Lin Xi leaned against Duan Yiheng's chest and nodded silently. "I know you went to America five years ago because of Duan Mingxuan, but I don't know the specific details."
Duan Yiheng said, "Could you tell me?" Lin Xi snorted, "I get sarcastic remarks from some people even when I'm just having dinner with Han Zicheng, so I'd better not talk about it." Duan Yiheng grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the desk.
Lin Xi was startled and tried to get down using the desk, but her feet couldn't reach the ground, and Duan Yiheng leaned over and occupied the space between her legs. "You..." Lin Xi's ears turned red, "Why are you always like this?" "Like what?"
Duan Yiheng chuckled deeply, "Didn't you promise to be my lover? This is nothing!" Lin Xi pressed her palms against his shoulders, shamefully averting her gaze. Duan Yiheng leaned down and kissed her ear. Lin Xi shrank back, pleading, "Don't do that..." "What's wrong?" Duan Yiheng whispered in her ear, "Is it itchy?" Lin Xi nodded. "But as lovers, besides hugs and kisses, there's more." Duan Yiheng's breath gently brushed against her neck. "Does my darling know?" Lin Xi's almond-shaped eyes widened suddenly. What did he call her? Duan Yiheng kissed her slightly parted lips: "What are you daydreaming about?" Lin Xi shook her head. "What does shaking your head mean?" Duan Yiheng liked to tease her. "Are you spacing out, not knowing what to do?
Or do you not know what your lover is going to do?" "I know," Lin Xi said shyly. "Can you please stop saying that?" Duan Yiheng ruffled her hair. "Then tell me, what did Chen Baiwei promise you when you went to America five years ago?"
Lin Xi slowly exhaled, gently pushing him away, and said, "She said she would let me and Duan Mingxuan be together." "Fool," Duan Yiheng chuckled. "You believed her?" Lin Xi:
"...I..." "Going to America wasn't because she wanted to make Duan Mingxuan and me be together. It was because I knew Duan Mingxuan was self-centered and unruly; he hated following the rules. I just traded five years for his freedom to choose his own marriage partner." Duan Yiheng's smile froze on his lips.
"It seems you really like him." Lin Xi looked up at Duan Yiheng. "That's all in the past. Are you going to bring up old grievances with me?" "How could I bear to bring up old grievances with you?" Duan Yiheng kissed her forehead. "I feel sorry for you."
Lin Xi froze, tears welling up in her eyes. Duan Yiheng wiped away her tears. "Don't cry. I'm here for you. I won't let anyone bully you again." "I just did what I wanted to do at the time."
Lin Xi choked out, "As for whether she keeps her promise, I can't control that. Duan Mingxuan and I grew up together. Consider this repaying that kindness. I have nothing to do with him anymore." "Yes, only with me from now on," Duan Yiheng agreed. Lin Xi chuckled softly, embracing Duan Yiheng, her eyes filled with sorrow. There was no future for them, only a temporary compromise. Lin Xi despised herself, yet she couldn't bear to let go. Duan Yiheng gently stroked her back, quietly savoring this moment of peace.
"Lin Xi," Lin Xi heard Duan Yiheng call her name and responded in his arms. "No matter what happens in the future, I'll always be there for you." "Okay," Lin Xi replied, deceiving herself. "It's getting late, go back to your room and rest."
Duan Yiheng said, "I'm negotiating with Zhentian tomorrow, I won't be at the company this morning." Lin Xi pushed him away: "Okay, I'll go back now." Back in her room, Lin Xi couldn't resist searching online for news about Duan Yiheng and Tan Qi's arranged marriage.
But after searching and searching, she found nothing. Had they been PR-manipulated? That was the only guess Lin Xi could have. Could it be Duan Yiheng? Lin Xi didn't know, and pretended not to know anything. The next day, Duan Yiheng personally led a team to participate in the negotiations with Qintian.
The negotiations went smoothly, and they had lunch together. Qin Yang accompanied him, and after the meal, he reported on the group's affairs in the car. "But regarding Zheng Jizhong, the general manager certainly won't easily grant your wish," Duan Yiheng scoffed.
"He's just using his status to pressure me. Isn't there still the old man?" "The general manager is, after all, your father. He's been deeply involved in the group for many years and has his supporters," Qin Yang said. "However, the marriage alliance with the Tan family could influence a wave of people on our side."
"Where did you hear that?" Duan Yiheng suddenly asked. "When did I say I wanted a marriage alliance with the Tan family?" Qin Yang was taken aback: "It was all in the news. I thought you tacitly approved it. Everyone knows." "Everyone?" Duan Yiheng frowned. Qin Yang:
"Yes, Secretary Lin saw the news yesterday too." "What did you say?" Duan Yiheng suddenly sat up straight. Qin Yang was taken aback. Was something wrong? "Old Zhang, drive faster," Duan Yiheng rubbed his temples and instructed the driver.
The driver responded and silently sped up. "Report on everything concerning Secretary Lin immediately," Duan Yiheng said. Qin Yang was truly baffled. He asked, "Is there something wrong with her?" Duan Yiheng: "..." The problem was with him; it was his fault for not noticing sooner.
And Lin Xi, she was so good at hiding it. Yesterday, there was absolutely no sign of anything amiss. Wasn't she afraid of bottling things up and ruining herself? But he couldn't blame her; she'd been raised by Chen Baiwei since childhood, always watching her every move, and basically kept everything to herself.
Duan Yiheng loosened his tie, a feeling of helpless anger washing over him.
If Lin Xi hadn't been raised by Chen Baiwei… Duan Yiheng mentally blamed Duan Zheng again. If it weren't for him, his mother wouldn't have been so depressed, and Lin Xi might have been raised by his mother.
His mother would definitely like Lin Xi; it might even be beneficial to her condition. He rushed back to the company, and before the car had even come to a complete stop, Duan Yiheng opened the door. Qin Yang hurriedly followed. "That's all for you," Duan Yiheng said. "Have Secretary Lin come to my office upstairs. Don't let anyone disturb you during your lunch break." Qin Yang quickly agreed, his mind racing with various speculations. "Don't overthink it," Duan Yiheng saw through his thoughts. "I won't do anything to her. You probably don't know, but she grew up in the Duan family." Qin Yang was taken aback: "She's your sister?" Duan Yiheng frowned: "No, she's not my sister, just someone who grew up in the Duan family." Qin Yang was confused. Did this mean he liked her or not? But he couldn't control that. He just hadn't expected the Duan family's heiress to become Duan Yiheng's secretary. Qin Yang went upstairs and headed straight to Lin Xi's office. Qin Yang's attitude became much more cautious. He said, "Secretary Lin, President Duan wants you to go to his office." Lin Xi was taken aback: "Now?" Qin Yang nodded. Lin Xi: "Assistant Qin, do you know why President Duan wants to see me?" Qin Yang shook his head: "I don't know the specifics, but it's strange that he mentioned his marriage alliance with the Tan family." Lin Xi's heart tightened: "I understand, I'll go right now."