Lin Xi remained silent the entire way, her eyes fixed on the night outside the window. Duan Yiheng's words from earlier replayed countless times in her mind.
If Duan Yiheng were chosen as the heir by her grandfather after the New Year, their marriage would likely be on the agenda. Even if it wasn't Tan Qi, there would be others. Fortunately, she had the Tian Du Yu Xi villa as a refuge.
The car entered the villa and had just stopped when the driver heard Duan Yiheng say, "You get out first." The driver, confused, got out. Lin Xi was about to open the door when Duan Yiheng grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him.
Caught off guard, Lin Xi stumbled and fell onto Duan Yiheng's lap. "What are you doing?" Lin Xi was terrified; this was right in front of her own house. "Let me go!" Duan Yiheng gripped her waist tightly with one hand and turned her cheek to the side with the other, whispering,
"If I get married, who do you think it will be?" Lin Xi's heart tightened, and she struggled, saying, "It certainly won't be me." "Then it can only be someone else."
Duan Yiheng spoke softly, "My hand will touch her waist like it's touching you now, I'll take her to the manor in North District No. 1 to share a bed, ride horses, and see the ginkgo trees—" "Don't say it." Lin Xi's face was deathly pale.
Duan Yiheng gently stroked her face, looking at her quietly: "Why won't you say it? I thought you had already considered these things when you broke up with me." Lin Xi shook her head; she dared not think about it. The more she thought about it, the deeper the pain.
"Do you know why Grandma gave you the necklace?" Duan Yiheng asked her softly. Lin Xi looked at him and said, "I don't know." Duan Yiheng smiled, "Because she knows my relationship with you is special." Lin Xi trembled, "Grandma knows?" "Don't be afraid."
Duan Yiheng patted her back, "She knew the first time, but she didn't say anything, and even gave you a necklace. It's clear she likes you." Lin Xi's heart pounded with fear. She glared at Duan Yiheng, "How many other people have you told?"
Duan Yiheng smiled slightly at her question, "I'm innocent. Qin Yang broke in himself, and Grandma figured it out herself." Lin Xi scoffed, "Qin Yang broke in because you didn't lock the door..." "Grandma noticed because you didn't hide it." Duan Yiheng:
"..."Let go of me right now." Lin Xi glanced out the window. "It wouldn't be good if Sister Mei saw us. Also, why do you always forget we've broken up?"
Duan Yiheng wasn't secretly annoyed by her irritating words like before. He seemed to have found a way to deal with her, and said cheekily, "You said we should break up, but I didn't agree." "You..." Lin Xi choked. "What do you want?"
"I just want to tell you that what I want, I will get." The car was dimly lit, the remaining light outlining his deep features. His eyes were calm and firm, as if everything was under his control.
"If I never get a response from you, I won't expect anything." Duan Yiheng's deep voice carried a pressing force, each word hitting Lin Xi's heart like a hammer blow. She subconsciously turned her head away, her fingers clenching tightly until her fingertips turned white.
Lin Xi wanted to respond, but couldn't. Every flower and tree around her was intimately familiar, yet she felt a pair of eyes peering through the car window at her and Duan Yiheng. Her throat felt constricted. Lin Xi pushed against his chest, her meaning unspoken.
Sensing her helplessness, Duan Yiheng loosened his grip slightly and whispered to her, "Running away is useless. No matter what happened between us, the outcome will never change." These words were arrogant, yet Lin Xi's heart pounded.
Feeling he had released his hold, she abruptly got off his lap, pushed open the door, and got out of the car. Her steps, clad in a cheongsam, were slightly hurried, while Duan Yiheng followed unhurriedly until she went upstairs and disappeared from sight.
For the next few days, Lin Xi didn't leave the house. She had intended to avoid Duan Yiheng, but he was leaving early and returning late every day. On the evening of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the family gathered again for dinner in the North Courtyard. After finishing his meal, Duan Yiheng didn't leave. He went directly to the old man, saying he had something important to discuss.
Lin Xi guessed it was about Zheng Jizhong. Although curious, she didn't ask and went straight back to the South Courtyard. Duan Yiheng compiled all the evidence of Zheng Jizhong's illegal and irregular activities that he had gathered during this period into a file folder.
The old man looked at it without any surprise. He already knew about the abuse of power, the acceptance of kickbacks, and the flow of funds to overseas shell companies. The old man put down his teacup and scrutinized Duan Yiheng: "How do you plan to handle this?"
"Convene a board meeting and handle it publicly." Duan Yiheng was calm and decisive. "Although I left the company, I am still a shareholder. Zheng Jizhong harmed the company's interests first, and then committed illegal and criminal acts. No one can protect him." The old man was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Okay, I will inform the board members that there will be a meeting at the Yinfan headquarters at 10:00 AM the day after tomorrow." Duan Yiheng breathed a sigh of relief, then said nothing more and got up to return to the South Courtyard. Lin Xi had been waiting for him and had fallen asleep on the sofa in the living room. As soon as Duan Yiheng entered the room, she seemed to sense something and suddenly sat up. "You're back. How did things go? Did it go smoothly?" Lin Xi asked sleepily, looking adorable. Duan Yiheng smiled and walked over, pinching her cheek: "Adorable." What's adorable?
Lin Xi pushed his hand away: "I asked if it went smoothly, not if it's adorable." Duan Yiheng chuckled: "Smoothly." Lin Xi unconsciously grabbed Duan Yiheng's wrist, her eyes shining: "What did Grandpa say?" Duan Yiheng:
"There's a board meeting the day after tomorrow, a face-to-face confrontation with Zheng Jizhong." Lin Xi: "Ironclad evidence, he can't escape." "Hmm." Lin Xi smiled: "Then I'll go upstairs first, waiting for your good news."
Turning her back, Lin Xi's lips suddenly twitched. She was moving to Tiandu Yuxi tomorrow and starting work the day after. She didn't know what the future held for her and Duan Yiheng; she only knew that after getting through this hurdle, Duan Yiheng would surely rise rapidly, achieving great success.
He'd definitely be preparing for the meeting the day after tomorrow, so she wouldn't tell him. And indeed, as Lin Xi expected, Duan Yiheng had already left when she woke up. Sister Mei carried her luggage to the car, her expression hesitant:
"Aren't you really going to tell the young master?" Lin Xi shook her head: "He's busy. I've already told Grandpa." "Are you really moving out?" Sister Mei couldn't imagine her living alone. "Don't worry," Lin Xi comforted her, "I'm a grown woman. Besides, I can easily find a place at the apartment with a phone call." Sister Mei sighed: "I just can't bear to part with you. Does the second young master know you're moving today?" Lin Xi shook her head:
"I haven't told him, and you shouldn't either. I find him too noisy." Sister Mei: "Okay." The driver closed the trunk: "Miss, you can go now." Lin Xi hugged Sister Mei, turned, and got into the car. She wondered if Duan Yiheng would be angry when he came back and saw she wasn't there.