In a moment of impulsiveness, acting rashly, Lin Xi acted faster than she thought, grabbing Duan Yiheng in front of the heavy wooden door. "Don't be impulsive," Duan Yiheng said through gritted teeth, his grip on the doorknob tightening.
"He wants to use public opinion to force you to submit, I will never let him have his way." He had always been calm and reserved, rarely acting impulsively. But seeing the news of Lin Xi and Duan Mingxuan's marriage had instantly ignited a fire of anger within him, extinguishing his composure.
"Arguing back is pointless," Lin Xi said, pulling him back while holding him tightly around the waist. "Calm down first, only when you're calm can you handle this." Duan Yiheng's tense body relaxed for a moment, and Lin Xi released her grip on his waist. "I'll make a call."
Lin Xi said, "Come and listen if you want." Duan Yiheng's furrowed brows relaxed, and he followed her. But halfway there, his own phone rang. Duan Yiheng glanced at it, saw it was Uncle Deng, and immediately answered.
Visibly, in an instant, Duan Yiheng's face darkened like a sudden change in the weather in June. "What's wrong?" Lin Xi asked. "Grandpa's been rushed to the hospital," Duan Yiheng said, grabbing Lin Xi's wrist and pulling her outside. "We're going to Jinglin now."
Lin Xi was startled, as if struck by lightning. Four years ago, the old man had been rushed to the hospital after a sudden coma. Lin Xi had waited outside the operating room, praying again and again. Would her prayers be heard this time? "Hurry!"
Out of the elevator, Lin Xi ran. She tripped over her own foot and nearly fell, but Duan Yiheng caught her by the waist. The receptionists, seeing their hurried movements, rushed forward to ask what was wrong, but Lin Xi, glancing at them out of the corner of her eye, waved them off.
In the car, the driver, taken aback by Duan Yiheng's serious tone, was secretly alarmed upon hearing that the old man had been rushed to the hospital. Upon arriving at Jinglin and going up to the emergency ward, Duan Yiheng spotted Duan Zheng's family, Uncle Deng, and four bodyguards from afar.
Duan Zheng looked annoyed; clearly, the old man's hospitalization was related to him. Uncle Deng saw Duan Yiheng and quickly came over to explain the situation.
Just as he suspected, Duan Zheng had a heated argument with the old man because he had unilaterally announced Duan Mingxuan and Lin Xi's marriage. Besides the argument four years ago, the old man had also undergone heart surgery years earlier. Duan Yiheng whispered in Uncle Deng's ear:
"After Grandpa is out of danger, no one is allowed to visit except for me and Lin Xi, to avoid further agitation." Uncle Deng also had some resentment towards Duan Zheng; if it weren't for him, the old man wouldn't have been brought in for emergency treatment. Knowing the old man's health was failing, he still came to provoke him.
A dutiful son in words, but in deeds, he was no match for the young master. The affair between the young master and young lady was exposed in front of the old gentleman, yet the young master didn't dare utter a single word to provoke him. "Understood," Duan Yiheng said.
"Call two more bodyguards. I'll handle the rest," Uncle Deng nodded. Their interaction continued silently. Chen Baiwei gave Uncle Deng a sarcastic look: "The old man is still being treated, and you're already eager to curry favor?"
Uncle Deng held his breath, his brows furrowing even deeper. Duan Zheng subtly frowned and pulled Chen Baiwei back slightly. This stupid woman—Uncle Deng had been with the Duan family longer than her, serving as the old man's assistant his entire life. Not just anyone could be so sarcastic.
To put it bluntly, if anything happened to the old man, Uncle Deng would be his mouthpiece. Chen Baiwei wasn't unaware of this; she just couldn't stand it. "You have no right to speak here," Duan Yiheng retorted without hesitation.
Chen Baiwei was startled by his sharp, cold gaze and unconsciously took a half step back. "Duan Yiheng, what did my mother do to you?" Duan Mingxuan put his arm around Chen Baiwei's shoulder and pulled her back slightly.
"Mingxuan," Duan Zheng interrupted, "Your grandfather is still in critical condition, don't be disrespectful." Duan Mingxuan snorted and turned to comfort Lin Xi: "Xiao Xi, don't... *slap*..." The corridor fell silent for a moment. Chen Baiwei belatedly cried out:
"Lin Xi, you hit him again, how dare you?" Duan Yiheng beckoned to one of the bodyguards, signaling him to stop Chen Baiwei. Chen Baiwei pinched Duan Zheng: "Your son was hit, what are you still doing standing here?"
Duan Zheng shook off her hand, his gaze darkening. Lin Xi must be angry with Mingxuan because of the news spread by those media outlets. How could an elder get into a fight with a junior in the hospital corridor? It was too unsightly.
Duan Mingxuan was stunned by Lin Xi's slap. He turned his head, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Xiao Xi." Lin Xi looked at him coldly, and in a flash, Duan Mingxuan saw the shadow of Duan Yiheng in her face. "Grandpa is lying inside, whose fault is it?"
"Don't act innocent, Duan Mingxuan, you are truly despicable, shameless." "You know perfectly well how those news reports were released."
"I will never compromise with your despicable media tactics. Listen to this, I will never marry you, even if I die." Lin Xi's words struck Duan Mingxuan's heart like a knife.
Hearing the word "die," Duan Yiheng unconsciously frowned. They were still in the hospital, yet he spoke so recklessly. The color seemed to freeze on Duan Mingxuan's face: "I..." Lin Xi was utterly disappointed. She had only been momentarily surprised by whether he knew about this, but he had panicked to this extent.
"Duan Mingxuan, you really have always… always only liked yourself." Lin Xi laughed mockingly. "You forced me to want to fight back, forced me to disregard the kindness of your adoption, forced me to admit your hypocrisy…" "Xiao Xi." Duan Mingxuan was startled. "Don't do this."
Lin Xi took a step back, stopping him from getting closer. Duan Mingxuan tried to step forward again, but Duan Yiheng pushed him away with a slap. "Get the hell out of my way!" Duan Mingxuan clenched his fist to strike, but another bodyguard gripped his wrist tightly.
Duan Mingxuan couldn't break free and tried to step forward again, but Duan Zheng grabbed his collar and pulled him back. Chen Baiwei nudged Duan Zheng; at this moment, Duan Zheng dared not provoke Duan Yiheng. The old man had survived the danger, so everything was alright. If something had really happened, he would probably be finished too.
Duan Yiheng pulled Lin Xi to stand against the wall and gently patted her back. Lin Xi's eyes were red and swollen, tears streaming down her face. She turned and looked up at Duan Yiheng, "Grandpa, he'll be alright, won't he?" "Don't worry."
Duan Yiheng's palm supported her lower back, trying to give her some strength. "The doctors here know about Grandpa's condition; he'll definitely be fine." Lin Xi gave a tearful "Mmm."
Duan Yiheng took a half-step forward. From Duan Mingxuan's perspective, it looked like Duan Yiheng was embracing Lin Xi. Duan Mingxuan's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. Once, only he, Duan Mingxuan, had stood beside Lin Xi. Duan Yiheng couldn't even reach a shred of her clothing.
Things had come to this point; was there any point in turning back? Whether Lin Xi liked him or not didn't matter, as long as she was his. Time dragged on relentlessly. Lin Xi's legs went numb from standing. Finally, the operating room door opened.