Gently bite the jasmine

Chapter 117 I'm afraid you'll tell me you want to break up.

As soon as the door opened, a bunch of fresh Phalaenopsis orchids and Duan Yiheng poured them all over Lin Xi.

Startled, Lin Xi grabbed him and they collided, crushing the pure white orchids, which fluttered to the floor like butterflies.

Lin Xi disregarded everything and, together with Sister Mei, helped Duan Yiheng, this tall and heavy man, onto the bed.

After she let go, Lin Xi finally realized what was happening and asked Sister Mei, "Is he sleeping here tonight? Where am I sleeping?"

Sister Mei said helplessly, "I couldn't stop you from coming here. Didn't you say you were going to a wedding banquet? How did you get so drunk?"

That's incredibly rude.

Duan Yiheng would never act so recklessly on someone else's turf. If the old man found out, he would definitely get a scolding.

Lin Xi felt a pang of guilt; only she knew why Duan Yiheng had been drinking.

Mei turned to tidy up the bouquet, but Lin Xi stopped her: "Let me do it. You go and make him some hangover soup."

Sister Mei replied, "Okay, then you can take care of it for me for now. I'll go downstairs and have someone prepare a guest room. Please make do with it for the night."

Lin Xi said, "I can sleep anywhere, please go ahead."

After confirming that Sister Mei had left, Lin Xi picked up the flower petals on the ground and then turned around to take off Duan Yiheng's leather shoes.

Then, Lin Xi sat on the edge of the bed and gently bent down to untie his tie.

Duan Yiheng was still holding the orchid tightly. Lin Xi reached out and touched it, suspecting it was the bride's bouquet.

She couldn't help but laugh, unable to imagine Duan Yiheng trying to snatch the bouquet.

"Lin Xi." Duan Yiheng murmured, his brows furrowing.

"I'm here." Lin Xi leaned closer and touched his face. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Hmm." Duan Yiheng turned over and lay on his side.

"Just a little longer, Sister Mei will be up soon." Lin Xi's voice was soft and gentle. "How about giving me the flowers?"

Duan Yiheng exhaled a breath of alcohol: "Give it to Lin Xi."

"Okay," Lin Xi coaxed, "I am Lin Xi, let go."

Duan Yiheng released his grip, and Lin Xi finally took the broken orchid stem from his hand.

I carried it all the way back, but it broke at the door. I wonder how he'll feel when he sees it tomorrow morning.

Lin Xi glanced back at the door, estimating that Sister Mei would be gone for a while. Taking advantage of Duan Yiheng's drunkenness, she asked without restraint:

"Duan Yiheng, I'm asking you, have you been avoiding me lately?"

Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement: "I'm afraid you'll tell me you want to break up."

In the heat of the moment that day, she almost blurted it out.

Lin Xi gave a bitter smile and said, "But we'll break up sooner or later, won't we?"

"No." Duan Yiheng suddenly grabbed her wrist. "No."

Lin Xi grasped his hand in return: "If I had known your intentions earlier, I wouldn't have agreed to it."

She had a crush on Duan Mingxuan for five years, while Duan Yiheng had liked her for three years.

Whether it's three years or five years, in Lin Xi's view, it's all about swallowing the bitterness and sweetness of unrequited love.

Having experienced it herself, she naturally knew that Duan Yiheng's three years had not been easy.

There's also the added burden of their familial relationship, making things even more difficult for Duan Yiheng.

If she had known earlier, she might not have made the same choice.

Because he knew full well that they would eventually separate, and that the day they separated would be yet another blow to Duan Yiheng.

She didn't seem to have considered herself at all.

Lin Xi felt a pang of sadness at the sight of the orchids. She gently stroked the petals and asked Duan Yiheng, "Did he text me tonight?"

Duan Yiheng may be physically unable to move, but his mind is perfectly clear.

He mumbled a "hmm" in response.

"What did you send?" Lin Xi pressed his advantage.

"My phone." Duan Yiheng rubbed it against his body.

The black phone was half-exposed in his pants pocket. Lin Xi took it and turned on the screen.

Duan Yiheng's phone did not have any unlock password set.

Duan Yiheng then said, "The photo."

Lin Xi clicked into the photo album and opened the latest picture, which turned out to be fireworks at a wedding banquet.

"Why did you want to take this picture of me?" Lin Xi asked him. "Is it because I didn't see it on New Year's Eve?"

The knocking on the door interrupted Duan Yiheng's answer. Lin Xi turned around and knew that it must be Sister Mei coming up.

Lin Xi placed the phone next to his pillow and said, "You have to resend it to me tomorrow."

Lin Xi opened the door, and Sister Mei put down the hangover soup before helping Duan Yiheng.

"Sister Mei, let me help you."

"No need, no need," Sister Mei said with a smile. "It's getting late, you should go to sleep. I'll take care of things here with the young master."

"I..." Lin Xi hesitated for a moment, "I still can't sleep."

Sister Mei: "The room is all ready. You have to go to work tomorrow, don't you?"

Unable to find any more excuses, Lin Xi had no choice but to leave her room.

After everyone left, Sister Mei sighed deeply, "What a mess."

She really didn't know how Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng developed feelings for each other.

Lin Xi barely slept all night, and went to see Duan Yiheng early the next morning.

A hangover must be awful; I'm afraid he'll be late for work today.

Lin Xi left him a note and went to work.

As Lin Xi had expected, it was already ten o'clock, and Duan Yiheng still hadn't come to the office.

Just as she was about to go downstairs to the sales department, Zheng Jizhong suddenly barged up.

Lin Xi quickly stopped him: "Director Zheng, President Duan hasn't arrived yet. If you have something to say, please tell me first."

"Get out of the way." Zheng Jizhong gestured to Chen Jingyi, who was following him, to stop Lin Xi, and then barged into the president's office.

“Director Zheng, I told you that General Manager Duan is not here.” Lin Xi’s tone was firm. “If you dare to force your way in, I will have no choice but to take necessary measures.”

If she, as the secretary, allowed Zheng Jizhong to enter the office so brazenly, what authority would Duan Yiheng have left in the company?

While the group's leaders might verbally reprimand Zheng Jizhong, they would also privately doubt Duan Yiheng's ability to manage his subordinates.

Zheng Jizhong suddenly turned around at the door of Duan Yiheng's office, and said to Lin Xi with a cold smile:

"You think you're something special just because you're a lowly secretary? What can you do to me if I go in?"

Lin Xi broke free from Chen Liangyi's obstruction, calmed the anger simmering in her chest, and tried to sound as professional as possible:

"As a senior executive of the company, you should set an example. Forcing your way into the president's office is a violation of the company's rules and regulations. If the directors of other departments all acted like you, wouldn't the president's office become a marketplace?"

"Even if we take a step back, there are confidential documents in President Duan's office, and the cleaning staff also need to enter within the specified time. If anything is missing, neither of us can afford the consequences."

Zheng Jizhong's eyes were practically spitting fire. Duan Yiheng had tricked him, and he now had to see him.

"Get out of my way."

Lin Xi was prepared. She turned around and blocked the office doorway, not giving way at all: "If you don't listen to my advice, I will immediately notify security. You don't want everyone to know, do you?"

Zheng Jizhong glared fiercely at Lin Xi, then grabbed her arm and shoved her aside.

Lin Xi was no match for him. She fell to the ground along the smooth door panel, feeling a sharp pain in her waist and hips.

Just as she was about to notify security, the elevator doors slowly opened.

Duan Yiheng showed no signs of alcohol, was dressed in a black suit, and held a document in his hand.

When his gaze fell upon her, his eyes changed instantly, his expression like year-round snow, radiating a chilling cold.

His gaze swept over Zheng Jizhong and Chen Liangyi: "What's going on here?"