It was almost eleven, and the video conference showed no sign of ending. Chen Ningxi had work the next day. She went to the study door and gestured toward the bedroom, indicating she was going to sleep.
Upon seeing her, Cheng Qiaobei said to Jiang Wanyi, "Hold on a second."
He walked up to Chen Ningxi, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and gently lifted her to kiss her on the lips.
"What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?"
Chen Ningxi wasn’t there to interrupt his eting. She gently pushed him and whispered, "Go back to your eting, I’ll make breakfast tomorrow."
He effortlessly held her with one arm, lifting Chen Ningxi’s toes off the ground. The male strength was undeniable, as he insisted, "Tell , what do you want to eat?"
At this point, if she didn’t answer, he probably wouldn’t let her go.
She whispered in his ear, covering her mouth, "Sandwiches, milk."
"Alright." Cheng Qiaobei nodded in satisfaction, gave her another kiss before letting her go.
Chen Ningxi said, "Whose husband is so clingy, kissing over and over, countless tis a day."
Cheng Qiaobei feigned anger and frowned, reaching to grab her just as she laughingly dodged away.
He pointed at her near the bedroom door and mouthed with a mischievous smile: "You’ll see."
Early in the morning, everything was silent. On the horizon, a line of fiery orange-red slowly erged, making the azure sky particularly bright.
Chen Ningxi opened her eyes and didn’t see Cheng Qiaobei. Walking out of the bedroom, she noticed the light in the study was still on. He had fallen asleep on the study’s sofa, with several sheets of paper in hand. Judging by his state, he had likely pulled an all-nighter.
She felt a pang of heartache but didn’t want to wake him. She returned to the bedroom, fetched a thin blanket, saved the docunts on his laptop, and carefully closed it. She slowly removed his glasses, pulled the sheets from his hand, covered him with the blanket, turned off the light, and tiptoed out.
Chen Ningxi went to the kitchen intending to make breakfast but saw a note stuck on the fridge.
Dear Client,
Following your instructions last night, the sandwiches are ready and placed in the food warr; the milk is in the fridge and needs to be heated before consumption.
Love, Your Contractor.
Working all night and still making her breakfast made Chen Ningxi feel she was exploiting him.
Before she left, Cheng Qiaobei hadn’t woken up. Chen Ningxi cooked rice porridge in a rice cooker, boiled eggs, and made a refreshing salad with salty pickles.
Just as the car drove into the office gate, the security guard ca out of the booth holding a package.
Chen Ningxi just got out of the car when the security guy said, "Manager Chen, your package just arrived."
"Thank you." Chen Ningxi took it and opened it solemnly as she walked. It was a promotional brochure sent by an electrical equipnt manufacturer.
Every year, the electric company needed to procure equipnt and consumables, with a considerable demand. Securing an electric departnt order was undoubtedly a lucrative deal.
Newly appointed, nurous manufacturers began to contact her privately. But Chen Ningxi politely declined them all.
Procurent required project initiation. Orders over a hundred thousand had to be discussed at etings, with prices determined post-audit by the city’s audit office.
These people contacted her privately purely to secure orders through her involvent.
Returning to her office, she placed the manufacturer’s brochure aside, not giving it much attention.
Deputy Manager Dai Chi ca to see Chen Ningxi. He knocked on her door while Chen Ningxi was on the phone; she gestured for Dai Chi to sit.
Dai Chi pulled out a chair and noticed several brochures on her desk.
"Okay, that’s settled. Once the approval cos through, I’ll have soone contact you... Okay, goodbye."
Hanging up the phone, Chen Ningxi looked at Dai Chi, "What’s up, Brother Dai?"
Dai Chi was five years older, and they had used this form of address since they t. Even though she got promoted, her way of addressing him hadn’t changed.
Dai Chi said, "You’ve been quite busy lately. I’ve been looking for you several tis these past days, but you’ve been unavailable."
Chen Ningxi said, "Yes, a bit busy. The city has had nurous etings lately. The day before, a cable in Linhe Village got dug up and a utility pole fell. I spent half the day on-site."
"No wonder you were absent." Dai Chi reached into his pocket for a cigarette, but realizing there was no ashtray on her desk, he was about to put it away when Chen Ningxi noticed. She quickly said, "Brother, I have an ashtray."
She picked an ashtray from the side table and placed it in front of him, "I don’t smoke, so I don’t usually keep it on the table. But if soone needs it, I take it out."
"No, no, can’t smoke in a lady’s office." Dai Chi set the cigarette down, "I’m just used to smoking with all the guys, lighting up everywhere."
Chen Ningxi said, "It’s fine, go ahead."
Dai Chi chuckled, "Just ca out from Zhang’s room after extinguishing one." Then he shifted the conversation, "It’s just a bad habit when it cos to discussing business, can’t quit the smoking."
Chen Ningxi calmly looked at him, "Brother Dai, what can I do for you?"
Dai Chi’s gaze fell on a cable brochure on her desk, "Here’s the thing. Yesterday, Wang Zhi just counted the warehouse and reported to that we’re running low on cables. This stuff can’t be bought on short notice; we need so in reserve. In case of ergencies, we need cables for imdiate repairs. I wanted to discuss with you which manufacturer we should choose, do you have any ideas?"
Chen Ningxi calmly replied, "It’s necessary to purchase if cables are insufficient. Report the procurent volu according to our annual needs to the higher-ups, then proceed with governnt procurent."
Dai Chi awkwardly smiled, hesitating, "Uh, no company has approached you?"
As Chen Ningxi glanced at the several brochures on her desk, she imdiately got his insinuation.
"These?" She organized the brochures, "These were mailed to the office by cable manufacturers, I haven’t had any contact with them. Do you know anyone, Brother Dai?"
Chen Ningxi was well aware of such operations; if the quality was the sa, it was entirely possible to cooperate through normal procurent channels.
"Well..." Dai Chi paused, "If you haven’t had contact with manufacturers, I happen to know soone familiar. How about this, let’s find a ti to have a al together, and the manufacturer’s people can sit down and thoroughly introduce their products to you."
"..." Chen Ningxi smiled slightly, "Introducing products doesn’t need to be so arduous. Which company is it? I’ll first review their credentials and let them submit a product introduction."
Dai Chi smiled, "Manager Chen, don’t overthink. It’s just a simple al, sitting down to have a slow chat."
"Brother Dai, you know I can neither drink nor speak well in dining settings. It’s fine. Tell the manufacturer not to worry; I don’t have many requirents. Just have the manufacturer send soone to deliver the product introduction material to my office. I’ll get back to the manufacturer promptly. If it ets our standards, they can participate in bidding."
"!" Dai Chi paused briefly. His intention was to get Chen Ningxi’s approval to procure cables from the manufacturer he recomnded this year, but she clearly had no such inclinations.
Dai Chi said, "Manager Chen, other power companies also use this cable; there won’t be any issues."
Chen Ningxi laughed, "Well, that’s even better. No issues, and once we finish the tender process, let the manufacturer bid."
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