Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat in fright, but gradually calmed down after hearing the familiar voice. The room was dark, the lights off. Lin Xi patted Duan Yiheng's shoulder, signaling him to let go of her. "What are you doing?" Lin Xi's voice was low. The sounds of Tan Qi and Zhou Zheng talking could still be heard intermittently in the corridor. "Where are they?" Lin Xi heard Tan Qi ask. Zhou Zheng said, "Miss Lin went to the restroom; I'm waiting here." Tan Qi:
"There's nothing fun in the villa. Duan Mingxuan suggested going to the club, but Duan Yiheng went back to change. Why don't we wait in the car together?" Zhou Zheng frowned slightly, seemingly reluctant. Tan Qi smiled:
"It's indeed not good for a professor as upright and honorable as you to indulge in such extravagance, but you've taken a liking to someone's precious darling; can't you even allow them to make things difficult for you?" Zhou Zheng suddenly understood: "Thank you for reminding me."
Tan Qi said "Let's go," but inwardly thought this man had become dull-witted from teaching; he didn't understand basic social etiquette. The corridor fell silent. Duan Yiheng chuckled softly, "My darling?" Lin Xi's ears burned. She pushed him away, saying, "Weren't you going to change?
Don't keep him waiting." "Waiting a little while won't hurt," Duan Yiheng said. "If he can't even do this, what's the point of talking about the future?" Lin Xi knew he was referring to Zhou Zheng, but she was talking about Tan Qi. "I was talking about Miss Tan. Don't keep her waiting."
Duan Yiheng's gaze moved down, landing on her smooth neck. The dress had a square neckline, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin and collarbone, but the marks he had left the night before were gone. Duan Yiheng raised his hand, his palm landing on the back of her neck, his thumb wiping away the powder on her neck.
"What are you doing?" Lin Xi angrily raised her hand to cover her neck, something she had painstakingly managed to hide. "Can you really accept me talking about marriage with another woman?" Duan Yiheng lowered his voice. "That night, was I the only one who was infatuated?
The way you looked at me wasn't as indifferent as you seemed." "Don't try to figure me out. You're not me." Lin Xi turned her head away. "Let go of me. Mr. Zhou is still waiting for me." "Then do you know I'm waiting for you too?"
Duan Yiheng gripped her shoulders, suppressing his heavy emotions, his face taut. "Don't talk nonsense," Lin Xi protested vehemently. "At least consider Grandpa's health." "Has anyone considered me?" Duan Yiheng said. "I've reached this position so I can do what I want." "But you can't do what you want now," Lin Xi shattered his hopes. "Although you're the group's vice president, you have quite a few supporters of Uncle Duan. Regardless of their motives, they definitely don't want you to take over Yin Fan." "You need marriage, a stable relationship, and to project your responsibilities to the outside world. Are you really going to give up what's readily available for a little selfishness?" Simply put, does he want the empire or the woman? Duan Yiheng chuckled softly.
"So that's the crux of the problem." Lin Xi looked bewildered, her brows furrowing. "What do you mean?" "You're worried about me?" Duan Yiheng asked with a smile. "Worried that because of us, I'll be held hostage by Duan Zheng and those shareholders who don't support me?"
Their breaths, so close together, carried an ambiguous atmosphere. Lin Xi turned her head away, but Duan Yiheng pressed closer, almost kissing her. "Don't worry, if I didn't have this much ability, how could I survive in the company?" "I'm not worried."
Lin Xi suppressed her indescribable emotions, her voice cold. "I just... simply don't want to get involved in any private matters with you." The air froze. Duan Yiheng suppressed his anger, his breathing becoming heavy.
The repeated entanglements were truly unsightly, yet he couldn't bear to let go. This wasn't the first time he'd been so bluntly rejected. Duan Yiheng also had his pride; Lin Xi's words left him speechless.
The atmosphere in the room was as cold as snow falling in the dead of winter, chilling to the bone. Duan Yiheng released her, his silhouette disappearing into the darkness. "So eager to distance yourself from me?" Duan Yiheng's throat bobbed. "Is it because of Zhou Zheng? Or do you despise me?"
Lin Xi couldn't bring herself to say she despised him. In desperation, she lied: "Aunt Wei is wary of me. To forget Duan Mingxuan, I'm willing to spend time with Mr. Zhou." "Duan Mingxuan," Duan Yiheng scoffed. "You haven't forgotten him yet?"
"After all, we've had many years of relationship; it's not something you can just forget." Lin Xi clenched her hands tightly, her nails digging into her palms. The pain was nothing compared to the wound in her heart. Duan Yiheng told her not to worry about his situation in the company, but she wasn't a puppet; how could she not worry?
So many people have made a wrong step and fallen into an abyss of no return. Her identity was, to him, a handle for others to criticize. The two were six years apart in age and registered under the Meng family name; to outsiders, they were like siblings who had grown up together.
If they were to cross a line, there was a lot of room to maneuver by targeting their relationship. Rumors don't just circulate among the wise, but also among those who create them. Duan Yiheng had only earned a reputation for being cold-hearted at the company, but his professionalism and abilities were undeniable.
She didn't want to be the root of all the problems. "I thought you only had the childhood affection left between you and him," Duan Yiheng said with a self-deprecating smile. "Turns out I was naive." "I'm leaving now."
Lin Xi couldn't stay a second longer, or she would lose her composure. "Excuse me." Duan Yiheng stepped aside to make room for her.
After leaving the house, Lin Xi took a long time to walk forward and backward. Reaching the car, she took the fur coat Mei Jie had given her, put it on, and went to Zhou Zheng. Tan Qi glanced behind her: "Where's your older brother?" See, this is how others see their relationship. Lin Xi smiled.
"I'm not sure, let's wait a bit longer." About ten minutes later, Duan Yiheng arrived, dressed casually. Once everyone was there, Duan Mingxuan said, "Xiao Xi, come get in my car." Zhou Zheng gestured for her to enter.
Lin Xi got into Duan Mingxuan's car, glancing out of the corner of her eye as Tan Qi got into Duan Yiheng's. She looked away, sitting in the passenger seat, not wanting to say a word, but Duan Mingxuan kept nagging. "Xiao Xi, I don't think Zhou Zheng is good enough for you."
"He's too old, you two have nothing to talk about." "I don't know how my mom and grandpa agreed, it was too late when I found out." "If you—" "Can you shut up?"
Lin Xi frowned, then realized her tone was off. "Sorry, I'm not in a good mood." "It's okay, it's okay." Duan Mingxuan assumed she was unhappy with the matchmaking. "So, what do you think of Zhou Zheng?"
She had no feelings for Zhou Zheng; the person who did was destined not to be hers. The thought struck her, and Lin Xi was startled. Has she fallen for Duan Yiheng?