Lin Xi stared blankly at the photo, lost in thought. She knew that leaving the restaurant together didn't necessarily mean anything. But when had Duan Yiheng arranged to meet Tan Qi?
She knew his schedule well; since she hadn't interfered, it must have been Duan Yiheng who contacted them personally. Lin Xi restrained herself, telling herself not to think about anything. Qin Yang passed by the door and, seeing her dazed expression, curiously approached her. "Are you gossiping too?"
Lin Xi was startled: "What?" "About President Duan and Miss Tan," Qin Yang said. "A marriage alliance seems quite logical. I contacted Miss Tan's assistant, and they met right after." "You contacted Miss Tan's assistant?" Lin Xi asked in surprise.
Qin Yang: "Yes, isn't arranging the schedule your responsibility? I asked, and President Duan scolded me." Lin Xi forced a smile. Given her current relationship with Duan Yiheng, it was understandable that he kept it from her. Lin Xi nodded.
"Assistant Qin, you're busy, I'm busy too." Qin Yang responded and returned to his office. At ten o'clock, Duan Yiheng arrived at the company. Lin Xi showed no sign of distress and went to his office to report on the day's workflow.
"The marketing department submitted last week's promotional data report. Registrations were better than expected, but user retention wasn't ideal. Please take a look." Duan Yiheng: "The marketing department wants to increase advertising spending?" Lin Xi:
"Yes, but I think we need to find the reasons. Simply increasing advertising spending isn't a long-term solution." Duan Yiheng nodded: "Analyze the reasons and have them give me an analysis report and improvement plan within a week." "Okay."
Lin Xi said, "In the negotiations with Qintian, they want to increase their equity stake and have more say in technology research and development." Duan Yiheng frowned: "Notify the heads of the legal and technical departments to come upstairs for an emergency meeting right now."
Lin Xi responded and turned to do so. The meeting lasted until noon. Duan Yiheng rubbed his temples and left the meeting room. Lin Xi, at her workstation, immediately stood up and went over to him when she saw him: "Would you like me to order something?" Duan Yiheng loosened his tie:
"Go to the cafeteria and get two meals so we can eat together." Lin Xi noticed the fatigue in his eyes, nodded, and turned to go to the cafeteria.
The round trip took a while. Lin Xi knocked on his office door, and after receiving permission, opened one of the meals for him and handed him chopsticks. The two of them ate a quick bite at the coffee table in front of the wine cabinet. Duan Yiheng placed a piece of pork rib on her plate and asked,
"What do you think of the conditions proposed by Qintian?" Lin Xi was taken aback: "Didn't you have a proper meeting?" Duan Yiheng said, "I just wanted to hear your thoughts." Lin Xi was silent for a moment, then said,
"Their conditions will significantly weaken Yinfan Technology's control in the cooperation deal, potentially hindering our decision-making." Duan Yiheng chuckled: "Go on." Lin Xi:
"We have the technology, and it's mature and complete. If they get involved, it will disrupt our original R&D pace." "But since we're cooperating with Qintian, we're naturally after their market resources and channels," Duan Yiheng said. "We can't just give up."
Lin Xi: "From the legal department's assessment, there aren't any major problems. So, within a certain range of flexibility, we'll negotiate with Qintian again, hoping they can compensate us for our concessions on equity and R&D with other favorable conditions."
Duan Yiheng's eyes held appreciation. "Decisions and key decisions need to be distinguished," Lin Xi added. "Set a veto right for key decisions in the contract, and for others, you can only try to get a larger share of profits." "Good."
Duan Yiheng said, "Let's eat." Lin Xi didn't know how their meeting had gone, but judging from Duan Yiheng's reaction, it was probably pretty much what she had said. After lunch, Lin Xi planned to take a nap, but Duan Yiheng stopped her and said softly, "Just go to my lounge."
Lin Xi brushed his hand away: "That's not good, I'll go out first." Duan Yiheng didn't insist and went into the lounge. His phone rang. It was Mu Zhao calling, and Duan Yiheng answered without hesitation. "Brother, congratulations."
As the eldest son of the Mu family, Mu Zhao was always a bit unreliable, and Duan Yiheng was used to his occasional eccentricities. Thinking of himself and Lin Xi, he smiled. "How did you know I had some good news lately?"
"Damn, it's all over the news, everyone in the industry knows, how could I not know?" Mu Zhao said speechlessly, "So you were keeping it from your brother?" Duan Yiheng's heart sank. Everyone knew about him and Lin Xi?
"Miss Tan is great, beautiful, capable, and from a good family. She's perfect for you. You've finally come to your senses after all these years." Duan Yiheng asked, "Who are you talking about?" Mu Zhao: "Tan Qi. The news says you two are getting married, and the Tan family has already accepted it."
Duan Yiheng hung up the phone and immediately searched online. Seeing photos of himself and Tan Qi online, he was instantly furious. He immediately called Tan Qi, demanding, "What's going on with the news?" "I'm sorry."
Tan Qi was also at her wits' end. "My mother is fighting with her mistress, thinking she can get some protection by clinging to you." Duan Yiheng: "Deal with it immediately, or don't blame me for being ruthless." Tan Qi chuckled: "Afraid your sweetheart will see this?"
Lin Xi had been busy until now, eating with him, so she probably didn't know. "Tell your mother that if this happens again, your face won't matter." Duan Yiheng hung up. That afternoon, seeing no unusual reaction from Lin Xi, he went to the R&D center as scheduled.
After get off work, Lin Xi received a call from Chen Baiwei, asking her to go to the east side. Sure enough, it was to inquire about the marriage between Duan Yiheng and Tan Qi. "Aunt Wei, I'm not quite sure. Why don't you just ask my brother?" Chen Baiwei frowned.
"You're his secretary, how come you don't know anything? Do you know that if he marries into the Tan family, Mingxuan will have to live at his mercy from now on?" Lin Xi was at a loss for words and could only remain silent. "Don't you like Mingxuan?"
Chen Baiwei's gloomy expression softened. "Why don't you consider his feelings?" "Aunt Wei, I don't like him anymore." Lin Xi looked into her eyes. Chen Baiwei didn't believe her at all: "Are you kidding me? You were the one who begged me for mercy back then, and you endured five years of separation for Mingxuan. When you found out Mingxuan had a girlfriend, you were heartbroken. Can you let go so easily?" Lin Xi laughed: "But I have. Didn't you say I wasn't good enough for him?"
"Why are you so rigid?" Chen Baiwei said. Lin Xi: "When Grandpa mentioned my marriage to Mingxuan, you knew I had already agreed to go to England with Mingxuan, yet you came to my room that night to coax me into going to America. The result now is all the result of the seeds sown back then." "I—" "Bang—" Chen Baiwei and Lin Xi turned around at the same time. The door was kicked open, and Duan Mingxuan stood outside with an incredulous expression.