Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 180: Man Delivers from College

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Man Delivers from College

The receiver was silent, and Cheng Xiangheng knew that to get Cheng Qiaobei to resolve the issue, he needed to appeal to his emotions.

"Of course, it’s about the father," Cheng Xiangheng advised earnestly, "Qiaobei, I’ve seen your contribution to the company and all your hard work. I haven’t forgotten your efforts. Over the years, whenever a hotel needed you, you were there, even more than I was. Your work has greatly contributed to Jade Jiali’s success today. See, I haven’t forgotten about you. But right now, the career you’ve built with your blood and sweat is on the brink because of a blogger’s revelation. Are you willing to let it all fail? Can you really watch as things go beyond the point of no return, causing the overseas chain hotels to decline?"

"...So it’s my fault?" Cheng Qiaobei laughed sarcastically.

"Of course not your fault. I just hope you adopt the mindset of a leader, with vision and foresight, to consider issues from a broader perspective."

If Cheng Qiaobei weren’t sufficiently clear-headed, he might have been brainwashed by Cheng Xiangheng even before he finished speaking.

"Mr. Cheng,"

"..." Cheng Xiangheng frowned, hearing from his tone that Cheng Qiaobei was not swayed.

"Heh..." Cheng Qiaobei sneered, "Cheap motivation and zero-cost pep talks were what you taught me to use on employee management. Did you forget?"

Cheng Xiangheng’s deep eyes glanced towards him, realizing that teaching a disciple truly could backfire.

"What will it take for you to step in?" Cheng Xiangheng stopped beating around the bush.

Cheng Qiaobei quoted a price for resolving the public sentiment, then added, "A 20% pay raise and a 10% increase in the year-end bonus."

"You have quite the appetite," Cheng Xiangheng thought coldly. Indeed, familial bonds were not as tangible as profit.

Since he talked money, they would talk money.

And Cheng Qiaobei’s idea was quite practical: instead of discussing a pay raise or more bonuses, it would be better to propose an even larger, unattainable condition.

This way, taking a step back, Cheng Xiangheng would certainly choose the more acceptable condition.

Cheng Qiaobei said, "These are worth the value I’ve created for the company, and you know it."

"Can’t it be any less?" Cheng Xiangheng tested the waters.

Cheng Qiaobei didn’t budge, "No room for negotiation."

The receiver went silent again. Cheng Qiaobei checked the time and said, "Mr. Cheng, maybe you should think it over. My wife gets off work soon, and I still have to make her lunch."

Cheng Xiangheng raised an eyebrow, "You stay home all day just to cook for a woman?"

Hearing the sarcasm, Cheng Qiaobei didn’t mind, "Is there a problem? I returned to the country, and the company didn’t assign me any position or work. All the hotels I managed were handed over to other managers. Now I have to rely on my wife, so what’s the point in making fun of me for making her lunch?"

The business prodigy he groomed, the finance darling, had reduced to cooking for a woman at home.

Frustrated with his lack of ambition, Cheng Xiangheng asked, "Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughing stock?"

Cheng Qiaobei laughed, "If my wife doesn’t mind, why should I care what others think?"

Cheng Xiangheng gritted his teeth, "You really are just like your mother, someone who can’t stand on their own."

"..." Cheng Qiaobei’s face suddenly darkened. He didn’t care what they said about him, but no one could speak about Ding Yuan this way, especially not someone with no rights to judge her.

"You’re not qualified to speak about my mom. Anything else? If not, I’m going to cook," Cheng Qiaobei said as he was about to hang up, but the person on the other end stopped him, "Wait, your asking price is astronomical. The company can’t spend that much on a public sentiment issue; paying you would drain our cash flow."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Mr. Cheng, can you start again with ’but’?"

Cheng Xiangheng replied, "I can agree to your salary increase and year-end bonus conditions."

A barely noticeable grin appeared on Cheng Qiaobei’s lips, and his dark eyes twinkled. "Draft the contract within half an hour, electronic signature for confirmation."

Cheng Xiangheng said lightly, "Don’t trust me?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "That’s your interpretation."

Cheng Xiangheng added, "However, one more thing to be clear: when you return, you’re only responsible for managing overseas hotel sentiment, not involved in daily hotel operations."

Between the lines, there still wasn’t actual management power, nor would he be given any hotel.

The result was expected, but some things weren’t urgent at the moment.

He knew what Cheng Xiangheng was guarding against—fearing that once he returned to hotel senior management, Yin Yihui and Lian Wenlong would immediately conspire to pull him into the board, threatening Cheng Xiangheng’s position.

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Getting paid without hard work, I’ve hit the jackpot."

With that, he hung up the phone first.

Cheng Xiangheng, breathing heavily, threw his phone on the desk, glaring fiercely.

Half an hour later, Cheng Qiaobei received the electronic contract sent by Deng Yan and signed it after confirming the contract content.

After receiving the electronic document, Deng Yan called Cheng Qiaobei on his personal phone.

"Manager Cheng, I’ve received the contract."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "You didn’t call just to say that, did you?"

Deng Yan said, "Manager Cheng, are you not planning to return to the company?"

Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Why do you think I’m not planning to go back to work?"

Deng Yan replied, "The overseas sentiment is your best chance to return. You didn’t negotiate for that; do you have other plans?"

"...Heh, Deng Yan, you’re overthinking," Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, "Do you think Jade Jiali is somewhere I can return whenever I want?"

Although what Cheng Qiaobei said seemed reasonable, Deng Yan felt that the whole matter wouldn’t be that simple.

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Enough, hanging up."

Since he wouldn’t admit it, Deng Yan didn’t pursue the matter, "Sorry for bothering you, Manager Cheng."

During lunchtime, a colleague passed by Chen Ningxi’s office door and saw she hadn’t gone to the cafeteria yet. They casually asked, "Not going down for lunch? Soon there’ll only be two dishes left."

Chen Ningxi replied, "Not today, it’s being delivered from home."

The colleague joked, "Lucky you."

Chen Ningxi received a photo from Cheng Qiaobei and a message: Bringing you lunch at noon, wait for me in the office.

As she finished tidying up her desk, footsteps could be heard in the hallway.

The next second, a man’s tall figure appeared at the door, his casual attire neat and refreshing. A round-neck T-shirt under a white-striped shirt, gray jeans accentuating his straight long legs, and white canvas shoes made him look younger. You must admit, Cheng Qiaobei looked convincingly like a college student, without any sense of incongruity.

Cheng Qiaobei held up the thermal lunchbox and used his other hand to close and lock the door, smiling mischievously with a roguish glint in his eyes, he said,

"Your caring lunch from this big guy has arrived. Please, happy little baby, sign to receive."

"Happy little baby" was Cheng Ningxi’s note in their close-knit family group chat.

She took the lunchbox and laughed as she opened it, saying, "Who knows how many beautiful flowers and thorny roses you’ve mesmerized with that look and smile of yours."