Lin Xi lowered her head following his gaze, belatedly realizing her intimate actions with Duan Yiheng. She slightly lifted her fingertips and released him.
Duan Mingxuan, concerned with his image, suppressed his anger, his facial features taut.
"Xiao Xi, what are you doing here?" He was with Duan Yiheng, after all. Lin Xi felt inexplicably guilty, her gaze unable to find its mark. Then she paused, confused about what she was feeling guilty about.
Perhaps it was because for the past decade or so, Duan Mingxuan had maintained a clear distinction between her and Duan Yiheng. Others, even she herself, believed that she should be on Duan Mingxuan's side, unconditionally. But she was no longer the naive little girl she once was.
Thinking this, Lin Xi became composed. Her eyes were calm as she said to Duan Mingxuan, "What a coincidence." Duan Mingxuan was inexplicably furious at her attitude.
Zhang Mo seemed to sense something and grabbed his arm, "Mingxuan, let's go upstairs first. Someone's watching here."
Seeing the two groups locked in a stalemate, the waiter, unsure of their relationship, only knew they couldn't fight in the restaurant, so he quickly put on a smiling face and led them upstairs. Lin Xi took the first step, followed by Duan Yiheng and Duan Mingxuan like a devoted fan.
Upon reaching the second floor, the four were led to the left and right. Lin Xi felt a burning gaze from behind; Duan Mingxuan seemed to be staring a hole through her. She stiffly entered the private room at the far end. The moment she stepped inside, Lin Xi regretted it.
The entire room was dimly lit, with only a spotlight concentrated above a long table, enough for those sitting opposite each other to see clearly. The room faced the street, a small window like a camera lens framing a corner of the bustling street scene under the night sky.
Behind the chairs was a wall covered in roses, which, due to the dim lighting, appeared somewhat dark; it was unclear whether they were real or artificial. It looked too much like a couple's date spot, and Duan Yiheng was taken aback.
He tried hard to recall if he had given Qin Yang the wrong information, racking his brains for a long time, but couldn't figure it was his fault. It seemed that Assistant Qin had misinterpreted his superior's wishes and acted on her own.
At home, Qin Yang was sneezing uncontrollably, feeling utterly wronged. Duan Yiheng hadn't said he was going out to eat with his "sister."
Duan Yiheng supported her back from behind and gently pushed her to sit down.
Lin Xi forced herself to sit down, chuckling, "Isn't the food here very good?" Duan Yiheng understood the implication in her words and said, "Assistant Qin booked this restaurant; I've never been here before."
Lin Xi pursed her lips and nodded. So that's how it is. Duan Yiheng pushed the dark brown leather menu with gold lettering towards Lin Xi.
Lin Xi shook her head: "You should order." She didn't know Duan Yiheng's tastes.
Duan Yiheng paused for two seconds, pulled back the menu, and deftly ordered. He ordered two appetizers and five main courses, along with two Chinese pastries and red wine pear soup.
Lin Xi, somewhat anxious, said, "Big brother, tell me more about Yinfan Technology."
Duan Yiheng didn't respond for a while. Lin Xi stared at the shadows of his eyelashes cast by the light, wondering why he had suddenly fallen silent.
"Do you call Duan Mingxuan 'Second Brother'?" Duan Yiheng suddenly asked.
Lin Xi was taken aback and shook her head. Why was he suddenly bringing this up? "Then what kind of older brother am I to you?" He wasn't sitting upright, but casually leaning back in his chair, one hand resting casually on the table, staring intently at Lin Xi. Lin Xi's heart sank.
She called Duan Yiheng "Big Brother" simply because she followed Duan Mingxuan's way of addressing him. He was six years older than her; what else could she call him but "Big Brother"? Should she call him by his first name? That wouldn't be appropriate either. "I'm sorry," Duan Yiheng said in a low voice, "I misspoke." Lin Xi suddenly looked up, confused as to why he was apologizing again.
"I just—" "Excuse me, excuse me, please serve the food." Duan Yiheng's unfinished words were cut off. Some things, some words, once interrupted, are hard to continue.
Duan Yiheng simply told her about the departmental issues she was most concerned about. Because he held multiple positions, besides being in charge of the group's fintech sector, he also served as the vice president of Yinfan Group. The general manager was Duan Zheng.
However, Duan Yiheng's abilities were so outstanding that Duan Zheng seemed dispensable in the company. Duan Yiheng spoke concisely and precisely, explaining things clearly to her in just a few words.
Lin Xi listened attentively, then asked at the end, "I remember Yinfan Technology is on First Avenue. Why do you usually work at the group headquarters?"
Duan Yiheng replied, "Yinfan Technology's new Taihe Road campus has just been completed, so I'm working at the group headquarters for now. Once everything is settled, I'll spend most of my time on Taihe Road. As for the group headquarters, I'll only attend important events like the quarterly strategy meeting."
Lin Xi nodded, indicating she understood. Towards the end of the meal, Lin Xi turned to look out the window and asked, "I remember there's a secondhand market across the street, past the tall buildings?"
"You want to go?" Duan Yiheng asked. Lin Xi nodded, "It's been a long time since I've been there. I last went when I was in school."
Duan Yiheng: "It's still early, let's go for a look."
"Okay," Lin Xi readily agreed, "It's Tuesday today, so they're open until the evening."
When they left, they didn't run into Duan Mingxuan and Zhang Mo again. She didn't want to dwell on why Duan Mingxuan had said they broke up, but then they got back together.
The flea market was crowded and cramped, making it difficult for cars to enter. Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng walked together through the streets. Night enveloped the city, but this small corner of the flea market was illuminated by lights. Lin Xi strolled around with great interest, her gaze sweeping over each stall.
Duan Yiheng followed casually behind her, like a bodyguard, asking, "Is there anything you want to buy?" Lin Xi turned and smiled, "It's more interesting to browse in places like this."
As soon as she finished speaking, she caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye and suddenly quickened her pace, rushing over.
At one stall, Lin Xi picked up a wooden music box. The music box had a retro look, with delicate patterns; from the outside, it resembled a jewelry box.
"You like it?" Duan Yiheng squatted down beside her. Lin Xi nodded. "I think it looks a lot like the one my mom bought me when I was little, but it broke later, so I just threw it away."
Duan Yiheng asked the stall owner, "How much?" The stall owner held up six fingers: "No bargaining."
Duan Yiheng nodded: "Okay." Lin Xi thought it wasn't worth six hundred, but Duan Yiheng had already paid. She opened the music box, and notes flowed out—it was "Romance de Amor." Lin Xi closed the box and turned to Duan Yiheng, saying, "Thank you. Is there anything you like? I'll buy you one too?"
Duan Yiheng: "Let's walk a bit further."
"Okay." Lin Xi held the music box, admiring it, touching and examining it along the way, barely browsing the other stalls.
Near the end of the market, Duan Yiheng suddenly stopped. He pointed to a slightly worn black camera in the corner and said, "That one." Lin Xi picked it up and glanced at it; it was an old, entry-level film camera from a German brand.
She asked the price, and the vendor said, "Take it for 1000."
Lin Xi paid and left, handing the camera to Duan Yiheng, saying, "You can't find anything else, why buy this?" Duan Yiheng checked the camera's basic functions and called out, "Lin Xi, turn around."
Lin Xi instinctively turned around, and with a "click," the camera was captured by Duan Yiheng's lens. Duan Yiheng said, "I'll get it developed and show it to you."
Lin Xi nodded, "It's about time, let's go." The two returned to where they had parked. Just as Lin Xi was about to open the passenger door, she caught a glimpse of Duan Mingxuan standing under a tree, looking somewhat forlorn.
It seemed he was waiting for her.