Lin Xi experienced stress due to her parents' plane crash, and professional psychological treatment helped her return to normal life.
With Duan Mingxuan's support, she successfully overcame her fear of flying, but was left with severe motion sickness. She tried everything: medication, sleep, mints, menthol balm… nothing worked. This time was no exception.
Upon disembarking, she vomited violently. Too exhausted to shop, Lin Xi took Duan Mingxuan straight to the hotel. The air was filled with the refreshing scent of sweet and sour citrus, which eased the pressure in Lin Xi's stomach slightly.
Duan Mingxuan told her to rest and went back to his room. Lin Xi saw a black bag he had left at her feet and, despite her dizziness, followed him out.
Just as she reached his door, Duan Mingxuan's voice pierced the door: "So, tell me, what's your plan to get her to move back?" Lin Xi paused. Who was Duan Mingxuan talking to on the phone?
A minute or two later, Duan Mingxuan's voice rose noticeably: "You're right, you're right. I can take Xiaoxi to move out. That's the purpose of this trip. I'll test her tomorrow."
Lin Xi remained unmoved and went back to her room. Hadn't she come with her to pay respects to their parents?
Why was she still trying to compete with Duan Yiheng at a time like this? Feeling down, Lin Xi ignored Duan Mingxuan's left-behind bag, took a shower, and went to bed.
The next day, Lin Xi went downstairs alone for breakfast. Duan Mingxuan followed closely behind, complaining that she hadn't waited for him.
Lin Xi forced a smile: "I thought you didn't eat breakfast."
"I'll eat," Duan Mingxuan said. "Find a seat. What do you want to eat? I'll get it."
Lin Xi: "Wonton, please."
He got up to get the wontons, not noticing the subtle change in Lin Xi's expression—a mixture of joy, but mostly disappointment and regret. Unrequited love is always a one-sided affair; it begins alone and ends alone. The wontons were plump and full; Lin Xi ate six.
Duan Mingxuan considerately asked if she wanted more, but Lin Xi shook her head: "I'm full." Duan Mingxuan buried his head in his food, while Lin Xi casually scrolled through her phone.
She went to her WeChat Moments and suddenly saw a post from Qin Yang, still located in H City.
Lin Xi was taken aback. Shouldn't he have gone back yesterday? Could it be that his business trip didn't go well? Lin Xi exited Moments and clicked into Duan Yiheng's chat. She edited for a long time, deleting and rewriting, finally leaving only one sentence—"Was your business trip going well?"
Duan Yiheng was in his hotel room when he received Lin Xi's message. He glanced at Qin Yang and said, "Go out. Go back to B City first, rest for two days, and go back to work as usual on Monday."
Qin Yang was completely confused; his boss had inexplicably made him post a random WeChat Moments update.
"Aren't you coming back with me?" Qin Yang couldn't help but ask. Duan Yiheng was busy replying to messages, so he gestured for him to leave.
His phone rang, and Lin Xi saw Duan Yiheng's reply: Qin Yang said it's rare to have a day off, and with the weekend coming up, he decided to stay and relax.
Oh, I see. Lin Xi replied: So, where did you go? Duan Yiheng: We'll see tomorrow. What about you? Have you arrived in Rong County?
Lin Xi: I arrived last night.
Duan Yiheng: Are you alright? How bad was your motion sickness? Lin Xi: It's okay, I rested for a night and I'm fine now.
When are you going back? Duan Yiheng: We'll see. Duan Mingxuan looked up and asked who she was talking to.
Lin Xi casually replied, "Nobody. Let's eat. Didn't you say you wanted to go to the scenic area?"
The hotel had a direct bus to the scenic area and free boat tickets for the lake. Duan Mingxuan didn't want them; he waved his hand and immediately chartered the most luxurious car.
Once on the boat, Duan Mingxuan pulled Lin Xi to sit in the center.
He had no interest in admiring the scenery and said directly, "Xiao Xi, my mom is my mom, and I am me. You're very important to me. It hurts me when my mom hits you, but I can't get her to apologize. I'm sorry."
Lin Xi's gaze shifted from the lush greenery to Duan Mingxuan. She said, "I know."
Duan Mingxuan grabbed Lin Xi's hand. "I know you won't move back. Are you going to stay in the West Building forever?"
Lin Xi shook her head. "Just temporarily."
"Then I'll find you a place now," Duan Mingxuan said happily. "We can move out together then."
Lin Xi refused. "If you live with me, Aunt Wei will tear me apart. Besides, if you... if you get a girlfriend in the future, it won't be convenient for me to be here."
Duan Mingxuan's happiness vanished. He hung his head dejectedly, like a wounded dog.
He was about to say something, but Lin Xi always changed the subject. Duan Mingxuan completely lost interest in boating on the lake. Seeing this, Lin Xi suggested going back to the hotel. Duan Mingxuan naturally responded.
Back at the hotel, Lin Xi called to confirm the flowers for tomorrow's memorial service.
Then, she picked up a bookmark she had always kept hidden in her bag. It was a rough little trinket made of watercolor paper, a gift Duan Mingxuan had casually given her when she was seventeen.
On the front were only two bright red fingerprints, one pressed by Duan Mingxuan himself with watercolors, the other added secretly by her later. The upper half of the bookmark bore a sentence written by Duan Mingxuan—"This bookmark is proof that Duan Mingxuan will always be by Lin Xi's side."
Lin Xi smiled, running her fingers over the two fingerprints, her eyes welling up. Tomorrow, after seeing her parents and saying goodbye, she couldn't go back. Duan Mingxuan had been at the hotel for half a day, thoroughly annoyed, and pulled Lin Xi out the door, wanting to stroll along the streets.
"Xiao Xi, I—" Duan Mingxuan's words were interrupted by a rapid ringing of a phone. He glanced at it, somewhat reluctant to answer.
Lin Xi looked over and recognized the caller ID as Zhang Mo's. She stared at it silently, saying nothing. Duan Mingxuan hung up without answering, which surprised Lin Xi.
But the call came in a second time. Seeing his hesitation, Lin Xi said, "Answer it, just in case."
Duan Mingxuan had no choice but to answer: "Mo Mo, what's wrong?" Lin Xi couldn't hear what Zhang Mo was saying, only that Duan Mingxuan's face grew increasingly grim.
"Wait until I get back before we talk. I definitely won't let him get away with this. It's okay, don't worry, I'll have Yu Lang go check on him."
Zhang Mo continued to sob and ramble, seemingly triggering something in Duan Mingxuan, whose face contorted with rage: "I'm going back right now, let him wait and see."
Lin Xi lowered her head, lost in thought. After hanging up, Duan Mingxuan chuckled awkwardly, his voice full of apology. "Xiao Xi, I... I might have to go back for a bit. Next year, I'll definitely come with you again next year."
Lin Xi asked, "What happened?" Duan Mingxuan replied, "Mo Mo was being harassed by someone. I rescued her from this person when I first met her."
Lin Xi was silent for a moment, then said, "Could you ask Yu Lang to take a look? Mingxuan, I still hope you can come with me."
Duan Mingxuan's phone rang again, and he frowned, looking troubled. Lin Xi suddenly laughed, "Just kidding, go ahead."
"Xiao Xi, be careful. I'll call you when I'm done."
Lin Xi waved to him, silently saying "Goodbye." She could shop alone, Lin Xi composed herself, and was about to turn around when her phone rang.
She took it out and paused, stunned. It was Duan Yiheng calling.