Duan Yiheng's tie was loose and misshapen.
He looked like he'd been soaking in alcohol, reeking of the chaotic smells of a bar. He frowned as he tried to take off his clothes, startling Lin Xi, who had placed the hangover soup on the bedside table, and abruptly turned and grabbed his hand. "What are you doing?"
Duan Yiheng slowly and coldly uttered two words: "Taking a shower." "No," Lin Xi pulled his open collar together, "You're drunk, taking a shower is dangerous."
Duan Yiheng's mind was actually clear, but his body was weak. He knew he wasn't home. "Where's Duan Mingxuan?" He looked around. "Where is he? Tell him to come see me." Lin Xi shook her head: "He's not here." "Huh?"
Duan Yiheng looked up at the indistinct face. "Didn't you say he was waiting for you downstairs?" He'd only remembered that when he was drunk. Lin Xi turned and picked up the hangover soup, saying, "Open your mouth, drink it, and go to sleep." Duan Yiheng stared at her: "Where's Duan Mingxuan?"
"He didn't come." Lin Xi held the hangover soup to his lips. "Drink it, we have important business tomorrow." "Why didn't he come?" Duan Yiheng leaned back. "I want to ask him, what right does he have?" "He has no right, and I won't be with him."
Lin Xi coaxed him helplessly, then held the spoon to his lips again. Duan Yiheng finally opened his mouth, seemingly taking her words to heart. After finishing the bowl of soup, Lin Xi helped him lie down.
It was a bit messy, but she couldn't really move him to wash up; she'd deal with it tomorrow morning. Duan Yiheng couldn't withstand the effects of the strong liquor and fell asleep quickly. Lin Xi didn't dare look at him for more than a second.
She went to the guest room but couldn't sleep, just staring blankly at the ceiling. The next morning, Lin Xi woke up five minutes earlier than her alarm clock. Duan Yiheng glanced around the master bedroom, his gaze pausing when it landed on the music box on the bedside table.
He reached out, picked it up, and opened it, finding two photos inside. One was of him, the other of her—photos they had taken of each other. Duan Yiheng chuckled softly; Lin Xi's words and actions seemed contradictory.
Why keep a photo of someone you don't like? Duan Yiheng's dark eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in his gaze as he stared at the photo. Just then, a knock came at the door. The next second, Lin Xi pushed open the door, her eyes shifting when she saw what he was holding.
She went over to take her music box, but Duan Yiheng dodged her. "What are you doing? Give it back." Lin Xi tried to reach for it again, but he, with his long arms and legs, dodged her once more. After several unsuccessful attempts, Lin Xi stopped, looking at him sullenly.
Duan Yiheng didn't soften his stance, saying, "I can give it back to you, but give me my photo." Lin Xi bit her lip and whispered, "That's mine." "What do you mean 'your'? Did I agree to that?" Taking advantage of his height, Duan Yiheng took the photo out of the box. "No!" Lin Xi lunged at him to snatch it, "I took that for you, you agreed to it." Duan Yiheng didn't try to take advantage of her like before, he didn't hug her waist or put his arm around her shoulder. He suddenly stood up and crumpled the birthday photo she had taken of him into a ball. "Duan Yiheng!"
Lin Xi cried out, trying to stop him. "Why are you destroying my things?" Duan Yiheng blocked her with one hand. His dark eyes, devoid of the drunkenness of the previous night, held a cruel glint in them. His tone was even more so: "I'm right in front of you, and you look at the same photo all day.
Besides, you said we've broken up. As the person involved, don't I have the right to get the photo back? I don't want you looking at my photo? Is there a problem?"
Tears welled up in her eyes, but Lin Xi endured the excruciating pain. Compared to what she had caused Duan Yiheng, these few words were insignificant. She shook her head, her voice trembling slightly: "No problem." "Very good."
Duan Yiheng said, "I'll throw the photo away." "Don't throw it away." Lin Xi, suppressing a sob, said, "Take it back. You can put it anywhere. Throwing it away isn't good."
Business people believe in feng shui and fortune-telling. The way photos are handled is related to one's personal fortune. It's said that carelessly throwing away photos can interfere with one's destiny. Duan Yiheng stuffed the photo into his pocket. "Go take a shower first," Lin Xi said, head bowed. "The driver will be here soon to bring you clothes." As she turned away, Duan Yiheng saw the tears she was about to shed. He clenched his fist, struggling to control himself, and didn't follow. Lin Xi returned to her room, sliding down to the floor against the door.
She hugged herself, crying silently for about ten minutes until the driver called. Lin Xi stood up, went to the bathroom to wash her face; the driver had also brought breakfast. There was a dining room in the apartment, and looking at the breakfast bag, Lin Xi knew it was Sister Mei who had asked him to bring it.
She didn't say anything, only telling the driver, "Take the clothes to him." Just one night, and stubble had already grown.
Lin Xi didn't have a razor in her bathroom, so she had to call the housekeeper. In less than ten minutes, a razor arrived, along with a shaving brush, shaving foam, a towel, and aftershave. The electric razor was the brand Duan Yiheng usually used.
He placed the clothes on the counter and turned to the driver, who was tidying up the dirty laundry, saying, "Leave it there." The driver was taken aback: "I'll put the clothes in the trunk." "No need," Duan Yiheng said. "I'll come back for them later. I'm meeting someone today, so don't keep the car full of random things." The driver was confused, thinking that putting them in the trunk wouldn't be a problem. But since his boss had given the order, he could only comply.
Duan Yiheng came out of the bathroom, and Lin Xi had already set breakfast on the table. "Come and eat," Lin Xi said. "I'll go change." Duan Yiheng pulled out a chair and sat down. It was still early, so he ate his breakfast slowly.
The lunch appointment was at 11:00 AM, so there were still three hours. After changing, Lin Xi lingered in the dining room. Seeing Duan Yiheng still sitting there, her heart tightened. "You can get full just by standing?" Duan Yiheng looked at her. "Come and eat."
Lin Xi walked over slowly. Duan Yiheng glanced at the driver out of the corner of his eye: "You go down and wait." The driver obediently agreed; he didn't want to stand there either, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Lin Xi sat down opposite Duan Yiheng, silently picking up a shrimp dumpling. She ate it for two or three minutes, seemingly without much appetite. Neither of them spoke while eating, especially Lin Xi, quietly passing the time.
Finally, when Duan Yiheng finished eating and she felt a sense of relief, he asked her, "Did you keep what you said last night?" Lin Xi looked up: "What did you say?" Duan Yiheng wiped his hands with a tissue and slowly said:
"Duan Mingxuan, you said you wouldn't be with him."