The very night Lin Xi mentioned going to North District No. 1, Duan Yiheng called the manor's butler. Everything in the manor had to be arranged according to Lin Xi's preferences; he even sent her a list.
The Bentley drove along the lake towards the main building. Lin Xi glanced at the bare ginkgo trees outside the window, a hint of regret in her eyes. They hadn't been able to see the ginkgo trees as planned, and she feared she would never have the chance again. Duan Yiheng took her hand, holding it firmly in his palm, and said,
"Next November, I'll bring you back." Lin Xi turned and smiled, but didn't reply. She feared that by then, the person standing beside him wouldn't be her anymore. The Bentley stopped between the fountain and the main house.
Lin Xi got out of the car and saw the shimmering fountain curving into a rainbow under the sunlight. Turning to Duan Yiheng, she asked, "Why is the fountain on?" Duan Yiheng smiled, "When distinguished guests arrive, the fountain has to be on."
Lin Xi suddenly smiled, her smile as radiant as the rainbow. Duan Yiheng took her hand, "Let's go inside." Lin Xi pressed her other hand against his arm, glancing around, "There are so many people." The manor was large, and naturally, there were many servants.
"This is my private property. They won't gossip," Duan Yiheng tightened his grip, "No one else will know."
But others already knew. Lin Xi remembered what her grandfather and Uncle Deng had said, and her heart felt as if something had gripped and twisted it violently, causing her great pain! Lin Xi pulled his hand back, and Duan Yiheng, having just stepped onto the stairs, turned to look at her:
"What's wrong?" "Have you thought about what would happen if others found out about our relationship?" Lin Xi looked up at him intently. Lin Xi felt selfish; even though they had already decided on their future, she still wanted to gauge his attitude.
Duan Yiheng patted her head, saying only three words: "I'm here." Lin Xi nodded, concealing the emotions in her eyes. It wasn't that she didn't trust Duan Yiheng, but one man's strength is no match for many.
Returning to the company, she believed he could do it, but that would inevitably clash with her grandfather. Not to mention Duan Zheng and the other shareholders. Winning or losing was secondary; it was too difficult! The butler bowed slightly and said to Duan Yiheng:
"The room is ready. Would you like to go back to your room to rest?" Duan Yiheng asked, "Where is Lin Xi's room?" The butler replied, "Next to yours." Duan Yiheng led Lin Xi to the top floor.
Their rooms were adjacent to each other. Reaching the door, Duan Yiheng pinched her cheek and said, "Rest first. I'll have the kitchen staff bring up lunch later; we'll eat upstairs."
Lin Xi held onto his hand tightly, causing Duan Yiheng to lower his gaze. "What's wrong?" Duan Yiheng asked with a smile, "It's just a wall between us, and you're already reluctant to leave?" Lin Xi looked around, her eyes darting around. Duan Yiheng gently flicked her forehead:
"What are you looking at?" "There's no one upstairs." Lin Xi simply hugged his waist, "I don't want to be separated from you." Duan Yiheng was taken aback. Since they "got together," Lin Xi had always been passive. Such proactive behavior was rare.
The little girl was easily insecure. Duan Yiheng lifted her chin, making her look at him, and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you so clingy? Is something on your mind?" "No, nothing."
Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat, but she tried to appear natural. "I was just trying to comfort you; you've suffered so much for no reason." She was referring to his dismissal. Duan Yiheng put his arm around her neck, pulling her into his embrace, and teased her:
"Then come to my place, but I have to make it clear beforehand, if you go now, you can't leave tonight." "Okay." Her immediate answer surprised Duan Yiheng, who then confirmed again, "Are you sure?"
Lin Xi pulled his hand towards his room: "Hurry up." Duan Yiheng chuckled, matching her pace: "Anyone who didn't know better would think you were in a rush to get back to your room." Lin Xi pinched his waist, but not hard.
Duan Yiheng often came here, but not for work; his bedroom didn't have a small study. However, he did have some things to take care of, so he sat on the sofa at the foot of the bed, preparing to answer Qin Yang's video call.
Lin Xi sat beside him without disturbing him, her head lowered, her fingertips tracing the lines on his palm. Duan Yiheng, enduring the tickling sensation, tightened his grip on her hand, turning his face to the side and saying, "Why don't you play by yourself for a while? I'll go out and answer this video call?" Lin Xi pursed her lips: "Can't I listen?"
Duan Yiheng patted her head: "Be good." "Okay." Lin Xi had no choice but to let go of his hand. Duan Yiheng had barely stepped onto the balcony when Lin Xi followed. She heard Qin Yang in the video say:
"The reason Zheng Jizhong was able to strike first is because of Zheng Jianian. After all, he and Liang Yutong had a close relationship. Zheng Jizhong learned Lin's true identity from Zheng Jianian, and that's why he used your relationship with Lin to threaten the chairman."
Duan Yiheng sneered: "It seems Zheng Jizhong still doesn't understand Grandpa. No matter what, from the moment he threatened him, he couldn't stay at Yinfan anymore." Which business tycoon could tolerate threats from a subordinate? Qin Yang:
"Indeed, even if we don't cooperate with the Liang family, Zheng Jizhong will definitely leave Yinfan." "Cooperating with the Liang family isn't to make him leave Yinfan, but to strike at Zheng Jianian's company." Duan Yiheng's eyes darkened.
This time, Zheng Jizhong completely crossed his bottom line. He didn't want to be so ruthless. Since he could climb out of the mire of bankruptcy with the help of the Liang family, he could naturally make him fall into the mire again. Lin Xi turned and went back to her room. It turned out it was all because of her.
She was friends with Liang Yutong, so it wouldn't be difficult for Zheng Jizhong to find out her true identity. Starting with her, many things would be easily uncovered. Zhang Mo was completely unaware that she had been used. Lost in thought, Lin Xi noticed Duan Yiheng had finished his call and was standing beside her.
Lin Xi smiled and asked, "Finished?" Duan Yiheng nodded. "What are you daydreaming about?" "I heard Sister Mei mention that there's a villa south of the lake..." Lin Xi glanced at him tentatively, "...where your mother lived before she passed away."
Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement. "I'll take you there tonight." "I didn't mean that," Lin Xi explained. "I'm just a little curious because I didn't notice it when I passed by Ginkgo Avenue last time."
"My mother liked that kind of layout, surrounded by greenery on all sides, where you couldn't see anyone. Her illness worsened in her later years, affecting her appearance, so she didn't want to see people." Lin Xi sighed, and her phone suddenly rang.
Lin Xi looked down and saw it was Liang Yutong. She swiped to answer. "Lin Xi, what should I do? Didn't you tell Duan Mingxuan you'd come out with me for a few days? I saw him on the street this morning." Lin Xi was taken aback: "What did you tell him?"