Lin Xi took a shower, then knelt by the bedside, strumming the strings of her music box. The tender, soothing melody of "Romance de Amor" played softly.
Under the box was a photograph, taken by Duan Yiheng with a vintage camera he'd found at a flea market. The subject was her. The viewfinder framed the night like a pure black ribbon, and she stood within it, her gaze turning back with unguarded surprise.
In the hazy darkness, he captured her like a beam of warm light. Especially her eyes, which seemed to encapsulate every star in the city that night.
"You said..." Lin Xi murmured, looking at herself in the photo, "...was he with Miss Tan?" The words trailed off, followed by a self-deprecating smile. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, standing side by side, receiving blessings from the outside world, not malicious speculation.
With a "click," Lin Xi placed the photograph back into the music box. The lingering melody abruptly stopped, just like her feelings for Duan Yiheng. "Knock, knock." Suddenly, a knock came at the door. Lin Xi turned her head suspiciously. Who could it be so late?
She had said she didn't want late-night snacks, so it couldn't be Sister Mei. There was no answer at the door. Lin Xi suspected the other person hadn't heard her, so she slipped on her slippers and went to the door. "Who is it?" Two more knocks.
She wasn't worried about safety in this heavily guarded villa, but what did it mean to just knock without speaking? Lin Xi couldn't help but suspect it was Duan Mingxuan. She didn't want to see anyone right now, so she remained silent, hoping Duan Mingxuan would leave on his own.
The noise outside gradually subsided. Just as Lin Xi breathed a sigh of relief, a deep voice responded from outside: "It's me." A surprised smile appeared on Lin Xi's face. Her hands trembled, and she instinctively opened the door.
Her pupils dilated slightly, her mouth opened and closed repeatedly, unable to find her voice for a long time. A coat billowed in the cold, frost hung on his brows. Standing outside was none other than the person she most wanted to see.
"You..." Lin Xi's lips trembled, and she realized how hoarse her voice was as she spoke. "Didn't you say you weren't coming back?" Duan Yiheng's gaze shifted downwards, to her flushed face after her shower, her slightly parted lips like a jasmine blooming in the night.
He wanted to kiss her, but was afraid of being seen as a pervert. "Sister Mei called me..." Duan Yiheng only got halfway through his sentence. Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat: "What did she say to you?" "She said..." Duan Yiheng stared intently at her face, "You cried."
"I didn't," Lin Xi instinctively denied. Duan Yiheng took a step forward, squeezing Lin Xi into the bedroom. Lin Xi turned her head, facing him in silence. Duan Yiheng raised his hand and pressed it to her lips, saying softly, "No? Then why do you look like you're about to cry?" Lin Xi nervously clenched her fingers. "I didn't?" Duan Yiheng closed the bedroom door, lowering his gaze and chuckling, "Is that so? Then I'll call Sister Mei over for a confrontation." "No!" Lin Xi hurriedly stopped him. "I just... I just have a few dry eyes, they're red from rubbing them. Sister Mei misunderstood." She was still so stubborn. "Sister Mei said you asked about my relationship with Tan Qi. What do you want to know?" Duan Yiheng said, "I'll tell you myself." Lin Xi shook her head. "I just asked casually." "A casual question?" Duan Yiheng smiled faintly. "Are you worried that I might spend the night with Tan Qi? Or are you worried that I might kiss her like I kissed you when I'm drunk? Or perhaps you were so angry after being rejected that you impulsively announced this marriage?" With each sentence, Lin Xi's face grew paler. She could reject Duan Yiheng for the sake of their futures, but she couldn't imagine him doing the same thing to someone else. Just thinking about it made her feel suffocated. Yet, she was the one who rejected him so decisively and without hesitation; what right did she have to question him?
She never had the right. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and Lin Xi raised her hand to wipe them away. Duan Yiheng froze, reaching out to wipe her tears. With a "slap," Lin Xi slapped his hand away. The force was negligible.
"I haven't even cried yet, and you're already crying?" Duan Yiheng's voice carried a helpless smile. "You cry after just a few words? Weren't you quite heartless when you rejected me?" Lin Xi simply acted spoiled: "I don't understand what you're saying." "Fine, then I'll ask and you answer."
Duan Yiheng said, "Do you have feelings for Zhou Zheng?" "We've only just met; what feelings could I possibly have?" Lin Xi subconsciously replied, going along with his question. Then she choked on her words. Why should she answer? "Judging from his appearance alone, he's quite nice," Duan Yiheng seemed to be analyzing for her. "Even when Duan Mingxuan made things difficult for him, he seemed very good-natured. His first impression probably wasn't bad, right?" "I saw you chatting happily with Miss Tan."
Lin Xi said, "One drink after another, you're having a good time, aren't you?" Duan Yiheng smiled enigmatically: "Jealous?" "Who's jealous?" Lin Xi retorted stubbornly, "I don't even like to dip my dumplings in vinegar." Duan Yiheng said:
"That's really strange, there's a sour smell in the air." Lin Xi wasn't about to back down: "Perhaps some people have a problem with their noses." Duan Yiheng curled his lips, suddenly pinning her against the wall, leaning in and gently sniffing behind her ear: "Sandalwood and jasmine, the scent of your shower gel."
Lin Xi's face suddenly flushed red. "You—" Lin Xi glared at him. Was this how you proved your nose was fine? "Let's get back to the point." Duan Yiheng stopped teasing her. "The second question is, do you still have feelings for Duan Mingxuan?"
"Of course I do," Lin Xi replied deliberately. "Oh? Is it familial love or romantic love?" Duan Yiheng wasn't fooled. "Or let me put it another way. If Duan Mingxuan were standing in front of you right now, could you accept him kissing you?" "What nonsense are you talking about?" Lin Xi glared at him. "He already has a girlfriend, can't you have some morals?" Duan Yiheng, who had been a moral man for thirty years, was speechless. "What if he didn't have a girlfriend?" Lin Xi dodged the question. "It's impossible for us."
"Lin Xi, answer my question directly. Putting aside all external factors, just you and him, could you accept him kissing you?" Lin Xi fell silent. "Answer me," Duan Yiheng pressed on. Lin Xi couldn't accept it. She sadly realized:
In just three short months, she had easily given up on Duan Mingxuan, whom she had secretly loved for many years. "Answer me," Duan Yiheng said. "You know this is important to me." Lin Xi closed her eyes, then opened them again after a few seconds, looking at him:
"I can't accept this. Are you satisfied now?" Her tone carried a resigned helplessness, and an accusation of him forcing her. "The third question," Duan Yiheng's voice completely subsided, "Do you know how I feel about you?"