The door opened, and a bunch of fresh Phalaenopsis orchids and Duan Yiheng both collapsed onto Lin Xi.
Lin Xi was startled and grabbed him. In the collision, the pure white Phalaenopsis orchids were crushed, fluttering to the floor like butterflies. Without thinking, Lin Xi and Sister Mei helped Duan Yiheng, this tall and heavy man, to bed.
Once they were free, Lin Xi realized what had happened and asked Sister Mei, "Is he sleeping here tonight? Where am I sleeping?" Sister Mei said helplessly, "He insisted on coming here; I couldn't stop him. Didn't he say he went to a wedding banquet? How could he drink like this?" It was so rude.
Duan Yiheng would never act so recklessly in someone else's territory. If the old man found out, he would definitely get a scolding. Lin Xi felt a pang of guilt; only she knew why Duan Yiheng had been drinking. Mei Jie turned to tidy up the bouquet, but Lin Xi stopped her:
"Let me do it. You go and get him some hangover soup." Mei Jie replied, "Okay, then you take care of him for me. I'll go downstairs and have someone prepare a guest room. You'll have to make do for the night." Lin Xi said, "I can sleep anywhere. Please go ahead."
After confirming that Mei Jie had left, Lin Xi picked up the petals from the floor and then turned to take off Duan Yiheng's shoes. Then, Lin Xi sat on the edge of the bed and gently bent down to loosen his tie.
Duan Yiheng's hand was still tightly clutching the orchid. Lin Xi reached out and touched it, suspecting it was the bride's bouquet. She immediately chuckled, unable to imagine Duan Yiheng trying to snatch the bouquet. "Lin Xi," Duan Yiheng murmured, his brow furrowing. "I'm here."
Lin Xi leaned closer and touched his face. "Are you feeling unwell?" "Yes." Duan Yiheng turned over, lying on his side. "Just a little longer, Sister Mei will be up soon," Lin Xi said softly. "Can you give me the flowers?"
Duan Yiheng exhaled a breath of alcohol: "Give them to Lin Xi." "Okay," Lin Xi coaxed. "I am Lin Xi, let go." Duan Yiheng released his grip, and Lin Xi finally took the broken orchid stem from his hand.
She had carried it all the way back, only to have it break at the door. She wondered what he would think when he saw it tomorrow morning. Lin Xi glanced back at the door, estimating that Sister Mei would be here a while. Taking advantage of Duan Yiheng's drunkenness, she asked without restraint:
"Duan Yiheng, I'm asking you, have you been avoiding me lately?" Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement: "I'm afraid you'll break up with me." That day, in the heat of the moment, she had almost blurted it out. Lin Xi gave a bitter smile and said, "But we'll break up sooner or later, won't we?"
"No." Duan Yiheng suddenly grabbed her wrist. "No." Lin Xi squeezed his hand back. "If I had known your feelings earlier, I wouldn't have agreed to be with you." She had secretly loved Duan Mingxuan for five years, while Duan Yiheng had loved her for three.
Whether it was three or five years, in Lin Xi's eyes, it was all about swallowing the bitterness and sweetness of unrequited love. She had experienced it herself, so she knew that Duan Yiheng's three years hadn't been easy.
There was also the added burden of their familial relationship, making it even harder for Duan Yiheng. If she had known earlier, perhaps she wouldn't have made the same choice. Because she knew they would break up sooner or later, and that day would be another hurt for Duan Yiheng.
She seemed to have never considered herself. Lin Xi felt a pang of sadness because of the bouquet of orchids. She gently stroked the petals and asked Duan Yiheng, "Did you text me tonight?" Duan Yiheng might not be able to move physically, but his mind was perfectly clear.
He groggily responded with a "Mmm." "What did you send?" Lin Xi pressed on. "My phone," Duan Yiheng said, rubbing his body. A black phone peeked out from his pocket. Lin Xi took it and turned on the screen.
Duan Yiheng's phone had no unlock password. Duan Yiheng added, "Photos." Lin Xi opened the album and showed the latest picture—fireworks from a wedding banquet. "Why did you want to take this picture of me?" Lin Xi asked. "Is it because I didn't see it on New Year's Eve?" A knock on the door interrupted Duan Yiheng's answer. Lin Xi turned around, knowing it must be Sister Mei coming up. Lin Xi placed the phone beside his pillow and said, "You have to resend it to me tomorrow."
Lin Xi opened the door. Sister Mei put down the hangover soup and then went to help Duan Yiheng. "Sister Mei, let me help you." "No need, no need." Sister Mei smiled, "It's getting late, you should go to sleep. I'll take care of things here with the young master."
"I…" Lin Xi hesitated, "I can't sleep yet." Sister Mei: "The room is all ready. Don't you have to go to work tomorrow?" Lin Xi couldn't find any other excuse, so she had to leave her room.
After she left, Sister Mei sighed deeply, "What's going on?" She really didn't know how Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng had developed feelings for each other. Lin Xi barely slept all night, and went to see Duan Yiheng early the next morning.
A hangover must be awful; he'd probably be late for work today. Lin Xi left him a note and went to work. Sure enough, as Lin Xi expected, it was ten o'clock, and Duan Yiheng still hadn't come to the office. Just as she was about to go downstairs to the sales department, Zheng Jizhong suddenly barged in.
Lin Xi hurriedly tried to stop him: "Director Zheng, President Duan hasn't arrived yet. If you have something to say, please tell me first." "Get out of the way." Zheng Jizhong gestured to Chen Jingyi, who was following him, to block Lin Xi, and then barged into the president's office. "Director Zheng, I told you President Duan isn't here."
Lin Xi's tone was firm. "If you dare to force your way in, I will have no choice but to take necessary measures." As his secretary, if she allowed Zheng Jizhong to enter the office so brazenly, what authority would Duan Yiheng have left in the company?
The group's leaders might verbally reprimand Zheng Jizhong, but privately they would also doubt Duan Yiheng's ability to manage his subordinates. Zheng Jizhong abruptly turned around at the door of Duan Yiheng's office. He sneered at Lin Xi, saying,
"You, a mere secretary, really think you're someone important? What can you do to me if I go in?" Lin Xi shook off Chen Liangyi's obstruction, calming the anger simmering in her chest, and tried to sound professional:
"As a high-ranking executive, you should set an example. Forcing your way into the president's office is against company rules. If all the other department directors acted like you, wouldn't the president's office become a marketplace?"
"Furthermore, even the cleaning staff must enter the president's office within designated times, as it contains confidential documents. If anything is missing, neither of us can afford the consequences." Zheng Jizhong's eyes were practically spitting fire. Duan Yiheng had tricked him; he had to see him now. "Get out of my way." Lin Xi was prepared. She turned and blocked the office doorway, refusing to budge. "If you don't listen to my advice, I'll immediately notify security. You don't want everyone to know, do you?"
Zheng Jizhong glared fiercely at Lin Xi. He grabbed her arm and shoved her aside. Lin Xi was no match for him. She slid down the smooth door and fell to the ground, a sharp pain shooting through her waist and hips. Just as she was about to notify security, the elevator doors slowly opened.
Duan Yiheng, completely odorless of alcohol, was dressed in a black suit and holding a document. When his gaze fell upon her, his eyes changed instantly, his expression as cold as year-round snow. His gaze swept over Zheng Jizhong and Chen Liangyi: "What's going on here?"