Duan Mingxuan naturally saw Duan Yiheng as well. He put Lin Xi down and ruffled her hair. Lin Xi didn't pull away, but slightly increased the distance between them. His phone rang, and Duan Mingxuan hesitated for a moment before answering.
It was a call from Yu Lang inviting him out. The two of them were practically out every night, something Lin Xi knew. Seeing his hesitant expression, Lin Xi just wanted to get rid of him quickly, saying, "Go have fun, I'm going back to sleep. I have to go to work tomorrow."
Duan Mingxuan: "Then I'll take you home." Lin Xi: "...This is home, why would I need you to take me home? Go upstairs and tell Grandpa before you leave." Duan Mingxuan glanced at Duan Yiheng and said to Lin Xi, "Come upstairs with me."
Lin Xi did need to tell the old man before leaving, so she turned and followed Duan Mingxuan. Entering the old man's bedroom, Duan Zheng and Chen Baiwei were just coming out, clearly having finished chatting. Duan Mingxuan didn't say a word, simply saying he had an appointment with a friend and left.
The old man gestured for Lin Xi to stand closer and asked, "How's your older brother's relationship with the Tan family girl going lately?" Lin Xi avoided the old man's gaze, lowering her head as she replied, "We met once." "One meeting isn't enough!" the old man said impatiently. "Show me his schedule." "Grandpa, I can't show it to you," Lin Xi said. "Miss Tan and my brother are probably both very busy." The old man frowned. Indeed, it seemed it would be best to find an opportunity to invite the Tan family over for a visit so they could get to know each other better. "After talking about your older brother, let's talk about you. When are you planning to bring a boyfriend home?"
Lin Xi sat on the edge of his bed, coaxing, "Grandpa, I'm only 23, no rush." "You're not in a rush, but Grandpa is. I want to see what kind of person your future partner will be." Lin Xi smiled.
"Well, I can't just find someone to appease you, can I?" The old man smiled too, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"To be honest, of the three of you, I worry about you the most. I always want to make sure you're settled while I still have the ability, so as not to betray your father's trust." Lin Xi leaned on the old man's shoulder, remaining quiet for a few minutes.
"Alright, alright, stop being so sweet. It's getting late, go back and rest." Lin Xi got up and went downstairs. The only way back to the front yard was the koi pond. She stopped by the pond, quietly watching the water.
Back when Grandpa wanted to make a will, Chen Baiwei had ulterior motives. She prepared a table full of delicious dishes, saying she could accept Zhang Mo for Duan Mingxuan's sake. She was indeed upset then, and even now, thinking about it still makes her feel a tightness in her chest, but the sharp, needle-like pain is gone.
That night, she met Duan Yiheng here. He asked her who had bullied her and was now standing up for her. Later, when her conflict with Chen Baiwei escalated and she was slapped, he found her again in the garden.
When Duan Mingxuan abandoned her alone in Rong County, he appeared the next second. Every time, it seemed like he was right beside her. Lin Xi chuckled softly, reflecting on the past few months; her interactions with Duan Yiheng exceeded the total of the previous seventeen years.
But then, without warning, he kissed her in the bar. Had everything gone off track from that night? "What are you doing standing here?" "Ah—" Lin Xi was startled, turning around to see Duan Yiheng, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Why haven't you left yet?"
Duan Yiheng said, "I left my phone in the chess room." Lin Xi patted her chest and said, "Oh." "Your childhood sweetheart's gone, why are you standing here all alone? Aren't you cold?" Lin Xi: "...He's gone, my heart is cold, who cares about my body?"
Anyone can be sarcastic, right? Does he have a mouth? Duan Yiheng took off his suit jacket, facing her, then spread his arms and draped it over her shoulders. "What are you doing? I don't want it."
Lin Xi tried to avoid his intimate gesture, but Duan Yiheng gripped her tightly with the suit jacket. She stumbled forward, blocking Duan Yiheng's chest. "Is this the only way you'll use your mouth on me?"
Duan Yiheng gripped the suit jacket tightly with one hand and controlled the back of her neck with the other, forcing her to look up. "Do you know what this behavior is called?" Lin Xi struggled, but couldn't break free; she was completely controlled by his two hands. "I don't want to know."
She was too busy trying to escape him now. "You're spoiled and arrogant," Duan Yiheng told her, word by word. "You just take advantage of the fact that I won't do anything to you, deliberately poking at my throat." "I—" Duan Yiheng interrupted her, afraid she'd say something cruel:
"You were bullied by Chen Baiwei, bullied by Duan Zheng, bullied by Duan Mingxuan, and now you've lost your sharp tongue? Hmm?" "Just consider me a bully who picks on the weak," Lin Xi retorted, defiantly.
Duan Yiheng chuckled in exasperation, his hand gripping her suit jacket around her waist, pulling her close to his chest. He whispered, "I'm not weak." His tone was ambiguous, his eyes teasing. Lin Xi's face flushed red and then purple, cursing him, "Are you crazy? I don't care if you're weak or not, let me go."
Duan Yiheng chuckled softly, "Don't move, and I'll let you go." Lin Xi's body under the suit jacket trembled, then deflated and remained still. Duan Yiheng loosened his grip on her slightly and asked, "Still talking sarcastically?"
Lin Xi bit her lip, tilting her head and whispering, "You started it." Duan Yiheng raised an eyebrow, admitting it. "Just a little revenge for your coldness towards me lately. You're a secretary, always giving your boss the cold shoulder. Do you think that's proper?"
"You, a boss, drunk and kissing—" Lin Xi immediately retorted, but stopped abruptly. "Why did you stop?" Duan Yiheng asked. Lin Xi stomped on his foot hard, turning and leaving as he pulled away in pain. Duan Yiheng followed her, smiling.
Lin Xi stormed into the south courtyard, strode past Sister Mei, and headed upstairs. Duan Yiheng followed shortly after, a smile on his face. Mei Jie was completely bewildered, looking at one of them and then at the other, before asking Duan Yiheng, "What's wrong with you two? It seems like Miss is angry." Duan Yiheng replied,
"Nothing, I caused it." Mei Jie chuckled, "You're a grown man, why don't you go and coax her?" Duan Yiheng stood there for a moment, cleared his throat, and asked Mei Jie, "How do I coax her?" "First, you need to be a little thick-skinned, and second, you need patience."
Mei Jie smiled, "Miss usually has a very good temper; this time she's angry, it must be your fault." "My fault." Duan Yiheng agreed, "Could you prepare some easily digestible late-night snacks for me? She didn't eat much in the north courtyard. Take it to her room after you've made it."
Seeing him about to leave, Sister Mei quickly stopped him, "That's it? What if she won't eat if you don't appease her?" Duan Yiheng replied, "I'll go upstairs and appease her now, okay?" Sister Mei said,
"That's more like it. I've prepared the late-night snacks. You only had a little soup, so I prepared some for you too. You two can eat some together." Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement and went upstairs, intending to appease her.