Chapter 177

Chapter 177

Bai Xingshu began fidgeting.

"You really don’t need to go to this trouble," Bai Xingshu said directly, reaching out to place the steak Pei Tang had carefully sliced for him back onto Pei Tang’s plate.

Then, Bai Xingshu noticed that Pei Tang’s eyes lit up even brighter when he saw the steak returned.

Bai Xingshu’s voice faltered slightly, feeling the need to emphasize their professional arrangement: "Everything I’ve done was agreed upon beforehand. There’s no need for you to thank me like this."

Pei Tang shook his head repeatedly at these words. "It was agreed upon, but clearly, I’m getting the better deal."

"You have no idea—my mom has already started talking to me about whether she should get a divorce. Before, no matter how much I tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t listen. Turns out, she was worried that if she left, I’d have a hard time surviving in the Pei family alone..."

Pei Tang chattered on and on to Bai Xingshu, his gaze growing increasingly reverent, as if looking at a deity.

Just a month and a half!

Before, he couldn’t even dream of such progress, but Bai Xingshu had pulled it off without breaking a sweat.

And…

It wasn’t done with a bossy 'my way or highway' approach—"You should just listen to me!"

Instead, Bai Xingshu had fully considered his feelings, his circumstances, and customized every move according to his actual situation.

Every time Bai Xingshu laid out a "battle plan" for him, if Pei Tang showed he was struggling, Bai Xingshu never insisted, "Just try harder."

—That was always Bai Xingshu’s standard for himself, never imposed on others.

Once it was confirmed that Pei Tang truly couldn’t manage, Bai Xingshu wouldn’t push it. Instead, he’d simply switch to a plan better suited to Pei Tang’s capabilities.

This kind of thoughtful care was hard to summarize with just the word "cooperation."

"I really don’t know how to thank you enough. Whether it’s what I promised before or any other requests you might have—just say the word, and I’ll do it!" Pei Tang’s gaze was filled with complete adoration, dependence, and trust.

Bai Xingshu had no idea about these thoughts of his. To him, there were always backup plans—there was no need to get hung up on one approach.

In Bai Xingshu’s eyes, this was just standard give-and-take between people.

But now…

Bai Xingshu stared at Pei Tang’s expression and went quiet for a beat.

Well… there were always backup plans, after all!!

"...Alright," Bai Xingshu finally responded.

A week later, after all the troublemakers in the Pei family had been dealt with, Bai Xingshu cut off the system first and sent Pei Tang a message.

In summary—the issues concerning the important people in his life had been resolved, the marriage of convenience was no longer necessary, and he hoped Pei Tang wouldn’t mention this matter to anyone. Hope he enjoys his fresh start.

[This one seems a bit dangerous. Let’s switch to someone else.] Bai Xingshu deployed his smooth-talking tricks on the system. [Look at the next name down.]

[Their profile says they’re cold and aloof—completely different from Pei Tang. No way that’ll backfire!]

The system was ready to spit blood.

Nice try! Like I’m falling for that!

But it could never really affect Bai Xingshu. After fuming in frustration, it still had to help the host land the second elite Alpha.

To be fair, the information provided by the system was thorough and well-prepared.

The needs listed in the second elite Alpha’s profile directly addressed their pain points. The moment Bai Xingshu sent out the collaboration proposal, they agreed without hesitation.

However…

Another month passed, and Bai Xingshu watched helplessly as this cold and aloof elite Alpha started giving him smiles.

Bai Xingshu: [Bai Xingshu was speechless…]

Once again, he sent a message similar to the one he had given Pei Tang.

This time, Bai Xingshu didn’t mute the system and said directly: [The third one! The third one's gotta work!]

[You can doubt me, but you can’t doubt the information you provided yourself!]

[Look at the description—ruthless, cold-blooded, and merciless!]

[Cold-blooded and merciless!!]

System: [Pfft.]

And so, a new round of collaboration began.

Then Bai Xingshu heard in horror as the other party told him… that they had rediscovered faith in the world.

Bai Xingshu: [Bai Xingshu was utterly speechless...]

[I really don’t think this is my fault. They’re who are acting strange!] Bai Xingshu complained indignantly to the system after sending the message for the third time. [They have no team spirit at all!]

The system listened as Bai Xingshu disparaged his collaborators one after another.

It couldn't be bothered to reply and just sent Bai Xingshu the profile of the fourth candidate.

No problem! It had an entire database of elite Alphas!

It wasn't about to give up now!

Bai Xingshu worked on his act in front of the mirror, preparing for his new target.

Ice-cold expression, no smile, a detached and emotionless tone.

[This'll keep them at arm's length for sure!] Bai Xingshu declared confidently, marched off to meet the fourth elite Alpha.

Shen Geng watched it all play out silently.

He watched as Bai Xingshu went all out with one elite Alpha after another, each time trying his best to please them and solve their problems.

Then… as he gradually fulfilled all their needs, Bai Xingshu’s demeanor slipped into hesitation and dejection.

To Shen Geng, this shift was unmistakable—this clueless Bai Xingshu, after solving the other party’s problems, believed he was no longer useful to them. Bummed by his failure to win them over beforehand, he had no choice but to find a new mark.

Shen Geng noticed that with each failure, Bai Xingshu approached the next target with even more seriousness, solemnity, and care with his looks.

As if trying to increase even the slightest chance of winning them over.

Shen Geng was more convinced than ever of this.

Look! That cold, irresistibly aloof expression on Bai Xingshu's face—who could possibly look away from him?

This is practically an invitation!

Recalling the information he'd gathered, where the elite Alphas Bai Xingshu had tried to win over were already interacting with each other, joking he might as well be running a charity—Shen Geng really wanted to laugh, yet found himself utterly unable to.

Because Shen Geng had also seen, in the final moments of Bai Xingshu's interactions with these varied elite Alphas, their utterly smitten expressions.

They were practically in love already.

At any moment, Shen Geng felt like Bai Xingshu might turn to him and announce that he was in love, that he’d finally found the right elite Alpha.

Dread gnawed at Shen Geng, yet he had nowhere to vent it.

Completely unaware of all this, Bai Xingshu once again closed another deal with his fourth target.

Only this time, Bai Xingshu wasn’t buzzing with excitement as he had been the first time.

Why wasn’t there a single truly ruthless, immune to romance type of partner?!

Grumbling to himself, Bai Xingshu returned to the classroom—only to immediately receive some news.

Their head Instructor, Bai Xingshu’s mentor, had been called away for a classified mission.

They’d be stuck with a new head Instructor.

Bai Xingshu froze, quickly checking his messages, only to find his inbox empty.

Director Liu hadn’t sent him anything.

Lin Lie wasn’t surprised. "No way the Director could’ve sent any messages if it’s a special operation."

Makes sense.

Having spent nearly two years in the military academy, Bai Xingshu understood that.

But still…

"How did you know?" Bai Xingshu asked, puzzled.

"My brother told me," Lin Lie answered immediately.

"The Fourth Corps ops are on hold for now, so he’s on leave—and such a pain!" Lin Lie complained.

As a younger brother, whenever Lin Li was home, he was bound to get beaten up (or subjected to "special training").

Lin Lie clicked his tongue, not elaborating further. Instead, he turned to Bai Xingshu and asked, "Back to the XX department?"

Bai Xingshu shook his head. "No, this round was all XX department."

Hearing this, Lin Lie looked at him with slight admiration. "Oof, brutal."

Bai Xingshu hadn’t told Shen Geng what he was doing, and he certainly wasn’t planning to tell Lin Lie either.

So, to Lin Lie, Bai Xingshu’s actions—just like Director Liu teaching their class—were all efforts to play the game, gunning for the top.