Pala specifically instructed the staff on Cheng Qiaobei’s floor to be extra attentive. The manager of a competing hotel suddenly checked in, making it difficult to guess his intentions. If it weren’t for seeing the videos on YouTube, Pala wouldn’t have paid special attention to Cheng Qiaobei’s trip to Milan. His series of marketing strategies for the overseas hotels of Jade Jiali were unique within the industry, and the year-on-year revenue increase was groundbreaking.
Pala followed him upstairs, observing whether Cheng Qiaobei had any other intentions. For instance, many competing hotels pull small tricks in private, reporting detected issues to relevant departnts. Once they violate regulations, the negative publicity would damage the hotel’s reputation to defeat competitors. After observing, she found that Cheng Qiaobei had no other intentions and the idea of poaching him was spontaneous. Such talent was right before her; poaching him would be great, but failing to do so wouldn’t be a loss.
Cheng Qiaobei naturally understood Pala’s thoughts.
When checking out, the front desk handed Cheng Qiaobei a gift of wrapped incense. Seeing Pala’s na on the card, Cheng Qiaobei gladly accepted it and asked the front desk to thank Pala.
After the airport resud service, Cheng Qiaobei boarded the first flight back ho.
Just in ti for the weekend, Chen Ningxi was free to pick him up at the airport. Ye Yujun knew Cheng Qiaobei’s flight was in the afternoon and invited them over for dinner. The best thing about living close to the family was the convenience of having als together, while daughters who married far away bore their grievances over a vast distance.
So, back then, Ye Yujun had discussed with Chen Ningxi that girls should never marry too far, as when they cry, their parents can’t protect them in ti.
Chen Ningxi stood at the airport exit watching the people co out. As expected, the height advantage made him stand out, and she waved at Cheng Qiaobei. Seeing her, he quickened his pace.
When he got closer, she said, "Mom knows you’re back and wants us to co over for dinner. The al’s ready."
Cheng Qiaobei held Chen Ningxi’s hand, his eyes brimming with a smile, "Mom is so good to ."
"Am I not good to you?"
Cheng Qiaobei released his hand and pulled her into his embrace, tightening his hold, "You’re the best."
Chen Ningxi smiled like a spring breeze, taking out the car key while walking, "I went shopping with Liang Lei today and picked out a shirt for you. Try it on at ho."
"Sure." Cheng Qiaobei whispered in her ear with a laugh, "You try it for ."
"How can I? The size is different."
Cheng Qiaobei gave a mischievous smile, "The shirt hem reaching your thigh... that’s just right."
Recalling wearing his shirt to get water after their intense monts, Cheng Qiaobei always said he found her sexy and alluring in his shirt, inevitably leading to an insatiable session.
Chen Ningxi’s ears turned warm as she shyly pushed him away.
The car had just left the airport when Ye Yujun’s call ca through, "Did you pick up Cheng?"
Before Chen Ningxi could speak, Cheng Qiaobei spoke into the phone, "Mom, Ningxi picked up. We just left the airport."
Ye Yujun: "Good, good. Drive safely."
Cheng Qiaobei: "Got it, Mom."
Ending the call, Chen Ningxi said, "Do you think dinner will have braised pork tonight?"
"How should I guess?"
"You ntioned how tasty braised pork was last ti. Mom definitely made it today."
Having never felt cared for since childhood, Cheng Qiaobei was unsure, "Really?"
"Let’s bet on it."
Cheng Qiaobei laughed, "Alright, what’s the bet?"
Chen Ningxi: "Haven’t decided yet, so owe it for now."
Cheng Qiaobei: "Redeem it within a month; I won’t count it if it expires."
Chen Ningxi shot him a playful glance.
They entered the house, changed into slippers, and headed straight to the dining room. Seeing the braised pork in the middle of the table, Chen Ningxi raised an eyebrow, "Well, what do you say? Admit it or not?"
Seeing the braised pork, Cheng Qiaobei smiled though defeated, "I admit it."
Ye Yujun, with dishes in hand, half in the doorway, overheard the conversation, "You’re bullying Cheng again," she put down the dish, nudging Chen Ningxi towards the kitchen, "Get the bowls and chopsticks."
"?" Chen Ningxi was bewildered, "Mom, how did I bully him?"
"I heard it all." Ye Yujun gestured to Cheng Qiaobei, "Cheng, go wash your hands; it’s ti to eat."
Cheng Qiaobei: "Okay, Mom."
Chen Ningxi pouted, acknowledging the saying, "A mother-in-law cherishes her son-in-law"—it’s true.
This girl of hers seed out of favor.
Ye Yujun glanced outside, lowered her voice, "Poor Cheng? No elder in the family shows concern for him. This mother-in-law is still a mom; if I don’t care for him, who will?"
Chen Ningxi fetched the utensils, "I know, you’re good to him, which makes happy."
Ye Yujun seized the chance to bring up the topic, "If you’re happy, have a baby soon."
Chen Ningxi: "..."
Caught off guard by the urging, Chen Ningxi turned to leave the kitchen, with Ye Yujun following closely, "Don’t pretend you didn’t hear. Handle it seriously."
Seeing Cheng Qiaobei, Chen Ningxi blinked at him, "Mom’s calling you for dinner, hurry up."
Cheng Qiaobei didn’t know what was happening but understood Chen Ningxi’s distress signal, smiling as he brought over two gifts and placed them on the table in front of Ye Yujun,
"Mom, I was quite busy on this trip and didn’t have ti to shop. I bought you and Dad small gifts from the airport duty-free shop."
"Oh, look at you, thinking of your dad and even on a business trip." Ye Yujun opened the gift packaging, revealing a bottle of high-end face cream and a shaver for Chen Weichuan. He said, "Last ti here, I used Dad’s shaver and found it dull. This one’s the latest upgraded blade, offering a clean shave and is waterproof."
Ye Yujun said, "Next ti, don’t buy anything while out. You two just got married, and after having kids, you’ll have more expenses."
Finally understanding what Chen Ningxi had hinted at earlier, Cheng Qiaobei just gave a small laugh and replied,
"Got it, Mom."
Ye Yujun used serving chopsticks to put food on Cheng Qiaobei’s plate, but he said, "I can do it, Mom."
"You need to eat more. A business trip is tiring, and you took a flight lasting over twenty hours. Stay here after dinner; tomorrow’s the weekend, so take a good rest."
"!"
Cheng Qiaobei paused his chewing, glancing subtly at Chen Ningxi, who had just kicked him. She buried herself in eating, not revealing a hint of the under-the-table actions.
Cheng Qiaobei said, "We better not stay over; I have lots of dirty clothes in my luggage that need washing."
"Take them out, and I’ll wash them for you."
Cheng Qiaobei: "..."
Chen Ningxi said, "Not staying over. If you call us early in the morning for breakfast, there’ll be no lazy sleep-ins."
Ye Yujun said, "Cheng’s so tired; we won’t wake you two in the morning."
Chen Ningxi put down her chopsticks, "I’m done. Eat quickly, and we’ll leave after."
Looking at Cheng Qiaobei, who smiled back, he said, "I just returned, and colleagues will co over later to discuss so work matters."
Ye Yujun nodded in understanding, no longer persuading, "When Ningxi is busy and you have nowhere to eat, just co here."
Cheng Qiaobei said, "Okay, Mom."
The warmth felt with the Chen Family filled a missing emotional gap in Cheng Qiaobei’s life. He loved such a family atmosphere, relishing the affectionate care from his elders.
Leaving the house, Chen Ningxi walked quickly, saying as she went, "That was close earlier. Didn’t you see if we didn’t leave soon, Mom would start urging us to have a baby?"
Cheng Qiaobei smiled, "It’s okay, I’m here."
Having children, Cheng Qiaobei had already expressed, wouldn’t rush into it. He also wanted to enjoy so more ti in their world of two.
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