Gently bite the jasmine

After resting for half a day, Lin Xi finally woke up from the hot bed as dusk fell.

My back, neck, and forehead were covered in a layer of damp sweat.

Very uncomfortable.

She lay quietly for a while, then propped herself up on the bed with her hands.

My gaze shifted, and I froze.

Duan Yiheng fell asleep in the chair.

Lin Xi coughed involuntarily, got out of bed, grabbed the coat he had thrown at the foot of the bed, and gently covered him with it.

It was really unfair for someone so big to be sitting in a chair. Lin Xi wanted to wake him up, but was afraid of disturbing his rest.

After thinking about it, I turned around and went to the bathroom.

After taking a shower and changing into dry pajamas, she finally came back to life.

Little did she know that she would be confronted with Duan Yiheng's devilish face as soon as she stepped out.

Lin Xi was blocked at the bathroom door. She subconsciously took half a step back and asked him, "Why are you blocking my door?"

Duan Yiheng frowned, his expression disapproving: "You're not fully recovered yet, and you've already taken a bath? Taking a bath is one thing, but why did you wash your hair too?"

"I feel unwell." Lin Xi knew she was in the wrong and didn't argue. "I've been sweating a lot."

Duan Yiheng stepped forward, lifted her up by the hips, and Lin Xi, who was off the ground, instinctively braced herself against his shoulders.

Then, she was placed on the washstand.

"What are you doing?" Lin Xi stretched out her leg to jump down, but Duan Yiheng was one step faster, pressing his whole body against the washbasin and using his body to spread her legs apart.

"You—" Lin Xi choked, because of the suggestive posture.

Duan Yiheng turned on the hair dryer and removed her hair drying cap.

The heat warmed her scalp, lingering on the fingertips of Duan Yiheng as they slipped through her long hair.

Lin Xi had just taken a bath, and her fragrance wafted through the air, wafting into Duan Yiheng's chest, wandering over his Adam's apple, and reaching the bottom of his nose.

Lin Xi sat high up, almost at eye level with him, but because they were so close, he dared not look directly at him.

The hotel's hairdryer hummed as Lin Xi turned her head to the side, revealing her fair and slender neck.

Long hair is hard to dry, so Duan Yiheng patiently dried it bit by bit, from scalp to ends.

Suddenly, she remembered the time she spent at home.

After each hair wash, without the help of a cleaning lady, she only has the patience to dry her scalp.

Memories of her time with Duan Yiheng flooded her mind, and she recalled Miss Meng's death anniversary and the night Duan Yiheng had drunk too much.

Even when he was drunk, he was still worried about whether Duan Mingxuan would bully her.

The simple phrase "I can't bear to part with it" stirred up her emotions at that moment.

If Sister Mei hadn't been feeling unwell, she would definitely have fled in panic and wouldn't have let him kiss her.

Since then, a subtle chemistry has developed between the two.

Perhaps it was because neither of them had much experience that they were so concerned about the first person of the opposite sex they had ever been intimate with.

After last night, he became even more reckless.

Such an ambiguous way of drying hair would make even a couple feel embarrassed.

Lin Xi felt that she and Duan Yiheng could not continue like this.

The moment she registered her household in the Meng family, most people in the circle knew about the old man's plan.

When she was a child, she was often teased for being Duan Mingxuan's childhood sweetheart.

Whenever she appears with Duan Mingxuan, it always generates all sorts of buzz.

If she were to have anything happen with Duan Yiheng again, she couldn't even imagine how nasty people would be to hear about it.

As an adopted daughter caught between two brothers, how can she possibly maintain her reputation?

Duan Yiheng is Yin Fan's successor, with a bright and promising future.

Grandpa wanted to arrange a marriage with the Tan family just to get rid of his reputation for being heartless, right?

A single person or a happily married person will inevitably be trusted by shareholders to be an heir with a stable family.

Because marriage, to a certain extent, represents responsibility.

The hot air stopped, her hair dried, and Lin Xi came to her senses, meeting Duan Yiheng's gaze.

“It’s already dried,” Duan Yiheng said.

"Thank you." Lin Xi pushed against his chest. "Can I get down?"

Duan Yiheng put the hairdryer back in its original position, made room for her to get down.

"Shall we go out for dinner?" Duan Yiheng asked gently, his head lowered.

Lin Xi shook her head: "Let's order food."

"Okay, what do you want to eat?"

"It's up to you."

Lin Xi had been sleeping until now, and her stomach was empty; she was indeed quite hungry.

Duan Yiheng called the hotel butler, and soon the meal was delivered to his room.

Lin Xi and he sat facing each other.

The atmosphere was fairly good. Lin Xi, thinking about the banquet tomorrow night, suggested, "How about we wrap up tomorrow's schedule early?"

Duan Yiheng paused, looking at her, and asked, "What's wrong?"

“Grandpa made an appointment with the Tan family. You know what that means.” Lin Xi avoided his gaze. “We’ll be a little late on our way back this afternoon. We don’t have anything to do here, so being late would be impolite.”

Duan Yiheng put down his chopsticks and said, "Do you know how quickly the marriage will happen if I agree?"

Lin Xi nodded.

"You have absolutely no other thoughts about my marriage?"

Lin Xi forced a smile: "What other thoughts could I possibly have? I think you and Miss Tan are a perfect match."

"So I'm a man who knew it was an arranged marriage but still kissed someone else?" Duan Yiheng's face darkened.

"That's not what I meant." Lin Xi's explanation lacked sufficient credibility.

"Then what do you mean?" Duan Yiheng retorted without backing down. "I thought I made myself very clear last night."

"I didn't say it directly because I was being considerate of you, actually to give you time to think it over, do you understand?"

Lin Xi's heartbeat rhythm was completely out of control.

Simply dodging will only invite his repeated attacks.

Lin Xi gripped the chopsticks tightly, even when her fingertips ached, she didn't loosen her grip.

“I understand.” Lin Xi’s rationality prevailed. “But I don’t need to consider it. Everything I said comes from my heart. I’ve also said that you and I are boss and subordinate, headquarters and secretary, brother and sister. There is absolutely no possibility of crossing any other boundaries.”

Duan Yiheng felt that her rejection came suddenly, but her expression was very stubborn.

“We’ve already crossed the line, how can we take it back?” Duan Yiheng looked directly into her eyes. “Tell me.”

Lin Xi lowered his head and ate his food, saying softly, "Let's start with the trip that ends early tomorrow."

Duan Yiheng didn't understand. In the short time it took to blow-dry her hair, she seemed determined to become the most familiar stranger to him.

"Do whatever you want," Duan Yiheng said, putting down his chopsticks and standing up. "We'll head back tomorrow morning."

"Okay," Lin Xi replied with difficulty.

From that moment until they returned to City B, they didn't exchange a single word.

At 1 p.m., the driver picked up Duan Yiheng and Lin Xi.

Lin Xi got into the passenger seat, which surprised the driver: "Miss, why are you sitting here?"

Lin Xi smiled and said, "Let's go."

The driver was completely baffled. When he got back, he secretly complained to Sister Mei that the two of them had a falling out.

Sister Mei asked a couple of probing questions, but Duan Yiheng remained indifferent.

She finally gave up, took out Duan Yiheng's suit and asked, "How about this one?"

Duan Yiheng glanced at it: "Anyone who didn't know better would think I'm getting married tonight."

Sister Mei: "...Then I'll change it for you."

Duan Yiheng remained silent for a while. Just when Sister Mei thought he was going to stay silent forever, he asked again, "Is Lin Xi's clothing ready?"

Sister Mei: "Alright, it was Miss who chose it herself. She said she didn't want to steal the spotlight from the guests, so she chose a black velvet dress."

Duan Yiheng casually pointed and said, "I'll wear that outfit tonight."

Sister Mei: "...My young master, this outfit is more like something you'd wear for a wedding."