Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 38

Cheng Papa and Cheng Mama had a wedding banquet to attend at noon. Knowing their habit of rising early, Chi Yi made sure to return to Jingning before 9:00 AM.

Just as she arrived, Cheng Mama messaged to ask if she’d like to join them for a meal. They were reheating the leftovers from the previous night, and Chi Yi happily accepted.

“I’m so sorry to have you over just to eat leftovers,” Cheng Mama said.

“It’s no problem at all, Auntie,” Chi Yi smiled. “It tastes the same reheated, and it’s much more convenient.”

Cheng Mama glanced at her husband, who was busy eating, and nudged him under the table. “Yixin is coming back this afternoon. Your uncle will buy some fresh groceries tonight so you can taste his cooking.”

“I’d love to,” Chi Yi replied.

After the meal, Chi Yi saw them off in the Maybach, specifically instructing the driver, Xiao Wu: “Drive slowly. Safety first.” Once they were gone, she took her Volvo to the office.

On the way, she saw a message from Yixin. The lecherous Manager Liu had indeed been reassigned as a security guard at the boiler room. Yixin joked, “Is this hotel one of your properties?”

The hotel wasn’t hers, but a phone call from the legal representative of Yixin Commerce carried significant weight. To the hotel group, a high-value potential partner was far more important than a replaceable manager.

Back at the office, Si Wen approached with a grim expression. “Director Chi, inviting celebrities for the charity auction isn’t going well. It’s a total blackout.”

“What happened?”

Si Wen explained that a recent “Ice Bucket Challenge” organized by a fraudulent team had scammed netizens and celebrities alike. The organizers disappeared with the donation money, and now the public was attacking any celebrity who had participated, accusing them of faking the challenge for clout.

“Public trust in charity is at an all-time low,” Si Wen said. “Celebrities are afraid of being associated with any new projects. We need a well-known actor to use their personal network to pull others in.”

“A team with no reputation like ours won’t get unpaid participation unless someone plays the ‘friendship card,’ right?” Chi Yi asked.

“Currently, yes.”

“Contact Li Wenjing,” Chi Yi instructed. “See when she has time to talk.”

“Director Li? Yixin’s manager?” Si Wen was puzzled. “Why not just ask Miss Cheng directly? I’m sure she’d help.”

“She would,” Chi Yi said, looking up. “But she isn’t a freelancer. We do this officially so it doesn’t cause trouble for her career.”

Meanwhile, at the wedding banquet, Cheng Papa and Cheng Mama were dealing with an annoying cousin, “Cheng San.” Years ago, a dispute over village land had soured their relationship, and Cheng San never missed a chance to make snide remarks about Yixin’s career or her absence from family events.

As they left the hotel, the Maybach was waiting at the entrance. Its presence was so commanding that passersby stopped to stare.

“Brother! I thought you left!” Cheng San called out, his wife by his side.

“Oh, did you guys walk here?” Cheng San’s wife chirped, her voice dripping with fake concern. “It’s a shame Yixin is so busy being a star that she can’t even arrange a car for her parents. Wealthy people really do forget where they came from.”

Xiao Wu, the driver, rolled down the window and overheard the exchange. He stepped out with a professional smile.

“Uncle, Auntie! Are you ready to go? If we leave now, we’ll be just in time for high tea at the Hilton, followed by the sea-view buffet tonight.”

“Who are you? What’s a Hilton?” Cheng San asked, confused. His son whispered that it was a five-star hotel where tea cost four figures.

“I am Miss Cheng Yixin’s driver,” Xiao Wu said smoothly. “I am the dedicated driver for her parents while they are in Jingning.”

The cousin’s family stared at the Maybach. Cheng San’s wife stammered, “When did Yixin buy this? We didn’t see it during the New Year.”

“Miss Cheng doesn’t need to buy cars; the company provides them for her use,” Xiao Wu said, gesturing to the luxury vehicle. “This is just one of many. Her personal custom van is even more luxurious.”

The young grandson pointed at the car. “Wow! That car is bigger than Daddy’s! It’s so pretty!”

Cheng Papa and Cheng Mama struggled to keep a straight face. Chi Yi’s driver had managed to humiliate their annoying relatives while giving them the grandest “face” possible.

Later that afternoon, Yixin finished her work early and headed to Chi Yi’s office to surprise her. She walked into the CEO’s office and popped her head in.

“Chi Yi baby!” she chirped.

The room went silent. Yixin froze. Chi Yi was not alone; Si Wen and several key members of the Yixin Foundation were sitting on the sofas mid-meeting.

Everyone stared. Someone stifled a laugh. No one expected the decisive Board Chairwoman to be called “Baby” so affectionately.

Chi Yi’s expression shifted from professional to slightly embarrassed. She cleared her throat. “Let’s move this to the conference room.”

As the staff filed out, Si Wen gave Yixin a subtle thumbs-up. Yixin wanted to melt into the floor.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were in a meeting?!” Yixin cried once they were alone.

“I didn’t think it was a secret,” Chi Yi rubbed her nose. “I just didn’t expect… you didn’t tell me you arrived.”

Chi Yi teased her: “Baby has to go to a meeting now. Baby will be back soon.”

“Ahhh!” Yixin buried her face in her hands. She was officially too embarrassed to ever get married.

While waiting, Si Wen brought Yixin some tea and told her about the “Seed Project”—a foundation Chi Yi started to build a school in the impoverished Ping County. Yixin was deeply moved and immediately made an anonymous donation.

When the meeting ended, they headed home, but Chi Yi made a detour to a liquor store.

“I think your father likes to drink,” Chi Yi said, returning with a paper bag.

“He’s very picky,” Yixin warned. “What did you buy?”

“What does he usually like?”

“Moonshine!”

Chi Yi laughed. “Then he’ll definitely like this.”

The house was filled with the aroma of home cooking. Cheng Papa, wearing a floral apron, had prepared a feast. To accommodate Chi Yi, he had even toned down the spice levels.

When Chi Yi pulled out a bottle of Moutai, Cheng Papa’s eyes practically turned into stars. He rarely treated himself to such expensive liquor.

“This is good stuff! Chi Yi, come, let’s have a drink with Uncle!”

After half a cup, the alcohol hit Cheng Papa’s face and ears. “My dad starts bragging the moment he drinks,” Yixin whispered to Chi Yi.

“I think Uncle has a great tolerance,” Chi Yi flattered him shamelessly.

Cheng Papa was delighted. As the night went on, he began praising Chi Yi non-stop, eventually slipping into his thick hometown dialect.

“A haoo-nuu-shuu! My haoo-nuu-shuu!” (A good son-in-law! My good son-in-law!)

He slapped Chi Yi on the shoulder with his heavy “chef’s hand,” nearly knocking the wind—and the wine—right out of her.