From death to life, and from life to death, it took no more than three seconds. Duan Mingxuan's heart tightened, a mixture of panic and pain washing over him. He instinctively gripped the steering wheel, his fingertips turning white. Without hesitation, Duan Mingxuan slammed on the gas, turning the car around swiftly.
Lin Xi was left stranded, unable to move forward or backward. She could only pick up her phone to call the family driver. Just as she turned on her phone, a blinding beam of light enveloped her from behind. Lin Xi pressed herself against the roadside, her eyes filled with wariness.
The light was too glaring, and she slightly turned her head to avoid it. Unexpectedly, the car stopped right beside her. The window rolled down halfway, and Lin Xi turned her head at the sound. She was first surprised, then stunned, then pursed her lips, finally letting out the tears she had been holding back.
"What are you standing there for?" Duan Yiheng looked at her. "Get in the car." Lin Xi quickly wiped away her tears and climbed into the car. She sat down opposite Duan Yiheng, her grievances welling up in her throat. After a long pause, she asked, "Why haven't you left yet?" Duan Yiheng:
"What would you do if I left?" Lin Xi's lips parted slightly, on the verge of tears again. She sniffed and asked, "Where are Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu?" "The hotel sent a car." "That's good."
Lin Xi said, "I saw you leave. When I chased after you, you were already gone." Duan Yiheng: "I met the restaurant owner and chatted for a bit, which delayed me." Just as he finished speaking, a car headlight pierced the darkness, merging with Duan Yiheng's headlights as they passed each other.
Lin Xi stiffened, glancing slightly to the side. Duan Yiheng instructed the driver, "Don't stop, accelerate." The driver responded and immediately sped up.
Duan Mingxuan, returning, seemed to sense something. His tires screeched on the ground, and the next moment, like a beast poised to pounce, he turned and chased after her. Lin Xi's phone rang; she knew without a doubt who was calling. Lin Xi lowered her eyes and hung up.
Duan Mingxuan didn't call again, but honked the horn. Lin Xi frowned. Duan Yiheng saw through her thoughts and said, "Old Zhang is a steady driver, there won't be any danger, unless Duan Mingxuan crashes into us himself." Lin Xi hummed in agreement. "Why did he leave you alone?"
Duan Yiheng was also momentarily shocked. "Did you two have a fight?" Lin Xi nodded: "He knows we're sharing a room in H City." Duan Yiheng understood; no wonder he went crazy.
He stared at Lin Xi for a few moments, suddenly understanding the look Duan Mingxuan had given him all these years when he stood beside Lin Xi. It was one of smugness and boastfulness. Duan Yiheng's thoughts were completely different. Still waters run deep; if it were him, he would simply hide her away.
But Lin Xi wouldn't hide behind someone else, becoming a hothouse flower, so he needed the ability to protect her. Duan Mingxuan couldn't hide her, nor could he protect her; he was destined to fail. Two cars descended the mountain, weaving through traffic and past streetlights, before turning into the Duan family villa, one after the other.
The Bentley, in front, came to a smooth stop at the east entrance. Lin Xi looked at Duan Yiheng in surprise: "Why did you stop here?" "Go back first," Duan Yiheng said, getting out of the car and walking towards Duan Mingxuan. Lin Xi didn't dare to follow any further and went after him.
Duan Mingxuan, his chest thick with lingering anger, slammed the car door shut and confronted Duan Yiheng: "Since you're so rich, why don't you get yourself another room? That shouldn't be difficult, right?" "Duan Mingxuan, don't concern yourself with my affairs."
Lin Xi stepped forward. "Every time, you embarrass me greatly." "Xiao Xi," Duan Mingxuan looked at her in disbelief. Duan Yiheng turned around, his tone somewhat commanding, and said to Lin Xi: "Go back." "I—" "Go back."
Duan Yiheng emphasized. Because he was also her superior, Lin Xi dared not say anything more. His orders were not to be questioned, and Lin Xi, turning back every few steps, returned to the west building. Duan Yiheng turned his head, his expression mocking: "What right do you have to question me about Lin Xi? A childhood sweetheart with no blood relation?" Duan Mingxuan's eyebrows shot up: "And what right do you have to stand between us?" Duan Yiheng sneered: "If I didn't stand between you, she would be bullied to death by you." "Who is bullying her?" Duan Mingxuan gritted his teeth and approached, "You know perfectly well." Duan Yiheng remained unmoved: "Then why don't you tell her?" Duan Mingxuan's face was grim:
"Xiao Xi is naive. She sees you as an older brother. If she knew your filthy thoughts, I don't know how she would face you in the future. I don't want to put her in a difficult position." More importantly: Chen Baiwei had always been unhappy that her grandfather had paired him with Lin Xi.
If she knew Duan Yiheng's thoughts, given his mother's personality, she would definitely use every means to bring them together. He had heard Chen Baiwei complain more than once: "Why didn't you marry Lin Xi to that devil Duan Yiheng? Why did you have to bring misfortune upon my Mingxuan?"
He couldn't gamble on even the slightest possibility. "Don't want to make things difficult for her?" Duan Yiheng laughed. "Everything you've done since Lin Xi returned to the country has made things difficult for her."
"The indulgence at the welcome banquet, the questioning at work, the broken sailboat, your mother's slap, the Rong County incident where two people became one, leaving her alone in the mountains tonight..." "Every single one of these things, what right do you have to question me here?"
Duan Mingxuan was stunned, all his rebuttals stuck in his throat. No, it wasn't like that. "I just wanted to punish her a little. I didn't leave; I came back. She never lied to me before."
Duan Mingxuan desperately wanted to prove something. "It's all because of you." "Because I took her away when she was wronged?" Duan Yiheng found it laughable. "Have you ever reflected on yourself? Every time, it was clearly you who hurt her, while when they were little, she was the one who indulged you."
Duan Mingxuan couldn't accept this explanation. From childhood, even Lin Xi had always felt that he was the best person to her. "If this happens again..." Duan Yiheng's eyes were sharp, and he leaned forward slightly, his posture condescending, "I won't let you get away with this."
Duan Mingxuan staggered backward. He understood Duan Yiheng's meaning—he was referring to putting Lin Xi in danger today. Actually, he regretted it the moment he floored the accelerator, but he couldn't bring himself to turn back.
In the past, he would have fought tooth and nail to get to her, but today he had only received Duan Yiheng's warning. Duan Mingxuan took out his phone, wanting to call Lin Xi. He hung up abruptly after just one ring. Lin Xi must hate him to death right now.
Duan Mingxuan slammed his fist on his beloved car, filled with regret. He shouldn't have left Lin Xi alone on the mountain road. But his reason was consumed by rage… Duan Yiheng stepped onto the stairs and entered the living room. Lin Xi greeted him eagerly.
Duan Yiheng silently went upstairs, and she cautiously followed. At the bedroom door, she suddenly stopped. Duan Yiheng turned back, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he looked at her: "Why didn't you follow?" Lin Xi's lips trembled slightly:
"You…he…" Duan Yiheng didn't have the habit of carelessly tossing his clothes. He draped his suit jacket over his arm and then loosened his tie. After loosening it, he slightly raised his eyes and commanded, "Come here." Lin Xi's eyelids twitched, and she went inside. "What do you want to ask?"
Duan Yiheng stared at her silently. Lin Xi looked up: "You…didn't lay a hand on me, did you?" Duan Yiheng stepped forward, his shoe almost touching hers, his voice gentle: "Worried about him? Or worried about me?"