Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 347: I Was Wrong

Chapter 347: Chapter 347: I Was Wrong

Cheng Qiaobei had been drinking Chinese medicine for half a month, and it made him feel nauseous. Every time he tried to throw away a couple of bags, Chen Ningxi would catch him in the act. This time, he planned to have Lin Hanrui take care of it for him.

On the way, he managed to confuse Lin Hanrui thoroughly. Even after getting out of the car, Lin was still asking him whether he could be cured or not.

"You already have a kid—what’s the point of worrying about whether you can be cured?" Cheng Qiaobei started the car, ready to leave.

Lin Hanrui stubbornly stayed in the passenger seat, refusing to budge. "Just tell me, what should I eat to get better?"

Cheng Qiaobei lazily lifted his eyelids. "Drink Chinese medicine."

"Where can I get Chinese medicine?"

Cheng Qiaobei replied, "I have some ready-made at home. Do you want it?"

Lin Hanrui said, "Of course I want it! Only a fool wouldn’t jump on a good deal. But does it work?"

Cheng Qiaobei tossed a bag from the back seat onto the dashboard. Lin Hanrui’s eyes practically lit up green as he asked one question:

"So drinking Chinese medicine only works this much?"

Cheng Qiaobei smirked smugly. "What else? Take it or leave it—your choice."

"I’ll take it, I’ll take it," Lin Hanrui replied quickly, grinning from ear to ear.

Cheng Qiaobei floored the gas pedal and parked the car downstairs. He told Lin Hanrui, "Wait for me. I’ll go upstairs to grab it for you."

"I’ll go with you," Lin Hanrui said, reaching for the car door. Cheng Qiaobei stopped him.

"No need for that. Just wait here."

And with that, he zipped into the building, leaving Lin Hanrui leaning against the curb smoking a cigarette.

Chen Ningxi called to say she had to work late tonight, though not for too long. Just in case, she advised him to handle things quickly and efficiently.

Meanwhile, Chen Ningxi had just finished work and returned home to find Cheng Qiaobei’s car parked on the roadside, with Lin Hanrui standing nearby.

She pulled over and greeted him, "Lin Hanrui, why are you standing out here? It’s freezing. Go upstairs."

Lin Hanrui quickly extinguished his cigarette before responding, "No need, Qiaobei went upstairs to get me Chinese medicine. I’ll leave right after I get it."

"Chinese medicine?" Chen Ningxi frowned. "What kind of Chinese medicine?"

Lin Hanrui replied, "Well, I’ve been feeling sore in my back and waist. Qiaobei said I’m a little weak. You know what? Everything he mentioned fits me perfectly. He happens to have Chinese medicine at home and told me drinking it would fix me right up."

Chen Ningxi maintained a smile on her face, but her mind was already plotting how to deal with him.

"Lin Hanrui, don’t listen to him. He went to Ningkou to see a Chinese medicine doctor. What he’s repeating are diagnoses from an old doctor. He doesn’t even want to drink the medicine himself; he’s just looking for someone else to drink it for him."

"Uh..." Lin Hanrui suddenly cared less about the medicine and more about the fact that Cheng Qiaobei was in for trouble tonight. "In that case, I’d better head out now."

He quickly tried to text Cheng Qiaobei a heads-up, but then he heard the voice behind him: "Lin Hanrui, don’t tip him off, or I’ll complain to Liang Lei."

Oh, hell, that’s even worse!

"I wouldn’t, wouldn’t dare. Definitely won’t." Right now, Lin Hanrui feared Liang Lei the most—she had him thoroughly tamed.

When Cheng Qiaobei came out carrying the Chinese medicine, he opened the car door to find Chen Ningxi sitting in the passenger seat. His heart skipped a beat, and he blinked nervously. "...Um, honey, what are you doing here?"

Work at her office had ended early, so Chen Ningxi had come home ahead of schedule.

She turned her gaze toward the bag in his hand. "What are you doing?"

Cheng Qiaobei hugged the bag protectively. "Let me explain myself."

"!" Chen Ningxi frowned. "Go ahead and invent something. If it’s not convincing, I’ll do it for you."

"..." These words—they felt like a boomerang from the past, hitting him squarely this time.

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Honey, it’s like this: Lin Hanrui has symptoms just like mine. I thought I’d share my medicine with him out of kindness. Just let him check it out."

Chen Ningxi let out an "oh," her tone flat. "Just check it out."

Cheng Qiaobei smiled and nodded, "Yes, yes, exactly."

"Did he figure it out?" Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei shook his head. "No, he’s not here."

There was no distinct emotion on Chen Ningxi’s face; she wasn’t angry, nor was she smiling. She opened the car door and said, "Go ahead and deliver it to him."

With that, she left.

This wasn’t good—she was going to be hard to appease, Cheng Qiaobei thought nervously.

He quickly parked the car and went upstairs. As soon as he entered, he saw Chen Ningxi changing into her home clothes. Cheng Qiaobei placed the medicine on the table, then went to the dressing room and stood behind her. "Honey, you look beautiful in this outfit."

Chen Ningxi ignored him and turned to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Cheng Qiaobei followed her inside.

She kept her head down while rinsing the rice. He occasionally glanced at her picking vegetables.

"The yard-long beans look fresh."

Chen Ningxi said nothing. She had bought them at the market on her way home, along with freshly slaughtered chicken.

"I’ll cook. You wait outside." Just as he was about to reach for her shoulder, she avoided him and left the kitchen.

Afterward, he cooked in the kitchen, while Chen Ningxi sat sulking on the sofa in the living room.

Ever since Cheng Qiaobei had been drinking the Chinese medicine, his symptoms of back and waist soreness had indeed eased. Many hidden ailments were showing improvement due to the effects of the decoction. Though the taste was awful, he had been drinking it faithfully for half a month. Even when he complained about the bitter taste, Chen Ningxi would understand and try creative ways to make it easier for him.

But now he wanted to give the medicine to someone else—it was as if he wasn’t taking his own health seriously.

The food was ready, and Cheng Qiaobei called her to come eat. Chen Ningxi sat down and picked up her bowl, staying quiet.

Cheng Qiaobei sat next to her. "Honey, does it taste good?"

Chen Ningxi slowly chewed, saying nothing.

The quieter she was, the more anxious Cheng Qiaobei became. He turned toward her, resting his hand on her chair back. "Honey, please say something to me."

After a few bites, Chen Ningxi put down her bowl and utensils and stood up.

Cheng Qiaobei pointed at her bowl. "Don’t leave rice behind! Don’t waste food. Sit down and finish it."

Chen Ningxi hesitated, then sat back down, picked up her bowl, and continued eating.

She ate voraciously, while Cheng Qiaobei softened his tone and sincerely said, "Honey, I was wrong. Don’t be mad anymore."

Chen Ningxi sighed lightly. "I know the medicine tastes awful, but you can’t give it away to others."

Cheng Qiaobei humbly accepted the criticism, "Yes, it’s my fault."

"Chinese medicine is tailored to the individual. If you gave it to Lin Hanrui, and he ended up hurting himself, what then?" Chen Ningxi said. "Remember how Mom wanted a Chinese medicine doctor to check my pulse, and you wouldn’t allow it? You were worried the medicine might hurt me. So why is it different now that it’s about you?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "But Lin Hanrui does have symptoms just like mine. He shouldn’t have any issues drinking it."

Chen Ningxi’s eyes widened. "What did you just say?"

Immediately, Cheng Qiaobei backed down. "I was wrong."

"There isn’t much of the medicine left. Can we just finish it ourselves?" Chen Ningxi asked in a conciliatory tone. "You know better than anyone that drinking the medicine has eased your soreness and fatigue."

Cheng Qiaobei couldn’t deny the facts—the medicine had slow but significant effects.

Chen Ningxi said, "If you promise to finish drinking it, I won’t stay mad."

Cheng Qiaobei grinned. "I promise. I’ll definitely finish the medicine properly. But you have to promise me something too."

"What is it?" Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Even if you’re mad, don’t give me the silent treatment in the future."

Chen Ningxi didn’t like cold wars either.

She nodded. "Alright, agreed."

...

When Cheng Qiaobei arrived at the company, he noticed the office door was wide open. He remembered clearly that he had closed it last night before leaving.

He called out, "Wei Lai, who just went into my office?"