Duan Yiheng rose, walked around the sofa, took the bag from Lin Xi's hands, and pulled her into his embrace. "Have you eaten?" he asked. Lin Xi nodded and sat down beside Duan Yiheng. "What is all this?" she asked.
Meng Huaishan tilted his chin in Duan Yiheng's direction. "It's all because of him—he's worried about your safety and wants to install some ultra-miniature tracking devices on you. I went to a lot of trouble to get these; they're the pinnacle of cutting-edge global technology." Lin Xi pointed at the man standing next to Meng Huaishan.
"So... you're planning to install them on my shoes?" Duan Yiheng chuckled. "Not just your shoes—your watch, earrings, and phone are getting them too." Lin Xi blinked. "...Aren't you being a little *too* cautious?" Duan Yiheng replied:
"You can never fully guard against the sheer depravity of certain people. I'd rather you never actually *need* to use them." Lin Xi accepted Duan Yiheng's good intentions. "Will my location be sent to you automatically? In that case, shouldn't we install one on *you* as well? So *you* can send *your* location to *me*?" Meng Huaishan chimed in:
"Absolutely! Don't let their tiny size fool you—the GPS is incredibly precise, with an error margin of less than a meter. Your location data will be transmitted instantly to Yiheng's phone." Lin Xi's interest was piqued. "Great! Then let's put one on him, too." Duan Yiheng was left speechless. Meng Huaishan struggled to suppress a laugh:
"Sure thing, sure thing. That way, he won't be able to pull the wool over your eyes anymore—you'll have perfect intel on his whereabouts." Lin Xi waved her hands dismissively. "Brother Meng, you've misunderstood me. I'm not trying to keep tabs on him." Meng Huaishan ignored her protest. "Well, you *could* certainly use it for that purpose."
Lin Xi glanced at Duan Yiheng, thinking to herself that she really hadn't meant it that way. Duan Yiheng ruffled her hair affectionately. "Go ahead. Install it." Lin Xi nudged him playfully. "I'm only doing this for *your* safety." "Alright,"
Duan Yiheng said. "I can't exactly put a tracker on every single piece of jewelry you own, so listen up: until this whole business blows over, you need to wear that specific watch and those specific stud earrings at all times. Got it?" Lin Xi nodded. "Got it."
Duan Yiheng shot a meaningful look at Meng Huaishan. Taking the hint, Meng Huaishan stood up. "Well, it's getting late. My friend and I should be heading out now." Lin Xi stood up to offer them dinner, but after exchanging a few polite pleasantries, Meng Huaishan and his friend took their leave. Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng walked them to the elevator to see them off. Turning around, Lin Xi latched onto Duan Yiheng's arm, tilting her head to look at him. "When did you arrange this?" Duan Yiheng replied, "I mentioned it to Meng Huaishan back when I was looking into Anqi. I actually have a few things I need to go over with you—come sit down."
Lin Xi slid her hand down his arm until she could grasp his hand. "What is it?" "Take a look at these two guys." Duan Yiheng handed his phone to Lin Xi. "From now on, I want them following you—starting tomorrow morning." Lin Xi blinked in surprise. "They're going to follow me to work, too?"
Duan Yiheng shook his head. "No, just whenever you go out." Lin Xi swiped back and forth between the photos of the two bodyguards. Duan Yiheng took his phone back. "You still haven't memorized their faces?" Lin Xi gave a sheepish chuckle. "I was just thinking they're actually pretty handsome." Duan Yiheng narrowed his eyes. "Pretty handsome, are they?"
Lin Xi instinctively extended her left leg outward. "Yeah, pretty handsome." The instant Duan Yiheng reached out to grab her, she laughed and darted away, slamming the bedroom door shut with a loud *thud* and flipping the deadbolt. "Lin Xi, let's see if you have the guts to keep that door locked all night." From inside, Lin Xi called back:
"I've already had dinner; now I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. You can just go sleep in the guest room." Duan Yiheng knocked on the door impatiently. "Open up." Lin Xi touched the hickey on her neck.
"No way. You can come back and sleep in here only after the marks on my neck have completely faded." They had clearly agreed beforehand that he wouldn't leave any marks on her, yet he had gone and done it anyway—stubbornly refusing to listen. Duan Yiheng let his arm drop to his side, then silently slipped away to the side of the door.
Lin Xi leaned against the door panel suspiciously, listening for any sounds from the other side—but she heard nothing. "Duan Yiheng?" she called out his name through the door. Duan Yiheng's lips curved into a faint smile, but he didn't answer. Lin Xi pressed her ear against the door panel, still skeptical. Had he really left?
He gave up way too easily, Lin Xi thought with a huff. Pouting slightly, she gave the door a light kick. She turned to walk away, but after taking only two steps, she hesitated—then reached out and unlocked the door. She simply couldn't believe that Duan Yiheng had actually left. Just as the door slid open to reveal a narrow crack, Duan Yiheng's low, resonant chuckle drifted in from the doorway. Startled, Lin Xi tried to shut it again, but it was already too late.
Duan Yiheng's fingers—knuckles distinct and sharp—gripped the edge of the door. Lin Xi didn't dare apply any more force, terrified she might pinch him—though, in truth, she wouldn't have been able to overpower his strength anyway. Lin Xi looked up at him with a bright smile. "I was just teasing you earlier! Look, I've opened the door for you now, haven't I?"
Duan Yiheng offered a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Where am I sleeping tonight?" "Right here," Lin Xi said, pointing to her own bed. "You could even sleep right on top of my head for all I care." Duan Yiheng gave her a light tap on the head. "Who's better looking: me, or the bodyguard?" Lin Xi answered without a shred of hesitation: "You are."
Duan Yiheng cupped her face in his hand. "You're going to work tomorrow." "I can't," Lin Xi said, latching onto his wrist. "I have plans tomorrow; I've already made arrangements with Yu Tong." Duan Yiheng asked, "You won't tip them off, will you?" Lin Xi brushed his hand away. "I understand."
She had no intention of actually harming Anqi; however, just in case Ke Yu and Duan Zheng really did decide to make a move against them, they could use Anqi as leverage to counterattack. For the moment, the fact that Ke Yu and Duan Zheng remained unaware that the couple had discovered Anqi's existence was their greatest trump card.
"Go take a shower," Duan Yiheng said, giving Lin Xi a pat on her lower back. "Get to bed early tonight; I have to head out for a bit." Lin Xi blinked in surprise. "Where are you going?" Duan Yiheng simply smiled and remained silent. Lin Xi shook his arm playfully. "Come on, tell me! Where are you off to at this hour?" Duan Yiheng replied:
"Didn't you install a GPS tracker on me? You'll find out soon enough." Lin Xi grumbled, "Why be so mysterious?" Duan Yiheng lifted her face in his hands. "Come on, give me a quick kiss. I'm heading out." Lin Xi leaned in and planted a peck on his cheek, leaving Duan Yiheng so exasperated he almost laughed out loud.
He realized then and there: Lin Xi was becoming increasingly mischievous with him. Duan Yiheng decided he wouldn't stand on ceremony any longer; cupping the back of her head in his palm, he leaned in and kissed her deeply. Their lips and tongues intertwined, creating a soft, intimate sound that left Lin Xi blushing furiously from her neck all the way up to her face. The two of them had shared intimacy countless times; the need for personal space had long since vanished between them—even when kissing, they pressed themselves flush against one another. Feeling a trace of dampness against his palm, Duan Yiheng pulled away from Lin Xi and chuckled softly. "Are you feeling hot?" Lin Xi's breath hitched slightly, her lips parting just enough to exhale; hearing his remark, she felt a flush of embarrassment and nervously licked her lips. "Who's hot?"
Duan Yiheng teased her, "Well, it certainly isn't me." Flustered and annoyed, Lin Xi gave him a shove. "Just go already!" Duan Yiheng laughed as he retreated step by step, backing out of her bedroom until he stood in the hallway. "I won't come over to disturb your rest tonight. Good night." Lin Xi nodded in return.
"Good night." Once Duan Yiheng had left, Lin Xi took a quick shower and then eagerly climbed into bed. She pulled out her phone to check Duan Yiheng's real-time location. Her screen lit up with a vivid green route map: starting from Tiandu Yuxi, Duan Yiheng had headed north before making a turn to the right.
Lin Xi zoomed in on his route and realized that Duan Yiheng had returned to the villa. She paused in surprise, muttering to herself, *Why would he go back there?* Almost immediately, a suspicion formed in her mind: it was most likely Grandpa who had summoned Duan Yiheng back.
There was a one-week interval between the board meeting and the public reading of the will; seeing how calm and composed Duan Yiheng remained, she knew he already had everything under control. Now that Grandpa had called him back, she wondered what exactly they were going to discuss.