The car headlights illuminated Duan Mingxuan's arrogant face. Seeing Lin Xi didn't move, Duan Yiheng scoffed, "What? Too scared to get out?" Lin Xi glanced back at him. "Why wouldn't I dare to get out?" She had already let go of Duan Mingxuan when they went to Rong County together. Her unintentional argument with Chen Baiwei had revealed the truth about her going to America.
She had also told him that everything was in the past. The moment Duan Mingxuan got a girlfriend, their relationship was destined to drift from intimacy to estrangement. Duan Yiheng pushed open the car door and walked past Duan Mingxuan into the house. Lin Xi walked up to him and said, "Get up."
Duan Mingxuan glanced back, "Why did you come back with my older brother?" Lin Xi answered irrelevantly, "What are you doing sitting here?" "Waiting for you." Surprisingly, Duan Mingxuan didn't get angry. "Tomorrow's New Year's Eve. I had a couple of drinks with Yu Lang and came back."
Lin Xi pulled her suit jacket tighter around herself, looking directly into his eyes, "Duan Mingxuan, I don't like you." Duan Mingxuan's jaw tightened, "Then who do you like? My older brother?" "Who do I like—" "No way."
Duan Mingxuan... Xuan abruptly interrupted her, "You used to like me a lot, Xiao Xi. Have you forgotten all the happy times we had?" "When you joined the Duan family, I accepted you. I played and joked with you; whenever someone bullied you, I was always the first to rush to your aid; when you studied abroad, I was always worried sick..." "My relationship with Zhang Mo was completely accidental. I'd never been in a relationship before. I was egged on by Yu Lang and the others and went along with it. I didn't even realize my feelings for you."
"Or rather, I didn't dare. You've been my... [unclear] since childhood..." "The girl I raised, you're different from everyone else in my eyes. I subconsciously feel I'm not good enough for you."
"But everyone else is even less worthy. Until I overheard your conversation with my mother, I knew you'd liked me for years. At that moment, my head felt like it was going to explode."
"I was so slow to realize my feelings, I was so stupid. Xiao Xi, can you give me another chance?"
Lin Xi shook her head: "Too late."
"Xiao Xi."
Duan Mingxuan gripped her shoulders, his eyes suddenly reddening. "I really...I was wrong. I can't bear you liking someone else. Can you turn back and look at me again? I promise, you'll always be number one in my heart."
"I won't be your number one."
Lin Xi pulled his hand away. "You have the freedom to date, and don't deny your first relationship. I don't deny I liked you before, but you were slow to realize your feelings, and my love has vanished completely.
Mingxuan, the kindness you showed me can't be erased. I remember it. If there's anything you need me to do, I'll try my best, but what I can ever repay you with is my love." Duan Mingxuan staggered back half a step. "Don't do those ridiculous confession stunts anymore."
Lin Xi walked past him and went back inside. Behind the floor-to-ceiling window on the third floor, Duan Yiheng turned around. He didn't know what the two had said, but Duan Mingxuan's back seemed to have collapsed like a hillside swept by a mudslide.
As soon as Lin Xi entered the room, Sister Mei's eyes caught sight of the gleaming pearl earrings under her ears. "A gift from the second young master? They suit your temperament very well." Lin Xi was taken aback, raising her hand to stroke the pearls: "He didn't give them to me." "Oh."
Sister Mei chuckled, "Would you like some late-night snacks?" Lin Xi shook her head: "No, thank you. I'm a little tired. I'll go upstairs first. You should rest early too." She took off her suit jacket as she walked, and just as she reached the third floor, Duan Yiheng blocked her way.
Lin Xi handed the suit jacket back to him: "Thank you." Duan Yiheng took the jacket and inexplicably asked, "What did you say to Duan Mingxuan? He's still standing downstairs." Lin Xi said "Oh," "He can't possibly stand downstairs all night."
Duan Yiheng curled his lips: "If it were before, you would have run down long ago." He still seemed bothered by her past with Duan Mingxuan. "If you don't want him standing downstairs in your way, I can go down now."
Duan Yiheng's heart skipped a beat, and he pulled her back: "I brought the earring box back for you from the hotel." Lin Xi took it, glanced at the injury on his cheekbone, and said, "We're going to eat at the North Courtyard tomorrow. Your injury isn't as deep as Duan Mingxuan's, so you should cover it up."
To avoid Grandpa asking, and if he knew the two had fought, he'd be angry. Especially Duan Yiheng, as the next successor of the group, using his fist in the wrong place would inevitably draw criticism. "How do I cover it up?" Duan Yiheng asked.
"Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you," Lin Xi replied. "Come see me tomorrow morning, and I'll cover it up with concealer." Duan Yiheng frowned. "Makeup?" Lin Xi:
"No, you'll see then. I'm going back to my room now. Goodnight." Duan Yiheng also replied, "Goodnight." The next morning, Lin Xi was still asleep when there was a knock on the door. She had planned to sleep last night, but Liang Yutong sent a video call, and the two chatted until late.
Getting up and opening the door, Lin Xi was startled by the impeccably dressed Duan Yiheng standing there. He wore a dark gray cashmere sweater over a white shirt, paired with layered casual trousers; the overall look was fitted but not tight.
His short hair was clearly styled, giving him a more relaxed appearance compared to his work at the office. A light woody fragrance wafted in, gentle and understated for the season. "Why are you up so early?" Lin Xi asked, glancing down at herself. Duan Yiheng:
"I called you to have breakfast. Grandpa wants you to go over early." Lin Xi: "Okay, I'm coming down right away." It was New Year's, after all, and Lin Xi had changed into a red sweater suit. As she ran downstairs, the hem of her skirt kept stirring Duan Yiheng's heart.
Sister Mei praised Lin Xi repeatedly, making her feel embarrassed, which made her feel a little awkward around Duan Yiheng. Duan Yiheng chuckled: "You're embarrassed after a few compliments?" Lin Xi pursed her lips, unsure what to say.
She felt that he hadn't taken a single word she'd said to heart. He still talked to her, still smiled at her. Last night, he'd burned his palms, yet he still waited for her for over two hours just to take her home.
She had to go back to work on the eighth day of the New Year, and she only had about ten days left living here. According to Grandpa, the next successor would be announced at the board meeting after the New Year, and Duan Yiheng might not return to Yinfan Technology.
When Zheng Jizhong leaves and a new director takes over to reorganize the sales department, she hopes to be able to work on the project. Thinking of this, Lin Xi smiled at Duan Yiheng, her tone softening considerably: "Come upstairs with me after dinner, I'll cover your face."
Duan Yiheng put his hand on the back of her chair and leaned close to her ear, saying, "I can come upstairs with you now." Lin Xi's ears burned, and she pushed him away: "Sit properly." Just then, Sister Mei came over and said to Duan Yiheng:
"I brought the cheongsam back yesterday, I almost missed it, it's in your bedroom." Lin Xi glanced sideways, what cheongsam?