Someone called from the right side of the booth. He Xunzhang waved back while telling Dai Linxuan, “If anyone pesters you, don’t worry about saving my face.”
Dai Linxuan tugged back his sleeve and glanced at his watch. “I’ll head out soon. It’s a sensitive time right now—bear with me.”
“Sure.” He Xunzhang said, “Don’t rush. I’ll say a few words and see you off.”
Dai Linxuan wiggled two fingers, signaling him to go ahead.
The gesture showed a touch of familiarity. He Xunzhang felt pleased and glanced at the silent He Shuxin, thinking what a coward.
He Shuxin hadn’t spoken the whole time, but his gaze kept drifting to Dai Linxuan. Now, with He Xunzhang’s arm around his shoulders turning him away, his eyes still lingered.
Unexpectedly, Dai Linxuan looked over, catching his gaze cold. He Shuxin panicked and dropped his eyes abruptly. “Big Brother Dai, I’ll head out first.”
Dai Linxuan nodded. “See you.”
The reason Lai Li had beaten He Shuxin into the hospital suddenly became clear.
Dai Linxuan had many admirers, and with his entertainment company, he was sensitive to such things.
In the early years, busy with work and raising Lai Li, he had no energy for more close ties. After Lai Li turned sixteen, Dai Linxuan vaguely sensed something off with him and grew even more attuned, distancing himself from suitors just before they confessed.
At first, it was just to spare Lai Li’s feelings, planning to address it when he was older. But in trying to be cautious, he’d trapped himself.
In any case, He Shuxin’s little crush wasn’t subtle to Dai Linxuan—his acting paled compared to his brother’s.
He hadn’t noticed before because Lai Li’s social circle only overlapped with Jing Deyu much.
And He Shuxin likely wasn’t just crushing innocently, or Lai Li wouldn’t have gone so hard—and the He family wouldn’t have swallowed the loss quietly.
He Xunzhang probably knew and deliberately brought He Shuxin today to provoke Lai Li.
Lai Li frequented Cloud Summit—who knew if he had eyes here? Someone might tip him off…
A few meters away, Song Zichu in uniform balanced a tray and bent to set down drinks.
A certain Mr. Zhang nearby ordered a drink, eyed his build, and whistled. “Yo! Nice face too. Come, sit here!”
Song Zichu deftly dodged the wandering hand and smiled. “Sorry, sir, I don’t provide escort services.”
Mr. Zhang’s face darkened. “I want you to—”
Someone nudged him and whispered. Mr. Zhang looked toward the bar, meeting Dai Linxuan’s amused gaze, and instantly shelved his lust.
To cozy up to Dai Corporation’s crown prince, he needed to make a good impression.
At first, no one knew Dai Linxuan would show. Everyone had let loose, turning the booth into a den of debauchery.
Once they realized, they nervously greeted him and invited him to games. Rejected, they didn’t press.
Song Zichu, who’d escaped a hassle, approached and said softly, “Thank you, Mr. Dai.”
Dai Linxuan replied flatly, “I didn’t do anything.”
Song Zichu shook his head. “They fear you. I know.”
Dai Linxuan said, “Cloud Summit is a mixed bag. Situations like this are inevitable. It’s not suitable for a student side job.”
Song Zichu said frankly, “I need the money too badly.”
“Didn’t Xiao Li help you before?” Dai Linxuan alluded. “When you like someone, it’s best not to play the field.”
Song Zichu visibly stiffened.
Lai Li and Jing Deyu had bailed him out before. Normally, Cloud Summit’s manager, to avoid offending them, wouldn’t let it happen again—especially not sending Song Zichu into this chaotic booth.
Song Zichu pressed his lips and looked up. “Actually, I followed you in.”
“Me?”
“Sorry, that might not be entirely aboveboard…” Song Zichu gave a wry smile. “I like Lai Li. That’s why I haven’t left Cloud Summit—to get more chances to see him. He rarely shows at school.”
Dai Linxuan watched him silently.
Song Zichu hesitated. “Once, I saw his phone wallpaper was you, so I thought…”
Dai Linxuan suddenly laughed. “Thought what? That he likes me?”
Song Zichu paused, surprised by the directness. “Yes… The world speaks highly of you, so I wanted to see why you’d attend this kind of party. That’s why I swapped with a coworker to serve drinks.”
To voice his thoughts so openly—either he was purely naive or scheming deeply with ulterior motives.
Dai Linxuan swirled his glass gently. “Reach a conclusion?”
“I prejudged. I thought people here were all…” Song Zichu glanced at the sides. “But after coming in, I saw many are just here for fun. Sorry, I was the dirty-minded one.”
Not everyone indulged in vice. At least a third were clean-cut, either chatting relaxedly or playing cards and dice, even raising glasses to Dai Linxuan with smiles.
For them, such gatherings were networking. Dai Linxuan’s appearance was a bonus.
That included Tang Yuanyang and Xu Yanzhou beside him.
Dai Linxuan withdrew his gaze to Song Zichu’s face. “Not sure why, but you seem familiar.”
Song Zichu paused. “You might’ve seen me at the Welfare Home. I volunteered there before.”
“Really?” Dai Linxuan stepped down from the stool without asking which time and turned to leave. “Good luck with work.”
Song Zichu watched his back. “Don’t worry, I haven’t told Lai Li.”
“What do I need to worry about? You might be misunderstanding. Xiao Li doesn’t like me.” Dai Linxuan set his glass on the bar and glanced back. “But as a big brother, I wouldn’t stand by and watch him with someone who has ulterior motives.”
They’d talked long enough for Song Zichu to draw eyes.
“…”
Song Zichu clenched his fist and left the booth wordlessly. He hurried forward head down until a shoe tip appeared ahead, stopping him short.
