In matters of the heart, the unattainable always stirred restlessly, while the favored behaved with reckless abandon.
Chen Ningxi continued to explore the joys of love, while Cheng Qiaobei couldn’t wait to gain approval from her.
The abandoned-cat effect hadn’t taken hold on Chen Ningxi; instead, it made her more independent and clear-headed. This was why Cheng Qiaobei admired and cherished her.
At this mont, psychological confrontation was no longer applicable to their relationship; only sincerity was a decisive factor. Cheng Qiaobei couldn’t decipher her thoughts, so he couldn’t help but ask outright.
In front of her, Cheng Qiaobei expressed his emotions without reservation, even at the risk of being seen as clingy. He just hoped that Chen Ningxi would recognize him sooner.
Love had never been about long accumulation; it arrived suddenly.
Faced with unexpected love, Cheng Qiaobei knew nothing but to hold it tightly as he had no other way to deal with it.
How many tis in a lifeti could one be so sure about soone, with so few opportunities? So even never found that certainty. Cheng Qiaobei was profoundly impressed with Chen Ningxi the mont he saw her, unable to forget her.
Chen Ningxi was slow in responding. Cheng Qiaobei realized he was in a hurry, "We have work tomorrow, let’s sleep early."
"You too, after driving all day, you must be exhausted."
Cheng Qiaobei said, "Thinking about seeing you, I didn’t feel tired."
Chen Ningxi smiled, "Good night."
Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Cheng Qiaobei gazed at the dark screen in contemplation, wondering if he held a place in her heart.
...
Before the break of dawn, Cheng Qiaobei set off early for Zhoushan. Chen Ningxi estimated he had already arrived upon seeing his ssage.
The eting originally scheduled for the morning had Chen Ningxi attending alone since Bai Haifeng had a last-minute matter arise.
The main agenda of the city’s eting was anti-corruption, initiating a three-month internal rectification and self-examination. The state-owned power company issued an official docunt announcing the dismissal of all of Ji Xiaobo’s duties, who had been handed over to legal authorities. The role vacant due to Ji Xiaobo had been temporarily managed by Vice Manager Wang and was now formally assigned to Wang Yongqing.
After the eting ended, Chen Ningxi received a call from Ye Yujun while returning to Danjiang.
Ye Yujun said, "Ningxi, your dad’s birthday is on Friday. He said he doesn’t want to eat out; just buy so groceries and eat at ho. You can invite Cheng."
Chen Ningxi didn’t imdiately agree, not knowing if Cheng Qiaobei had ti, "Mom, I’ll ask him first and get back to you."
"Alright," Ye Yujun also tested Cheng Qiaobei, "If he’s busy, so be it, don’t let him delay his work."
Having been by her parents’ side for many years and honed her skills within the system, Chen Ningxi, despite her easygoing tone, could tell that her mother was already sowhat unhappy.
"Mom, I just finished the eting. I’ll call you back when I return."
"Okay, focus on your work first."
After ending the call, Chen Ningxi opened the chat window with Cheng Qiaobei and typed: Are you free on Friday evening?
Cheng Qiaobei had just finished work, thinking about contacting Chen Ningxi when he received her ssage.
Glancing at his schedule, he had planned to visit his father on Friday.
"North: Do you have any plans?"
Chen Ningxi: "It’s my dad’s birthday on Friday. My mom is preparing a few dishes at ho and inviting you over."
Cheng Qiaobei imdiately thought about the matter he wanted to discuss with her. He needed to seize the opportunity to speak candidly with Chen Ningxi.
"North: No problem, what ti? Do your uncle and aunt have any preferences? Give so hints."
Visiting for the first ti without bringing anything seed inappropriate. Chen Ningxi thought for a mont before replying:
"My dad loves fishing most, but work reasons have kept him from it. He likes tea as a pasti due to a busy schedule. As for my mom, before retiring, she was mainly responsible for party-building work and prepared nearly all the written materials herself. She could even speak off-the-cuff for hours during lectures. I admired her deeply as a child. Since retiring, besides attending to my dad’s daily needs, she only fiddles with the succulents on the balcony. She enjoys listening to Guo Degang’s crosstalk while watering them. If you ask what she particularly likes, it seems after my dad got busier, she no longer had her likes, dedicating her ti to taking care of my dad and ."
Cheng Qiaobei could sense her regret, "Got it. Thank you, Mr. Chen, for sharing the information. I’ll prepare carefully."
Chen Ningxi rembered to remind him of one thing, "Don’t buy anything expensive, my dad won’t accept it."
"I know." Cheng Qiaobei checked the ti, "I still have to work for a while longer. Dinner might be late. If you’re hungry..."
Before Cheng Qiaobei finished speaking, Chen Ningxi said, "Let’s not eat out. I’ll buy groceries, and you can co straight to my house when you get back."
The office door was knocked, and Cheng Qiaobei responded, "Co in."
Wei Lai entered with so procurent invoices, needing Cheng Qiaobei’s signature.
To the person on the phone, he said, "Sure, I’ll do as you say."
Cheng Qiaobei also decided that he would talk about his matter with Chen Ningxi tonight.
Wei Lai waited for Cheng Qiaobei to hang up the call, then smiled aningfully, "Calling your girlfriend?"
Cheng Qiaobei couldn’t hide the smile at the corner of his mouth as he checked and signed off, "Yeah."
Wei Lai smirked, "Seems like things are going smoothly, congrats."
"Thank you." Cheng Qiaobei regarded Wei Lai as both a ntor and a friend, his staunchest ally, so he naturally didn’t hide from her, "I’m going to her place for dinner on Friday to et her parents."
Wei Lai’s eyes lit up, "Really? Then you’ve got a chance this ti. Heading towards marriage talks, are you?"
Talking about marriage seed a bit early, but Cheng Qiaobei was earnest about the relationship, hoping for a good outco. Whether they could ultimately reach that stage depended on how tonight’s conversation went, and whether Chen Ningxi and her family could accept him.
After work, Chen Ningxi went to a nearby supermarket to buy groceries, started washing and preparing dinner at ho, and sent Cheng Qiaobei a WeChat asking what ti he would co back. Cheng Qiaobei replied around 7:30.
Upon receiving his ssage about exiting the highway, Chen Ningxi started stir-frying those quick dishes. When Cheng Qiaobei walked in, the dishes were ready and on the table.
"Hmm... slls good." Cheng Qiaobei went into the kitchen to help after washing his hands, rolling up his sleeves as he said, "Two dishes would be enough for us two, there’s too much, we can’t finish it."
Chen Ningxi went to fetch the bowls and chopsticks, while Cheng Qiaobei took over the bowl, "I’ll serve."
She opened the refrigerator and asked, "What do you want to drink?"
Cheng Qiaobei, "Can I have so alcohol?"
Chen Ningxi took fresh juice from the fridge, "There isn’t any."
Cheng Qiaobei laughed, "Then why ask ?"
Chen Ningxi placed two mugs on the table and filled them; Cheng Qiaobei carried two bowls of rice out of the kitchen, setting one in front of her.
They sat facing each other, with the table full of sumptuous dishes, creating a scene resembling that of a newlywed couple.
The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet, and both of them realized it. Cheng Qiaobei gave a light cough and raised his bowl, saying, "You’ve made so many dishes, you worked hard. Next ti I’ll cook, or let’s eat out."
Chen Ningxi took a sip of juice and murmured, "It’s nothing, not that much trouble."
As they ate, their chit-chat was intermittent. After finishing the al, Cheng Qiaobei took on the busy work of washing the dishes and cleaning up.
Once everything was tidied, Cheng Qiaobei carried a cup of hot tea into the living room, "Ningxi, there’s sothing I need to talk to you about."
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