The lantern was vibrant, its fine silk fabric delicate and exquisite, secured with gold thread at the edges, and adorned with silk tassels at the bottom.
The frame was made of light mahogany. Lin Xi took it, her fingers gently twirling it; the lantern rotated, the tassels swaying lightly. Duan Yiheng said, "The courtyard is too big, the workers are still setting it up, so I just grabbed one for you." "Thank you," Lin Xi said, though she was quite pleased with it.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Duan Yiheng asked. Lin Xi told him about Duan Mingxuan becoming Duan Zheng's assistant, but Duan Yiheng didn't seem to care: "It's alright, he can do his thing." This wasn't the place to talk, so the two parted ways and returned to the living room.
Chen Baiwei's gaze fell on Lin Xi, and she gave a forced laugh: "I wonder how things are going between Xiao Xi and Professor Zhou?" Lin Xi smiled: "Professor Zhou is very good, I'm not good enough for him."
"This..." Chen Baiwei glanced at the old man, "Didn't your grandfather seem quite satisfied before?" The old man glanced at Chen Baiwei and said, "If Xiao Xi doesn't like it, then so be it." Chen Baiwei frowned slightly; she had noticed that Duan Mingxuan was acting strangely lately.
"I ran into Mrs. Xia the other day. Her youngest daughter graduated from the same school as Mingxuan abroad—" "Mom, don't get any ideas about me." Duan Mingxuan didn't give Chen Baiwei any face. "I have someone I like." His words silenced the entire living room.
Duan Zheng looked at him curiously: "Who is it? Didn't you just break up?" Duan Mingxuan looked at Lin Xi, who pretended not to know. Duan Yiheng's eyes were filled with mockery. Chen Baiwei's heart skipped a beat, a suspicion forming in her mind. She tentatively asked Duan Mingxuan, "Who is it? You've never mentioned it."
Duan Mingxuan replied, "You'll find out when the time comes." Everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts. The old man spoke up, "If you like her, pursue her wholeheartedly." Duan Mingxuan excitedly hummed in agreement, and Lin Xi instinctively clenched her hands.
Duan Yiheng's gaze met the old man's for a moment, then quickly averted. The maid then announced that dinner was served. Lin Xi was flanked by Duan Mingxuan and Duan Yiheng, sitting between them.
Duan Mingxuan was attentive during the meal, piling food onto Lin Xi's plate, while Duan Yiheng remained impassive, serving her a bowl of soup.
In front of the old man, Lin Xi showed no expression, only offering a thank you. She didn't touch any of the food Duan Mingxuan offered or the soup Duan Yiheng served. By the end of the meal, Lin Xi's back was drenched in sweat.
With nothing to do in the afternoon, Chen Baiwei arranged to play mahjong, while Duan Yiheng and the old man spent two or three hours in the game room before feeding the fish by the pond. Lin Xi slept all afternoon, only being woken up by Sister Mei who said it was evening and dinner would be served soon. Lin Xi: "..." She wasn't hungry.
But it was New Year's Eve dinner, so she had to eat whether she wanted to or not. Feeling a little dizzy, Lin Xi washed up and rushed back to the North Courtyard. That evening, the old man was in a good mood and specially had some baijiu and red wine brought out. Lin Xi and Duan Mingxuan drank the red wine, while Duan Zheng and Duan Yiheng drank baijiu with the old man.
However, the old man's health wasn't suited for alcohol, so he only had a small glass. Duan Yiheng didn't drink much either. Only Lin Xi silently drank, and before she knew it, she had drunk too much, ending up drunk.
Chen Baiwei frowned in disgust. How inappropriate! Didn't she know the occasion? A little wine is fine, but she got drunk. The old man said nothing, but gestured to Duan Mingxuan: "Take Xiaoxi back to rest." Duan Mingxuan patted Lin Xi's back: "Xiaoxi?
Shall I carry you back to rest?" Lin Xi raised her hand to block him: "Who are you?" "I'm Duan Mingxuan." Duan Mingxuan reached out to her again, "Be good, I'll take you back to rest." "I don't want you." Lin Xi waved her hand again, knocking over a wine glass.
Chen Baiwei suddenly stood up, Duan Yiheng following closely behind, a casual glance from him making her afraid to move. Duan Yiheng didn't say a word, grabbed Lin Xi's arm, and scooped her up in his arms. The old man frowned. Duan Mingxuan turned and followed.
Duan Yiheng suddenly stopped at the courtyard gate, saying to Duan Mingxuan who had caught up, "You don't need to follow." He wasn't so heartless as to do anything to Lin Xi at home. Duan Mingxuan: "I'm just worried." Duan Yiheng: "With Sister Mei around, do you really expect me to take care of her?"
Duan Mingxuan: "I'll just take a look and leave." Duan Yiheng scoffed, his steps suddenly halting. Duan Mingxuan looked at him, puzzled: "What's wrong?" Duan Yiheng looked down; Lin Xi was crying, looking wronged and heartbroken, silent and helpless.
His sweater was completely soaked, seeping through his shirt and into his skin, the chill penetrating his chest, making Duan Yiheng's heart ache unbearably. "What did you do to her?" Duan Mingxuan panicked when he saw Lin Xi's tears. "Get away."
Duan Yiheng gave Duan Mingxuan a cold, piercing look, then strode away, carrying Lin Xi in his arms. Duan Mingxuan was stunned by his fierce, icy gaze, and when he came to his senses, he was already far behind.
When he caught up again, the door to the west building was already closed, and no matter how much he called, no one came to open it. Duan Yiheng carried Lin Xi upstairs. Sister Mei wanted to follow, but he stopped her at the door. A fleeting glint of tears in Lin Xi's eyes made Duan Yiheng's heart leap.
Sigh, what a New Year. Duan Yiheng held her in his arms, carefully wiping away her tears, and softly coaxed, "Baby, cry it out." Lin Xi cried weakly, like an abandoned kitten, her sobs heartbreaking.
Ever since the suggestion to go to the North District No. 1 Manor, she had been suppressing her emotions. She shouldn't have lost control tonight, but she couldn't hold back and accidentally drank too much. Her emotions burst forth like a raging river, washing away everything.
Even drunk, she didn't dare cry out loud. Exhausted from crying, she nestled in Duan Yiheng's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. The alcohol seeped into her system, leaving her utterly exhausted, and she fell asleep.
Duan Yiheng placed her on the bed, went to the bathroom to get a towel, wet it with warm water, and then returned to the bedside to wipe her hands and face. He sat there for a long time, then reached out and touched the small lantern she had placed on the bedside table before leaving Lin Xi's room.
However, when he came out, Sister Mei was still waiting outside the door. Duan Yiheng waved his hand: "Go to sleep, she's fine, she just had a couple more drinks." Sister Mei had no choice but to leave, but she had to go to pay New Year's respects to the old man the next morning, so she deliberately got up early to wake Lin Xi.
Lin Xi washed away the smell of alcohol and didn't have a clear memory of last night, only remembering that she had cried. She rubbed her head, secretly annoyed at her loss of control last night. A familiar knock came at the door; she recognized it as Sister Mei. She was startled when she was called in; Duan Yiheng was behind Sister Mei.
He went over, touched her head, and asked with concern, "Does your head hurt?" Lin Xi shook her head. "Change your clothes and we'll go to the North Courtyard to pay New Year's visits," Duan Yiheng said. "After that, I'll take you out." "Out?" Lin Xi looked at him. "Where to?" Duan Yiheng: "Get dressed first, you'll find out when we get there."