Gently bite the jasmine

Lin Xi turned her gaze slightly to Duan Mingxuan, took the soup from him, and then thanked him.

Duan Mingxuan was extremely excited and used serving chopsticks to put more food on her plate.

Lin Xi forced a smile: "Eat it yourself, no need to put any on my plate."

She used to care about him like this too, and Duan Mingxuan gave a heavy "hmm".

Chen Baiwei glanced at Lin Xi without leaving a trace, but Lin Xi couldn't help but glance at Duan Yiheng out of the corner of her eye.

He took back the red mushroom and duck soup he had intended for her, lowered his head, and quietly finished it.

After that, I didn't touch my chopsticks much.

Even as Duan Mingxuan was attentively serving her food, Lin Xi could hear a self-deprecating snort coming from his nose.

Lin Xi immediately lost her appetite. After taking a spoonful of the soup that Duan Mingxuan had served her, she quietly set it aside.

"Why don't you drink more?" Duan Mingxuan asked with concern, turning his head. "Although you came to B City when you were young, you are still a southerner at heart. I specially asked the kitchen to make this soup for you."

Lin Xi made an excuse: "After drinking the soup, I'm afraid I won't be able to eat rice."

Duan Mingxuan: "Then let's eat first."

Lin Xi hummed in agreement.

At least the meal passed by in a pleasant atmosphere.

After dinner, Duan Yiheng played chess with the old man, while Lin Xi was called away by Duan Zheng.

Duan Zheng knew that she and Duan Mingxuan had had some disagreements recently, so she took the initiative to say, "Mingxuan is willful, and I'm sorry you've suffered."

Lin Xi couldn't express that she was truly wronged, so she just shook her head.

"How are things going with your older brother? Has he given you any trouble?"

A few days ago, I even cornered her in front of my office desk and made things difficult for her.

Lin Xi shook her head again: "No."

Duan Zheng: "It's really difficult for you, but don't be afraid. Your grandfather and I will stand up for you. Yi Heng may look aloof, but he is actually domineering and forceful at heart. He doesn't have much tolerance for his subordinates. If you stay by his side, you must have been harassed quite a bit."

“Uncle Duan, I wasn’t being given a hard time,” Lin Xi said. “My elder brother is highly skilled and generous in teaching his subordinates. I’m very satisfied with the current situation.”

“But you need to think long-term,” Duan Zheng said. “Actually, I’d really like you to marry Mingxuan, it’s just that your aunt is having second thoughts. If you’re willing, I can—”

“Uncle Duan, Mingxuan and I naturally have feelings for each other.” Lin Xi interrupted him. “We grew up together. He’s a year older than me, so I’ve taken the liberty of calling him Second Brother. I will always remember how good he has been to me since I was a child.”

Besides that, nothing else is possible for them.

Duan Zheng wasn't angry. He just said, "Think it over carefully. Your grandfather is old. I'm the general manager of Yinfan Group. Mingxuan is playful, but he'll have to work in the company sooner or later. If you two join forces, with my help, everything in Yinfan and the Duan family will be yours and Mingxuan's."

Lin Xi avoided the topic: "It's getting late, I'll go upstairs to see Grandpa."

Duan Zheng made way for her.

Lin Xi went up to the chess room on the second floor, and this time the grandfather and grandson played a proper game of Chinese chess.

The old man's mind was failing, and he didn't move for a long time. When he saw Lin Xi, he quickly waved to her: "Xiao Xi, come and help Grandpa."

Lin Xi was taken aback: "Isn't this inappropriate?"

The old man said, "What's wrong with me? I'm just tired."

Lin Xi had no choice but to go over and take a look at the chessboard. The Chu River and Han Border were clearly defined, and the red and black pieces were arranged in a staggered manner, just like a battlefield where two armies were facing each other.

The old man made room for Lin Xi, saying, "You two play, I'm going to rest for a while."

Seeing this, Lin Xi wanted to stay with him, but Duan Yiheng raised his eyes and said, "Finish this game of chess before you leave."

"You stay and finish the game," the old man said. "What would happen if you left? Would that be considered an old man cheating and taking back his move?"

Lin Xi had no choice but to sit back down. His gaze swept across the chessboard, and after a slight pause, he moved the "cannon" to the other side of the nine-square grid.

Originally, the red pieces were slightly on the defensive, with several key pieces being restrained by Duan Yiheng's black pieces.

Lin Xi's move echoed the "Minister's" actions, foreshadowing a counterattack.

Duan Yiheng saw through it at a glance: "Even playing chess is so roundabout. You've been avoiding me everywhere lately, is that also a way of playing defense as offense?"

"I wasn't hiding it from you." Lin Xi refused to admit it. "Our work hours are different."

Duan Yiheng pushed the pawn forward: "We kept a meter's distance during meetings, and if we bumped into each other in the elevator after get off work, we would definitely wait for the next one if no one was around. Is this what you mean by not avoiding me?"

Lin Xi moved the chess piece and said, "You've misunderstood, I didn't."

Duan Yiheng moved the chess pieces back and forth, his eyes fixed on Lin Xi, a bitter taste in his mouth, and his words tinged with sourness: "Was the soup Duan Mingxuan served tonight delicious?"

Weird!

Lin Xi pursed her lips and replied, "It's delicious."

Duan Yiheng scoffed: "Then how come you only took a sip?"

"It's none of your business." Lin Xi moved his "soldiers" to block Duan Yiheng's "horse" attack route, forming a defensive line with his "cannons" and "ministers".

Duan Yiheng quickly returned to defend his "general" and moved a "strategist" piece.

"It really has nothing to do with me. I'm just curious, what does it mean that you accepted Duan Mingxuan's soup? Is it to make up or to avoid the main issue?"

Lin Xi persisted, leaping diagonally to further squeeze Duan Yiheng's "general" living space.

This move was rather sharp, seemingly accusing him of meddling in other people's business.

"Avoiding the important issues?" Lin Xi frowned. "Who are you referring to? You? Don't forget, Duan Mingxuan and I grew up together."

The implication is clear: who is more important and who is less important.

Duan Yiheng paused, his gaze darkening slightly. The next second, he drove straight in, breaking through the defenses Lin Xi had set up.

Lin Xi was taken aback, then pushed the pieces to continue the confrontation.

Duan Yiheng gave Lin Xi no chance to breathe, using "cannons" in conjunction with "chariots" to surround her "general".

Lin Xi suffered repeated defeats, and Duan Yiheng pressed his advantage, breaking her plan.

But while the game of chess was easily broken, reality slapped him in the face. Lin Xi snorted coldly, left him alone in the chess room without saying a word, and walked away.

Duan Yiheng gave a wry smile, fiddling with the chess pieces with his fingertips.

Even through the door, he could hear Duan Mingxuan inviting Lin Xi for a walk.

He silently got up and went downstairs.

Duan Mingxuan pulled Lin Xi to the koi pond and asked her, "Xiao Xi, have you forgiven me?"

Lin Xi stared at him without saying a word, when Duan Mingxuan suddenly grabbed her hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

Lin Xi felt a sharp pain in her palm and quickly shook him off: "What are you doing?"

"I was wrong, I really shouldn't have left you alone on the mountain," Duan Mingxuan said pitifully.

Tonight's dinner was all for the sake of "harmony in the family and prosperity in all things," so Lin Xi went along with it: "I've already calmed down, don't be like this."

Duan Mingxuan grabbed her and Lin Xi was suspended in mid-air for two seconds before exclaiming, "Duan Mingxuan, are you crazy? Put me down right now!"

"I won't let go," Duan Mingxuan laughed. "It's not like I haven't hugged him before."

Lin Xi couldn't clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River: "Who has ever hugged you like this? Put me down right now."

Duan Mingxuan happily spun around twice, and Lin Xi, afraid of being thrown, held tightly to his shoulders.

As she turned and spun, she saw Duan Yiheng by the courtyard gate.

Lin Xi panicked for no reason and patted Duan Mingxuan's shoulder, asking him to put her down.