Fated Love With the Billionaire

In the video, Liang Lei is sweaty and wears a healthy, sun-kissed smile, asking Chen Ningxi:

"What's the situation?"

Chen Ningxi noticed a familiar figure behind Liang Lei, her gaze fixating on it as she replied absentmindedly, "Nothing, just watching you."

As Liang Lei headed to the changing room, the familiar silhouette also disappeared from the screen, snapping Chen Ningxi back to reality.

Liang Lei said, "You don't look like someone with nothing going on. What's up? Did you have a falling out with Guo Heming?"

Chen Ningxi sipped her tea and responded nonchalantly, "Broke up."

"Broke up? Weren't you guys about to," Liang Lei cut herself off and swiftly changed the subject, "You should have broken up way earlier. He was never good enough for you. Considering his looks, character, qualifications, none of it was up to mark. You should have just gone with the flow initially, there are too many rules for finding a partner. It should happen naturally, especially when it comes to marriage."

Chen Ningxi cut her off, "Keep nagging and you'll turn into an old lady soon."

"I'm not nagging." Liang Lei's eyes lit up, "You're not here to heal your wounds, are you? Come on, a few of us climbing friends are heading to Youle later. I'll introduce you to some handsome guys, all types – aggressive, gentle, anime-style, and even ones with six-packs. As long as it's your type, you'll find him there."

"It's not about healing wounds, I'm fine," Chen Ningxi checked the time; it was just after 7 PM, too early for bed. "Isn't it a bit early to go now?"

Liang Lei was visibly excited, "We need to go early, tonight's closing MC at the bar is Xiao Chuan." Getting emotional, she even wiped around her mouth and made a slurping sound, "He's been touring other places for a month. I must attend his first comeback show; I've been missing his six-pack."

"Goodness, wipe that drool, don't let it fall on my screen," Chen Ningxi feigned disgust but ended up making Liang Lei laugh heartily, "What? Can't I like handsome men? Is that illegal?"

"Not at all, not at all, who dares to control you? You're awesome, 'Danjiang Lei-sister,' you're this." Chen Ningxi gave a thumbs up.

"Stop teasing me. You'll be smitten when you see Xiao Chuan too."

"Ha ha."

"What's so funny? Don't be in denial; you'll know when you see him."

Chen Ningxi had seen Xiao Chuan's videos on Liang Lei's social media; the guy did have a decent figure, but he wasn't her type.

They agreed to meet at the entrance of Youle. Liang Lei, being a member, had secured the best booth.

Getting close to the MC required strategic seating; always choose seat nine in section D of the stage. To energize the atmosphere, the MC would stand there and interact with the audience. Moreover, those who could book section D were usually not short on cash. To maintain performance metrics and fan engagement, interactions with ladies from section D happened more frequently.

As Chen Ningxi drove past the intersection, she saw a long line already formed in front of Youle. Unaware passersby might think a celebrity was visiting.

She parked her car and went to find Liang Lei, standing tall and visible in the crowd, as Liang Lei waved to her.

"Ning Xi, here, over here."

Chen Ningxi made her way through the crowd, "Excuse me, excuse me, thank you."

Finally squeezing beside Liang Lei, she introduced Chen Ningxi to some climbing friends, who remarked, "Quite the crowd, huh?"

Liang Lei's smile beamed with pride, "Can Xiao Chuan's audience be like any ordinary MC? But no worries, I booked the best spot."

Chen Ningxi, remembering him from her video, asked, "Can interact with Xiao Chuan?"

Liang Lei chuckled knowingly, "Of course."

While they chatted, the man standing in front of Liang Lei turned around, and Chen Ningxi found herself looking right into his eyes.

Chen Ningxi: "…"

No way, what a coincidence.

Liang Lei, remembering she hadn't introduced a new climbing friend yet, noticed the stiff expression on Chen Ningxi's face and asked with confusion, "Do you know each other?"

Caught off guard, Chen Ningxi felt it too troublesome to explain and denied:

"I don't know her."

Cheng Qiaobei answered rudely.

"I do know her."

Liang Lei's expression immediately turned playful, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them, "What's going on here? I smell an affair."

Chen Ningxi, afraid of being misunderstood, quickly explained, "Nonsense, we met through work, we're not that familiar."

The answer was reasonable, but once work was mentioned, the interest was lost instantly.

Liang Lei said to Cheng Qiaobei, "She's my close friend, feel free to reach out to her if you need anything."

Cheng Qiaobei joked, "Does mentioning you help?"

"Of course," Liang Lei put her arm around Chen Ningxi's shoulder, "look out for her."

As the nightclub began to admit patrons, Chen Ningxi seized the opportunity to change the subject by pushing Liang Lei's back forward, "Let's go in now, quick."

Cheng Qiaobei, noticing Chen Ningxi's discomfort, deliberately kept some distance from her and entered with the other climbing friends first.

Watching them walk away, Chen Ningxi covered her mouth and whispered into Liang Lei's ear, "How do you know each other?"

She remembered Cheng Qiaobei had said he hadn't been in Danjiang for long, so how could he know Liang Lei.

Liang Lei replied, "We're in the same rock climbing club, just met him tonight, he's really good at climbing."

So that's how it was, Chen Ningxi nodded in understanding.

"Handsome, right? Interested?" Liang Lei smirked, her eyebrows perkily raised.

Chen Ningxi shook her head like a rattle-drum, "Not at all, don't start messing around."

"Who's messing around? I'm sincerely trying to find you a quality single man."

Chen Ningxi, fearing the others ahead might overhear, whispered, "Keep your voice down."

Liang Lei said, "They're far, they can't hear. Think about it, don't you like him?"

Chen Ningxi shook her head.

"Fine, if you're not interested, I might try to set him up with Little Ni," Liang Lei looked forward to a group of people, where a pretty girl was gazing at Cheng Qiaobei with affection, her eyes seemingly melting him.

Chen Ningxi and Cheng Qiaobei sat on opposite sides of the booth, their gazes occasionally meeting across space without much interaction before looking away. The table was filled with beer and snacks, everyone chatted and drank, Chen Ningxi touched the bottle with her fingertips, following the rhythm of the music.

The atmosphere was good until MC Xiao Chuan came on stage, immediately igniting everyone's enthusiasm. At first, Chen Ningxi was composed, aware that Cheng Qiaobei was there, not wanting to seem too surprised and out of place.

But as Xiao Chuan took off his white shirt and revealed his toned muscles, Chen Ningxi became unraveled, she couldn't find a place to rest her eyes, finally understanding what it felt like for a man watching a beautiful woman.

When Kukai's DJ track started, Xiao Chuan danced in front of Chen Ningxi, his hand following his neck rhythmically moving downwards, Chen Ningxi felt overwhelmed by the boiling atmosphere around her, her cheeks heating up. Suddenly, Xiao Chuan extended his hand towards her, signaling her to step forward, Chen Ningxi was completely stunned, forgetting Cheng Qiaobei was by her side.

Xiao Chuan took a rose, holding the flower end in his mouth, his deep eyes locked on Chen Ningxi's, the stem of the rose slowly moving towards her lips.

Beside them, Liang Lei held up her phone, taking photos of the two, while screaming, "Ah—"

Realizing she didn't know how to interact, Xiao Chuan moved her lips aside, under his seductive gaze, Chen Ningxi bit onto the rose stem he offered.

Liang Lei screamed excitedly: "Ahhh—"

Cheng Qiaobei sat in his seat, his long legs crossed, his fingertips caressing the beer bottle, his narrow eyes shimmering with unspoken emotions in the flickering lights.