Dinner took an hour and a half. The mall was nearby, a ten-minute walk away, so the two decided to walk. Duan Yiheng, inexperienced in shopping, asked Lin Xi, "Where can I buy mugs?"
Lin Xi asked, "What kind of mug?" Duan Yiheng replied, "A water mug." Lin Xi then asked, "Do you need one that keeps drinks warm?" Duan Yiheng shook his head, "A mug is fine." Lin Xi nudged his forearm, "They have some on the second floor."
The two took the elevator to the second floor. Lin Xi led Duan Yiheng into their usual luxury brand store. The sales associate (SA) greeted them warmly, smiling and asking why Lin Xi hadn't told her beforehand, otherwise she could have offered service after closing time. Lin Xi smiled slightly, "No need, just looking at mugs as I was passing by."
The SA's gaze swept over Duan Yiheng's face, immediately recognizing his distinguished status, and her smile widened. After clarifying their needs, they went to the display area, where the SA introduced them to a classic mug set. Clearly, there was a misunderstanding about their relationship. Just as Lin Xi was about to ask him to introduce other styles, Duan Yiheng spoke up: "Just this pair." Lin Xi looked up at him: "Why did you buy so many cups?" Duan Yiheng: "To use." Lin Xi:
"..." Fine, money talks. After swiping his card and leaving the store, Duan Yiheng held out his hand to Lin Xi: "Give me the car keys, I'll drive." "Isn't that inappropriate?" Lin Xi said, "You're the boss." Duan Yiheng:
"...In private, you don't have to treat me like your boss." *You won't even let me be your older brother,* Lin Xi thought to herself, but she gave him the car keys and took the cups he had bought. The two walked to the parking lot, and Duan Yiheng said to her:
"Pick the cups you like, keep one as your onboarding gift." Lin Xi was stunned: "For me?" Duan Yiheng opened the passenger door for her, speaking naturally: "Didn't you break your cup?"
So he went through all that trouble just to buy her a cup? Actually, she had more at home; she always liked buying these little trinkets. But since it was her boss's thoughtful gesture, and it was only a little over a thousand yuan, Lin Xi didn't feel awkward. Her eyebrows twitched, and she smiled at Duan Yiheng:
"Thank you, then I'll keep the white one." Duan Yiheng then started the car. After passing two intersections, Duan Yiheng suddenly slowed down. Lin Xi turned her head suspiciously: "Why did you slow down?"
Duan Yiheng's gaze swept over the rearview mirror; a van had driven past them. He shook his head at Lin Xi: "Nothing." After returning home, Lin Xi saw Duan Mingxuan downstairs again.
She sighed helplessly. He had been coming over every night for the past two days; was he planning to slowly boil the frog? Duan Yiheng didn't say anything, getting out of the car and going inside. Lin Xi walked over and asked him, "Why are you standing here?" Duan Mingxuan: "Waiting for you."
He hadn't been doing well these past two days. His mind was filled with images of Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng going to and from get off work together. He wanted to lose his temper, to forcefully push Lin Xi back to how things were before. But experience made him suppress all impulses. Duan Mingxuan said,
"Yu Lang and Xiao Qi are together now. They're going to a bar tomorrow night to celebrate, and they've invited you." Lin Xi didn't have much of a relationship with Yu Lang, and besides, Zhang Mo would definitely be there too. She shook her head: "I'm not going. You guys have fun."
Duan Mingxuan had expected her to say that, and just nodded dejectedly: "Okay." Lin Xi said goodbye to Duan Mingxuan and went back to her bedroom. She took out the cup Duan Yiheng had given her, put it in a larger bag, and planned to take it to the company on Monday.
But she didn't know what to do with the other one. Should he use it himself? This thought only flashed through her mind for a moment. Lin Xi gathered her long hair and pushed open the bathroom door. Duan Yiheng placed the washed cup on the bedside table and casually called the home security center:
"Send someone to check a license plate for me."
"What's wrong?" Duan Yiheng: "I suspect someone is following Lin Xi. Can you check it for me?"
"Sure." Duan Yiheng gave the license plate number and added:
"As soon as possible. Also, send a bodyguard to follow her."
"Yes." Whether it was just overthinking or not, checking would put his mind at ease. Meanwhile, the van owner was frowning: "I don't know if he's noticed." Chen Jingyi immediately said:
"Don't follow her. Avoid her for a while." The man immediately hummed in agreement. Chen Jingyi took out the money wrapped in a letter and handed it over: "Brother Shan, you've worked hard these past few days." Brother Shan scratched the back of his head: "Then I won't be polite."
Chen Jingyi: "I'm leaving now. Be careful." "Okay." Chen Jingyi walked through the dilapidated alley and arrived at the bustling roadside. Her gaze swept over the Lamborghini parked by the roadside, darkening considerably.
Just as Chen Jingyi was about to raise her hand to flag down the car, the Lamborghini driver slammed his hand on the steering wheel in frustration, angrily turning to his friend in the passenger seat, "I asked you out here to give me advice on how to win back Duan Mingxuan's heart. Why are you stammering?"
Chen Jingyi's eyes darted around. Duan Mingxuan? Was it the Duan Mingxuan she knew? "Momo, Young Master Duan's heart is entirely with Lin Xi. Anyone who says a word against him is seen as provoking him. I think we should take it slow." Slowly?
If she took it slow, the scar on her lower back would almost fade. Just as Zhang Mo was about to explode in anger, Chen Liangyi leaned down and knocked on the car door: "Excuse me, does the Lin Xi you mentioned work at Yin Fan?" Zhang Mo was taken aback and asked, "Who are you?" Chen Liangyi smiled:
"I work at Yin Fan. I think I just heard a colleague's name. Sorry." Seeing that she was about to back away, Zhang Mo quickly stopped her: "Wait a minute." Chen Liangyi smiled and took two steps forward: "What's wrong?"
Zhang Mo looked her up and down several times before saying, "The person I'm talking about is named Lin Xi, Lin as in forest, Xi as in bright light. Is she your colleague?" Chen Liangyi suppressed her excitement and shook her head: "No." Zhang Mo scoffed sarcastically:
"That's true, Lin Xi..." "Her outfit alone costs at least six figures. Look at you, with a bag that costs around ten thousand yuan. How could you possibly be her colleague?" Chen Jingyi clenched her fingers, took a step back, and still maintained a polite smile: "Excuse me."
Zhang Mo snorted and said to her friend, "Where are Yu Lang and Xiao Qi going tonight?" "Night Realm Bar. Young Master Duan will definitely be there. If you're gentle and attentive, he'll fall for it." Zhang Mo sighed:
"His mind is all on Lin Xi lately. He's probably only interested in the new girl and doesn't care about the old one." "It's okay, you..." Chen Jingyi didn't have time to listen anymore. She had unintentionally stumbled upon a shocking piece of gossip and needed to digest it carefully.
Lin Xi... she really did have a close relationship with Duan Mingxuan. If this relationship were made public within the company, she probably wouldn't be able to stay there any longer. "Night Realm Bar?" Chen Jingyi murmured to herself. Zhang Mo smiled as she watched Chen Liangyi's retreating figure, then said to her friend, "Tomorrow night, we must lure Lin Xi to Night Realm no matter what." Her friend, puzzled, asked, "Don't you dislike her getting close to Duan Mingxuan?" Zhang Mo laughed smugly, "Except tomorrow night."