Lin Xi glanced back at Liang Yutong, hesitating for a moment, when Duan Yiheng said, "My hand hurts."
Lin Xi was a soft-hearted person, especially since Duan Yiheng was playing the victim for her. "Then come up, I..." Before she could finish, Duan Yiheng cut off the call. Lin Xi: "..." She wanted to say that Liang Yutong was with her. Duan Yiheng, having received authorization, practically flew off.
Lin Xi waited in the entryway, idly fiddling with her long hair. Duan Yiheng came out of the elevator, and when he saw her, his eyes unconsciously curved into a smile. "It's almost ten o'clock, what are you doing here?" Lin Xi asked, glancing at his hand.
Duan Yiheng's hand landed on her shoulder, then moved down to take her hand in his: "I just wanted to see you." Lin Xi suppressed her joy at seeing him, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I can see you at work tomorrow, right?"
Her tone was slightly awkward, even forgetting about Liang Yutong. Duan Yiheng stepped forward, pinning her against the cabinet in the entryway. The wall lamp cast a warm yellow glow, slanting down from above Lin Xi.
The light wasn't bright, creating a hazy, filtered effect. "You want me to kiss you at the company?" Duan Yiheng asked, smiling. "No," Lin Xi immediately retorted. "We need to maintain boundaries at the company."
"Then…" Duan Yiheng's gaze lingered on her lips: "Can we do something without boundaries now?" Lin Xi couldn't stand Duan Yiheng's gaze, nor his blunt words. But she still wanted to struggle:
"If I say no…" Duan Yiheng wrapped his arms around the back of her neck, cutting off all resistance between their pressed lips. "Lin Xi, you need to pick someone up—I…I oh crap, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to see."
Liang Yutong raised her hand to cover her eyes, leaving a small gap, her words a mixture of embarrassment and undisguised malice. Lin Xi stiffened, turning her head to bump into Duan Yiheng's chest: "It's all your fault." Duan Yiheng patted the back of her head, giving it a gentle stroke.
Lin Xi pushed him away, coughed, and gave Liang Yutong a "don't make a fuss" look. Liang Yutong smiled meaningfully. Lin Xi blushed instantly, pushing Liang Yutong towards the living room, whispering, "Stop laughing." Liang Yutong asked her with a smile, "Didn't we break up?
You even kept it from me?" Lin Xi didn't know what to say for a moment, just then Liang Yutong's phone rang. Liang Yutong awkwardly took her phone and went to the balcony. Duan Yiheng sat down next to Lin Xi and asked, "Why hasn't she left yet?" Lin Xi:
"It's because Mu Shuo scared her, so she came here to hide." Duan Yiheng asked, "What happened between them?" Lin Xi felt that her relationship with Liang Yutong was quite similar in some ways. She initially liked Duan Mingxuan, then fell in love with Duan Yiheng, and now still has to deal with Duan Mingxuan's occasional erratic behavior. As for Liang Yutong, Zheng Jianian refuses to let go, and Mu Shuo has become clingy. "Mu Shuo confessed to Yutong, and it scared her," Lin Xi said.
Duan Yiheng frowned: "If you don't like someone, just reject them. What's with this avoidance?" Lin Xi rolled her eyes at him: "How can I comment on matters of the heart? Yutong probably has her reasons." Duan Yiheng inwardly cursed Mu Shuo for being useless. Speaking of the devil, his phone rang.
Duan Yiheng hesitated for a moment when he saw the caller ID. Lin Xi looked at him: "How do you have Mu Shuo's number?" Duan Yiheng: "...I'm childhood friends with his older brother. Is it strange that I have his contact information?" Lin Xi nodded:
"Strange, isn't it? You two aren't even in the same circle. I remember Mu Shuo hanging out with Duan Mingxuan and Yu Lang." Duan Yiheng raised his hand, changing the subject: "I'll take this call first." Lin Xi leaned closer, her ear pressed against Duan Yiheng's phone camera.
Duan Yiheng put his arm around her shoulder, tilting her to the side, holding Lin Xi firmly in his embrace. She couldn't hear what Mu Shuo said, but Duan Yiheng gave him her home address. Lin Xi tugged at his clothes, accusing him:
"Yu Tong is trying to avoid him like the plague, and you're letting him come over? How am I supposed to explain this to Yu Tong?" Duan Yiheng waved his phone: "I'll call Mu Zhao right now. Besides his brother, who can control him?
Liang Yu Tong should know Mu Shuo's personality. If he wants to see you tonight, he'll turn B City upside down to see you." "You're Liang Yu Tong's friend, so naturally he'll think of you first." Lin Xi:
"...Knowing I won't give him my address, he went to your place in this roundabout way?" Liang Yu Tong returned after her call, looking at the two sitting on the sofa with disdain. She ran her index finger between them: "Are you two even this lovey-dovey on the phone?"
Lin Xi sat up straight instantly, like a spring being released. Duan Yiheng said, "Mu Shuo called me. He'll be here soon. Hiding won't help unless you stay here the whole time." Liang Yu Tong:
"..." This is really something! She can't even have a peaceful night. Duan Yiheng's eyes gleamed with guilt. He didn't want to meddle in their affairs, but Mu Shuo had a weakness he couldn't hide from him. The brat had even started threatening him on the phone earlier. "Brother Mu Zhao is coming too."
Lin Xi stood up. "Even if you don't want to, we're all here. What can he do to you?" Liang Yutong clicked her tongue in embarrassment. "I haven't thought it through yet." Lin Xi chuckled. "Then what are your concerns?" Liang Yutong:
"He's younger than me, doesn't meet my criteria for a partner, and most people can't stand my temper." She was quite demanding in relationships. Lin Xi didn't have a deep connection with Mu Shuo, but the two Mu brothers were known for their integrity and good character within the industry. She said to Liang Yutong, "If you really don't like him, you should make it clear to him. Duan Yiheng and Mu Zhao are both here tonight. If you don't want to, Mu Shuo won't bother you. It's probably because you didn't directly refuse that he had the opportunity to pester you."
Liang Yutong felt a little guilty. After thinking it over, she still didn't dare to take the risk and said, "I'll tell him directly when he gets here." Just as she finished speaking, there was a noise at the door. Lin Xi went to open the door, and Mu Shuo was stunned when he saw Duan Yiheng; he hadn't mentioned being here on the phone.
Liang Yutong avoided Mu Shuo's direct gaze and said bluntly, "We're not suitable for each other. You should go back." "What's wrong with us? I'm only three years younger than you. Haven't you heard the saying, 'A woman three years older is a lucky charm'?" Liang Yutong: "...Is it about finding a lucky charm?
I...I don't like you." Mu Shuo: "It's okay if you don't like me. Feelings develop over time, as long as you—" "Mu Shuo." Duan Yiheng got up and walked over. "You go first—" "Brother Heng, are you stopping me too?"
Mu Shuo's eyes were full of sadness. "Back then, for your sake, I took the lead in integrating into Yu Lang and Duan Mingxuan's circle. I even threw up from drinking twice. You can't help me, but you can't just abandon me after I've served your purpose." Duan Yiheng: "..." What he wanted to say was, "Sit down first."