Lin Xi's eyes widened slightly. "Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to move into your office?"
Duan Yiheng was just teasing her. He said, "This is for now. This is a temporary office prepared after the new industrial park is built. It doesn't include a secretary's office."
Lin Xi nodded and asked, "Has the specific relocation date for the new industrial park been set?"
Duan Yiheng: "Early December." There was still a month left, right after the anniversary of her parents' death.
Lin Xi tidied up her documents, hesitated for a moment, and said, "The end of next month is the anniversary of my parents' death."
Duan Yiheng glanced at her. "Going back this year?"
"Yes." Lin Xi nodded. "I haven't been back in a long time. I just wanted to let you know that I might not be in City B on the last weekend of November, in case you need to contact me." Whether a secretary has a regular weekend off is closely related to their boss's work schedule.
By informing her in advance, she didn't want Duan Yiheng to keep her busy with work later.
"Understood." Duan Yiheng opened the conference room door. "Going back alone?" Lin Xi paused. Given her current relationship with Duan Mingxuan, she probably would have to go back alone.
"Yes," Lin Xi replied. Back in her office, she ran into Qin Yang, who was also returning to the company. Duan Yiheng invited him to lunch.
Qin Yang looked at Duan Yiheng with a puzzled expression: "President Duan, I'm not—" Duan Yiheng gave him a look, and he fell silent, not understanding why Duan Yiheng wanted him to stay for lunch.
Until he saw Lin Xi stay as well, he vaguely sensed something was different.
Lin Xi greeted him politely, and Qin Yang returned a smile: "Secretary Lin, I heard you shone brightly at the business department's weekly meeting today. Congratulations!"
Lin Xi couldn't resist his praise and quickly said modestly that she still had much to learn.
The table was already laden with food. Qin Yang stared in disbelief: "Mr. Duan, your housekeeper is really worried you won't have enough to eat!"
Lin Xi smiled, lowering her eyes. She could roughly guess why Sister Mei had brought so much food.
Duan Yiheng glanced slightly at Lin Xi, then asked Qin Yang, "How is Jiang Hulin?" Qin Yang was taken aback. Should he discuss this in front of Secretary Lin?
Did Mr. Duan trust her to this extent? Receiving no answer, Duan Yiheng asked again.
Qin Yang snapped out of his reverie and said, "It's my old ailment. I'll be discharged in two days."
Duan Yiheng: "Hmm, did you make everything clear to him?"
"Yes, I did." Qin Yang glanced at Lin Xi, "He's not without loyal subordinates, but because of Zheng Jizhong's status, he lacks the support of higher-ups, which is why Zheng Jizhong succeeded."
Lin Xi couldn't hide the surprise in his eyes. Duan Yiheng seemed to have high hopes for this hospitalized Manager Jiang. Sending Qin Yang to deliver the message already indicated his stance: to join forces with him to eliminate Zheng Jizhong.
If Zheng Jizhong were gone, Jiang Hulin would most likely take over as the director of the business department.
Lin Xi couldn't help but ask Duan Yiheng, "Who does Zheng Jizhong work for?" Qin Yang was slightly surprised. He was afraid Duan Yiheng would get angry, and he had even prepared an explanation for her. But Duan Yiheng casually replied, "The general manager's."
Lin Xi's eyes widened, and she almost blurted out "Uncle Duan."
Qin Yang's gaze shifted between Duan Yiheng and Lin Xi. He became curious about Lin Xi's identity. Everyone in the company knew that General Manager Duan and Duan Zheng were father and son. He had investigated Zheng Jizhong privately, but he hadn't expected Duan Yiheng to reveal everything to a new secretary.
With Qin Yang present, Lin Xi didn't say a word throughout the meal. After clearing out the lunchbox for the driver, she returned to Duan Yiheng's office. Duan Yiheng was making tea. He wasn't surprised to see her and invited her to sit down.
Lin Xi, not wanting to intrude on his rest time, asked directly, "Uncle Duan, are you still arranging people around you?" Duan Yiheng pushed a cup of tea towards her: "Zheng Jizhong wasn't initially one of his men, but after being promoted to director, his ego grew increasingly inflated. Some people, when they reach a high position, carefully avoid falling and shattering themselves, but he became extremely arrogant."
"He believed the business department was the core department for generating revenue for Yinfan Technology, and that it couldn't function without him. Later, he became a pawn that Duan Zheng and certain members of the board were grooming to maintain a balance of power."
Lin Xi silently picked up her teacup and took a sip. This balance was actually aimed at dealing with Duan Yiheng. No wonder her grandfather treated Uncle Duan with such hostility.
But he was still her only remaining son, and she couldn't cut off Duan Zheng's escape route.
In the end, it was always Duan Yiheng who suffered the most, cleaning up the mess for his father. Lin Xi could say nothing, do nothing, and could only lower her head and finish the tea he had personally brewed.
Back in her office, she had barely rested for ten minutes in her chair when Sister Mei called, saying that the old man wanted everyone in the family to have dinner at the North Courtyard that evening.
Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat; she realized the old man knew about her antics with Duan Mingxuan at the South Courtyard.
No clients visited that afternoon, so Lin Xi created a schedule for Duan Yiheng, consulting Qin Yang on some details. Duan Yiheng didn't nitpick and let her leave work on time. Lin Xi had the driver go directly to the North Courtyard, and she and Duan Yiheng returned home one after the other.
The old man smiled at Lin Xi and asked with concern if she was settling in well at the company. Lin Xi didn't answer, instead pulling the blanket on his lap up a bit.
Chen Baiwei and Duan Zheng entered the living room simultaneously. Lin Xi stood up and stood beside the old man.
The old man frowned. "Where's Mingxuan?" Chen Baiwei pinched Duan Zheng, who winced in pain and said, "He's been in a bad mood lately, so he went out with friends."
The old man didn't say anything, and told the housekeeper to prepare dinner.
The atmosphere at the meal was relatively peaceful. Near the end, the old man's gaze fell on Duan Zheng, and he said, "After your mother and elder brother passed away, my son and I relied on each other. I had high hopes for you." Duan Zheng put down his chopsticks and respectfully replied.
"The years you gave birth to Yiheng were the happiest time of my life," Chen Baiwei secretly rolled her eyes. Duan Zheng remained silent, not daring to look at Duan Yiheng.
"I've watched each of you grow up, I know your capabilities, so today I had a lawyer draft my will—"
"Dad?" Duan Zheng interrupted abruptly, "You…" The old man waved his hand: "Just in case. I called you here today to tell you that once the notarization is complete, I will immediately announce it within the family. Don't be absent then."
Chen Baiwei panicked. She regretted letting Duan Mingxuan go out and fool around today; at least she could have made a good impression. Lin Xi didn't care about the will; she was only worried about her grandfather's health.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Duan Yiheng asked. "Arrange for a doctor tomorrow—"
"No need." The old man waved his hand. "I'm fine." Duan Yiheng frowned, about to say something, when Chen Baiwei's phone rang. It was Yu Lang calling.
The next second, Chen Baiwei stood up shakily, gripping the table, her face deathly pale.
"What's wrong?" Duan Zheng asked impatiently. Chen Baiwei screamed and grabbed Duan Zheng's arm tightly, crying, "Quick, quick, quick to the hospital! Mingxuan has been in a car accident!"