Duan Yiheng took long strides, and Lin Xi had to jog to avoid being left behind. Once inside the elevator, Lin Xi pressed a button. After the doors closed, she observed Duan Yiheng through the reflection in the inner wall. He calmly raised his gaze, his lips pressed tightly together.
This man, usually so expressionless, stood quietly in the elevator, lost in thought. After leaving the inpatient ward, Lin Xi followed Duan Yiheng to the car. The driver opened the door for Duan Yiheng. Lin Xi handed her car keys to the driver: "You can drive my car."
The driver hesitated, not having received instructions from Duan Yiheng. Lin Xi said, "I need to discuss some personal matters with him." Having just met the old man, the driver assumed it was about the will and left with Lin Xi's car keys.
Lin Xi took the driver's place and slowly drove the car out of Jinglin. The silence was somewhat oppressive and awkward. While waiting at a red light, Lin Xi tentatively asked, "When do you plan to meet Miss Tan?
I'll clear your schedule." Duan Yiheng looked up, his gaze brushing against Lin Xi's earlobe. "What would you do if it were you?" Lin Xi valued relationships, but Duan Yiheng was different. Accepting the rules meant following them.
In some ways, Grandpa wasn't wrong. But does an heir truly have no right to their own feelings? Not entirely. The car turned a corner, and Lin Xi asked Duan Yiheng, "Why do you think Grandpa is pressuring you to get married so much this year?"
Duan Yiheng naturally understood: "His health condition... he wants to pave the way for me." Lin Xi chuckled:
"Even if you don't agree to the marriage now, Grandpa can't do anything about it. You've cultivated your career in the company for many years, building your own network of connections. Your influence in the group is greater than Uncle Duan's; that's a consensus.
The reason you haven't objected is because you're thinking of Grandpa's health." Lin Xi was right. Even if he openly refused, Grandpa couldn't do anything about it. Duan Zheng is incompetent, and Duan Mingxuan has no experience; it's the Duan family and Yin Fan who need Duan Yiheng.
But the old man's guidance to him is invaluable, and he can't ignore his health. "So you mean..." Lin Xi met Duan Yiheng's gaze in the rearview mirror:
"If you really don't want to, just go through with it for now. I'll see you when I tell you to; it's not like we'll get married after just one meeting." Duan Yiheng frowned: "I thought you had some good ideas. If I meet Tan Qi too often, it'll be sending a signal of arranged marriage to the outside world."
Lin Xi: "Then you can talk to Miss Tan and see what she thinks." Regardless, the old man has spoken, and there's no going back. Duan Yiheng said, "Arrange it for Friday night. Don't go to a restaurant with an ambiguous atmosphere, and don't prepare flowers."
Lin Xi nodded: "Understood." The car turned onto the road leading to the villa, and just as it entered the west gate, Lin Xi suddenly stopped. "Why did you stop?" Duan Yiheng asked. Lin Xi unbuckled her seatbelt and said, "Duan Mingxuan's here." "Get out first."
Duan Yiheng opened the car door. "Come to my study later; I have something to discuss with you." Lin Xi replied, "Okay." Duan Mingxuan, like a child who had done something wrong, instinctively took a half-step back when he saw Lin Xi approaching.
But as she was about to pass by him, he hurriedly chased after her, calling out, "Xiao Xi." Lin Xi paused and turned around. "Is something wrong?" "I'm sorry." Duan Mingxuan lowered his head.
Seeing the usually arrogant Duan Mingxuan so humble, Lin Xi felt bad too. But his behavior yesterday was too much; she couldn't forgive him so easily. "I regretted it then, but I couldn't bring myself to do it."
Duan Mingxuan confessed, "I'm sorry, Xiao Xi, I sincerely apologize to you. No matter what, I shouldn't have left you alone on the mountain." Recalling the moment of isolation and helplessness last night, Lin Xi's fear was completely soothed by a beam of car headlights. Lin Xi said, "I admit I lied to you, but you know your temper. If I had told you then, you probably would have come in the rain that very night." "Duan Yiheng and I were just on a business trip. His trip to Rong County wasn't something I arranged with him.
What you said later was also excessive, Duan Mingxuan. I can't always accept your apologies." "I know, I won't force you," Duan Mingxuan quickly assured him. "I just wanted to apologize. I'm leaving now, you should get some rest."
Lin Xi was right. What happened in Rong County wasn't her fault; it was all Duan Yiheng's fault. Lin Xi nodded: "I'll go upstairs first." Duan Mingxuan watched her enter the living room, feeling incredibly stifled. But at this juncture, how could he dare force her to move back?
Lin Xi knocked on the door of Duan Yiheng's study, and only entered after receiving permission. This was her second time here. The first time was to try and enter Yin Fan, and it was then that she witnessed his tense relationship with Duan Mingxuan. Lin Xi sat down on the sofa by the window. Duan Yiheng walked over and sat opposite her, asking directly, "What do you think about Zheng Jizhong's difficult behavior at the meeting today?" Lin Xi confidently replied,
"I'm sure I gave him complete and clear data. I suspect someone interfered." Duan Yiheng said, "Zheng Jizhong doesn't have the time to frame you, especially not with such insignificant tactics." "Yes, Director Zheng was genuinely angry."
Lin Xi said, "He already looked down on me and thought I wasn't working diligently, so naturally he was furious. I have a rough idea of who it was." Duan Yiheng said, "I had Qin Yang check the surveillance footage, but they found nothing." Lin Xi said,
"Without evidence, I won't easily reveal her name. But the fact that she was able to surpass Jiang Hulin to gain Zheng Jizhong's approval at the company shows her social skills. Some things don't need to be done personally, or perhaps, the person doing it doesn't even know it themselves."
Duan Yiheng thought so too. A moment of silence fell over the study. Lin Xi couldn't help but ask, "Zheng Jizhong embarrassed me in front of so many department heads. He didn't just slap me in the face; are you going to let him continue like this?" Duan Yiheng scoffed, "What are you thinking?"
Lin Xi felt relieved: "This kind of person can't be allowed to live." Duan Yiheng suddenly smiled and asked, "You and Liang Yutong are so close, you really don't know who Zheng Jizhong is?" Lin Xi was taken aback: "Who is he?" "Zheng Jianian," Duan Yiheng reminded her. Lin Xi was stunned:
"Zheng Jianian is Yutong's fiancé. What is Zheng Jizhong to Zheng Jianian?" Duan Yiheng: "Uncle and nephew." "What?" Lin Xi was shocked. "How come I didn't know?" Duan Yiheng: "It's normal that you don't know. After all, you're not even familiar with Zheng Jianian."
This was also one of the reasons he avoided Lin Xi and didn't let her get involved in Zheng Jizhong's affairs. Liang Yutong and Zheng Jianian were childhood sweethearts and had a good relationship. If Liang Yutong asked Lin Xi for help for Zheng Jianian, Lin Xi would only feel awkward. Duan Yiheng frowned and glanced at the empty cup beside him. Lin Xi noticed the subtle change in his expression and asked, "What's wrong? You look unwell." Duan Yiheng clutched his stomach. "I haven't eaten, I'm starving." Lin Xi couldn't help but chuckle:
"How old are you? Don't you know to eat when you're hungry? Wait, I'll go check the kitchen." Duan Yiheng grabbed her hand. "Just have someone bring it over. Have some with me too." His palm was dry and warm; the unfamiliar touch made Lin Xi's fingertips twitch.
Her gaze fell on their intertwined hands. Duan Yiheng's hand had prominent veins on the back, his fingers long and slender, with distinct knuckles. His fingertips brushed against her delicate, sensitive wrist, sending a jolt through her. Lin Xi abruptly pulled her hand away and sat back down on the sofa without a word.