Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 396: Missing You a Bit

Chapter 396: Chapter 396: Missing You a Bit

Chen Ningxi reminisced, "No wonder you’ve been traveling so frequently these past few months. But you’re just one person, your energy is limited, and you can’t possibly rapidly expand to nearly a hundred hotels at once."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Before I left Jade Jiali, I established a special team. Shortly after I resigned, these people also left one after another. I sent them across the country to find hotels that meet the criteria for cooperation. Of course, these things were done quite discreetly, after all, we had to keep it hidden from them."

Chen Ningxi understood that if these actions were exposed, it wouldn’t just be Cheng Xiangheng who would obstruct; there would be more people lurking in the shadows who would interfere.

To achieve what you want, keep it secret first.

Cheng Qiaobei continued, "Small hotels lack capacity and haven’t leveraged their advantages. If we want to expand the hotel business, we need to seek a more well-known brand. Eastern First-class is the best choice. Furthermore, I can offer renovations, hardware facilities, and service training unconditionally. I have the platform and resources; they have the establishments. We cooperate for a win-win situation."

He talked to Chen Ningxi for a long time, starting from when he decided to leave, gradually breaking away from Jade Jiali, escaping Cheng Xiangheng’s control, and distancing himself from those wary of him.

Back then, he was just a pawn, and no one dared to enter the game. Now he holds the pieces, and everyone is within his game.

Chen Ningxi couldn’t help but sigh, "Even the Qingshan and Orchid Garden projects were part of your setup? That’s quite a big game you’re playing. Didn’t you think about what if you actually won the bid?"

Cheng Qiaobei laughed, "With Old Cheng around, he won’t let me get complacent. Besides, with Chen Qian as an assistant, there will definitely be disruptions. To relieve their vigilance, the company location was chosen in a newly developed area that barely draws attention, so they don’t see me down and out. How else would I have the opportunity to find partner hotels nationwide."

Chen Ningxi suddenly remembered, "The flower basket,"

Just as expected, she would remember this matter, "The flower basket thing was unexpected, but I knew some people couldn’t sit still knowing I started a company and would inevitably resort to some underhanded tactics."

"Honey," Cheng Qiaobei glanced at the dishes on the table, "The food’s gone cold. Has your place resumed traffic yet?"

At that moment, the traffic jam slowly started to move, making Chen Ningxi delighted, "Seems like it has."

When she got home, it was already almost eleven.

Cheng Qiaobei timed it right, bringing out the reheated dishes from the kitchen, "I started reheating the food as soon as you got off the highway, quickly go wash your hands."

Chen Ningxi set down her luggage and went over to hug him.

Cheng Qiaobei stood still, loosely holding the hand around his waist, he asked, "Tired?"

"Yeah," Chen Ningxi nodded on his back with her eyes closed, "You’ve worked hard too."

Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, "I’ve been at home, working hard for what? It’s you who have been on business trips for too long, I’m not used to it."

"Not used to what?"

"Not used to not having you by my side."

Chen Ningxi took a deep breath, savoring the familiar scent, "I’m back now."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Can you bring family members on work trips?"

Chen Ningxi laughed, "Why?"

Cheng Qiaobei turned and held her in his arms, "What else? Just to accompany you. I’ll cover my own travel expenses if you take me along. I promise to obey the rules and not cause any trouble for the organization."

Chen Ningxi wrapped her hands around his neck, "If you come, how am I supposed to focus on work?"

Cheng Qiaobei lifted her chin, his long eyes filled with a smile, "I didn’t realize our Manager Chen has moments she can’t resist temptation."

The atmosphere gradually became ambiguous under his burning gaze. Chen Ningxi bashfully pushed his hand away, "Stop fooling around, I’ll go change."

She slipped away, and Cheng Qiaobei watched her back and smiled.

"It’s been so long since we got married, and you’re still so shy."

Chen Ningxi pretended not to hear, tidied up, and returned to sit down at the table, accepting the bowl and chopsticks Cheng Qiaobei handed her.

"You’ve been waiting for me all this time? Didn’t I tell you not to wait, just eat first."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Eating alone is no fun, and besides, I’m not hungry."

Just as they were eating, the phone rang.

Cheng Qiaobei glanced at the screen and said, "There’s another thing, I also opened several chains overseas, and Jiang Wanyi has been helping me with the business there. I haven’t told you before, so don’t get angry. I’ll take her call, it’s probably about the overseas hotels."

Chen Ningxi’s expression remained unchanged as she nodded.

He put the call on speaker in front of Chen Ningxi, "Hello."

Jiang Wanyi said, "I sent the promotional proposal to your email. Please confirm it as soon as possible, so I can begin the execution."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "No problem, I’ll get back to you within an hour."

Jiang Wanyi asked, "How’s the domestic promotion going?"

Cheng Qiaobei, "Pretty well, the results are great."

Jiang Wanyi said, "It might be related to the intensity of the domestic promotion. Recently, the occupancy rate over here has also increased."

Cheng Qiaobei replied, "In the past month, a lot of funds have been invested in Eastern First-class’s marketing. The exposure rate will reach its peak within the next week. Hopefully, the overseas hotels can ride this momentum."

Jiang Wanyi was full of confidence; she believed in Cheng Qiaobei’s capabilities.

"It will."

After hanging up, Cheng Qiaobei said, "You heard it too, it was all about work."

Chen Ningxi chewed thoughtfully, then looked up, "I didn’t say anything, but your explanation just made it more suspicious."

Cheng Qiaobei, "..."

Did it? Okay, maybe it did.

But fearing Chen Ningxi might overthink, Cheng Qiaobei explained, "Truly, we only discuss business every time."

Chen Ningxi squinted her eyes, "Initially, I didn’t care much, but now... I need to check something later."

Cheng Qiaobei placed his phone on the table, "Feel free to check. You’ll definitely leave my phone with a smile."

Chen Ningxi, "Don’t be too confident."

Cheng Qiaobei, "If I were afraid of you checking, I wouldn’t let you see it."

Chen Ningxi understood, "That’s true."

After dinner, Cheng Qiaobei finished cleaning up and went to check his email; Jiang Wanyi was still waiting for him to confirm the final promotional plan.

After confirming the plan, Cheng Qiaobei added some of his comments and replied to Jiang Wanyi.

Feeling a bit fatigued from the business trip, Chen Ningxi took a bath, leaning against the bathroom counter while blow-drying her hair. Her eyelids grew heavier until suddenly, the weight in her hand lightened as the blow dryer was taken over by Cheng Qiaobei.

"Let me do it."

Cheng Qiaobei lifted her onto the sink, supporting a strand of her hair while drying it.

Too tired, Chen Ningxi leaned her head on his shoulder.

Cheng Qiaobei looked at her reflection in the mirror, "Stay awake, wait until your hair is dry before sleeping."

Chen Ningxi murmured, and hugged his waist, "Manager Cheng,"

Cheng Qiaobei chuckled softly, "Hehe, whatever you need, just tell me."

Chen Ningxi said, "Next time, I’ll try not to be out for so long."

"Why the sudden resolution?" Cheng Qiaobei asked.

Chen Ningxi turned her head towards him, her warm breath spreading across his chest, making Cheng Qiaobei feel ticklish, he shifted his feet, but she held him steady.

Chen Ningxi said, "Have you been sleeping with my pillow at night?"

Cheng Qiaobei, "How do you know?"

Suddenly remembered, he hadn’t put the pillow back this morning, still left it next to his own.

Chen Ningxi said, "When I’m not home, it must be quite boring for you alone."

Cheng Qiaobei put down the hairdryer and hugged her tightly, "It’s alright, I just miss you a bit."