Why did he like her? Duan Yiheng couldn't answer for a moment. There are two kinds of love: love at first sight and love that grows over time. Duan Yiheng felt that he and Lin Xi were neither.
They spent very little time together. Although they lived in the same villa as children, it was normal for them to go ten days or half a month without seeing each other. They were six years apart; when he graduated from junior high, she was still a chubby, immature elementary school student.
They met once a month at a family dinner, and their seats were always the furthest apart. She would look at him timidly, thinking she was hiding well, but he noticed her every time. Once, annoyed by his stares, he deliberately startled her when no one was around: "Little brat, why are you staring at me?"
Lin Xi didn't say a word, turned around, and ran away. Duan Yiheng twirled Lin Xi's long hair with his fingers, looking down at her. "Perhaps everything changed the year you went abroad to study." Lin Xi turned to the side, snuggling closer, and said,
"On New Year's Day, I went out with friends. After watching the fireworks, I went to see Mu Zhao and we talked about you." "Trying to get information out of you, huh?" Duan Yiheng brushed her nose with a strand of hair. "I thought I didn't know."
"..." Lin Xi suddenly sat up. "Didn't he promise me he wouldn't tell you?" Duan Yiheng put his arm around her shoulder, letting her lie back in his arms. "You believe him?" Lin Xi: "...Mu Zhao deceived my feelings." Hmm?
Duan Yiheng released the long hair he was holding, his fingers cupping her chin, making Lin Xi look at him: "Deceived your feelings?" Lin Xi raised her hand to block his approaching face, saying, "I'm talking about feelings, not love." Duan Yiheng pinched Lin Xi's waist:
"Whatever feelings, just deceive me." "Are you crazy?" Lin Xi laughed, pushing away his hands that were messing with her waist, "I didn't deceive your feelings." Duan Yiheng bumped her forehead, saying:
"You ask me specifically how I like you, I can't say, I only know that after working late into the night, listening to the bodyguard report on your situation abroad, I felt a subtle feeling, like I had a connection." This connection made him less cold.
"It was Aunt Wei who arranged my affairs abroad, why did you take it over?" Lin Xi asked, puzzled. Because they weren't really close back then, he always had a cold face, and Lin Xi was even afraid of him.
He dared not look him in the eye, nor dared he get close. If he returned for the New Year, and couldn't avoid greeting him in person, he would try his best to look him in the eye and say, "Happy New Year."
Duan Yiheng had been unhappy for many years. From "Happy Birthday" to "Happy New Year," it was only twice a year, and it seemed he was only truly happy twice. To say he was happy was an extroversion; his mood was simply noticeably better.
Lin Xi, of course, didn't know, but Qin Yang, who had worked by his side for many years, understood this deeply. Thinking of this, Duan Yiheng chuckled, "I understand, don't I?" When he went abroad to study, compared to his peers, the conditions were very difficult.
He thought it was a trial arranged by his grandfather and silently accepted everything. Until an accident, when he was injured, he learned that Duan Zheng and Chen Baiwei had left him to fend for himself abroad. After that, Uncle Deng, who worked for the old man, took over his affairs abroad.
Lin Xi understood immediately; she raised her hand and patted Duan Yiheng's chest. Duan Yiheng grasped her wrist, his gaze shifting slightly. "What are you doing?" Lin Xi glanced at him. "Comforting you." "Just like that?" Duan Yiheng's gaze drifted down to her lips. "Verbal?" Lin Xi: "...I didn't just pat you, this was physical comfort." Duan Yiheng leaned closer, his nose almost touching hers. "You mean that overly maternal gesture just now?"
"..." Lin Xi was speechless. "I never knew you could be so sharp-tongued." Duan Yiheng pressed closer, his breath hotter. "My mouth can be even sharper, want to try?"
Lin Xi was no match for him. A flicker of embarrassment crossed her eyes as she tried to resist him. "Why are you moving around like that?" Duan Yiheng grabbed her wrist. "Don't you know you're still injured?" Lin Xi: "..." Wouldn't that just make it easier for him to bully her?
She glared at him, then silently looked away. Duan Yiheng knew she had tacitly agreed, and smiled as he pressed his lips to hers. Lin Xi had shared many kisses with him, and she instinctively parted her lips slightly, their breaths mingling.
Every breath she took was swallowed whole by him, until Lin Xi was breathless. Taking advantage of her inability to move, Duan Yiheng loosened his hold on her, giving her a moment to breathe before returning the kiss.
Lin Xi had never known that kissing could cause oxygen deprivation. She leaned against Duan Yiheng's chest for a long time, her eyes reddening. Duan Yiheng couldn't get enough of holding and kissing her, and he pecked at the corner of her eye, forcing Lin Xi to wink.
"Stop it," Lin Xi dodged his kiss. "When are we going back?" Duan Yiheng said, "I'll take you to the hospital tomorrow for a full checkup to see about your arm injury. If everything's okay, we'll go back the day after tomorrow." Lin Xi sighed:
"I was supposed to stay at the farm for three days, what a pity." "It's nothing to regret." Duan Yiheng ruffled her hair. "It's not like we won't have another chance."
It probably wouldn't be easy. We're in the south and the north, and although transportation is convenient, people probably wouldn't come here specifically for work. Thinking this, Lin Xi still hummed in agreement with Duan Yiheng.
Duan Yiheng placed a kiss on her forehead, his voice carried on the gentle southern night breeze, whispering in Lin Xi's ear: "Then let's go to bed early tonight?" Lin Xi sensed a hint of ambiguity and shook her arm. "What should I do if I want to take a shower?" Duan Yiheng frowned instinctively:
"Let's not shower, to avoid getting wet." Lin Xi frowned as well, but it was a look of disapproval. Seeing this, Duan Yiheng whispered in her ear, "If you really want to, I'll help you." Lin Xi was embarrassed, but Duan Yiheng would never let her go into the bathroom alone.
The night's passion left her feeling unwell, even though Duan Yiheng had wiped her down. After much hesitation, she nodded, her face flushed. Duan Yiheng got out of bed, carried her into the bathroom, and placed her on the sink, saying, "Don't move, I'll get you some pajamas."
Lin Xi responded like a quail. When Duan Yiheng returned to the bathroom, she didn't dare lift her head. The bathroom was filled with steam; a three-hour shower had left Lin Xi feeling wrinkled. When Duan Yiheng asked if she wanted to sleep, she answered with her eyes closed,
"Sleep." Duan Yiheng turned and rinsed himself off, returned to the bedroom, and pulled Lin Xi into his arms. She slept soundly through the night. Knowing he needed to take Lin Xi to the hospital today, Duan Yiheng woke her up at seven.
The aphrodisiac would wear off once it metabolized, but the wound on her arm was far more alarming. Airlines have health requirements for passengers, and cabin pressure could affect the wound.
However, the high-speed train would take six or seven hours, so Duan Yiheng immediately rejected that option. Because of Lin Xi's injury, they stayed for three more days. Three days later, at 3 PM, Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng landed in City B.