Lin Xi spent the whole day agonizing at home. In the evening, Liang Yutong called. The chaotic scenes of the previous night flashed through her mind, fragmented into countless pieces.
She finally remembered to ask, "Tongtong, did you bring me home last night?"
"No," Liang Yutong said, "Duan Yiheng picked you up."
"Huh?" Lin Xi was genuinely shocked. "I don't remember at all!" Liang Yutong recounted the story with exaggerated and embellished details.
"Holy crap, it was a complete mess! Duan Mingxuan was drunk and rude to Duan Yiheng, even calling him 'Mom.' But Duan Yiheng didn't hold back. He held you in one arm and pinned Duan Mingxuan down with the other. He was fucking handsome!"
Lin Xi: "...They fought?"
Liang Yutong gave an exaggerated "Mmm."
Lin Xi was slightly stunned. They actually fought in front of so many people? She hung up and was about to call Duan Yiheng when Chen Baiwei caught her in the act.
Lin Xi's scalp tightened, and she tried to dodge, but Chen Baiwei had already bombarded her with questions: "Lin Xi, where's Mingxuan?
I can't get through to him on the phone. It's been a whole day. Didn't you two go out together last night?"
Lin Xi: "I came back with my older brother. Mingxuan's probably with his friends. Why don't you wait a little longer?"
"How could you leave him alone?"
Chen Baiwei frowned. "Yi Heng too, how could he forget one? Mingxuan is his brother, after all."
"Aunt Wei, this has nothing to do with my older brother."
Lin Xi retorted. "Whose side are you on? Don't forget, you grew up with Mingxuan." With only the two of them present, Chen Baiwei's usual affable demeanor vanished.
"I—"
"He's drunk and hungover. Why are you blaming him?" Chen Baiwei and Lin Xi looked at the newcomer, both stunned. Duan Yiheng's gaze was too cold; Chen Baiwei didn't dare to retort for a moment.
He glanced at Lin Xi briefly: "Come with me." Lin Xi looked at Chen Baiwei, hesitated, and followed Duan Yiheng.
Just as they reached the courtyard, Duan Yiheng suddenly turned around, and Lin Xi stopped abruptly. She looked up, confused.
"You still know how to speak up for me," Lin Xi smiled awkwardly. "Thank you for bringing me home last night."
"How will you thank me?" Duan Yiheng immediately answered her question.
Lin Xi blinked at him: "How do you think I'll thank you?"
Duan Yiheng said, "I haven't thought about it yet."
Lin Xi: "Then let's talk about it when you've thought about it, okay?"
"Sure." Duan Yiheng looked at her. "You'll do anything I ask?"
Lin Xi: "...Of course not, murder or robbery."
"So that's the kind of vicious image you have of me."
Lin Xi: "...I didn't." Her tone was extremely guilty. Duan Yiheng didn't let her off the hook. His gaze lowered slightly, brushing against the back of her hand. "Not quite vicious, but probably close."
Lin Xi instinctively hid her hand behind her back. "No." Duan Yiheng seemed to chuckle softly, asking, "How's your decision about going to the company?" Lin Xi pursed her lips. "You said Yinfan has a strict personnel system and won't make exceptions for anyone. My major isn't relevant, so why are you asking me to be your secretary?"
Duan Yiheng: "Compared to other positions, a secretary's role relies more on my impression. Once I approve, it saves the HR department the trouble of background checks and evaluations." He wouldn't feel comfortable putting her in other departments.
Tian Han immediately raised the issue. Qin Yang had more important matters to attend to, and a secretary would have to be hired sooner or later, so why let the opportunity fall into the family? Duan Yiheng still had some confidence in Lin Xi's abilities.
Lin Xi wrinkled her nose: "Isn't that just using connections?"
Duan Yiheng chuckled: "So, are you going or not?" Lin Xi thought for a moment, feeling there was something to learn in the secretary position.
Her primary client was Duan Yiheng; a secretary serves the president, and the president serves the group, meaning she indirectly served the group.
Duan Yiheng was responsible for one of the group's core business segments. As his secretary, she would inevitably have access to firsthand intelligence. If she combined her professional knowledge with familiarity with business processes, she might have opportunities for practical experience.
Lin Xi didn't immediately agree, saying, "I'll think about it some more."
"Afraid Duan Mingxuan will find out?" Duan Yiheng saw right through her. Lin Xi, her thoughts read, nodded awkwardly.
She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she always felt that beneath the conflict between Duan Mingxuan and Duan Yiheng lay a unique and restrained understanding. Duan Mingxuan was very resistant to her working at Yin Fan; she was considering whether to tell him.
Duan Yiheng: "Sometimes, having too many concerns only clouds your judgment."
"But I'm not surnamed Duan, so naturally I have more concerns."
Lin Xi understood this perfectly well. "You wouldn't understand."
When you're living under someone else's roof, regardless of how well they treat you, you have to have your own moral compass.
"Whether I understand or not isn't important." Duan Yiheng stepped forward, his shoe almost touching hers, forcing Lin Xi to step back. "Whether you want to go or not is the most important thing, understand?" His tone instantly lowered at the last sentence, his enunciation carrying a seductive undertone that struck Lin Xi's heart.
The impact of his face so close was overwhelming. Lin Xi silently turned her head away: "I've thought it through, I'll come to the company to find you."
Duan Yiheng seemed oblivious to her avoidance, leaning slightly forward, and said, "Then don't keep me waiting too long."
Lin Xi nodded, her breathing unconsciously becoming lighter. She smelled the base notes of Duan Yiheng's cologne, a soft and soothing scent perfect for the season.
Lin Xi hummed in agreement, indicating she understood. If he didn't move aside, she really couldn't breathe.
Duan Yiheng smiled and stepped aside, turning and leaving the courtyard. Lin Xi let out a long sigh of relief, then turned and went to the north courtyard to visit her grandfather. She wanted to talk to him about work; as long as he supported her, she would have no more worries.
As for Duan Mingxuan, she could keep it from him for now and tell him gradually. She stayed in the north courtyard for a long time, having dinner, before heading to the front courtyard.
Just as she entered the living room, Duan Mingxuan walked in, reeking of alcohol. His shirt was half-open, vaguely revealing his muscular chest.
Duan Mingxuan had a habit of working out and had always maintained a good physique. From the moment she boarded the plane at Philadelphia International Airport, she was prepared to confess her feelings to Duan Mingxuan. But the courage she had mustered at 30,000 feet vanished the moment she landed and saw Zhang Mo.
Why she went to America five years ago seemed pointless to explain now.
"Xiao Xi, why did you leave with Duan Yiheng last night?" Lin Xi snapped out of her reverie, not answering his question.
She disliked his accusatory tone, as if he were someone to her.
Strictly speaking, they weren't related by blood, nor were they on the same household register; their bond was simply that of childhood friends.
She didn't want to argue with him, casually replying, "You just got back from outside? Haven't eaten yet? Go eat, I'm going upstairs."
Duan Mingxuan's face darkened, and he suddenly blocked her path, forcing Lin Xi to retreat.
"Duan Mingxuan, what are you doing?" Duan Mingxuan's eyes were resolute, squeezing out each word through gritted teeth: "Why did you leave with him?"