Duan Yiheng hung up the phone and turned to Lin Xi, saying, "The first ginkgo tree by the lake in the manor was planted by my mother. The housekeeper said its roots are diseased." Lin Xi was surprised for a moment; Duan Yiheng hadn't told her about this. She asked,
"Can it be saved?" Duan Yiheng shook his head. "I don't know. They're already treating it. They might need to change the soil and treat the roots with medication." "It'll be alright."
Lin Xi comforted him, "Leave the professional work to the professionals. You spend so much money supporting them; they must be capable, right?" Duan Yiheng looked into her eyes: "Before, when I said I wanted to take you to see the ginkgo, I really meant that one tree."
Lin Xi bit her lip, unsure what to say. His initial invitation was something he had planned long ago; she had only casually agreed. But last November, they couldn't see it. She had been looking forward to this year, but fate had played a cruel trick; what year was "this year" now? Lin Xi silently turned her gaze, but then heard Duan Yiheng say, "Can you come with me to see it this year?" Lin Xi's eyes widened suddenly, and she looked at him in surprise, her voice dry, "This year?" Duan Yiheng grasped her hand, firmly stating, "This year."
Lin Xi pressed down on his wrist, pushing him away. "You shouldn't have brought me. It won't be me going to North District No. 1 with you." "But I only want to see it with you," Duan Yiheng looked at her, "Only you."
Lin Xi was momentarily dazed, instantly losing all perception of the outside world. Every time Duan Yiheng approached her after the breakup, it deepened her pain. It was like having a cigarette burn on her skin, always burning the same spot.
Lin Xi's gaze shifted downwards, landing on his well-defined hands. After a long while, she took his hand, turned it over, and saw a cigarette burn scar on his palm, glaringly obvious. "Aren't you in pain?" Lin Xi murmured, repeating the question. "You should remember this feeling. Being with me hurts, and I should remember it too." She felt his pain. Duan Yiheng's fingers came together, loosely holding her in his palm: "Pain is what keeps you from forgetting."
Lin Xi smiled and pulled her hand away from his. Duan Yiheng was about to say something when the driver reminded them that they had arrived at the hospital. Lin Xi's steps were somewhat unsteady as she got out of the car, only turning back once she entered the ward. The old man saw them and waved to them.
This recent bout of anger had aged him noticeably, and his voice was weak and feeble. The caregiver was feeding him, and Duan Yiheng took the food himself, saying, "Let me do it." Lin Xi watched Duan Yiheng's patient demeanor, while her grandfather's eyes were filled with relief.
After the meal, the old man said, "Xiao Xi and Ming Xuan—" "Don't speak, I'll handle it." Duan Yiheng took the handkerchief from the caregiver and wiped the old man's face and hands. "Your father—" "No matter the reason, you shouldn't have to go through this." Duan Yiheng's attitude was somewhat firm. "After you're gone, no one will pamper him anymore." The old man sighed. Duan Yiheng looked into the old man's eyes:
"No matter what I do, I will guarantee their family will have no worries about food and clothing in the future, provided they don't cross my bottom line." The old man smiled: "It seems that nothing can stop you now that I'm sick." Duan Yiheng paused, then turned to Lin Xi and said:
"Go out and wait for me, I'll take you home later." Lin Xi frowned. Duan Yiheng must have something to say to her grandfather. "Aren't you coming with me?" she asked instinctively. Duan Yiheng said, "Wait for me for ten minutes."
Lin Xi could only nod and said to the old man, "Grandpa, I'll come see you again tomorrow." The old man nodded. After Lin Xi left, Duan Yiheng didn't beat around the bush, saying,
"Before Lin Xi's birthday, she suddenly suggested going to the manor at No. 1 North District with me. She had already planned to break up with me then."
"Today I finally picked up on the crucial point I'd missed. Her breaking up was premeditated, but it was sudden for me. However, I was in a bad mood at the time and didn't notice some details."
"Why would she suddenly want to break up with me? Something must have happened. Besides you, I can't think of anyone else." "I thought that since you came to me, you would let her go." The old man was silent for a long time, then said,
"I didn't expect to hide it from you for long. I schemed against her, deliberately letting her overhear some things." Duan Yiheng understood immediately; it must concern his future. "Grandpa, have you ever thought that you can stop me for a while, but can you stop me forever?"
The old man was taken aback. "You can't stop it. The more you pressure her, the tighter the relationship becomes, until there's almost no room to breathe. What are you expecting her to do?" The old man didn't speak, only waved his hand: "You can leave."
Duan Yiheng got up and left the ward. As soon as the door opened, he met Lin Xi's anxious gaze. "What are you doing blocking the door?" Duan Yiheng chuckled. "Do you think I'd fight with Grandpa?" Lin Xi pursed her lips: "What did you two talk about?"
Duan Yiheng took her hand and turned to walk towards the elevator. Lin Xi was startled and tried to pull him away while running: "Let go of me, someone will see us." Duan Yiheng pulled her into the elevator, and as Lin Xi tried to struggle again, he pulled her close.
Body to body, Duan Yiheng's gaze was gentle, and his tone was: "If you move again, someone will really see us." Lin Xi didn't dare to glance around, because there were security cameras in the elevator. The two got into the car hand in hand, and Duan Yiheng asked the driver to raise the partition.
Lin Xi was startled. Duan Yiheng suddenly leaned in close, saying, "Let's continue the conversation we were interrupted about in the car." "No," Lin Xi dodged towards the car door, "Just take me home quickly." Duan Yiheng:
"Don't you want to know what Zhao Yuxin said to me today?" Lin Xi was suddenly stunned. He had chatted with Zhao Yuxin for almost forty minutes that day, and she had been sitting by the window in the lounge area watching. They seemed to be having a good time, but what right did she have to interfere? Duan Yiheng grasped her shoulders, turning her to face him, and said softly, "When I heard you tell me about breaking up, I was both angry and panicked; I didn't have time to think about anything else."
"It's always been me pushing and you pushing. I'm used to being in control, and I hate how ruthlessly you retreated. Today, Zhao Yuxin's words woke me up, and I realized how terribly wrong I was."
"I really shouldn't have forced you to be with me. I shouldn't have hidden you in a dark, shadowy world, making you afraid of every moment that would expose our relationship. I'm sorry." Lin Xi lowered her head, silent. "I'm sorry."
Duan Yiheng's tone was gentle and cautious as his palm reached up to cup her face, only to find it wet with tears. Duan Yiheng frantically lifted her head, seeing Lin Xi's nostrils flaring and her lips trembling slightly, as if she were suppressing a tremendous grievance.
She cried silently, tears rolling down her cheeks like tiny pearls.