Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 80 Clingy

Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Clingy

"How did I wrong you?"

Chen Ningxi believed that a good relationship was built on trust. If even Cheng Qiaobei fell into clichés, she thought she’d never want to find another partner again in this lifetime.

"No, that’s not right," Cheng Qiaobei quickly realized the issue. "The atmosphere of our conversation is off, let’s adjust it."

This was the first time Chen Ningxi had seen someone restart an argument before it even started.

Cheng Qiaobei held Chen Ningxi’s hand and first apologized, "I’m sorry, my expression just now might have led you to misunderstand, let me reflect on that."

Chen Ningxi: "..."

He apologized even before the fight, completely off-script.

"Let me share my thoughts first, don’t interrupt. Once I finish, if there’s anything you think is wrong, you can correct it."

Chen Ningxi had spent the day planting trees, and as she described it, from the base of her wings to the tips ached terribly.

"Go ahead."

Cheng Qiaobei said, "I feel like maybe you’re not that into me."

"Where did you get that idea?" The first sentence made her unable to resist wanting to counter.

He squeezed her hand, "Let me finish."

Chen Ningxi: "Go on, go on, let’s see how you explain yourself."

In front of him, Chen Ningxi was always emotionally stable, perhaps because of the alcohol tonight, it was rare for her to be sharp-tongued, but Cheng Qiaobei found it quite endearing.

"Every day it’s me finding you, it’s almost always me calling you. When I finally come back, you didn’t even suggest meeting up and you rushed me back. Tell me, isn’t that showing you’re not that into me?"

Inside the car, there was silence for a few seconds. Cheng Qiaobei noticed Chen Ningxi narrowing her eyes with a sly smile, her cheeks colored with a beautiful flush. He said,

"Don’t smile like that, you look just like a female demon in Journey to the West about to eat Tang Seng."

Chen Ningxi put both arms around his neck, pulled him closer, and laid her head on Cheng Qiaobei’s shoulder, "I didn’t expect you to be so clingy."

Cheng Qiaobei: "..."

Clingy? How could I possibly be clingy?

Cheng Qiaobei internally shouted, but on the surface, his tone was calm and collected, "Don’t change the subject. You’re just not that into me anymore. What is it? Not cherishing what you’ve got?"

Chen Ningxi burst into laughter, released him, sat up straight, "First of all, I have to make it clear, I’m not drunk, I remember all I’ve texted you tonight. It’s not me misunderstanding you, it’s you misunderstanding me. I do care about you a lot. Otherwise, why would I consider your safety in going back, right?"

Cheng Qiaobei loved to hear her reassure him, "Is that so?"

"Don’t question it, just believe in yourself."

"Believe in myself about what?"

"Believe that you’re handsome enough, I’m still mesmerized by your good looks."

Cheng Qiaobei flicked her forehead lightly, "I think you’ve really had too much to drink."

"No, I definitely didn’t drink too much." Chen Ningxi’s eyes were seductive, and she cradled her chin in her hand examining Cheng Qiaobei. "Since I was little, I’ve been used to being independent, more rational in considering problems. From the day you started interacting with me, you should have felt it. You said you came back, and I told you to go back. At that time, Manager Bai was dragging me around to toast everyone, paving the way for me, helping me gain more support from these veterans in our unit. I considered that if you didn’t have anything important, it would be better not to meet just to see me, and then have to drive back at night. If anything happened to you, how would I manage? I’d feel guilty for the rest of my life. Between your safety and meeting, of course, I had to choose what’s best for you."

Each word she said had nothing to do with love and romance, yet they filled Cheng Qiaobei with joy.

Seeing Cheng Qiaobei stay silent, Chen Ningxi grasped his little finger, "Are you still upset? My dear Cheng."

Cheng Qiaobei wanted to speak but felt it unnecessary, as he received the answer he wanted.

"Don’t we have at least this little bit of trust between us?" Chen Ningxi coyly shook his hand, "Hmm?"

Cheng Qiaobei sighed with a reluctant smile, "I usually preach toxic positivity at work, didn’t expect to drink your ’toxic soup’ tonight."

"Hehe..." Her tipsy smile dazzled Cheng Qiaobei, his gaze falling on her lips, his Adam’s apple moving, and in the next moment, he looked away.

Chen Ningxi gently patted Cheng Qiaobei’s chest, "Whether it’s toxic or not isn’t the issue, it’s having clarity in your heart that’s most important."

Cheng Qiaobei pressed his hand over his chest, "Your attitude makes everything clear for me."

"I’m super tired today, if there’s nothing else I’m heading upstairs," Chen Ningxi said, "I absolutely can’t have insomnia tonight, need to sleep until I naturally wake up."

Cheng Qiaobei suddenly remembered and flipped her palm open, only to find blisters had formed within a day. Concerned, he asked, "Does it hurt?"

"A little, but it’s not a big deal."

Cheng Qiaobei wanted to spend more time with her but considering she had really had a tiring day, he let go of her hand, "Go back, get some early rest."

The next day.

Chen Ningxi suddenly received a call from Chen Weichuan.

"Ning Xi, are you busy?"

It was just around lunchtime, and Chen Ningxi replied, "Not busy, Dad, what’s up?"

Chen Weichuan said, "I happened to pass by your workplace. How about a meal with your old man?"

"!" Chen Ningxi paused, "...Sure, it’s on me."

As she packed up, she asked, "What do you feel like eating? I’ll find a place nearby that suits your taste."

Chen Weichuan said, "Whatever, something simple is fine."

"Then let’s go across the street for some homestyle dishes. There’s a place with a nice ambiance and good food, I go often with my colleagues."

"Sounds good, I’ll wait for you at the entrance."

Chen Ningxi grabbed her keys and hurried downstairs. She saw a black sedan, opened the passenger door, and got in, "Why are you driving yourself today?" Then pointed to the intersection, "Turn right at the next corner."

Chen Weichuan said, "The driver had something to do, so I let him handle it."

She couldn’t shake the feeling that her dad didn’t just want to have a meal.

After the car parked, father and daughter walked into the restaurant one after the other.

She found a relatively quiet spot, "Dad, is this seat okay?"

Chen Weichuan took off his jacket and draped it over the back of the chair, "Yes, this place is quite nice."

Chen Ningxi ordered two dishes and a soup, "Dad, their portions are big, just the two of us won’t finish more than this."

Chen Weichuan: "Mm, no need to waste."

Chen Ningxi wiped a glass with a napkin and poured hot water into it, placing it in front of Chen Weichuan. She kept observing his expression as he took a sip and asked,

"Is work busy?"

As always, Chen Ningxi responded, "Not too bad."

Chen Weichuan observed closely, then asked a few work-related questions, to which Chen Ningxi gave very official answers.

In front of him, she never complained or blamed anyone, though she would chat with her mom about some things behind the scenes.

Using the restroom as an excuse, Chen Ningxi called her mom, "Mom, Dad’s here having lunch with me."

Ye Yujun: "Your dad? Isn’t he supposed to be in a meeting? Why is he with you?"

From her tone, it was clear her mom didn’t know about it.

"It’s nothing, just letting you know. Hanging up now."

"Wait, keep an eye on your dad, don’t let him drink. His health report came back, and his blood pressure is a bit high." Ye Yujun gave a few reminders and then hung up.

Back at the table, "Are all the dishes here?"

"Yes, they serve pretty quick here." Chen Weichuan unwrapped his chopsticks and served Chen Ningxi some braised pork, "Eat more, you’re looking too thin."

The odder his behavior, the more unsettled Chen Ningxi felt.

"Dad," Chen Ningxi put down her chopsticks, "do you have something you want to tell me?"