Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 84 Sincere Warmth

Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Sincere Warmth

Cheng Qiaobei blocked her view, and just as Chen Ningxi was about to reach out, he fed her a spoonful.

"Mmm..." Chen Ningxi froze, her mouth full of hazelnut-flavored ice cream.

She hurriedly took the spoon from Cheng Qiaobei’s hand, swallowed with a smile, and said, "We’re not those young kids, I can eat by myself."

Cheng Qiaobei lightly rested his left hand on the table’s edge, "We just started dating too, what’s wrong with feeding a little?"

"I’m not afraid, just a bit embarrassed." Chen Ningxi glanced around briefly, and seeing that no one was watching, she began to eat more openly.

"Do what you like, who cares what others think, everyone is living for the first time, why should we consider their feelings?" Cheng Qiaobei took a bite of his ice cream.

He had bought her a paper cup, while he had a waffle cone.

"What flavor is yours?" Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei held it up to her, "Try it."

Chen Ningxi still hesitated, about to observe her surroundings when Cheng Qiaobei teased, "I don’t mind you."

"Who said you mind me," Chen Ningxi took a bite, "...I even mind you."

Cheng Qiaobei laughed, "Mind me but eating my ice cream, your mouth says no but your heart says yes."

For once, Chen Ningxi didn’t get the upper hand with words, and, anxious, she blurted out, "You mind now, what about when I’m old, with no teeth to eat, what would you do."

Cheng Qiaobei laughed heartily.

"What’s so funny?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Have you ever thought, I’m older than you, if you’ve lost all your teeth, would I be any better off? Fine, as long as you don’t mind, I’ll chew it up with my dentures and feed you."

Chen Ningxi was both embarrassed and annoyed, "Stop grossing me out, who wants to eat what you’ve chewed up with your dentures."

Cheng Qiaobei gradually toned his laughter down, his mind wandered through numerous scenarios, as if a lifetime had passed, and finally said,

"We won’t know until we grow old together."

... Until we grow old.

Chen Ningxi suddenly couldn’t smile, she looked at Cheng Qiaobei, "...Such a distant thing, ...so far away... who knows, take it one step at a time."

She lowered her eyes, just smiling gently.

Cheng Qiaobei took a lick of his ice cream, creamy, sweet like the feeling she gave him.

In the latter half of life, if they really grew old together, how fortunate would that be, so fortunate that she remained the only excitement in all he experienced.

Cheng Qiaobei glanced at his watch; they had dinner planned for five o’clock, and he needed to brief Ding Yuan beforehand.

He found an excuse to go to the bathroom and called Ding Yuan again.

She answered slowly as usual, her tone indifferent, "What is it now?"

Cheng Qiaobei said, "Be restrained at dinner tonight, don’t take out your grievances with Dad on Ningxi, she didn’t do anything wrong."

Ding Yuan held a cigarette, her red lips blowing thin smoke that blurred her features, her expression dark and unclear, "What your dad did to me, in your heart, is just a bit of resentment? You truly are your dad’s good son, I raised you with all my efforts, and he ends up with a son who’s both brilliant and virtuous, ha... how much exactly did he give you, so you’re looking down on your own mother."

And here it went again; every time the topic shifted to his father, she went all out.

Cheng Qiaobei took a deep breath, held back his anger, and said, "Mom, what he did wrong, you settle with him, I’ll make sure he gives you more money next month."

A trace of anger flashed in Ding Yuan’s eyes; she scoffed bitterly, "...I lost two hundred thousand yesterday."

Cheng Qiaobei frowned, "...Got it."

He understood her; she deliberately squandered his money, making him care for the money she wasted if not for her.

Ding Yuan smiled coldly, "I find this girlfriend of yours pleasing to the eye, don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for her."

Cheng Qiaobei cautioned, "Don’t bring up others in front of her, and don’t compare her to anyone, she’s her own person."

Ding Yuan: "Got it, nagging."

Her phone showed another call reminder, "Anything else? I have a friend looking for me."

Cheng Qiaobei: "Be on time."

Ding Yuan: "Got it."

With a beep, Ding Yuan hung up the phone.

When Cheng Qiaobei turned around, his expression had returned to normal.

Dinner was set at Shiyue Restaurant, and Chen Ningxi brought four return gifts, one of which was small in packaging but valuable.

The Chen Family had a rule of equal reciprocation, better to owe others than be owed even a little.

She held a box of nephrite jade bracelets and a skincare set; seeing Ding Yuan’s dressing style today gave her confidence, people who like Chinese-style clothing often have a preference for jade jewelry, and naturally have good taste.

Cheng Qiaobei booked Jixiang Hall, and they arrived half an hour early, showing respect to the elders.

Chen Ningxi entered the private room and set the gift on a side table, Cheng Qiaobei told her to sit down, then pulled up a chair next to her.

You could tell from their postures who cared more or was more proactive; Chen Ningxi faced the table while Cheng Qiaobei angled his chair towards her.

Seeing her hair messed up, he reached out to tidy it, "Don’t feel too burdened, everyone finds my mom difficult at first, but once you get to know her, you’ll see..."

Shouldn’t the next words describe her as gentle and kind, or sharp-tongued but soft-hearted?

Instead, Cheng Qiaobei said, "Even more unreasonable."

"Pfft..." Chen Ningxi couldn’t help but laugh, cleared her throat, and said, "Does Auntie know you badmouth her behind her back?"

Cheng Qiaobei laughed nonchalantly, "She’s used to it, and so am I."

She didn’t grasp the meaning behind Cheng Qiaobei’s words; the habit she thought of wasn’t the same one he referred to.

Chen Ningxi said, "It’s just a meal, you’re even more nervous than I am."

Of course, Cheng Qiaobei was nervous; his mom was unpredictable, and if she made things unpleasant between them, he could never forgive himself, nor knew how to face this dysfunctional family.

To reassure Cheng Qiaobei, Chen Ningxi interlaced her fingers with his and held tight, "For this meal, I’ll definitely greet with a smile. No matter what she says, I’ll just... yes, yes, yes, okay, okay, okay, right, right, right. That way she won’t be displeased."

Cheng Qiaobei believed Chen Ningxi could manage it, but he didn’t trust his mother.

"We won’t meet with her often."

"There you go again," Chen Ningxi nudged Cheng Qiaobei with her shoulder, "Are you hoping Auntie and I have a fight today?"

Cheng Qiaobei smiled wryly, "No... but I’m afraid you’ll be wronged."

Chen Ningxi said, "Being wronged doesn’t scare me, the first year I started working was truly the bitter one. It was small grievances every three days and big grievances every five, but I didn’t flinch, resolved all the issues one by one, got through it, and now I’m the happy little Chen." To tease him, Chen Ningxi said, "If I really end up arguing with Auntie, remember, don’t panic when there’s trouble, just pull out your phone and post a status."

Having seen enough mass-produced insincerity, genuine warmth felt even more heartfelt and touching.

Cheng Qiaobei hugged her sincerely and whispered,

"Chen Ningxi, I really want to kiss you right now."