Duan Mingxuan was slovenly, his clothes sloppy, the smooth collar of his shirt revealing most of his chest as he walked.
Sister Mei couldn't bear to look: "My dear second young master, at least consider us!"
Duan Mingxuan laughed heartily: "Sister Mei, am I not in good shape?"
"Fine," Sister Mei said helplessly. Duan Mingxuan stepped forward, put his arm around Lin Xi's shoulder, and asked casually, "Whose birthday is it?"
Lin Xi had feelings for him and couldn't get used to such close contact. She bent down to escape from Duan Mingxuan's arm, complaining that he was too heavy.
Duan Mingxuan looked down at her expression, cautiously asking, "Are you still angry? You've been avoiding me for days."
"No," Lin Xi wouldn't let him see, "It was just a joke, I won't take it to heart."
Duan Mingxuan walked upstairs beside her, almost pushing her against the railing.
"Duan Mingxuan," Lin Xi glared at him, "Can't you walk properly?" Duan Mingxuan said aggrievedly, "You haven't answered my question yet."
Lin Xi: "…Nobody's having a birthday party. Can't I eat cake?"
"Sure," Duan Mingxuan said indulgently, "Share a piece with me when you're eating."
Lin Xi: "I can't share. I had Sister Mei make a mini cake; I can show it off in one bite." Duan Mingxuan chuckled, pinching her cheeks: "Let me see how big your mouth is."
He didn't hold back, and Lin Xi winced in pain, tears welling up in her eyes.
Duan Mingxuan suddenly let go, scratching his head awkwardly. Lin Xi glared at him, turned, and went upstairs. Duan Mingxuan didn't follow, but then, as if remembering something, he turned and went downstairs.
Sister Mei was in the kitchen. He went straight over and asked, "Sister Mei, whose birthday is it?"
Sister Mei sighed inwardly, lamenting the discord between the two brothers; they didn't even know each other's birthdays.
"Nobody," Duan Mingxuan said. "Don't lie to me. Xiaoxi isn't greedy and doesn't like to trouble others. Besides, I heard her say she wanted it Saturday night."
"Second Young Master, this isn't a place for you," Sister Mei turned and shooed him out. "If you really want to know, ask the Master."
"My dad?" Pushed out of the kitchen, Duan Mingxuan immediately called Duan Zheng, who was still out socializing.
The man on the other end, slightly tipsy, gave a perfunctory reply: "I don't know." Duan Mingxuan thought for a moment and then called Chen Baiwei, unsure if she had even gotten off the plane.
To his surprise, she answered.
"Mom," Duan Mingxuan called out, "Do you know whose birthday it is this Saturday?"
Chen Baiwei thought for a moment: "Nobody's having a birthday."
Duan Mingxuan said "Oh." It seemed Xiaoxi really wanted cake, but why Saturday night?
"Wait a minute," Chen Baiwei suddenly said. Duan Mingxuan was startled, but didn't hang up. He heard Chen Baiwei's uncertain voice on the other end: "It seems to be your older brother's birthday."
"Are you sure?" Duan Mingxuan was momentarily incredulous.
Chen Baiwei glanced at her phone and said, "October 23rd, no mistake."
When she first came to the Duan family, she wanted to curry favor with Duan Yiheng, so naturally she remembered his birthday. Even if Duan Yiheng didn't appreciate it, she would still put on a show for the old man. Until Duan Yiheng grew up, she no longer needed to prepare.
These past few years, their relationship had drifted apart, and she had almost forgotten the date. Duan Mingxuan hung up the phone and started heading upstairs, but stopped at Lin Xi's door. Lately, he and Lin Xi had been arguing a lot because of Duan Yiheng.
Duan Mingxuan knew he had a bad temper and a stubborn personality; sometimes, his words could make Lin Xi burst into tears. He didn't want to argue with Lin Xi anymore, so he held back. Besides, it was getting late; he'd deal with it tomorrow.
Duan Mingxuan set an alarm. He'd been staying in a hotel for the past few days and didn't know if Lin Xi was still leaving early and returning late. Lin Xi wasn't actually asleep yet; she was working on her laptop, meticulously analyzing the project materials Duan Yiheng had given her.
She wasn't in a hurry. Currently, her role was secretary; she only needed to familiarize herself with the project's workflow from initiation to delivery to facilitate coordination.
After midnight, Lin Xi quickly packed up her laptop, took a shower, and fell asleep almost immediately.
She woke up at eight the next morning, having slept for eight hours. Lin Xi dressed and was about to go downstairs when Sister Mei blocked the doorway and winked at her: "Madam is back."
Lin Xi immediately stuffed the project materials into her bag, took out her phone, and told Duan Yiheng she wouldn't be going to the west side for breakfast. She thought she'd see Chen Baiwei downstairs, but instead, Duan Mingxuan was sitting in the living room with dark circles under his eyes.
Lin Xi was startled again: "What are you doing sitting here?" Duan Mingxuan gestured for her to sit down: "Why are you so timid?"
Lin Xi didn't sit down, but took two steps forward. Duan Mingxuan stared at her, and when Lin Xi felt uneasy under his gaze, he suddenly asked, "Is Saturday my older brother's birthday?"
Lin Xi felt inexplicably nervous, but since he asked, she nodded in acknowledgment.
"You even had Sister Mei make you a separate cake? Are you going to celebrate his birthday?" Lin Xi frowned. "You're waiting here this morning to question me over something so trivial?"
Duan Mingxuan frowned as well. "Why can't you just answer my question directly? You always dodge the question."
"Since I'm dodging the question, it means I don't want to talk about it."
Lin Xi retorted, "Is this little thing worth arguing about?"
Duan Mingxuan's gaze turned cold, his tone sarcastic. "Who helped you clean up the cake he threw away?"
Lin Xi avoided his piercing gaze and said, "Mingxuan, that happened when we were kids. How can you still remember that now that you're so grown up?"
Lin Xi felt it was completely pointless. Besides, she and he were different. Her surname was Lin, and she was fostered in the Duan family. She couldn't just casually be at odds with Duan Yiheng like Duan Mingxuan did.
She had to consider everyone in the family, even the servants; she didn't dare trouble them too much. She had to thank them several times for anything. Because this wasn't her home. Duan Mingxuan never understood that she had no right to be capricious in this family.
"I'm just that petty," Duan Mingxuan suddenly raised his voice, "I don't want you to go to his birthday party."
He practically gritted his teeth as he said it. Lin Xi didn't want to ask "why"; she just felt he was being unreasonable.
She turned to leave, but Duan Mingxuan grabbed her arm from behind. Lin Xi immediately struggled, but couldn't shake him off, and angrily called his name. Hearing the commotion, Sister Mei rushed out to stop them, but seeing Chen Baiwei standing on the stairs, she stopped.
Chen Baiwei glanced at Sister Mei and spoke up, "What are you two doing so early in the morning?" The air froze, and Lin Xi took the opportunity to shake off Duan Mingxuan.
Chen Baiwei told Sister Mei to go ahead with her work. After she left, she walked up to Lin Xi and said in a cold tone, "You're something else. If I don't want you to go, then don't go. Always trying to be nice to someone who doesn't appreciate it. Don't be so pathetic. I raised you, you should be on Mingxuan's side."
Upon hearing Chen Baiwei's words, Duan Mingxuan immediately frowned and stopped her, "Mom, can't you speak a little nicer?"
"Nonsense, I don't understand nice things," Lin Xi said, biting her lower lip and looking down. "Aunt Wei, I have something to do, I'll go out now."
"Xiao Xi." Duan Mingxuan was about to chase after her, but Chen Baiwei stopped him.
"Mom, can't you be nicer to Xiao Xi?" Duan Mingxuan was in a bad mood and lashed out at his mother again. Chen Baiwei pretended to be heartbroken and scolded him for being ungrateful.
Lin Xi didn't eat her meal and went straight to the west building. Duan Yiheng came out of the house. The driver pointed to the car and whispered, "It seems like Miss Duan is crying."
Duan Yiheng stood there for a few seconds, then had the driver go back and get a breakfast. He walked around to the other side, opened the car door, and got in.