Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 83: A Passionate Age, Where Affection is Concealed

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: A Passionate Age, Where Affection is Concealed

Chen Ningxi noticed Cheng Qiaobei looking past her, his brow slightly furrowed, and an unexpected look flashing in his eyes.

Before she could turn around, she saw Cheng Qiaobei stand up, "We just arrived and planned to visit after dinner."

Hearing this, Chen Ningxi immediately reacted, stood up, and turned to see a beautiful, voluptuous middle-aged woman behind her. There were almost no traces of time on her face, but her eyes lacked the clarity typical of young women, carrying an unfathomable depth. She wore a black silk modified Chinese qipao and an inner dark red blouse; her fair skin gave her a cool, noble look, and her posture was so upright, a quality rarely seen outside of her own mother.

Chen Ningxi called out, "Hello Auntie, I’m Chen Ningxi."

Ding Yuan looked her up and down, noticing her attire was not from an ordinary family, and smiled slightly, "Good, you are good-looking, my son likes good-looking ones."

The comment felt awkward, implying every girl he brought was good-looking.

Cheng Qiaobei was about to stop her from speaking nonsense, but Chen Ningxi graciously responded, "Thank you for the compliment, Auntie. You have great skin and a beautiful aura. I was just inwardly admiring you when I saw you."

"Aww, you sure have a sweet tongue. What do you do?" Ding Yuan stood tall, every move radiating the posture of a lady of the house.

Seeing she had no intention of sitting down, Chen Ningxi replied, "Auntie, please have a seat."

Just as she was about to reach out to help with the chair, Ding Yuan stopped her with a gentle lift of her delicate hand, "No need, I have friends inside that I’m meeting. I’m just saying a few words and then I’ll leave."

Chen Ningxi had no choice but to respond, "I work at Danjiang Electric, currently a section chief of a small department."

Ding Yuan glanced meaningfully at Cheng Qiaobei, "Young and promising, with strong abilities, you can be of help to him."

Cheng Qiaobei was displeased internally, but showed no sign of it on his face, "If you have friends waiting, you should go, don’t keep people waiting."

"See? I wanted to talk to you more, but he’s rushing me." Ding Yuan smiled charmingly, attempting to say Chen Ningxi’s name but seemed to forget, "You—"

Chen Ningxi said, "Chen Ningxi, you can call me Ning Xi."

"Hehe..." Ding Yuan didn’t feel embarrassed, "Ning Xi, we’ll chat later."

"Okay."

Ding Yuan turned deeply to look at Cheng Qiaobei, gave a small glance, then left. Chen Ningxi slightly bowed, "Take care, Auntie."

Ding Yuan didn’t turn back, she waved her hand lightly in mid-air.

Cheng Qiaobei: "..."

He was surprised not only by Chen Ningxi’s reaction but also by her tolerance. Faced with his mother’s sarcastic and provoking words, Chen Ningxi didn’t get angry; instead, she responded with a calm smile, a level of tolerance that could make his mother feel embarrassed. Even if his mother had a shred of shame, she would feel humiliated for her ungraceful outburst.

He understood his mother, such a proud woman; even if his father didn’t come, she wouldn’t bow her head, yet she fled when faced with Chen Ningxi’s composure.

Chen Ningxi withdrew her gaze, looked at Cheng Qiaobei, who appeared slightly pale, and apologized with a light cough, "Sorry, my mom, she..." He didn’t know how to cover up her rudeness, so Chen Ningxi reached across the table to hold Cheng Qiaobei’s hand, "It’s okay, we’re just meeting for the first time, we’ll get along better after seeing each other a few more times."

Cheng Qiaobei still said what Ding Yuan should have said, "I apologize on her behalf."

"There it goes again," said Chen Ningxi, "Let’s eat quickly, the food won’t taste good if it gets cold."

The sudden meeting was starkly different from how he was warmly treated at Chen Ningxi’s home—the fracture and coldness of his own family were all the more apparent.

This was also why Cheng Qiaobei was drawn to Chen Ningxi’s family; he saw the warmth and human touch of a typical loving family unit in her.

Before leaving, Chen Ningxi asked Cheng Qiaobei, "Should we go say goodbye to Auntie?"

Cheng Qiaobei wouldn’t give his mother another chance to hurt Chen Ningxi, replying with a smile, "No need. She is having fun with her friends, let’s not disturb her."

They both allowed each other space and consideration.

Actually, if Chen Ningxi were to go, she wouldn’t feel comfortable either.

Walking out of the restaurant, Chen Ningxi asked, "Where are we going? Do we have any other plans?"

Cheng Qiaobei replied, "This is a commercial district, there are lots of malls."

Chen Ningxi naturally linked arms with Cheng Qiaobei, "Let’s go, I’m almost out of perfume."

Upon entering Wanxiang City, different from Ningkou and Danjiang, here the mall was larger, the prime locations on the first floor reserved for luxury brands. Chen Ningxi headed straight to the Chanel counter, where the sales associate immediately realized they were affluent customers and warmly approached to introduce the products.

Chen Ningxi wanted to see perfume; she had a purpose and headed straight for the 1957. Cheng Qiaobei said,

"Since we’re here, pick a few more."

Seeing the man generous, the sales associate seized the opportunity to suggest more, but Chen Ningxi politely declined.

"We don’t lack anything else, and I should only choose what I’ll use—just the perfume."

The sales associate looked towards Cheng Qiaobei, who said, "Let’s look a bit more."

Chen Ningxi insisted firmly, "I really don’t need anything else."

"Alright," Cheng Qiaobei told the sales associate, "Wrap up the perfume, please."

Chen Ningxi chose quickly; as Cheng Qiaobei was about to pay with his phone, Chen Ningxi pressed his hand down.

"It’s my stuff, I’ll buy it myself."

Cheng Qiaobei looped the bag onto her finger, which Chen Ningxi instinctively grasped as he freed a hand to pay first.

"You..."

Cheng Qiaobei looked down at her, laughter clear in his eyes.

As they left the cosmetics section, Cheng Qiaobei whispered softly in her ear, "I noticed it too, I’ll buy it."

Her heart pounded as she met his gentle, moonlit eyes, a mysterious emotion flowing between them.

"I’ll look around some more," Chen Ningxi said, slightly embarrassed, as she moved away, with Cheng Qiaobei smiling and following her.

After browsing around the mall, Cheng Qiaobei offered to have her pick clothes and shoes. She understood what a man buying clothes for you meant: dressing you up in finery only to take it off.

Chen Ningxi wasn’t naive; she wouldn’t casually give herself to a man for temporary gains. Women purchased at a price would naturally repay with their bodies proportionally.

Once exchanged, your dignity, along with your body, would be bought.

Under Chen Ningxi’s insistence on either paying herself or not buying at all, she truly didn’t see anything she liked today.

Noticing an ice cream shop in the central hallway, she repeatedly refused, causing Cheng Qiaobei to feel powerless, so to not let him feel too let down, Chen Ningxi suggested,

"I’m thirsty, could you get me an ice cream? Hazelnut flavored."

Sure enough, Cheng Qiaobei agreed joyfully, "Sure, wait for me."

As she sat on a bench waiting for Cheng Qiaobei, couples occasionally passed by, youthful and cheerful, bringing a smile of happiness. It reminded her of when she had someone in her youth who made her feel joyous with just one glance.

In those passionate years, affection was hidden, and only upon reaching maturity did she realize how foolishly she had concealed her emotions back then.

Envying their courage and sincere devotion, both cute and honest.

When Cheng Qiaobei returned, he saw Chen Ningxi gazing blankly at a couple walking away, where the boy was feeding the girl ice cream.

He looked away, seemingly understanding.