Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 353: Don’t Be Afraid

Chapter 353: Chapter 353: Don’t Be Afraid

Yuan Honglin was just about to speak when the door of the private room was knocked, and a waiter entered with a plate of dishes.

"The boss added more dishes."

Cheng Qiaobei glanced at him casually and reminded the waiter, "Close the door properly, don’t disturb us again."

The embarrassed waiter exited and shut the door tightly.

Shao Shangyu continued the previous topic, "The Qingshan project wasn’t favored by just your company before the new year. Besides you, there were Jade Jiali, Hongfeng Garden, Nuaj, Jiangnan Banquet, and seven other companies. The only one posing a real competitive threat to your company is Jade Jiali. If you’re asking how confident I am, it depends on whose strength—yours or Jade Jiali’s—is greater."

Cheng Qiaobei nodded knowingly, understanding the current situation.

"Is there any other way? I must secure the Qingshan land," Cheng Qiaobei asked straightforwardly.

Shao Shangyu understood his intentions and responded, "Things like this are being thoroughly investigated now; no one dares to interfere. All procedures strictly follow the regulations."

Cheng Qiaobei’s expression grew heavy, "Director Shao, you know I came out from Jade Jiali. Given my current position, it’s not impossible to compete for this land, but if we raise the bidding price aggressively to secure it—plus the subsequent construction and renovation costs—my cash flow might dry up. If there’s any other way..."

His implication was obvious.

Shao Shangyu politely declined, "Manager Cheng, it’s not that I don’t want to help. This matter really won’t work."

Next, Shao Shangyu began analyzing the situation in detail and addressed some sensitive issues regarding the land.

The two talked for nearly two hours. Cheng Qiaobei walked Shao Shangyu out but didn’t leave immediately. He stayed in the private room for another half an hour.

During this time, the waiter who brought the additional dishes entered again, noticed he was still there, and silently exited.

The waiter lingered in the corridor, her expression slightly uneasy.

Finally, when she saw the private room door open again and Cheng Qiaobei step out, she rushed in to clear the table.

Cheng Qiaobei walked out of Jiangnan Banquet, opened the passenger door, and sat inside the car.

He lit a cigarette, his gaze fixed on the entrance of Jiangnan Banquet. The cigarette was nearly finished when the hired driver arrived.

As the car drove along, Cheng Qiaobei leaned back in his seat for a short rest, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror—a black sedan had been tailing him for four days now.

If it was confirmed as surveillance, it had lasted for more than four days.

Feigning discomfort, Cheng Qiaobei covered his mouth and said, "Stop quickly, pull over—I feel sick."

The driver promptly stopped the car by the roadside. Cheng Qiaobei opened the door and dashed toward a nearby garbage bin, bending over and pretending to vomit. Under the cover of night, however, his eyes scanned behind the car.

As expected, the black sedan had also stopped.

Standing upright, Cheng Qiaobei wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, retrieved a bottle of mineral water from the trunk to rinse his mouth, and returned to the car.

Back in the passenger seat, Cheng Qiaobei crossed his arms as if dozing off but continued to monitor the black sedan through the rearview mirror.

The car stopped at a parking space in his residential compound. After paying the driver, Cheng Qiaobei staggered into the building.

He returned home without immediately turning on the lights. Instead, he walked onto the balcony to look downstairs, spotting a figure pacing back and forth. To avoid suspicion, he turned on the bedroom light.

A while later, the person left.

Since Cheng Qiaobei confirmed someone was tailing him, his life continued as usual, and work proceeded normally.

With just a week until the New Year, Cheng Qiaobei still had to visit the Cheng Family to pay his respects to the elders during the holidays.

Chen Ningxi finished her studies and returned home. Cheng Qiaobei hadn’t finished work yet; the home was spotless, everything organized neatly.

She first took the clothes she brought with her to wash. As she retrieved them from the dryer, the sound of the door opening echoed.

Glancing reflexively at her watch, Chen Ningxi carried the clothes to the living room and said to the person entering, "You’re off work rather early today."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "After receiving your WeChat message, I told Wei Lai I was leaving early today."

Chen Ningxi smiled teasingly at him, "Got marked for leaving early again, didn’t you?"

Carrying the groceries, Cheng Qiaobei headed straight to the kitchen, "After the holiday, I plan to hold a meeting and get rid of the attendance tracking system."

Chen Ningxi laughed, "This is the first time I’ve heard of a boss skipping early so often that he calls for a meeting to abolish attendance tracking."

Cheng Qiaobei clicked his tongue, "I feel like she’s targeting me. She doesn’t watch anyone else—just me."

It wasn’t worth pointing out to him that the company only had three employees, and he was the only one leaving early.

Chen Ningxi chuckled, "Sure it’s about you specifically?"

Cheng Qiaobei: "..."

When it came to attendance tracking, he was clearly in the wrong.

Chen Ningxi mimicked his usual tone, "Your silence is deafening."

Cheng Qiaobei clutched the back of her neck, "What, are you throwing this back at me now?"

Tickled by his maneuver, Chen Ningxi dodged and said while laughing, "What else? I didn’t leave early!"

"I have to get back at you!" Cheng Qiaobei hoisted her over his shoulder and tossed her onto the bed, playfully tickling her. "How dare you not side with me but help someone else?"

"Stop, that tickles! Let me go... Hahaha..."

The room filled with bursts of laughter from Chen Ningxi.

Late at night, Cheng Qiaobei held Chen Ningxi in his arms and said, "Ningxi, there’s something I need to tell you. But don’t be scared."

Already drowsy, Chen Ningxi instantly perked up, "What is it?"

Cheng Qiaobei explained his recent discoveries and gave her a car license plate number, cautioning her not to worry, saying it was merely low-level commercial tactics.

"Dad’s actions feel a little..." She stopped short of completing the thought. "Got it. If I see that car, I’ll act as though I haven’t noticed."

Cheng Qiaobei nodded, "That’s for the best. Seeing him within my line of sight is better than not knowing he’s hiding in the shadows."

Chen Ningxi continued, "What’s your plan for the Qingshan project?"

It was clear that the Qingshan project would determine whether Cheng Qiaobei could successfully establish himself in the industry, but Cheng Xiangheng evidently didn’t want him to succeed.

Cheng Qiaobei’s large hand soothed Chen Ningxi’s back, "Don’t worry about that. I have a plan. But there’s something else I need you to accompany me for."

"What is it?" Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei said, "The Cheng Family always visits the elders to pay respects during New Year. This year, Grandpa specifically called and asked me to bring you. I respect your decision—if you’re willing to come with me, we’ll go together. If not, I’ll tell him you’re busy."

How could she let Cheng Qiaobei face such a family devoid of warmth alone? She answered, "I’ll go with you."

Cheng Qiaobei’s eyes lit up, "...Alright."

Wei Lai wrapped up the work Deng Yan had assigned and boarded her flight home.

The company had entered its early Spring Festival vacation. Though Cheng Qiaobei stayed at home, he still went out daily for social engagements, especially around the holidays, when building connections was a necessity.

The electricity company’s duty roster came out as well. Lei Dechang handed Chen Ningxi the holiday schedule and said:

"You had to work on New Year’s Eve last year. This year, the leadership team considered that it’s your first year of marriage and that you’ll be visiting the in-laws, so we’ve scheduled your shift for the sixth day of the New Year."

Chen Ningxi received the duty roster, "Thank you."

Ye Yujun called Chen Ningxi, "Ningxi, is there anything you’re still missing for the Spring Festival? Mom happens to be in town, so I can pick something up for you."

...