Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 52 Your Wish

Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Your Wish

Chen Ningxi awkwardly fiddled with her bangs, her ears visibly turning red. She glanced at Cheng Qiaobei, who was much calmer than she was.

Liang Lei smiled knowingly, picked up her coat and handbag from the chair, and sensibly said,

"Since our little darling has someone to accompany her, I won’t hang around as the third wheel."

She raised an eyebrow at Cheng Qiaobei, "The stage is yours."

Cheng Qiaobei smiled warmly, "Thanks!"

Chen Ningxi was worried about Liang Lei, "You don’t have anyone at home either, where are you spending New Year’s? If necessary, go to my mom’s place. I’m going back first thing in the morning."

"No need for you to worry about me. My parents aren’t home, and my grandparents are waiting for me. If I weren’t so concerned about you being here alone on duty, I wouldn’t have come out at all." Liang Lei poked her head back through the door, "Happy Spring Festival to you both."

The door softly closed. Chen Ningxi smiled helplessly, turning her head to meet Cheng Qiaobei’s gaze, her heart pounding like a deer. She tucked her hair behind her ear and said,

"Why did you come?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "You’re on duty alone, I couldn’t stop worrying, so I thought I’d come keep you company."

"No worries," Chen Ningxi held the lunchbox in her arms, "I’ve been on duty during the Spring Festival before."

The two stood in the center of the office, and without Liang Lei’s presence to liven things up, the atmosphere turned awkward.

Cheng Qiaobei pointed to the meal on the office desk, "Let’s eat before it gets really cold."

With his reminder, Chen Ningxi remembered the dumplings in her arms, "No need to bring food, your presence is enough."

"!"

Cheng Qiaobei paused in picking up his chopsticks, turning back to Chen Ningxi, thinking he’d misheard.

Chen Ningxi quickly changed the subject, "The cafeteria at work has food, look," she opened the lunchbox on the table, "they’ve made dumplings for those of us on duty."

But compared to the exquisite dishes Cheng Qiaobei prepared, these dumplings seemed simple and plain.

Cheng Qiaobei saw the dumplings and took another box from the warmer, opening it, "I made dumplings too, with celery and pork filling."

It was Chen Ningxi’s favorite filling.

Chen Ningxi noticed the dumplings resembled willow leaves and were painstakingly made with two-tone dough.

"You made these?" She was truly surprised.

Cheng Qiaobei said, "You started at the grassroots in the electric company, and I did the same. I’ve done every job in a hotel."

He handed her a pair of chopsticks, "Try them."

Chen Ningxi pulled the chair beside her, "Let’s eat together."

Seeing the chairs drawn close together, it was the first time she took the initiative to approach. As she sat down, Cheng Qiaobei secretly rejoiced in his heart.

Chen Ningxi played the Spring Festival Gala live on her phone, placing it on the table, adding a strong festive atmosphere to the quiet office.

The two sat shoulder to shoulder, their eyes glued to the screen, occasionally laughing at the program. Their smiles widened as they met each other’s eyes; she looked away, but his gaze remained on her.

She knew he was watching her, her ears burning red, pretending not to notice.

They both deliberately avoided awkwardness, searching for topics to discuss. Cheng Qiaobei tried to keep the atmosphere from cooling, finally making it to midnight. As the year was about to turn, the hosts on TV led the countdown, and their phones were constantly buzzing with well wishes.

On TV, a loud and synchronized countdown began: 5, 4, 3, 2...

At the last second, Cheng Qiaobei turned to Chen Ningxi and said, "Happy New Year, wishing you good luck, Ningxi."

Chen Ningxi slowly looked at him, smiling serenely, "Happy New Year, wishing you all the best,"

She couldn’t bring herself to say "Qiao Bei", the words stopped short, "...Cheng Qiaobei."

Cheng Qiaobei gave a warm smile, his eyes full of affection, he didn’t care about the name. What truly pleased him was Chen Ningxi’s companionship at that moment.

Outside, fireworks exploded into the sky, turning night into day, colorful lights spreading to every corner of the city.

She asked, "What’s your wish?"

Cheng Qiaobei thought for a moment, "I hope the sales of the hotel I’m responsible for double. How about you?"

Chen Ningxi almost blurted out, "Peace and prosperity for the country."

Suddenly, with a bang, fireworks bloomed against the pitch-black night sky, reflected in Chen Ningxi’s clear, pure eyes.

"I thought you’d laugh."

Cheng Qiaobei asked, "Laugh at what? Your wish?"

"Yeah. I’ve said it before, and some people would laugh at me for it," Guo Heming laughed, saying she was just an ordinary citizen thinking too much, even with a mocking expression on his face, "Do you think I’m joking too?"

Cheng Qiaobei shook his head. When she spoke her wish, he saw a solemn seriousness in her eyes that commanded respect.

"Looks like I need to follow your lead." Cheng Qiaobei looked at her hand resting on the windowsill, delicate and boneless; he hesitated but didn’t take her hand, saying, "Only when our country is prosperous and our people live in peace and contentment can my hotel sales double. So, I wish for enduring peace and stability for our nation."

Chen Ningxi laughed; only those who resonate on the same frequency understand and walk together.

Boom—another firework shot up into the sky.

The harsh winter melted away, stars shining bright forever, hoping those present would always stay present.

Chen Ningxi suggested Cheng Qiaobei go home early, but Cheng Qiaobei looked around, "Where do you stay?"

She pointed to the double sofa opposite the desk, "Here, I brought bedding, I’ll manage for the night."

"No rest room?" Cheng Qiaobei asked.

Chen Ningxi said, "There is, but it’s upstairs, staying alone feels a bit creepy."

Cheng Qiaobei couldn’t exactly stay there with her, considering it was her workplace and the impact it might have on her.

"Can’t you stay at home?"

Chen Ningxi said, "Can’t. One year on New Year’s Eve, something happened at another station. The duty leader went home to have dinner and wasn’t at the station, resulting in a major power outage. Citizens started calling the power bureau, but no one was in the duty room, and the mayor’s hotline was overloaded. Anyway, things escalated, and that person was transferred from their position the next day."

Cheng Qiaobei raised an eyebrow, "So there’s really no way to go back."

Chen Ningxi said, "It’s so late, you shouldn’t drive back to Zhoushan overnight, it’s not safe."

She thought Cheng Qiaobei would listen and go home, but after going downstairs, he sat in his car and didn’t leave.

Chen Ningxi called Cheng Qiaobei, "What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving?"

Cheng Qiaobei looked up at the building, seeing the silhouette against the window, "It’s the same wherever I am; I’ll stay here and keep you company on duty."

Chen Ningxi said, "No, what if something happens while you sleep in the car, go home."

Cheng Qiaobei’s breath was low and deep through the phone.

"I’ve stayed in a car before, don’t worry, you sleep."

Chen Ningxi heard the sound of a lighter, shortly after, a crimson light flickered in the car.

"If you’re downstairs, how can I sleep?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "I can’t sleep if I go back either; I’m just staying here for a bit."

"If you keep like this, I’ll be mad," Chen Ningxi wasn’t kidding, "If you did this when I was eighteen or nineteen, I would have been moved to tears, but now I’m not that young. If anything happens to you downstairs at my workplace, I’d be responsible, and my workplace too."

"Cheng Qiaobei, you must have thought of this."

Hearing this, his hand paused, cigarette between his fingers, Cheng Qiaobei smiled, "I’ll smoke a cigarette and leave."

Chen Ningxi said, "That’s more like it."