Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 51: Like

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Like

From Chen Ningxi’s recent recollection, it could be determined that she really liked the New Year. However, after a moment of silence, Cheng Qiaobei still quietly typed,

— Like.

It seemed as if to welcome the Spring Festival, a heavy snow had fallen last night, enveloping the entire hotel along with Zhoushan in thick snow. Southern folks came north to see snow, while Northerners headed south to see the sea. This cross-experience New Year atmosphere had become a new trend.

Cheng Qiaobei watched the snow through the window, but felt none of the joy brought by the heavy snow, only the cold tranquility.

At that moment, Liang Lei walked into the office with milk tea and desserts.

"Dun dun dun dun," she even gave herself an entrance BGM, "I’m here."

She thought she’d witness a scene of utter boredom, but found Chen Ningxi diligently writing with full concentration.

"Oh my god, having to work during the New Year is sad enough, yet you’re actually still working."

Chen Ningxi looked up when she heard the voice and saw the milk tea in her hand, "Thanks, you’re my pit stop."

Liang Lei handed over the milk tea and glanced at the snacks on her desk, "Looks like you wouldn’t go hungry even if I didn’t come."

"No, I won’t go hungry, but nothing’s as good as a cake from Monet’s Garden." Chen Ningxi closed the drawing, packed away the materials, took a sip of milk tea, and quickly cut a piece of cake into her mouth. "Mmm... indeed, only the world of cream is beautiful."

Liang Lei sat across from her and asked, "You’re really not going home tonight?"

Chen Ningxi said, "I can’t, if something comes up when I go back and the shift manager isn’t on duty, the responsibility will be mine."

"It can’t be that coincidental." Liang Lei shared a little hope.

Chen Ningxi said, "Forget it, it’s just one day, no need to bet on a small probability."

Liang Lei thought for a moment, "Yeah, if an unexpected situation arises, and people look for you but you’re not here, you’d definitely have to deal with it, just stay here honestly."

Chen Ningxi smiled, "Right."

Liang Lei asked, "What will you eat tonight? Cafeteria people have the day off, right?"

Chen Ningxi said, "There’s one person on duty at the cafeteria every day, and they’ll make dumplings for us. However, it’s not time yet, when it is, I’ll go get a portion and bring it up for you to taste our office’s dumplings. The aunt makes a delicious filling."

Liang Lei: "What time?"

Chen Ningxi: "Five o’clock."

Liang Lei slumped on the chair back, "I’ll have to stay with you until five just to eat dumplings. Can’t your office be a bit more humane?"

Chen Ningxi scrutinized Liang Lei, "Are you hungry?"

Liang Lei swallowed a big piece of cake, "Do I look like I’m hungry?"

"Wait, stop eating cakes, I’ll tell the aunt to make it earlier, so she can also get off work earlier."

Liang Lei took a napkin and wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth, "That’s more like it. By the way," she recalled something, "where’s your boyfriend? Has he gone home for the New Year?"

Chen Ningxi said, "No, he’s at the hotel."

"In Zhoushan?"

"Mm-hmm."

"He doesn’t come to see you?" Liang Lei docked a point off Cheng Qiaobei in her mind, "Even if he doesn’t, shouldn’t he at least send you something to eat?"

"The hotel is busy even during the New Year, he can’t spare the time."

Though Chen Ningxi understood, she still felt a bit upset.

"Can’t spare the time? How busy can he be? Busier than the mayor? Even your dad knows to come home for the New Year to be with your mom, he really..." Liang Lei felt upset for Chen Ningxi, "Don’t always think about others, sometimes you have to be rational. Since you have a boyfriend, find someone who treats you well, if it doesn’t work out, we’ll switch, avoid wasting time for both parties."

Chen Ningxi’s expression was calm, with a fitting smile on her face, "I know, don’t worry, I’m not the type who doesn’t mind the smell of a hundred beans.

The experts play Tai Chi, the novices get anxious, if he cares about me, he’ll take action—it’s just a matter of time. But if he doesn’t pass this hurdle, my heart is as broad as an umbrella, it can both open and close."

"Uh-huh..." Liang Lei nodded, "Indeed, women grow iron-hearted only after encountering jerks."

The two women chatted for a while then grouped up to play games; time flew by, and the afternoon passed without notice until it was dark when Chen Ningxi’s phone rang, the cafeteria aunt told her the dumplings were ready.

As Chen Ningxi turned into the cafeteria, Cheng Qiaobei hurriedly entered the office building with a thermal box.

Liang Lei, who had been idly passing time, was sitting in Chen Ningxi’s swivel chair, daydreaming, until she heard footsteps behind her and assumed it was Chen Ningxi. But then the door closed, and a man’s deep and hoarse voice said,

"I came to see if the little darling assigned to me by the state is hungry."

Liang Lei: "..."

Oh my, Cheng Qiaobei could be so playful?

She remained silent, waiting to see what other surprising moves he had.

Cheng Qiaobei, thinking that Chen Ningxi was angry, spoke gently, "It’s the Spring Festival, and many employees went home for the New Year, the hotel staff was tight, so I was busy all day. I just found some time to come accompany you, see, I even made you some dishes myself."

Liang Lei covered her mouth, almost unable to hold back laughter.

"You thought I wouldn’t come? Angry?" Cheng Qiaobei opened the thermal box, taking out steamy dishes, "Aren’t you hungry?"

"..."

The person behind the chair still ignored him. Cheng Qiaobei, encountering Chen Ningxi’s anger for the first time, was unsure how to coax her, but he was genuine in his attitude of admitting fault.

Cheng Qiaobei reached out to turn the chair back, continuing to coax lovingly,

"Ning Xi, I was truly busy today, otherwise I would’ve come sooner, don’t be mad," his words were cut short as the office door opened.

Cheng Qiaobei turned around, "..."

Chen Ningxi was startled to see Cheng Qiaobei, "Why are you here?"

Cheng Qiaobei’s gaze shifted to the chair, "Who’s that?"

"!" Liang Lei, realizing she’d been discovered, slowly stood up, trying to suppress her laughter but failing as her lips couldn’t resist curling up, "Hehehe... what a coincidence, Manager Cheng."

"..." Cheng Qiaobei, recalling what he said upon entry, nodded in feigned calm, "Hello."

Chen Ningxi felt the atmosphere between them was a bit unusual, but upon seeing the dishes on the table, "You brought these?"

Cheng Qiaobei nodded, "Yes, ... you should eat, I made them all."

Liang Lei, not wanting to miss out on the fun, echoed mockingly, imitating Cheng Qiaobei’s tone earlier to Chen Ningxi,

"I came to see if the little darling assigned to me by the state is hungry."

Even though Liang Lei didn’t name who she was mimicking, it was obvious it was Cheng Qiaobei.

Calling her little darling?

Chen Ningxi looked at Cheng Qiaobei in disbelief, the latter scratching the corner of his eyebrow, not knowing how to conceal his embarrassment, "...Come on, eat, the dishes will get cold."

"Ha ha ha ha ha..." Liang Lei laughed loudly, "I don’t know if the dishes are cold, but I do know that someone’s heart is." Ha ha ha ha... Little darling? Huh? Unexpectedly, our Ning Xi’s nickname is so cute."