"Ming, Mingxuan, why are you back?"
Chen Baiwei's face turned pale, and Lin Xi averted her gaze, avoiding her eyes. Duan Mingxuan stepped into the house, his gaze shifting between the two women before finally settling on Chen Baiwei: "Mom, what you were saying earlier, was it all true?" "What do you mean, true or false?"
Chen Baiwei tried to change the subject, "You've been out there running around for days, aren't you hungry? I'll tell the kitchen to prepare dinner right away." "Mom," Duan Mingxuan gritted his teeth and roared, "I have no appetite! What do you mean Xiaoxi likes me? What do you mean you tricked her into going to America?"
Duan Mingxuan couldn't accept it. He had thought Lin Xi had changed her mind first, but who knew it was his mother who had interfered? How could he bear this?
Chen Baiwei, completely devoid of the haughty demeanor she displayed in front of Lin Xi, hesitated, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single word for a long time. "Xiaoxi, you tell me," Duan Mingxuan said, looking at Lin Xi, determined to get to the bottom of things.
Lin Xi really didn't want to be caught in the middle between the mother and son, so she said, "You tell Aunt Wei, I'm leaving first." Duan Mingxuan raised his arm to stop her: "No one can leave until things are cleared up today." Lin Xi frowned and took a half step back. "Mingxuan, let Xiao Xi go first," Chen Baiwei said, "If you want to know, I'll tell you slowly later... Ah..." The ceramic piece fell to the ground, startling Chen Baiwei. The entryway was a mess, and Duan Mingxuan, his face full of anger, had swung a ceramic ornament to the ground. Lin Xi held back and said, "Come with me, don't lose your temper here. I'll tell you everything you want to know." "Lin Xi?" Chen Baiwei glared at her warningly. Lin Xi scoffed: "Aunt Wei, he'll find out sooner or later, you just didn't expect it to come so soon. If you don't want me to tell you, you can tell him yourself." How could Chen Baiwei not understand her son? She stiffened and fell silent.
Lin Xi turned and went to the courtyard connecting the north and south sides. Duan Mingxuan followed closely. Once down the steps, Duan Mingxuan lost his patience and asked Lin Xi, "Why did you go to America five years ago?" Lin Xi turned around and said,
"Five years ago, Grandpa talked about our marriage, and Aunt Wei came to see me that night..." Her memory flashed back, and the person standing before Lin Xi changed from Duan Mingxuan to Chen Baiwei. "Xiao Xi, do you like Mingxuan?" Chen Baiwei smiled kindly.
Lin Xi suppressed her timidity and shyness, silently nodding, unaware of the fleeting glint in Chen Baiwei's eyes. "I know you and Mingxuan agreed to go to England together, but I hope you can understand Mingxuan's situation in the Duan family."
Lin Xi looked up, waiting for Chen Baiwei to continue. "Duan Yiheng is five years older than Mingxuan and is already working for the group. The old man favors his eldest son and grandson. Think about it, when he's in charge, will Mingxuan have a good life?"
"Aunt Wei, Grandpa is still alive," Lin Xi said. "He dotes on Mingxuan quite a bit." "That's true."
Chen Baiwei said, "But all the old man gives us is money. To put it bluntly, he's getting old. If he passes away, our family will have to depend on others." Lin Xi was confused: "Aunt Wei, what are you trying to say?"
"I originally wanted to find Mingxuan a suitable socialite, but you've grown up by my side since you were little, and I genuinely love you." "If you can bridge the gap between yourself and those socialites, I'll agree to your marriage to Mingxuan in five years."
"You agree?" Lin Xi thought she wouldn't agree. "With your shares in Yinfan and his father's protection, Mingxuan won't lose too badly." Lin Xi: "So, what do you want me to do?" Chen Baiwei:
"Go to America, learn what you need to learn, and come back to help Mingxuan." "But what about Mingxuan…" "I'll talk to him." Chen Baiwei patted her reassuringly, "I'll tell him to visit you more often, but don't tell him about me talking to you tonight."
"What if I don't agree?" Lin Xi asked tentatively. Chen Baiwei's expression remained unchanged: "Then I can only arrange a marriage between him and someone else." Lin Xi thought for thirty seconds and agreed.
"I agreed to go to America with Aunt Wei not because she wanted to make our marriage happen, but because I know you hate being arranged and manipulated, and you must also despise arranged marriages," Lin Xi said to Duan Mingxuan. "I traded five years in America for your freedom to choose your own marriage."
Duan Mingxuan was completely stunned: "Xiao Xi." Lin Xi: "But it's all in the past. It was all my own choice. Just pretend it never happened." "How can I pretend it never happened?"
Duan Mingxuan was filled with regret. "Why didn't you tell me from the beginning?" Lin Xi: "I promised your mother, and I have to keep my promise." "But she's been lying to you all along," Duan Mingxuan said. "She never liked you. She just tricked you into going to America to keep you away from me."
Lin Xi: "I knew. I found out a year later, but I still held onto hope until I returned to China this year and you got a girlfriend. Only then did I finally give up." Duan Mingxuan was taken aback: "Completely give up?" Lin Xi smiled:
"Mingxuan, I've really let go. You don't need to dwell on it anymore. You have a girlfriend now. If you like her, just enjoy the relationship." "I…" Duan Mingxuan didn't know what to say for a moment. "Alright, I have to go to work tomorrow, I'll be going now." "Xiao Xi."
Duan Mingxuan subconsciously chased after her, but Lin Xi didn't turn around. He clutched his chest, feeling a tightness in his chest, a deep fear. So Lin Xi had always liked him.
A complex mix of emotions welled up in Duan Mingxuan's chest—joy, grievance, regret… All the past events seemed to have vanished with Lin Xi, and she suddenly felt a sense of relief. Just as she stepped onto the stairs, she bumped into the hurried Duan Yiheng.
Lin Xi had never seen him so anxious before. "What's wrong?" she asked. Duan Yiheng breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her. "I didn't see you when I got back. Sister Mei said Chen Baiwei called you away, I was worried." "So you were going to find me?"
Lin Xi smiled. "I'm fine, aren't I?" Sister Mei and the maid were there. Duan Yiheng suppressed the urge to hug her and said, "Come upstairs with me." Lin Xi gave him a "you go first" look, then silently followed him.
Entering Duan Yiheng's study, he asked Lin Xi, "Chen Baiwei wouldn't contact you for no reason. What did she say to you?" Lin Xi pursed her lips, hesitating. "Don't keep things to yourself, tell me."
Duan Yiheng put his arm around her shoulder, gently coaxing her, "I'm afraid Chen Baiwei will bully you again." "She didn't bully me," Lin Xi said, "but Duan Mingxuan knows I went to America because of Chen Baiwei, and...and..." Duan Yiheng's brows furrowed:
"And, he knows you used to like him?"