Gently bite the jasmine

Chapter 21 Who's having a birthday?

The back of the car was dark, isolating it from the noise outside the window, leaving only the sound of each other's breathing.

The streetlights on both sides cast intermittent shadows, like a beautiful slow-motion scene in a movie, passing by frame by frame as the vehicle moves along.

But Lin Xi never considered herself the protagonist and failed to notice the gentle ambiguity that was uniquely directed at her.

Lin Xi moved her lips slightly, and Duan Yiheng's phone suddenly rang.

She swallowed her words, leaned back against the chair, and only gave Duan Yiheng a few fleeting glimpses of her gaze.

Duan Yiheng answered the phone, and after listening to Qin Yang's few words, the atmosphere around him suddenly turned tense.

Lin Xi looked over, and Duan Yiheng said coldly:

“He is a key technical staff member, but being technically proficient does not equate to being a management expert. I have given him opportunities, but his overall coordination skills are terrible. Considering the company’s long-term development, I will naturally promote someone whose overall qualities are more in line with the job requirements. There is no problem with that.”

Qin Yang remained silent for a moment, then stammered out a bunch of things.

Duan Yiheng remained unaffected: "Tell him that I don't have the time to deliberately suppress my subordinates. Also, notify all departments that a staff meeting will be held this Friday in the auditorium of the old campus on One Avenue. I will announce his punishment decision at the meeting."

Lin Xi was taken aback. Was the system lag incident caused by someone?

As soon as Duan Yiheng hung up the phone, she took the opportunity to ask about it.

Duan Yiheng grunted in agreement: "Idiot."

Lin Xi was speechless for a moment. Indeed, if this was done by an internal technical backbone to retaliate against the company and Duan Yiheng, it was truly foolish.

The bank system glitches are a major mistake, and Duan Yiheng even has to hold an emergency employee meeting. I'm afraid the outcome of this man's handling of the situation won't be very good.

Duan Yiheng made two phone calls in a row until the car turned into the villa area.

Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng got out of the car together, carrying insulated lunch boxes and bags.

She waved, but Duan Yiheng called out to her again: "Lin Xi."

Lin Xi turned around, thinking he had some instructions, but after waiting for a while, Duan Yiheng still didn't speak, so she asked, "What's wrong?"

Duan Yiheng: "Employees in training period also need to attend the employee meeting on Fridays."

Lin Xi: "I know."

"Hmm." Duan Yiheng looked into her eyes. "Also, for my birthday cake, I want blueberry."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Lin Xi stood there for a long time before realizing that he was answering the question he had asked earlier.

But a birthday cake? Wouldn't that be too stingy? Lin Xi thought as she walked.

She didn't have time to choose a gift for him because of work.

Duan Yiheng's birthday is on Saturday. Perhaps she can ask Yutong for some advice while she's looking at cars.

Lin Xi put the lunchbox in the kitchen and turned around to see Sister Mei.

Sister Mei asked with a smile, "How did this end up in your hands?"

Lin Xi said, "I had lunch with my older brother at noon, and I brought some back with me."

She could refrain from using a title when Duan Yiheng was around, but it would be impolite not to do so in front of an elder like Sister Mei.

Sister Mei: "Ever since I found out you were going to work at the company, I specially prepared some extra food and asked him to invite you to eat together, but he insisted that we couldn't make exceptions. What's wrong with him today?"

Lin Xi didn't explain, but smiled and waved her handbag: "Please take care of this garment."

Mei Jie flipped it open and glanced at it, then looked at Lin Xi and suddenly felt that he looked familiar.

"I think your shirt makes you look like a rich young master."

Lin Xi nodded shyly, "It's all because I'm clumsy and accidentally got my clothes dirty. I'll have to trouble you to take this garment to be cleaned."

Mei took her paper bag and said, "I know, hurry up and eat. The second young master isn't home, the master is out socializing, and the madam isn't here either. You're all alone."

Lin Xi, on the contrary, felt more at ease being alone.

Only at a family banquet can everyone gather at one table.

Duan Yiheng occupies the west building in the front yard alone, and he never sets foot on the east side except when necessary.

However, he has come a few times since I came back.

Lin Xi sat down at the dining table: "After I finish eating, I'll go see Grandpa."

Sister Mei: "The old gentleman will be very happy."

Lin Xi would visit the old man in the North Courtyard whenever she had free time.

When she came to this family, her grandfather accepted her despite all the opposition.

The old man found Lin Xi much more pleasing to the eye than his two grandsons.

He inquired about Lin Xi's situation at the company and spoke to her at length.

Before leaving, the old man suddenly asked, "Did you see your Uncle Duan at the company?"

Lin Xi nodded: "I saw him."

"They've probably found something wrong with Yi Heng and are using it to make things difficult for him," the old man said, his insight clear.

Lin Xi looked slightly embarrassed. The scene of Duan Zheng wrongly accusing Duan Yiheng was still vivid in her mind, and she dared not say anything.

However, I'm sure Grandpa knows what's going on.

The old man certainly knew what was going on. For that little bit of power, Duan Zheng was deeply selfish and extremely biased.

Thinking of this, the old man snorted heavily: "Yi Heng is almost thirty years old. Every time I mention his marriage, your Uncle Duan gets as anxious as can be."

Lin Xi didn't quite understand: "Why does Uncle Duan object to my elder brother's marriage?"

The old man explained to her, "I intend for Yi Heng to succeed me, and marriage is an important means of gaining control of the group. Shareholders and partners value the stability of the group, and being married will make Yi Heng more popular. As a potential successor, Yi Heng's marital status must be transparent and public. Once your Uncle Duan knows that Yi Heng is married, it will be the time for a change of power in the group, and he will be completely out of the running within the group."

Lin Xi understood. Duan Zheng could have taken over the group with the help of his wife's family, but instead, he ended up with Chen Baiwei, who was his secretary at the time.

Chen Baiwei has no background, and Duan Mingxuan is not as good as Duan Yiheng.

With the support of the old man and a group of shareholders in the group, Duan Yiheng can only be considered a nominal general manager.

Even if he wanted to teach Duan Yiheng a lesson, he only dared to go to his office and show his indignation when no one was watching.

Lin Xi was speechless for a moment, not knowing whether to cry for Duan Yiheng for Duan Zheng's selfishness and ruthlessness, or laugh at Duan Zheng for Duan Yiheng's indifference.

I was left speechless, feeling both amused and embarrassed.

The old man sighed, "They don't understand my good intentions. Handing Yin Fan over to your Uncle Duan will only lead to regression, not progress. Yi Heng may seem cold, but he has good character. Even if I die, his family will still have a place to stay."

Lin Xi disliked the old man's talk about death and quickly stopped him.

Returning to the North Courtyard, Lin Xi felt conflicted.

Somehow, I found myself in the living room on the first floor, where Sister Mei was talking to the maid.

Seeing her, he walked over and asked, "Why aren't you upstairs to rest?"

Lin Xi thought for a moment and said, "Saturday is my older brother's birthday. Could you please prepare a blueberry cake for me?"

"Of course, I would have done it even if you hadn't said anything."

“No,” Lin Xi said. “You guys prepare yours, but you prepare another one for me. It shouldn’t be big, but small and delicate. I’ll use it on Saturday night.”

Perhaps, she could share a whole cake with him.

Sister Mei: "Okay, I understand."

Whose birthday is it?

Lin Xi was startled by the sudden sound. She turned around and saw Duan Mingxuan blocking the kitchen entrance.