Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 13: Friendship Relations

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Friendship Relations

After obtaining the approval documents, Cheng Qiaobei spent his days shuttling between the construction site and his lodging, which resulted in less contact with Chen Ningxi.

It wasn’t until the completion required an inspection by the electric power company that Cheng Qiaobei stared at the engineering vehicle parked at the hotel entrance, hoping that Chen Ningxi would get out, but only three or four big men did.

After the inspection was passed and the people were seen off at the entrance, Cheng Qiaobei casually asked, "Has Mr. Chen been busy lately?"

One of the inspectors replied, "We are two departments. She works in the office, we are out doing inspections and acceptance, so we don’t see each other often. But she should be quite busy; that position isn’t idle. Oh? Do you know our Mr. Chen?"

Cheng Qiaobei smiled, "We’ve met, not too familiar."

The two inspectors exchanged a look, seemingly accustomed to outsiders asking about her.

Chen Ningxi was quite famous internally in the electric power field, being not only beautiful but also highly proficient in her work, polite and graceful in social interactions, and from a reputable background, a truly outstanding woman.

Such an excellent person inevitably draws attention.

After seeing off the inspection team, Cheng Qiaobei went to a secluded spot and opened Chen Ningxi’s social media moments, finding she had set it to visible for only three days.

Given the current situation, they no longer had any work-related connections, so meeting required a reasonable excuse.

Before getting off work, Chen Ningxi received a message from Cheng Qiaobei, feeling a subtle thrill upon seeing the unread notification on his avatar.

He sent a photo of seafood ingredients.

Chen Ningxi: "?"

north: "I need to ask for your help again."

Chen Ningxi felt speechless, "Did your friend send you seafood again?"

north: "Yes, I’m quite helpless too. Please help me out, Mr. Chen."

Piled on Chen Ningxi’s desk were urgent documents needing processing and topics to organize for tomorrow’s meeting.

"Today is impossible. I have work to finish, may not be done until after seven, find a restaurant downstairs to cook it for you."

north: "Are you working overtime?"

Chen Ningxi replied, "Yes, not talking further, I’m busy now."

north: "Got it, you go ahead."

Cheng Qiaobei was preparing sashimi platters, with fish stewing in the pot. He turned off the stove, covered the sashimi platter with plastic wrap, and placed it in the fridge.

As the clock hands pointed to 6:10, Cheng Qiaobei untied his apron, hung it up, and walked out of the kitchen.

Just before heading out, he smelled his clothes and went back to the bathroom to shower, changed clothes, blow-dried his hair, and sprayed some TF oud wood perfume before leaving again.

Cheng Qiaobei arrived downstairs at the power company, seeing the office where Chen Ningxi worked still lit. He stood across the street, and half an hour later, the light went out.

As Chen Ningxi’s car drove out of the company gate, he waved to stop her from the roadside.

"What are you doing here?" Chen Ningxi asked in surprise.

Cheng Qiaobei smiled gently, "Can I catch a ride?"

"Get in then."

Chen Ningxi took her bag from the back seat, but he opened the passenger door, so she put the bag back.

As he got in, a subtle woody scent greeted her. She turned to look at him, noting the plain coat over a light beige turtleneck, long fingers, clean and smooth nails, even his hair neatly groomed. The noble and restrained qualities rarely seen in men were vividly expressed in him. To simply call him handsome seemed uneducated, but aside from handsome, she couldn’t find a more straightforward description.

"Why are you dressed like that?"

He dressed to date, which clearly caught her attention, though he kept a calm, ethereal demeanor as if he were above earthly matters.

Cheng Qiaobei looked down, "Dressed like what? Just normal."

Chen Ningxi wanted to smack him; anyone with some aesthetic sense knew this was knock-out stylish. He might be one of those genuinely unaware of their own attractiveness.

She started the car, heading towards Cheng Qiaobei’s residential area, casually asking, "Did you find a restaurant to cook your seafood?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "No."

Chen Ningxi almost hit the brakes, incredulous, "You’re not, Cheng Qiaobei, you waited at my office just to have me cook for you?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Of course not."

Chen Ningxi said, "Leave the seafood for a night, won’t it spoil?"

Cheng Qiaobei’s expression was relaxed and carefree, far more leisurely than hers, seemingly unconcerned.

"If you’re worried about spoilage, please help."

"If it goes bad, let it, what’s that to me," Chen Ningxi regretted giving him a ride, "I just finished overtime, exhausted, definitely not cooking; I was going to order takeout."

Cheng Qiaobei sighed, "Ah, nowadays making a friend is truly hard."

Chen Ningxi gave him a contemptuous glance, "Manager Cheng, don’t guilt-trip me, I have no morals, nobody can manipulate me."

"Pfft..." Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, "Mr. Chen, I didn’t realize you’re quite funny."

Heh, funny? Chen Ningxi forced a smile.

As they neared Cheng Qiaobei’s residence, Chen Ningxi parked on the side of the road, "Here we are."

Cheng Qiaobei squinted his eyes with a devilish smile, cryptically saying,

"Upstairs, there’s Australian lobster, surf clams, and sweet shrimp sashimi, not interested?"

Chen Ningxi laughed dismissively, "Not interested."

Cheng Qiaobei, at a loss, admitted, "It’s all prepared, I specifically came to invite you for dinner."

Chen Ningxi wasn’t easily fooled, suspecting that upon going up, she’d find nothing prepared; if she left, it’d be undignified.

"Nothing owed, nothing returned, what’s the occasion for this meal?" Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei had long prepared his response.

"Today the hotel’s electric facilities were completed and inspected; in thanks to you, I prepared this meal. Not choosing an outside restaurant isn’t cheapness on my part; every time I suggest going out, you refuse, dining at home you won’t be seen by your colleagues. Thoughtful, right?"

Judging by his expression, Chen Ningxi didn’t think he was lying, "Really?"

Without a word, Cheng Qiaobei pulled out his phone and showed a photo, "Look, sashimi’s been cut, lobster’s ready, kept warm in the oven."

Evidence presented, Chen Ningxi said, "Honestly, no need to thank me. You setting up a hotel in Zhoushan boosts the local economy, increases employment, I should thank you."

Her suddenly formal courtesy created a distance.

"Chen Ningxi, we’re not at work; I’m purely grateful as a friend."

"..." Chen Ningxi’s gaze subtly shifted, realizing in his mind, they were merely friends.

Who is interested in such a man?

Chen Ningxi set aside her personal thoughts, graciously agreeing, "Since we’re friends, I won’t hold back."

Cheng Qiaobei maintained an undisturbed smile, figuring she was resistant; even just being friends was fine.

Admiring the exquisite plating, Chen Ningxi was surprised at Cheng Qiaobei’s culinary skills.

"I thought you couldn’t cook," Chen Ningxi asked, her eyes clearly skeptical.

Cheng Qiaobei raised his phone, opening a cooking app, "Learned it on the spot."

Chen Ningxi retorted, "I don’t believe you. First time cooking turned out this well? Not a single failure?"

Cheng Qiaobei smirked, lifted his glass, "Call me a genius."

Chen Ningxi lifted her juice to clink glasses with him, "Impressive, impressive, my eyes are opened today."

For tonight’s meal, Cheng Qiaobei even summoned the hotel’s chef, whose guidance delivered stunning results.

Once fate’s wheels start turning, new stories between people await to unfold.

Just as liking someone takes time, love grows from heartbeats to lifelong commitment.