After resting for half a day, sleeping until dusk, Lin Xi finally woke up from the sweltering bed. Her back, neck, and forehead were covered in a layer of damp sweat. She felt extremely uncomfortable.
She lay quietly for a while, then propped herself up on the bed with her hands. Her gaze shifted, and she froze. Duan Yiheng was asleep in a chair. He coughed involuntarily. Lin Xi got out of bed, grabbed his coat from the foot of the bed, and gently covered him with it.
It was really inconvenient for such a big man to sit in a chair. Lin Xi wanted to wake him, but she was afraid of disturbing his rest. After thinking for a moment, she turned and went to the bathroom. After showering and changing into dry pajamas, she finally felt alive again.
But when she stepped outside, she was met with Duan Yiheng's devilish face. Lin Xi was blocked at the bathroom door. She instinctively took a half-step back and asked him, "Why are you blocking my door?" Duan Yiheng frowned, his expression disapproving. "You're not fully recovered yet, and you've already taken a shower?
Taking a shower is one thing, but why did you wash your hair too?" "I feel unwell," Lin Xi knew she was in the wrong and didn't argue. "I sweated a lot." Duan Yiheng stepped forward, lifted her up by the hips, and Lin Xi instinctively braced herself against his shoulders.
Then, she was placed on the sink. "What are you doing?" Lin Xi stretched her legs to jump down, but Duan Yiheng was faster, pressing himself against the sink and using his body to spread her legs. "You—" Lin Xi choked, because of the suggestive position.
Duan Yiheng turned on the hairdryer and removed her hair-drying cap. The steam warmed her scalp, tracing the lines of Duan Yiheng's fingers as they ran through her long hair. Lin Xi had just showered, her fragrant scent wafting into Duan Yiheng's chest, rising above his Adam's apple, and reaching his nostrils.
Lin Xi sat high up, almost at his eye level, yet too close to look him directly in the eye. The hotel hairdryer hummed, and Lin Xi turned her head, revealing her long, slender, white neck. Long hair is difficult to dry, and Duan Yiheng patiently dried it bit by bit, from scalp to ends.
Suddenly, she remembered home. After each hair wash, without the help of a housekeeper, she had to patiently dry her scalp herself. Memories of her time with Duan Yiheng flooded her mind; she recalled Miss Meng's death anniversary, and the night Duan Yiheng had drunk too much.
Even drunk, he worried about whether she would be bullied by Duan Mingxuan. His words, "I can't bear it," had thrown her into turmoil. If Sister Mei hadn't been unwell, she would have definitely run away, and wouldn't have let him kiss her.
Since then, a subtle chemistry has developed between them. Perhaps it's because neither of them has much experience that they are so wary of their first intimate encounter with someone of the opposite sex. After last night, he became even more unrestrained.
Such an ambiguous way of drying hair would make even a couple feel embarrassed. Lin Xi felt that she and Duan Yiheng couldn't continue like this. The moment her household registration was transferred to the Meng family, most people in the circle knew about the old man's plans.
When she was young, she was always teased as Duan Mingxuan's child bride. Her appearances with Duan Mingxuan always created all sorts of gossip. If she were to have something happen with Duan Yiheng, she couldn't even imagine how nasty the people would be.
As an adopted daughter, caught between two brothers, how could her reputation be preserved? Duan Yiheng was the successor of Yin Fan, with a bright and promising future. Wasn't Grandpa's desire to arrange a marriage with the Tan family precisely to remove his reputation for being heartless?
A single man or a happily married man—shareholders would naturally trust an heir with a stable family. Because marriage, to a certain extent, represents responsibility. The hairdryer stopped, her hair dried, and Lin Xi came to her senses, meeting Duan Yiheng's gaze. "It's dry."
Duan Yiheng said. "Thank you." Lin Xi pushed against his chest. "Can I get down?" Duan Yiheng put the hairdryer back in its place, making room for her. "Want to go eat together?" Duan Yiheng lowered his head, his tone gentle. Lin Xi shook her head:
"Let's order from the bar." "Okay, what do you want to eat?" "You decide." Lin Xi had slept until now, her stomach was empty, and she was indeed a little hungry. Duan Yiheng called the hotel butler, and soon the food was delivered to the room. Lin Xi sat facing him.
The atmosphere was fairly pleasant. Thinking about the banquet the next evening, Lin Xi suggested, "How about we wrap up tomorrow's schedule early?" Duan Yiheng paused, looking at her. "What's wrong?" "Grandpa has made an appointment with the Tan family. You know what that means."
Lin Xi avoided his gaze. "We'll be back a bit late this afternoon, and we don't have anything to do here. Being late is impolite." Duan Yiheng put down his chopsticks and said, "Do you know how quickly the marriage will happen if I agree?" Lin Xi nodded.
"Don't you have any other thoughts about my marriage?" Lin Xi forced a smile. "What other thoughts could I have? I think you and Miss Tan are a perfect match." "So I'm a man who knowingly entered into a marriage of convenience and still kissed someone else?"
Duan Yiheng's face darkened. "That's not what I meant." Lin Xi's explanation lacked sufficient conviction. "Then what do you mean?" Duan Yiheng pressed on relentlessly. "I thought I made myself perfectly clear last night."
"I didn't say it directly, out of consideration for you, actually to give you time to consider, do you understand?" Lin Xi's heart pounded wildly. Her constant avoidance would only provoke his continued advances. Lin Xi gripped her chopsticks tightly, her fingertips aching, but she didn't loosen her grip.
"I understand." Lin Xi's rationality prevailed. "But I don't need to consider. Everything I said comes from my heart. I've also said that you and I are boss and subordinate, headquarters and secretary, brother and sister. There's absolutely no possibility of crossing any other boundaries."
Duan Yiheng felt her rejection came suddenly, yet her expression remained stubborn. "Having already crossed the line, how can I take it back?" Duan Yiheng looked directly into her eyes. "Tell me." Lin Xi lowered her head to eat, whispering:
"Let's start with the trip ending early tomorrow." Duan Yiheng didn't understand. In the short time it took to blow-dry her hair, she seemed determined to become the most familiar stranger to him. "Do whatever you want."
Duan Yiheng put down his chopsticks and stood up. "We'll head back tomorrow morning." "Okay," Lin Xi replied with difficulty. From that moment until they returned to City B, they didn't exchange a single word. At one o'clock in the afternoon, the driver picked up Duan Yiheng and Lin Xi.
Lin Xi got into the passenger seat, causing the driver to be surprised: "Miss, why are you sitting here?" Lin Xi smiled: "Let's go." The driver was puzzled. Later, he secretly complained to Sister Mei that the two had a fight.
Sister Mei tentatively asked a couple of questions, but Duan Yiheng remained expressionless. She finally gave up, took out Duan Yiheng's suit, and asked, "How about this one?" Duan Yiheng glanced at it: "Anyone who didn't know better would think I'm getting married tonight." Sister Mei:
"...Then I'll change you." Duan Yiheng didn't reply for a while. Just when Sister Mei thought he was going to remain silent, he asked again, "Is Lin Xi's dress ready?" Sister Mei:
"Yes, it's ready. The young lady picked it out herself, saying she didn't want to steal the spotlight from the guests, so she chose a black velvet dress." Duan Yiheng casually pointed: "I'll wear that tonight." Sister Mei: "...My dear young master, this is more like something you'd wear for a wedding."