Chen Ningxi glanced at Cheng Qiaobei from the corner of her eye, seeing him serving himself food, then turned away to speak to the person on the phone, "Mom, I’m eating out, I’ll call you when I get ho after dinner."
Ye Yujun was nagging on the other end, "Eating out again, it’s unsanitary out there, if you don’t feel like cooking, just co ho to eat."
Chen Ningxi lied, "I’m with colleagues. Alright, talk later."
As soon as she put down the phone, Cheng Qiaobei mimicked her tone sarcastically, "I’m dining with colleagues, haha."
"..." She knew he couldn’t resist saying sothing.
Chen Ningxi said, "When your mom nags you, haven’t you ever told a little white lie?"
Seeing her so confident, Cheng Qiaobei couldn’t be bothered to argue, "Yeah, yeah, everything you say is right."
Observing his unwilling attitude, she asked Cheng Qiaobei back, "Can you guarantee you’ve never lied?"
Cheng Qiaobei maintained a neutral expression, without responding to Chen Ningxi.
In fact, what mattered to him wasn’t the lying, but that his mom had never nagged him.
After dinner, Cheng Qiaobei drove Chen Ningxi ho.
He returned to his place, sat on the sofa, and after pondering for a mont, dialed a number.
The long ringing was about to exhaust his patience when the call connected just a second before he planned to hang up.
A cool voice ca through the receiver, "Why did you suddenly call?"
Cheng Qiaobei paused for a mont before saying, "...How’s your health been lately?"
The other person’s tone remained indifferent, "Fine, anything else? I’m about to rest."
His fingers tightened on the phone, and Cheng Qiaobei said, "No, nothing," but before he could say goodnight, the other party hung up first.
The busy signal matched the apathy and distance in their attitude, leaving Cheng Qiaobei regretting making the call.
In truth, he had long seen through it, ignoring soone was probably just dislike.
...
After accompanying Cheng Qiaobei to the floriculture plots all day Saturday, Chen Ningxi hoped to rest well on Sunday, but her mom called again, having made the beef she liked.
As soon as Chen Ningxi parked in the community’s parking spot, she saw a middle-aged man carrying two bags of trash walking by.
She quickly got out of the car and called, "Dad."
Chen Weichuan turned his head, looking at Chen Ningxi seriously, "You’re back?"
Chen Ningxi naturally took the trash bags from Chen Weichuan’s hand, "Where’s Mom?"
It seed like kids always looked for their moms, no matter what it was about, the first thing they’d ask was about their mom, even right in front of their dad.
Chen Weichuan gestured with his hand, "She’s upstairs cooking, are you off today?"
"Yeah." Chen Ningxi nodded, responding, "Aren’t you working overti today?"
Chen Weichuan unlocked the building door, stepping inside, "Zhao will pick up in a bit."
She knew he wouldn’t rest, constantly working or in etings, never idle, even on New Year’s Eve among the 365 days.
"There’s a lot to do for the New Year, no ti to rest."
His voice showed he was tired too.
Chen Ningxi said, "If you’re really tired, consider stepping back a bit."
Chen Weichuan glanced at her sideways, and she instantly felt a low-pressure atmosphere bearing down on her.
"Do you think Dad is getting old?" Chen Weichuan asked.
"No, ...I’m just worried about your health," Chen Ningxi replied.
The elevator arrived, and father and daughter entered one after the other.
Chen Weichuan stood firm while Chen Ningxi looked frail beside him.
Suddenly, Chen Weichuan asked, "Guo hasn’t been bothering you at work anymore, has he?"
Her first reaction was to wonder how he knew.
"No," she replied.
In a serious tone, Chen Weichuan said, "I t with his boss, talked a bit about your situation, he shouldn’t be causing trouble again."
Chen Ningxi frowned, "You spoke to his boss?"
Chen Weichuan affird with a hum, "Such a grown man, acting in public without considering the disgrace."
Puzzled, Chen Ningxi asked, "How did you find out? Did a colleague tell you?"
Considering who could speak with soone at her father’s level at her workplace, it must have been either a manager or vice-director, recalling the power company’s city conference a few days ago, they must have t there.
"I can handle it myself, why did you go to his boss," Chen Ningxi felt he shouldn’t have involved himself.
For her father to intervene was giving Guo Heming too much importance.
However, Chen Weichuan misunderstood Chen Ningxi’s intent, thinking she resented him interfering, seeing it as a nuisance.
With a serious face, Chen Weichuan said, "I can’t take care of your matters? As your dad, I’m not allowed to handle my daughter’s problems?"
"There you go again, did I say anything?" Chen Ningxi responded, helpless and annoyed.
Father and daughter never managed to speak more than a few sentences without arguing, as if they just weren’t compatible.
With tension rising, the elevator doors opened just in ti.
Chen Weichuan, holding in his anger, stepped out, followed by Chen Ningxi at a distance.
Entering ho, they heard the sound of chopping from the kitchen, and Chen Ningxi rolled up her sleeves, heading towards it, "Mom, what are you cutting?"
Upon hearing, Ye Yujun turned back, "You’re back, did you see your father?"
Chen Ningxi, clearly not too pleased, replied, "Ran into him downstairs."
"Argued with your dad again?" Ye Yujun sensed it, "I called you back today to discuss your promotion with him, yet you upset him. Now how will you bring it up?"
Chen Ningxi disliked leveraging her father’s position at work. As Chen Weichuan’s daughter, many thought her current position was due to her father, which made Chen Ningxi feel like her efforts were overlooked.
Having a high-ranking father wasn’t sothing she could choose, but all her life, she had been proving her own rits, showing she was capable through her dedication.
"Forget it. I never intended to ask Dad to step in. My job is my own fight, please don’t bring it up to Dad," Chen Ningxi said, turning to grab the dinnerware.
"You stubborn child," Ye Yujun felt helpless towards her, "just as stubborn as your dad."
The dining room sat quietly, with the occasional clink of dishes, as Ye Yujun’s gaze lingered between father and daughter until she broke the silence with a cough.
"Old Chen, Ningxi’s boss is retiring, I heard there’s going to be so kind of selection, can you check what it’s about?" Ye Yujun implied.
With a bowl in hand, Chen Weichuan scooped so rice into his mouth, chewing as he looked across, asking, "Do you want to be the manager?"
In a tone suggesting she wasn’t fit, Chen Ningxi said, "It’s competitive, whoever is capable gets it."
If I’m capable, why can’t I be the manager?
Chen Weichuan said, "Since it’s competitive, just work hard."
Not hearing any support, Ye Yujun said, "You won’t help Ningxi? You assist others with their requests, but when it’s your own daughter, you’re so uncompromising."
Sighing, he replied, "Don’t interfere. Ningxi has been working for years now, let her strive for it herself, proving she’s qualified for the manager’s role. If I place her in that position, and should sothing occur later due to lacking capability, will you cover for her, or will I?"
Just then, Chen Weichuan’s phone rang; the driver had co to pick him up for a eting.
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