Lin Xi reached out to wrap her arms around Duan Yiheng's neck, her eyes suddenly stinging with emotion.
The most vivid memory fragment she held of her parents was set in a courtyard back when they lived in Rong County. The spring breeze was gentle, and she was being held high in the air. A man—whose face remained a blur in her memory—held her aloft and asked, "Are you Daddy's little princess?"
She remembered only that single line; she couldn't even recall how she had answered. Then, as if in a dream sequence, the scene shifted, and she found herself at the Duan residence. Another shift, and there was Duan Yiheng—six years her senior—miraculously holding her in his arms and telling her that she was *his* princess.
The elevator doors opened, and Duan Yiheng led Lin Xi inside. Noticing that she kept her head bowed, he asked, "Why so quiet?" Lin Xi simply shook her head.
Since there were surveillance cameras inside the elevator, Duan Yiheng did nothing more than tighten his grip on her hand. It wasn't until they reached the parking garage that he gently lifted Lin Xi's chin—only to discover that she was on the verge of tears. "What's wrong?" Duan Yiheng asked, gently brushing his fingers against the corner of her eye. "Tell me—what's brought on these sudden tears?" Lin Xi replied sheepishly:
"I'm not crying—I was just thinking about some things from my childhood. I remembered that my father used to hold me just like that and ask if I was his little princess." Duan Yiheng teased her playfully, "So, are you mistaking me for your dad now?" "What are you talking about?" Lin Xi's tears instantly dried up. "That's total nonsense!"
Duan Yiheng planted a tender kiss on the corner of her eye. "Off you go, then." Lin Xi got into her car, and it wasn't until she had driven out of the Tiandu Yuxi complex that the realization struck her: Duan Yiheng had walked her downstairs specifically because of the elevator malfunction the previous night. She smiled to herself, her heart swelling with a sense of warmth and tenderness.
Upon entering the company lobby, Lin Xi instinctively glanced toward the reception desk. Sun Wenxin gave her a knowing look and said, "Good morning, Secretary Lin." Lin Xi returned the greeting, "Good morning," then stepped into the elevator and checked her phone. Sure enough, she found a message waiting from Sun Wenxin:
*Mission accomplished. I relayed your instructions to Zhang Hanwen; after a moment of hesitation, he informed Chen Liangyi that the project involving Likang was officially underway.* Lin Xi exited the elevator and retrieved the preliminary requirements schedule for the Likang project from the filing cabinet.
She ran into Qin Yang near the elevator bank; after exchanging greetings, Lin Xi headed up to the Sales Department on the 17th floor. Running into her assistant, Lisa, Lin Xi offered a greeting: "Good morning. Has your director arrived yet?" Lisa stepped aside to let her pass first:
"She just got to the office. She asked me to brew her a cup of coffee; it looks like she pulled an all-nighter, so she might be in a bit of a bad mood." "Thanks for the heads-up." Lin Xi held up the documents in her hand. "I'll head in now."
She knocked on the door. Xu Yu called out, "Come in," and Lin Xi pushed the door open, smiling as she said, "Good morning, Director Xu." Xu Yu smiled back: "Wow, Secretary Lin, you're here so early—and my coffee hasn't even arrived yet."
"My apologies; President Duan isn't in today, so there are quite a few things I need to take care of," Lin Xi explained. Xu Yu invited her to sit; Lin Xi nodded and slid the documents across to Xu Yu:
"Regarding the requirements for the Likang project—which we discussed before the holiday break—President Duan asked me to come over and gather some data analysis on the project's specific needs. This is the survey form; we require your specific data feedback, Director Xu."
Xu Yu didn't try to dodge the task; she knew that within the company, Lin Xi served as President Duan Yiheng's proxy. She quickly scanned the documents and said, "I'll have someone handle this as soon as possible." Lin Xi offered a gentle smile:
"Since we're still in the preliminary stages of the project—and nothing is set in stone until the contract is signed—I noticed that Manager Chen is quite experienced and familiar with sales procedures. She used to work under Director Zheng in the Business Development Department, and her performance there was quite solid." Xu Yu paused in surprise: "Is that President Duan's suggestion?"
Lin Xi shook her head: "I may have overstepped my bounds; this is, after all, a matter for you to decide, Director Xu. Shall I take my leave now?" "Wait a moment." Xu Yu stood up to stop her. "Secretary Lin, you and Chen Liangyi have a history of bad blood—she even tried to trip you up during a previous project. Why are you speaking up for her now?"
"I'm hardly 'speaking up' for her," Lin Xi replied with a somewhat strained smile. "I'm simply looking out for the best interests of the company and President Duan. If I were to hold a personal grudge, it would only make things difficult for you, Director Xu." Xu Yu felt a sudden stir of realization: Chen Liangyi had been specifically appointed to the Sales Department by the Chairman himself.
It was true that she couldn't easily dismiss Chen Liangyi right now, but that didn't stop her from simply refusing to utilize her services. Regarding that previous project, she hadn't been oblivious to Chen Liangyi's petty schemes; she simply hadn't intervened—precisely because she wanted to find a pretext to gradually strip Chen Liangyi of her authority.
Only by doing so could the Sales Department become truly united in purpose, thereby generating even greater value for the company. Xu Yu had never known regret, yet in this moment, she felt a faint twinge of apology toward Lin Xi.
Just then, a knock sounded at Xu Yu's office door. Assuming it was Lisa returning, she called out for them to enter. Upon seeing that it was Chen Liangyi, Lin Xi's expression remained unchanged; she simply said, "In that case, I'll leave you two to talk. I'm off now." Chen Liangyi maintained a frosty demeanor throughout; only after Lin Xi had departed did Xu Yu speak:
"Manager Chen, your haughtiness truly seems to be directed at everyone." Given Lin Xi's status, even Xu Yu herself felt compelled to show her a certain degree of deference; yet Chen Liangyi remained utterly indifferent—she didn't even bother to put on a polite front. The stark contrast between the two made Xu Yu feel that Lin Xi was, in fact, the far more approachable person.
"I'm here to work and earn a living, not to fawn over people," Chen Liangyi retorted, fixing her gaze on Xu Yu. "Director Xu, I don't understand: regarding the company's collaborative project with Likang—why haven't I heard a single word about it?" Xu Yu frowned slightly:
"The division of labor for everyone in the Sales Department is my prerogative. You currently have other projects on your plate, so you need not concern yourself with the Likang project." "The two projects currently in my hands have already entered their final stages; I have both the energy and the capability—" "Manager Chen."
Xu Yu shot her a warning glance. "For the time being, I am still the one in charge of the Sales Department." Chen Liangyi turned on her heel and walked out, heading straight for the secretarial office. Lin Xi spotted her but showed not the slightest surprise. "What did you say to Director Xu?"
Chen Liangyi's hostility was palpable. "Why—for no apparent reason—is she refusing to let me join the project?" Lin Xi looked at her coolly. "How should I know? Though, I did exchange a few words with her." Chen Liangyi gave a cold sneer. "I knew it was you." Lin Xi smiled gently:
"I actually recommended you to her, but it seems she had her own considerations." Chen Liangyi was taken aback. "That's impossible." Lin Xi replied, "Why is it impossible? I was acting in the company's best interest—did you think I was just like you?" Chen Liangyi retorted:
"You certainly are enthusiastic. However, this is a matter for the Sales Department to handle internally. Every employee is like a nail—effective only when placed in the proper spot. Do you even understand how to make such arrangements?" Lin Xi shrugged. "Whether I understand or not is beside the point. If you really want to join that project team, I could always have a word with President Duan."
"No need." Chen Liangyi turned and walked away. Lin Xi withdrew her gaze, remaining completely unperturbed by Chen Liangyi's behavior. Upon returning to the Sales Department, Chen Liangyi called Zhang Hanwen aside. "Tell me—how did you find out about the Likang project?" Zhang Hanwen replied:
"I know one of the receptionists; she happens to be good friends with Lin Xi." Chen Liangyi nodded. "Make sure you stay on good terms with that young receptionist." Zhang Hanwen acknowledged with a simple, "Will do." The day flew by in an instant; it was only as Lin Xi was preparing to leave for the day that she received a call from Duan Yiheng:
"Secretary Lin, would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?" Lin Xi chuckled softly. "Where are you?" Duan Yiheng replied, "I'm at Tiandu Yuxi." Lin Xi retorted, "..."Aren't you being a little too presumptuous?" Duan Yiheng laughed. "Just hurry up and get off work; I haven't seen you all day."
Lin Xi agreed; after shutting down her computer, she grabbed her bag and—like a fluttering butterfly—floated out of the secretarial office.