Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 287: If This is Not Love

Chapter 287: Chapter 287: If This is Not Love

Cheng Qiaobei’s face was terrifyingly somber. He pressed his lips tightly, his expression stern and detached, "Miss Xia, I have an urgent matter right now, please move aside."

"I’m sorry, I... Chairman Cheng, I didn’t think the whole thing would be this serious, but it wasn’t something I could control either..."

Cheng Qiaobei, extremely annoyed by the lack of perception, said, "My family member is in the hospital, can you move aside!"

"I..."

"If you have questions, talk to my secretary."

Before Xia Zhiqing could speak, the car door slammed shut.

Watching the disappearing taillights, Xia Zhiqing was both anxious and annoyed.

Originally, she hadn’t been too worried about this matter, but after a conversation with an artist friend about the protagonist of a past young model incident, who was seen performing at a bar in a small county, wearing skimpy clothes and forced to smile at drunken customers, now living a miserable life, Xia Zhiqing felt a sense of fear and worried about her future.

Under the night sky, the SUV sped towards Danjiang City.

As he neared the hospital, Cheng Qiaobei put on his Bluetooth headset and dialed Chen Ningxi’s number.

"Hey, honey, which room is grandma in?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, "...You’re here?"

Ye Yujun, who was in the ward at the time, looked at Chen Ningxi and asked, "Is Cheng here? Why let him come, it’s unsafe to travel at night."

"I didn’t ask him to come, he came on his own." Chen Ningxi spoke into the receiver, "Building Four, Room 506."

Cheng Qiaobei replied, "Okay, got it."

He took off the headset and placed it on the console, bought some fruits at the fruit shop at the entrance, and carried a case of mineral water from the trunk, walking into the inpatient department.

Not seeing him for a few days, an inexplicable feeling of excitement welled up within her. After hanging up, Chen Ningxi went out to greet him.

Waiting in the first-floor lobby for Cheng Qiaobei, she saw him from a distance, running up the steps with fruit in one hand and mineral water in the other. Chen Ningxi thought that when it came to matters about her, Cheng Qiaobei never seemed neglectful. If this wasn’t love, she truly didn’t understand what love was.

As she saw Cheng Qiaobei, who had been waiting for a while, his eyes softened, "Honey."

There were only a few people in the entire lobby, and when they heard the call, they all looked over in unison.

Chen Ningxi approached him, "My mom knows you’re here, she’s blaming me for calling you so late."

She reached to take the fruits, but he sidestepped and didn’t let go, "I’ll carry them, they’re not heavy. Later, tell mom I came on my own."

The brief separation made their reunion warm both of their hearts, filling them with happiness.

Their eyes met from time to time, filled with love and silent longing.

Chen Ningxi followed him into the elevator, with fewer people at night, it was just the two of them. Naturally, she went to link her arm through his, but then remembered the surveillance above and pulled back.

Seeing her small actions felt strangely endearing, and Cheng Qiaobei’s smile deepened as he asked:

"Did you miss me?"

She lowered her eyes, straightforward and honest, "Mm-hmm."

He too liked to play it straight. "I missed you too."

"..."

Chen Ningxi turned her face, seeing the affection and desire rising in his eyes, her breathing grew shallow, her heartbeat quickened. Avoiding his burning gaze, she murmured quietly,

"Don’t mess around, there are cameras."

His long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, meaningfully, "...What did I do to be called out?"

He knew exactly what he was doing, yet feigned ignorance.

Chen Ningxi’s lips moved lightly, and suddenly he leaned in without warning, warm breath sprayed on her cheek, and a low male voice murmured by her ear, "I want to hug you."

"..."

She steadied herself, swallowing, "Public space, don’t mess around."

"So, this is ’messing around.’" Cheng Qiaobei intentionally lightly bumped her with his shoulder, making Chen Ningxi sway slightly, as he continued, "I just want to kiss you."

Chen Ningxi felt one side of her face heat up, fortunately, the elevator door opened, and she quickly walked out.

Walking side by side, Cheng Qiaobei didn’t mess around anymore and asked, "Is grandma’s condition serious?"

Chen Ningxi replied, "She’s had vertigo before, and it flared up suddenly at night. The medication didn’t help, so we came to the hospital. The doctor prescribed a couple of days of IV drips."

Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Who’s staying with her tonight?"

Chen Ningxi looked at Cheng Qiaobei, "My mom and I."

"..." Cheng Qiaobei paused slightly, recalling how Chen Ningxi had been running back and forth for the hospitalization, he nodded.

Chen Ningxi explained, "My dad is out of town, my aunt and uncle are helping with my little sister’s kids, and my older aunt and uncle are old, they can help during the day but can’t stay up all night."

Cheng Qiaobei nodded.

As soon as they entered the ward, they heard the patient on the bed groan in discomfort. Ye Yujun turned her head to see Cheng Qiaobei entering the room, "Cheng is here."

"Yes, mom, how’s grandma?" Cheng Qiaobei placed the fruit on the table and pushed the mineral water under the bed.

Ye Yujun said, "The IV drip will help, it’s the old issue, she’ll be fine after two days."

Zhou Fangli opened her eyes with difficulty, looking at the people by the bedside, "Child, why did you come so late?"

Cheng Qiaobei bent his body slightly, speaking gently, "Since you’re hospitalized, I came to check, otherwise I wouldn’t feel at ease."

"Oh..." Zhou Fangli opened her eyes and felt the world spin, quickly closing them again, "I’m fine, it’s an old issue, you sit down."

"Don’t worry about me, focus on getting better." Cheng Qiaobei helped her adjust the quilt.

It had been decided that Chen Ningxi would stay and care overnight, but the hospital’s rule allowed only one family member. Ye Yujun suggested they go back, with plans for Chen Ningxi to bring breakfast in the morning.

Cheng Qiaobei followed behind Chen Ningxi’s car on the way home, his car disappearing at some point. When she parked, she finally saw his car pull in.

She approached, "Where did you go?"

Cheng Qiaobei raised the plastic bag in his hand, smiling, "I ran out of this."

Seeing the pharmacy logo, she immediately understood.

"Oh."

"Oh, what?" Cheng Qiaobei pulled her hand as they walked toward the elevator.

She had imagined a passionate night, but hadn’t foreseen how wild and indulgent it would be.

As soon as she entered the bathroom, even before closing the door, she saw him push the door open with his hand.

He was shirtless, and Chen Ningxi said, "You go ahead and shower."

Just as she was about to leave, he pulled her back, her body colliding into his firm chest, the defined muscles tangible under her palms, warmth radiating through her hand, spreading through her arm, enveloping her entire body. She tried to evade, but he clasped her wrist, entwining it behind his neck, his strong arms lifting her, and his shoulders dipped to find her enticing lips.

He swallowed the sounds of the passionate kiss, desire in his eyes like a mire pulling her in deeper. His hands, clean and long, stroked her cheek and slid to the back of her head to deepen the kiss.

Affection surged like ocean waves crashing ashore.

The body, once having tasted the forbidden fruit, couldn’t withstand the teasing, fingertips setting off small flames wherever they landed, desire shredding reason, emotions rising in turbulent waves.

Biting her earlobe, his hand caressing her smooth back, he breathed heavily and said,

"I’m ready..."