Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 305: Currying Favor

Chapter 305: Chapter 305: Currying Favor

Chen Ningxi’s voice had gone hoarse due to the flu. The doctor prescribed medicine, instructing her to take it daily as directed. After parting ways at the hospital, each went about their own business.

Back at the office, she noticed a box of throat lozenges sitting on her desk.

Who bought it?

Chen Ningxi was puzzled when there was a knock on the office door. "Come in," she said.

Wang Qing entered holding a document. "Manager Chen, this is the meal and travel expense form from Sun Xue and me for our training in Zhang’an. It needs your signature."

Chen Ningxi took the form and signed it. Wang Qing noticed the box of medicine on the desk—it looked suspiciously like the one Lu Xingyan accidentally dropped from his pocket earlier that afternoon.

From across the desk, Wang Qing leaned forward to take a closer look. Upon noticing a folded corner of the box, she felt sure of it.

After signing, Chen Ningxi handed the document back to her. "All done."

Looking up, she noticed Wang Qing staring at the medicine box. Mistakenly assuming Wang Qing had brought it, she asked with a smile, "Did you buy this?"

Wang Qing froze for a moment before quickly shaking her head. "No, I didn’t."

Chen Ningxi picked up the box and put it in the drawer, still puzzled. "I have no idea who sent this medicine. I don’t even know who to thank."

Wang Qing chuckled lightly. "Alright then, I’ll head back, Manager Chen."

Chen Ningxi responded, "Mm."

Leaving the manager’s office, Wang Qing mulled it over. Lu Xingyan, the freshly assigned university graduate, was new to the workplace and might want to establish better connections, especially with his superiors.

So, she interpreted Lu Xingyan’s gesture of gifting medicine as an attempt to curry favor with his boss.

It wasn’t out of the ordinary—a move like this showed he had some emotional intelligence and quick thinking.

Back in her office, Wang Qing opened Lu Xingyan’s WeChat.

His WeChat username was "What More Do You Want," paired with an age-appropriate avatar of an old bicycle.

Wang Qing opened their chat and typed: "Not bad, doing good deeds without leaving your name."

Lu Xingyan was adjusting an electric meter Master Wu had given him for practice when he saw the message. Feeling perplexed, he replied with a single question mark.

Bingtang Xueli (Wang Qing): Golden Throat Lozenges.

Originally, Lu Xingyan wasn’t paying much attention to WeChat, but when he saw her message, he put down his tools and picked up his phone.

What More Do You Want: Did you tell her?

Bingtang Xueli: No.

What More Do You Want: Then how does Manager Chen know?

Ah, fresh graduates—so easy to manipulate. Wang Qing had only been guessing and wasn’t entirely sure, but now it was confirmed. He gave himself away.

Bingtang Xueli: I saw the medicine on her desk when I went to her office to get a signature. The key point is, she doesn’t know it’s from you.

Wang Qing even felt anxious on his behalf.

Bingtang Xueli: Why didn’t you send it while she was there?

Lu Xingyan felt relieved. Thank goodness.

What More Do You Want: It’s just a box of lozenges. Who cares whether she knows?

Bingtang Xueli: That’s not right. If she knows, it’ll leave a good impression on your boss.

What More Do You Want: Master Wu’s calling for me. Gotta go.

Bingtang Xueli: Alright, you take care.

To these superficial actions, Lu Xingyan had always been scornful. He didn’t need to ingratiate himself with his superiors to carve his path. Moving away from his parents to work in a distant city was already proof of his willingness and determination to be independent.

After taking the appropriate medicine, her condition slightly improved by the afternoon. Though her throat still felt uncomfortable while speaking, she remembered the lozenges in the drawer and took one.

Held on her tongue, the minty coolness spread to her throat—a very soothing sensation.

That evening, Chen Ningxi mentioned to Cheng Qiaobei that someone had sent her medicine.

These days, Cheng Qiaobei spent his after-work hours in the study while Chen Ningxi delved into materials on submarine cables. The two shared a desk, sitting across from each other.

Chen Ningxi said, "I still don’t know who sent the medicine."

At first, Cheng Qiaobei didn’t pay much attention, but when she mentioned seeing another box of lozenges in the afternoon, he adjusted his glasses and remarked meaningfully, "Could it be from someone secretly in love with you?"

Chen Ningxi, absorbed in scanning through the materials, lifted her eyelids and gave him a side glance. "Secretly in love? Don’t think of our colleagues as people with nothing better to do. Workplace relationships here are very harmonious."

Leaning back in his chair and stretching his neck, Cheng Qiaobei mused, "If the relationships are so harmonious, why wouldn’t they give it to you directly? Doing good deeds without leaving a name?"

Chen Ningxi had thought about this. "I checked the price tag on the box—it was over 100 yuan. Maybe they didn’t want me to try and pay them back."

To be honest, Cheng Qiaobei also found it puzzling.

If it was a gesture of romantic interest, sending the medicine openly would have been more impactful. But if it wasn’t, then why go through the trouble of gifting expensive medicine anonymously?

Nearing eleven o’clock, Chen Ningxi yawned. "How much longer do you need?"

Seeing she was drowsy, Cheng Qiaobei replied, "I’m done here. Let’s sleep."

He saved his document and closed his laptop.

Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Did you take your evening medicine?"

Chen Ningxi replied, "I did."

Later that night, Cheng Qiaobei, being a light sleeper, noticed that the person beside him was restless, tossing, turning, and mumbling in discomfort.

He turned on the bedside lamp and saw her face beaded with sweat. Her forehead was slightly warm to the touch, though her sweat felt cool.

He sat up and gently pushed her, "Ning Xi, Ning Xi..."

She murmured and finally opened her eyes slightly. "Hmm?"

Cheng Qiaobei asked softly, "Your fever’s back. Are you feeling very unwell?"

Closing her eyes again, she muttered, "My head hurts so bad."

"Let me get some medicine." Cheng Qiaobei fetched it, helping her sit up. "Here, take your medicine."

With warm water, her throat eased slightly. Perhaps from all the sweating, she ended up finishing an entire glass of water and asked Cheng Qiaobei to refill it.

When he returned to the bedroom, she had already fallen back asleep.

Placing the water glass on the bedside table, he turned the light to its dimmest setting and wiped her sweat-drenched forehead before lying back down himself.

With the first light of dawn, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating tiny dust particles floating in the air. The room was serene.

Chen Ningxi opened her eyes to a dazzlingly blue sky outside the window, unmarked by clouds. Flocks of white pigeons soared past, their gentle coos echoing.

Softly, she got out of bed and approached the window to look outside. Within just one night, the whole city had been blanketed with pristine snow. The blue sky and white earth created a sharp contrast, turning the world into a natural chessboard of light and shadow.

Before leaving home, Chen Ningxi received a call directing her to rally the Danjiang Electric team to clear snow from their assigned area.

This responsibility fell under Lei Dechang’s general coordination. He had handled it last year and was tasked with it again this year.

"Secretary Lei, we’ll need to update this year’s city beautification personnel list—some retired last month, and we’ve had new hires since. For today’s snow-clearing assignment, let’s send part of the team to handle the shared zones first."

Lei Dechang replied, "Got it. I’ll organize the team and set up the duty roster immediately."

After the call ended, Cheng Qiaobei sternly warned, "You’re not allowed to go out in the snow today."

Chen Ningxi smiled, "I won’t—it’s not my turn."

Cheng Qiaobei insisted, "Even if it’s your turn, you’re not going."

Chen Ningxi put on her shoes and said, "Okay, okay."

"Don’t just say ’okay.’ If you agree, you have to stick to it," Cheng Qiaobei said seriously. He then asked, "Did you bring your medicine?"

Chen Ningxi patted her bag, her eyes and mouth brimming with a smirk. "I did, I did."