Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 312 Care

Chapter 312: Chapter 312 Care

At that moment, Chen Ningxi was helping Ye Yujun tidy the succulents on the balcony. The mother and daughter were chatting on and off.

The sky had darkened, but Chen Weichuan hadn’t returned yet.

In Chen Ningxi’s memory, her father was always busy, rarely ever leaving work on time.

She asked, "Dad’s hardly ever home. Don’t you feel like he doesn’t care enough about you?"

Ye Yujun’s gaze was gentle as she tended to the pot of succulents in her hands. Last time, she’d accidentally snapped one, ruining its original shape.

She said, "Marriage isn’t about sticking together every day to find happiness. Your dad’s work means he doesn’t have much time to stay at home, but when he is home, even if only briefly, he notices when I’m coughing and brings me medicine, covers me with a blanket if I’ve kicked it off, massages my back when it’s sore, takes over chores when he sees I’m tired, brings home something I like when he passes by it on the way, cheers me up when I’m in a bad mood. All of these are just small things, but it’s in the small things that you see someone’s heart. So tell me, do you think I’d feel like your dad doesn’t care about me?"

With that question, images of countless little overlooked moments surfaced in Chen Ningxi’s mind—those so-called insignificant little acts her father had done when he was home.

"You know," Ye Yujun continued, "what I’m most grateful for in your dad is that he’s always on my side, no matter what, always thinking of me.

When I gave birth to you, back then, the older generation hadn’t quite adjusted their thinking. During my postpartum recovery, your grandmother was unhappy, and it didn’t help that you had a big appetite while I couldn’t stomach her cooking. After giving birth to you, I’d suffered massive blood loss, and being so frail, I could barely get out of bed. I was hungry but couldn’t eat much. Honestly, it wasn’t your grandma’s fault; it’s normal for people in different places to have different tastes in food. I simply couldn’t get used to her special postpartum dishes.

But because I ate so little, she kept grumbling. One time when your dad came back and overheard, he gave her a stern talking-to. I felt so bad about it at the time. But thanks to what your dad said, there was no unspoken grudge between your grandma and me. Afterward, her mindset changed; she even went around asking neighbors for postpartum recipes. I apologized to her too, ate more, and she was happy. That’s how we avoided any long-standing resentment."

Chen Ningxi said, "How could postpartum confinement cause any lasting grudges?"

Ye Yujun said, "Oh, postpartum grudges can be the deepest and longest-lasting kind, even for a lifetime. Just a few days ago, I watched a video about a mother-in-law upset at her daughter-in-law for eating too much during confinement. Family matters are always the hardest to untangle."

Chen Ningxi said, "No one should count on anyone else; if it doesn’t work out, just hire someone."

"That’s easy to say, but not every family can afford a maternity nurse," Ye Yujun replied. "It really is tough for a woman raising a child alone, while also handling all the housework. It’s best if there’s someone to help, but if not, she’ll have to endure more hardship. A woman’s life isn’t easy, and I’ve seen plenty of these things in the women’s association meetings."

"Then stop watching so many videos. The algorithms just keep feeding you more of the same." Chen Ningxi said, "If you don’t have the means, let her husband take care of her."

Ye Yujun replied, "That’s exactly the problem. I’ve seen many cases like this while working at the women’s association. Some husbands truly don’t care about their wives, acting like overgrown children. They don’t understand how much pain childbirth involves, how close to death a woman gets during the process. They think, ’Women give birth all the time; it didn’t kill anyone else, so why are you being so dramatic?’ So, looking at it this way, your dad has one more shining quality."

"Mom, is this your way of praising Dad in a roundabout way?" Chen Ningxi’s eyes and brows were full of amusement.

Ye Yujun glanced at the clock. "It’s getting late; aren’t you going to pick up Cheng?"

Realizing it was about time, Chen Ningxi set down her tools. "I’m heading out now."

"Take the steamed dumplings with you." Ye Yujun removed her gloves and hurried to the kitchen. Chen Ningxi put on her jacket and took the insulated container that Ye Yujun handed to her.

Just as Chen Weichuan came home from work, he saw Chen Ningxi. "Heading back?"

"Yeah," Chen Ningxi said. "Going to pick him up from his friend in Qiao Bei."

Chen Weichuan said, "Be safe on the road."

Chen Ningxi replied, "Got it."

As the door closed, Chen Ningxi overheard her father’s warm voice: "You’ve been fussing over those plants again. Your neck doesn’t hurt anymore?"

Ye Yujun said, "Ningxi helped me with them."

Chen Weichuan said, "Sit down. I’ll give you another massage."

Ye Yujun said, "No need, you’re tired too. Go take a shower and rest."

A few simple exchanges, all filled with care and tenderness.

They say the relationship and marriage of parents often reflect onto their children. Thinking about it, Cheng Qiaobei seemed a lot like her dad—busy but deeply loving.

Parking the car downstairs at Lin Hanrui’s building, Chen Ningxi sent Cheng Qiaobei a message before heading up.

The phone buzzing on the table drew his attention, and when he glanced at the message, Cheng Qiaobei smiled.

Chen Ningxi: Good evening, Mr. Cheng. Chauffeur Chen is ready. Shall I come upstairs to pick you up?

Cheng Qiaobei replied: Good evening, Chauffeur Chen. I’m done; one moment, I’ll come downstairs.

Chen Ningxi: Roger that.

"What’s with the creepy grin? Falling for your phone?" Lin Hanrui, already quite drunk, was swaying unsteadily, propping himself up on the edge of the table.

Also slightly drunk, Cheng Qiaobei pointed his phone at Lin Hanrui. Normally, he’d never show him.

Seeing the messages, Lin Hanrui chuckled foolishly, "You two really know how to keep things fun. If every marriage were like yours, who wouldn’t be happy?" He patted his chest, adding, "I’m happy too. Leizi and I have a blast."

As Liang Lei got up during the night and passed through the living room, she heard Lin Hanrui saying, "Leizi and I’ve even played Tang Seng and Sun Wukong in bed... I was wearing a—mmph..."

His mouth was quickly covered. Liang Lei, embarrassed, smiled awkwardly and told Cheng Qiaobei, "Don’t listen to his nonsense. He’s had too much to drink. I’ll help him to bed."

"I should get going too. Ningxi’s waiting for me downstairs," Cheng Qiaobei said as he helped support Lin Hanrui. "Lao Lin, steady now. Watch your step."

Lin Hanrui’s legs were like jelly. If not for Cheng Qiaobei holding him up, he’d have collapsed onto the floor.

"Old Cheng, I’m happy for you, really happy... We’re soaring high, aren’t we..." Lin Hanrui slurred.

When the bedroom light flicked on, a staff-prop Jingu Bang lay in the corner.

Cheng Qiaobei: "..."

Liang Lei quickly kicked the Jingu Bang under the bed. "Hehehe..."

Pretending not to see, Cheng Qiaobei stepped out of the room and left.

The night wind was brisk and chilling. Already tipsy, the gusts amplified the intoxication.

Watching someone wobble out of the building, Chen Ningxi quickly got out of the car to meet him.

"You okay? How much did you drink?" she asked, looping her arm around Cheng Qiaobei’s waist. He rested his entire weight on her and said, "I overdid it today. Sorry, honey, for making you come pick me up."

"What were you guys talking about, huh? Seemed like you were having a lot of fun," Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei suddenly stopped. "Honey, I’ve got something important to tell you."

The night air was chilly, and concerned he’d catch cold, Chen Ningxi urged, "Let’s get in the car first."

"No, I’ve got to say it now," insisted Cheng Qiaobei, his breath heavy with alcohol. His eyes, bloodshot from drinking, fixed on hers as he cupped her face and declared, "Honey, I’m going to follow my own dream."

Chen Ningxi asked, "What dream?"

Cheng Qiaobei tilted his head back to gaze at the sky. The Milky Way swirled above, the moon radiant and full. With a deep breath, he looked back at her and said:

"I’m going to open my own hotel."