Duan Yiheng held Lin Xi's hand, letting her cool fingertips rest in his palm, his thumb gently pressing against the scar on the back of her hand.
Lin Xi instinctively clenched her fist, but instead gripped Duan Yiheng's fingers tightly. Duan Yiheng chuckled softly, "What's there to be nervous about?"
"What are you doing?" Lin Xi didn't understand his actions and tried to pull her hand away. Duan Yiheng easily released her, giving her freedom. Lin Xi hadn't expected him to be so agreeable; if Duan Mingxuan were like this, he would definitely hold on tightly.
"Was it very painful back then?" The question seemed unrelated, but Lin Xi understood.
She shook her head, reassuring him, "It didn't hurt." "There was a lot of bleeding."
Duan Yiheng was direct. "I know you didn't mean it," Lin Xi said, "I really don't blame you, it's just... I was terrified."
"So you were afraid of me?" Lin Xi looked at him.
Duan Yiheng sat on the sofa, slightly raising his eyes. His gaze was as dark as night, making him seem even taller than Lin Xi, who was standing.
"No," Lin Xi firmly denied. "Why would I be afraid of you? You're not going to eat me." She knew that a superior was respectable, not frightening.
"Oh, then come to the company with me tomorrow morning." Duan Yiheng looked into her eyes, enunciating each word clearly.
"In your car?" Lin Xi shook her head after speaking. "No, I don't want to. I'll drive myself."
Duan Yiheng: "I'm letting you out early. The car in your garage isn't suitable for driving to work."
Lin Xi: "...No, if people see me with you, I don't know what they'll say."
"That's why I'm letting you out early." Public opinion is a powerful force, and the position of secretary already carries a certain public image. If she were to drive such a nice car, she'd probably become a celebrity in the company.
Without giving her a chance to refuse, Duan Yiheng slightly raised his chin: "Excuse me, I'm a little tired." Lin Xi turned and went to the kitchen.
Duan Yiheng turned the sofa and looked at the light shining from the kitchen. Lin Xi couldn't cook, but making something was relatively simple for her. Half an hour later, she ladled out a bowl of hot soup and placed it on the table.
Turning to call Duan Yiheng, she found his eyes closed. Had he fallen asleep? She went to the sofa and gently nudged him: "The hangover soup is ready."
Duan Yiheng had only been feigning sleep. Hearing this, he opened his eyes and reached out to her.
Lin Xi handed him the hangover soup: "Be careful, it's hot." Sister Mei always reminded him like this, but it was always at the right temperature.
Duan Yiheng, caught off guard, took a mouthful right at the rim of the bowl. He frowned deeply, unable to spit it out or swallow it.
"I told you it's hot," Lin Xi quickly grabbed the trash can and held it up to him. "Spit it out quickly." Duan Yiheng spat out the hangover soup, and Lin Xi hurriedly grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth.
"Don't move, I'll get you some water." Lin Xi quickly grabbed some water, unscrewed the cap, and fed it to him directly. "Take a sip, hold it in your mouth." Duan Yiheng did as he was told.
"I'm sorry," Lin Xi apologized hastily while he couldn't speak. "It's all my fault for not explaining clearly. Can you forgive me?" Duan Yiheng pointed to his mouth and snorted coldly.
Lin Xi made several pleading expressions, which Duan Yiheng saw as nothing more than whining. The alcohol from tonight's meal was completely gone thanks to the heat. Lin Xi groveled beside him, and after he spat out the water, she asked with concern, "Does it hurt? Stick your tongue out so I can see."
Duan Yiheng: "..." He would never stick his tongue out, not like a dog.
Lin Xi realized what was happening and chuckled softly, "Should I have the doctor check you?" Duan Yiheng raised his eyes, "Go test the temperature of the hangover soup for me. You test it yourself with your mouth."
Lin Xi readily agreed, scooping some into her mouth with a spoon and saying, "I promise it's not hot."
Duan Yiheng took the hangover soup and slowly drank it with the spoon she had used.
Lin Xi wanted to stop him but didn't have time. Having finally finished serving the CEO, Lin Xi said "Goodnight" to Duan Yiheng and went to sleep, too tired to stay awake any longer. The next day. Lin Xi changed into a white shirt and a black slit midi skirt, paired with black low-heeled pointed shoes.
Feeling the clothes were too plain, she removed the belt from her white dress to wear as a neck tie. She tinkled downstairs to have dinner with Duan Yiheng on the west side.
The villa was divided into north and south courtyards. The younger generation lived in the front courtyard, Duan Yiheng occupied the west wing, she and Duan Mingxuan lived on the second floor of the east wing, and the third floor was Duan Zheng and Chen Baiwei's territory. Duan Mingxuan was usually home in the afternoon, and the kitchen was rarely used.
Lin Xi had to go to work, so she could only eat at Duan Yiheng's place. When he saw her, Duan Yiheng stared at her for a long time without saying a word. Lin Xi tugged at her skirt: "What's wrong? Doesn't it look good?" Duan Yiheng silently looked away and said, "It's nice." It was just that the skirt was too tight, highlighting her slender waist and defined curves. The two ate breakfast leisurely, leaving at 8:30.
Duan Yiheng said, "Someone will take you to the Human Resources Department later. The entire training process will be guided by a specialist. During the training, you won't need to handle the routine work of the President's Office."
Lin Xi: "Okay."
Duan Yiheng: "Do your job seriously. Assistant Tian is being promoted to S City, and Qin Yang will focus on the group. You'll need to take over the remaining miscellaneous tasks."
Lin Xi: "Understood." Two blocks ahead, Lin Xi had the driver stop the car. A few minutes later than Duan Yiheng, Lin Xi arrived at Yin Fan on time.
The company wouldn't hold a two-week onboarding training for one person, so she had to undergo centralized training with other new employees in administrative positions.
This was good; it would help her understand the responsibilities of each department and coordinate her future work. The training didn't end until noon. Lin Xi rubbed her neck and was about to head to the restaurant when a girl about her age called out to her.
Lin Xi didn't recognize her, but the girl said, "Hello, my name is Sun Wenxin, the new receptionist."
Lin Xi subconsciously said "Ah," thinking to herself that she really had a connection with the receptionist. "Hello, Lin Xi."
"Want to have lunch together?" Sun Wenxin asked.
Just having lunch together? Lin Xi agreed, and they chatted for a few minutes. She then learned that Sun Wenxin wasn't applying for a receptionist position at the group headquarters, but rather at the Yinfan Technology Park.
Duan Yiheng had told her that currently, all managers and above at the new park were temporarily transferred to headquarters to continue project follow-up. The remaining ordinary employees remained at the old park.
Now that a receptionist position had been hired, Duan Yiheng would likely soon be moving his senior staff to the new park. Although the receptionist position wasn't high-ranking, it was one of the company's information hubs, so building a good relationship with Sun Wenxin was quite necessary.
The two followed the signs to the restaurant. Sun Wenxin's mouth dropped open: "It's bigger than my school cafeteria!"
Lin Xi smiled: "Shall we get our food and sit by the window?" Sun Wenxin: "Sure, there are floor-to-ceiling windows all over there, the view must be great." The training ended half an hour later than usual, so there weren't many people around.
Lin Xi went to the window first, but before she could sit down, her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, but it looked somewhat familiar.
She answered, and upon hearing the voice, she paused, surprised to see it was Zhang Mo.
"Lin Xi, can I see you?" Lin Xi refused: "Sorry, I'm busy."
Zhang Mo didn't mince words: "You work at Yin Fan? I saw you get out of Duan Yiheng's car. Do you have time now?"
Lin Xi: "...Are you going to tell Duan Mingxuan?" Zhang Mo: "That's not impossible. He's always been against you working at Yin Fan."
Lin Xi's expression turned cold: "Time and place."