Gently bite the jasmine

Duan Mingxuan was nonchalant and didn't wear his clothes properly. As he walked, the smooth collar of his shirt revealed most of his chest.

Sister Mei couldn't bear to look: "My second young master, you should at least consider us."

Duan Mingxuan laughed heartily: "Sister Mei, do I not have a good figure?"

"Okay," Sister Mei said helplessly.

Duan Mingxuan stepped forward, put his arm around Lin Xi's shoulder, and asked casually, "Whose birthday is it?"

Lin Xi had feelings for him and couldn't get used to such close contact. She bent down and escaped from Duan Mingxuan's arms, complaining that he was too heavy.

Duan Mingxuan looked down at her expression and asked cautiously, "Are you still angry? You've been avoiding me for days."

"No." Lin Xi wouldn't let him see. "It was just a joke, I won't take it to heart."

Duan Mingxuan walked upstairs next to her, almost pushing her against the railing.

"Duan Mingxuan," Lin Xi glared at him, "can't you walk properly?"

Duan Mingxuan said, feeling wronged, "You haven't answered my question yet."

Lin Xi: "...Nobody's having a birthday party, can't I eat cake?"

"Okay," Duan Mingxuan said indulgently, "share a piece with me when you eat."

Lin Xi: "I can't share it. I had Sister Mei make a mini cake, and I can show it off in one bite."

Duan Mingxuan chuckled and pinched her cheeks: "Let me see how big your mouth is."

He was too rough, and Lin Xi winced in pain, tears welling up in her eyes.

Duan Mingxuan suddenly let go and scratched his head awkwardly.

Lin Xi glanced at him, then turned and went upstairs.

Duan Mingxuan didn't follow. As if remembering something, he turned around and went downstairs.

He went straight over to Sister Mei in the kitchen and asked, "Sister Mei, whose birthday is it?"

Sister Mei sighed inwardly, lamenting the discord between the two brothers, who didn't even know each other's birthdays.

"Nobody."

Duan Mingxuan: "Don't lie to me. Xiaoxi isn't greedy and doesn't like to bother others. Besides, I heard her say that she needs it on Saturday night."

"Second Young Master, this is not a place for you." Sister Mei turned around and shooed him out. "If you really want to know, you can ask the master."

"My Father?"

Duan Mingxuan was pushed out of the kitchen, and immediately called Duan Zheng, who was still out socializing.

The person opposite him, slightly tipsy, replied rather perfunctorily, "I don't know."

After thinking it over, Duan Mingxuan called Chen Baiwei, not knowing if she had gotten off the plane yet.

To my surprise, the other party answered.

"Mom," Duan Mingxuan called out, "do you know whose birthday it is this Saturday?"

Chen Baiwei thought for a moment: "No one is having a birthday."

Duan Mingxuan said "Oh," it seemed that Xiao Xi really wanted to eat cake, but why on Saturday night?

"Wait a minute," Chen Baiwei suddenly said.

Duan Mingxuan was taken aback, but didn't hang up the phone. He heard Chen Baiwei's uncertain voice on the other end: "It seems to be your older brother's birthday."

"Are you sure?" Duan Mingxuan was incredulous for a moment.

Chen Baiwei glanced at her phone and said, "October 23rd, no doubt about it."

She had just arrived at the Duan family and wanted to curry favor with Duan Yiheng, so naturally she remembered his birthday.

Even if Duan Yiheng didn't appreciate it, she still put on an act for the old man to see.

Until Duan Yiheng grew up, she no longer needed to prepare.

Over the years, their relationship had grown distant, and she had almost forgotten this day.

Duan Mingxuan hung up the phone and started walking upstairs, but stopped when he reached Lin Xi's door.

During this period, he and Lin Xi often argued because of Duan Yiheng.

Duan Mingxuan knew he had a bad temper and a domineering personality, and sometimes he could make Lin Xi burst into tears while he was talking.

He didn't want to argue with Lin Xi anymore, so he held back.

Besides, it's getting late, let's talk about it tomorrow.

Duan Mingxuan set an alarm. He had been staying in a hotel for the past few days and didn't know if Lin Xi was still leaving early and returning late.

Lin Xi was actually still awake. She was looking at her laptop, analyzing the project materials that Duan Yiheng had given her one by one.

She wasn't in a hurry. Currently, her role was that of a secretary, and she only needed to familiarize herself with the specific process from project initiation to delivery so that she could coordinate the work.

As midnight approached, Lin Xi hurriedly packed up her computer and went to take a shower, falling asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

I got up at eight o'clock the next day, having slept for a full eight hours.

Lin Xi was about to go downstairs dressed when Sister Mei blocked the doorway and winked at her: "Madam is back."

Lin Xi immediately stuffed the project documents into her bag, took out her phone, and told Duan Yiheng that she wouldn't be going to the west side for breakfast.

I thought I would see Chen Baiwei when I went downstairs, but to my surprise, Duan Mingxuan was sitting in the living room with dark circles under his eyes.

Lin Xi was startled again: "What are you doing sitting here?"

Duan Mingxuan gestured for her to sit down: "Why are you so timid?"

Lin Xi didn't sit down, but took two steps forward.

Duan Mingxuan stared at her, and when Lin Xi felt uneasy under his gaze, he suddenly asked, "Is Saturday my brother's birthday?"

Lin Xi felt a little nervous for some reason, but since he asked, she nodded in agreement.

"You even asked Sister Mei to make you a separate cake so you could celebrate his birthday?"

Lin Xi frowned: "You're waiting here so early in the morning to question me over something so trivial?"

Duan Mingxuan frowned as well: "Why can't you just answer my questions directly? You always dodge the question."

"Since I've avoided the main point, it means I don't want to talk about it," Lin Xi retorted. "Is such a trivial matter worth arguing about?"

Duan Mingxuan's gaze turned cold, and his tone was sarcastic: "Who helped you clean up the cake he threw away?"

Lin Xi avoided his piercing gaze and said, "Mingxuan, that was all when we were kids. How can you still remember that now that you're all grown up?"

Lin Xi felt it was completely meaningless.

Besides, she and he are different.

Her surname is Lin, and she was fostered by the Duan family. It's impossible for her to be at odds with Duan Yiheng as naturally as Duan Mingxuan.

She had to take care of everyone in the family, even the servants, and she dared not trouble them too much.

Whenever there's something to thank me for, I have to say thank you several times.

Because this is not her home.

Duan Mingxuan never understood that she had no right to be willful in this family.

“I’m just that stingy,” Duan Mingxuan suddenly raised his voice. “I don’t want you to go to his birthday party.”

He practically choked out the words.

Lin Xi didn't want to ask "why," she just felt that the other person was being unreasonable.

She turned to leave, but Duan Mingxuan grabbed her arm from behind.

Lin Xi immediately resisted, but couldn't shake him off no matter what she did, and angrily called his name.

Hearing the commotion, Sister Mei rushed out to stop it, but stopped when she saw Chen Baiwei standing on the stairs.

Chen Baiwei glanced at Sister Mei and stopped her, saying, "What are you two arguing about so early in the morning?"

The air froze, and Lin Xi took the opportunity to shake off Duan Mingxuan.

Chen Baiwei told Sister Mei to go ahead and get busy. After she left, she walked up to Lin Xi and spoke in a lukewarm tone:

"You too, if they don't want you to go, then don't go. You're always so eager to please others but they don't appreciate it. Don't be so despicable. You're someone I raised, after all. You should be on Mingxuan's side."

Upon hearing Chen Baiwei's words, Duan Mingxuan immediately frowned and stopped her, saying, "Mom, can't you speak more politely?"

"It sounds nice, but other people can't understand it."

Lin Xi bit her lower lip, lowered her eyes, and said, "Aunt Wei, I have something to do, so I'll head out first."

"Xiao Xi".

Duan Mingxuan was about to chase after them when Chen Baiwei stopped him.

"Mom, can't you be nicer to Xiaoxi?" Duan Mingxuan was in a bad mood and lashed out at his mother again.

Chen Baiwei pretended to be heartbroken and scolded him for being heartless.

Lin Xi didn't eat and went straight to the west building.

Duan Yiheng came out of the house, and the driver pointed to the car and whispered, "It seems like the young lady is crying."

Duan Yiheng stood there for a few seconds, then had the driver go back and get a breakfast. He walked around to the other side, opened the car door, and got in.