Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 32 Crafty and Cunning Old Fox

Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Crafty and Cunning Old Fox

Three weeks passed, and Cheng Qiaobei finalized the menu and venue layout for the annual meeting with the power company. The power company also sent him a detailed schedule, surprisingly listing Chen Ningxi as the young representative speaker.

He opened Chen Ningxi’s WeChat and realized they hadn’t been in touch for quite some time.

When you get busy, you forget everything.

north: How’s Mr. Chen doing lately?

Chen Ningxi was reviewing some approval documents when she suddenly received Cheng Qiaobei’s WeChat, which was quite surprising.

Chen Ningxi: Pretty good, everything’s going smoothly. How’s Manager Cheng doing lately?

north: I’m doing well too, just finished preparing for the annual meeting, waiting for your esteemed presence.

Chen Ningxi chuckled; this guy never contacted her unless something was up.

Chen Ningxi: What’s the matter, just say it. Beating around the bush isn’t really your style, Manager Cheng.

north: What’s my style, then?

Chen Ningxi: Cunning and sly.

north: Shouldn’t it be wise and resourceful?

Chen Ningxi: You really know how to flatter yourself. What’s the matter?

north: I wanted to ask how your speech for the annual meeting is coming along. I’ve prepared a spotlight just for you, to make you the brightest focus of the event.

Chen Ningxi was stunned: What speech? No one told me about it.

north: Hahaha.

Chen Ningxi: Stop laughing. Did you get the schedule?

north: Looking forward to your performance, Mr. Chen.

Chen Ningxi: Don’t trick me. If you trick me, I won’t water your flowers anymore.

north: Heaven and earth bear witness, the sun and moon testify to my truth.

"Oh..." Chen Ningxi groaned, pressing the phone to her forehead in distress. No one had informed her.

Chen Ningxi: Luckily, you’re looking out for me. Thanks a lot.

Cheng Qiaobei only saw the first few words, and the smile on his lips deepened.

The person responsible for coordinating the annual meeting was a relative of Li Xiangnan, one of the three candidates. If the speech went wrong on the day of the meeting, it would obviously be disadvantageous for the competition.

Chen Ningxi always thought it was a fair competition. Now it seemed she had been too naive.

Yesterday, Manager Bai also revealed to her that Zhao Ze was secretly pulling strings, reportedly with some strong connections.

If it truly depended on secret maneuvers, Chen Ningxi disdained getting involved in such underhanded deals and estimated her chances of winning were slim, essentially playing the role of an also-ran between them.

Chen Ningxi continued to review documents, and in the evening, before getting off work, she called her mother, Ye Yujun.

"Mom, is there food at home?" she asked.

Ye Yujun knew right away that her daughter was craving something, "Yes, what do you feel like eating?"

Chen Ningxi began listing dishes, "Braised knifefish, and sautéed okra."

Ye Yujun replied, "It’s so cold, where am I supposed to find okra? Do I look like okra to you?"

Chen Ningxi giggled, "Lower the difficulty, make some shredded potatoes, don’t tell me we’re out of potatoes, too."

"We have that. When will you be back?" Ye Yujun asked.

Chen Ningxi glanced at the time on her computer, "I’ll be at your place by 5:30."

After hanging up, Chen Ningxi quickly tidied her desk, grabbed her coat and bag, and rushed out.

She first went to the supermarket for some fruits, then to a liquor store to buy a couple of packs of the cigarettes her dad liked.

When the car parked downstairs, it was exactly 5:30.

Upon entering the house, Chen Ningxi headed straight to the kitchen, set down the fruit and cigarettes, and hugged Ye Yujun from behind, "Mom, your cooking smells amazing."

"Ah... stop fooling around; I’m stirring the soup. It’ll burn soon," Ye Yujun moved her arms, and only then did the person behind straighten up, "I’m off to wash my hands. Where’s Dad? Working overtime again?"

Ye Yujun said, "When isn’t he working overtime?"

Chen Ningxi took the cigarettes to the study, placed them on her father’s desk, and when she returned, Ye Yujun said:

"Your dad’s stash is really depleted. Knowing you bought them will definitely make him happy."

"No, don’t tell Dad," Chen Ningxi pulled out a chair to sit down and received a bowl, "If he knows, he’ll say I’m wasting money again. He has his salary; he can buy them himself."

Ye Yujun glanced at her with a smile, "You and your dad are cut from the same cloth, with mouths tougher than a big spoon."

"Mom, stop teasing me. I’m really annoyed lately," Chen Ningxi pouted, her shoulders slumping, looking defeated.

"What happened? Did you encounter something at work?" Ye Yujun asked while picking fish bones.

Chen Ningxi said, "Our company is holding an annual meeting, and I’m on the schedule to give a speech. But look, the meeting is next week, and no one’s informed me to prepare a speech draft. Do you think I’ll just stand there foolishly while others speak fluently, and I freeze up? How can I compete for the manager position then?"

Ye Yujun frowned, "Who’s in charge of the whole plan at your office? Haven’t you asked them why they didn’t inform you?"

"Mom, how can I ask? If I do, they might say there’s still a week left, why rush, and what could I say back?"

Ye Yujun put a piece of fish on Chen Ningxi’s plate, saying, "It doesn’t matter if it’s a week or eight; as soon as the plan is decided, everyone who has a presentation should be informed, that’s how it should be done."

Chen Ningxi asked again, "What if they say they forgot?"

"Forgot?" Ye Yujun chuckled softly, "If they claim they forgot, I’d remind you—I’m not prepared. When the superiors ask, neither of us will be in good shape."

"Mom, you’re the best!" Chen Ningxi admired, "Living with Dad all these years, exposed to so much, even how to handle the bosses."

"Don’t joke around with me. Did you remember what I said?" Ye Yujun asked.

"Yes, yes, first thing tomorrow, I’ll call Li Zhijie."

"Hold on, did you say Li Zhijie?" Ye Yujun’s expression turned odd, after a pause she said, "Don’t make that call tomorrow."

Chen Ningxi: "Don’t ask?"

"Definitely don’t ask," Ye Yujun said firmly, "Li Zhijie is Li Xiangnan’s uncle. He deliberately didn’t tell you. You two are competitors, and although the annual meeting speech isn’t a big deal, the company’s top executives will be present. Letting you make a fool of yourself leaves a poor impression with the leaders, easily removing a competitor. Very unethical. They have connections; we can have them too. Making you a manager is just your dad’s word."

"No, Mom, don’t let Dad pull strings behind my back with our superiors."

As a mother, seeing her child treated unfairly is infuriating, "No way, I’ll talk to your dad and let him stand up for you."

"Mom, I want justice, but I want fairness more," Chen Ningxi said with a serious expression. "Don’t let Dad pressure them in the position race. Just give us a fair platform. No one gets to utilize connections, no one gets to scheme their way to the top, everybody relies on their skills."

Ye Yujun understood her meaning now.

She didn’t need someone to speak on her behalf, but needed an open and fair competitive environment.

"Mom, I came home for dinner today just to share these upsetting things with you."

Some things could be shared with friends, but others couldn’t.

Ye Yujun said, "If a child faces grievances outside, who else but parents should they tell?"