Lin Xi didn't want to explain much and sat down on the sofa to rest. Duan Mingxuan was taken aback by her attitude and remained silent for a long time before asking, "Can one bad experience erase all the good things you've done before?"
Lin Xi looked at him: "What do you mean?" Duan Mingxuan: "Why do you seem to have changed since you came back this time?"
Lin Xi was silent for a while, then said, "Even now, I have no say in this family. No matter who has a conflict with whom, it's not my place to interfere."
"But I'm grown up now, and I have the ability to distinguish right from wrong."
"No matter what, it's Duan Yiheng's birthday, you were indifferent, you can forget, but as his subordinate, and someone living in this family, I can't."
"I don't know if you understand?"
"I don't understand." Duan Mingxuan looked at her deeply, "I only know that I don't want you to get close to him."
Lin Xi felt a pang of sadness and gave a bitter laugh: "I'm his secretary now, I won't resign."
Duan Mingxuan grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly: "I didn't ask you to resign, but why can't you change departments?" Sure enough, it came.
Lin Xi looked at Duan Mingxuan's long, strong hand and slowly withdrew her own. This meant she was unwilling.
Duan Mingxuan's temples throbbed: "There are so many presidents in the company, why do you insist on being his secretary? If you want, I'll call my dad right now."
"I don't want to," Lin Xi refused directly.
"Why don't you want to?"
Duan Mingxuan raised his voice, "Or do you think Duan Yiheng is too powerful, and I, Duan Mingxuan, am just a playboy? Marrying him wouldn't be bad, being close to him would be advantageous—"
"Slap—" Her unfinished words were interrupted by a light slap.
"What do you take me for?" Lin Xi, her eyes bulging, asked incredulously, "Am I really that despicable? Do I have to choose between you two brothers?" The air was eerily still; even the dust seemed to have stopped floating.
"Yesterday was Yiheng's birthday, why didn't you remind me?" Suddenly! Duan Zheng's reproachful voice came from the doorway.
Following closely behind, Chen Baiwei said aggrievedly, "Of course I remember, but this child won't let us celebrate his birthday or have a party. You were out socializing, so I called you, but you didn't answer."
Lin Xi hurriedly wiped away her tears, pretending nothing had happened.
"I didn't answer, so couldn't you call again? It's his birthday; you should at least show some concern."
"I would like to show concern, but he has to appreciate it."
"So, it all boils down to—" Duan Zheng noticed the two in the living room pause, "You two are both home, Xiao Xi? I heard you went to the manor with Yi Heng?"
Lin Xi tried to stand up to answer, but Duan Mingxuan pressed her down.
He ignored Lin Xi and turned to Duan Zheng, demanding, "Did you know that Xiao Xi is Duan Yiheng's secretary?"
Duan Zheng was taken aback. "You knew?" Duan Mingxuan roared at him, "So you knew too, and you kept it from me, didn't you? You knew I didn't like Xiao Xi and Duan Yiheng being close, and you still kept it from me?" Duan Zheng usually doted on his youngest son, but he couldn't tolerate being bombarded with such a tirade.
"What kind of madness are you having?" Duan Zheng roared. "You have no manners at all!"
"It's not like I'm acting like this for the first time. Or is it that none of you can stand it anymore?" Duan Zheng retorted angrily. "I think you've spoiled him rotten. He'll behave as soon as the card is stopped."
"If you're so capable, stop all of them and see if I starve to death." Duan Zheng's head spun, and he slapped him. "You've gone too far! Who do you think you are, your father?"
"Why did you hit him?" Chen Baiwei was heartbroken. She cupped Duan Mingxuan's face and looked at him. "Does it hurt?"
Duan Mingxuan shook off Chen Baiwei and went upstairs, filled with anger and grievance. Duan Zheng was panting heavily, furious. Chen Baiwei saw Lin Xi standing there and also got angry.
"What are you standing there for?" Chen Baiwei grabbed her. "Aren't you going upstairs to comfort her?"
A sharp pain shot through her ankle, and Lin Xi staggered to regain her balance. Seeing that she didn't move, Chen Baiwei went upstairs first. Duan Zheng stormed out of the house in anger. Lin Xi stood in the living room, overwhelmed by loneliness and pain.
She took out her phone and called Duan Yiheng. He answered quickly, saying "Hello" with some confusion.
"I'm sorry," Lin Xi choked back tears, "I probably can't go to work tomorrow."
"What's wrong?" A creaking sound came from the phone.
Lin Xi said, "I hurt my foot." Duan Yiheng: "Sit still, the doctor is on his way."
Lin Xi's face was ashen: "But I don't want to take leave." Duan Yiheng: "Is your health more important than going to work? I've approved your leave."
Lin Xi slumped onto the sofa, sniffing. Duan Yiheng and the doctor arrived at the east building one after the other. The final diagnosis was a minor sprain, requiring about a week of rest.
Lin Xi, utterly dejected, asked Duan Yiheng, "I need to ask for leave. Should I tell HR?"
Duan Yiheng: "No need. What happened to your sprain?" Lin Xi shook her head, remaining silent.
Duan Yiheng didn't ask further, but instead reached out his hand to her: "I'll carry you upstairs."
"Thank you." Lin Xi, in low spirits, weakly wrapped her arms around Duan Yiheng's neck.
At the stairwell, the two encountered Chen Baiwei. She paused, momentarily stunned, and asked Lin Xi, "What's going on here?" Lin Xi turned her head slightly, burying her face in Duan Yiheng's neck.
Duan Yiheng simply walked past Chen Baiwei, not even glancing at her. Chen Baiwei's blood boiled, and she shouted, "Stop right there!"
Duan Yiheng paused, tilted his head, and looked down at her from the stairs. "Are you talking to me?"
Chen Baiwei relied on Duan Zheng for a living in the Duan family, and Duan Zheng sometimes had to be mindful of Duan Yiheng's mood. Now, with Duan Yiheng's cold face, she acted impulsively but dared not say anything.
Fortunately, the doctor was still there. She learned that Lin Xi had sprained her ankle.
Chen Baiwei was utterly shocked. Such a precious person, twisting her ankle from a mere tug. Duan Yiheng carried her into the bedroom, gently placed her on the bed, and said, "You'll stay put for the next few days. I'll have Sister Mei arrange for meals to be delivered to your room."
Rest is key to a faster recovery, Lin Xi replied. Not long after Duan Yiheng left, Sister Mei personally brought her meals. After dinner, Chen Baiwei knocked on the door.
Lin Xi had thought the visitor was there to check on her, but instead, they were there to ask her to coax Duan Mingxuan.
Lin Xi knew Duan Mingxuan was angry because of the slap she had given him. Now that she had calmed down, she felt a little regretful.
"Xiao Xi, Mingxuan hasn't eaten dinner either. Go check on him."
"Okay." Lin Xi went to Duan Mingxuan's door and knocked.
Duan Mingxuan didn't come out. Lin Xi stood at the door and said, "Auntie asked me to come and see you." There was no response from inside.
"I don't regret slapping you just now, Mingxuan. You don't know how much it hurt me when you said those words."
Chen Baiwei could hardly believe her ears.
"You hit Mingxuan?" Chen Baiwei took a few steps up the stairs and tilted her head to look at Lin Xi. Lin Xi was startled and didn't know how to explain to Chen Baiwei.