Lin Xi had just finished drying her hair and, finding her pajamas inconvenient, slipped on a cardigan.
She opened the door, and the mingled scents of alcohol and perfume made Duan Yiheng instinctively take a half-step back, afraid of bothering her. For a moment, he even regretted not going back to shower and change before coming over.
"You went drinking?" Lin Xi asked, surprised. She thought he had returned earlier. It hadn't even been two hours, yet the smell of alcohol was so strong; was something bothering him? Lin Xi asked with concern, "Are you... in a bad mood? Drinking is bad for your health."
Her long hair was loose, her face gentle, and her eyes clear. Duan Yiheng stared intently, softly replying, "I know."
"I didn't mean to interfere," Lin Xi added, afraid he might misunderstand.
Duan Yiheng had drunk quite a bit, his throat was dry, and hearing her words, he replied hoarsely, "No need to explain, I know."
"Then you..." Lin Xi paused, "Didn't Sister Mei prepare any hangover soup for you?" Duan Yiheng said, "I got back late, I didn't want to trouble her."
Although Lin Xi hadn't officially participated in Yin Fan's training yet, Qin Yang had given her some pointers about being a secretary. She knew that besides handling daily work affairs, she would also have to manage Duan Yiheng's daily chores.
For example, helping with restaurant reservations, arranging transportation, ensuring business trip schedules, arranging hotels, etc. Of course, there were also things to pay attention to in his personal life, but it was important to maintain appropriate boundaries. This required her to understand Duan Yiheng's preferences and habits.
If Duan Yiheng drank too much at social events in the future, arranging a driver, sobering him up, and coordinating work for the next day would all be her responsibility.
Lin Xi thought for a moment, then tilted her head slightly and asked, "How about I make you some hangover soup?"
"You know how?" Duan Yiheng asked.
"I should be able to," Lin Xi replied. Duan Yiheng loosened his tie and said, "If you're willing, I won't refuse."
Lin Xi: "...Sister Mei has prepared the hangover soup ingredients in the kitchen. I'll just throw them in and cook them. Come downstairs with me and wait a moment, okay? But be quiet."
"Why?" Duan Yiheng asked knowingly. Lin Xi scratched her head awkwardly: "I'm afraid you'll wake Duan Mingxuan upstairs." It's better to avoid trouble; it's better to keep things quiet.
"Will he stop you from making me hangover soup when he comes downstairs?" Duan Yiheng asked.
"Maybe," Lin Xi said. "I don't know what caused this fight between you two, but I don't want to deal with your constant bickering late at night."
Duan Yiheng was very agreeable with Lin Xi. He stepped aside slightly and said, "Okay."
Duan Mingxuan thought he had something on her, but in reality, he was only trying to pressure Lin Xi. Lin Xi walked past him downstairs, then suddenly stopped, turned to look at Duan Yiheng, and asked, "Did you fire that receptionist who made things difficult for me?"
Mentioning someone else made Duan Yiheng lose interest. He slowly exhaled a breath of alcohol and said, "I had Qin Yang handle it. She should be fired by now."
Lin Xi paused. "Is it because of me?" Duan Yiheng, still smelling of alcohol, stepped forward, and Lin Xi instinctively backed away.
He didn't stop, blocking her at the bottom of the stairs step by step. For some reason, a playful thought suddenly came to him, and he chuckled, "What do you think?"
Lin Xi stared at him. "Really because of me?" What did she deserve? She'd already gotten rid of a receptionist before even starting the job; if people found out, they'd definitely gossip. Those eyes, when they glared, weren't particularly intimidating, just endearing.
Duan Yiheng suddenly tapped her head: "What are you thinking about?" Lin Xi breathed a sigh of relief: "You scared me."
Although she didn't like the receptionist, she didn't want her to lose her job because of personal reasons.
Getting an answer from him completely relieved her anxiety. Duan Yiheng said unhurriedly, "Since Qin Yang fired her, it proves he had a reason. I won't fire her because of our personal relationship."
Lin Xi: "..." Personal relationship? Didn't he forbid her from calling him "Big Brother" at dinner? How come there's a personal relationship now?
Lin Xi snorted softly: "What kind of personal relationship do I have with you? You said it yourself at the restaurant."
Duan Yiheng: "..." He'd finally seen what it meant to shoot yourself in the foot.
This little girl is quite vengeful. "Let's go, downstairs."
Lin Xi reached out to help him. "Are you sure you can manage?"
Duan Yiheng said, "I'm fine." "Then be careful," Lin Xi reminded him. Duan Yiheng followed her downstairs, but after only two or three steps, he stumbled, startling Lin Xi who grabbed his arm.
"How much did you drink?" Lin Xi's heart pounded. "You scared me to death! You almost fell down the stairs. I can't afford to pay for that."
Duan Yiheng's fingertips curled slightly as he tentatively put his arm around her shoulder. Seeing that she didn't resist, he held her firmly and said, "Help me to the living room downstairs."
Lin Xi resigned herself to her fate, reminding him every now and then, "Be careful. If you fall, we'll both be in trouble."
"Don't worry, I won't let you fall." Duan Yiheng wasn't completely out of his mind, and he restrained himself from using her strength, afraid of hurting her. Once on the first floor, Lin Xi helped him to the nearest single sofa. Duan Yiheng, uncomfortable with his tie, yanked it open, revealing his Adam's apple and collarbone.
Lin Xi, caught off guard, saw him clearly. Duan Yiheng stared at her, recalling the question Mu Zhao had asked him in the bar. What he was truly persisting in, only he knew. When Lin Xi first came to the Duan family, she was soft-hearted and timid.
She'd heard somewhere that it was his birthday, and would set out a cake for him before he got home from school, along with a card that read "Happy Birthday" in crooked handwriting. The first year, he threw it away. The second year, he threw it away. The third year, he still threw it away.
Until he turned sixteen, a small birthday cake she'd brought him sat on the table, and he didn't know why he ate it. Not only that, but on her own birthday, she would save him a piece, decorated with her favorite blueberries.
When she went abroad to study at eighteen, the cake was gone, but a simple text message remained. Duan Yiheng never replied, afraid of scaring someone, like a frightened squirrel, racking his brains for a quick way to end the conversation.
The first year Lin Xi left, he was 24, his first year officially at Silver Sail, and belatedly realized he seemed to be looking forward to his birthday. Thinking he should at least call him "Big Brother," he asked a friend abroad to look after her.
However, Lin Xi had a smooth five years abroad and was unaware that Duan Yiheng was protecting her behind the scenes. Now his birthday was approaching again, and he wondered if it would be the same old "Happy Birthday" again.
Even without a birthday present, he comforted himself by receiving a broken camera tonight, thinking he had received her as a birthday gift.
Duan Yiheng's gaze was too intense. Lin Xi looked away and said, "I'll go make you some hangover soup, wait a moment."
"Okay." Before she could turn around, she felt a warmth on the back of her hand; Duan Yiheng had firmly grabbed it. Lin Xi was startled: "W-what are you doing?"