Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 474: Once the Bow is Drawn, There’s No Turning Back

Chapter 474: Chapter 474: Once the Bow is Drawn, There’s No Turning Back

Are you kidding? How could he hand over the decision-making power of Eastern First-class to outsiders?

Zou Yong sensed his resistance, "The cooperation can’t just benefit you single-sidedly. We need a win-win situation, but equally, the risks must be shared. According to what you said, I can compromise, but if you fail to achieve your target, even to the extent of not being able to repay the principal, what’s the point of only executing your personal dividend? A betting agreement where even the principal isn’t safe — am I just waiting to be questioned by the board?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "I am confident I can achieve the projected sales performance."

Zou Yong chuckled, "Who can guarantee the market? You’re not facing an individual, but a group. Who can ensure the consumption direction of the masses? How can you be sure that in the coming year, Eastern First-class’s performance will continue to improve? The hotel industry in itself constantly replaces old hotels with new ones. Guests switch to new hotels for their decor, facilities, or added subsidiary projects."

Cheng Qiaobei remained very confident about the future of Eastern First-class. However, as Zou Yong pointed out, he couldn’t just prove it with words — he had to demonstrate it through actual performance.

Zou Yong said, "Everyone should compromise a bit. I will bet on your performance but won’t control your operational decisions or management decisions, granting you 100% control. I also agree to the U.S. stock market listing and might even allow you to prioritize using personal dividends to repay the performance bets, but only on one condition — the principal.

A year later, based on the actual performance, if you haven’t reached the expected sales figures, no additional compensation would be required, but the principal must be repaid. You could cover it with equity, or even prioritize returns with personal dividends. But your equity stake must be sufficient to cover the principal."

Compared to the original betting agreement, this was indeed the greatest concession made.

Based on Deng Yan’s estimation, the year’s sales were absolutely capable of meeting the performance requirements of the betting agreement, so it was up to Cheng Qiaobei to decide how to proceed.

Cheng Qiaobei kept reviewing the hotel’s financial report in the car earlier, knowing that even with fluctuations, the performance could be maximized.

Zou Yong’s secretary stood up and whispered a few words in his ear, making Zou Yong nod, "Tell him, it’s almost over."

Cheng Qiaobei observed and said, "You seem busy, Mr. Zou, let’s talk tomorrow."

Zou Yong replied, "Just a minor issue came up. We’ll continue tomorrow."

Seeing Zou Yong off, Deng Yan and Cheng Qiaobei then got into the car.

Deng Yan asked, "Are you planning to sign?"

Cheng Qiaobei looked at the report in hand again, deeply contemplating, and said, "Let’s sign."

Deng Yan mentioned, "Since he’s not interfering with operations and decisions, he’ll definitely find ways to monitor our actual performance to avoid fraud."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "With my understanding of him, now that he’s holding shares without controlling them, he’ll definitely assign a financial director or a high-level supervisor at my level for daily oversight."

Deng Yan acknowledged, "These are regular procedures. We just need to ensure our performance."

Cheng Qiaobei returned to the company and opened the document about the betting agreement again, marking the principal issue in red.

Once the betting agreement is signed, both he and the company’s situation would be like shooting without an arrow to return.

But years of scrambling in the business world had taught him the habit of keeping a backup plan because there’s always a possibility of variance.

Cheng Qiaobei spent the entire afternoon in his office, keeping the door closed without allowing disturbances.

Wei Lai found Deng Yan to inquire about the negotiation outcome, but Deng Yan didn’t speak directly, only telling her they had to visit Qiankun Group again tomorrow.

Beep beep beep... The phone alarm rang, making Cheng Qiaobei check the time and rush to pick up Chen Ningxi.

He saved the document and left the company with his laptop.

The car was parked underneath the Danjiang Power building, and he sent her a message.

north: Driver Cheng has arrived.

Chen Ningxi received it and replied with a smile: Got it!

While waiting, Cheng Qiaobei thought of something and sent a message to Deng Yan, asking him to look into a matter.

Twenty minutes later, Chen Ningxi finally emerged from the office building, opened the passenger door, and sat inside.

"Just got a call from the branch office, was it a long wait?"

Cheng Qiaobei placed the data materials on the back seat and joked, "What’s the hurry when waiting for the wife?"

Chen Ningxi gave him a playful glare, "You and that honeyed tongue. No one would be able to resist you if you were coaxing."

Cheng Qiaobei started the car, "This tongue is reserved for you, with honey, but for others, it’s something else."

"What is it for others?" Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei replied, "It’s poisoned."

"It’s not that serious," said Chen Ningxi, knowing the Cheng Qiaobei she experienced was gentle, gentlemanly, and pampering only toward her.

Yet due to this, Chen Ningxi never heard his biting sarcasm or cold indifference toward strangers.

They cooked together, with Chen Ningxi assisting while Cheng Qiaobei handled the stir-frying.

During dinner, when he saw her eating less, he picked up her bowl and asked, "Why are you eating so little?"

Chen Ningxi confessed, "My stomach doesn’t feel well today, more nauseous than usual."

Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Did you eat anything cold or spicy?"

Chen Ningxi replied, "None of those, just a faint burning sensation, and I don’t feel like eating."

Cheng Qiaobei raised an eyebrow, "Are you pregnant?"

Chen Ningxi was unsure, "The medicine the doctor gave me also causes nausea and vomiting."

"All right," Cheng Qiaobei nodded, "Which day is it today?"

Chen Ningxi: "The fifth day."

Cheng Qiaobei: "Let’s test first thing tomorrow morning."

Chen Ningxi: "Okay."

At night, the person in his arms was fast asleep, breathing deeply and evenly. Cheng Qiaobei gently moved his hand to her belly, feeling a faint sense of expectation.

He silently thought to himself, "Are you here?"

The next day, before dawn.

Chen Ningxi’s biological clock woke her up, with Cheng Qiaobei having held her all night, his large palm cradling her stomach.

Though he never mentioned wanting kids, she knew Cheng Qiaobei also looked forward to it.

His silence was to avoid putting pressure on her.

Chen Ningxi quietly got out of bed, left the bedroom, closed the door, and went to the bathroom to take out a pregnancy test stick.

Feeling anxious and nervous, she operated as usual, holding the test in hand waiting for a response. Typically, results appear quickly, but Chen Ningxi waited twenty minutes without a second line appearing, even suspecting the test was faulty before trying another one — still only one line.

Cheng Qiaobei felt the empty space next to him and quickly opened his eyes, heading to the bathroom to find her.

Through the door, there was silence inside.

Cheng Qiaobei worriedly knocked on the door, "Honey..."

Chen Ningxi sighed, got up to open the door.

Cheng Qiaobei stood outside as she raised the test stick, disappointed, "I’m not pregnant."

"It’s just the sixth day, the doctor said it takes seven to ten days." Cheng Qiaobei tossed the test into the trash bin, then lifted her horizontally, saying, "Don’t stress yourself out, IVF isn’t guaranteed either, as the doctor mentioned. Relax, don’t overthink. I don’t want you overwhelmed with pressure for a baby, the mind can’t bear it."

Chen Ningxi admitted, "I see others getting pregnant so easily, why is it so difficult for me, harder than anything else."

Cheng Qiaobei teased to lighten her mood, "Don’t jump to conclusions — try a high school math exam paper and see what’s truly tough."

Chen Ningxi: "..."

Thank you very much!