Side Story 2: Bai Chen x Bai Ke (2)
2.
After finishing his black tea, Bai Chen put down his teacup. Seeing Bai Ke still staring at him with a smile, he frowned and asked, "What else do you want to say?"
Bai Ke didn't care about his coldness and smiled, "You really want to see that Miss Luo the Second?"
Bai Chen said, "Otherwise what?"
Bai Ke blinked: "Otherwise... I'll help you get rid of her."
With his last words, he half-stood up, his lips almost touching Bai Chen's ear.
Bai Chen glanced at him, his gaze lingering subtly on Beta's bright red lips, and said indifferently, "No need."
Need not?
Bai Ke's expression turned sour for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He shrugged and said nonchalantly, "Whatever."
After saying that, he stood up and left in a hurry.
Bai Chen watched his retreating figure until the young man completely disappeared around the corner of the stairs before turning his back.
From childhood, Bai Chen has always maintained a distance and a detached, indifferent attitude towards the people around him. Perhaps it is because of his indifference that he sees many people and things more clearly than others.
All approaches are purposeful, and all emotions are driven by self-interest.
This mindset makes it difficult for Bai Chen to develop feelings or interest in anyone; in his eyes, everyone is the same.
Bai's mother is a little princess living in a castle. She was pampered by her parents when she was young and was also loved by Bai's father when she grew up. Her family is powerful and influential, so even though she is over forty, she still holds a naive and willful view of many things.
For example, if one child is not close to her, then she can raise another child who is willing to be close to her to satisfy her excessive maternal love.
Bai Chen had always understood his mother's thoughts. He knew it, but he was too lazy to agree with her, so he pretended not to understand.
Bai's father was a taciturn Alpha who was very principled in other matters, but when it came to his beloved wife, he lost his will. So he took her to an orphanage and sponsored a child to fulfill her desires.
At first, when Bai Chen saw Bai Ke following behind her mother, smiling brightly and sweetly calling out "Mommy," she felt a sense of irony. She thought the child was incredibly stupid and didn't understand anything.
Later, he gradually realized that Bai Ke wasn't the naive and innocent person he had initially thought she was. There were some things he probably understood better than he did.
Bai Ke understood, but for the sake of wealth, honor, and a bright future, he was still willing to cooperate and continue playing this charade.
After discovering this fact, Bai Chen's gaze towards Bai Ke changed.
Clear-headed, calm, and with clear goals, knowing what you want and being able to seize opportunities and put them into practice.
A smart and rational child.
Bai Chen admired this kind of person, so his attitude towards Bai Ke became much gentler later on.
However, this kind of care gradually changed its meaning with each interaction.
He never expected that after he and Xie Wei joined TWG and started playing e-sports, Bai Ke, who had always been diligent and hardworking, would give up her immediate opportunity to go to university and join TWG with him.
It's not that esports is bad, but in Bai Chen's mind, Bai Ke is not someone who would give up ten years of hard study just because of a momentary impulse or for the sake of a so-called dream.
Confused, Bai Chen went to the second team to find Bai Ke.
The once adorable, pink-cheeked dumpling has grown into a slender, tall young man. Hearing the question, a smile appeared on his lips: "Because this industry pays well, brings in money quickly, and you can enjoy being admired. Isn't that great?"
Bai Chen frowned: "Just because of money?"
Absolutely impossible. After becoming the second young master of the Bai family, the thing Bai Ke has in abundance is probably money.
Bai Ke looked into his eyes and smiled slightly: "Otherwise what? Is there anything else here worth following?"
"Stop messing around," Bai Chen sighed, a rare sense of helplessness rising in his heart. "How much money do you want? I'll transfer it to you."
The esports industry may sound glamorous, but only those who are actually in it know the hardships behind it. Countless esports players suffer from lifelong ailments and pain due to years of sitting and frequent use of their fingers, and the endless stream of vulgar language online also deals a heavy blow to their mental well-being.
Not to mention the arduous training and the competitive pressure from the constant emergence of talented newcomers.
Bai Ke chuckled, "I was just kidding. Bro, I genuinely love esports, and that's why I joined the team—I love resisting this game. Who doesn't dream of esports?"
Bai Chen didn't believe it at all.
He knew better than anyone that it was a lie.
However, he did not choose to press further, but instead said helplessly, "...What position do you play? Let me take a look for you."
At that moment, Bai Ke raised her eyebrows and smiled adorably: "Brother, you're so good to me."
Okay?
Perhaps it's a good thing.
Bai Chen himself couldn't explain it clearly.
Just like now, he cannot explain what this feeling in his heart is.
These days, he has refused all the blind dates his mother has arranged for him, simply because several months ago, in the middle of the night, he dreamt that a snow-white and soft body embraced him. When Bai Chen looked down, he saw Bai Ke's face.
He finds it hard to believe that he could fall in love with anyone, or spend his life with someone and walk hand in hand with them.
But he did indeed have inappropriate thoughts about Bai Ke.
Looking at the teacup in front of him, Bai Chen's eyes darkened. He raised his hand and gently traced the rim of the cup with his fingertip.
He withdrew his hand, chuckled softly, and shook his head self-deprecatingly.
Perhaps I should face reality and go on a blind date.
--
On the day of the blind date, Bai Chen was dressed in a suit and tie. Under the expectant gaze of his mother, he looked at himself in the mirror, frowned slightly, and then quickly relaxed his brows: "I'm going out."
"Okay, okay," Mother Bai said with a bright smile, "Have fun."
happy.
A sarcastic smile tugged at Bai Chen's lips. He didn't say anything more, just nodded: "Mm."
Just as I opened the door, I suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps coming from upstairs. Immediately afterwards, Bai Ke rushed over like a gust of wind, plopped down on the shoe bench, and bent down to change her shoes.
"Why is this child so loud and boisterous?" Mother Bai's smile faded slightly.
Bai Chen looked at the small patch of fair skin exposed when he bent over: "Are you going out?"
"Yeah, I'm having dinner with a friend." Bai Ke quickly tied her shoelaces, looked up, and smiled broadly. "Brother, have a great blind date!"
Bai Chen wanted to ask him which friend he was, but the words were on the tip of his tongue, and he felt it was inappropriate, so he said nothing.
Bai Ke waved and disappeared like a gust of wind. Bai's mother sighed softly, "Sigh, it's time to find Bai Ke a suitable partner. Otherwise, with her restless and agitated nature, when will she ever settle down?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Chen felt a sudden surge of anger. He turned around and said coldly, "He's only nineteen."
“Nineteen is already quite old.” Mother Bai, oblivious to his displeasure, continued, “But after all, she’s a Beta. It’s fine for her to get married; it’ll be convenient either way.”
Bai Chen laughed, then looked coldly at his mother: "He's the child you raised with your own hands. When it comes to such a major life event, all you think about is 'convenience'?"
Startled by his sudden outburst of anger, Bai's mother asked in a daze, "Xiao Chen, what's wrong with you?"
Bai Chen didn't want to talk to her anymore, so he closed his eyes, grabbed his suit jacket, and strode away.
The place where Bai Chen met and dined with the second young lady of the Luo family was a high-end French restaurant. Bai Chen hadn't been to such places often; when he went out with friends, he usually chose clubs or bars.
He boarded the elevator and ascended to the top floor of the skyscraper. As soon as the elevator doors opened, a waiter came up to him and quietly asked for his reservation name and table number.
Bai Chen recounted everything, his eyes casually glancing around the room before suddenly fixing on something.
Beside the large floor-to-ceiling window, a familiar figure was conversing with a man across the table. The two seemed to be enjoying themselves, laughing and joking with each word. Outside, the night was enchanting, and nearby, a pianist in a tuxedo played a graceful and soothing melody. The lighting was dim, creating the perfect atmosphere.
What's Bai Ke doing here?
Who is the man opposite him?
"Sir," the waiter whispered, "your seat is this way."
Bai Chen frowned. Emotionally, he just wanted to go up to Bai Ke and get to the bottom of this, but reason held him back. He took a step and walked in the opposite direction.
At the table the waiter pointed to, sat a beautiful young woman with exquisite makeup, wearing a long blue dress that made her look charming and captivating.
Upon seeing Bai Chen, her eyes lit up, and she stood up with a beaming smile: "Hello, I'm Luo Chuxi. Aunt Bai was right, you really are handsome."
Bai Chen had come with a perfunctory attitude. He had just seen Bai Ke, and his mind was not on her at all. Upon hearing this, he simply said, "Hello, I am Bai Chen." After that, he said nothing more.
Luo Chuxi smiled awkwardly: "Then... should I ask the waiter to bring the food?"
"Okay, thank you for your help."
On the other side, Bai Ke turned around and peered around, exclaiming, "Damn, why can't I see anything here?"
"Stop, stop." Across from him, Zhang Xiaolian kicked him. "If you keep going like this, people will drag you out as a weirdo first."
"Tsk."
Bai Ke looked away unhappily: "What use are you?"
“I don’t like hearing that,” Zhang Xiaolian said. “I skipped work to come and keep you company while you monitor… no, watch your brother go on a blind date.”
"Don't be so awkward," Bai Ke rolled her eyes. "Would you have come out if I hadn't invited you to French food?"
Zhang Xiaolian chuckled: "I see through it but I won't say anything, let's continue being friends."
As the appetizers were served, Bai Ke picked up his knife and fork, cutting the food on his plate with a displeased expression. Zhang Xiaolian was a streamer friend he had known for quite some time. The two rarely met in real life, but they had a very good relationship online, which explained why Bai Chen hadn't recognized her earlier.
Not being home right now, Bai Ke was too lazy to pretend anymore, and said with a long face, "What is my brother thinking? He clearly doesn't want to go on blind dates, but he still comes out. Does he really want to go down the path of arranged marriage?"
Zhang Xiaolian, unaware of his feelings for Bai Chen, simply assumed he was a hopeless brother-obsessed individual. She earnestly said, "Your brother is getting on in years, and as the heir, this step is inevitable. They say love is the best way to distract yourself. How about I introduce you to someone—absolutely reliable? What do you say?"
Although Bai Ke is a Beta, he is very handsome, so he has quite a few followers. However, after falling for Bai Chen, it became difficult for anyone else to catch his eye. Hearing this, he said with little interest, "Forget it."
"Alright, come find me anytime if you change your mind." Zhang Xiaolian didn't insist, and took a bite of the dish. "Damn, it's delicious. You really do get what you pay for."
This restaurant costs over 4,000 yuan per person, and everything from the ingredients to the wine is top-notch.
Despite the delicious food before him, Bai Ke had little interest. He knew that if he continued to wait like this, Bai Chen would really marry someone else.
We must take the initiative.
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