Fated Love With the Billionaire

Chen Ningxi asked, "Why should the child stay at your family's home? Don't I have parents? Didn't my parents do a good job raising me?"

Seeing her tone was off, Guo Heming steered the conversation back, not wanting to upset Chen Ningxi.

"It's not what I mean. Aren't your parents busy? My parents don't have much to do in the county town. They've even hired people for the supermarket, so they have more free time."

Comparing the two families' backgrounds, the Chen Family was well-known in Danjiang City. As for Guo Heming, he was just a college graduate from a small county city, his parents ran a small supermarket in a central location, and they were relatively well-off local entrepreneurs.

But the Guo Family was not on the same level as the Chen Family, and Guo Heming always felt a sense of inferiority.

The reason he pursued Chen Ningxi was entirely to break out of his social class and have a respectable family background. As for whether he loved Chen Ningxi or not, weighing everything, he probably loved himself the most.

On the surface, he played the role of a devoted lover, claiming to love her unconditionally, yet in his heart, he was looking forward to a successful future, thriving in the world of fame and politics, and enjoying the respect of everyone in society.

Chen Ningxi flicked her hair back and turned to look out of the car window, obviously not wanting to continue the conversation. But deep down, there was a knot she wanted to untie.

"Guo Heming, why are you in such a hurry to get married to me?"

As the atmosphere grew tense, Guo Heming jokingly replied, "Of course I'm in a hurry. Who wouldn't want to claim the woman they deeply love as soon as possible?"

Chen Ningxi said, "The premise of marriage is love. Do you love me?"

He had always boasted about how much he loved her and cared for her, showing off to parents and relatives as if his whole life revolved around her, and that he couldn't live without her.

Without a second thought, Guo Heming responded, "Love, of course I love you. Don't you know that?"

"Tell me, what is love?

Actually, Chen Ningxi could accept the absence of love. To be frank, reaching the age to find a suitable person to marry would suffice as an explanation to their families. Each could shine and grow in their career fields. What's the point of lovey-dovey these days when you can instead focus on your career?

But she was disgusted by using love as an excuse for opportunism, faking one thing to others' faces and doing another behind their backs, treating people like fools.

Guo Heming was speechless for a few seconds, then opened his mouth, "What's with you today? So many questions."

Chen Ningxi said, "Is it me who has many problems, or is it you creating them? Early in the morning, you brought up buying a house, getting married, having children, and even decided who should take care of the child. Aren't you the one creating problems?"

When she got serious, Guo Heming had no way to handle it. He could only change the subject and said, "Think about it. We're both of a suitable age, well-matched in looks, physique, and personality. Not to mention the background of our families, we're a perfect match. Our jobs are also prestigious; you are a department head, and I am a partner in a law firm. Without getting married, your parents would never agree..."

Chen Ningxi propped up her forehead. What era was this to still talk about matching doors and households? And even then, was it truly a match? Their family introducer had mentioned his family situation, promising that his character and personality were absolutely upright and pure, which was why she agreed to the blind date.

Yet, what resulted was a master liar and a philanderer.

Thus, while the Chen Family valued character, he was fixated on the matching of social status, proving that the less one had, the more they tried to show off.

Chen Ningxi was too lazy to listen to those clichéd words that made her ears itch, her thoughts drifting off as she focused on the billboard outside the car window.

It was an advertisement for a five-star hotel chain, with a slogan that struck her heart.

—Jade Jiali, a castle devoted to you alone.

"Guo Heming," Chen Ningxi suddenly murmured softly, "are you loyal to me?"

Had it not been for the fact that he was driving, Guo Heming would surely have found an excuse to dodge her question. But now, trapped in the cramped space of the car, it was hard to evade.

He had no choice but to shirk with a slippery answer, "Are you about to get your period? You're emotionally unstable. We'll pass by a pharmacy later, and I'll get you a pack of heating pads to use."

"Guo Heming, have you ever lied to me?"

Seeing her stubborn look that seemed to insist on getting an answer, Guo Heming got anxious, guessing whether she knew something. But then he thought his actions were well-concealed, so they shouldn't be uncovered. Moreover, if she had known, she wouldn't be quiet and calm.

After thinking it through, Guo Heming confidently said, "Of course not. I studied law, I have a bottom line when it comes to fairness and deceit. Deceit itself is a vicious cycle; you have to keep lying to cover up for one lie. Me being as smart as I am, why would I do such a foolish thing?"

He had the chance to come clean, but he chose not to.

Chen Ningxi asked again, "Have you ever done anything to betray me?"

Guo Heming thought Chen Ningxi was bluffing, and immediately declared his determination, "Absolutely not! Impossible. My devotion to you would lead me to reject any attempt by others to approach me."

Frankly speaking, Chen Ningxi really felt like applauding him at that moment. As a lawyer, Guo Heming had perfectly played the role of a man of integrity and righteousness, a contemporary Leizi Hui.

She pursed her lips, saying nothing.

Seeing her expression soften, Guo Heming was more convinced that Chen Ningxi was testing him, smilingly he said, "Are you touched? You should cherish it, there aren't many outstanding and devoted boyfriends like me nowadays."

After speaking, he tenderly held her hand.

Chen Ningxi just smiled without responding. She really wanted to know, how much was his sincerity worth per pound?

She would buy it to feed to dogs!

In just a few sentences, she had already seen clearly that Guo Heming would definitely not take the initiative to admit to cheating. Well then, she wouldn't blame herself for not showing mercy.

Chen Ningxi took out her cellphone and fiddled with it, "Someone in the homeowners' group said there have been some burglary cases recently, so I'm thinking of installing a surveillance camera at home. What do you think?"

"Sure, it's safer."

Hearing her mention the installation of surveillance cameras, he didn't expect it to be set up so soon.

Guo Heming had told her before that from a legal perspective, there are three issues women need to face when they give up on the idea of catching a cheater.

Because evidence requires three properties: authenticity, legality, and relevance.

Leaving relevance aside, just authenticity and legality are enough to overturn your final relevance. Therefore, to obtain legal evidence, one needs a very formal and agreed response from the concerned party.

See, having a girlfriend who is a lawyer is not without its benefits. At the very least, she learned how to legally gather evidence.

She had already informed Guo Heming about the installation of the surveillance camera, thereby fulfilling her duty to notify.

Magotan stopped at the entrance to the Danjiang City expressway. A white Mercedes-Benz business car parked by the roadside, the driver took the luggage and placed it in the car, and Chen Ningxi got into the car without turning her head.

Just before the car door was about to be closed, Guo Heming reminded her, "Let me know in advance which day you are coming back."

"Got it."

Chen Ningxi closed the car door forcefully.

Guo Heming turned around and drove back, while Chen Ningxi, sitting in the car, opened her phone to exit the recording interface and then searched the online mall for home surveillance cameras.

...

The aftermath and investigation of the Nangang Power Plant explosion proceeded very swiftly. Chen Ningxi was back in Danjiang City in three days. However, she didn't notify Guo Heming and directly booked a hotel room across from the Guo Family's house upon arriving in Danjiang.

Early next morning, she watched as Guo Heming's Magotan left the residential area before she went downstairs with her bag.

Truth be told, Guo Heming's room wasn't much decorated, so installing a surveillance camera was somewhat tricky, as it was hard to find an angle that was both good and discreet. In the end, she had to open the panel of the air conditioner and barely managed to stuff the tiny camera inside.

That night, Guo Heming called her to ask when she would return. Chen Ningxi feigned exhaustion, saying the investigation was progressing slowly and it might take another three to five days.

Over the next three days, Chen Ningxi attended work as usual. During lunch breaks, she'd extract the video recordings, and once Guo Heming got off work, she'd watch from afar how a white-collar elite like him enjoyed his colorful nightlife.

Chen Ningxi's home was in Xinghui Peninsula. Her parents bought it under her name after she started working for the power supply company, with a built-up area of over 150 square meters, an actual living space of 120 square meters, and the decoration cost 400,000 yuan.

For a single woman, her life could be described as exceedingly comfortable.

There was half an hour left until the lunch break, and at that moment, someone knocked on the office door.

"Come in."

Cheng Qiaobei pushed open the door, closed it behind him, and walked up to her desk with a polite greeting:

"Hello, Mr. Chen, sorry to disturb you."

Due to the height difference, Chen Ningxi had to tilt her chin up an additional fifteen degrees than usual. Her view was filled with a face of deep, chiseled features and a tailored, luxurious suit that complemented his fine build—broad shoulders and a narrow waist matched the public's aesthetics for tall and handsome. From hair to nails, every detail was immaculately clean and refreshing. Indeed, successful individuals do have a distinct appearance.

"And you are?" Chen Ningxi asked.

Cheng Qiaobei extended his hand and introduced himself, "I'm the manager of Jade Jiali Hotel, Cheng Qiaobei."