Fated Love With the Billionaire-Chapter 161: Endless Love, The Future is Long
"Missing you is just another way of hoping you’ll come back. But she couldn’t throw a tantrum like a spoiled child, nor would she force him to return to the country immediately.
Who said we are all adults? Adults have too much to bear—jobs we can’t leave, targets we can’t finish, forms we can’t fill, reports we can’t write.
As kids, we longed to grow up, and only after growing up did we realize how laughable our childhood wishes were.
Cheng Qiaobei’s eyes softened. With a not-so-serious expression, he asked, "Miss me?"
Chen Ningxi didn’t speak, only nodded.
She rarely showed excessive dependence, but being relied upon by her was something that delighted Cheng Qiaobei immensely.
"Wife," Cheng Qiaobei called her softly.
"Hmm?"
"Hold on a little longer."
"Hmm."
The work lay ahead; he couldn’t just say unrealistic lies to comfort Chen Ningxi. When lies repeatedly turned into disappointment, even the most stable relationship could have cracks.
"The current workload is such that I cannot return in a short time," Cheng Qiaobei admitted honestly, "but I’ll do my best to speed up the progress."
He was also having a hard time outside. Chen Ningxi felt she was being unreasonable, for letting her momentary emotional fluctuation put pressure on Cheng Qiaobei and even disrupt his work process.
"Don’t mess up your plans for me. Follow your own pace," Chen Ningxi said apologetically, "Earlier, I got a bit emotional. I’m sorry."
Cheng Qiaobei: "Why apologize to me? You’re my wife, not my employee; don’t make it so distant. Actually, I was secretly happy just a moment ago."
"Happy about what?"
The corner of his mouth lifted in a deep smile.
"My wife was sweet-talking me, isn’t that worth being happy about?"
She indeed rarely acted coquettish, perhaps relating to Chen Ningxi’s upbringing and family members. The Chen family had a harmonious atmosphere. Ye Yujun was clear-headed, and Chen Weichuan was calm. Since childhood, she had never seen her parents arguing fiercely over something, nor had there been chaos at home, so what she considered normal life and a stable marital relationship meant emotional stability and clarity. Only then could life be peaceful and smooth.
But after dating Guo Heming, he had intentionally or unintentionally mentioned a few times that she was too rational.
Later, when she discovered he was cheating, she finally understood that his idea of too rational actually meant she lacked interest.
So, was she like that in Cheng Qiaobei’s heart too?
Chen Ningxi asked, "Do you find me boring?"
"Boring?" Cheng Qiaobei raised an eyebrow. "Why ask this suddenly?"
This question was a knot in Chen Ningxi’s heart. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
She asked, "Do you?"
"How could you be boring?" Cheng Qiaobei fixed his gaze on her in the screen, "Look at me, don’t overthink. Phew... I really need to return sooner. Your sneaky antics are hard to handle. Did someone catch your eye on the treadmill?"
Chen Ningxi’s eyes widened, "Of course not, why bring him up again out of the blue. What’s it to do with him?"
A call came in for Cheng Qiaobei, and he hurriedly ended the phone call with Chen Ningxi.
Ten minutes later, Chen Ningxi received a WeChat message from Cheng Qiaobei.
north: I have to get busy.
north: Wife, endless love, and many days to come.
Seeing his warm words, the crumpled part of her heart instantly smoothed out.
...
In the following month, Cheng Qiaobei continued running around overseas hotels, and Chen Ningxi no longer had emotional outbursts. They had returned to a stable state, with steady emotions. But the original plan was again disrupted by an overseas hotel.
Jade Jiali had five chain hotels in the UK, which were part of the first batch of commercial ventures that Cheng Xiangheng insisted on developing. After a practical assessment, Cheng Qiaobei concluded that they needed to choose between closing one of the hotels in Birmingham or Edinburgh.
He sent his travel report to Cheng Xiangheng. The moment Cheng Xiangheng saw the report, his face turned dark as charcoal.
In fact, there had already been rumors in the company that, in several key strategic decisions, it was still Cheng Qiaobei’s proposals that helped the group successfully navigate crises. The most annoying thing was that after the last board meeting, Yin Yihui and Lian Wenlong, two board members, openly teased by joking "like father, like son," on the surface praising him, but in fact, elevating Cheng Qiaobei’s status within the company.
The ambitions of these two men couldn’t be more evident. They aimed to maneuver Cheng Qiaobei into a seat on the board to gain more tangible benefits in exchange.
All these years, without his restraint, Yin and Lian would have probably swallowed half of Jade Jiali’s assets.
It was precisely because of his wariness towards them that Cheng Xiangheng had become defensive toward Cheng Qiaobei.
In the face of interests, who could guarantee that family ties would remain reliable?
But at this moment, looking at Cheng Qiaobei’s plan to close the hotel, it felt like a delayed slap after being mocked by the board at the last meeting.
The hotel was originally his suggestion to build; whoever proposed its closure, Cheng Qiaobei had no right.
Cheng Xiangheng called Deng Yan in.
Deng Yan arrived at the desk, "Mr. Cheng, you called me."
Cheng Xiangheng: "Dispatch a notice through OA, delegating Wan Mingkun to overseas to take over and rectify the hotel business."
Deng Yan raised an eyebrow slightly; he mentioned only delegating personnel, not Cheng Qiaobei’s arrangements.
"Why are you just standing there, go and issue the notice," Cheng Xiangheng urged.
Deng Yan, risking being scolded, asked, "Mr. Cheng, what about Manager Cheng’s arrangements?"
Cheng Xiangheng said, "Manager Cheng just got married not long ago. The overseas assignment has been too long. Our company abides by human care, to take care of newlyweds."
He sidestepped the issue, but Deng Yan couldn’t ask further.
"Understood," he nodded and left the office.
Seeing the company’s OA notification, Zheng Rongxi smiled gloatingly, and it wasn’t long before Cheng Siluo called.
"Mom, did you see the notice on the company’s OA?"
Zheng Rongxi sneered, "I saw it. I told you, an illegitimate child can’t accomplish anything big."
Cheng Siluo said mockingly, "Why is Dad suddenly targeting him?"
"What are you saying; what do you mean targeting him?" Zheng Rongxi lowered her voice, "Are you hoping for his success? The greater his power and status in the company, the fewer chances you have. Now is the time for you and Dongchen to turn the tables, make sure to seize the opportunity."
Cheng Siluo said, "I know, Mom. Dongchen and I will discuss how to proceed."
Zheng Rongxi said, "Have Dongchen engage some other mid-high-level executives. Just Xu Yunheng and me are not enough; you need to gain more supporters. Without those mid-high-levels speaking for you at critical moments, how will you succeed in the future?"
Cheng Siluo said, "I understand, Mom."
"Heh..." Zheng Rongxi felt more and more justified, "He’s been busy outside for three months, only to make wedding clothes for others at the end."
Cheng Siluo said, "Busy for nothing, how could he be willing? What if he doesn’t come back?"
Zheng Rongxi wished Cheng Qiaobei wouldn’t return, "If he dares not to come back, that would be best."
Publicly defying company notifications would be a direct challenge to Cheng Xiangheng’s authority!
Which would also confirm the collusion between Cheng Qiaobei and the board members.
