Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 163: Keeping Secrets from Her

Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Keeping Secrets from Her

Chen Ningxi was about to retract her hand when Cheng Qiaobei grabbed her wrist, not letting her leave. He lowered his head, his eyelashes slightly drooping, and gently brushed his moist tongue over the shallow bite mark. Instantly, Chen Ningxi’s hair stood on end as a tingling sensation swept through her body.

"Mm..." She pushed against him while stepping back, her waist tightened, and he easily pulled her back.

The distance closed, and looking at his alluring eyes made her heartbeat erratic.

Trying to stay composed, Chen Ningxi said, "I’ll clean up a bit, and we can leave."

"No rush, let me take a look."

"What is there to see? I just got back from the site, covered in dust." Embarrassed, Chen Ningxi tugged the loose hair behind her ear, speaking softly, "Let go."

"Let me hold you a bit longer." Cheng Qiaobei didn’t give her a chance to refuse, grabbing her in a tight embrace.

At that moment, footsteps echoed from the corridor.

Startled, Chen Ningxi quickly patted his shoulder, "Someone’s coming, let go."

Seeing the shadow approaching the door, Cheng Qiaobei finally released her and leaned back in his chair.

It was only someone passing by the door, and Chen Ningxi sighed in relief from her false alarm.

Regaining her composure, she asked, "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back early?"

Cheng Qiaobei grinned mischievously, "Never heard of a surprise inspection?"

Chen Ningxi glanced back at him, "Look at you, find any problems?"

Cheng Qiaobei stood up, nonchalantly walked to the window, gazing at the gym across the street; the treadmills were packed with handsome, fit young men.

"Nope, but you have a good view here, can see everything clearly... Don’t pull me."

Chen Ningxi tugged his arm toward the door, "Out of things to say, huh."

Locking the office door, the two walked side by side.

"What time did you arrive?" Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei replied, "Got here in the afternoon, showered, changed clothes, then came to pick you up."

"After such a long flight, you’re not tired?"

"Not really, I slept on the plane."

Leaving the office building, several colleagues noticed the flowers in her arms and smiled warmly at them.

Cheng Qiaobei suggested, "On my way here, I saw a newly opened restaurant on Construction Road, Huajian Stove. The decor is nice, and there are a lot of customers. Want to give it a try?"

A newly opened place packed with diners must have good food.

Chen Ningxi said, "Sure, let’s go."

Their cars exited the main gate one after the other.

At Huajian Stove, the entrance was packed with cars. Chen Ningxi eventually found a parking spot, and Cheng Qiaobei had to park across the street.

She went in first to ask a waiter if a table was available, learning there would be one in ten minutes, they decided to wait.

Cheng Qiaobei asked the waiter for a menu, ordered four dishes, two meat and two vegetarian, waiting while the kitchen prepared them simultaneously, no time wasted.

The small restaurant was bustling, full of lively chatter and laughter, sitting there made you forget life’s worries.

Chen Ningxi noticed his basketball shoes, which weren’t at home.

"New shoes?" Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei followed her gaze, "Yeah, spent a fortune for a ’big guy’ look, just to make my wife smile. Honestly, do they look good?"

Chen Ningxi smiled and nodded.

Cheng Qiaobei: "Say something, nod yes, shake your head no. Do you think you’re teaching a three-year-old? Are they good-looking?"

Chen Ningxi made a sound of agreement, unable to suppress her smile, "Very handsome."

"Well..." Cheng Qiaobei raised his eyebrows at her with satisfaction, "I can charm you with any style."

Chen Ningxi gave him a sideways glance, "You’re so full of yourself."

As they spoke, a waiter called out to them, "Come on, we have a table ready for you."

The table was at the very back, separated by wooden screens. It wasn’t long before the waiter began serving the dishes, three quick stir-fries, and the pepper chicken pot needed more cooking time.

Since both drove, they didn’t order alcohol and instead had the waiter bring a pot of sour plum juice to cleanse the palate.

Cheng Qiaobei wiped her chopsticks clean before handing them to her, glancing at her neck, "You’ve lost a lot of weight, eat more."

"Not really," Chen Ningxi said, taking a bite of garlic chives, "Same weight as before you went overseas."

"Look at this," he said, reaching across the table to tap her collarbone, "Wasn’t this sunken before."

Chen Ningxi said, "It was the same as before."

Cheng Qiaobei scrutinized her again, "You’re making me doubt my memory."

Chen Ningxi put a piece of bacon on his plate, "You’re right to doubt it."

Cheng Qiaobei: "..."

He kept eating quietly, suddenly saying, "I’ll check again tonight, see where else you’ve lost weight."

Chen Ningxi instinctively looked around, feeling more reserved in public than Cheng Qiaobei, mindful of certain words.

"Keep your voice down," she said.

Cheng Qiaobei smirked, "You should keep your voice down tonight too."

Chen Ningxi’s face turned beet red.

"Heh..." he let out a satisfied nasal laugh, just as a waiter served the last dish, saying, "Everything’s served."

Continuing the conversation, Chen Ningxi asked about his return, "You came back so suddenly, is work all finished?"

From their usual talks, Cheng Qiaobei still had about a month left overseas.

Cheng Qiaobei picked up a piece of chicken for her, acting as if nothing happened, "Finished, with my working ability, it was simple."

Was it simple?

Last video call, Cheng Qiaobei mentioned that as more hotels were completed, the issues became more challenging.

Seeing no change in his expression, Chen Ningxi didn’t question further, "The chicken is tasty; stop just serving me, eat some yourself."

"I am," Cheng Qiaobei said, sipping his tea.

Thinking about the overseas hotel project, he felt a bit stifled. Telling her wouldn’t solve anything, it would only add to her worries.

Midway through the meal, Cheng Qiaobei got a stain on his white T-shirt, standing out due to his slight OCD, so he went to the restroom to clean up.

Behind them, a group of seven or eight entered, dressed like office clerks.

After ordering, they began gossiping, mentioning Mr. Cheng, prompting Chen Ningxi to think of Cheng Xiangheng. Initially thinking it was a coincidence, they then discussed the overseas hotel, confirming they were employees at Jade Jiali.

Someone said, "Wan Mingkun really lucked out this time. If it were me, I’d be furious. Do you guys think Cheng..." The voice cut off, "Manager Cheng?"

Chen Ningxi turned to see a table of people standing up, greeting Cheng Qiaobei.

He appeared warm, "What a coincidence, you folks came to eat too?"

They all responded, "Yes, Manager Cheng."

Cheng Qiaobei tapped the shoulder of the person who was speaking, "Work’s over, relax, sit down and eat. My wife and I are eating here too."

Following his gaze, they saw Chen Ningxi and exchanged glances, worried about how much she overheard.

Seven or eight people collectively greeted, "Sister-in-law."

Chen Ningxi smiled, "Hello."

Cheng Qiaobei returned to his seat, and the table next to them grew quiet.

Upon leaving the little restaurant, Cheng Qiaobei carried the takeaway box, "You were in such a hurry, we still had some food left."

Chen Ningxi said, "You didn’t see how constrained they felt. Before you came, they were chatting lively."

Cheng Qiaobei walked toward the road, "Didn’t their teacher teach them? In public places, don’t talk loudly."

Watching his retreating figure, recalling the scene with those people hesitating to speak, she was sure there was something he was hiding from her about the overseas hotel project.