Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 268: High Level of Coordination

Chapter 268: Chapter 268: High Level of Coordination

"Ugh..." Lin Hanrui stuck out his tongue, "I shouldn’t have invited you out for drinks tonight."

"Look." Cheng Qiaobei nodded his chin toward the distance, and Lin Hanrui followed his gaze.

The two women who had just left were now with their friends, talking and glancing their way. Upon closer inspection, they were the ones who had come over to flirt, probably gambling on who could win them over.

Lin Hanrui looked away, "Boring."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "As long as it works, who cares if it’s a dirty trick or a clever one."

Lin Hanrui paused, "True. Hey, wait a second, this wouldn’t have happened in the past; such a golden opportunity, and I would have been drinking with a girl on each arm. What’s happened to me now?"

Cheng Qiaobei leaned back lazily against the chair, pulling out his phone and opening Liang Lei’s WeChat, "Come on, say that again. I’ll send it to Liang Lei."

"Hey, don’t... If you send it to her, she’ll crack my skull open when I get home." Lin Hanrui quickly pressed down on the phone, "I’m just mildly voicing my inner confusion—no other meaning. My consciousness has definitely improved."

Cheng Qiaobei laughed, putting away the phone, "You’re about to be a dad, and you’re still thinking about a girl on each arm? As my dear Manager Chen would say, such thoughts lead to moral decline, very dangerous."

"No, definitely not. Just simply expressing my inner confusion. Genuinely, I have no desire for these things now. I mean, those two girls earlier were quite pretty, really, and I didn’t feel the slightest desire. You think there’s something wrong with me? Maybe I’ve caught it from you—ever since you got married, you’ve been exuding the aura of a decent husband. Hey, tell me honestly, are you only any good with your own wife..."

Clap, clap, clap, Lin Hanrui clapped thrice.

Cheng Qiaobei said seriously, "You’re not infected by me. You’ve simply acquired a moral bottom line."

Lin Hanrui’s eyes lit up, and he said proudly, "...Wow, I suddenly feel as upright as a saint, pure light shining from the depths of my soul."

"Heh," Cheng Qiaobei looked away, a casual smile on his lips, "you really have a dirty mouth."

Suddenly, someone called out "Chairman Cheng" from behind, pulling Cheng Qiaobei’s attention away.

"Chairman Cheng, it’s me," Xia Zhiqing removed her mask and sunglasses, "Xia Zhiqing."

Cheng Qiaobei remembered she was an artist introduced by Zhuo Jun, always trying to get him to move her room to Zhang Qi’an’s floor.

He nodded, "Nice to meet you."

Xia Zhiqing quickly put her mask and sunglasses back on and took a seat nearby, "Sorry, I’m afraid the paparazzi will recognize me. This is my friend’s bar, and I genuinely didn’t expect to bump into you. What a coincidence! I’ll chat with you guys for a bit. The bill’s on me tonight."

Seeing Xia Zhiqing gesture for the waiter, Cheng Qiaobei interrupted, "Miss Xia, my friend has something urgent. Next time."

He looked at Lin Hanrui, who immediately understood and hurriedly got up, "Bye-bye, gorgeous, chat next time. I really have an urgent matter."

Xia Zhiqing watched Cheng Qiaobei leave, opened her mouth, then sighed helplessly.

Lin Hanrui asked, "Who’s that beauty just now?"

Cheng Qiaobei stood by the roadside waiting for the designated driver, lighting a cigarette and exhaling slowly, "A pretty popular artist right now."

Lin Hanrui’s eyes widened as he looked at Cheng Qiaobei in surprise, "Wow, you know people even in the celebrity circle."

Cheng Qiaobei gestured vaguely with the hand holding the cigarette, "Are you drunk? Did you forget you built the outdoor shooting venue in Zhoushan?"

"Oh," Lin Hanrui realized, "Is she on the show too? What TV series has she acted in? I haven’t watched any."

Cheng Qiaobei took a drag of his cigarette, looking disinterested, "I haven’t watched any either."

Lin Hanrui leaned in with a gossiping expression, "Has anyone I like been there?"

Cheng Qiaobei glanced at him sideways, "Who?"

Lin Hanrui’s smile was hard to suppress, more stubborn than an AK, "You know... tsk... that actress I’ve always liked."

Cheng Qiaobei said disdainfully, "All the stars here are legit, not from your D drive."

Lin Hanrui opened his mouth, "You... you’re something else... tch, I like legit ones too."

Cheng Qiaobei: "Go on, which legit star?"

Lin Hanrui blinked, "...I’m too drunk to remember right now."

Cheng Qiaobei: "Ha..."

Lin Hanrui: "What are you chuckling about?"

Cheng Qiaobei stubbed out his cigarette, looking behind Lin Hanrui, "The driver is here."

Before entering the house, Cheng Qiaobei sniffed his clothes, reeking of smoke and alcohol.

Chen Ningxi, in the study, heard the door and was looking at information on submarine cables. Thanks to Cheng Qiaobei’s reminder, she thought of Donggou Port’s proximity to the sea and realized that using submarine cables might solve the electricity needs of several adjacent coastal provinces.

"You’re back?" Chen Ningxi called out from beyond the door.

Cheng Qiaobei knew she didn’t like the smell of smoke and spice, "Yeah."

He hurriedly went to the closet to grab a change of clothes and headed for the bathroom. Just as Chen Ningxi reached the doorway, she saw a shadow dart past.

"Why are you running?"

Cheng Qiaobei peeked through the bathroom door crack, "No reason, just taking a bath."

Bang, the door shut.

Chen Ningxi: "..."

Seeing the coat on the couch, Chen Ningxi went over to pick it up, intending to wash it. She emptied the pockets onto the coffee table without paying much attention. When Cheng Qiaobei came out post-bath, he noticed a lighter there, given by the cashier.

Glancing at Chen Ningxi in the study, gazing intently at the screen, her expression was very serious.

He started to wonder if she might be angry.

Cheng Qiaobei carried a plate of fruits inside, "Wife, what are you looking at? So focused."

Chen Ningxi turned her laptop around for him to see the screen content, "You’re looking into the submarine cable too?"

Her eyes were full of hope and anticipation, "Your mention of the submarine cable project last time made me realize it’s perfect for Donggou Port. If feasible, offshore wind power will be another groundbreaking development for Danjiang Power. By then, wind power from the sea will be inexhaustible and endless."

"Oh..." Cheng Qiaobei grasped it, "You’re thinking about that."

Chen Ningxi glanced at him, "What’s up?"

Cheng Qiaobei speared a piece of mango to feed her, "Nothing much, just had a few drinks with Lin Hanrui at the bar tonight. His company’s payments came through, and he wanted to repay me. I didn’t take it since he’s about to get married and will need the money."

Chen Ningxi said, "Liang Lei has also started preparing. Her parents know that Lin Hanrui is still in the startup phase, so her family intends to contribute a lot."

Cheng Qiaobei fed her another piece of fruit, "Tell Liang Lei not to mention it; Lin Hanrui might feel inadequate."

"Really?" Chen Ningxi thought it shouldn’t be a big deal, "In marriage, who contributes more or less isn’t that crucial, right?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Just trust me on this."

Chen Ningxi nodded, "Okay, I’ll talk to Liang Lei about it tomorrow."

"Wife," Cheng Qiaobei pointed to his neck, "Here."

Chen Ningxi looked, "What about it?"

"Smell it, I bathed it to perfection," Cheng Qiaobei grinned mischievously, "Want to explore my body’s structure?"

Chen Ningxi hooked a finger under Cheng Qiaobei’s chin, her eyes flowing with charm, her voice soft, "Do you know what I like most about you, Cheng Qiaobei?"

Cheng Qiaobei held her finger, lightly nibbling with his teeth, "You like my wild and free spirit."

"Tch..." Chen Ningxi withdrew her hand, draping an arm over his shoulders as she stood. Cheng Qiaobei lifted her horizontally, "I like how your body cooperates so well."

Cheng Qiaobei nodded, "Mm... alright, alright, my wife’s getting more articulate by the day."