Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 264: Meeting Gift

Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Meeting Gift

The car stopped at the Golden Goblet, and Lin Hanrui lifted the gift from the trunk.

Aside from the usual gifts, Chen Ningxi pointed at one of the long, narrow boxes and asked,

"What’s this?"

Lin Hanrui said, "Trekking poles. Aren’t Liang Lei’s parents fond of traveling? This model is carbon fiber super-light foldable. They each get a pair, perfect for pictures, isn’t that cool?"

Chen Ningxi gave a forced smile, "...Heh heh."

Who gives trekking poles when meeting the girlfriend’s parents for the first time—!

"What’s in this bag?"

Lin Hanrui proudly said, "Outdoor headlamps. They often go out, so they’ll appreciate it. These headlamps cost nearly a grand."

Chen Ningxi held back these unconventional gifts, "Lin Hanrui, let’s discuss something."

"Go ahead."

Chen Ningxi said, "Save the trekking poles and headlamps for when you know them better. Just bring cigarettes, liquor, and supplements today."

"How can that be? Everyone gives cigarettes and liquor, no originality at all. I call this catering to their interests." Lin Hanrui insisted on bringing them, "Only the snowboard is inconvenient to carry. I even customized a Maher board for each of them."

Chen Ningxi asked, "How much did it cost?"

Lin Hanrui: "Not too expensive, over ten thousand."

Chen Ningxi felt her head buzz, "No way, I have a headache. Can the snowboard be returned?"

Lin Hanrui: "Definitely not, they’re custom-made."

Chen Ningxi said, "Over ten thousand is too expensive."

Lin Hanrui: "Is that expensive? My competition-level custom board costs over thirty thousand."

Chen Ningxi said, "Weren’t you out of money?"

Lin Hanrui raised an eyebrow, smiled, and said, "I just collected some final payments, enough to turn things around."

Standing behind him, Chen Ningxi said, "When you meet Liang Lei’s parents, make sure you act sensible. Don’t be unreliable."

Lin Hanrui said, "Relax, I’ll be on my best behavior."

Seeing his exuberant expression, Chen Ningxi began to worry a bit.

She said, "If you encounter uncertainty, look for my signals."

"Got it." Lin Hanrui answered seriously, "With you here today, it’ll be twice the result with half the effort."

Chen Ningxi said, "Getting along with Liang Lei’s parents makes it easier for you to bring up marriage."

Lin Hanrui said, "I know, I know. I’ll definitely get along with them."

To be honest, if it weren’t for Cheng Qiaobei’s reminder, Chen Ningxi wouldn’t be worried, but compared to Lin Hanrui, she trusted Cheng Qiaobei more.

As they walked, Chen Ningxi said, "A good relationship feels comfortable even with silence, but a bad one is awkward no matter how hard you try. Don’t overlook this."

Lin Hanrui laughed and said to Chen Ningxi, "Don’t worry, I’ll do great."

Chen Ningxi asked, "Which private room?"

Lin Hanrui: "Seven, I think."

They arrived early, and no one was there yet when they entered the private room.

Looking at the gift boxes on the table, the trekking poles and headlamps appeared both classy and out of place.

"Lin Hanrui," Chen Ningxi decided to make one more effort to persuade, "I still feel that giving trekking poles and such isn’t very appropriate."

"Oh, come on. You don’t get it, people who love traveling are obsessed with outdoor gear," Lin Hanrui started enthusiastically, almost unable to stop himself.

"Alright," Chen Ningxi gave up resisting.

"I’m going out for a smoke and to meet them at the door," Lin Hanrui said to Chen Ningxi.

Finally acting responsibly, "Go ahead."

Once Lin Hanrui left, Chen Ningxi quickly called Ye Yujun from her phone.

"Hey, Mom, you busy?"

Ye Yujun: "Not busy, just watching TV. What’s up?"

Chen Ningxi asked, "Mom, I wanted to ask, if—just if—the first time Cheng Qiaobei met you and Dad, he brought cigarettes, liquor, and supplements, plus trekking poles and outdoor headlamps as gifts, would you be happy?"

As Ye Yujun listened, her brows furrowed more tightly, "What are these things? I’ve heard of trekking poles, but what’s an outdoor headlamp for?"

Chen Ningxi said, "I’m not exactly sure, but it’s probably for outdoor lighting at night."

Ye Yujun: "Why not just use a flashlight for outdoor lighting? Who goes around with a headlamp? People might think you’re a miner. Who’s this from, bringing such odd things?"

Chen Ningxi said, "A friend."

"I’d advise your friend to pack those things away quickly," Ye Yujun said.

"And they even ordered snowboards worth over ten thousand."

Ye Yujun said, "At that age, still skiing? What if something happens? Won’t they be blamed?"

Chen Ningxi held her forehead, "Got it, Mom."

Hanging up the phone, Chen Ningxi heard Liang Lei’s voice outside, along with her parents’ voices, indicating they were about to enter. In a flash, she hid the trekking poles and headlamps behind the curtains in two steps.

The private room door was pushed open from outside just as Chen Ningxi sat down.

She swallowed, slightly out of breath.

Chen Ningxi stood up, smiling as she greeted, "Uncle, Auntie, when did you come back?"

"We just got back yesterday. If there hadn’t been an issue at a tourist spot, we wouldn’t be back until the end of the month." Liang Lei’s mother, Wan Yixuan, saw Chen Ningxi and took her hand to chat, "Ning Xi, after getting married, you still look just like you did before, like a young girl. How are your parents doing?"

Chen Ningxi smiled, "They’re doing well."

Lin Hanrui diligently moved chairs for Liang Lei’s parents and took their coats to hang up.

"Uncle, Auntie, I’ll get the waiter to take our order."

Liang Lei’s father, Liang Geng, looked rather indifferent, "Sure, order. We’re probably hungry."

Lin Hanrui pressed the call button, and the waiter entered with the menu, Lin Hanrui: "Uncle, Auntie, what would you like?"

Wan Yixuan said, "Let Ning Xi order. What do you like to eat?"

"I’m fine with anything, not picky. Liang Lei can order."

Ultimately, Liang Lei was given the decision-making power for ordering.

As Liang Lei ordered, Lin Hanrui poured tea for the two elders, showing that while they weren’t overly warm towards him, they responded appropriately given their elder status.

Inwardly, Chen Ningxi was worried for Lin Hanrui.

While waiting for the food, the room fell quiet. To break the awkwardness, Chen Ningxi hastily asked,

"Auntie, which places did you pass through on this trip?"

Mentioning the scenery along the travel opened up a conversation, and listening to their tales of adventures and close calls made Chen Ningxi’s heart race with excitement and anxiety.

When they mentioned a specific outdoor campsite, Lin Hanrui suddenly said, "I’ve been there too, stayed at that campsite."

Wan Yixuan curiously asked, "Really? You’ve been there, did you experience altitude sickness?"

Lin Hanrui said, "No, but my hiking friends did. They had to be airlifted down by a rescue team that night."

Wan Yixuan said, "Neither your uncle nor I experienced altitude sickness. Quite a few young folks couldn’t handle it and were carried down too."

Listening to Lin Hanrui recount his efforts to help rescue his mates at high altitude, Liang Geng’s gaze softened.

Chen Ningxi observed the group and thought Lin Hanrui’s gifts might have been well-chosen after all.

As the conversation became livelier, the waiter came to serve the dishes. When the door opened, a group of four or five people entered the room across, just as Cheng Qiaobei appeared at the entrance before the door closed.