Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 360: Have You Been Wronged?

Chapter 360: Chapter 360: Have You Been Wronged?

Chen Ningxi felt bad about it, so she tried persuading Cheng Qiaobei to make a phone call and explain.

On the way back, Chen Ningxi received a call from Ye Yujun. She had been worried about how the two were being treated poorly at the Cheng Family’s house but, hearing the sound of car horns, sensed something amiss.

According to custom, this time of the evening should have been when dinner was served.

"Where are you?" Ye Yujun asked.

Chen Ningxi didn’t hide it either, "We’re heading back, on the road."

"!" Ye Yujun’s first reaction was that there had been some unpleasantness, but she didn’t immediately probe for the details. "Have you eaten yet?"

Chen Ningxi: "No."

Ye Yujun felt helpless. Can’t the kids have a smooth New Year for once? Her heart ached that the two hadn’t even had a proper meal before returning, so she said:

"Come here to eat. I’ll prepare some dishes."

After hanging up, Chen Ningxi said, "Mom wants us to go eat at her place."

Cheng Qiaobei looked ahead, "Okay."

Chen Ningxi said, "She’ll definitely ask why we’re back so early."

Cheng Qiaobei’s eyes flickered, "... I’ll explain to Mom."

It was clear his mood was very suppressed, almost to the point of suffocating. Trying to comfort him, Chen Ningxi said:

"It’s okay. If it’s not enjoyable, we just leave."

At that moment, Cheng Qiaobei’s emotions were twisted, and his overall state was poor. He needed to quickly sort himself out.

Just earlier on the phone, before Cheng Qiaobei could even speak, Cheng Xiangheng had already started berating him, and the father and son parted ways unhappily.

He admitted that leaving without notice was his fault, but from the moment he entered the Cheng Family’s home, not a single person showed him any goodwill. It was either malice or ulterior motives. How could someone breathe in this kind of familial atmosphere?

When the two reached the Chen Family’s house, Ye Yujun smiled warmly while placing dishes on the table, acting as though nothing had happened. Only after the meal was finished and they were seated properly in the living room did Cheng Qiaobei open up about what had happened at the Cheng Family’s house.

Upon hearing the details, Chen Ningxi finally understood the intense feelings of suppression Cheng Qiaobei had been carrying.

Ye Yujun furrowed her brows slightly. Truly, every family has its difficulties.

"Cheng, let me say something fair. Your anger about what happened today is understandable, but leaving without saying anything was lacking in decorum. That was your mistake."

Cheng Qiaobei nodded. He didn’t argue; if it’s wrong, it’s wrong.

"Mom, I was indeed in the wrong. Even if I had valid reasons, leaving like that makes it seem like it’s all on me."

"Exactly. It’s good that you’ve come to realize that." Ye Yujun smiled gently, and while peeling an orange slowly, she said, "Relationships within a family are sometimes just like oranges. Even the segments of an orange within the same peel aren’t the same size."

Cheng Qiaobei understood the meaning behind her words. The relationships within the Cheng Family would never truly be even-handed when it came to him and Cheng Siluo.

Ye Yujun said, "Your family’s dynamics are particularly complicated, and change isn’t something that happens overnight. For now, focus on composure and maintaining decorum; keeping up appearances is enough. As for other things, forcing them might not bring good results. Let things unfold naturally, and don’t make yourself miserable by overthinking things. What’s the point?"

The stifled feeling in Cheng Qiaobei’s chest eased with Ye Yujun’s few words. He took the orange she handed him, and she said:

"Look at the bitter peel, but taste the sweetness inside."

After watching a bit of TV, Cheng Qiaobei grew tired and went to the guest room to rest, leaving the mother and daughter alone in the living room. Ye Yujun listened as Chen Ningxi talked about her verbal sparring with a group of relatives.

Hearing about Chen Ningxi’s witty retorts to the pressure around having children, Ye Yujun rubbed her temples and said, "You two are really something."

Chen Ningxi grinned as she leaned onto Ye Yujun’s shoulder, "Of course, isn’t it illegal to want someone else’s kids?"

Ye Yujun cast her a sideways glance, "You’re a grown woman. Don’t make me hit you during the New Year."

Chen Ningxi laughed out loud, leaning back and forth, "Mom, I’m already married, and you still want to hit me? Hahaha..."

Ye Yujun gave her a push, "Enough, stop clinging to me. You’re a manager now; why are you acting like a child?"

Chen Ningxi flopped down like a puddle of mud, leaning against Ye Yujun and holding her arm as she whined, "At home, I’m not a manager. At home, I’m just a kid."

Ye Yujun chuckled helplessly and smacked her lightly on the backside, "You just never grow up, do you?"

The mother and daughter were laughing joyfully when the door opened.

Chen Ningxi immediately straightened up and stopped laughing as she looked at Ye Yujun. "Dad’s back?"

Ye Yujun turned her head toward the door, "Old Chen, you’re off work early today?"

Chen Weichuan noticed the extra pairs of shoes and looked puzzled, "Ningxi and her husband are back already?"

Ye Yujun walked over to the entryway. "Yes, they paid their respects for the New Year and came back. Why are you home early today?"

Chen Weichuan took off his coat and hung it up, "Finished all the visits at the company, so I came back."

The two walked toward the living room chatting as they went.

"Have you eaten?"

"Yes, I ate at the unit cafeteria."

Seeing Chen Ningxi in the living room, Chen Weichuan washed his hands and came to sit on the sofa. "Where’s Cheng?" he asked.

Chen Ningxi: "He’s exhausted from driving and is sleeping."

Chen Weichuan asked again, "Did you take New Year greetings for your mom and me?"

Chen Ningxi sat up straight, "Yes, we did."

Ye Yujun brought tea over to the table, and Chen Weichuan asked, "How are his grandparents’ health?"

Chen Ningxi replied, "They seem quite robust."

Chen Weichuan followed up, "It must be lively at their house for the New Year. They probably have lots of relatives and friends."

Thinking about the scene of being surrounded by people pushing for a baby, Chen Ningxi smiled faintly and said, "Yes, there were quite a lot of people."

Judging by her expression, things at the in-laws seemed relatively smooth, but coming back so early on New Year’s Day seemed odd.

Chen Weichuan asked cautiously, "Why did you come back so early? Didn’t you say you’d stay the night?"

Chen Ningxi glanced at her mother, Ye Yujun. If her father found out about their abrupt departure, he would definitely give them a lecture.

Ye Yujun picked up the conversation, "That big family, plus his sister’s kids are still young. It wasn’t convenient for Cheng to stay overnight."

Chen Weichuan seemed skeptical and looked toward Chen Ningxi.

Chen Ningxi nodded, "Yeah, that’s how it was."

In truth, upon closer inspection, the explanation was full of holes. However, after some thought, Chen Weichuan chose not to ask further questions.

Cheng Qiaobei woke up feeling refreshed, opened the door, and heard Chen Weichuan’s voice, "Dad, you’re home?"

Chen Weichuan nodded, "Hmm, woke up?"

Cheng Qiaobei followed Chen Weichuan to the living room and said, "Been really busy lately, just tired."

"Since there’s finally a break, sleep as much as you can," Chen Weichuan said, picking up the teacup Cheng Qiaobei handed him.

Chen Weichuan glanced at the balcony where the mother and daughter were tidying up the pile of succulents.

Cheng Qiaobei hesitated about whether or not to bring up the early return situation. Chen Weichuan sipped his tea and asked, "How are things with your family? You weren’t treated badly, were you?"

"..." Cheng Qiaobei paused. "If I were to say I wasn’t mistreated, the truth is from the moment I stepped through the door, I haven’t felt at ease."

Chen Weichuan asked in response, "Tell me more."