Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 104 Trading Interests

Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Trading Interests

The foundation of all utilitarian relationships is interest.

Whenever you assess or think from the perspective of interest, you become clever and wise; but if emotion is involved, no matter how you deliberate, you become incredibly foolish.

Previously, Cheng Qiaobei regarded their relationship with father-son feelings, but when he discovered that he didn’t marry the person Cheng Xiangheng had chosen, he became a complete pawn in his hands.

So, the essence of their relationship was interest exchange.

This is similar to how most parents raise children in ordinary families, primarily to have someone to support them in their old age; to Cheng Xiangheng, he was just a tool to maximize benefits.

There are expectations and rewards.

Cheng Xiangheng was indeed very pragmatic, "How soon can you do it?"

What he meant was how soon you could do it so he could agree.

Cheng Qiaobei was not stupid; even if he accomplished it, what if Cheng Xiangheng decided not to acknowledge it? Would he and Chen Ningxi have to wait endlessly for his consent?

"Now it’s you who needs me, not the other way around," Cheng Qiaobei said casually, "I’ve already explained our family’s situation to Ning Xi and her family. If the elders really don’t attend the wedding, they can understand it. I came today just to make the wedding more splendid; if that’s not possible, it’s fine. I’ve already prepared them for it."

Cheng Xiangheng’s gaze sharpened, "You’ve learned to threaten me now."

Cheng Qiaobei smiled nonchalantly, "Mr. Cheng, how would I dare threaten you? Given my current situation, don’t overthink it."

Cheng Xiangheng cast a severe glance; there was nothing to restrain him now. However, tossing him out of Jade Jiali wasn’t an option; the board members were publicly united but privately divided, and the people he could use were scarce. Although Cheng Qiaobei was out of his control, using him was still the best option compared to others.

He was silent for a moment and asked, "When is the date set?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "The exact date is not set yet, but I will let you know once Ning Xi’s family chooses."

"!" Cheng Xiangheng frowned, "Let them choose the date?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "They have more time than you, so there’s no need to trouble you with such trifles. It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb you anymore."

Just as he got up, Cheng Xiangheng called him back.

"Cheng Qiaobei."

"..." He stood still.

"Are you so resistant to me in your heart?"

"..." Unable to control him, he wanted to play the emotional card?

Cheng Qiaobei was utterly weary that even the father-son relationship was filled with calculation, "Mr. Cheng, you overestimate me. In your hands, I’m just a card; it’s not about resistance or not. Just instruct me when needed."

He leaned forward, nodded, and exited the office.

It was only after leaving the office building of Jade Jiali that Cheng Qiaobei caught a breath.

At that moment, upstairs,

Cheng Xiangheng stood by the window, watching Cheng Qiaobei’s car leave, his furrowed brows hiding inscrutable emotions.

Cheng Qiaobei didn’t rush upstairs, sitting in the garage for half an hour while he contacted Wei Lai to instruct her on some matters.

Meeting Cheng Xiangheng’s demands meant the coming days wouldn’t be easygoing.

Chen Ningxi had just finished washing clothes and was about to hang them when she heard the door and looked over, "You’re back."

"Mm." Cheng Qiaobei lowered his head to change shoes and walked over when he saw her standing on the balcony, "Let me help."

Chen Ningxi said, "There aren’t many clothes; I’ll do it."

One by one, she shook out the clothes, smoothing the collars, cuffs, and hems before hanging them up.

After hanging up one item, Chen Ningxi turned to observe his expression, testing the waters by asking, "Did the talk go well?"

Each standing on one side, speaking across the clothes, there was a trace of a smile on his face, "Pretty good."

"He agreed?" Chen Ningxi asked happily.

Cheng Qiaobei nodded.

The stone in Chen Ningxi’s heart settled; everything was finally complete.

"My mom should be able to set a date in the next few days. At that time, you can tell..." She still found it hard to say aloud, "... tell Dad."

Cheng Qiaobei hung up the last pair of pants, and as the drying rack lifted, all barriers between them disappeared.

"Alright." Cheng Qiaobei smiled warmly.

He took Chen Ningxi’s hand, looking into her eyes that were as bright as stars and moons, gently rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb, "Let’s confirm the wedding photo schedule tomorrow. Things are tight, and you’ve also worked hard."

Chen Ningxi said, "It’s no trouble; it’s you who should check your schedule. Will you have time?"

"Whether I have time or not, I’ll make time." Cheng Qiaobei embraced her, "There might not be that many tables from my family, just more friends."

Chen Ningxi said, "I’m just the opposite, more relatives."

With the issue about Ding Yuan, the family relatives were all aware. Cheng Qiaobei also intended to invite only the sensible ones, ignoring those who gossiped.

Chen Ningxi was aware of his plans, so she didn’t argue about these things.

But after meeting his father, his face still looked a bit off. Chen Ningxi sliced a plate of fruit and brought it to the living room, placing it on the coffee table.

Cheng Qiaobei was working on a laptop, ten fingers flying over the keys, and as Chen Ningxi glanced over, the document was entirely in English, roughly related to hotel management plans.

Sitting next to him, Chen Ningxi picked a piece of dragon fruit and held it to his lips. Cheng Qiaobei took it into his mouth slowly chewing, as he heard her ask,

"Are you planning to start a new hotel?"

Cheng Qiaobei focused entirely on the plan, speaking while writing, "It’s in the plan, but not exactly. We need to reorganize the management of some hotels; there are two overseas hotels with significant issues, and I need to visit them personally."

"When are you leaving?" Chen Ningxi asked.

"Hmm..." Having thought of a good idea, Cheng Qiaobei quickly finished writing it down before closing the notebook and putting it aside, pulling Chen Ningxi closer to circle her waist, saying, "Don’t worry; it won’t affect our wedding photoshoot, and I won’t be gone long."

Chen Ningxi asked, "When do you plan to leave?"

"I need to finish the plan to submit it to the company for a shareholders’ meeting discussion; results should be expected within a week." Cheng Qiaobei knew he shouldn’t increase his workload now, but he had to give Cheng Xiangheng an account for what he promised him, to show he was progressing.

Chen Ningxi said, "I didn’t mean anything else, just worried you’d be too tired."

"Heh heh..." Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, kissing her on the cheek, "It’s good to have a wife who cares."

So, who didn’t care for him?

Chen Ningxi held Cheng Qiaobei’s face with both hands, staring into his eyes, asking, "Are you hiding something from me?"

"... No."

His pause of several seconds already gave Chen Ningxi the answer. Dealing with various people at the grassroots level, even if she didn’t have Eyes of Golden Flame, she had developed the skill of reading people.

Chen Ningxi feigned anger, pouting, "What can’t you tell me about?"

Cheng Qiaobei gave a helpless smile; hiding things from her was futile. He might as well say it.

He roughly explained his conversation with Cheng Xiangheng, and the more Chen Ningxi listened, the more stifling she felt, not because of the massive workload Cheng Qiaobei faced, but from the profit-driven relationship between father and son.