Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 350: Who Do You Think You Are?

Chapter 350: Chapter 350: Who Do You Think You Are?

Chen Ningxi was sitting next to Li Jiangmin from the finance department, the two of them chatting casually over their meal.

Li Jiangmin said, "The cafeteria is really packed today."

Chen Ningxi shifted her tray slightly. "Have a seat."

Li Jiangmin turned to Lu Xingyan and said, "Lu, I heard you resolved the problem with the South Suburb line the day before yesterday. Impressive."

Chen Ningxi had heard about it too. The South Suburb line had been acting up since last month, with issues cropping up every few days. Whenever it happened, users would lodge complaints, requiring at least two trips to the South Suburb every week.

Chen Ningxi’s gaze reflected approval. "Lu, you’re young, motivated, and eager to learn. Keep it up."

Lu Xingyan grinned bashfully. "Heh... I’ll do my best."

Li Jiangmin switched topics to a gym promotion. "If you sign up now, there’s a discount—200 off for two people joining together. Are you interested? We can go together."

Chen Ningxi replied, "Sure, I’ve been looking for a gym buddy anyway."

Just as she was reaching for the napkins on the table, Lu Xingyan naturally passed her the tissue box. Chen Ningxi took a napkin and wiped her hands.

The natural interaction between the two looked like incriminating evidence of "something" to Wang Qing watching from the side.

And then there were three or four empty seats in the cafeteria, yet he deliberately chose to sit across from Chen Ningxi—obviously treating her differently.

Wang Qing’s father, Wang Houjie, was the general manager of the North China Power Company. In many people’s eyes, she had strong backing, was ambitious and proud, and it wasn’t easy for any average unmarried guy to catch her eye.

To an extent, Wang Qing wasn’t afraid of Chen Ningxi. Even if "something" were going on, she had people to shield her from trouble.

But getting rejected by Lu Xingyan had stung her pride, and her mindset twisted as she began to take it out on Chen Ningxi.

When the two people seated across from Wang Qing got up and left, she felt her chance had come.

"Hey, hey," Wang Qing nudged Liu Yahui beside her, "look at Lu Xingyan—heading to sit with Manager Chen again."

Liu Yahui’s nickname was "The Megaphone." To put it bluntly, she was a busybody with a sharp tongue. Whatever you didn’t want spreading, you absolutely couldn’t let her know, because once she knew, the entire company would know.

Following Wang Qing’s subtle cue, Liu Yahui glanced over, and her nosy instincts kicked in. "You don’t say—I’ve noticed that too. Lu sure knows how to curry favor."

Wang Qing smiled meaningfully. "Is that just currying favor, though?"

"What do you mean?" Liu Yahui widened her eyes, as though uncovering a huge secret.

Wang Qing didn’t answer, just smiled faintly and, after a pause, said, "...Never mind if you can’t tell."

Liu Yahui looked at Wang Qing first with confusion, then shock. "No way!"

Wang Qing stared at Lu Xingyan’s retreating figure and sneered, "Heh... Whether it’s true or not, it’s not up to me to say. I’ve just heard that Lu keeps running to Manager Chen’s office, staying there for an hour or so with the door locked. Who knows what they’re doing in there?"

Liu Yahui: "Seriously?"

Leaving it at that, Wang Qing set down her chopsticks, picked up her tray, and said, "I’m done eating. I’m heading out. Don’t go telling anyone I said this."

"Of course not."

Liu Yahui was left sitting alone, unable to recover from the earth-shattering gossip.

She decided to keep an eye on the pair. When Chen Ningxi finished eating and got up with her tray, it wasn’t long before Lu Xingyan also finished and stood up.

Liu Yahui quickly followed behind them, watching as Lu Xingyan jogged to catch up with Chen Ningxi. The two walked side by side.

The office building had five floors, with the leadership offices on the fourth floor, including those of Chen Ningxi, Lei Dechang, and a few other deputy managers.

Liu Yahui trailed far behind them. From the staircase railing on the first floor, she looked up and saw Lu Xingyan part ways with Chen Ningxi at the third-floor lounge. She dawdled in the hallway for a bit, about five minutes, and just as she was ready to give up, she heard footsteps on the third-floor stairs heading to the fourth.

"..." My God, something really is going on.

Liu Yahui peeked through the staircase railings to confirm it was indeed Lu Xingyan. Once she saw him go up to the fourth floor, she covered her mouth and sent a message to Wang Qing.

Liu Yahui: I saw it with my own eyes.

Sitting in her office, Wang Qing read the message on her screen, her hatred growing stronger.

What’s with the act around me? Preferring older women—disgusting.

Wang Qing: Don’t spread rumors. Maybe they really have work to discuss.

If she wanted to firmly establish the rumors of an improper relationship between the two, the best approach was to keep insinuating without outright stating it.

Liu Yahui: Yeah, right. Alone at midday, a man and a woman together in a room, talking about work?

Wang Qing: These days, unless they’re caught in bed, they won’t admit anything.

Liu Yahui: Exactly.

Liu Yahui: Who would’ve thought Manager Chen would be involved with Lu?

Wang Qing: Don’t go telling anyone else. Keep it to yourself.

Liu Yahui: What, am I stupid? Of course not.

Meanwhile, Lu Xingyan walked out of Chen Ningxi’s office holding his Party membership application and headed straight to Lei Dechang’s office, as Lei handled matters like these.

The Party membership application required a recommendation from a Party member. Lu Xingyan had approached Chen Ningxi to ask if she could serve as his recommender. Their earlier conversation after leaving the cafeteria was about this matter.

Chen Ningxi planned to take a short midday rest and locked her office door, leaning against the sofa to take a brief nap.

At the same time, Cheng Qiaobei’s office door was shut tightly. Wei Lai felt uneasy. Ever since Chen Qian went in, there hadn’t been a sound from within. She went to the copier in the main hall with some documents to copy, but her eyes kept straying toward Cheng Qiaobei’s office.

Through the door of Deng Yan’s office, one could see the copier. Wei Lai remained in a tilted posture for almost fifteen minutes.

Deng Yan picked up his coffee cup and walked out. As he passed by the copier, he asked, "How much more do you have left? Do you need help?"

Wei Lai’s attention finally snapped back to reality. "No, thanks. You go ahead with your work."

Just as she was about to continue, a large hand blocked her view. Wei Lai yelped and leaned backward. "What are you doing?"

Deng Yan said, "Doesn’t standing here tire you out?"

Wei Lai pushed his hand away. "Nope."

Deng Yan set down his coffee cup, picked up all the documents from the copier, and grabbed her arm, pulling her away.

As they walked, he said, "Don’t worry about it. If anything were going to happen, it would’ve happened already."

Wei Lai remained anxious. "If something does happen, it’ll be too late for us to get involved."

Deng Yan’s expression stayed calm. "Chen Qian is no match for Cheng. Don’t worry about it. Focus on your tasks."

Wei Lai asked, "You’re not worried at all?"

Deng Yan lightly shook his head.

When they reached Wei Lai’s office, Deng Yan was still holding her arm. She shook his hand off. "Didn’t realize you’re so strong. You almost hurt me."

Deng Yan’s fingers briefly curled. "...Uh, sorry about that."

Then he asked, "Is your ulcer healing up?"

"It’s much better, doesn’t hurt as much anymore." Wei Lai sat at her desk and picked up a throat lozenge. "I owe you for that. Are you free this weekend? I’ll treat you to a meal."

Deng Yan paused, watching Wei Lai as she continued organizing client files. "...Oh, sure."

Staring at her computer screen, Wei Lai asked, "What do you feel like eating? I’ll make the reservation in advance."

Deng Yan said, "I’m good with anything. What about you?"

Wei Lai said, "This time of year, hot pot feels just right. There’s a lamb hot pot place in the South Suburb—they slaughter fresh lambs daily."

Deng Yan didn’t eat lamb. "Alright, let’s go there."

Wei Lai lowered her eyes and started cross-checking files. Deng Yan exited the office.

Cheng Qiaobei closed the file, his eyebrows slightly arched in faint ridicule:

"Chen Qian, with a project of this scale, who do you think you are to negotiate with me?"