Was she worried about Duan Yiheng or Duan Mingxuan? Lin Xi didn't have a clear order in mind. She tilted her head back and blinked gently. "I'm just worried you'll fight."
"What if I lose all sense of propriety and fight?" Duan Yiheng asked in a low voice. He was too close; his men's woody cologne wafted over her. Lin Xi's breathing quickened, and she subtly stepped back. "You won't," she said, her head lowered. "You won't fight."
"Maybe not." Duan Yiheng narrowed his eyes. Earlier, outside the club, Lin Xi was drunk, and he almost got into a fight with Duan Mingxuan. Duan Yiheng had said, "I'm not some gentleman who adheres to all morals, but my current status doesn't allow me to do anything unseemly."
If he were in Duan Mingxuan's position, he might have a worse temper. To gain power and status, he suppressed all his natural instincts, becoming the most successful successor in his grandfather's eyes. Once upon a time, he was also a mischievous child in his mother's eyes.
He had recognized his situation at the age of twelve; he had endured long enough, and who knew when he would break down. Chen Baiwei understood this better than Duan Zheng; once the old man was gone, he wouldn't give them a good life.
He wouldn't kick them out to fend for themselves, but living at the mercy of others was something neither the second young master Duan nor Chen Baiwei would get used to. Lin Xi still didn't understand him. Duan Yiheng, accommodating her height, slightly bent his waist:
"Remember, I didn't lay a hand on you tonight, all because of you." Lin Xi felt a sudden panic, her pupils trembling slightly. She opened her mouth slightly, confirming with Duan Yiheng: "Because of me?" Duan Yiheng grunted:
"Do you think Duan Zheng and Chen Baiwei would blame me if I had fought with Duan Mingxuan?" Was there even a need to ask? Lin Xi didn't even need to think; they would definitely blame her. "This is Duan Mingxuan's fault. No matter what, he shouldn't have abandoned you halfway."
Duan Yiheng said, "I've already warned him." "Thank you." Lin Xi felt this had little to do with Duan Yiheng, but regardless of whether he physically harmed her or not, he did it for her sake, and she should be grateful. "Then I'll go back to my room." "Wait a minute."
Duan Yiheng called after her. Lin Xi turned around: "Is there anything else?" "Since you've decided to let go, don't look back." Duan Yiheng suddenly said this. Lin Xi was slightly surprised: "How did you know…" Duan Yiheng:
"In Rong County, you left the things Duan Mingxuan gave you at your parents' graves." So he saw it. Lin Xi let out a self-deprecating sigh: "Are you comforting me?" "To correct you, it's a reminder," Duan Yiheng said. Lin Xi:
"I understand. It's impossible between us now. It was impossible long before we went to Rong County." Duan Yiheng raised an eyebrow slightly. "I thought you wouldn't easily give up on your feelings for him after more than ten years." Lin Xi:
"More than ten years of feelings are certainly true. It's just that there's no possibility of romantic love between us anymore, but familial affection still exists." "That's good." Duan Yiheng removed his tie. "It's getting late, go back to your room."
Lin Xi was led by him the whole time. As soon as he finished speaking, she turned and left. On the way back, she felt something was off. That's good? Why would Duan Yiheng say that when there was no possibility between her and Duan Mingxuan? What's good about it? Was he worried she'd be late for work?
Lin Xi thought about it for a while and felt it was very likely. After taking a shower, she was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Thinking about going to the new industrial park on Taihe Road tomorrow, Lin Xi even felt a bit sleepless. She absolutely couldn't let her mind wander anymore. Lin Xi forced her brain to shut down.
The next morning, Lin Xi listlessly got out of bed to the sound of her alarm clock. Starting today, she would drive herself to work. By the time Duan Yiheng came downstairs for breakfast, Lin Xi had already left.
The new campus was more than twice the size of the old one. Passing through the main gate, the four characters "Yinfan Technology" gleamed coldly in the morning light, etched on the black granite. The font was rigorous and steady, with full, rounded turns—the old man's calligraphy.
Lin Xi's car was recognized and allowed into the campus. The roads were wide and flat, and the greenery on both sides was meticulously trimmed, reflecting the same rigidity as her boss. Lin Xi chuckled at her own thoughts, took her access card, and got out of the car. Entering the office building, she was greeted by Sun Wenxin.
She excitedly called out to Lin Xi, "Secretary Lin, good morning!" Lin Xi smiled back, waved, and swiped her card to enter the ramp. The receptionist next to Sun Wenxin nudged her: "Are you very familiar with President Duan's secretary?" Sun Wenxin didn't boast, modestly replying,
"We had dinner together during onboarding training." Even so, the person's gaze towards Sun Wenxin changed. That was Duan Yiheng's secretary; in ancient times, that would be a close advisor to the emperor. Getting on his good side could only bring benefits.
There was an important high-level strategic meeting today, originally scheduled for Friday, but moved three days earlier due to the relocation to the new campus. With the year-end approaching and the new location, Yinfan Technology's future market layout and development direction needed to be discussed and clarified.
The meeting was in the afternoon, and Lin Xi didn't dare to be careless, quickly organizing the materials and notifying the relevant attendees. After moving to the new campus, Duan Yiheng adjusted his work schedule.
He worked in the new campus from Monday to Thursday, arriving at the company at 10 AM, with irregular closing times, and attending meetings at the group headquarters on Fridays. Just after 10 AM, Duan Yiheng entered his office. Beyond a smart dimming glass wall were Qin Yang and Lin Xi's offices.
Qin Yang was on the inside, and Lin Xi on the outside. Their offices were separated by a glass wall. Duan Yiheng picked up the remote, pressed a button, and the glass instantly became transparent, revealing Lin Xi's slender figure.
She sat upright, her fingers tapping on the keyboard. Duan Yiheng pressed the intercom: "The afternoon meeting is very important. The materials need to be prepared this morning; there can't be any mistakes." Lin Xi subconsciously tilted her head to the right and said, "They're already prepared." Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement.
"Make me a cup of coffee." He hadn't slept well last night and needed coffee to perk him up. Lin Xi immediately got up to make him some. Duan Yiheng preferred both sugar and milk; he wasn't difficult to please and would speak his mind if he needed anything.
Lin Xi brought him the coffee, and Duan Yiheng thanked her. The entire morning was spent preparing for the afternoon meeting. Lin Xi rested for a while on the office sofa at noon. The new campus was large, but the offices were also sized according to job level.
Lin Xi's office was decent compared to ordinary employees, but nothing like Qin Yang's or Duan Yiheng's. The meeting started at 3 PM and was expected to last until 5 PM. Department heads were attending, and Lin Xi was assisting Duan Yiheng with meeting preparation and note-taking.
Upon entering the meeting room, everything was ready. Everyone had a prepared document in front of them. Duan Yiheng announced the start of the meeting, and Lin Xi was about to sit down when Zheng Jizhong, sitting to Duan Yiheng's left, suddenly threw the document at her.
The document slid from her stomach to the floor, causing a tense atmosphere in the meeting room. "How did you prepare this document? I just glanced at it, and the data is blurry and unclear. How am I supposed to read it?" Lin Xi was startled. She picked up the document and examined it; indeed, as Zheng Jizhong said, the data was blurry.
Her face paled. She had checked the data.