Lin Xi sensed the grievance in Duan Yiheng's tone and whispered, "I'm sorry."
"I don't want to apologize." Duan Yiheng sat up slightly in his chair. Lin Xi instinctively blurted out, "Then what do you want?" Duan Yiheng turned his gaze and asked, "What's New Year's Eve this year?" Lin Xi was confused: "The 28th."
Duan Yiheng stroked his cup and said, "The 27th is your birthday. That night, reserve it for me." Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat: "What are you going to do?" "I'll take you to the manor in North District No. 1..." Duan Yiheng stood up and moved closer to her, his voice low and gentle, "Horseback riding."
"I—" "Don't even think about refusing. You can bite pretty hard." Duan Yiheng wouldn't let her refuse. "Remember, that night can only be mine." Lin Xi nodded under the gaze of his dark eyes.
Even after Duan Yiheng left the meeting room, her heart was still pounding. Fortunately, her birthday was still a month away, but Christmas was just around the corner. Christmas was just another ordinary day, and Yinfan Technology had prepared Chinese-style Christmas trees in all the cafeterias for employees to participate in a raffle.
The raffle was only open on that day, and the time was set for 6 PM. This was actually a huge undertaking, requiring employees to be directed to the cafeterias. However, not everyone could participate. All company leaders, regardless of rank, were prohibited from participating.
Lin Xi wasn't exactly a leader, but as Duan Yiheng's secretary, she was different from ordinary employees. She could only subtly inquire with Qin Yang. Having learned his lesson last time, Qin Yang naturally reported to Duan Yiheng first, as it concerned Lin Xi.
While Lin Xi was waiting for Qin Yang's reply, the internal line to the president's office rang. Lin Xi answered the phone, Duan Yiheng's soft chuckle lingering in her ear: "Going to the raffle?" Lin Xi: "...Did Assistant Qin tell you?"
Duan Yiheng wasn't about to betray Qin Yang, saying, "I was right next to you when you called him." Lin Xi: "...Can't I participate?" "Yes."
Duan Yiheng chuckled again, "Go ahead, and don't forget to tell me after you're done. I want to see your luck too." Lin Xi agreed, hung up, and went downstairs to find Sun Wenxin.
With them were another receptionist. When they went to the cafeteria, it wasn't as crowded as she'd imagined. Some people like to join in the fun, some don't.
It was just a small event; the event notice clearly stated that the gifts were all small items under 1000 yuan, just for fun. Compared to the annual party, this kind of small event was insignificant. Lin Xi, being a first-time worker, actively participated and found it quite interesting.
Sun Wenxin drew nothing after a long time, while another receptionist drew "One Day Off." Lin Xi watched with amusement. When it was her turn, she casually pulled a slip of paper from the box; it read "30." The administrative staff member in charge of the draw stared in surprise:
"Secretary Lin, what kind of luck do you have?" Lin Xi looked bewildered: "What's wrong?" The staff member handed her a calligraphy scroll: "A thousand miles of tung blossoms along the Dan Mountain road, the young phoenix's cry is clearer than the old phoenix's. This is a gift from President Duan."
Sun Wenxin and her colleague exchanged glances and burst into screams. "Lin Xi, what kind of luck do you have?" Lin Xi was stunned for a moment, then asked the administrative staff member: "What is President Duan's prize?" "The latest model phone with the largest memory. Only President Duan's gifts have no limit."
"So unoriginal," Lin Xi thought to herself. She smiled at the administrative staff and said, "I'm just here for the fun. I don't need the phone. As Mr. Duan's secretary, if I win something from his draw, people will think it's rigged. How about this, I'll take the calligraphy with me, and you can leave the prize for someone else to draw?" "Um... let me ask for you?" Lin Xi said.
"Okay." The person asked their supervisor, who then asked Duan Yiheng, who naturally agreed. He seemed to approve of Lin Xi's approach. Duan Yiheng chuckled; he hadn't expected her to be so lucky.
Lin Xi said goodbye to Sun Wenxin at the front desk and, back upstairs, carefully placed Duan Yiheng's calligraphy on her desk. She stood between the computer desk and the wall, looking back and forth, considering where would be most suitable to hang the calligraphy.
Duan Yiheng entered and saw her darting around like a headless fly. He asked, "What are you looking at?" Lin Xi was startled, turned around, and after a moment, pointed to the rolled-up calligraphy on the table. "I want to hang this in my office," she said. Duan Yiheng smiled.
"Is it the one I wrote?" Lin Xi nodded. "I suspect you rigged it. I just told you about it, and then I won your calligraphy in the cafeteria draw." "I wouldn't do that," Duan Yiheng said. "Isn't it fate?"
Fate is something no one can explain. Lin Xi pursed her lips. Actually, she was very happy when she won Duan Yiheng's prize, simply because she wanted something related to him. Lin Xi glanced at him and said, "I only want this, not the prize."
Duan Yiheng gave a perfunctory "hmm," saying, "It's good you weren't so generous as to give away this calligraphy too." "No way," Lin Xi said, "I have to hang it in my office to repay your kindness."
Duan Yiheng seemed to see through her, leaning closer to her ear and whispering, "Repaying kindness? Or do you really like it?" Lin Xi took a step back, "I don't understand what you're saying." "Really don't understand?" Duan Yiheng asked with a smile. Lin Xi snorted:
"I'm going to hang the calligraphy up; don't get in my way." "Secretary Lin, is this how you treat your boss?" Duan Yiheng teased her, "You didn't even ask why I came to see you." Lin Xi asked him, "Really something wrong?" Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement:
"HR said it's unfair to you to give the prize to someone else, and they asked for my opinion. I said I would compensate you." "What compensation?" Lin Xi asked. "I'm giving you a chance to have dinner with the CEO," Duan Yiheng said. Lin Xi:
"...If it were anyone else, they'd probably want to kill you. Who wants to have dinner with their boss after work? Wouldn't they feel awkward?" Duan Yiheng laughed, "You're not just anyone." Lin Xi lowered her head: "Where to eat?" Duan Yiheng said:
"That's none of your concern, I'll arrange it. Don't touch this calligraphy either, I'll have someone install it for you." "Okay." Lin Xi pointed to the wall opposite her workstation, "Just hang it there." Duan Yiheng: "Then come with me after get off work?" Lin Xi:
"Give me the address, I'll drive there myself." Duan Yiheng didn't insist, turning and going to his office. There were spare clothes in the break room; he picked one out, changed, and left the company half an hour early. Since it was a date, there was no reason to keep the girl waiting.
Lin Xi's office door was the only way he could leave. Before getting on the elevator, he knocked on Lin Xi's office door. The meaning of "I'll wait for you" was self-evident, and Lin Xi's ears instantly turned red.
However, from dusk till late at night, Duan Yiheng waited, but Lin Xi never returned.