Gently bite the jasmine

Chapter 36 I'll Carry You Upstairs

Lin Xi didn't want to explain too much, so she sat down on the sofa to rest.

Duan Mingxuan was taken aback by her attitude. After a long silence, he asked:

Can one bad experience negate all the good ones before?

Lin Xi looked at him: "What do you mean?"

Duan Mingxuan: "Why do you seem to have changed since you came back this time?"

Lin Xi was silent for a while, then said, "Even now, I have no say in this family. No matter who has a conflict with whom, it's not my place to interfere."

"But I'm all grown up now, and I have the ability to distinguish right from wrong."

“No matter what, it’s Duan Yiheng’s birthday. You can be indifferent and forget it, but as his subordinate and someone who is being fostered in this family, I can’t.”

I don't know if you understand?

"I don't understand." Duan Mingxuan looked at her intently. "I only know that I don't want you to get close to him."

Lin Xi felt a pang of sadness and gave a bitter laugh: "I'm his secretary now, and I won't resign."

Duan Mingxuan grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly: "I didn't ask you to resign, but why can't you switch to another department?"

Sure enough, it came anyway.

Lin Xi looked at Duan Mingxuan's long, strong hand and slowly withdrew her own.

That's what I'm unwilling to do.

Duan Mingxuan's forehead throbbed: "There are so many presidents in the group, why do you have to be his secretary? If you want, I'll call my dad right now."

"I'm not willing," Lin Xi refused outright.

"Why wouldn't you want to?" Duan Mingxuan raised his voice. "Or do you think Duan Yiheng is too powerful and influential, while I, Duan Mingxuan, am just a playboy? Marrying him wouldn't be bad, given our proximity—"

"Snapped--"

His words were interrupted by a slap that was neither too hard nor too soft.

"What do you take me for?" Lin Xi asked, her eyes bulging with disbelief. "Am I really that despicable? Do I really have to choose between you two brothers?"

The air was eerily still; even the dust seemed to have stopped floating.

"Yesterday was Yi Heng's birthday, why didn't you remind me?"

suddenly!

Duan Zheng's reproachful voice came from the doorway.

Following closely behind, Chen Baiwei said aggrievedly, "Of course I remember, but this child won't let us celebrate his birthday or have a party. You were out socializing, and I called you, but you didn't answer."

Lin Xi hurriedly wiped away her tears, pretending that nothing had happened.

"Just because I didn't answer, can't you call again? It's his birthday, you should at least show some concern."

"I'd like to show my concern, but I need people to appreciate it too."

"So, to sum it up—" Duan Zheng paused when he saw the two people in the living room. "You two are both home, Xiao Xi. I heard you went to the manor with Yi Heng?"

Lin Xi wanted to stand up to answer, but Duan Mingxuan pressed her down.

He ignored Lin Xi and turned to Duan Zheng, asking, "Did you know that Xiao Xi is Duan Yiheng's secretary?"

Duan Zheng was taken aback: "You knew?"

Duan Mingxuan yelled at him, "So you knew all along, and you kept it from me, right? You knew I didn't like Xiao Xi and Duan Yiheng getting close, and you still kept it from me?"

Duan Zheng usually dotes on his youngest son, but he can't tolerate being questioned so harshly.

"What kind of madness is this?" Duan Zheng angrily rebuked. "You have no manners at all."

"I'm not new to this, or is it that none of you can stand it anymore?"

Duan Zheng said angrily, "I think it's because you spoiled him. He behaved himself as soon as the card was stopped."

"Go ahead and stop everything if you dare, and see if I can starve to death."

Duan Zheng felt dizzy and raised his hand to slap someone: "You've gone too far! Who do you think you are?"

"Why did you hit him?" Chen Baiwei was heartbroken. She cupped Duan Mingxuan's face in her hands and looked at him. "Does it hurt?"

Duan Mingxuan shook off Chen Baiwei and went upstairs, filled with anger and grievance.

Duan Zheng was panting heavily, furious.

Chen Baiwei got angry when she saw Lin Xi standing to the side.

"What are you still standing there for?" Chen Baiwei grabbed her and said, "Aren't you going to go and coax her?"

A sharp pain shot through Lin Xi's ankle, and she staggered to regain her balance.

Seeing that she was standing still, Chen Baiwei went upstairs first.

Duan Zheng was so angry that he stormed out of the house.

Lin Xi stood in the living room, overwhelmed by loneliness and pain.

She took out her phone and called Duan Yiheng.

The other party answered quickly and said "hello" with some doubt.

"I'm sorry," Lin Xi said, her voice choked with emotion. "I might not be able to go to work tomorrow."

"what happened?"

A series of rattling sounds came from the phone.

Lin Xi said, "I injured my foot."

Duan Yiheng: "Sit still and don't move. The doctor will be there soon."

Lin Xi's face was ashen: "But I don't want to take leave."

Duan Yiheng: "Is your health more important or your job? I've approved your leave."

Lin Xi leaned back on the sofa and sniffed.

Duan Yiheng and the doctor arrived at the East Building one after the other. The final diagnosis was a minor sprain, requiring about a week of rest.

Lin Xi asked Duan Yiheng with a look of utter despair, "I need to ask for leave. Should I tell the HR department?"

Duan Yiheng: "No need, how did you get this sprain?"

Lin Xi shook his head and remained silent.

Duan Yiheng didn't ask any more questions, but instead reached out his hand to her: "I'll carry you upstairs."

"Thank you." Lin Xi was in a bad mood and listlessly hugged Duan Yiheng's neck.

At the top of the stairs, the two encountered Chen Baiwei.

She was stunned for a moment and asked Lin Xi, "What's going on here?"

Lin Xi turned her head slightly and buried her face in Duan Yiheng's neck.

Duan Yiheng walked right past Chen Baiwei without even glancing at her.

Chen Baiwei felt her blood rush to her head and shouted, "Stop right there!"

Duan Yiheng paused, tilted his head, and looked down at her from the top of the stairs: "Are you talking to me?"

Chen Baiwei relied on Duan Zheng for survival in the Duan family, and Duan Zheng sometimes had to be mindful of Duan Yiheng's mood.

Duan Yiheng's face was cold at the moment. She had acted impulsively, but dared not say anything.

Fortunately, the doctor was still there, and I learned that Lin Xi had sprained her ankle.

Chen Baiwei was utterly shocked. How could such a precious person twist their ankle just by being pulled?

Duan Yiheng carried her into the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed, saying, "You should stay put for the next few days. I will have Sister Mei give the order to have your meals delivered to your room."

"You'll recover faster if you get more rest," Lin Xi replied.

Not long after Duan Yiheng left, Sister Mei personally delivered a meal to her.

After dinner, Chen Baiwei knocked on the door.

Lin Xi thought they were there to show concern for her, but it turned out they were there to ask her to coax Duan Mingxuan.

Lin Xi knew that Duan Mingxuan was angry because of the slap she had given him.

Now that I've calmed down, I feel a little regretful.

"Xiao Xi, Mingxuan hasn't eaten dinner either. Go check on him."

"it is good."

Lin Xi arrived at Duan Mingxuan's door and still raised her hand to knock.

Duan Mingxuan did not come out.

Lin Xi stood in front of the door and said, "Auntie asked me to come and see you."

There was no sound from inside.

"I don't regret slapping you just now, Mingxuan. You have no idea how painful it was for me to hear those words."

Chen Baiwei could hardly believe her ears.

"You hit Mingxuan?" Chen Baiwei took a few steps up the stairs and tilted her head to look at Lin Xi.

Lin Xi was startled, but when faced with Chen Baiwei, she didn't know how to explain.