In the sales department, Chen Jingyi had just tidied her desk and poured herself a glass of water when a woman in her mid-twenties called out to her, "Manager Chen."
Chen Jingyi turned around and asked, "What's up?"
"Come here, I have something to tell you." Seeing the woman's gossipy expression, Chen Jingyi walked over suspiciously.
The woman pulled her into the restroom and showed her her phone: "Look."
Chen Jingyi was taken aback: "What's this?"
"Lin Xi, she got out of President Duan's car." Chen Jingyi glanced at the photo: "Are you sure?"
"Of course, I was shocked for a long time when I saw it before I remembered to take a picture, but it was too late. I could only capture President Duan's car passing by her."
Chen Jingyi pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "What do you think her relationship with President Duan is?" Chen Jingyi countered. "What do you think?"
"President Duan is so high and mighty, I've never seen him with any women. It can't be that kind of relationship, can it?"
Chen Jingyi's eyes flashed with malice. "Who knows? Don't tell anyone about this for now."
"Understood." Chen Jingyi gestured, and the person left the restroom.
She held her phone, chin in hand, thinking for a long time before dialing a number: "Hey, Brother Shan, could you help me contact someone?"
Lin Xi was somewhat distracted at work today, preoccupied with Duan Mingxuan.
Finally, she got off work and received a call from Liang Yutong.
Liang Yutong asked about Duan Mingxuan's condition and said she'd go to the hospital with her.
The two met at the hospital entrance. "Was it really Zhang Mo who saved Duan Mingxuan?" Liang Yutong, still surprised, linked arms with Lin Xi.
Lin Xi nodded. "It's her. Luckily, the surgery was successful, otherwise Mingxuan would have lived with guilt for the rest of his life."
Liang Yutong stopped scolding Duan Mingxuan at this point, only looking at Lin Xi with pity, and said, "Aren't you afraid they'll get back together?"
Lin Xi smiled sadly. "There's nothing I can do about it."
Liang Yutong grabbed her arm. "Although I think Duan Mingxuan has a bad temper and isn't good enough for you, I also feel sorry for you having liked him for so many years. Love is selfish. Why don't you tell him the truth?"
She had planned to tell him when she returned to China, but it was too late. Saying it now would seem like taking advantage of someone in distress. Lin Xi shook her head. "Let's go upstairs and see Zhang Mo first."
Zhang Mo was already awake, and Duan Mingxuan was clumsily taking care of her.
She smiled. "Mingxuan, are you alright?" Duan Mingxuan was touched. "I'm fine, Momo, thank you so much this time."
"I love you," Zhang Mo said weakly. "Mingxuan, can we... can we get back together?"
Lin Xi's hand tightened on the doorknob, and she stopped in her tracks.
"I..." Duan Mingxuan felt a moment of resistance, panic, and guilt; a jumble of emotions welled up in his heart.
Initially, he was with Zhang Mo simply because he liked her.
Later, he found her to have a good temper, complementing his own, so he casually started a relationship. But what he said when they broke up—that he never thought about marrying her—was true.
"I know I was wrong. I will definitely treat Lin Xi like a younger sister from now on. Please forgive me, okay?" Lin Xi knew she shouldn't have eavesdropped, but she couldn't move her feet.
"I forgive you for this," Duan Mingxuan said. "But let's talk about getting back together later."
Zhang Mo knew she couldn't force him, and smiled in agreement, but her gaze was cold behind her back.
"Duan Mingxuan, I've shed so much blood for you. You'll never get rid of me in this lifetime." Lin Xi lowered her eyelashes, and after waiting for silence from inside, she raised her hand and knocked on the ward door.
Zhang Mo didn't like Lin Xi, but in front of Duan Mingxuan, she always acted cheerful.
She would complain of pain here and there. Duan Mingxuan gently comforted her, completely ignoring Lin Xi and Liang Yutong.
Lin Xi's gaze followed Duan Mingxuan. Duan Mingxuan had been domineering since childhood. When she was sick as a child, he would force her to take her medicine with a stern face.
As he grew older, his temper worsened; if things didn't go his way, he would throw a tantrum for ages. Because she hadn't crossed his line, Lin Xi generally turned a blind eye.
Part of Duan Mingxuan's domineering nature was something she had spoiled him with.
Lin Xi looked down at her toes and gave a bitter smile. She brought it on herself. Liang Yutong, seeing the gentle Duan Mingxuan, was also shocked.
When Yu Lang arrived and saw her expression, he said, "Surprised? Didn't expect Duan Mingxuan to be like this?"
Liang Yutong shuddered, goosebumps rising all over her body. "He seems like a completely different person. It's so strange."
Yu Lang: "That's quite normal. Momo risked her life to save her, and Mingxuan experienced it firsthand. Right now, he feels guilty. If Momo wanted the stars, Mingxuan would fly there and circle them."
Liang Yutong chuckled. "Really? But just now, she asked to get back together, and Duan Mingxuan refused."
Yu Lang was taken aback. "They didn't get back together? I thought it was a done deal." Just then, someone brought Zhang Mo's dinner.
Duan Mingxuan clumsily poured out the liquid food, accidentally burning his finger.
Lin Xi nervously grabbed him, looked at it, and said, "Go rinse it with cold water first. I'll do it here." Saying this, she poured some porridge and carefully fed it to Zhang Mo.
Zhang Mo smiled and thanked him.
Seeing how well she cared for others, Yu Lang chuckled, "Grandpa Duan always wanted Mingxuan to marry Xiaoxi. I wonder who ended up getting the better deal."
Duan Mingxuan, emerging from the restroom, grumbled, "Our Xiaoxi won't marry anyone. She'll stay with me for life."
Zhang Mo's heart skipped a beat: "You and Mingxuan…" Lin Xi, seeing Zhang Mo looking at her thoughtfully, tried to cover it up: "I was still young then. Grandpa arranged this marriage for me to have some security."
Zhang Mo smiled, a forced smile.
Their almond-shaped eyes met, and Zhang Mo froze. She remembered when she first got together with Duan Mingxuan, he had said her almond-shaped eyes were beautiful and that he liked them.
Zhang Mo subtly observed Lin Xi, her mind filled with memories of Duan Mingxuan and her past interactions.
Duan Mingxuan forbade Lin Xi from drinking, provoked Duan Yiheng for her sake, broke the gift Lin Xi gave Duan Yiheng, and they had a cold war followed by reconciliation… What was Lin Xi thinking? Childhood sweethearts, a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
Yu Lang had spoken of Duan Mingxuan's kindness to Lin Xi, and also of Lin Xi's dependence on him.
How much of this was romantic love? Zhang Mo had to consider all possibilities.
She had met so many rich second-generation heirs, none of whom had given themselves away easily. Her goal wasn't a huge breakup fee, but a marriage into a wealthy family.
Although Duan Mingxuan had a bad temper, he was actually easy to please, simple, generous, and handsome—the best she had ever met.
She absolutely wouldn't allow anyone to ruin it. The porridge was still a little hot. Zhang Mo glanced at Lin Xi, who was cooling it down for her, and an idea came to her.
Zhang Mo glanced at Duan Mingxuan, who was talking to Yu Lang, and said to Lin Xi, "I can do it myself." Seeing Zhang Mo's pale face, Lin Xi was a little worried: "Are you sure you can manage?"
"I can, I'm not used to being fed." Lin Xi had no choice but to hand her the bowl: "Be careful." Zhang Mo reached out and took it, and Lin Xi let go. She saw Zhang Mo smile at her, and the next second, the hot porridge spilled.
"Careful!" Lin Xi instinctively reached out to catch it, but was scalded and shuddered.
Zhang Mo screamed: "Mingxuan, it's so hot!"
Lin Xi stood there stunned, incredulous.