Duan Yiheng was still asleep. Lin Xi nudged him with her phone:
"Wake up." Duan Yiheng, with his long arms, reached out and pulled Lin Xi into his embrace, muttering, "No work, I'll sleep a little longer." "Still sleeping," Lin Xi tossed him the phone, "Look at the mess you've made."
Duan Yiheng opened his eyes, picked up her phone, looked at it, and after a moment, laughed. Lin Xi snorted, "What are you laughing at?" "Come look." Duan Yiheng pulled Lin Xi into his arms, his arms around the back of her neck.
Lin Xi looked at her phone suspiciously. Duan Yiheng pointed to the comments and read them to her: "Ahhh, what kind of divine plot is this?" "Who on earth is watching this with their teeth showing when they don't have a partner?" "I'm hopeless, but it's so sweet."
"I'm guessing they're jealous, they even threw away their suits." "Damn, suits are expensive, right? Where are they? I'll go pick them up." "The sanitation worker already picked them up." "Rich people are really carefree, they just throw away their custom-made suits like that." "Send me a ton of cement, you bastard."
"They're so obsessed with shipping couples that they've gone mad." "..." "Stop reading." Lin Xi pushed Duan Yiheng. "You're like a robot." Duan Yiheng pointed to one of the comments and asked Lin Xi, "What does 'cement' mean?" Lin Xi shook her head:
"I don't know." Duan Yiheng and Lin Xi don't usually watch short videos, so they don't know many common internet memes. Lin Xi wasn't curious, only muttering, "We're not celebrities or internet stars, how come we're always trending?" Duan Yiheng laughed:
"Information is so readily available now, even ordinary people can easily trend. What does that prove?" "True." Lin Xi put away her phone. "Next time, if we're going to argue, we should argue in the car." Duan Yiheng was amused by her words: "It's all because some people are jealous."
"Jealous?" Lin Xi denied it. "It's clearly because some people have no sense of propriety." Duan Yiheng pinched her cheek: "The woman last night didn't even touch the hem of my clothes." Lin Xi retorted: "I hear a hint of regret in your tone." "...You're arguing, aren't you?"
"Hmph." Duan Yiheng ruffled Lin Xi's hair and said, "Get up." Lin Xi finished washing up and went downstairs first. Duan Yiheng received a call from the manor's butler. The butler said everything was ready. Duan Yiheng replied:
"Okay, it's still early. Double-check the details. No accidents are allowed that day." After saying that, he hung up the phone. Since it was a proposal, he wanted to give Lin Xi an unforgettable experience.
He used his free time to have the manor's butler handle the matter, but Lin Xi misunderstood the situation. If Lin Xi had pressed him for details last night, he might have revealed everything. After all, she had cried; no surprise could compare to her presence.
Lin Xi had indeed intended to ask, but after a chaotic night, she completely forgot. Duan Yiheng rested at home for two days, specifically observing Lin Xi. Seeing that she didn't seem preoccupied, he didn't bring it up.
In late October, there was a fintech industry exhibition in S City, which Xu Yu arranged for Lin Xi to attend. Duan Yiheng's birthday was in two days, and Lin Xi readily agreed. After agreeing, she felt a little guilty and immediately asked Sister Mei to prepare a candlelight dinner at home.
When Duan Yiheng returned home, he saw Lin Xi running towards him and instinctively opened his arms to hug her. The house was quiet; not a single servant could be seen. Duan Yiheng looked down and asked her, "Where did everyone go?" Lin Xi led him to the restaurant, saying,
"Let's have a nice meal tonight. I have something to tell you." Entering the restaurant, the candlelight illuminated Duan Yiheng's eyes. He turned to look at Lin Xi and said, "Why do I feel like you need something from me?" Lin Xi pushed him to sit down in a chair: "You guessed right."
"Go ahead," Duan Yiheng said with a doting expression, "Always with the same old tricks." Lin Xi chuckled and hugged his neck from behind, even kissing him on the cheek, making Duan Yiheng's lips curl into a smile. At the same time, he felt that Lin Xi was setting a trap for him.
However, Duan Yiheng was very patient and didn't say anything. Lin Xi released him, sat down at her seat, and said, "Let's eat first." During the meal, Lin Xi subtly mentioned the industry exhibition in S City, and Duan Yiheng instantly understood. "You want to go?"
Lin Xi nodded. "I've already agreed." Duan Yiheng chuckled. "You acted first and asked later." Lin Xi knew he had agreed immediately and smiled shyly. "How about I celebrate your birthday with you when I get back?" Duan Yiheng didn't care and said,
"It's just a birthday. It doesn't matter whether I celebrate or not. I hope you can do whatever you want." Lin Xi was a little touched. Duan Yiheng chuckled. "What kind of expression is that?" Lin Xi said, "You seem cold, but you're actually very loving. You're a person who's cold on the outside but warm on the inside."
"I'm just a few years older than you," Duan Yiheng said. "Of course, I want the person I like to be even better. I only feel this way about you." Lin Xi got up and sat down next to him, saying thank you. Duan Yiheng twirled her long hair and said,
"Over the years, I've met many people—executives, business partners, friends, and competitors. Their wives, seemingly wealthy, often lead unhappy lives."
"They all share one thing in common: they can endure. I don't want you to become like that." "I hope that no matter the occasion, you'll always be by my side." Lin Xi took Duan Yiheng's arm, pouting, "I'm really touched."
"There's nothing to be touched about," Duan Yiheng said with a smile, "You have to get used to it." Lin Xi leaned on his shoulder and obediently hummed in agreement. Duan Yiheng finished the last bit of wine in his glass and asked Lin Xi, "Want some more?" Lin Xi shook her head:
"I'm full." "When are you leaving?" "Early the day after tomorrow." It was the day before his birthday; no wonder she prepared a candlelight dinner tonight to "apologize" to him. Duan Yiheng found Lin Xi adorable in every way, and he couldn't help but chuckle, gently pinching her cheek.
Lin Xi was about to go on a business trip, which could last three to five days, or even a week. The next evening, Duan Yiheng left work early. After dinner, instead of going to the kitchen or the gym, he pulled her back to the room. "Have you packed your luggage?" Duan Yiheng asked.
Lin Xi replied, "Yes, Sister Mei helped me pack this afternoon." Duan Yiheng gave a perfunctory "hmm," adding, "Then take a shower and go to bed early, so you're well-rested for your business trip." It was still early, and Lin Xi hesitated for a moment before accepting his suggestion.
But after drying her hair and returning to the bedroom, when he pinned her to the bed, she realized she'd been tricked. Duan Yiheng kissed her without a word, his movements somewhat forceful. It seemed he wanted to make up for the days she'd been away on business. She wasn't finally released until late into the night.
As she drifted off to sleep, Lin Xi thought resentfully: He left work early, ate early, and showered early, all for this. Sometimes I think Duan Yiheng is quite a beast.