Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 34: Guilty Conscience of a Thief

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Guilty Conscience of a Thief

Chen Ningxi held her forehead in embarrassment, chatting on the phone with Cheng Qiaobei late at night, angrily stomping her foot while whining.

"So annoying."

But calling him so late at night required an apology, yet her hand refused to press the call button, fearing he’d make fun of her again once she connected. Still, problems had to be faced.

Chen Ningxi gathered her courage, "If I must die, so be it."

She put the phone to her ear, her heartbeat quickening with the connecting sound, and it was a long time before he picked up.

"Hello?"

"..." He was not fully awake yet.

Chen Ningxi licked her dry lips and cautiously asked, "Manager Cheng, are you still asleep?"

Cheng Qiaobei murmured in response.

Chen Ningxi thought she had never done anything so embarrassing in her life and forced a smile, "Ha ha, Manager Cheng, sorry to disturb you so early. I wanted to ask, did I call you last night?"

Cheng Qiaobei, "Ha."

"..." What did ’ha’ mean?

Chen Ningxi, looking troubled, said, "What did I say on the phone to you? From the time, it shows the call lasted over an hour. I didn’t say anything to offend you, right?"

Cheng Qiaobei, "You don’t remember?"

Chen Ningxi gulped, "...Can you give me a hint?"

Cheng Qiaobei, "Think about it slowly. I’m too sleepy and want to sleep a bit more."

"Oh, okay. Sorry about last night, truly. Please continue to sleep."

Chen Ningxi quickly hung up the phone, gripping it tightly, and stomped her foot in frustration, "Ah... Seriously."

At the cafeteria at work, Bai Haifeng saw Chen Ningxi and sat across from her with his tray.

"Song and the others went back to the city?" Bai Haifeng asked.

He referred to the three tech people whom Chen Ningxi had arranged to stay at a hotel yesterday.

"They went back early. I contacted them."

Bai Haifeng took a sip of his porridge, "Get the materials ready, print three copies. I’m going to the city for a meeting, you’ll come with me for the presentation."

Chen Ningxi quickly stuffed the last bite of steamed bun into her mouth and said, "I’ll go print them immediately."

If the wind power generation project passed, it would definitely be a bonus for this job competition.

At the Northeast company, the two stood waiting at the elevator. When the doors opened, Li Zhijie walked out, accompanied by two employees.

Seeing Chen Ningxi, his gaze paused, but he quickly smiled and greeted the two outside.

"Oh, hey, old Bai, here for a meeting?" his eyes glanced at Chen Ningxi.

Bai Haifeng replied, "Yes, reporting some work."

Chen Ningxi, being lower in rank than Li Zhijie, naturally greeted first, "Manager Li."

Li Zhijie smiled faintly and said meaningfully, "Manager Bai’s team is full of hidden talents, experts everywhere."

Chen Ningxi kept a straight face, adopting a not-my-concern attitude.

Bai Haifeng, having been in the power industry for years, knew all too well the two-faced nature of people like Li Zhijie. Everyone put on a friendly facade.

Bai Haifeng said, "I was thinking of having lunch with you now that I’m here, but you’re leaving."

Li Zhijie put on a busy man’s expression, "Can’t do lunch today, I’m in a bit of a rush."

Bai Haifeng said, "Alright, won’t hold you. There’ll be other opportunities."

As Chen Ningxi closed the elevator, Bai Haifeng was still puzzled, "What wind is blowing on Li Zhijie now."

Some things can be said, some cannot, so Chen Ningxi just played dumb.

Always emphasizing that she could keep her mouth shut.

"..." This sentence... Why... does it seem... last night’s déjà vu?

The more Chen Ningxi thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt. She sighed deeply, "Sigh..."

Bai Haifeng, thinking Chen Ningxi was nervous, comforted her, "It’s fine, just say what you need to say. I’m here, why be nervous."

Chen Ningxi snapped back to reality, "Not nervous."

Bai Haifeng chuckled, "Not nervous? Then why the sighing?"

Unable to explain, Chen Ningxi chose not to elaborate.

To commence a new project, several meetings would be required to finalize it. Chen Ningxi first introduced the project to two senior executives from the company’s planning and statistics department. After a series of parameter comparisons, it was preliminarily deemed feasible.

The two exited the company, and it was already noon. Bai Haifeng suggested eating at the nearby beef restaurant, a place Chen Ningxi often visited when she came to the city for meetings.

Bai Haifeng chewed on the tender beef and said, "It should be up for discussion next week. If it passes, there’s an 80% chance the project will succeed."

Chen Ningxi nodded, "We can only wait."

Bai Haifeng appreciated how composed Chen Ningxi remained in situations, unlike others. No matter how huge the issue, she always appeared emotionally stable.

But such a wonderful girl faced trouble finding a partner.

He recalled the phone call during dinner and asked Chen Ningxi, "How are things with Mr. He?"

Chen Ningxi raised her head, chewing slowly, "Mr. He and I were high school classmates. You all misunderstood."

Bai Haifeng felt regretful, "Does Mr. He have someone?"

"Probably not."

"If not, why not consider developing something? You’re familiar with each other, which is nice." Bai Haifeng grew anxious for her.

"We’re too familiar as classmates..." Chen Ningxi didn’t completely shut it down, clarifying that no chemistry now doesn’t mean there never will be, "We’ll see."

She shoved a mouthful of rice into her mouth.

On the return to Danjiang, Chen Ningxi, having gone to bed too late the previous night, fell asleep as soon as they got in the car. Just before reaching Danjiang, her phone, in her bag, rang.

Groggily, Chen Ningxi answered the phone, "Hello?"

Cheng Qiaobei, "Mr. Chen."

"!" Cheng Qiaobei!

Instantly alert, Chen Ningxi said, "Um, yes, what’s up?"

Doing anything wrong brought unease and guilt.

Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Nothing you want to say to me?"

Chen Ningxi blinked, "...No."

"No?"

"..."

From his tone, it was obvious he was calling her to account.

Chen Ningxi glanced back at Bai Haifeng, watching her. She feigned calm, pulled her eyes back, covered the microphone, and said, "I’ll contact you later, I’m in the car."

Cheng Qiaobei suppressed a rising smile, cleared his throat, and said, "Alright then."

When the car arrived at the office, Chen Ningxi rushed to her office, took a deep breath while seated, and dialed Cheng Qiaobei’s number.

"Have you reached the office?" Cheng Qiaobei asked.

"Yes, I’m in the office, no one else here."

Cheng Qiaobei raised an eyebrow and, almost smiling, said, "When you call me, it has to be behind closed doors?"

Rendered speechless, Chen Ningxi replied, "...I did call to apologize."

"Apology done, and that’s it?" Cheng Qiaobei questioned.

With an apologetic tone, Chen Ningxi said, "I disturbed your rest, and I apologized. Isn’t that enough... right?"

Cheng Qiaobei asked, "You really don’t recall what you said to me?"

Chen Ningxi, truly unable to remember, felt the heat from her ears spread down her neck.

"Really can’t remember, could you give me a reminder?"

Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, "Drank too much and really is... sigh."

"Really is what?" Chen Ningxi’s curiosity was completely piqued, but Cheng Qiaobei hung up the phone.