The atmosphere around Duan Yiheng was tense; the driver dared not utter a sound. After a long while, the driver looked up and asked Duan Yiheng, "Should we chase after them?"
Duan Yiheng was furious, but Duan Mingxuan had planned this all along and was nowhere to be seen. For Lin Xi's health and to avoid further trouble, Duan Yiheng swallowed his anger. Besides, B City was hot and the air quality wasn't good.
Even if it was cool indoors, he couldn't keep Lin Xi confined indoors all the time. But Duan Yiheng was genuinely worried about that idiot Duan Mingxuan. Duan Yiheng got into the car and said, "Let's go back first." Back at the villa, Sister Mei looked behind him. "Stop looking."
Duan Yiheng changed into slippers. "Lin Xi was taken away by Duan Mingxuan." "What?" Sister Mei didn't understand. "What do you mean 'taken away'?" Duan Yiheng was also annoyed. He said,
"That scoundrel! He said he'd bring Lin Xi back when it was time, but I guess he headed south." The air and water in the south are better for recuperation. Duan Yiheng told Sister Mei, "Never mind, I'm going upstairs."
Sister Mei stood there for a long time, feeling like she had nothing to do if Lin Xi didn't return. Duan Yiheng didn't like her constantly fussing over him, but Lin Xi was different. Duan Yiheng went to Lin Xi's room, walked around, and then went to the balcony to call Lin Xi, but still couldn't get through.
He called Duan Mingxuan again, but he didn't answer. Duan Yiheng hesitated for a moment and sent Duan Mingxuan a text: Answer the phone. Duan Mingxuan: Xiao Xi's phone is with me. Duan Yiheng: Where are you taking her? Duan Mingxuan: Don't worry about that. I said I'd take her back.
Duan Yiheng: Did you think I couldn't find you?
Duan Mingxuan: By the time you find me, Xiao Xi and I will be long gone.
Duan Mingxuan: ...I'm warning you, if you have any ulterior motives, you'll be begging on the streets when you get back.
Duan Mingxuan didn't reply to Duan Yiheng.
Duan Yiheng immediately called Uncle Deng and instructed, "Check where Duan Mingxuan is right now, and let me know when you find him." Uncle Deng asked, "Should we bring the young lady back?" Duan Yiheng shook his head:
"Xiao Xi has been through a lot in the past six months, and Grandpa just passed away. Let her rest outside for a while and clear her head." The reason he asked Uncle Deng to investigate was simply because he was worried about Duan Mingxuan. Uncle Deng immediately obeyed and left.
Before leaving City B, Duan Mingxuan took Lin Xi to the cemetery. The original plan was for Duan Yiheng to bring her there the next day. Lin Xi followed Duan Mingxuan up the steps, tears streaming down her face before they even reached the grave. "I know this is your regret," Duan Mingxuan said to Lin Xi. "It's my regret too. Let's go and kowtow together." Lin Xi hummed in agreement. Reaching the grave, Lin Xi knelt down abruptly, and Duan Mingxuan knelt beside her. Lin Xi prostrated herself, her tears soaking the gray ground. A sudden gust of wind swept through the bright sky, and Lin Xi cried even harder. "You're still injured, don't cry," Duan Mingxuan comforted her. "Maybe Grandpa has already seen your parents." Lin Xi turned her head away: "What would they say?" Duan Mingxuan thought for a moment and said, "What else could they say? They raised you to be so beautiful; they've done right by your parents." Lin Xi looked at the photo on the tombstone. She and Duan Mingxuan had spent over an hour together before leaving and returning to the car. By then, Lin Xi's knees were weak. Duan Mingxuan offered to massage them, but she dodged away. "Then you should get some sleep," Duan Mingxuan said. Lin Xi looked out at the green trees and soon fell asleep. When she woke up, she saw the car was still moving and was startled: "Duan Mingxuan? Where are we going?"
Duan Mingxuan told her his plan, and Lin Xi yelled, "Are you crazy?" Duan Mingxuan wasn't angry at all, he just laughed. On the highway, Lin Xi couldn't jump out of the car, so she could only sullenly refuse to speak to Duan Mingxuan.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the two arrived in a southern city. Lin Xi disapproved of him taking her away without permission, saying, "What are you going to do? Give me my phone." "Try the tofu pudding here."
Duan Mingxuan said, "I didn't eat anything on the way. Do you have an appetite now?" Lin Xi glanced at it, it looked quite appetizing, and she picked up a spoon and scooped up a spoonful. Duan Mingxuan waited eagerly beside her and asked, "How is it? Is it good?" Lin Xi didn't even look up:
"It's good, you eat too." She had been eating very little while in the hospital, and suddenly this was too much for even a god. Duan Mingxuan said while eating, "It's an old brand; the soy sauce in the tofu pudding is homemade." The serving wasn't large, and Lin Xi finished quickly. She asked Duan Mingxuan,
"Where are you taking me?" Duan Mingxuan said, "I've already booked this hotel. Let's stay here until we go home. You're still injured, and it's not suitable for you to run around." Lin Xi rolled her eyes at him, "Then why did you bring me out? Give me your phone now."
"I've already let Duan Yiheng know I'm safe," Duan Mingxuan said. "His company is too busy, so I'll show you around." Lin Xi glanced at him, "What's fun to do at the hotel?" Duan Yiheng said:
"There are seven or eight different themed courtyards here, not to mention the entertainment facilities, everything you could want." Lin Xi rested her chin on her hand. "So, tell me, why did you bring me out?" Duan Mingxuan laughed:
"It's because I'm annoyed that you took a bullet for Duan Yiheng. You almost scared the wits off me." "What does that have to do with you bringing me out?" "Of course it does!"
Duan Mingxuan raised his chin. "As soon as you feel better, you're thinking about going back to work. The air quality in B City is so bad, how are you going to recover? Duan Yiheng is still exploiting you. Take this time to properly recover." Lin Xi pouted, but she missed Duan Yiheng.
At the hospital, doctors and nurses came and went every day, and she was too embarrassed to be affectionate with Duan Yiheng, always seriously telling him to go back to his own room. She was finally discharged, but Duan Mingxuan beat her to it.
Duan Yiheng was also shot in the shoulder, and she worried that all the company's affairs would fall on his shoulders. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed Lin Xi became. "Give me your phone," she said, "I need to make a call." Duan Mingxuan handed her his phone:
"It's getting late. You should rest for a bit. I'm going out for a walk." So agreeable? Lin Xi was taken aback. But she didn't think much of it and took the phone to send Duan Yiheng a video call request. Duan Yiheng answered immediately: "Lin Xi?" Lin Xi pointed the camera at herself.
Duan Yiheng saw her and breathed a sigh of relief: "Where are you?" Lin Xi told him the location and hotel, then asked Duan Yiheng, "Do you want to come pick me up?" Duan Yiheng countered, "Do you want to come back?" Lin Xi said, "I wish I could come out with you."
Duan Yiheng smiled: "Let's have some fun first. Duan Mingxuan probably doesn't mean any harm. I'll come find you after I've finished dealing with the company's affairs." "Really?" Lin Xi's eyes lit up. Duan Yiheng signed each of the documents Qin Yang had brought over in the evening, saying, "Wait for me a little longer, okay?" Lin Xi bit her lip, wanting to ask how long she would have to wait, but seeing him so busy he didn't even look up, she could only keep those words to herself. "I'll wait for you." A soft, gentle voice made Duan Yiheng pause.