Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 358: Adding Fuel to the Fire

Chapter 358: Chapter 358: Adding Fuel to the Fire

"With someone like Zhou Qiaoxin, if you just keep denying, she not only won’t believe you but will also push her advantage and trap you in a cycle of self-justification."

Chen Ningxi calmly countered, "Second Aunt, what makes you think that way?"

In an instant, she directed the focus back to the other person, skillfully shifting the target.

Zhou Qiaoxin hadn’t expected to be countered and was momentarily taken aback. She opened her mouth but only managed an awkward laugh: "Hehe... I just heard it from someone else?"

Chen Ningxi still considered her elder status and stopped just short of embarrassing her. But across from them, Cheng Xiangheng shot a cold glance at Zhou Qiaoxin and harshly reprimanded:

"Don’t spread unverified information in the future."

Zhou Qiaoxin tucked her hair behind her ear to cover her embarrassment. "You’re right, Big Brother. I won’t listen to their nonsense next time."

With that mouth of hers, did she even need to hear anything? Every bit of gossip in town couldn’t escape her lips.

To put it bluntly, even a passing dog would end up disgraced when she was around.

Chen Ningxi felt suffocated and wanted some fresh air. She got up and said, "I’m going to take a look outside."

Cheng Xiangheng gave a slight nod, "Out of sight, out of mind." He wasn’t comfortable sharing the same space with Chen Ningxi either.

Seeing her always reminded him of Chen Weichuan.

That sting of being rejected in the past—he still couldn’t let it go.

Chen Ningxi went downstairs and sent Cheng Qiaobei a WeChat message.

Chen Ningxi: I’m going for a walk in the yard.

At that moment, Cheng Qiaobei was sitting expressionlessly, listening to Cheng Jinyuan’s painstaking persuasion.

"You’re still father and son, after all. Can’t anything be discussed? Don’t let others take advantage of the discord."

Cheng Qiaobei remained silent.

Cheng Jinyuan continued, "Qiaobei, you are, after all, the eldest grandchild of the Cheng Family. Whatever your father has now will eventually be yours. Why work so hard to start your own company?"

Cheng Qiaobei was starting to lose patience. To convince him, they were even spouting these appealing but baseless lies.

Cheng Jinyuan prodded further, "So, have you thought it through?"

Cheng Qiaobei turned his face to one side, exhaled, and replied succinctly, "I quit. I’ve no plans to go back. I don’t want the villa. The company, I’ll keep running. I won’t accept a buyout."

After an hour-long conversation, not a single conclusion was reached.

Cheng Qiaobei glanced at his watch. "Grandpa, you’re tired too. Get some rest."

He got up to leave, but Cheng Jinyuan called after him.

"Stop right there."

Cheng Qiaobei paused and turned back to face him directly.

"Are you determined to keep butting heads with your father until both of you lose, and outsiders laugh at us?"

Cheng Qiaobei replied, "You’re mistaken. Everything I’m doing now has nothing to do with him; I’m just walking my own path."

"Child, don’t be so naïve in your thinking."

Cheng Qiaobei suddenly smirked bitterly at himself and said,

"Grandpa, the earliest emotion I lost was naivety." He opened the door and, knowing full well Cheng Xiangheng was sitting in the living room, still added,

"It’s hard on you, worrying about my affairs at your age."

Cheng Xiangheng pricked up his ears but couldn’t gather much from the cryptic line.

It wasn’t until Qiaobei reappeared that he asked with calm indifference, "Where’s Ningxi?"

Cheng Xiangheng answered, "She said she went for a walk."

Cheng Qiaobei was just about to head downstairs when Cheng Xiangheng added, "Your Second Aunt is with her. She’ll be back soon."

Hearing this, he silently sat back down.

His grandfather had tried as a mediator and failed. Next, they seemed ready to take the fight into their own hands.

Cheng Xiangheng asked, "How’s the company doing lately?"

Cheng Qiaobei replied, "Alright, maintaining operations is no issue at present."

Cheng Xiangheng gave a brief nod, taking on the air of a wise father offering guidance.

"Running a company isn’t easy. The daily responsibilities and pressures aren’t something everyone can understand. Now that you’re your own boss, you must have come to appreciate that."

Cheng Qiaobei felt stifled just being in this house. Even if they wanted him to toil endlessly for them, they’d never say it outright. Instead, they’d make him believe it was all because they valued and appreciated him, that his achievements reflected their favor.

In their eyes, he could be excellent—but never too excellent. Certainly not more so than them.

In their presence, he had to keep a low profile, hiding his sharp edges. He replied:

"Yes, only after becoming a boss myself did I realize how hard it is."

The reason Cheng Xiangheng had initially let Cheng Qiaobei start his own company was that he wanted him to experience the struggles of entrepreneurship, to taste defeat so thoroughly that he’d have no choice but to come crawling back.

By then, Cheng Qiaobei would be a crippled eagle, unable to escape his grasp again.

But Cheng Xiangheng had underestimated Qiaobei’s capabilities. Despite a harsh industry winter and fierce competition, he had managed to carve out a niche and survive.

Cheng Xiangheng then brought up Chen Qian.

"I heard from Secretary Chen that he came to see you?"

Speaking of Chen Qian, Cheng Qiaobei was willing to spare another ten minutes to talk.

"He did, but nothing came of it."

Who could rival Cheng Xiangheng at delivering humiliations? His talented son had resigned of his own accord. A capable secretary had been forced out. Now the two worked together at a company, yet even with a high-priced contract for acquisition, no deal was made. Wasn’t it ironic?

Cheng Xiangheng asked, "Did you read the contract?"

Cheng Qiaobei: "I did."

Cheng Xiangheng: "What’s there to be dissatisfied about?"

Cheng Qiaobei tilted his chin up slightly, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the armrest. "There’s nothing dissatisfactory—they’ve offered an astronomical price."

"Then why not sign?" Cheng Xiangheng questioned. "Is it because you look down on Secretary Chen?"

"Him?" Cheng Qiaobei sneered. "He doesn’t deserve to influence me. Not signing is my choice. I just want to see how far I can go—what if I succeed?"

Cheng Xiangheng raised an eyebrow. "Still not done playing? Don’t waste your time."

Cheng Qiaobei lowered his eyes, almost amused but ultimately bored by it all. "...Dad, there’s something I’ve never been able to figure out."

Cheng Xiangheng looked directly at him. "What can’t you figure out?"

With a serious expression, Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Are you afraid of me or can’t let go of me? When I was at the company, you guarded against me as if terrified I’d take your place. Now that I’ve left to run my own company, you send people to bring me back. Do you not find this approach contradictory?"

Cheng Xiangheng replied, "When you reach my position, you’ll understand how I think."

"Forget it. I have no interest in taking your position. Don’t get Grandpa involved either. At his age, don’t tire him out making him play messenger." Cheng Qiaobei stood up. "It’s been a while since Ningxi went out. I’ll go find her."

He finished speaking and strode down the stairs.

As soon as he was gone, Zheng Rongxi stepped out of her room and noticed the sour look on Cheng Xiangheng’s face. She couldn’t help feeling pleased.

She couldn’t wait for the father and son to fall out completely—better yet, for them to turn into sworn enemies. As long as there was a rift between them, Siluo would always be the heir to Jade Jiali.

"Old Cheng, it’s the New Year—let’s aim for harmony. Don’t get upset." Zheng Rongxi placed a fruit platter in front of him. "Have an apple. Qiaobei is still young. He’ll understand you one day."

Her words only made things worse, adding fuel to the fire.

Cheng Xiangheng snorted irritably, "Hmph, that brat. Colluding with outsiders to scheme against me—I raised a damned ingrate."