Gently bite the jasmine

Duan Yiheng took long strides, and Lin Xi had to jog to avoid being left behind.

Once inside the elevator, Lin Xi pressed a button. After the elevator doors closed, she observed Duan Yiheng through the reflection in the inner wall.

He calmly raised his gaze, his lips taut and straight.

People who don't usually show their emotions are now standing quietly in the elevator, lost in thought.

After leaving the inpatient department, Lin Xi followed Duan Yiheng to the car.

The driver opened the car door for Duan Yiheng.

Lin Xi handed her car keys to the driver: "You can drive my car."

The driver was taken aback. Without receiving instructions from Duan Yiheng, he didn't move for a moment.

Lin Xi: "I wanted to talk to him about some personal matters."

The two had just met the old man when the driver, assuming it was related to the will, took Lin Xi's car keys and drove off.

Lin Xi took over the driver's seat and slowly drove the car out of Jinglin.

The silence created a somewhat oppressive and awkward atmosphere.

While waiting at a red light, Lin Xi tentatively asked, "When do you plan to meet Miss Tan? I'll make time for you."

Duan Yiheng looked up, his gaze brushing past Lin Xi's earlobe.

"What would you do if you were in that situation?"

Lin Xi believes that relationships are important, but Duan Yiheng is different from her.

Once you accept the rules, you must follow them.

In some ways, Grandpa wasn't wrong.

But do heirs really have no right to have their own feelings? Not necessarily.

As the car turned the corner, Lin Xi asked Duan Yiheng, "Why do you think Grandpa is pressuring you to get married so much this year?"

Duan Yiheng naturally understood: "He wanted to pave the way for me based on my physical condition."

Lin Xi chuckled: "Even if you don't agree to the marriage now, there's nothing Grandpa can do. You've been working in the company for many years and have already built your own network of contacts. Everyone agrees that you have more say in the group than Uncle Duan. The reason you didn't object is because you're thinking about Grandpa's health."

Lin Xi is right.

Even if he openly refused, his grandfather couldn't do anything about it.

Duan Zheng is incompetent, and Duan Mingxuan has no experience. On the contrary, the Duan family and Yin Fan need Duan Yiheng.

But the old man's teachings to him were of immense kindness, and he couldn't possibly disregard his health condition.

"So what you mean is..."

Lin Xi met Duan Yiheng's gaze in the rearview mirror: "If you really don't want to, just deal with it for now. We'll see you when we ask you to. It's not like we'll get married right away after just one meeting."

Duan Yiheng frowned: "I thought you had some good ideas. If I meet with Tan Qi too often, it will be sending a signal to the outside world that we are getting married."

Lin Xi: "Then you can talk to Miss Tan and see what she thinks."

Regardless, the old man had spoken, and there was no way to disobey him. Duan Yiheng said, "Arrange it for Friday night. Don't choose a restaurant with an ambiguous atmosphere, and don't prepare flowers."

Lin Xi nodded: "Understood."

The car turned onto the road leading to the villa, and just as it entered the west gate, Lin Xi suddenly stopped the car.

"Why did it stop?" Duan Yiheng asked.

Lin Xi unbuckled her seatbelt and said, "Duan Mingxuan is here."

"Get out of the car first." Duan Yiheng opened the car door. "Come to my study later, I have something to talk to you about."

Lin Xi replied, "Okay."

Duan Mingxuan, like a child who had done something wrong, subconsciously took a half step back when he saw Lin Xi coming over.

But as she was about to pass by him, he hurriedly chased after her, calling out, "Xiao Xi."

Lin Xi paused, then turned around: "Is there something you need?"

"I'm sorry." Duan Mingxuan lowered his head.

Seeing Duan Mingxuan, who was usually so arrogant and haughty, being so humble made Lin Xi feel bad.

But his behavior yesterday was too much, and she can't forgive him right now.

"I regretted it right away, but I was too ashamed to admit it," Duan Mingxuan confessed. "I'm sorry, Xiaoxi, I sincerely apologize to you. No matter what, I shouldn't have left you alone on the mountain."

Recalling the moment of isolation and helplessness last night, Lin Xi's fear was completely soothed by a beam of car headlights.

Lin Xi said, "I admit I lied to you, but you know your temper. If I had told you then, you probably would have come in the rain overnight."

“Duan Yiheng and I were just on a business trip. His trip to Rong County was not something I arranged with him. What you said later was also excessive, Duan Mingxuan. I can't accept your apology every time you apologize.”

"I know, I'm not pressuring you," Duan Mingxuan quickly assured him. "I just want to apologize. I'm leaving now, so you should get some rest."

Lin Xi is right. The matter in Rong County is not her fault; it was all Duan Yiheng's fault for having ulterior motives.

Lin Xi nodded: "I'll go upstairs first."

Duan Mingxuan felt incredibly stifled when he saw her enter the living room.

But at this juncture, how could he dare to force her to move back?

Lin Xi knocked on the door of Duan Yiheng's study and only entered after receiving permission.

This was her second time coming here. The first time was when she came to find him because she wanted to join Silver Sail, and it was also during that visit that she witnessed the tense relationship between him and Duan Mingxuan.

Lin Xi sat down on the sofa by the window.

Duan Yiheng walked over and sat opposite her, asking directly, "What do you think about Zheng Jizhong making things difficult for you at the meeting today?"

Lin Xi said confidently, "I'm sure I gave him complete and clear data. I suspect someone is sabotaging him."

Duan Yiheng: "Zheng Jizhong doesn't have the time to frame you, so he's resorting to such insignificant tricks."

“Yes, Director Zheng was really angry at the time,” Lin Xi said. “He already looked down on me and thought I wasn’t working hard enough, so naturally he was going to lose his temper. I could roughly guess who it was.”

Duan Yiheng: "I had Qin Yang check the surveillance footage, but we couldn't find anything."

Lin Xi: "I wouldn't easily reveal her name without evidence. But the fact that she was able to surpass Jiang Hulin to gain Zheng Jizhong's approval in the company shows her social skills. Some things don't need to be done personally, or perhaps, the person who does it doesn't even know it themselves."

Duan Yiheng thought so too.

There was a moment of silence in the study. Lin Xi couldn't help but ask, "Zheng Jizhong embarrassed me in front of so many department heads. He's not just slapping me in the face. Are you going to let him continue like this?"

Duan Yiheng scoffed, "What are you thinking?"

Lin Xi was relieved: "This kind of person cannot be kept around."

Duan Yiheng suddenly smiled and asked, "You and Liang Yutong are so close, you really don't know who Zheng Jizhong is?"

Lin Xi was taken aback: "Who is it?"

"Zheng Jianian," Duan Yiheng reminded him.

Lin Xi was taken aback: "Zheng Jianian is Yu Tong's fiancé, so what is Zheng Jizhong's relationship with Zheng Jianian?"

Duan Yiheng: "Uncle-nephew relationship."

"What?" Lin Xi exclaimed in surprise. "How come I didn't know?"

Duan Yiheng: "It's normal that you don't know, after all, you're not even familiar with Zheng Jianian."

This is also one of the reasons why he avoids Lin Xi and doesn't let her get involved in Zheng Jizhong's affairs.

Liang Yutong and Zheng Jianian were childhood sweethearts and had a good relationship.

If Liang Yutong were to ask Lin Xi for help for Zheng Jianian's sake, Lin Xi would only be in a difficult position.

Duan Yiheng frowned and glanced at the cup beside him; it was empty.

Lin Xi noticed a subtle change in his expression and asked, "What's wrong? You look a little uncomfortable."

Duan Yiheng clutched his stomach: "I haven't eaten, I'm starving."

Lin Xi couldn't help but chuckle: "How old are you? Don't you know to eat when you're hungry? Wait, I'll go check the kitchen."

Duan Yiheng grabbed her hand: "Just have someone send it over, you can have some with me too."

His palms were dry and warm; the unfamiliar touch made Lin Xi move her fingertips.

Her gaze fell on their intertwined hands. Duan Yiheng's hands had prominent veins, long and slender fingers with distinct knuckles.

His fingertips brushed against his delicate, sensitive wrist, sending a jolt of electricity through him.

Lin Xi abruptly pulled her hand away and sat back down on the sofa without saying a word.