Weekend, Chen Ningxi bought so fruit to visit Ye Yujun, and as soon as she walked in, she slled the aroma coming from the kitchen.
"Mom, what delicious food are you making?" Chen Ningxi carried the fruit and rushed to the kitchen.
"Braised beef." With a spatula in her hand, Ye Yujun looked beyond her at the door, "Where’s Cheng?"
Chen Ningxi lifted the pot lid, "Just in ti, I haven’t eaten. Mmm... slls delightful. He’s at the hotel, been a bit busy lately."
Hearing this, it seed like he hadn’t been ho for a few days. Although she knew he was in Zhoushan, the distance wasn’t too far, and not seeing each other wasn’t ideal.
Ye Yujun took out the braised beef, sliced it, and arranged it on a plate, "After you eat, go to Zhoushan and see him, bring the braised beef along, I’ll pack another portion for you."
Chen Ningxi guessed her intent and laughed while eating, "Even a dog that doesn’t watch the house hankers to run if tied; a watchdog, even untied, stays put."
Ye Yujun frowned at her, "What kind of analogy is that?"
Chen Ningxi chuckled, "Rough words, sound reasoning."
"Go take a look, Zhoushan isn’t far from here." Ye Yujun packed the braised beef and placed it on the table.
Before leaving, Ye Yujun told her to call Cheng Qiaobei. Chen Ningxi teased, "What if I alert him?"
"You child," Ye Yujun gave her a light tap on the back, "married and still not as mature as before."
As the car drove onto the highway, Chen Ningxi sent him a WeChat ssage, telling him she’d arrive in Zhoushan in an hour.
At that mont, Cheng Qiaobei was discussing overseas hotel matters with Jiang Wanyi.
Jiang Wanyi’s Ketbon International Finance Group Co., Ltd, primarily focused on the digital economy, digital assets, Web 3.0, and AI industry incubation capital platform, was synergizing with Jade Jiali’s overseas hotel in technology developnt, marketing, user operation, and brand promotion. It was a powerful collaboration between the two companies.
By the end of the eting, it was almost noon, and he had missed her ssage for two hours. Cheng Qiaobei promptly called back.
"You’re here? I was just in a eting, missed your ssage."
"I just arrived, sitting at the little pavilion downstairs, you finished?"
"Yeah, wait for , I’m coming down."
Mid-June, the sun was bright and warm. He wound through the garden paths and saw her sitting on a wooden bench, back to him, as if feeling his eyes on her, Chen Ningxi turned and saw him slowly approaching.
Cheng Qiaobei bead, waved his hand.
Chen Ningxi propped her arm on the bench, with her chin in her hand, smiling like a spring breeze, her slender body leaning gracefully, exuding the elegance of a mature woman.
Cheng Qiaobei stepped up the stairs, sat beside Chen Ningxi, naturally took her hand and held it, "What brought you to see suddenly?"
Chen Ningxi pointed her chin at the stone table, "It wasn’t my idea, your mother-in-law worried you weren’t eating well here, specially made braised beef for you."
"Really, only mom would think of ." Cheng Qiaobei quickly grabbed the thermal bag, the aroma of at wafted out as he opened it.
He reached out, grabbed a piece, and lifted it to his mouth. Chen Ningxi said, "In your territory, not minding your image?"
Cheng Qiaobei chewed with his cheeks puffed, "You said it’s my territory, who dares manage ."
Chen Ningxi took a napkin to wipe his hand, "Aren’t you afraid they’ll laugh at you?"
Cheng Qiaobei intentionally put on a fierce face, "Laugh at , and I’ll fire them."
Knowing he was just scaring people, in reality, he wasn’t as sinister and ruthless as the rumors suggested, especially towards his subordinates. Those rumors erged from business dealings and negotiations.
People who didn’t get the most out of him claid he was rciless, and gradually, with more encounters, Cheng Qiaobei’s "good reputation" spread in the society.
"Co on, let’s go sit in my office." Cheng Qiaobei held her hand, the other hand carrying the thermal bag.
Just before exiting the park, Chen Ningxi pulled her hand away. He turned back, puzzled, "What’s wrong?"
"Everyone knows you here at the hotel, holding hands in public isn’t appropriate." Chen Ningxi still considered his reputation.
After all, within the hotel, it was his workplace.
"I don’t mind, why should you?"
He reached out again but was stopped by her arm, with a playful tone, "Let’s go."
Walking side by side, Cheng Qiaobei asked, "How have mom and dad been?"
"They’re good." Chen Ningxi recalled a call from Ding Yuan last night, "Mom called last night; she said she wouldn’t stay at my place on the first wedding night, wanted a hotel. I didn’t allow it, it’s not like we don’t have room at ho."
Cheng Qiaobei turned his face, "She didn’t discuss this with , didn’t even call ."
Chen Ningxi spoke soothingly, "Mom seems tough, but she isn’t harsh-hearted. She just doesn’t know how to express to you. You two need more communication; if you’re willing, call her more often."
Rembering Ding Yuan’s cold deanor during calls, Cheng Qiaobei felt uneasy.
As they passed the hotel lobby, people’s eyes followed them. Once in the elevator, Chen Ningxi finally said, "Good thing we didn’t hold hands walking in under everyone’s gaze."
"Going back tonight?" Cheng Qiaobei asked.
Chen Ningxi looked straight ahead, "Yes."
Cheng Qiaobei had not seen her for almost a week, "Going back ans another hour’s drive, quite tiring."
"Not tiring, just an hour, over in a blink." Chen Ningxi stifled a laugh.
Seeing her really planning to leave, Cheng Qiaobei hooked her pinky with his index finger, lightly shook, whispering,
"Stay."
"Hmm? Why?" Chen Ningxi pretended to be oblivious.
He bit his lower lip, glanced at her, "You know why."
The elevator stopped on the sixth floor, Chen Ningxi walked out first, "I don’t know."
Cheng Qiaobei caught up from behind, no one was in the hallway; he wrapped her waist, "You didn’t miss ? A whole week, didn’t miss ?"
Chen Ningxi almost couldn’t hold back her laughter, "I missed you, that’s why I’m here."
He squeezed her waist, "You’re playing with , aren’t you."
She was ticklish there and collapsed against him, "I didn’t bring what’s in your bedside drawer."
Cheng Qiaobei spoke with perfect articulation, "This is a hotel, how could there be a lack?"
Chen Ningxi gave him a aningful look, "What do you an? Seems like it’s convenient for you."
Cheng Qiaobei nibbled on her neck, "Keep pestering, will you."
"Oh my," Chen Ningxi feigned an exaggerated voice, "I should visit more often, who knows otherwise."
While they were being lovey-dovey, as they turned a corner, they saw Jiang Wanyi standing by the office door.
Her calm gaze turned to them, noticing their intimate gestures, and she quietly withdrew her eyes.
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