Because of her drunkenness, Lin Xi walked slowly. The two had just reached the bottom of the stairs when Duan Mingxuan caught up with them.
"Xiao Xi!" Lin Xi frowned uncomfortably, murmuring "Duan Mingxuan."
Duan Yiheng heard the commotion and stopped with Lin Xi. Duan Mingxuan ignored Zhang Mo, who was holding him, and reached out to pull Lin Xi away, but Duan Yiheng blocked him with one hand: "She's drunk."
Duan Mingxuan hated Duan Yiheng's arrogant and condescending attitude. He raised an eyebrow defiantly: "I'll take her home."
Zhang Mo cautiously advised, "Mingxuan, you've been drinking."
Except for Liang Yutong, no one brought a driver; they had agreed to stay out all night. "I'll have the driver come over now."
Duan Mingxuan took out his phone, knowing he couldn't let Duan Yiheng take Lin Xi away. He didn't even want to think about his dirty thoughts.
Lin Xi, her eyes half-closed, swayed and instinctively grabbed the "pillar" beside her.
"It hurts." Lin Xi rubbed against the cool, smooth fabric. Duan Yiheng stiffened slightly, looking down at the fluffy head resting against his chest. Truly, drunkards are ignorant and fearless.
"Little Xi," Duan Mingxuan's voice rose, stepping forward to coax, "How about your second brother takes you home?" Duan Yiheng remained silent.
Lin Xi smelled the alcohol, frowned in resistance, and leaned back against Duan Yiheng.
The cool, slightly warm scent of incense lingered in her nostrils, making her feel incredibly safe. Duan Mingxuan patiently asked again, and Lin Xi murmured, "No, Duan Mingxuan."
Her voice was soft, with a hint of a sob.
Duan Mingxuan froze. This was the first time Lin Xi had said she didn't want him. Duan Mingxuan decided to force himself on her. Duan Yiheng understood his meaning. He held Lin Xi tightly with one arm, and easily blocked Duan Mingxuan with the other.
"You fucking get out of my way!" Duan Mingxuan acted like a spoiled child. Seeing Duan Yiheng's face darken, everyone's hearts skipped a beat and they took a half-step back.
Duan Mingxuan: "Give me Xiao Xi, or don't blame me for being impolite."
Duan Yiheng, expressionless, said to him, "Come here." Duan Mingxuan froze, his feet stiffening. But with so many people around, not going would make him seem afraid.
Duan Mingxuan snorted coldly and walked over.
Before everyone could react, Duan Yiheng, like a dangerous and powerful wolf, finally enraged, his arm muscles tensed instantly, revealing a dangerous explosive force, and he precisely grabbed Duan Mingxuan's collar.
"Bang—" Duan Mingxuan was slammed against the car body, his back hitting the cold metal frame, making the car tremble.
Duan Yiheng's eyes were cold and oppressive. In the tense standoff, he crushed Duan Mingxuan's pride: "Tell me, why are you being so rude to me?" Duan Mingxuan's eyes blazed with anger, about to shout, when Duan Yiheng pressed his hand firmly against his throat.
Duan Mingxuan, panting heavily, glared at him fiercely. Lin Xi's body went limp, and he could no longer stand.
Duan Yiheng released Duan Mingxuan like trash, bending down to pick up Lin Xi horizontally.
"Duan Yiheng," Duan Mingxuan tried to stop him, but was stopped by the driver. Duan Yiheng carefully placed Lin Xi on the back seat, with a completely different force than he had used on Duan Mingxuan.
He didn't even glance at Duan Mingxuan, walking around to the back of the car and getting onto the other side.
Duan Mingxuan, supported by Yu Lang and the others, had a dark look in his eyes. Lin Xi, completely unaware of the chaotic scene that had just unfolded, was fast asleep in the spacious seat. Duan Yiheng personally adjusted her seat back, no longer facing Duan Mingxuan's coldness.
He shed all his cold and sharp edges, revealing a gentle, flowing tenderness in the fully partitioned car. Duan Yiheng glanced sideways; Lin Xi had been drinking, her snow-white skin flushed red, like a quiet and innocent animal cub.
His gaze shifted downwards; her lips were slightly parted, each breath carrying the sweet scent of alcohol. Duan Yiheng paused, then took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. He then called Sister Mei, asking her to make a hangover soup. The Maybach entered through the side door of the villa without disturbing anyone.
Lin Xi's room was on the second floor on the east side. Duan Yiheng didn't need the driver's help, carrying Lin Xi upstairs. Sister Mei brought in a bowl of hangover soup and casually asked, "How did you get so drunk?" Duan Yiheng replied, "I'll feed her."
Sister Mei dodged his hand and said, "You hold her, I'll feed her." Duan Yiheng lifted Lin Xi by the back of her neck and sat down on the edge of the bed, letting her lean against his chest. Sister Mei scooped a spoonful of hangover soup and held it to her lips, gently coaxing, "Be good, drink the soup."
Lin Xi kept her mouth shut and tried to avoid it, but her lips brushed against the spoon, spilling the soup all over Duan Yiheng's suit.
"Oh dear," Sister Mei exclaimed, "What are we going to do?"
"It's just a suit," Duan Yiheng said, "I'll hold her mouth closed, you keep feeding her."
Sister Mei chuckled, "What if she chokes? Should we wait a little longer? It's easier to feed her when she's drunk; as long as she's conscious, you can get it down."
Duan Yiheng was worried about her headache the next day and insisted several more times, but Lin Xi wouldn't open her mouth.
Duan Yiheng pinched her cheek, saw her mouth agape like a goldfish, chuckled, and gave up helplessly. Oh well, what if she really choked?
He looked up at Sister Mei and said, "You can go out now. Keep a close eye on her tonight. If she wakes up in the middle of the night, make sure she drinks some hangover soup."
"Okay," Sister Mei said, "Take off your suit, it's all dirty."
Duan Yiheng: "It's alright, you can go out now." After Sister Mei left, he carefully put Lin Xi down and placed a pillow behind her head.
Her long hair was disheveled, falling across her forehead and nose. He gently brushed it aside and looked at her quietly for a while.
"You've dirtied her suit, do you want me to pay for it?" He chuckled softly, covered her with the blanket, and turned to leave her room.
Back in the west wing, Duan Yiheng made a call to his assistant. Since she's unlucky in love, let her be lucky in her career.
"Assistant Qin, tidy up the unused office next to mine, equip it to secretary standards, and make sure everything is ready."
Assistant Qin was startled, not understanding what he meant, but quickly said, "Okay."
"Also, inform all departments that I will have a secretary in my office from now on. You will be responsible for transferring inter-departmental communication to her." Assistant Qin was overjoyed. Wouldn't this save her a lot of trouble?
President Duan had finally come to his senses; he didn't need to rely on him alone.
Assistant Qin: "President Duan, when will she start?" Duan Yiheng was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't know yet. I'll talk to her tomorrow."
Assistant Qin was shocked. All these instructions in the middle of the night? So she hasn't agreed yet? The "she" in Assistant Qin's mind woke up two or three times during the night, drinking soup and taking a bath. Even when the sun was high in the sky, she still couldn't figure out how she got home.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Lin Xi got out of bed to open the door. Outside the door, Duan Yiheng, dressed impeccably in a shirt and trousers, looked impeccably groomed, clearly heading to work. Lin Xi blinked, puzzled.
Duan Yiheng said, "Yinfan has a strict personnel system and won't make exceptions for anyone. Currently, only the position of CEO's secretary is vacant. Think it over and come find me at Yinfan."
Lin Xi stared blankly at Duan Yiheng's retreating figure, pondering the position of CEO's secretary.
She suddenly paused. So, if she went to Yinfan, she could only be Duan Yiheng's secretary? For Lin Xi, who was afraid of him, this was a difficult situation. But Duan Yiheng had already conceded. To go? Or not to go? Lin Xi fell into deep thought.