The rhythmic music from the bar echoed up to the third floor, only to be blocked by the VIP room's exterior walls.
Inside, the temperature was warm as a spring day. Lin Xi's breath, carrying the scent of peach blossoms, was both ambiguous and intense. The alcohol surged, making Lin Xi feel hot and suffocated, her eyes and cheeks flushed red, yet her breath was inexplicably stolen. She struggled uncontrollably for a few moments, only to inhale a scalding breath.
"Mmm..." Lin Xi groaned, as if someone had stolen her breath. Duan Yiheng noticed the person beneath him tremble, his reason returning, and he froze for a moment.
He released her lips, which he had caressed like flower petals, wiping away a glistening droplet with his fingertips. How despicable!
A layer of frost settled between Duan Yiheng's brows, but his movements were gentle, caressing her lips, cheeks, and the corners of her eyes. Those clear, bright eyes looked at him, filled with his despicable intent. Duan Yiheng raised his hand to cover them.
Her eyelashes fluttered gently, leaving a ticklish ring on his palm. After sitting for so long, his back and hips were numb, so Duan Yiheng finally lifted his hand. Without a word, he took off his suit jacket, wrapped the man in it, and carried him out of the car.
The driver opened the back door for them, but Lin Xi was still restless, clinging to Duan Yiheng's shoulder and calling him "handsome" in a silly manner.
The driver and Duan Yiheng's eyes met in the rearview mirror, then silently rose up the partition.
Duan Yiheng pulled Lin Xi's hand away, but Lin Xi resisted, raising her hand to touch his face: "Didn't we pay? Can't I touch you?"
Duan Yiheng: "...How much did you pay?"
Lin Xi held up her index finger, indicating "one."
"You have a lot of money," Duan Yiheng gritted his teeth. "You spent ten thousand yuan to find a show-off who's all bark and no bite, and he's happy after just a few sweet words?"
"Happy." Lin Xi giggled and nuzzled Duan Yiheng's neck. "He can even sing, and he sings so well."
Duan Yiheng cupped her face and commanded in a deep voice, "Sit properly."
Lin Xi was dizzy and disoriented. He straightened her up, but everything in her vision was crooked.
"Hey, hey, hey…" Lin Xi waved her hand to the side. "Why is this chair crooked?"
Duan Yiheng helplessly pulled her into his arms and asked, looking down, "Is it still crooked?"
Lin Xi chuckled. "No, it's not crooked anymore."
"Be good." Duan Yiheng gently stroked her long hair. "You've drunk so much; if you keep acting up, you'll feel uncomfortable."
Lin Xi closed her eyes and murmured, "I feel uncomfortable."
"Where do you feel uncomfortable?" Duan Yiheng's voice was like a spring breeze in April. "My hand," Lin Xi whimpered softly. Duan Yiheng took her hand and gently blew on it. "It's done."
Lin Xi closed her eyes, her voice low and hoarse. "Blow on it a little longer."
"Okay." Duan Yiheng held her hand in his palm. The patch of red, noticeably different from her normal skin tone, weighed heavily on Duan Yiheng's heart.
The little girl was afraid of pain, but even more afraid of emotional pain. Duan Mingxuan's hurt made her ignore the physical pain. But Duan Yiheng was helpless, and that was what suffocated him even more. He managed such a large company, yet he couldn't control Lin Xi's feelings and preferences.
The car turned into the villa. The driver quickly got out and said to Duan Yiheng, "Mr. Duan, I'll carry Miss upstairs. You can go and rest." Duan Yiheng refused, "No need, I can do it myself. You can go home." The driver quickly agreed.
Duan Yiheng carried the soundly sleeping Lin Xi out of the car and into the bedroom. Even the maids were asleep at this hour. Duan Yiheng took off her shoes and coat, then sat down on the edge of the bed. His fingertips brushed the hair from her forehead, his gaze lingering on her rosy lips.
Every breath she took was alluring. Duan Yiheng restrained himself and got up, pulling the covers up. Lin Xi had a jumbled, chaotic dream.
The world in her dream was absurd and distorted, flashing through her mind like a slideshow, but she remembered nothing.
Only her hazy head reminded her that she had drunk too much last night. Her eyes and face were swollen. She looked around; she was in her own room. Yu Tong must have brought her back.
Lin Xi got out of bed, then suddenly stopped, stiffly turning to look at the clock on the bedside table.
Eleven o'clock in the morning! "Ah!" Lin Xi cried out in surprise.
Duan Yiheng pushed open the door and entered: "What's wrong?" Lin Xi jumped in fright again, pointing at Duan Yiheng: "You...you...why are you still at home?"
Duan Yiheng looked her up and down. Although the smell of alcohol had dissipated, he still looked somewhat haggard.
He walked over and held out his hand to her: "Give me your hand."
"What for?" Lin Xi asked, puzzled.
Duan Yiheng took her hand. The redness had healed considerably, and he felt slightly relieved.
"Sit down." Duan Yiheng took out a tube of burn ointment from his pocket. "I'll put some medicine on you."
Lin Xi was taken aback and asked him, "How did you know my hand was injured?"
"Last night..." Duan Yiheng hesitated for the first time, "You were drunk, and I...brought you home."
"You brought me home? Where's Yutong?" Lin Xi almost covered her face in embarrassment. He had picked her up from her drunken state time and time again.
Her memory flashed back, and Lin Xi frowned as she recalled everything from last night. She was at the bar, downing several drinks.
Then Liang Yutong said she'd introduce her to a handsome guy, and they drank together. And then…
Lin Xi rubbed her head, trying to clear her mind, but Duan Yiheng quickly stopped her.
"What are you doing?" Lin Xi laughed awkwardly. "Last night… I didn't do anything embarrassing, did I?"
Duan Yiheng's throat bobbed, his voice lowering. "What counts as embarrassing?"
"Heh…" Lin Xi ran a hand through her hair. "When you arrived, wasn't I drinking with someone else?"
"Yes," Duan Yiheng said. "Dressed like a peacock, practically displaying its plumage. Do you like that kind of thing?" Lin Xi glanced back guiltily. Duan Mingxuan frequented nightclubs and liked to wear brightly colored, floral clothes. She had mistaken him for someone else when she was tipsy.
This was something she couldn't tell Duan Yiheng, so Lin Xi glossed over it. Duan Yiheng didn't press the matter: "Since you're awake, go take a shower, eat, and then go to work." Sure enough, she was still late for work.
"I'm sorry, I won't do it again next time," Lin Xi said, wisely accepting the situation. "Can you give me another chance?" Duan Yiheng didn't understand why she was apologizing and couldn't respond for a moment.
"Really, I swear," Lin Xi said urgently. "If there's a next time, you can fire me."
"..." That wasn't the point he was referring to. "Don't worry, I won't fire you," Duan Yiheng comforted her gently.
He couldn't bring himself to kiss her and then fire her.
"Then this morning..." Lin Xi asked, "Did you mark me absent without leave?" Duan Yiheng: "I gave you leave."
"Thank you," Lin Xi said, feeling deeply ashamed. Next time, she couldn't do it again. Hearing her words, Duan Yiheng paused again.
"How many more times will you get drunk for Duan Mingxuan in the future?" he asked.
Lin Xi's heart tightened, and she looked into Duan Yiheng's eyes: "You knew?"
Duan Yiheng: "Were you hiding it very well?"
Lin Xi was taken aback: "Could it be... Grandpa knew too?" She had always thought only Chen Baiwei and Liang Yutong knew she liked Duan Mingxuan.
"If Grandpa didn't know, why would he bring up your marriage to Duan Mingxuan the very night you returned to the country?" Lin Xi gave a bitter smile: "I've let Grandpa down."
Duan Yiheng didn't want to talk about Duan Mingxuan with her, but he couldn't bear to see her so dejected, so he asked: "Do you remember thanking me before, saying you owed me something?"
Lin Xi nodded: "I remember, what do you want me to do?"