Gently bite the jasmine

Chapter 137 I Won't Be Your First

The car headlights illuminated Duan Mingxuan's arrogant face. Seeing that Lin Xi didn't move, Duan Yiheng sneered and asked, "What? Afraid to get off?"

Lin Xi glanced back at him: "What do I have to be afraid of going down?"

She had already let go of Duan Mingxuan when he went to Rong County with her.

An unintentional argument with Chen Baiwei allowed him to see the truth behind her going to the United States.

She also told him that everything was in the past.

The moment Duan Mingxuan got a girlfriend, it was destined that their relationship would go from intimacy to estrangement.

Duan Yiheng pushed open the car door and walked straight past Duan Mingxuan into the house.

Lin Xi walked up to him and said, "Get up."

Duan Mingxuan glanced back and asked, "Why did you come back with my older brother?"

Lin Xi answered irrelevantly, "What are you doing sitting here?"

"I'll wait for you." Duan Mingxuan didn't get angry as expected. "Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I had a couple of drinks with Yu Lang and then came back."

Lin Xi pulled the suit jacket she was wearing tighter around her neck, looked up and stared straight into his eyes: "Duan Mingxuan, I don't like you."

Duan Mingxuan's jaw tightened: "Then who do you like? Your older brother?"

"Who do I like—"

"No, I don't." Duan Mingxuan abruptly interrupted her. "You used to like me a lot, Xiao Xi. Have you forgotten all the happy times we had together?"

"When you came into the Duan family, I accepted you. I played and joked with you. If anyone bullied you, I was always the first to rush to your aid. When you were studying abroad, I was always extremely worried about you..."

"My relationship with Zhang Mo was completely accidental. I've never been in a relationship before. I was just teased by Yu Lang and the others and went along with it. I didn't even realize how much I felt for you."

"Or rather, I don't dare. You are the girl I've raised since you were little. In my eyes, you are different from everyone else. I subconsciously feel that I am not good enough for you."

"But others are even less worthy. Until I heard your conversation with my mother, I knew you had liked me for many years. At that moment, my head was about to explode."

"I was too slow to realize my love, Xiao Xi. Can you give me another chance?"

Lin Xi shook her head: "It's too late."

“Xiao Xi.” Duan Mingxuan gripped her shoulders, his eyes suddenly turning red. “I really… I was really wrong. I can’t stand that you like someone else. Can you turn around and look at me again? I promise you, you will always be number one in my heart.”

"I won't be your first." Lin Xi pulled his hand away. "You have the freedom to date, and don't deny your first relationship. I don't deny that I liked you before, but you were slow to realize your feelings, and my love has already disappeared. Mingxuan, I remember the good things you did for me. If there's anything you need me to do, I'll do my best, but what I can ever make up for is my feelings."

Duan Mingxuan staggered back half a step.

"Don't do those messy confession things anymore." Lin Xi walked past him and went back into the house.

Duan Yiheng turned around behind the floor-to-ceiling window on the third floor.

He didn't know what the two of them were talking about, but Duan Mingxuan's back seemed to collapse like a hillside swept by a mudslide.

As soon as Lin Xi entered the room, Sister Mei caught a glimpse of the gleaming pearl earrings under her ears.

"A gift from the second young master? It suits your temperament perfectly."

Lin Xi was taken aback, then raised her hand to stroke the pearl: "It wasn't a gift from him."

"Oh," Sister Mei chuckled, "Would you like a late-night snack?"

Lin Xi shook her head: "No need, I'm a little tired. I'll go upstairs first. You should get some rest too."

She took off her suit jacket as she walked, and was stopped by Duan Yiheng when she reached the third floor.

Lin Xi handed the suit back to him: "Thank you."

Duan Yiheng took the suit jacket and inexplicably asked, "What did you say to Duan Mingxuan? He's still standing downstairs."

Lin Xi said "Oh": "He can't possibly stand downstairs all night."

Duan Yiheng curled his lips: "If it were before, you would have run down long ago."

Ultimately, she still minded her past with Duan Mingxuan.

"If you don't want him standing downstairs in your way, I can come down now."

Duan Yiheng felt a pang in his heart and pulled the person back: "I brought the earring box back for you from the hotel as well."

Lin Xi took it, glanced at the injury on his cheekbone, and said, "We're going to have dinner at the North Courtyard tomorrow. Your injury isn't as deep as Duan Mingxuan's, so you should cover it up."

That way, Grandpa won't ask, and if he finds out the two of them fought, he'll get angry again.

Especially Duan Yiheng, as the next successor of the group, has misused his power and will inevitably be criticized.

"How do we cover it up?" Duan Yiheng asked.

"Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you," Lin Xi replied. "Come see me tomorrow morning, and I'll cover it up with concealer."

Duan Yiheng frowned: "Makeup?"

Lin Xi: "No, you'll find out when the time comes. I'm going back to my room now. Goodnight."

Duan Yiheng replied with "Good night".

The next morning, Lin Xi was still asleep when there was a knock on her door.

I was planning to go to sleep last night when Liang Yutong sent me a video call, and we ended up chatting until late.

Lin Xi got up and opened the door, only to be startled by the impeccably handsome Duan Yiheng standing at the entrance.

A dark gray cashmere sweater, layered over a white shirt, paired with dark-colored casual pants; overall, the outfit fits the body well without being too tight.

His short hair had clearly been styled, giving him a more relaxed look compared to when he was at the office.

A light woody fragrance unfolds, appearing gentle and understated in this season.

"Why are you up so early?" Lin Xi asked, glancing down at herself.

Duan Yiheng: "I'm calling you to eat breakfast. Grandpa wants you to go over early."

Lin Xi: "I understand, I'll go down right away."

Since it was New Year's, Lin Xi changed into a red sweater suit. As she ran downstairs, the hem of her skirt kept stirring Duan Yiheng's heart.

Mei praised Lin Xi repeatedly, making her feel embarrassed, which made her feel a little awkward when facing Duan Yiheng.

Duan Yiheng chuckled: "You're embarrassed after just a few compliments?"

Lin Xi pursed her lips, unsure of what to say.

She felt that Duan Yiheng hadn't taken a single word she said to heart.

He still talked to her and smiled at her.

I burned my palms last night, but I still waited for her for more than two hours just to take her home.

She has to go back to work on the eighth day after the Lunar New Year, and she only has about ten days left living here.

According to his grandfather, the next successor will be announced at the board meeting after the New Year, and Duan Yiheng may not return to Yinfan Technology.

When Zheng Jizhong leaves and a new director takes over to reorganize the sales department, she hopes to be able to work on the projects.

Thinking of this, Lin Xi smiled at Duan Yiheng, her tone softening considerably: "Come upstairs with me after dinner, I'll cover your face."

Duan Yiheng reached out and placed his hand on the back of her chair, leaning close to her ear and saying, "I can go up with you now."

Lin Xi's ears burned, and she nudged him, saying, "Sit still."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sister Mei came over and said to Duan Yiheng, "I brought the cheongsam back yesterday. I almost missed it. I put it in your bedroom."

Lin Xi glanced sideways. What cheongsam?