Cheng Qiaobei was away on a business trip, and as soon as Chen Ningxi got ho, she lay on the bed and took a nap.
Groggily, unsure of how long she had slept, she was awakened by the ringing of her phone.
"Hello..." she answered lethargically, her voice raspy from sleep.
Liang Lei said, "What ti did you go to bed?"
Chen Ningxi turned on her bedside lamp and cleared her head before replying, "Aunt Flo ca. I’m completely wiped out, and my stomach’s killing ."
Liang Lei asked, "Have you eaten dinner?"
In a weak tone, Chen Ningxi replied, "Not yet."
Liang Lei motioned to Lin Hanrui to pack the thermos container. "Wait for —I made beef soup tonight. I’ll bring it over."
"No, don’t trouble yourself. I’ll get up and cook sothing once I’m rested." Another wave of pain hit her stomach, and she groaned, "Ugh..."
"Alright, just wait for ."
With that, Liang Lei hung up.
Chen Ningxi quickly called back, "You’re pregnant! Don’t bother coming over."
Liang Lei said, "Even pregnant won need to get so light exercise."
The snow on the road hadn’t lted yet, and the thought of an accident made Chen Ningxi uneasy.
"How about this—I’ll call a courier to pick it up from your place."
Liang Lei could tell from her voice that she was suffering badly, like she’d been through so intense ordeal.
"I’ll worry if I don’t see you myself. Forget the courier—Lin Hanrui is ho; he’ll drive ."
Unable to decline further, Chen Ningxi could only remind them to drive carefully and stay safe.
Not long after, Liang Lei arrived.
Upon entering, she saw Chen Ningxi’s pale face and slumped deanor.
"Oh my God, look at you—you couldn’t even let co take care of you." Though her words were reproachful, her tone was full of concern as she held Chen Ningxi’s hand and led her to the dining area.
Lin Hanrui placed the thermos container on the table and went into the kitchen to fetch utensils.
Chen Ningxi took the thermos from Liang Lei and opened it. "I’ll do it myself—you sit and rest."
At five months pregnant, Liang Lei’s belly was visibly rounded, like a little hill.
Sitting down in a chair, she asked, "Do you have brown sugar at ho? I’ll make you so brown sugar water."
Holding a bowl and spooning out so steaming beef soup, Chen Ningxi replied, "I’ll make so for myself before bed."
Chatting in the dining area, the two friends caught up while Lin Hanrui, seated in the living room, took out his phone and snapped a photo of them, then sent it to Cheng Qiaobei.
At that mont, Cheng Qiaobei and Deng Yan were having dinner, discussing Golden Faction Boutique Hotel as they ate.
Midway through, Deng Yan paused with his chopsticks mid-air and said, "It seems like there was an error in the information we gathered. Golden Faction Boutique Hotel is registered under Shao Kang, but it’s currently managed by a woman nad Fan Jiaqian. Their relationship isn’t ordinary; to my knowledge, Shao Kang’s wife doesn’t have the surna Fan. The hotel was also transferred without charge to Fan Jiaqian—maybe as compensation. I recently contacted Shao Kang, and he told to address any issues to Fan Jiaqian."
Chewing more slowly, Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Do we have her contact number?"
Deng Yan replied, "Yes, I saved it. I’ll call her first thing tomorrow morning."
Then Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Does she know about our discussions with Shao Kang?"
Deng Yan answered, "Shao Kang said he already briefed her."
Since there was prior communication, Cheng Qiaobei felt more reassured.
When the two returned to Golden Faction Boutique, they passed through a long corridor, and Cheng Qiaobei overheard the receptionist handling their registration speaking on the phone. Judging by her tone, she was clearly talking to her boss, but the other party’s attitude was overtly harsh—even from across the counter, he could hear her being aggressively berated.
Watching the receptionist’s fearful expression, Cheng Qiaobei surmised that this Fan Jiaqian wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
Once inside the elevator, Deng Yan lowered his voice. "This Fan Jiaqian seems pretty tough. I’m worried she might hike up the price."
That concern was on Cheng Qiaobei’s mind as well. "Before their transition is complete, if the negotiation tomorrow doesn’t go well, we’ll contact Shao Kang imdiately."
Deng Yan nodded in agreent.
Back in the room, Cheng Qiaobei finally saw the photo Lin Hanrui had sent, and he imdiately called him.
Lin Hanrui hadn’t left yet and answered the call, "What do you think? Pretty thoughtful, huh? You’re not ho, so I ca to keep your wife company right away."
Cheng Qiaobei’s lips twitched slightly. "Thoughtful. Next ti you’re not ho, I’ll go keep your wife company."
This conversation was fine at first, but the more they thought about it, the more off it seed.
"Uh?" Lin Hanrui only just realized the odd phrasing. "I ant taking care of her."
Cheng Qiaobei smirked mischievously, "So did I. Taking care of her."
Lin Hanrui stubbornly protested, "Your tone doesn’t sound right—what’s this about keeping soone company?"
Were it not for already knowing Lin Hanrui’s personality, misunderstandings like this could cause countless argunts.
Cheng Qiaobei said, "Just realized? Be more specific next ti—it’s easy to misunderstand."
Lin Hanrui asked him, "I have a flight to Wuyuan tomorrow afternoon. Think we’ll et up?"
Cheng Qiaobei interrupted, "Even if you hadn’t called , I would’ve called you first. Cancel your flight ticket."
When sothing pre-scheduled gets disrupted, it’s uncharacteristic of Cheng Qiaobei’s typical way of handling things.
"What happened?" Lin Hanrui asked.
Slouching lazily into the couch, Cheng Qiaobei leaned back and explained the information Deng Yan had uncovered.
"Damn, this boss is slick—splits up but still gives the mistress a hotel. Respect, respect."
Cheng Qiaobei responded, "Slick or not, when I went through the lobby just now, the receptionist was being yelled at by this ’little boss lady’ on the phone."
"That feisty?" Lin Hanrui asked. "Do you think this deal can still go through?"
This was precisely why Cheng Qiaobei wasn’t in a rush to have Lin Hanrui co over—if negotiations truly fell apart, there’d be no point in him making the trip.
"We’ll find out tomorrow when we et her," Cheng Qiaobei said, not wanting to jump to conclusions.
Looking at the dining area where the two won were chatting, Lin Hanrui stepped out onto the balcony and teased, "If she’s managed to beco a mistress, she’s probably good-looking. If she doesn’t agree to the deal, you might have to take one for the team and seduce her."
Cheng Qiaobei scoffed, "Not interested. I only have a taste for ho-cooked als. Unlike you, who loves dining out. Maybe you shouldn’t cancel your flight—co here and contribute to the hotel by offering yourself."
"Hehehe..." Lin Hanrui snickered shalessly. "That depends on her looks. If she’s pretty, has a big chest, and long legs, I wouldn’t mind sacrificing for your career."
"Oh?" Cheng Qiaobei raised an eyebrow. "Big talk—sacrificing for my career."
"Of course, us bros don’t distinguish between mine and yours. This isn’t about dining out. It’s purely an effort to support a brother’s career." Lin Hanrui said this purely to be cheeky—even if you dared him, he wouldn’t actually do it.
Cheng Qiaobei threatened him, "I’ve recorded this call."
"..."
The receiver went quiet for a mont.
Faltering, Lin Hanrui stamred into the phone, crouching slightly and covering the mic as he apologized. "Uh... about earlier... I was joking, just joking. Leizi, I’m begging you here—I was just being dumb. Don’t take it seriously."
On the other end of the call, Cheng Qiaobei was laughing so hard his shoulders shook. "Respect—the way you dropped to your knees takes the cake. No recording—look at you freaking out."
Instantly, Lin Hanrui straightened his posture. "Can you not ss with like that? You don’t realize what a scare you gave —it’s deadly."
Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, "Control your mouth, and no one can scare you."
...
When they finally t Fan Jiaqian, it turned out the saying was true—Cheng Qiaobei just might have to take one for the team for his career.
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