Zhang Mo waited for Lin Xi, a thin cigarette between her fingers. Seeing Lin Xi approach, she glanced at her and asked, "You don't mind, do you?" Lin Xi shook her head.
Three minutes later, Zhang Mo stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette on the trash can and said, "Let's go in." Lin Xi followed her into the dining room. The two weren't there to eat; facing a table full of dishes, no one touched their chopsticks.
Lin Xi glanced at her watch. "Just get to the point."
Zhang Mo smiled, changing the subject. "Have you never smoked before?"
Lin Xi frowned. "Does whether I smoke or not have anything to do with what you're about to say?"
"How boring." Zhang Mo took a sip of water. "I dislike you good girls the most."
Lin Xi: "Please don't label me."
"Okay." Zhang Mo looked at her. "I just want you to help me arrange a meeting with Mingxuan."
Lin Xi looked at her, puzzled. "Can't you contact him yourself?"
Zhang Mo snorted. "It's all because of you. He actually wanted to break up with me and said he'd block me if I kept bothering him."
"...It's not my fault."
"It was my fault. I shouldn't have caused trouble at your welcome party."
Zhang Mo apologized for once. "But can you tolerate your boyfriend treating someone else better than you?" Lin Xi was speechless.
Ever since she found out Duan Mingxuan was dating someone else, she had already distanced herself.
"Our friendship is just that of childhood friends," Lin Xi smiled, her eyes lowered. "It can't compare to yours."
Zhang Mo: "I don't understand why he's so good to you either. I have no choice; he'll definitely listen to what you say."
Lin Xi felt a pang of sadness. Knowing that Duan Mingxuan was in a relationship was already difficult enough, and Zhang Mo was actually asking her to help him get back together.
"I'm sorry, I can't do that," Lin Xi refused. "You can try contacting him yourself. It's not my place to interfere in matters of the heart."
"Lin Xi, that's not fair," Zhang Mo's smile faded. "Why did you come if you're not going to help?"
Lin Xi was speechless: "You threatened me."
"If I threatened you, then I'd better make it work," Zhang Mo said. "I don't know much about your relationship with those two brothers, but that night, everyone could see clearly that Duan Mingxuan didn't like you being with Duan Yiheng."
Lin Xi's expression remained unchanged: "So?" Zhang Mo: "Since you're here, you obviously don't want Duan Mingxuan to know you're working at Yin Fan, especially with Duan Yiheng."
Lin Xi: "I will tell him." Zhang Mo: "But you can't now. I guess you're afraid he'll ruin your job."
It has to be said, Zhang Mo understood Duan Mingxuan very well. Duan Mingxuan was inherently domineering and possessive, with an extremely strong desire to possess the people and things around him.
He was like a child, throwing tantrums based solely on his whims, yet he possessed a strikingly handsome face, and a few innocent words of repentance were enough to soften anyone's heart. From childhood, this tactic had always worked whenever Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng showed any signs of getting closer.
Lin Xi compromised again: "I'll talk to him about it. Whether he goes or not is his business; there won't be a next time."
She didn't even eat, getting up and leaving the restaurant. Zhang Mo insisted on seeing Duan Mingxuan; was she confident she could win him back? Lin Xi walked aimlessly along the roadside, her thoughts a jumbled mess.
She didn't even know what she meant when she agreed to Zhang Mo's request. Only one question lingered in her mind: would Duan Mingxuan get back together with Zhang Mo? Lin Xi's stomach was empty; she wanted to find a place to eat, and disliking being alone, she decided to hail a taxi.
Before she even raised her hand, a familiar Maybach pulled up smoothly beside her. The driver got out of the car and jogged over: "Miss, what are you doing here?"
Lin Xi recognized Duan Yiheng's car and quickly replied, "I'm meeting a friend."
"Then get in quickly, Mr. Duan is in the back." The driver opened the car door for her. Lin Xi glanced at Duan Yiheng and got into the car.
"What are you doing here?" Lin Xi asked. Calling him "Mr. Duan" felt a little awkward after work, so she simply didn't use that title.
Duan Yiheng didn't answer but asked instead, "Haven't you eaten?" Lin Xi was taken aback and nodded.
Duan Yiheng: "Choose one, go eat now, or go back."
Going back meant meeting Duan Mingxuan to discuss Zhang Mo's matter; she had no appetite. Without hesitation, she said, "Now."
Duan Yiheng agreed and asked the driver to find a quiet restaurant nearby. Just as they sat down, Lin Xi's phone rang.
It was Duan Mingxuan calling again. She answered reluctantly, "Mingxuan."
"Xiaoxi, you haven't been home all day. Where have you been?"
Lin Xi: "I was with a friend."
Duan Mingxuan pressed, "Liang Yutong?" Lin Xi dodged the question, "What do you want?"
Duan Mingxuan: "I just wanted to ask if you wanted me to pick you up?" Lin Xi glanced at her watch, "No need, I'll be home around nine. Don't go out, I need to talk to you."
Duan Mingxuan readily agreed. After hanging up the phone, Duan Yiheng pushed a bowl of soup towards her: "Didn't you tell him about your new job?"
"Thank you." Lin Xi took it and shook her head. "I plan to talk about it after the training."
Duan Yiheng subtly raised his eyes: "What if he objects? Should I find a new secretary?"
"No," Lin Xi quickly assured him, "His objection won't change anything. It's just that my joining Yinfan was a quick process, and I haven't figured out how to tell him yet. You know him."
Actually, she had struggled with this issue, but Duan Mingxuan had seemed too resistant.
Duan Yiheng didn't know what was wrong with him; he and Duan Mingxuan had repeatedly clashed. She was genuinely afraid that if the two were at odds, the little devil would suffer.
Thinking of this, Lin Xi asked, "Did something happen between you and Duan Mingxuan? I felt something was off about you two since I came back."
Duan Yiheng slowly took a sip of soup and replied, "Nothing happened." That was really strange; Lin Xi couldn't figure it out.
The two of them didn't speak again and quietly finished their dinner.
Lin Xi finished eating first, and after a few seconds of silence, suddenly asked, "Your birthday... isn't it coming soon?" Duan Yiheng paused, his hand holding the spoon still, without looking up at her, and gave a soft "Mmm."
"Then... do you want a birthday present?" Duan Yiheng put down his spoon, the crisp clinking of the porcelain meeting Lin Xi's gaze.
After about two or three seconds, he asked softly, "Are you going to give me one?" Lin Xi didn't answer that question, but instead asked, "Will you throw it away?" Like the cakes and cards of many years ago.
Duan Yiheng chuckled lightly, "I'm not a child."
"Oh, then just say no." He beat around the bush. Duan Yiheng: "…He's gone."
Lin Xi got up and followed. The night was dark, two blinding beams of light piercing through the ornate iron gate.
Duan Mingxuan, standing on the second floor, saw the car arrive and pursed his lips. What he didn't expect was that Lin Xi would get out of Duan Yiheng's car.
Instantly, his expression changed several times, and he finally couldn't help but call out to her, "Xiao Xi."
Lin Xi was startled, looking up and only able to see Duan Mingxuan's blurry silhouette in the night.
"Xiao Xi, come up." Duan Mingxuan's tone was slightly displeased. Just as Lin Xi was about to go upstairs, Duan Yiheng suddenly called her from inside the car, "Secretary Lin."
Lin Xi didn't react immediately, stunned for several seconds before bending over and leaning against the car window, looking like she was waiting for her boss's instructions.
Duan Yiheng glanced at her: "Don't forget my birthday present." Noticing the teasing in his eyes, Lin Xi froze, watching helplessly as the Maybach drove west. "Lin Xi," Duan Mingxuan called her by her full name angrily, "You come up here."