Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 68: Did I Pass the Probation Period?

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Did I Pass the Probation Period?

Cheng Qiaobei heard the elevator doors open, snuffed out his cigarette from the pack, and turned back to see Chen Ningxi walking out.

"..."

"..."

Both were momentarily stunned, but Cheng Qiaobei recovered first and walked toward her.

As the motion-sensor lights in the corridor illuminated with his footsteps, Chen Ningxi clearly saw Cheng Qiaobei’s face.

"You’re back." She quickened her pace, her heart seemed like it was flying.

Cheng Qiaobei embraced the person who ran into his arms, hugged her soft body tightly, and kissed her on the top of her head, "Did you miss me?"

Chen Ningxi didn’t answer, but asked in return, "Did you miss me?"

"I arrived in Danjiang at nearly seven, got off the highway, and headed straight to your place. Do you think I missed you?"

Cheng Qiaobei picked her up. Chen Ningxi, frightened, clung tightly to the fabric on his shoulder, looking down at his face from above, and saw faint stubble on his sharp chin in the light.

Chen Ningxi said, "Put me down quickly."

Cheng Qiaobei carried her to the doorway before putting her down. Chen Ningxi touched the fingerprint lock, and the electronic door clicked open.

After they entered, neither of them turned on the lights.

In the dark, Cheng Qiaobei hugged Chen Ningxi from behind, his head buried in her hair, inhaling the familiar scent of her perfume, and murmured:

"You have no idea how anxious I was on the way back, driving from Lianwan to Danjiang, stopping just once at a service area to use the restroom, and eating a packet of bread on the road for a meal. And then you still ask me if I missed you? You tell me if I did."

In the tranquil space, listening to the man’s low, hoarse confession brought an inexplicable feeling inside her. Her body began to respond to some signal.

Cheng Qiaobei tightened his embrace again and asked, "Did I pass your assessment period?"

Chen Ningxi’s heart pounded fiercely, her cheeks and ears were burning hot, "Are you hungry? I’ll cook you something to eat."

She intentionally tried to ease the heated atmosphere, aware that in a moment of impulse, she might cross some boundary.

But Cheng Qiaobei said, "Don’t be afraid. I don’t mean anything else, just wanted to know if I passed your assessment period."

Chen Ningxi was almost breathless; Cheng Qiaobei was hugging her too tightly. She tried to peel his arms off her shoulders, "Too tight, I can’t breathe."

Cheng Qiaobei hadn’t lost his senses, he gradually loosened his grip, "I am a bit hungry. Do you have any noodles at home?"

Chen Ningxi took off her coat and walked toward the kitchen, "No noodles left, but my mom brought me a lot of frozen dumplings and wontons last time. Which do you want?"

After washing his hands, Cheng Qiaobei came out and stood beside Chen Ningxi, looking at the packed fridge, a smile forming on his lips, "Auntie is so good to you."

Chen Ningxi turned her face, "Do you want dumplings or wontons?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "I feel like having wontons today."

Chen Ningxi opened the lower drawer and took out a sealed bag of wontons, "How many do you want?"

Cheng Qiaobei didn’t lie; after driving all day, he only ate a packet of bread on the road.

"Fifteen."

Chen Ningxi took out a pot, filled it with water, and turned on the stove to wait for it to boil.

Cheng Qiaobei stood behind her, leaning against the wall, watching her. Even though she knew there were eyes on her back, Chen Ningxi felt uneasy, constantly rubbing the back of her neck as if she could wipe away the gaze fixed on her.

Turning around, Chen Ningxi’s eyes met Cheng Qiaobei’s. His stare was so intense that it was hard to ignore.

"Don’t wait here, go to the dining room."

Seeing her embarrassment, Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, resting a hand on the nape of her neck, "I know."

As he left, his fingertip lightly grazed the skin behind her neck, sending a shiver down Chen Ningxi’s spine as if shocked by electricity.

Cheng Qiaobei walked out of the kitchen, holding back a smile at the corners of his mouth.

After he left, Chen Ningxi clutched her chest and took deep breaths.

Earlier, at the door, she almost thought Cheng Qiaobei would do something to her—thankfully, they only hugged.

Bubbles began to rise in the pot; Chen Ningxi put the wontons in and took a glance outside, seeing Cheng Qiaobei seemingly seated on the sofa watching TV.

Once the wontons were done, Chen Ningxi carried the bowl out, "The wontons are ready, come eat."

"..."

The person in the living room didn’t respond, so Chen Ningxi placed the spoon on the table, heading to the living room while calling him.

"I said the wontons are ready, you," she stopped mid-word, as Cheng Qiaobei had fallen asleep leaning against the sofa.

The drive from Lianwan to Danjiang took more than ten hours; anyone would be exhausted after driving for such a long time.

Chen Ningxi didn’t wake him, went to the bedroom to get a blanket to cover him, turned off the TV, and took a shower. When she came out, he was still asleep.

It was almost ten o’clock. After some thought, Chen Ningxi went over and gently patted Cheng Qiaobei’s arm, softly calling him:

"Wake up, Cheng Qiaobei, Cheng Qiaobei, wake up, don’t sleep."

Cheng Qiaobei groggily opened his eyes, looked at the blanket covering him, and rubbed his face, "How did I fall asleep? What time is it?"

Chen Ningxi said, "It’s nine fifty-six."

"Ah..." He stretched his shoulders, got up, and said, "It’s so late; I’d better go."

Chen Ningxi said, "The wontons got cold. Let me make them again for you."

Cheng Qiaobei went to the dining room and saw the wontons in the bowl already lumped together, pulled out a chair, sat down, and picked up the spoon, saying:

"Never mind, I’ll eat them like this."

Before Chen Ningxi could stop him, a wonton was already in his mouth. Chewing, he said, "Auntie makes great filling."

Chen Ningxi wanted to take the bowl away, but Cheng Qiaobei held it down, "It’s okay, it’s not cold, I’ll eat them like this."

He finished the bowl of cold wontons, got up to grab his coat and put it on, "I’m leaving now; I’ll see you tomorrow."

Chen Ningxi didn’t stop him, accompanied him to the door where he changed his shoes, "Don’t come out. It’s cold outside."

After saying this, Cheng Qiaobei closed the door behind him first.

He quickly walked to the elevator, taking several deep breaths, just like the reaction Chen Ningxi had in the kitchen, to suppress the desire within his body.

If he had stayed another ten minutes, he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t do something to Chen Ningxi.

More than ten minutes later, Chen Ningxi received WeChat from Cheng Qiaobei.

north: I am home.

Chen Ningxi: I have time tomorrow afternoon; I have a meeting in the city in the morning.

north: You take care of your work. I have to return to Zhoushan to check on things; I’ve been gone for over a month and don’t know what’s going on there. I’ll try to come back in the evening, and we can go out to eat.

Chen Ningxi: Okay, you decide.

north: Mr. Chen, did you miss me?

Seeing the words on the screen, Chen Ningxi wrapped herself in a blanket and buried her face in it, rolling around a bit before replying to him with her hair all messy.

Chen Ningxi: Yes~

Seeing Chen Ningxi’s reply, Cheng Qiaobei leaned his head back against the bathtub. The misty water outlined his handsome features, the curve of his smile like a crescent moon under the night sky.

Chen Ningxi stared at the message she sent, realizing she was being coy. In the past, she wouldn’t have done that.

Turns out, talking to someone you like makes you act coquettishly without rhyme or reason.

Cheng Qiaobei wiped the water off his face, slicked his hair back, revealing his smooth, full forehead, making his handsome, angular features more prominent. There was gentleness in his deep, black eyes, small droplets of water on his curled eyelashes, and his firm chest muscles rose above the water. He pressed on the voice message button and said:

"Did I pass your assessment period?"