Duan Mingxuan stepped out of his sports car and strode toward the restaurant entrance, completely ignoring Zhang Mo hurrying after him.
The moment he saw Lin Xi in the lobby, he quickened his pace.
He looked her up and down carefully. Only then did his heart begin to settle. He leaned closer and sniffed lightly.
Lin Xi startled and stepped back. "What are you doing?"
He ruffled her hair. "Good girl. Just champagne."
Behind them, Zhang Mo pressed her lips tightly together, her fingers digging into her palm so hard the skin nearly broke.
"Mingxuan." She walked forward, trying to draw his attention.
Lin Xi glanced at her faintly but didn't greet her.
Zhang Mo frowned. She hadn't expected the always-gracious Lin Xi to ignore her like this. Last time, Lin Xi had personally fed her porridge—for Mingxuan's sake.
Forcing a bright smile, Zhang Mo greeted her generously. "Hi."
Lin Xi gave her no face at all. She simply stared at her—calm and silent—until Zhang Mo felt a flicker of unease.
Zhang Mo tugged lightly at Mingxuan's sleeve. "Mingxuan…" Her tone was aggrieved, almost affected.
Caught between them, Mingxuan looked troubled. He couldn't bring himself to scold Lin Xi, so he gave an awkward laugh.
"What's wrong? Still upset about spilling the porridge last time?"
As if she had time to sulk over something like that.
Lin Xi turned to him. "Yu Lang is waiting for you upstairs. I'm leaving."
He grabbed her hand. "Leaving? I waited for you at home all day, and you still went to work."
"The dinner upstairs isn't over."
A smug smile appeared on his lips. "I already had Yu Lang go up and say hello. You're off work now. If you don't believe me, call my brother."
"You—" Lin Xi choked with anger. "What gives you the right to make decisions for me?"
The smile froze on his face. His expression darkened visibly.
Zhang Mo stepped forward gently.
"You boarded a flight at seven this morning and worked all day. Mingxuan is just worried you're exhausted. If you don't want to eat with us, we can send you home to rest."
Lin Xi shot her a cold glance. "Save your fake concern. This has nothing to do with you."
"Xiao Xi—" Mingxuan frowned.
But Lin Xi was already burning inside. She ignored him, turned, and walked out of the lobby. Standing in the corridor, she called Duan Yiheng.
For no reason, she felt nervous and swallowed unconsciously.
He answered on the third ring.
"Sorry, President Duan," she said quickly. "I didn't handle things well. Do you still need me there?"
"No. You're off work."
Before she could explain, he hung up.
Her mind was in chaos. She kicked the decorative pillar beside her in frustration.
With Yu Lang going upstairs to fetch her, Duan Yiheng couldn't refuse—not in front of Lu Tong and Chen Li. No matter how strained their relationship was, he wouldn't embarrass Duan Mingxuan in front of business partners.
Mingxuan walked over and reached for her sleeve.
She shook him off. "Don't touch me."
He grew angry too. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
She looked up. "What do you mean?"
"After our call, I realized Lu Tong was there. That's why I sent Yu Lang upstairs.
"I know Lu Tong. We've met. He and Duan Yiheng are close. The fact they're dining at Cuiyuntai says enough. Yiheng usually doesn't have time for places like this during business engagements.
"If you leave early, Lu Tong won't say anything. It won't affect the companies' cooperation."
"No matter how close they are," Lin Xi retorted, "I came today as Duan Yiheng's secretary. Have you ever seen the boss stay while the secretary leaves first?"
"That's just his excuse," Mingxuan shot back. "He just wants to keep you tied to him."
"Fine." Lin Xi was trembling with anger. "Then tell me—why would he want to keep me tied to him?"
"I—" Mingxuan faltered.
The cold mountain wind swept down the corridor. He shifted slightly, blocking most of it for her.
"Can you stop being angry?" His voice softened. "I really just want you to rest earlier."
She pressed her lips together in silence.
"I'll go up to the third floor later and apologize. I mean it."
She took a deep breath. "No need. Go eat with your friends. I'll stay here for a while."
"How can I leave you alone? Come inside."
"I don't want to."
He raised his hands in surrender. "Fine. If you don't want to, we won't. I'll take you home right now."
Bitterness filled her mouth. "If you take me home, what about Zhang Mo?"
"I'll have the hotel send her back." He waited for her answer anxiously. "Okay?"
She still wanted to wait for Duan Yiheng. But going back upstairs now would only make things awkward.
Reluctantly, she followed Mingxuan to the second floor.
The restaurant was wrapped in 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows. Lin Xi sat beside Yu Lang. From that seat, the view stretched wide and clear—the city lights glittered below, and every guest entering or leaving the restaurant could be seen.
If Duan Yiheng came out, she would notice immediately.
She even took her irritation out on Yu Lang, sitting in silence.
He gave an awkward laugh. "Let me make it up to you. I'll drink three as punishment?"
She rolled her eyes, unimpressed.
Yu Lang and Mingxuan exchanged helpless glances, wiggling their eyebrows at each other but failing to come up with any way to soothe her.
Suddenly, the girl sitting on Yu Lang's other side spoke.
"Have we met before? You look familiar."
Lin Xi's heart skipped. She shook her head, feigning innocence.
They had crossed paths in the elevator earlier, but she assumed the girl hadn't noticed. From the hotel to the airport—even on the plane—the girl hadn't spared her a glance.
How could she recognize her?
Lin Xi lowered her gaze, anxiety tightening her chest.
The girl smiled. "I'm Xiao Qi. I'm a travel blogger. Nice to meet you."
Politeness demanded a response. Lin Xi returned a faint smile.
Xiao Qi's eyes suddenly lit up. "Did we meet in H City? You stayed on the eleventh floor with your boyfriend?"
Lin Xi sucked in a sharp breath.
Mingxuan, Zhang Mo, and Yu Lang all turned toward her at once.
"What boyfriend?" Mingxuan's face turned cold.
"There is no boyfriend," Lin Xi cut in quickly. "You must have mistaken me."
Xiao Qi hesitated. "Sorry."
Lin Xi shook her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a familiar figure at the restaurant entrance.
She stood up abruptly. "You guys eat. I'm leaving."
Xiao Qi was already scrolling through her phone suspiciously.
Mingxuan had just started to chase after Lin Xi when Xiao Qi suddenly exclaimed excitedly—
"I knew I wasn't wrong. Look."
Duan Yiheng's steps paused.
In the video on her phone, a girl wearing a black baseball cap was bumped by a passerby. A pair of hands immediately steadied her shoulders.
The girl looked up and smiled. Her lips clearly formed the word, "Thank you."
Even if reduced to ashes, Mingxuan would recognize them.
One was Lin Xi—the girl who had just run out.
The other was Duan Yiheng.