Lin Xi was momentarily taken aback, unable to fathom why Secretary Chen was present in the intensive care ward.
However, consumed by worry, she couldn't dwell on it for long; she turned to head inside, only to collide head-on with Duan Zheng, who had suddenly shoved Duan Mingxuan aside and rushed toward the room. Duan Yiheng's expression darkened; just as he was about to lash out, Lin Xi placed a restraining hand on him: "Grandpa is what matters right now."
Duan Yiheng grasped her shoulders and asked softly, "Did you get hurt anywhere?" Lin Xi shook her head: "No, let's just go in quickly." The two entered the ward and saw Duan Zheng leaning over the bedside, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion: "Dad, you've finally woken up."
As he spoke these words, however, Duan Zheng felt a growing sense of unease. The old man didn't look anything like someone who had just been resuscitated. Furthermore, the intensive care ward wasn't a place one could simply walk into at will; glancing around out of the corner of his eye, he realized the room looked no different from the private suite where the old man usually went for his routine health maintenance.
The old man gave a heavy sigh of acknowledgment: "I heard all the commotion you were making outside. Duan Zheng, effective immediately, I am disowning you as my son. A formal announcement will be issued shortly. Furthermore, I intend to revise my will." "Dad!" Duan Zheng's pupils constricted in shock. "Have you lost your mind?"
The old man cast a glance at his attending physician, who immediately stepped forward and stated: "Elder Duan's mind is lucid, and his mental state is sound. Any statements he makes—provided they comply with legal statutes—carry full legal weight."
Catching sight of the faint, subtle smile playing on Duan Yiheng's lips, Duan Zheng suddenly realized what was happening. He stared at the old man in utter disbelief: "Dad... you set me up?" The old man replied:
"If I hadn't staged this little charade, I never would have known whether you were a human being or a monster. Had I truly been on my deathbed today, Duan Zheng—would you have spared even a single thought for your own father?" Duan Zheng's face turned ashen: "It's only because you've always been so blatantly biased!" The old man gave a low, heavy chuckle:
"Why don't you admit that *you* are the one who is far too greedy?" Lin Xi suddenly whipped her head around to face Duan Yiheng: "Grandpa's resuscitation... it was all a fake?" Duan Yiheng stiffened: "Uh... I didn't mean to keep it from you." Lin Xi gave a cold huff and pointedly ignored him. Duan Yiheng:
"..." "Grandfather," Chen Baiwei cried out, taking a step forward, "what about Mingxuan and me? What are we supposed to do?" The Old Master replied, "You and Mingxuan are to move out of the ancestral home. However, the terms of Mingxuan's will shall remain unchanged; consider that your compensation." Chen Baiwei froze in astonishment:
"Since Mingxuan's inheritance hasn't changed in the slightest, how can that be considered compensation?"
"Because he colluded with outsiders to plot against Xiaoxi and Yiheng. I had originally intended to be ruthless and strip him of half his inheritance. However, in light of how he protected Xiaoxi in front of Duan Zheng just moments ago—and having since learned that Duan Zheng has an illegitimate daughter on the outside—I decided to leave his inheritance completely intact. Do not push your luck."
Chen Baiwei's lips quivered, but she dared not utter another word. If the Old Master could be ruthless enough to sever ties with his own son, Duan Zheng, then she—an outsider—stood absolutely no chance. She had finally seen the truth clearly: Duan Zheng was no longer a reliable ally. From now on, this entire household belonged to Duan Yiheng; she certainly couldn't afford to offend him now.
Yet, she simply could not bring herself to swallow this humiliation; she was absolutely unwilling to let it go. Thinking of Ke Yu—who was poised to reap the rewards of others' labor—a flicker of madness flashed through Chen Baiwei's eyes. "Father..." Duan Zheng tried to speak again, but he was intercepted by the men Uncle Deng had stationed there. "Father, do you truly not want me anymore?"
Duan Zheng felt a surge of panic in his heart. "Father?" The Old Master offered no response; instead, he turned to Chen Xin and said, "Notify all the board members: the meeting regarding the transfer of equity shares will resume tomorrow." "Understood." Duan Yiheng stepped forward and asked, "Shall I escort you back now?"
Physically and emotionally drained, the Old Master simply nodded. After escorting the Old Master back to the ancestral home, Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng remained behind. "Let's stay here tonight," Duan Yiheng suggested. "Grandfather is likely feeling quite unsettled right now." Lin Xi nodded:
"There's one more thing: Angel is currently with Liang Yutong. What do you intend to do about that?" Tomorrow was the day the dust would finally settle; it was imperative that Angel be positioned to provide a decisive advantage. Duan Yiheng smiled. "I've stayed out of this matter all along—haven't you already made up your mind?"
Lin Xi stated decisively, "Then call Duan Zheng right now and tell him this: at the board meeting, he is to admit to his affair with Ke Yu and clarify the truth regarding my engagement to Duan Mingxuan—including the full details of the Chen Liangyi incident." Duan Yiheng ruffled her hair gently.
"Ke Yu should have received the news by now." Lin Xi shot him a glare. "So you *did* know what I did all along. Yet some people here keep things from *me*." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away. Duan Yiheng chased after her. "Let me explain." "I don't want to hear it."
Lin Xi stepped onto the stairs and headed straight upstairs. It had been a long time since she'd visited; she wanted to see the room she used to live in. "Lin Xi." Duan Yiheng hurried after her. Seeing this, Aunt Mei asked, "What did you do to her *this* time?" Duan Yiheng managed a quick reply as he went: "She's mad again." Aunt Mei retorted:
"If you didn't provoke her, why would she be mad?" "Yes, yes, it's all my fault," Duan Yiheng said as he continued up the stairs. "Isn't that exactly why I'm going up to make peace with her?" Aunt Mei stood on her tiptoes to call out a reminder: "Look at how old you are—she's six years younger than you!" Duan Yiheng sighed:
"...I can't win with you, can I? It really wasn't on purpose." Aunt Mei shook her head. "What are we having for dinner tonight?" Duan Yiheng replied, "Whatever." With Lin Xi still upset, how could he possibly have an appetite?
Lin Xi's room remained exactly as it was when she lived there. Her mood lifted slightly, and she stepped out onto the balcony to look down. It was nearly June; the courtyard below was lush and verdant, brimming with vibrant life. Duan Mingxuan, who had grown up here, was leaving; Chen Baiwei and Duan Zheng were leaving as well.
Grandpa... Lin Xi suddenly found herself afraid to think about it. If Grandpa were to leave, too, it seemed she and Duan Yiheng would be the only ones left here. Footsteps sounded behind her; Lin Xi turned around—and suddenly walked right into Duan Yiheng's arms. Duan Yiheng stood firm as a mountain, catching her completely. "What are you thinking about?"
"Did you manage to cheer yourself up all on your own?" Duan Yiheng's tone held a hint of amused surprise. Lin Xi tilted her head back. "You grew up here as a child, too, didn't you?" Duan Yiheng gave a soft "Mm." "Later, when my mother fell ill, we moved to the manor and lived there for a few years."
Lin Xi tightened her arms around his waist and said, "For better or worse, they are all leaving now. In the end, only you and I will be left here." Duan Yiheng chuckled softly. "Isn't it a good thing for it to be just you and me?"
Of course, she was more than willing to live a peaceful, stable life with Duan Yiheng; yet, the departure of Duan Mingxuan and the others didn't exactly fill Lin Xi with joy. She simply felt a sense of melancholy—a realization that things didn't have to end this way. Duan Yiheng held her close and steered the conversation in a new direction:
"I plan to have this place renovated. What style do you prefer? The designer can consult with you directly when the time comes." Lin Xi nodded. "Okay. In that case—" Before she could finish her sentence, Duan Yiheng's phone rang.
Lin Xi gave him a gentle nudge, and Duan Yiheng switched the call to speakerphone. From the receiver came Duan Zheng's exasperated voice: "Duan Yiheng, what have you done to Anqi?" Lin Xi took the phone and spoke first: "Anqi is fine, Uncle Duan." "Is that you?" Ke Yu asked from the other end.
Lin Xi replied with cool composure: "It is. Uncle Duan has already told you exactly what needs to be done." Ke Yu struggled to suppress her anger. "I need to verify Anqi's safety." "You are in no position to negotiate terms," Lin Xi stated flatly before hanging up the phone. On the other end of the line, Ke Yu smashed her phone in a fit of rage.
Duan Yiheng gave a low chuckle, wrapping his arms around Lin Xi from behind. "Impressive work, Secretary Lin," he whispered. Lin Xi raised her hand to cover the back of his, saying:
"That woman, Ke Yu—she has such a devious mind. Every obstacle we've faced together may have appeared to be the work of others on the surface, but behind the scenes, she was the one pulling the strings." In short, there was only one conclusion: she had to be eliminated. Duan Yiheng planted a kiss on her cheek:
"After tomorrow, our future will be nothing but bright."