Lin Xi sensed movement beside her and turned away to wipe her tears.
The car didn't start for a while. Lin Xi asked in a muffled voice, "Why aren't we leaving yet?" Duan Yiheng handed her a handkerchief: "Uncle Zheng went to get you breakfast."
Lin Xi glanced at him, her eyes reddening.
She had argued with Duan Mingxuan because of Duan Yiheng, and Chen Baiwei's words had stung her. Having grown up alongside her, Lin Xi didn't understand why Chen Baiwei spoke so harshly. But all her grievances vanished at Duan Yiheng's considerate actions.
She didn't think she was wrong. The Duan family had taken her in; everyone in the family had been kind to her. Even if things weren't going well between the east and west sides of the South Courtyard, she couldn't join them in bullying Duan Yiheng.
Lin Xi smiled wryly: "Thank you."
The driver brought breakfast to Lin Xi, and she thanked him again.
Duan Yiheng looked up and calmly ordered, "Drive."
The car pulled out of the west gate. Duan Yiheng glanced down at his phone and told her to eat.
Lin Xi felt a little embarrassed eating in his car. "I'll eat at the company," she said, "just in case I get your car dirty."
Duan Yiheng turned his head. "Eat yours. Do you expect me to hold it for you?" Lin Xi quickly shook her head. Fine, she'd eat.
For convenience, the driver only brought a shrimp sandwich and a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Lin Xi ate small bites, filling the emptiness in her stomach. She thought Duan Yiheng would ask why she was crying, but he didn't ask a single question.
Lin Xi got out at the second intersection again. Duan Yiheng's car passed her. He took out his phone and called Sister Mei. Sister Mei told him everything she had seen, and as for what she hadn't heard, Duan Yiheng could guess.
Duan Mingxuan's inherent domineering nature was exactly the same as Chen Baiwei's gentle exterior concealing a heart that couldn't be seen. The only difference was that one could see it, and the other couldn't. Duan Yiheng saw it clearly; Duan Mingxuan's personality was a true reflection of Chen Baiwei's inner self.
Unfortunately, Lin Xi was too rule-abiding, and could only swallow her bitterness. Duan Yiheng offered no comfort, nor did he invite Lin Xi upstairs for lunch. Both were busy, especially Duan Yiheng. Lin Xi always processed her grievances from Chen Baiwei herself and then felt better.
She didn't hold grudges. During her break, Sun Wenxin inquired about the staff meeting from Lin Xi. Lin Xi picked out a few things to say, as it had nothing to do with Sun Wenxin, a receptionist.
However, Duan Yiheng was holding a meeting, both as a reprimand to veteran employees and as a spur to new ones. During work hours, Lin Xi kept her phone on silent. When she checked it after get off work, she was shocked to find six or seven calls and over a dozen voice messages from Duan Mingxuan. She hesitated for a moment, worried that something might have happened to Duan Mingxuan, but still called back. Duan Mingxuan immediately stood up from the sofa: "Xiao Xi, you finally called me back!"
Relieved by his strong voice, Lin Xi asked, "Why did you call me so many times?"
"I wanted to ask when you're coming back."
Duan Mingxuan used his usual coquettish tactic, "My mom said some mean things, I've already told her off. When you come back, I'll make her apologize to you."
"It's okay." Lin Xi's expression was unreadable.
Duan Mingxuan didn't insist, only asking when she was coming back. Lin Xi had planned to go home after get off work to continue studying the project materials, but this call made her hesitate again.
For the time being, she didn't want to see Duan Mingxuan and Chen Baiwei.
Just then, Duan Yiheng called again. Lin Xi hurriedly said, "I have something to do, I might be back late. Don't make Aunt Wei apologize to me, I can't accept that."
"Are you still angry?" Duan Mingxuan asked, afraid she'd hang up. "Then I'll pick you up—" Looking at the phone being hung up, Duan Mingxuan felt a deep sense of helplessness.
Duan Yiheng's call was naturally meant to invite Lin Xi home with him.
But after getting in the car, Lin Xi asked if she could go for a drink. Then she realized it wasn't a good idea, since she had to work the next day, so she forced a smile and said, "I was just kidding."
Duan Yiheng glanced at her and suddenly asked, "Did you and Duan Mingxuan argue this morning?"
By the end of the day, Lin Xi's emotions weren't as intense as they were in the morning. Hearing his question, she didn't object and honestly nodded.
For some reason, she smiled and said, "Duan Mingxuan even said you threw away the birthday cake I gave you when you were little, and he helped me clean it up." Duan Yiheng had indeed done it; there was no denying it.
But he wouldn't do it again, he said, "I won't throw it away, I'll finish it." Hearing his earnest promise, Lin Xi suddenly felt a mischievous urge.
Her eyes darted around: "I asked Sister Mei to make a ten-inch one, you can finish that too?" Duan Yiheng was taken aback by her words, but still answered, "Yes."
"Ten inches, huh?" Lin Xi was afraid he didn't understand, "You can finish it?" Duan Yiheng didn't hesitate at all: "If I can't finish it in one meal, I can divide it into two days."
Lin Xi smiled slightly; leftovers were practically nonexistent in the Duan family. However, Duan Yiheng's answer still warmed her heart a little.
Lin Xi smiled. "Could you take me to the North Courtyard? I want to see Grandpa."
"I'll go with you," Duan Yiheng instructed the driver to use the North Gate. "I haven't been there for a few days."
"You…" Seeing her hesitate, Duan Yiheng told her to speak.
Lin Xi, having gotten her answer, asked, "I remember you didn't live at home before. Was it because of Grandpa?"
"Yes," Duan Yiheng replied. "Grandpa's health isn't very good. I'm busy with work and rarely see him, so I moved back."
"Then it's your birthday this Saturday. Grandpa will definitely remember."
"Yes, I'll just have a meal with Grandpa. Will you come?"
Was this an invitation? Lin Xi nodded. "Sure, but I might only be free in the evening. I'm going to look at cars with Yutong during the day."
Duan Yiheng looked at her. "A car for work?"
"Yes, I had her choose one under 500,000. Is that okay?"
"Sure." The two entered the North Courtyard, startling the old man—this was unprecedented.
However, it wasn't surprising that Lin Xi was now Duan Yiheng's secretary.
Sister Mei had told him everything that happened that morning. Lin Xi habitually came to him after being wronged, which indirectly showed that she felt he was good to her. The old man didn't say anything, simply inviting the two to chat.
Since they hadn't mentioned coming beforehand, dinner wasn't prepared for them in the North Courtyard. It was just a matter of waiting, so Duan Yiheng and the old man started playing Connect Four.
Lin Xi's eyes almost popped out: "Grandpa, you and my brother play this?"
She thought it was either Go or Chinese chess. The old man chuckled, "I'm old, I don't want to use my brain anymore. Even playing chess is too combative. This is much more fun."
Lin Xi: "..." The older they get, the more childlike they seem—that's absolutely true.
After playing four or five games, Duan Yiheng won each time. The old man scoffed, threw down the chessboard, and said, "At thirty, you're established. You're successful in your career now, that's not a concern for me, but what about your marriage? What do you think?"
Lin Xi subconsciously looked at Duan Yiheng and found him staring at her, not looking away for a long time. Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Lin Xi asked with her eyes, "Why are you looking at me like that? Grandpa is asking about you."