Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 386: Black Swan

Chapter 386: Chapter 386: Black Swan

Before getting off work, Cheng Qiaobei announced an office dinner gathering.

Wei Lai lifted her head from the mountain of documents, her face full of exhaustion, and said, "The bank keeps dodging us, and we can’t even find a way to get a company loan, yet you guys are still in the mood for dinner."

Cheng Qiaobei deliberately said loudly, "If Wei Lai doesn’t go, will you all still go?"

Zhou Chong laughed, "The company has only one girl, if she doesn’t go, neither will I."

Deng Yan paused his typing, looked toward the office area through the door.

Shen Rongshen stood up, "Wei Lai, whether we can have this dinner tonight depends entirely on you."

Wei Lai had no choice, "Cheng, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Fine, I’ll go, is that enough for you?"

Cheng Qiaobei called out to Deng Yan, "Deng Yan, you pick the restaurant and book us a table."

Deng Yan replied with one word: "Okay."

When no one was paying attention, a slight smile curled at the corner of Deng Yan’s mouth.

After work, the group headed to Huaxi Restaurant, a western-style dining place, and from the decor, it was obvious it was a great spot for dates.

Shen Rongshen frowned, "Come on, having dinner with such an elaborate setup, someone might think it’s a business banquet."

Zhou Chong laughed, "Your heart is like concrete, to think of a business banquet—look at the decor and the atmosphere. It’s perfect for a date," and he looked over to Wei Lai, "right, Wei Lai?"

Deng Yan walked ahead, discussing table arrangements with the waiter, not paying attention to the conversation behind.

The waiter confirmed the name and phone number Deng Yan provided, then gestured, "This way please, to table 19."

Cheng Qiaobei walked alongside Deng Yan, saying meaningfully, "This restaurant is perfect to bring a woman you like."

Deng Yan remained silent, only letting out an awkward cough, "Ahem..."

The dining table was in the best spot in the entire restaurant, offering a view of the piano performance at the center and the lakeside scenery through the floor-to-ceiling windows, with the lit-up bridge in plain sight.

The night was deep, and the evening view was peaceful. Wei Lai propped her chin on her hand, looking out the window, and felt inexplicably relaxed.

Deng Yan, sitting in the chair next to Wei Lai, sneaked a glance at her, seeing that she liked it, he slightly lowered his gaze and subtly smiled.

Shen Rongshen, sitting across from the two, noticed Deng Yan’s cautiousness. It seemed like Wei Lai was the only one in the whole company unaware of Deng Yan’s feelings.

He planned to play the nice guy, asking, "Cheng, what’s the theme for tonight’s dinner?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "You’d have to ask Deng Yan, he organized it."

Zhou Chong asked, "Manager Deng, care to tell us the agenda?"

All eyes, including Wei Lai’s, turned to Deng Yan. Feeling uneasy under the gaze, he yet maintained a poker face.

"...Today," he looked at Wei Lai, "is Wei Lai’s birthday."

Wei Lai hesitated for a second, "Wait, my birthday? What date is it today?"

She quickly opened her phone, checked the calendar, and laughed.

"It really is, well done Deng Yan, truly the top secretary, your memory is amazing."

Five people at the table had different expressions, a mix of joy and sorrow could describe them.

"!" Deng Yan’s complex emotions couldn’t be concealed as he slowly pushed the glasses frame on his nose.

So obvious, yet she still couldn’t see it?

Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, deserved it for not speaking out.

Shen Rongshen looked at Deng Yan, rubbing his forehead, showing a grin harder to suppress than handling an AK, suddenly feeling a bit sorry for him.

Zhou Chong’s reaction was rather mild, with the faintest smile, but when meeting Wei Lai’s eyes, he felt a slight embarrassment—turned out to be her birthday.

The waiter came to serve dishes, along with a large bouquet of fresh flowers and a black swan cake, while the piano music turned to ’Happy Birthday.’

Wei Lai took the flowers, "Thank you, Deng Yan, for all these years of working together—really thoughtful!"

Cheng Qiaobei laughed, "Deng Yan, you’re such a good guy."

Shen Rongshen couldn’t hold it anymore, "Hahaha... Deng Yan, ever heard this saying?"

Deng Yan’s face was red from holding back, but he maintained his serious facade, "Don’t want to hear it."

Shen Rongshen said, "Whether you want to hear it or not, here it is: ’The vegetables have gone cold.’"

Zhou Chong scratched his brow, though Deng Yan was a competitor, he had to thank him for never stating it clearly.

Wei Lai rubbed salt in Deng Yan’s wound, asking, "The delivery guys from Black Swan are all tall and handsome, why didn’t they bring it up for me?"

Deng Yan’s calm expression finally had a crack, "Sorry for making you miss out on eye candy, I’ll keep that in mind next time."

Wei Lai held onto Deng Yan’s sleeve, and said, "Don’t be mad, thanks for the cake, I really like it."

She didn’t notice her gesture of holding his sleeve, but as Deng Yan glanced at her hand close by, his eyelashes fluttered, bashfully withdrawing it, saying:

"As long as you like it... Make a wish and blow out the candles."

Someone inserted the candles, someone lit them, and Wei Lai closed her eyes with folded hands to make a wish.

Deng Yan took out his phone to take photos for her, with western food, candlelight, a bouquet, and a black swan, her smile was prettier than flowers.

To keep the photos openly, Deng Yan also asked the waiter to take a group photo for the five of them.

That evening, a post appeared on Deng Yan’s WeChat Moments, two photos with the text: Happy Birthday to you.

During the meal, Deng Yan went to the bathroom, Cheng Qiaobei followed him inside.

Cheng Qiaobei moved near the sensor tap, washing his hands while saying, "Wei Lai hasn’t thought in that direction, you should hit straight."

Deng Yan grabbed a paper towel, "I’ve been this forward, isn’t it obvious?"

"Heh..." Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, "Yeah, it’s so obvious that she still doesn’t get it. You’re stating it so plainly, yet not plainly enough."

Deng Yan crumpled the paper, pondering a moment, "Sigh..."

Leaving the restaurant, Deng Yan said, "Wei Lai and I are on the same route, I’ll give her a lift."

Zhou Chong said, "I’m on the same route too, I can take her."

Deng Yan looked at Wei Lai, giving her the choice, "Whose car do you want to ride in?"

Cheng Qiaobei frowned, what was he doing giving her the choice right now, but then he thought it was correct—who Wei Lai felt closer to would have the better chance, showing who Wei Lai favored.

Seems like Deng Yan was going to make a decision tonight. If she had no feelings for him, he would stop tonight.

Wei Lai, holding the flowers, inhaling the scent, blurted out, "I’ll go with Deng Yan then, your place is two streets further away from mine."

Deng Yan opened the back door without a trace of a triumphant expression, helping her in as usual, then sat in the front passenger seat.

The three watched as Deng Yan’s car drove off.

On the way back, Cheng Qiaobei found tonight’s dinner more interesting the more he thought about it, a large-scale schadenfreude event without the heroine even realizing, probably won’t see that again.

After tonight, Deng Yan would surely make a straightforward move.

When Cheng Qiaobei returned home, he caught Chen Ningxi about to shower, insisting on telling her the funny parts of tonight’s dinner.

Chen Ningxi laughed so hard she bent over upon hearing Wei Lai complain about Deng Yan not having the Black Swan handsome guy serve it personally, "Isn’t Wei Lai supposed to be clever, how could she not see it?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "You can’t blame Wei Lai for this, Deng Yan is on another level in her eyes. To Wei Lai, a secretary that meticulous is like the top of the field, she somewhat admires him in her mind. So, not realizing it is understandable."