Gently bite the jasmine

Lin Xi experienced stress-related behaviors due to her parents' plane crash, and it was only after professional psychological intervention that she became like any other person.

With Duan Mingxuan's help, he successfully overcame his fear of flying, but was left with severe motion sickness.

She tried all sorts of methods: taking medicine, sleeping, mints, mentholatum... but none of them worked.

This time is no exception.

She vomited violently as soon as she got off the plane.

With no energy left for sightseeing, Lin Xi took Duan Mingxuan directly to the hotel.

A sweet and sour citrus scent floated in the air, refreshing and pleasant, which slightly relieved the pressure in Lin Xi's stomach.

Duan Mingxuan told her to rest well and then turned and went back to his room.

Lin Xi looked at the black bag he had left at his feet, and despite feeling dizzy, chased after him.

Just as I reached his door, Duan Mingxuan's voice pierced through the door and reached my ears:

"Then tell me, what's your plan to get her to move back?"

Lin Xi paused, wondering who Duan Mingxuan was talking to on the phone.

After a minute or two, Duan Mingxuan's tone noticeably rose:

“You’re right, I can take Xiaoxi to move out. That’s the purpose of my trip. I’ll test her tomorrow.”

Lin Xi remained calm and went back to her room. Wasn't the reason she came with her to pay respects to their parents?

Why is he still trying to compete with Duan Yiheng at this time?

Lin Xi was in a low mood and ignored the bag Duan Mingxuan had left behind. She took a shower and went to bed.

The next day, Lin Xi went downstairs to have breakfast alone, with Duan Mingxuan following closely behind, complaining about why she didn't wait for him.

Lin Xi forced a smile and said, "I thought you didn't eat breakfast."

"I'll eat," Duan Mingxuan said. "You find a seat, and I'll get you whatever you want to eat."

Lin Xi: "Wonton, please."

He got up to get the wontons, unaware of the subtle change in Lin Xi's expression—a mixture of joy, but mostly disappointment and regret.

Unrequited love is a solitary affair; it begins alone and ends alone.

The wontons were plump and full; Lin Xi ate six.

Duan Mingxuan considerately asked her if she wanted more, and Lin Xi shook her head: "I'm full."

Duan Mingxuan buried himself in his food, while Lin Xi casually scrolled through her phone.

Upon entering my WeChat Moments, I suddenly discovered a post by Qin Yang, whose location was still in H City.

Lin Xi was taken aback. Logically speaking, shouldn't he have gone back yesterday?

Could it be that your business trip didn't go well?

Lin Xi exited her WeChat Moments and clicked into Duan Yiheng's chat window.

She spent ages editing, deleting and rewriting, until finally only one sentence remained—

Did your business trip go smoothly?

Duan Yiheng was in the hotel when he received Lin Xi's message.

He glanced at Qin Yang and said, "Go out. Go back to City B first, rest for two days, and go back to work as usual on Monday."

Qin Yang was completely baffled; his boss had inexplicably made him post a nonsensical update on his WeChat Moments.

"Then aren't you coming back with me?" Qin Yang couldn't help but ask.

Duan Yiheng was busy replying to messages, so he raised his hand to let him go.

Lin Xi's phone rang, and she saw Duan Yiheng's reply:

Qin Yang said that since it was a rare day off and it was the weekend, he might as well stay and relax.

"I see," Lin Xi replied. "So, where did you go?"

Duan Yiheng: Let's see tomorrow. What about you? Have you arrived in Rong County?

Lin Xi: It arrived last night.

Duan Yiheng: Are you alright? How severe was your motion sickness?

Lin Xi: I'm fine now, I rested for a night and I'm all better. When are you going back?

Duan Yiheng: We'll see.

Duan Mingxuan looked up and asked her who she was talking to.

Lin Xi casually replied, "Nobody, let's eat. Didn't you say we were going to visit the scenic area?"

The hotel offers direct shuttle buses to the scenic area and free boat tickets for lake tours.

Duan Mingxuan refused, and with a wave of his hand, directly booked the most luxurious car.

Once on the ship, Duan Mingxuan pulled Lin Xi to sit in the center.

He had no interest in admiring the scenery and said directly, "Xiao Xi, my mother is my mother, and I am me. You are very important to me. It hurts me when my mother hits you, but I can't make her apologize to you. I'm sorry."

Lin Xi shifted her gaze from the lush greenery to Duan Mingxuan and said, "I know."

Duan Mingxuan grabbed Lin Xi's hand: "I know you won't move back, so are you going to stay in the West Building forever?"

Lin Xi shook her head: "It's just a temporary stay."

"Then I'll find you a place right now," Duan Mingxuan said happily. "We'll move out together then."

Lin Xi refused: "If you live with me, Aunt Wei will tear me apart. Besides, if you get a girlfriend in the future, it won't be convenient for me to be here."

Duan Mingxuan's joy vanished, and he hung his head in disappointment, like a wounded dog.

Before he could say anything more, Lin Xi would always find a way to change the subject.

Duan Mingxuan had completely lost interest in boating on the lake, and seeing this, Lin Xi suggested returning to the hotel.

Duan Mingxuan naturally responded.

Back at the hotel, Lin Xi called to confirm the flowers to be used for the memorial service the next day.

Then, she picked up a bookmark that she had been hiding in her bag.

The rough little trinket she made herself on watercolor paper was a gift Duan Mingxuan casually gave her when he was seventeen.

There are only two bright red fingerprints on the front. One was pressed by Duan Mingxuan himself with watercolor, and the other was added by her secretly later.

The upper part of the bookmark contains a sentence written by Duan Mingxuan: "This bookmark is proof that Duan Mingxuan will always be by Lin Xi's side."

Lin Xi smiled, ran her fingers over the two fingerprints, and her eyes welled up with tears.

After seeing her parents tomorrow and saying goodbye, she can no longer turn back.

Duan Mingxuan had been staying at the hotel for half a day and was really annoyed, so he dragged Lin Xi out the door and wanted to go for a walk on the street.

"Xiao Xi, I—"

Duan Mingxuan's words were interrupted by a series of urgent ringing.

He glanced at it, somewhat reluctant to answer.

Lin Xi looked over and recognized the call as coming from Zhang Mo.

She watched quietly, without saying a word.

Duan Mingxuan hung up the phone without answering, which surprised Lin Xi.

But the phone rang a second time.

Seeing his hesitation, Lin Xi said, "Take it, just in case something happens."

Duan Mingxuan had no choice but to answer: "Momo, what's wrong?"

Lin Xi couldn't hear what Zhang Mo said, but she knew that Duan Mingxuan's face was getting darker and darker.

"Wait for me to get back before we talk. I will definitely not let him get away with this. It's okay, don't worry. I'll have Yu Lang go and take a look."

Zhang Mo cried and said a lot more, which somehow triggered Duan Mingxuan, who became furious: "I'm going back right now, let him have his way with me."

Lin Xi lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

After hanging up the phone, Duan Mingxuan smiled awkwardly, full of apology: "Xiao Xi, I... I might have to go back for a while. Next year, I will definitely come with you again next year."

Lin Xi asked, "What happened?"

Duan Mingxuan: "Momo was being harassed by someone. When I first met her, I was the one who rescued her from this person."

Lin Xi remained silent for a while before saying, "Then could you please ask Yu Lang to take a look? Mingxuan, I still hope you can accompany me."

Duan Mingxuan's phone rang again, and he frowned in distress.

Lin Xi suddenly laughed: "Just kidding, go ahead."

"Xiao Xi, be careful. I'll call you when I'm done."

Lin Xi waved to him, silently saying "Goodbye" in her heart.

"I can shop alone," Lin Xi composed herself and was about to turn around when her phone rang.

She took it out and was stunned. It was Duan Yiheng's call.