Duan Yiheng had thrown a tantrum, and Lin Xiaoying's people dared not let their guard down again.
The rest of the shoot went smoothly without a single wasted word, finally wrapping up at 3 PM. Lin Xiaoying looked around and said, "I wonder where Secretary Lin is. I'd like to talk to her about post-production." Duan Yiheng said, "Contact her later; she's not feeling well."
Lin Xiaoying nodded: "Okay, we'll review and proofread the interview content multiple times. We'll also provide you with a final draft before the official printing. Thank you for your cooperation today; we'll be leaving now." Duan Yiheng nodded slightly and had the butler see them off. Lin Xi was secretly relaxing in the room prepared for her when Duan Yiheng knocked on the door: "What do you want to eat tonight?" Lin Xi opened the door and said, "Anything is fine. Are we really not going back tonight?" Duan Yiheng smiled:
"The house is probably going to be in chaos tonight. It's better to hide away for some peace and quiet." Lin Xi immediately understood: "You told Aunt Wei about Uncle Duan and Secretary Ke?" Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement:
"Don't block the door. Let me in. The issues we discussed in the tea room were delayed by the filming, and we didn't get to discuss them thoroughly." Lin Xi stepped aside to let him in. The two sat down, and Lin Xi asked him, "What did you want to say?" Duan Yiheng looked at her: "Naturally, I was talking about us."
Lin Xi softened at his stubborn affection and followed his lead, asking, "You want to ask for a future? But will we have a future?" Duan Yiheng reached out his hand to her, and Lin Xi hesitated before placing her hand in his palm. Duan Yiheng gently enveloped her hand with his fingers, saying, "Of course I will. I will create all possibilities between us." Lin Xi was genuinely moved. She lowered her eyes slightly: "Then let's wait until everything settles down. If we're together regardless of everything, the pain and effort of being forced apart before will be meaningless. The scene at the board meeting that day is still vivid in my mind; I don't want to go through it again." Duan Yiheng understood that she needed absolute security to ensure that their relationship wouldn't be controlled or influenced by any external factors. He gently stroked Lin Xi's hand with his fingertips and said, "I won't let you go through that again. I haven't told you, but my maternal grandmother owns 5% of Yin Fan's shares. When our combined shares exceed half, the equity will be concentrated, and then they'll realize that our union is the guarantee of Yin Fan's stability. The only potential conflict is that they'll worry about our relationship, and that personal conflicts might affect the company." Lin Xi was taken aback: "What do you mean?" Duan Yiheng smiled: "Everyone in this world is bound by interests. I couldn't find a way out for us until I went to my maternal grandmother's place." "I plan to legally transfer her share to you. I don't know yet whether Grandpa's shares have been fully transferred, but that doesn't matter. Once the heir is determined, the heir can inherit most of his shares." Lin Xi was shocked: "How can I accept—" "A betrothal gift." Duan Yiheng suddenly chuckled ambiguously, "It was left to me by my mother." Lin Xi's face flushed. They were only at this stage, and he was already talking about a betrothal gift. She understood Duan Yiheng's meaning. Shareholders were only concerned with the group's stability and interests. Her grandfather didn't have absolute control; his shares were around 35%.
Even if Duan Yiheng inherited all of them, he wouldn't achieve absolute control. However, if he added her and her grandmother's shares, and then bound them together through marriage, she and Duan Yiheng would be the absolute power holders of the group. This way, shareholding would be concentrated, interests balanced, and the shareholders wouldn't be able to object.
The premise was that Duan Yiheng could actually obtain his grandfather's shares. Lin Xi withdrew her hand, admitting she was indeed tempted. "It's best to keep things secret," she said, looking at Duan Yiheng. "I don't know how far we'll ultimately go, but the only thing I can do now is do nothing."
Duan Yiheng understood her meaning. The old man's test wasn't over yet; there would be changes both internally and externally. He and Lin Xi shouldn't be too intimate, lest they be given another handle to use against them, which would then be magnified in public.
The two exchanged a knowing glance. Duan Yiheng moved closer to her, his gaze becoming increasingly aggressive. Lin Xi held her breath, instinctively retreating behind the sofa. It was her intuition.
"Once we leave this manor, we have to act like strangers, Lin Xi. Want a little something sweet?" Duan Yiheng deliberately lowered his voice and tone.
Lin Xi blushed shamelessly. The simple name he spoke sounded different from how everyone else called her. He usually spoke crisply and decisively, but when he called her name, he would draw out the last syllable, carrying a gentle, tender meaning.
She knew what Duan Yiheng meant, but unable to resist her shyness, she didn't dare make a move. "Lin Xi?" Unable to withstand his burning, ambiguous gaze, Lin Xi raised her hand to touch his chest:
"Stop it. Get up. I'm going downstairs for dinner. Didn't you just ask me what I wanted to eat? I've thought of something. I'll go tell the housekeeper now." Duan Yiheng chuckled meaningfully, then suddenly stretched out his long fingers and started playing with her waist. Help!
Lin Xi collapsed onto the sofa, her whole body resisting the agonizing itch. Her pleading was broken and weak, her voice faltering as she tried to stop him.
Duan Yiheng rolled over and pressed down on her, grasping her wrist and lowering his head to lightly kiss the tip of her nose, a fleeting, fleeting kiss. A layer of tears welled in Lin Xi's eyes; she instinctively clenched her fists, unable to control the rapid beating of her heart.
When their eyes met, Duan Yiheng leaned down and kissed her, his lips pressed gently against hers. Lin Xi closed her eyes briefly, her mouth slightly parted, like opening a city gate. The instant her lips were fully captured in the kiss, her heart went on a rollercoaster ride, then plummeted from its peak.
Her heart was in turmoil; she couldn't resist Duan Yiheng's tender love. As dusk approached, Lin Xi pushed Duan Yiheng away and sat up, her peripheral vision taking in the view outside the window. The sky, tinged with a blush, mirrored the color of her own face.
Duan Yiheng was in high spirits, lounging on the sofa as he and Lin Xi quietly admired the twilight framed by the floor-to-ceiling windows. After spending the night at the manor, Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng went to the South District the next morning.
The ginkgo tree had been saved. Lin Xi touched it, feeling a pang of emotion; the tree's journey of illness mirrored their precarious love. After lunch, they returned to the city.
On Monday, Lin Xi received a call from Lin Xiaoying. She reviewed the manuscript and offered suggestions for revision, which Lin Xiaoying readily accepted.
On Tuesday, Lin Xi received another call from Lin Xiaoying. She took the time to discuss all the details before publication. Both were efficient workers. Before her business trip, Lin Xi had Duan Yiheng review the manuscript, confirming it was correct before informing Lin Xiaoying.
On Wednesday morning, Duan Yiheng, along with the two of them and Lin Xi's luggage, boarded a plane to S City.