Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 143: Looking at the Same Scenery

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Looking at the Same Scenery

On the highway to Ningkou, Chen Ningxi was eating the snacks Cheng Qiaobei had prepared while saying,

"If my mom finds out I’m eating junk food, she’ll definitely nag me again."

"Mom’s not here, it’s fine, eat up." Cheng Qiaobei said with a smile.

Chen Ningxi held out a chip to feed Cheng Qiaobei, who crunched it loudly.

"Today, Guo Heming came to my office," Chen Ningxi said with her eyes down, folding the snack wrapper to seal it. Cheng Qiaobei’s gaze shifted, "What did he want?"

"Last year, they laid a power line. A family claimed the wire passes over their roof, saying it poses a safety hazard. He’s the attorney acting on their behalf, seeking an explanation from us."

"The line should’ve been approved before it was laid, right?"

"Of course, I reviewed the project documents before he came over; everything was in order."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Do you think he’s planning to negotiate or file a lawsuit?"

Chen Ningxi replied, "He mentioned compensation before leaving. I think there’s a big chance they’ll demand it."

Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Was the line laid legally?"

Chen Ningxi said, "The line construction was approved by relevant departments. We obtained a construction project planning permit and an environmental impact assessment report, so it definitely meets safety production requirements."

"Looks like they won’t get any compensation," Cheng Qiaobei said.

Chen Ningxi said, "I’ll have someone go and visit the location again to confirm. If there’s truly an issue, compensation should be given; if not, and they don’t accept, then they’ll have to go to court."

She didn’t mention Guo Heming’s threat to her; with his cowardice, he wouldn’t dare, just a futile act of bravado.

Given Cheng Qiaobei’s few encounters with Guo Heming, his spiteful nature and narrow-mindedness were evident, and he wouldn’t miss a chance to make Chen Ningxi uncomfortable under the guise of work.

"Did he say anything else?" he asked.

"No," Chen Ningxi immediately denied it, opening the freshly folded chips to eat one.

Cheng Qiaobei looked at her through the rearview mirror, then unobtrusively returned his gaze.

Her silence didn’t mean there wasn’t anything; she just didn’t want him to worry.

Cheng Qiaobei glanced dangerously and thought to himself,

Guo Heming, I’ll make you regret it!

They arrived in Ningkou at almost half-past ten. Ding Yuan wanted them to stay at her place, but Cheng Qiaobei knew she was used to being alone, and they would feel uncomfortable if they stayed.

Cheng Qiaobei booked a hotel near Ding Yuan’s place. When they got there, they had lunch first. As the food was being served, Cheng Qiaobei received a phone call; seeing the number, he stood up to take the call outside.

Chen Ningxi watched him through the glass window, noticing that Cheng Qiaobei’s expression seemed off and the conversation with the other party didn’t seem pleasant. When Cheng Qiaobei raised his eyes, meeting her gaze, he turned and walked to the landscaping tree by the road to continue his call with his back to the restaurant.

All the dishes were on the table, yet Cheng Qiaobei hadn’t returned. After another ten minutes, he finally came back to his seat.

"Who was it, this late?"

Cheng Qiaobei picked up his chopsticks, "Nothing major, it was Secretary Wei."

Chen Ningxi served him some food, "Eat more, you’ve been driving all the way. It must be tiring."

When they got to the hotel, Chen Ningxi went to shower first, and when she came out, she saw Cheng Qiaobei fiddling with his phone, quickly turning it off and setting it aside when he saw her.

He got off the bed, "Let’s sleep early. We’ll head to mom’s place early tomorrow."

"Okay."

From the bathroom came the sound of running water. Chen Ningxi looked at the phone on the nightstand, feeling that he was trying hard to conceal something.

Perhaps it was because work was too busy, and before marriage, both of them were tightly wound; they fell asleep shortly after lying down on the bed.

The next day, at dawn, Chen Ningxi woke up. She always slept restlessly in a new place and had even woken up once during the night.

Cheng Qiaobei felt the person in his arms stir and said in a husky, lazy voice, "Why are you up so early?"

Chen Ningxi paused, just opening the corner of the quilt, then turned back, lowered her voice and said, "I’m just going to the bathroom. You sleep a bit more."

Cheng Qiaobei rubbed his face, propped himself up on his arms against the head of the bed, turned on the bedside lamp, and pressed the curtain switch, letting the morning light gently pour in as the curtains slowly opened.

The sky had yet to shed the lingering duck egg blue of night, as the sunrise peeked over two overlapping hilltops.

Chen Ningxi got dressed, doing her morning routine and standing by the window to look outside. Cheng Qiaobei hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, "You know, I like holding you like this."

"Why?"

He remarked, "This way, we can enjoy the same view."

Chen Ningxi frowned, unable to hold back a smile, "I’m touched, but it sounds a bit... sappy."

"Oww..." Cheng Qiaobei bit lightly on her neck, just enough to leave a mark but not too hard.

Chen Ningxi shied away, covering her neck with her hand, "Stop that, how am I supposed to wear a wedding dress tomorrow with marks?"

"Oh right, I forgot," Cheng Qiaobei took her hand to check, observing, "It’s fine, no mark."

They cuddled quietly, their eyes gazing at the distant horizon, as if time had paused around them.

"Hey, there’s a morning market nearby, should we check it out?"

Chen Ningxi perked up, "Sure!"

Not far from the hotel, about seven or eight hundred meters away, there was a street market by the sea, with fresh seafood straight off the boat, along with local snacks and delicacies.

Chen Ningxi ate while walking. She’d tasted most of it before; there was a similar taste in Danjiang, but the flavor here was a little sweeter.

"Try this, this egg bun is pretty good."

Cheng Qiaobei took a bite, nodding, "Yeah, the flavor is really something."

They passed a tofu stall, and Cheng Qiaobei retraced his steps. Chen Ningxi glanced at him, "Do you want some?"

Cheng Qiaobei, with a slightly awkward expression, said, "Ding Yuan loves it."

Hearing this, Chen Ningxi said, "Great, let’s buy some and bring it to her."

The tofu was packed by the vendor in a food bag, warm, soft, and exuding a pure bean fragrance, as Cheng Qiaobei carried it.

Chen Ningxi asked again, "What else does Mom like to eat?"

Cheng Qiaobei looked ahead, "... that fried dough over there, she likes it too."

After buying Ding Yuan’s favorite snacks, Cheng Qiaobei drove to the apartment complex where Ding Yuan lived.

Though his parking spot was seldom used throughout the year, Ding Yuan always rented it annually.

They knocked on the door, and Ding Yuan’s housekeeper answered, calling inside,

"Xiaoyuan, Qiaobei and his wife are here."

Ding Yuan emerged from the bedroom, still in her pajamas, "Why are you guys here so early?"

Chen Ningxi said, "Mom, Qiaobei bought the breakfast you love and brought it over. It’s still warm, eat while it’s hot."

Ding Yuan eyed the tofu in her housekeeper’s hand, "Why’d you buy that, Aunt Han is making breakfast."

Aunt Han poured the tofu into a large bowl and set it on the dining table, "Come on, eat up. It’s from Old Bian at the seaside market, your favorite."

Ding Yuan sat down, poured a bowl of egg sauce into it, "It’s not that much of a favorite, no need to go so far next time."

Aunt Han pursed her lips and shook her head, "Don’t listen to your mom, she really loves it."

Cheng Qiaobei kept a straight face, but sitting next to him, Chen Ningxi grabbed his hand, "See, she even took a second serving, mom really loves it."

This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om