Lin Xi got up, straightened her hair and collar, and asked Duan Yiheng, "Do I look normal?" Duan Yiheng said, "Very normal."
Lin Xi felt guilty and went to open the door herself. Sister Mei saw her and was startled: "What's wrong? Do you have a fever?" Lin Xi looked confused: "No, I don't." Sister Mei touched her forehead, seemingly unconvinced: "Your face looks so hot."
Lin Xi silently took a step back, secretly glaring at Duan Yiheng. Duan Yiheng suppressed a laugh and stepped forward to help her out: "Didn't you say she was in a bad mood? I said a few words to comfort her, and she got shy." Sister Mei scoffed:
"What's there to be shy about? It's perfectly normal for a brother to comfort his sister." Lin Xi's flushed face instantly paled. Duan Yiheng pulled her behind him and asked Sister Mei, "What's wrong so late?" "The old gentleman wants you to come over."
Duan Yiheng frowned. "Now?" Sister Mei nodded. "I just woke up and called to ask about your situation tonight. Hearing you just got back, he asked me to come and get you at the North Courtyard."
Lin Xi instinctively gripped Duan Yiheng's arm, then subtly released it because Sister Mei was there. Duan Yiheng glanced back and said, "I know, you can go out now, I'll be right there." Sister Mei responded and turned to go downstairs.
Duan Yiheng closed the door and comforted Lin Xi, "Don't be afraid, I'll go check." "Grandpa doesn't know about us..." Lin Xi couldn't help but worry. "Don't overthink it," Duan Yiheng said. "It must have happened during the day." Lin Xi asked, "Is he asking about you and Tan Qi?"
Duan Yiheng gently reassured her, "I don't know either. Let me know when I get back, okay?" Lin Xi pushed him towards the door, "Go ahead." Duan Yiheng opened the door and left. Lin Xi stood by the door, her heart pounding, wishing she could grow wings and fly away with him.
The next second, Duan Yiheng returned. Lin Xi was slightly taken aback, "Why did you come back…" Duan Yiheng cupped her face and kissed her, smiling at her shocked expression, "If you can't sleep, wait for me to come back."
Lin Xi's heart pounded like a drum. She pursed her lips, suppressing her racing heart. But waiting was too anxious. Her grandfather was old; Duan Yiheng probably wouldn't talk to him for long. She decided to go downstairs and wait. Lin Xi turned and went to the dressing room to get a coat, put it on, and went downstairs alone.
As she stepped down the stairs, a beam of car headlights illuminated her, and Lin Xi instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. "Xiao Xi, why are you still out so late?" Lin Xi lowered her hand and said to Duan Mingxuan, "You're back so late?" "I switched venues with Yu Lang and the others."
Duan Mingxuan said, "Why don't you go upstairs to sleep?" "I couldn't sleep, so I just wandered around." Lin Xi made up an excuse. Duan Mingxuan got out of the car and hesitantly asked, "The yellow gemstone that Big Brother wore tonight, is it the earring I took with you in the photoshoot?"
Lin Xi nodded: "Yes." Duan Mingxuan's face stiffened: "I remember you really liked it back then. I jokingly asked you to give it to me, but you refused." Lin Xi said:
"He gave me a horse, which is kept at the horse farm in North District No. 1. I didn't know how to repay him, and the sailboat ornament I gave him was broken by you. Remembering this earring, I gave him a chain to decorate it."
Seeing that her explanation was quite plausible, Duan Mingxuan's displeasure dissipated. Then, he brought up the same old topic again, mentioning Lin Xi's stay in the west wing. Lin Xi listened half-heartedly, her mind already wandering to the north courtyard.
The old man's eyes remained sharp as he asked Duan Yiheng, "Who gave you that necklace?" Duan Yiheng paused for two seconds before replying, "Lin Xi gave it to me as a birthday present." The old man was taken aback. He knew Duan Mingxuan had smashed Duan Yiheng's birthday gift.
So Lin Xi sent a replacement? Duan Yiheng concealed his expression and asked, "Grandpa, what's wrong?" "I misunderstood that another woman gave it to you," the old man said. "I'm afraid you'll hurt Tan Qi's feelings." Duan Yiheng: "Grandpa, I have no feelings for Tan Qi." "I know."
The old man said, "A marriage of convenience is the same whether there's genuine affection or not. As long as the other party is willing, you can't have it both ways." Duan Yiheng pursed his lips: "Then, is this marriage for me or for the company?" The old man was silent for a moment, then said:
"For the company more. This is your responsibility as the heir." From childhood to adulthood, the two words he knew best were "responsibility." Duan Yiheng knew he couldn't reason with the old man, so he took a step back and said:
"A marriage of convenience is just for profit. If I can replace a marriage with a business partnership, don't I have other options?" The old man scrutinized Duan Yiheng: "You have someone you like?" "Yes," Duan Yiheng replied decisively. The old man paused, then asked again for confirmation:
"You really have someone you like?" Duan Yiheng nodded. "She's the only one I've ever liked in my life." "I'm curious about everything you've said," the old man said. "You should go back now, I'm tired." Duan Yiheng got up and left the North Courtyard.
He took out his phone, intending to call Qin Yang to discuss the feasibility of a business partnership replacing a marriage alliance. But looking at the time on his phone, he silently put it down. Crossing the koi pond and leaving the courtyard, Duan Yiheng quickened his pace. He wondered if Lin Xi was asleep.
Entering the front yard, he suddenly frowned. Not far away, Duan Mingxuan was talking to Lin Xi. He walked over and interrupted their conversation: "Secretary Lin, don't you have to go to work tomorrow?"
Lin Xi gave him a "you're finally back" look, which made Duan Yiheng feel a little better. "Mingxuan, I'm going upstairs first." Lin Xi didn't give him a chance to refuse and turned to go up the steps. "Big Brother."
Duan Mingxuan looked at Duan Yiheng, "Congratulations on winning Miss Tan's favor. I think you can keep some of your thoughts buried deep inside forever. Just don't let Xiao Xi know, lest she be disgusted." Duan Yiheng chuckled, "Is that so?" Duan Mingxuan was puzzled:
"What are you laughing at?" Duan Yiheng ignored him, turned around and followed Lin Xi to her door. Before he could knock, Lin Xi suddenly opened the door and pulled him inside. "What did Grandpa say to you?" Duan Yiheng asked instead of answering:
"What did Duan Mingxuan say to you?" Lin Xi: "I couldn't sleep, so I went to the courtyard to wait for you. I happened to run into him, and we chatted casually. He wouldn't leave on his own, what could I do?" Duan Yiheng took her hand and warmed it in his palm:
"Do you know what Duan Mingxuan said to me?" Lin Xi shook her head; how could she know? "He told me to stay away from you, and said you find me disgusting," Duan Yiheng said, enunciating each word clearly. "Would you?" Lin Xi frowned. "Are you crazy? Did he really say that?"
Duan Yiheng hummed in response. Lin Xi looked at him speechlessly. "Then why did you ask me? I've already let you kiss me, do you think you'd find me disgusting?" "Then kiss me," Lin Xi said. "Lower your head."
Duan Yiheng bent down, and Lin Xi gently placed a kiss on his lips, looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes. "Is that okay?"