Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 17: Dating and Pursuing a Career

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Dating and Pursuing a Career

Chen Weichuan hung up the phone and brought up He Yunyi again in front of Chen Ningxi.

"Your high school classmate, He Yunyi, was promoted to Deputy Director of the Education Committee. We’ve interacted a few times in the past six months. The young man has good ideas and abilities at work, understands management, and most importantly, has a passion for education. He’s been leading several projects proposed by the Education Committee, a capable and efficient cadre. Not bad.

By the way, prepare yourself for next Wednesday evening. He and I are going to Lian County for a meeting, and we’ll have dinner together later."

Chen Ningxi was surprised, "Dad, you’ve already arranged it?"

"Yeah, He’s got nothing else on that day, so he already agreed." Chen Weichuan continued to praise, "Yujun, He Yunyi is polite in dealing with people and should be to your liking."

Upon hearing this, Ye Yujun also showed a pleased expression, "Really? Then have him over for dinner sometime."

"Bringing him home for dinner depends on your daughter," said Chen Weichuan as he went to the closet for his coat.

"Hold on," Chen Ningxi interrupted them, "Dad, why didn’t you ask my opinion before making the decision?"

"Aren’t I asking you now?" Chen Weichuan, ready to leave in his business coat, was stopped by Chen Ningxi’s questioning.

Chen Ningxi said, "What you’re doing is informing me, not asking." She put down her chopsticks with a slightly raised voice, which angered Chen Weichuan.

Chen Weichuan said sternly, "What’s wrong with He? Isn’t he better than Guo before?"

Bringing up Guo Heming affected Chen Ningxi’s pride, considering the heated historical context.

Sometimes a rebellious mindset arises from excessive imposition. He Yunyi and Chen Ningxi were high school classmates. When they were in the same class, they got along quite well. Chen Ningxi was the class secretary, and He Yunyi was the class president. They cooperated very well in class affairs. If today they met in a different way, Chen Ningxi might actually consider meeting him. But her father’s current attitude turned it into a force-fed task, invoking a resentful unwillingness from her core.

"Dad, there’s no way it’s possible with He Yunyi and me, and I can’t sit down for a meal with him. Just stop trying to set this up; I won’t be going on Wednesday."

Chen Weichuan could tell from her words that Chen Ningxi was serious and wouldn’t go.

"He is a good guy, you should trust my judgment on people."

Chen Ningxi immediately retorted, "Just because you like someone doesn’t mean I will, and for now, I don’t want to date anyone. I want to focus on my career."

Chen Weichuan said, "Dating doesn’t conflict with pursuing a career. I’m not interfering. I’m just asking you to meet He once. What’s there to be upset about?"

The feeling of suffocation in Chen Ningxi reached its peak, and her voice rose, "I’m not upset."

Chen Weichuan scolded in a leadership tone, "Your attitude already shows you’re upset."

Feeling immense pressure and frustration, Chen Ningxi found no outlet for relief.

She emphasized again, "I’m not."

Chen Weichuan’s face grew more serious. He looked at Chen Ningxi with frustration and called her name, "Chen Ningxi!"

She didn’t have the courage to look her father in the eye, as she indeed felt unhappy, filled with biases against her father and the forced matchmaking. She stubbornly didn’t want to comply with his wishes, lowered her eyes, and said,

"Dad, don’t meddle in my affairs anymore. I definitely won’t meet He Yunyi."

The dining room plunged into a deathly silence. Sensing the situation worsening and to avoid an intense argument, Ye Yujun quickly intervened,

"Old Chen, aren’t you going for a meeting? Don’t be late."

She grabbed the briefcase, took hold of Chen Weichuan’s arm, and pushed him towards the door, "What are you staking with your own daughter for?"

Chen Weichuan’s gaze shifted to Ye Yujun’s face, "Just keep spoiling her."

With a bang, the door slammed shut, and with her father’s departure, Chen Ningxi’s suffocating feeling slightly eased.

Ye Yujun returned, adding a piece of beef to Chen Ningxi’s plate, and said, "You should know your father’s temperament. Why provoke him? How could that not cause a fight?"

Chen Ningxi said, "Is it my fault? He didn’t even ask my opinion before setting things up. Whose problem is it?"

Ye Yujun helplessly said, "You two are both stubborn; I’m not mediating anymore."

Filled with pent-up anger, Chen Ningxi left her parents’ place and happened to run into Cheng Qiaobei downstairs at a business hotel. Next to him stood a man in a suit, and it didn’t seem like they were having a pleasant conversation.

At the same time, Cheng Qiaobei noticed Chen Ningxi’s car too. He watched the taillights disappear around the corner before turning back and continued to ask the other party with a serious face,

"I’m asking you for the last time, do you or do you not know about the issues with this batch of wine?"

Xu Gao flatly denied it, "Of course not."

Cheng Qiaobei’s dark eyes glanced over, having said what needed to be said. Since Xu Gao didn’t seem convinced, Cheng Qiaobei decided he wouldn’t hold back if things needed to escalate.

"Alright, I get it."

Seeing that Cheng Qiaobei had no evidence, Xu Gao brazenly ridiculed him.

"My uncle has shares in this hotel too. Would I cheat my own family? Don’t talk carelessly without proof; be careful, it might bring trouble to you. Also, watch your own background—one day you might mess up and get booted out by Mr. Cheng."

Upon uttering these harsh words, Xu Gao left. Cheng Qiaobei returned to his car, called his secretary, and told her to send the quality inspection report and complaint materials to the relevant departments once she received them.

Xu Gao was Vice President Xu’s relative. They sent him over under the guise of lending a hand before the new hotel opened, but Cheng Qiaobei could see right through their plan.

He often helped Vice President Xu with tasks, benefiting from kickbacks under the pretense of procurement. Before, he could let things slide, but this time was different. Xu Gao procured low-quality wine portraying it as high-end.

From what he understood, the winery he sourced from didn’t even have proper licensing, let alone quality checks. The wine wasn’t even made from grape must of the winery but was procured from a third-party small workshop. Whether the contents were mixed or not was uncertain, and if any harm came to the guests, he’d be the one blamed.

Cheng Qiaobei intended to relax and have a drink, and upon passing by a bar, he noticed Chen Ningxi’s car parked at the entrance, pondering briefly before he drove over.

At that time, Chen Ningxi was seated at the bar, waiting for Liang Lei, with strangers occasionally passing by casting curious and interested glances at her.

Suddenly, a stranger sat next to her, kindly approaching, "It’s not safe to drink alone here. If you don’t mind, I can keep you company for a while."

Chen Ningxi turned her head and smiled, "My friend will be here soon."

"...Oh." The stranger was belatedly aware, smiled awkwardly, and left with his wine glass.

This was the third stranger she had turned down that evening. Chen Ningxi took out her phone and sent Wei Xin to Liang Lei.

Chen Ningxi: Where are you exactly? Why aren’t you here yet?

Liang Lei didn’t reply, and Chen Ningxi put her phone down to continue waiting.

Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder twice, and when she turned around, it was someone she didn’t recognize.

He was a handsome, tall young man, his attire suggesting he was possibly a college student.

He scratched the back of his neck shyly and said, "Hey, pretty lady, I lost a game. My penalty is to get your WeChat."

Chen Ningxi raised an eyebrow, thinking it was a clever tactic.