Yu Lang and Liang Yutong breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Duan Yiheng. Sister Mei followed behind, squatting down to pick up the broken items.
Lin Xi stared at the shattered sailboat, a surge of indescribable grievance and anger welling up, making her eyes redden. A tear trembled, stubbornly holding back, but burst forth when she saw Duan Yiheng.
Lin Xi turned her head away, trying to hide her disheveled state. Duan Mingxuan also turned his gaze, and upon seeing Duan Yiheng, his eyes blazed like a powder keg. Duan Yiheng rarely wore a suit at home, opting instead for a simple thin black sweater and matching casual trousers.
His steps upstairs were calm and steady. His gaze swept past Duan Mingxuan and landed on Lin Xi. He walked over, stood behind Lin Xi, and softly asked, "Is something wrong?"
Lin Xi shook her head, sobbing. Duan Yiheng reached out to put his arm around her shoulder, but Duan Mingxuan exploded: "Don't touch her!" Lin Xi jumped in surprise at the shout.
Duan Yiheng suppressed his surging anger, not wanting to provoke Lin Xi further. He beckoned to Sister Mei: "Take her to my place."
Duan Mingxuan's expression changed: "Duan Yiheng, you want to—"
"Have you had enough?" Duan Yiheng's eyes were like sharp icicles, piercing and stabbing, causing Duan Mingxuan to freeze in place. "What right do you have to yell here?"
Duan Yiheng spoke without any mercy, "With your father's paltry fortune? Or your utter lack of contribution to the family and the company?" Yu Lang and Liang Yutong both gasped.
Duan Mingxuan's face darkened: "And what right do you have to yell at me?" Duan Yiheng sneered: "Just because I can freeze your and your son's accounts with a single phone call."
Duan Mingxuan was speechless. When his mother entered the family, the old man had signed a series of internal agreements with his parents.
These agreements clearly defined Duan Yiheng's special authorization under specific circumstances. Duan Mingxuan's expression changed drastically: "You think I care?"
Duan Yiheng gestured for him to leave: "Since you don't care, go outside and see if your cronies will still call you 'Second Young Master Duan,' or if you're just a bunch of empty shells."
"Duan Yiheng, don't you dare push your luck!" Duan Mingxuan's eyes were bloodshot, as if he wanted to tear Duan Yiheng to pieces.
Duan Yiheng: "Weren't you having a good time bullying others just now?" Duan Mingxuan was speechless again. He felt an immense sense of satisfaction when he smashed Lin Xi's things.
But seeing her stifled tears brought him heartache. Duan Mingxuan looked at Lin Xi, his gaze complex.
What am I supposed to do with you? Sister Mei went upstairs and led Lin Xi to the first floor. Duan Mingxuan chased after her, calling, "Xiao Xi." Lin Xi didn't turn around, but stumbled slightly.
Liang Yutong shook off Yu Lang's grip and followed. Duan Mingxuan stared blankly at Lin Xi's retreating figure.
Everyone left. Yu Lang sighed and stepped forward to comfort him, "Brother, why did you do this?" Duan Mingxuan raised his hand to his chest, feeling a tightness and pain there.
"Will she still talk to me?" he thought, referring to the investigation and the things he was throwing. Yu Lang affirmed, "Of course I'll talk to you. Lin Xi has never truly ignored you all these years.
But you really went too far this time. No matter what, you shouldn't have broken her things."
Duan Mingxuan's eyes darkened: "That was a gift she gave to Duan Yiheng."
"Even so, you shouldn't have laid a hand on him."
Yu Lang said, "I know you've never gotten along with your older brother, but why can't you even put on a show of politeness? You need to face reality; in the future, won't your older brother be running this family?"
Duan Mingxuan seemed to have been hit where it hurt, stubbornly replying, "I don't think so." Yu Lang panicked for a moment: "What are you going to do? Don't tell me you're trying to usurp the throne. That's highly unlikely. Duan Yiheng isn't someone to be trifled with."
Duan Mingxuan lowered his head, remaining silent.
"Come on, come on, I was worried about leaving you home alone. Come out for a drink with me."
Yu Lang pulled him outside. "Luckily your mother isn't home, otherwise she'd cause a scene again." Duan Mingxuan was led out of the house like a zombie.
Liang Yutong followed Lin Xi, trying to comfort her, but was stopped in the living room. Duan Yiheng said to her, "Excuse me, could you please wait a moment? I need to speak with her."
Liang Yutong nodded hurriedly, "Go check on her, I'm fine."
Lin Xi wiped away her tears, wanting to say she was alright, but Duan Yiheng had already come over, grabbed her wrist, and led her towards the back door. A sofa set sat under the large eaves, facing the courtyard flowers and plants, a pleasant view.
Duan Yiheng pressed her down on the sofa and poured her a glass of water. "Tell me, what happened?" Lin Xi slightly raised her eyes, her gaze falling on his collar, and said, "He knows I went to work at Yin Fan, and he even became your secretary." This was exactly what Duan Yiheng expected. "He forced you to resign?" "He didn't mention resigning." Lin Xi shook her head. "It's my fault for not telling him, and also…"
Duan Yiheng chuckled: "I told you to stay away from me." Lin Xi nodded: "Okay."
Duan Yiheng sat on the sofa, legs apart, elbows on his thighs, bending over, looking at Lin Xi gently, slowly guiding her: "You must remember, you don't owe him anything, and you don't owe anyone in this family."
Lin Xi looked up, finally meeting his eyes. Duan Yiheng continued to explain: "Guangxi merged with Yinfan, and that's how Yinfan Technology came to be today. Your contribution to this family is second only to Grandpa; I can't compare to you."
"You're exaggerating." Lin Xi's remaining tears streamed down her pale cheeks. Duan Yiheng sighed, raising his hand as if casually wiping away her tears.
Lin Xi forgot to cry. Her clumped eyelashes fluttered slightly, like rain-soaked butterflies, unable to fly, only able to remain within Duan Yiheng's sight. Duan Yiheng withdrew his hand, and the warm touch on Lin Xi's face vanished instantly, leaving only a slight coolness.
A belated burning sensation spread across her face. Lin Xi subconsciously raised her hand and rubbed it with the back of her hand. Their eyes met in the air, then silently looked away.
Lin Xi cleared her throat, picked up her water glass, and silently took a sip.
"Uh…is Yutong still there?" Lin Xi asked, trying to make conversation.
Duan Yiheng sat up slightly and said, "She's still there. Sister Mei is taking care of her, don't worry."
Just as Lin Xi was about to go find Liang Yutong, Duan Yiheng's phone rang. Mu Zhao's voice wasn't quiet, and since they were close, Lin Xi heard him clearly:
"Happy birthday, it wouldn't be right not to come out for a drink today."
Duan Yiheng: "I'm busy."
Mu Zhao: "Who are you kidding? It's Saturday, you're not working."
Duan Yiheng's lips curled into a smile. He wasn't working, he was just busy trying to appease her.
Lin Xi poked Duan Yiheng's hand and said, "You go ahead, I'm fine."
Mu Zhao heard this and said a few times, "Is that Lin Xi? Bring her along, it'll be more fun with more people."
Duan Yiheng put down his phone and asked Lin Xi, "Shall I take you and your friends out for some fun, to relax?"
Lin Xi opened her eyes wide: "Now?" Duan Yiheng: "Yeah, not some random place, my private club." Liang Yutong likes to have fun, so she probably won't refuse.
Lin Xi was indeed feeling down because of Duan Mingxuan. Without much hesitation, she said, "Okay." Duan Yiheng said, "Alright, then go wash your face and leave. We won't be back tonight."
Lin Xi was taken aback. All night?