The back of the car was dimly lit, isolating it from the noise outside, leaving only their breaths.
The streetlights on either side cast intermittent shadows, like a beautiful slow-motion scene from a movie, flashing by frame by frame as the car moved. But Lin Xi never considered herself the protagonist, oblivious to the gentle, ambiguous affection directed solely at her.
Lin Xi moved her lips, when Duan Yiheng's phone suddenly rang. She swallowed her words, leaning back against the seat, only offering Duan Yiheng a few fleeting glimpses of her gaze.
Duan Yiheng answered the phone, and after listening to Qin Yang's brief words, the atmosphere around him suddenly turned tense.
Lin Xi looked over, and Duan Yiheng said coldly, "He's a key technical staff member. Technical expertise doesn't equate to management proficiency. I gave him a chance, but his coordination skills are terrible. Considering the company's long-term strategy, I will naturally promote someone whose overall qualities are more suited to the job requirements. There's no problem with that."
Qin Yang was silent for a moment, then stammered out a bunch of things. Duan Yiheng remained unaffected: "Tell him I don't have the time to deliberately suppress subordinates.
Also, notify all departments that a temporary employee meeting will be held this Friday in the auditorium of the old campus on Avenue One. I will announce his punishment decision at the meeting."
Lin Xi was stunned. Was the system lag incident deliberate? After Duan Yiheng hung up the phone, she asked about it.
Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement: "Idiot."
Lin Xi was speechless for a moment. Indeed, if this was done by an internal technical staff member as revenge against the company and Duan Yiheng, it was truly foolish.
The bank system glitches were a major blunder, and Duan Yiheng was even calling an emergency staff meeting; the outcome of his handling of the situation was unlikely to be good. Duan Yiheng made two phone calls in quick succession until the car turned into the villa area.
Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng got out of the car together, carrying insulated lunch boxes and bags. She waved, but Duan Yiheng called out to her, "Lin Xi."
Lin Xi turned around, thinking he had some instructions. After waiting for a while, Duan Yiheng didn't speak, so she asked, "What's wrong?"
Duan Yiheng: "Employees in training also need to attend the staff meeting on Friday."
Lin Xi: "I know."
"Hmm." Duan Yiheng looked into her eyes, "Also, for your birthday cake, I want a blueberry one." With that, he turned and left.
Lin Xi stood there for a long time, realizing he was answering her earlier question. But a birthday cake? Wasn't that too meager? Lin Xi thought as she walked away. She hadn't had time to choose a gift for him because of work.
Duan Yiheng's birthday is on Saturday. Perhaps she could ask Yutong for advice while she's looking at cars.
Lin Xi put the lunchbox in the kitchen and turned to see Sister Mei. Sister Mei smiled and asked, "How did this end up in your hands?" Lin Xi said, "I had lunch with... my older brother at noon, so I brought it back."
She could skip addressing him in front of Duan Yiheng, but it would be impolite not to address an elder like Sister Mei.
Sister Mei: "Ever since I found out you were going to work at the company, I specially prepared extra food and asked him to invite you to eat with us, but he insisted on not making exceptions. What happened today?"
Lin Xi didn't explain, but smiled and waved the bag: "Could you please dispose of this dress?"
Sister Mei opened it and glanced at it, then looked at Lin Xi and suddenly felt she looked familiar. "I think your shirt looks like the young master's."
Lin Xi nodded shyly, "It's all because I'm clumsy. I accidentally got the shirt dirty. I'll have to trouble you to take this shirt to be cleaned."
Sister Mei took her paper bag and said, "I know. Hurry up and eat. The second young master isn't home, the master is out socializing, and the madam isn't here either. It's just you alone."
Lin Xi actually felt more comfortable being alone. Only at family banquets could everyone gather at one table.
Duan Yiheng occupied the west wing of the front courtyard alone, and except for necessary occasions, he never set foot on the east side. However, since her return, he had come a few times.
Lin Xi sat down at the dining table, "After dinner, I'll go see Grandpa."
Sister Mei: "The old gentleman will be very happy." Lin Xi would visit the old man in the north courtyard whenever she had time. Her grandfather had accepted her into this family despite all the opposition. The old man liked Lin Xi much more than his two grandsons.
He inquired about Lin Xi's situation at the company, speaking to her at length. Before leaving, the old man suddenly asked, "Did you see your Uncle Duan at the company?" Lin Xi nodded, "Yes."
"He probably found something wrong with Yi Heng and is using it to make things difficult for him," the old man said knowingly.
Lin Xi feigned embarrassment. The scene of Duan Zheng wrongly accusing Duan Yi Heng was still vivid in her mind; she dared not speak of it. However, she was sure her grandfather understood.
The old man indeed understood. For that little bit of power, Duan Zheng was deeply selfish and extremely biased.
Thinking of this, the old man snorted heavily, "Yi Heng is almost thirty. Every time I mention his marriage, your Uncle Duan gets incredibly anxious."
Lin Xi didn't quite understand, "Why does Uncle Duan object to my brother's marriage?"
The old man explained, "I intend for Yi Heng to succeed me. Marriage is a crucial means of gaining control of the group. Shareholders and partners value the group's stability, and being married will make Yi Heng more popular.
As a potential successor, Yi Heng's marital status must be transparent and public. If your Uncle Duan knew that Yi Heng was married, it would be a time of power shift within the group, and he would be completely out of luck."
Lin Xi understood. Duan Zheng could have taken over the group with his in-laws' support, but instead, he ended up with Chen Baiwei, who was then his secretary. Chen Baiwei had no background, and Duan Mingxuan was inferior to Duan Yi Heng.
Duan Yi Heng had the support of the old man and a group of shareholders in the group; he was merely a nominal general manager. Even if he wanted to teach Duan Yiheng a lesson, he only dared to go to his office, where no one could see him, and show his fatherly indignation.
Lin Xi was speechless for a moment, unsure whether to cry for Duan Zheng's selfishness and ruthlessness for Duan Yiheng, or laugh at Duan Yiheng's indifference for Duan Zheng.
He was simply caught between laughter and tears, feeling awkward. The old man sighed, "They all don't understand my good intentions. Entrusting Yin Fan to your Uncle Duan will only lead to retreat, not advancement. Yiheng may seem cold, but he's a good person. Even if I die, his family will still have a place to stay."
Lin Xi disliked the old man's talk of death and quickly stopped him.
Returning from the North Courtyard, Lin Xi's feelings were complicated. Somehow, she found herself in the first-floor living room, where Sister Mei was talking to the maid.
Seeing her, he walked over and asked, "Why aren't you upstairs resting?"
Lin Xi thought for a moment and said, "Saturday is my brother's birthday. Could you prepare a blueberry cake for me?"
"Of course, I would have made it even if you hadn't asked."
"No," Lin Xi said, "You all prepare yours, but you prepare another one for me. It shouldn't be big, something small and delicate. I'll use it on Saturday night." Perhaps she could share a whole cake with him.
Sister Mei: "Okay, I understand."
"Whose birthday is it?" Lin Xi was startled by the sudden voice. She turned around and saw Duan Mingxuan blocking the kitchen entrance.