After landing, the villa's driver came to pick them up, saying that the old man wanted Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng to come back for dinner. Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng exchanged a glance, a hint of worry in their eyes. Duan Yiheng held her hand, gently stroking it to comfort her.
Even under the driver's watchful eye, Lin Xi's eyes trembled, and she tried to pull her hand away from his grasp. Duan Yiheng remained unmoved, holding her hand firmly. Lin Xi, afraid of being discovered by the driver, dared not move again. Lin Xi took out her phone and texted Duan Yiheng: "Grandpa asked us to come for dinner, what do you think it's about?" Duan Yiheng glanced at Lin Xi and replied: "Don't overthink it. This branch company project is quite large; it could be about that."
Lin Xi frowned. She was still uneasy about Duan Mingxuan returning first. But the person who did this was Zhang Mo, someone who, in short, had some connection to Duan Mingxuan. If he told Grandpa, she feared Grandpa wouldn't let him off easily.
After all, they'd broken up; why would they still be connected? If they hadn't drunk together, none of what happened later would have occurred. Lin Xi knew Duan Mingxuan well; he hadn't said anything, only that he'd almost been scammed gambling by the old man.
The old man was furious, telling him to stick to his company and home and stop going to those shady places. Duan Mingxuan gave a vague reply. He wouldn't mess around with women, but Yu Lang and the others were his brothers, and he couldn't completely avoid seeing them.
Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng's car stopped at the North Courtyard. Sister Mei saw them from afar and warmly greeted them. She asked Duan Yiheng all sorts of questions, showing great concern, and of course, she didn't forget Lin Xi either. Duan Yiheng asked Sister Mei, "Is Grandpa downstairs?" Sister Mei replied,
"In the living room. The master and the others are all here." Duan Yiheng asked as he walked, "What did they talk about?" Sister Mei said, "They talked about the second young master's marriage. The second young master threw a tantrum and stormed off in front of the old man." "Which family did he fancy?"
Duan Yiheng continued. Sister Mei said, "The Xia family of Beicheng." "Are they willing?" Duan Yiheng raised an eyebrow. Sister Mei smiled awkwardly, "The East Building has been arguing these past few days."
Duan Yiheng immediately knew that Chen Baiwei had acted on her own initiative. The same thing happened with Duan Zheng and Duan Mingxuan's marriage to Lin Xi. Truly, birds of a feather flock together.
Duan Zheng announced Duan Mingxuan and Lin Xi's marriage without permission, and Chen Baiwei hadn't shown up, thus venting her dissatisfaction. Once Duan Zheng made a decision, Chen Baiwei couldn't resist.
Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng entered the living room. Chen Baiwei glanced over, her usual feigned politeness gone, replaced by scorn and indifference. She seemed like a different person after so long. Lin Xi knew it must be the affair between Duan Zheng and Ke Yu that had changed her.
The old man beckoned to the two of them, gesturing for them to sit down. Lin Xi sat on the sofa below the old man, with Duan Yiheng beside her, albeit at a slight distance. The old man asked about their business trip, but before Duan Yiheng could answer, Duan Zheng launched an attack:
"You weren't there when the contract was signed, almost causing the project to be snatched away. I just want to ask, where were you then?" "This project is crucial to Yinfan Technology's development in South China, and I see you didn't take it seriously, acting recklessly." Duan Yiheng wasn't annoyed at all, saying:
"I met with Mr. and Mrs. Lu Tong from Black Sky Investment. Grandpa knows." Duan Zheng choked. Could it be that he had some kind of cooperation with Lu Tong? The old man's gaze towards Duan Zheng was complex. After all, he was his only son, and he had a certain degree of favoritism towards him.
If only Duan Zheng had been more capable, the Yin Fan Group wouldn't have been left to Yi Heng alone. But the older he got, the more competitive he became, even against his own son, making a fool of himself in front of the shareholders. If a real power struggle were to break out, he worried that Duan Zheng wouldn't have a good life after his death. "Shut up."
The old man frowned at Duan Zheng. "I haven't even settled the score with you for making that decision about Xiao Xi and Ming Xuan's marriage without my consent." "Didn't you used to approve of Ming Xuan and Xiao Xi being together?" Duan Zheng was confused. "Why are you against it now?
Ming Xuan has changed. He's really into Xiao Xi now. Why not let these childhood sweethearts be together?" Lin Xi's face paled. Duan Yiheng scoffed, "Letting them be together is what you think? High-sounding." The old man frowned and asked Duan Zheng:
"Did you ask Xiao Xi if she was willing?" Duan Zheng frowned. "Relationships develop over time. There's nothing wrong with Xiao Xi marrying Ming Xuan. When I was with Wan Ying—" "Don't mention my mother."
Duan Yiheng's tone was sarcastic, his calm eyes carrying a clear warning. "And don't cause me any trouble." Duan Zheng was furious. "Why can't I mention her?
We've been husband and wife for over ten years—" Duan Yiheng's face darkened, and the anger that had been suppressed for so many years exploded instantly. He gripped the glass tightly, then slammed it down. With a sharp crack, the glass shattered into pieces.
Duan Yiheng crushed the glass shards in his clenched fist. Lin Xi gasped, grabbing Duan Yiheng's hand and shouting to Sister Mei, "Quickly, call the doctor!" Duan Zheng and the old man were both startled. Duan Yiheng looked at Duan Zheng, his gaze icy:
"I told you, don't cause me any trouble." Duan Zheng instinctively leaned back; he suspected that if the old man hadn't been there, Duan Yiheng would have devoured him whole.
The old man gave Uncle Deng a look, who then walked over to Duan Zheng and Chen Baiwei, saying that tonight wasn't a good time to dine together and that they should leave. Duan Zheng snorted coldly, forcing a smile, and pulled Chen Baiwei away.
Lin Xi bit her lip tightly, sitting to the side watching the doctor remove the glass shards from her palm. "Dr. Wu, be gentle," Lin Xi couldn't help but look up and say. Dr. Wu: "..." He was already quite mild. Duan Yiheng chuckled: "It's alright, don't worry."
The old man was still there. Lin Xi turned her head and tilted her head back, holding back her tears. The old man had seen everything and said to Lin Xi, "Xiao Xi, go eat first."
"I'm not hungry, I—" Duan Yiheng knew the old man had something to say to him, so he tilted his chin slightly, gesturing for her to go eat. Lin Xi went to the dining room, looking back several times, with Sister Mei following to take care of her. The old man's eyes were sharp:
"Your father was wrong, but you didn't control your emotions either. Today you can overturn the table for your mother in front of the elders, tomorrow you can overturn the shareholders' table." "I'm sorry." Duan Yiheng let out a long sigh, "There won't be a next time." The old man hummed in agreement:
"A leader who can't control his emotions is the worst." Duan Yiheng responded, and the doctor left after treating his wounds. The old man waved his hand: "Go eat." Duan Yiheng went to the dining room and sat down opposite Lin Xi. Lin Xi glanced at his bandaged hand, glared at him reproachfully, and mouthed "You're so awesome." Duan Yiheng pursed his lips, almost bursting out laughing. Sister Mei was still nearby; he cleared his throat restrainedly and began to eat.
It was already 9 o'clock when they left the North Courtyard. Lin Xi opened the car door and got in. Just as she told the driver to start, Duan Yiheng shamelessly got in: "I'll take you home."