Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 30 Misjudgment

Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Misjudgment

"Your birthday is on February 14," Chen Ningxi smiled meaningfully, "such a significant day."

Knowing why she smiled, Cheng Qiaobei was already used to it. Many girls had taken advantage of his birthday to confess to him from childhood to adulthood.

"What about you?" he asked.

Chen Ningxi replied, "August 19."

"Wait," Chen Ningxi stared in utter shock, "819?"

Cheng Qiaobei also stared at her, "You and I... never mind."

Seeing his expression suddenly darken, Chen Ningxi guessed it must have been his ex-girlfriend’s birthday.

The fact that she shared a birthday with Cheng Qiaobei’s ex-girlfriend was really... kind of annoying.

Every time her birthday came around, she would think of Cheng Qiaobei’s ex-girlfriend and wanted to roll her eyes dramatically.

Cheng Qiaobei came out of the bathroom, holding a watering can, "This pot needs to be watered twice a week, about every three days, but since the house heating is on, it might require you to water every two days."

Chen Ningxi took a photo of the plant and edited the watering schedule on the picture.

From Cheng Qiaobei’s perspective, her profile was delicate and full, with a slight baby fat that was adorable. Her eyes resembled almond kernels, with a light crease on her eyelids just right, and when she focused on looking at you, her gaze was clear and spiritually intelligent.

Chen Ningxi took a picture of another pot and asked the person beside her, "How often should this one be watered?"

Cheng Qiaobei snapped out of his thoughts and replied while watering, "It’s more drought-tolerant, every four days."

"Okay, four days." Chen Ningxi edited the text and saved it, looking up to meet Cheng Qiaobei’s eyes, and both were momentarily taken aback.

"..." Oh my, he looked a bit lazily handsome today, very pleasing to the eye.

"..." The more she looked, the more she liked him.

Cheng Qiaobei calmly looked away, gazing past her, "The plants in the study all need to be watered every two days."

With that said, Cheng Qiaobei walked past her toward the study, and Chen Ningxi followed him.

The house was big, with many green plants. Chen Ningxi memorized everything and said, "With the photos and annotations, I’ll refer to them when watering. Don’t worry."

So, was he going to send her home?

Cheng Qiaobei checked his watch, "It’s late. Do you want to get some barbecue?"

Chen Ningxi blinked, "Are you treating?"

Cheng Qiaobei laughed, "Of course, you’re doing me such a big favor, I should treat you to some barbecue."

"Just one meal?" Chen Ningxi teased him.

Cheng Qiaobei wouldn’t mind eating with her several times, "Once for every time you water the plants, how about that? Pretty generous, right?"

Chen Ningxi pouted, "Am I watering your plants just for a barbecue meal?"

Cheng Qiaobei naturally continued the banter, also joking, "Then what are you after? No money, no..."

Both froze, and under their gaze, he awkwardly rubbed his face, while she snorted with laughter, "I’m certainly not after you."

Oh dear, what nonsense was she talking!

"Let’s go, get some barbecue."

Cheng Qiaobei left the study first, while Chen Ningxi followed, holding her head in her hands.

"Do you have any barbecue places to recommend?" Cheng Qiaobei asked.

Chen Ningxi said, "The one I recommend tastes good, but the environment is just okay. Can you deal with that? Or should we go to the Sanhe Barbecue on Yinxing Lake Road?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Sanhe just has a grand storefront, but the taste is just so-so."

"You think the same as I do, that’s what I told Liang Lei," Chen Ningxi felt like she had found a kindred spirit, "Liang Lei insists it’s delicious, but the taste can’t compare to Little Wood’s Barbecue. The difference is not small. Let me tell you, the grillers at Little Wood have been doing it for over ten years. The flavor is absolutely ama... ahem... amazing."

Cheng Qiaobei’s eyes harbored a gentle smile. The more he interacted with her, the more he liked her genuine nature, amusing yet natural.

Being with her, even doing nothing, he didn’t feel bored.

But being together wasn’t something that could be sustained by novelty; it required an interesting soul you could never tire of.

Cheng Qiaobei was also testing himself, prolonging their time together, taking slow steps, so when he was sure, they could move forward more firmly and further.

"Where is the Little Wood Barbecue located?" Cheng Qiaobei asked.

Chen Ningxi raised her hand, "Human navigation activated, turn right at the traffic light ahead."

Cheng Qiaobei laughed, "Not bad, human navigation is nicer to listen to."

The drive went smoothly with "human navigation" guiding, and after getting out of the car, Chen Ningxi jogged into the barbecue shop.

The door curtain was covered with two thick quilts to block the cold. Lifting the quilt revealed a rusty iron door.

Cheng Qiaobei raised his hand to open the door and went in. Inside was warm, bustling with chatter. The hall wasn’t large, with six tables, but no one was there. He turned his head and saw that the guests were in the private rooms.

Chen Ningxi poked her head out of a private room and waved at Cheng Qiaobei, "Over here."

Only when he reached the door did he realize it was a heated kang. Shoes were left at the foot of the steps. Chen Ningxi sat cross-legged on the other side of the table, but Cheng Qiaobei was dressed a bit formally today, making it slightly inconvenient to sit cross-legged.

"What are you standing there for? Come on up," Chen Ningxi urged.

Cheng Qiaobei took off his shoes and stepped up, the warm kang underfoot was comfortable, but after a while, it got a bit too hot.

While ordering, Chen Ningxi noticed Cheng Qiaobei struggling to stay still, shifting around like he was sitting on pins and needles, so she took a cushion from under the table and pushed it toward him. The cushion touched Cheng Qiaobei’s hand and startled him. He looked down to see a corner of the cushion, "...Thank you."

With the cushion as a buffer, the man finally managed to sit still.

"I just ordered these, see what you like to eat?"

Cheng Qiaobei took the menu, adding roasted lamb, grilled eggplant, and spicy clams, asking Chen Ningxi what else she might want.

Chen Ningxi said, "That’s enough, we can’t finish it all."

The server asked, "What would you like to drink?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "I’m driving, so no alcohol. Just a pot of hot water for me. What about you?"

Chen Ningxi said, "Hot fruit juice."

The server brought over a plate of sunflower seeds and went to place their order. Chen Ningxi grabbed a handful of seeds, "It’s not as fancy as the places you probably eat at, but once the skewers are here, you’ll taste the difference."

Seeing her confidence, Cheng Qiaobei also grabbed a handful of seeds, "I believe you, it surely will be good."

"Come on, seeing is believing."

Both of their hands reached for the seeds on the plate at the same time, fingertips lightly brushing against each other, sending an electrifying current. They both retreated their hands knowingly, continuing to shell seeds and casually chat.

The skewers gradually arrived at the table. Chen Ningxi picked up a skewer of silkworm pupae and teasingly offered it to Cheng Qiaobei, "Try it."

Many people were afraid of eating silkworm pupae, but Cheng Qiaobei accepted it gladly, "How did you know I love this?"

Chen Ningxi was surprised, "You’re not afraid? Aren’t you from Li River?"

Li River is in the south, where they don’t have silkworm pupae. She thought such a large bug would scare him.

"I’m indeed from Li River, but that was my last project, it doesn’t mean I’m from there." Cheng Qiaobei said as he bit into a silkworm pupa in front of her, chewing slowly.

Chen Ningxi shook her head, "I misjudged."