Chapter 333: 333 Coincidentally meeting Cao Ningning

Over the next period of time, Chen Xu became very busy as the data center had accumulated a lot of work over the past few days.

Also, Yang Jinxia’s flash memory production company needed his guidance, simply providing data was challenging for the team to fully grasp.

These materials had to be patented too.

As the number of patents he needed to apply for grew, he simply established a company dedicated to managing patents, primarily overseen by Secretary Jin.

He was busy for a whole month.

That afternoon, Chen Xu sat in the car, looking out through the window at the drizzling rain and the gloomy sky, which made it look very dark outside, almost like evening if one didn’t check the time.

Other than the car, there were hardly any pedestrians on the road, and those who appeared were in a hurry.

Last week, a cold front from Siberia had swept across the continent from the north, reaching all the way to the southernmost part of the continent.

Affected by the cold air, the temperature these days had dropped below ten degrees, and with the rainy weather, it felt damp and bone-chilling.

The heating in the car was turned up high, so the cold outside was hardly noticeable.

Suddenly, the car stopped; he looked up and realized they were at the school section, coinciding with dismissal time.

Directly in front of his window was the school entrance, he casually glanced at the school gate, XX Middle School.

For some reason, the name of the school felt familiar.

Just then, his cellphone rang. It was his mother, telling him that she had found a suitable house and asking if he had time to come and see it.

He said, “If you like it, that’s fine. I might not be able to get away for a while, just buy it if it looks good.”

His parents had been choosing a house for several months, mainly because they didn’t want to buy a second-hand one, and the few new condo buildings available had only a few units left, either on undesirable floors or with layouts they didn’t like. Only now had a new building become available.

Over the phone, his mother, hearing that he wouldn’t be coming, still described the details of the house to him for over ten minutes. He listened patiently, occasionally responding to show he was listening.

The students gradually dwindled, and the cars in front started moving slowly.

Chen Xu, while on the phone, glanced out the car window and suddenly saw a familiar figure.

“Mom, if you like it, just go ahead and buy it before someone else does. Alright, I’ve got to go. Talk to you later.” After hanging up the phone, he said to the driver, “Pull over.”

…..

Another Friday, Cao Ningning and her classmates walked out of the classroom, dreading the weather outside.

“Ningning, did you bring an umbrella?” her friend Lili walked out of the classroom, shivered from a gust of cold wind, “Brr–why is it so cold.”

Cao Ningning shook her head, “I didn’t bring one either.”

“Don’t know when this rain is going to stop,” Lili frowned, sheltering behind Cao Ningning; she hadn’t worn a down jacket, finding them too bulky, and now she was regretting it.

Cao Ningning said, “Let’s head downstairs first.”

The two braved the rain, rushing to the school gate. Lili shivered even more violently, with the wind outside blowing even stronger, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

At that moment, a tall male student approached with an umbrella, saying, “I’ll take you guys home, I have an umbrella.”

Lili recognized him as Zhou Yang from their class, obviously coming for Cao Ningning. She looked at her friend.

“No need,” Cao Ningning recognized the classmate and politely declined.

Zhou Yang persisted, “We don’t know when the rain will stop, and next week is the monthly test. If you catch a cold, it won’t be good. Come on.”

Cao Ningning said, “Really no need, I’ve already called a cab.”

Lili looked at her surprised, wanting to say, was it necessary to go to such lengths?

She knew Ningning had only a little pocket money; taking a cab would use up a week’s allowance, and she’d have to tighten her belt for the next few days.

Zhou Yang, hearing her response, looked very disappointed. He was about to speak again when he saw a black Maybach pull up, stopping ahead and the rear window rolled down, revealing a young man.

Cao Ningning saw the man, her face brightened with joy, she pulled Lili’s hand and ran over, opened the car door, and got in.

Zhou Yang was left somewhat dumbfounded. Was Chen Xu really driving a Maybach as a rideshare?

…

Once Lili got into the car, she sat properly. Although she couldn’t recognize what car it was, she could tell it was high-end. Anyway, her family’s car couldn’t compare at all.

The car was warm, and it shielded her from the rain and cold–she was quite satisfied.

She didn’t mistake this car for a rideshare, since she recognized the man immediately. His portrait still hung in Ningning’s room.

However, his demeanor didn’t quite match the picture. He was more pleasant-looking in person.

Ningning had mentioned his name before, seemed like it was Chen Xu. She hadn’t expected him to be wealthy.

Chen Xu then said, “I just happened to be passing by and saw you. With such heavy rain, let me take you home.”

Lili couldn’t help but glance outside. At most, it was just drizzle. But thinking of getting a ride home, she didn’t refute his statement.

Chen Xu asked, “This is your classmate, right?”

Ningning said, “Yes, her name is Lili.”

“Nice to meet you.” Chen Xu smiled at her.

Lili’s heart skipped a beat, her cheeks slightly flushed as she replied softly, “Nice to meet you.”

She thought this man wasn’t very handsome but his smile was incredibly gentle, his gaze as if he could see into people’s hearts.

He asked, “Where do you live?”

Lili still had some sense, so she just gave the name of her residential community.

After that, Chen Xu fell silent.

After a while, Cao Ningning brought up a new topic. “Did you get a new car?”

“This is a company car,” Chen Xu replied.

“Oh.”

This time, Chen Xu initiated a topic, “Your place is quite far from school. Why don’t you live on campus?”

Cao Ningning said, “We’re not used to it.”

Lili nodded along.

“You’re in the twelfth grade, right? Only half a year till the college entrance exam, decided on which university yet?”

“I haven’t decided yet. Lili is preparing for medical school.”

Seeing Chen Xu look towards her, Lili quickly explained, “Both my parents are in medicine, they want me to study medicine too.”

As they chatted like this, they arrived at Lili’s home.

“Goodbye.” Lili said as she got out of the car, not sure how to address him, she just omitted it.

“Goodbye.” The door closed, and the car started moving.

Only Chen Xu and Cao Ningning were left in the car.

Chen Xu asked her, “Have your parents made up?”

“Yes, they have.” Cao Ningning’s tone was quite calm when she mentioned her parents, “Last time, thanks to the police, they were brought back and got a good talking-to. Now, they don’t fight much anymore.”

Chen Xu thought, this must be related to her being in twelfth grade now. Even unreliable parents knew the importance of the college entrance exam. Keeping the peace for a year was not bad.

PS: Sat in a car all morning, my head hurt. Took a Fenbid, wrote this chapter, and surprisingly, I’m more efficient than usual. Well, actually it’s a plea for monthly tickets.