The smoking room was filled with the smell of smoke. Meng Huaishan smoked half a cigarette before slowly speaking, "Are you sure?"
Duan Yiheng gave a curt "Mmm." Meng Huaishan pondered for a moment, then said, "Lin Xi has a house and a job in City B, so she can live independently. But what do you mean by suddenly pulling this stunt?" It would be easy for him to handle; it would just be a matter of a few words.
"I can't answer you right now," Duan Yiheng stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. "Just do as I say." "But how am I supposed to tell her?" Meng Huaishan frowned. "Aren't you making things difficult for me?" Duan Yiheng: "Just say it directly, she'll agree." Meng Huaishan:
"What kind of riddle are you playing with me? You were the one who got her registered with my dad, and now you're the one canceling it. It really doesn't make sense to me." Duan Yiheng suddenly chuckled softly: "You'll understand later." Meng Huaishan: "..." He wanted to understand now.
However, he also understood that since Duan Yiheng had said that, he certainly wouldn't reveal another word. "Then should I tell her today?" Meng Huaishan asked, "Shouldn't we ease things up a bit?" Duan Yiheng glanced at him: "Otherwise, why did I call you here today?"
"Fine, I'll tell her later." Meng Huaishan gave in, "So you didn't call me here to play around, you're just using me as a tool." "Have you eaten inside yet?" Duan Yiheng changed the subject. Meng Huaishan said:
"That's about it. When I came over just now, Lin Xi was even vying with me to comfort you. Look at how much she cares for you, yet you secretly kicked her out of the Meng family register." Duan Yiheng: "..." Meng Huaishan:
"Your sister already has suitors. What about you and Tan Qi? I advise you, to avoid any unforeseen complications, get married sooner rather than later." "I heard that Grandpa postponed making his will due to health reasons. See, isn't that a variable?"
"To outsiders, he might be using health as an excuse to postpone because you're unwilling to arrange a marriage. Yiheng, he's your grandfather, but he's also a businessman." "I understand."
Duan Yiheng naturally knew Meng Huaishan meant well. "Tan Qi and I have reached a preliminary agreement on cooperation." "A marriage is a cooperation. As long as Grandpa sees the results, everything is possible." "Maybe."
"Meng Huaishan really wanted to crack open his head and see. He sighed helplessly, "You think the marriage alliance is for your grandfather's approval? Isn't it just to reassure the shareholders?"
"A marriage alliance between two families is about resource integration, helping you break the power balance within the group. Otherwise, why has Duan Zheng's face fallen over the mention of your marriage all these years? All the benefits are yours, I just don't understand why you resist?"
"You're starting to sound more and more like your uncle." Duan Yiheng remained unmoved. "Did he send you here today as a mediator?" Meng Huaishan simply admitted:
"My father is disappointed in you. Over the years, our Meng family has seen your hard work. You've strived for so many years, are you going to let us down at this crucial moment?" Duan Yiheng said, "No."
Meng Huaishan couldn't possibly control Duan Yiheng, so he could only try to persuade him. "Unwilling to go through with the marriage alliance..." Meng Huaishan slowly voiced his guess, "You don't have someone you like, do you?" Duan Yiheng's eyes flashed, but he didn't reply. Meng Huaishan tilted his head slightly.
"You really have someone you like?" Duan Yiheng frowned. "Why are you so startled? It's strange." Meng Huaishan slumped back in his chair. "Oh no!" Duan Yiheng's personality was exactly like his aunt's—seemingly arrogant and aloof, but actually stubborn and unruly.
If someone really caught his eye, he'd probably be stuck in a rut for life. Duan Yiheng got up and left the smoking room, returning to his suite, with Meng Huaishan following closely behind.
Lin Xi listened absentmindedly to Zhou Zheng's words. Her eyes lit up when she saw Duan Yiheng, but he didn't look at her. Lin Xi looked away and gave Zhou Zheng a slight smile. Duan Yiheng returned to his seat. No one mentioned the previous incident again. Mu Zhao took the initiative to liven up the atmosphere:
"There's a themed party upstairs, wanna go?" Mu Shuo was the first to raise his hand: "I'll go." Duan Yiheng wasn't interested, his expression listless. Meng Huaishan said, "There are so many activities upstairs and downstairs. Whoever wants to play can go. Those who don't can stay in the suite, play cards, watch a movie, etc." Mu Shuo looked at Liang Yutong: "How about we go upstairs and play?"
Liang Yutong wanted to take Lin Xi with her, but Lin Xi was preoccupied and felt that Mu Shuo probably wouldn't like her being a third wheel, so she shook her head and refused: "You and Mu Shuo play first, I'll wait for you here." Liang Yutong caught a glimpse of Zhou Zheng out of the corner of her eye and smiled knowingly.
Lin Xi immediately knew that she had misunderstood. She wanted to explain something, but it wasn't appropriate to say anything in front of so many people.
Mu Shuo successfully took Liang Yutong away. Meng Huaishan whispered something in Zhou Li's ear, and then Zhou Li got up and called Zhou Zheng and Mu Zhao to accompany Duan Yiheng to play cards.
Lin Xi had wanted to find an opportunity to speak with Duan Yiheng alone, but seeing that Meng Huaishan had left her behind, she couldn't help but feel curious. Meng Huaishan was never one to hesitate, but facing Lin Xi's large, blinking eyes, he was at a loss for words. "Brother Meng?"
Lin Xi called to him, "Is there something you want to tell me?" Meng Huaishan could only nod, "I just don't know where to begin." "It's alright," Lin Xi said understandingly, "Just tell me."
Meng Huaishan cursed Duan Yiheng inwardly. He only asked him to do things without giving a reason, forcing him to make something up. He cleared his throat: "If the Meng family wanted to terminate your adoption, how would you view me?"
Lin Xi wasn't stupid; her first thought was Duan Yiheng. She paused for a moment, then asked Meng Huaishan, "Did Duan Yiheng ask you to tell me this?" Meng Huaishan was surprised by her keen observation, but he couldn't betray Duan Yiheng, so he simply shook his head. Lin Xi smiled and said, "Of course I have no objections. I should even thank the Meng family for accepting you back then." Meng Huaishan scoffed, "Wasn't it Yi Heng who came to my dad late at night, which is how you got on the Meng family's household register?" Lin Xi was taken aback. "What did you say?" "You didn't know?" Meng Huaishan was surprised. "Back then, your grandfather saw you were all alone and wanted Duan Mingxuan to marry you when he grew up, so he didn't adopt you. But if he found an ordinary family to adopt you, he was afraid they would demand an exorbitant price, and raising a thankless child over the years wouldn't be good either. Others weren't too comfortable with that either. In the end, it was Yi Heng who came to beg my dad." Lin Xi was stunned, her chest heaving slightly. So, long before Duan Mingxuan, Duan Yi Heng had already accepted her. At this moment, Lin Xi desperately wanted to see Duan Yi Heng. "Brother Meng, I'll go find him first—" "Wait a minute."
Meng Huaishan decisively stopped her. "I have something I want to ask you." Lin Xi turned around: "What is it?" Meng Huaishan: "You're your brother's secretary. Tell me, have any suspicious women appeared near him?" Lin Xi asked, puzzled:
"What's a suspicious woman?" Meng Huaishan: "A woman your brother might like." Lin Xi choked, guiltily averting her gaze.