If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 22
Chapter 22: The Sixth Day
—It was a message from Ji Chaozhou.
Cheng Liu stared at her phone screen, somewhat dazed.
This morning, Ji Chaozhou and Wang Hongyang had been standing side by side. Any normal person could tell them apart. Although their faces were somewhat similar, everything else about them was completely different.
Yet, Cheng Liu had mistaken Ji Chaozhou for her boyfriend for five whole days, without noticing anything amiss.
She suddenly recalled a term from psychology: self-deception.
Driven by a certain motive, the brain, through constant suggestion and modification, would pretend something was true and believe it wholeheartedly.
Cheng Liu tried to analyze her true motives.
A minute later, she covered her face with her hands: “…”
There was no logical reason. Deep down, she simply felt that her boyfriend should look like Ji Chaozhou.
Cheng Liu silently condemned herself: She might actually be a bit of a scumbag.
“Hello? Hello?” Li Dong, having been chattering away, finally realized that Cheng Liu hadn’t responded and raised his voice. “CEO Cheng?”
Cheng Liu, in the midst of her self-recrimination, put the phone back to her ear, intending to hang up.
“By the way, speaking of which, CEO Cheng, you and CEO Ji's son have quite a bit in common. His home also caught fire, just like your boyfriend's,” Li Dong said, finally getting to share the gossip he hadn’t finished earlier, feeling much better now.
Cheng Liu swallowed her words and listened silently.
“CEO Ji just contacted me, wanting to buy one of my villas in the city center. I’m guessing it’s for his son,” Li Dong said, clicking his tongue. “Villas in the city center are rare. I went to great lengths to acquire those two duplex villas back then.”
Cheng Liu had heard Li Dong boast about those two duplex villas before. They were in a prime location, a quiet oasis in the bustling city, with a basement level and two floors above ground, three sides of natural light, a front courtyard with a garage, and a swimming pool at the back. A rare find indeed.
Unlike detached villas, duplex villas were usually semi-detached, meaning they shared a wall with another unit. So, to avoid being disturbed by neighbors, Li Dong had bought both units.
However, he had never lived there. Apparently, Yang Fanyu preferred living in a high-rise apartment.
CEO Cheng paced anxiously, torn between her conscience and her desires.
“My wife said that since the villas are empty, we might as well sell them to CEO Ji,” Li Dong said, glancing at Yang Fanyu and moving to the side to whisper to Cheng Liu, “Actually, my wife just likes Ji Chaozhou. She met him once and hasn’t stopped talking about him since.”
“It is a waste to leave them empty,” Cheng Liu said righteously, agreeing with Yang Fanyu’s opinion. She asked tentatively, “Are you planning to move into the other villa, Mr. Li?”
“Me?” Li Dong immediately shook his head, then boasted, “No way. Home is where my wife is.”
Cheng Liu coughed, clenching her fist, and finally decided to give in to her desires. She asked casually, “Mr. Li, would you be willing to sell me the other villa?”
“You want to buy it too?” Li Dong was surprised.
Cheng Liu averted her gaze: “I’ve been wanting a courtyard lately. Since you mentioned selling them, why not sell the other one to me?”
Li Dong hesitated for a moment: “I suppose that’s possible.” Since he was selling one to CEO Ji, he might as well sell the other one as well.
“Then I’ll come over to handle the transfer now,” Cheng Liu said without hesitation.
Things were moving so fast that Li Dong was still in a daze: “So soon?”
“…I’m usually very busy, and I happen to be free today,” Cheng Liu said without batting an eye. “And today is the 6th. I like this number.”
“Alright, come to the Dongchu Hotel,” Li Dong said readily. “I’ll go back and get the documents. It’s quite fitting that Villa Number Six goes to you, and Number Five to CEO Ji.”
As soon as Li Dong hung up, Yang Fanyu walked over and asked, “What documents?”
“Honey,” Li Dong said, hurrying over to explain, “what a coincidence. She also wants to buy one of my villas.”
“She wants to buy one too?” Yang Fanyu frowned. “Are you sure CEO Cheng and CEO Ji aren't at odds? First, the bidding war over the Lily-of-the-Valley Deer Planter, and now they both want to buy your villas.”
“At odds? No way! They barely know each other!” Li Dong said firmly. “They’re practically strangers.”
Yang Fanyu didn't understand the business world, so she didn’t say anything more.
…
After spending the afternoon submitting all the necessary documents for the transfer, Cheng Liu immediately transferred the money to Li Dong.
“Both villas have regular cleaning services, so you can move in directly,” Li Dong said to Cheng Liu. “But they’re unfurnished. You’ll have to furnish them yourself.”
“…Okay,” Cheng Liu replied absently. She was still thinking about how to reply to Ji Chaozhou’s message.
If he reimbursed her, they would be completely even.
Or perhaps she shouldn’t reply, pretending she hadn’t seen it, so he would remain indebted to her.
In just one day, CEO Cheng’s moral compass had deteriorated significantly, showing a downward trend.
“CEO Cheng, I’ll be going now. Remember to bring your boyfriend along next time for dinner,” Li Dong said, hurrying towards his wife, who had come to pick him up.
Cheng Liu, who had just lost her fake boyfriend and broken up with her real boyfriend: “…”
By the time she got home, it was already 6 pm. Cheng Liu opened the door to find He Bai sitting in her living room.
“Senior, you weren't home?” He Bai stood up and said casually, “I’m here to take you to Yese Restaurant.”
It was normal for He Bai to be her designated driver for business dinners where alcohol might be involved.
“I was out taking care of something,” Cheng Liu said, unfazed by his use of “senior.” She quickly composed herself: “Let’s go.”
He Bai’s gaze fell on the bag Cheng Liu placed on the entryway table. If she had been taking care of something, it wasn't a date.
He recalled the jade planter on the coffee table. After making such a grand gesture at the auction, Cheng Liu hadn’t given it to Wang Hongyang immediately.
As he suspected, her so-called boyfriend was just a whim. She still hadn't realized her true feelings.
However…He Bai still couldn't tolerate Cheng Liu’s whims; it made him feel uneasy.
Fortunately, tonight, Cheng Liu would see Wang Hongyang for who he truly was.
…
Yese Restaurant was located on the penultimate floor of a skyscraper, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the S City skyline.
As Cheng Liu entered, she instinctively wondered if Ji Chaozhou had ever seen such a view. He seemed to have a severe fear of heights, so he probably wouldn’t come to a place like this.
“CEO Cheng, I’ll be waiting for you at the next table,” He Bai said softly, pulling out a chair for her.
“Okay.” Cheng Liu came back to her senses, waiting for the business partner to arrive.
He Bai sat at the next table, discreetly checking his watch. He knew that Wang Hongyang had a date with a female director tonight.
The director happened to be his high school classmate and had agreed to help him out.
Wang Hongyang came from a humble background, relying on his looks and physique to make a name for himself in the modeling industry.
He flirted with every wealthy and attractive woman he met. Cheng Liu was the wealthiest person he had ever encountered, and it had been Cheng Liu who had initiated their relationship after only their second meeting.
When He Bai had learned about it, he had found it ridiculous. He couldn't understand what Cheng Liu saw in Wang Hongyang.
Fortunately, compared to work, Wang Hongyang was insignificant in Cheng Liu’s mind.
And tonight, it would all be over.
“CEO Cheng,” a woman in a black suit dress, exuding an air of competence, said, sitting down across from Cheng Liu and extending her hand. “I’m Zhou Shengyan, the general manager of Yale Home Furnishings.”
Thirty-six years old, studied abroad, a skilled rock climber, unmarried, no children, enjoys innovation and adventure.
Cheng Liu recalled the information calmly, shaking her hand: “CEO Zhou.”
Zhou Shengyan, meeting Cheng Liu’s calm gaze, was surprised. The news of the change in leadership at Yale hadn’t been made public yet, and she had deliberately misled Chief Assistant He during their phone conversation. Why wasn’t CEO Cheng surprised to see her?
“Our phone conversation was brief. I didn’t have time to introduce myself properly to your chief assistant,” Zhou Shengyan said with a smile.
“It’s alright. He’s already told me,” Cheng Liu said, pushing the menu towards her. “What would you like to order, CEO Zhou?”
Zhou Shengyan casually ordered a few dishes, her perception of Shenyin Technology shifting. She hadn’t expected that Chief Assistant He had already discovered her true identity.
The rumors were true. He Bai, representing Shenyin Technology’s CEO in external communications, was indeed capable.
But Zhou Shengyan soon realized that CEO Cheng wasn't as easy to deal with as the rumors suggested.
She avoided all the conversational traps Zhou Shengyan set, even managing to extract quite a bit of information from her.
By the end of the meal, Zhou Shengyan’s back was damp with sweat. She hadn’t felt this tense even on the day she had taken over the company.
“CEO Zhou, why aren’t you eating?” Cheng Liu asked with a polite smile.
Zhou Shengyan looked at the young CEO Cheng across from her, dressed simply in casual clothes and with a low ponytail, looking like a recent university graduate. Who would have thought she could be so shrewd and experienced, like a seasoned businesswoman?
—Appearances could be deceiving, and rumors weren't always reliable.
“I’m just looking forward to our future collaboration with Shenyin Technology,” Zhou Shengyan replied.
Their business discussion was almost concluded.
Cheng Liu nodded: “Prepare the contract tomorrow, and I’ll be waiting for your signature, CEO Zhou.”
“Alright.” Zhou Shengyan put down her knife and fork. “I’ve heard that Shenyin Technology’s headquarters is quite impressive. I’ve been looking forward to visiting.”
“It’s just flattery. I hope you won’t be disappointed tomorrow, CEO Zhou,” Cheng Liu said politely.
“I’m sure I won’t be.”
“At Yale, we’ve always focused on quality. Although we’ve fallen behind, our collaboration with Shenyin Technology will surely revitalize our company,” Zhou Shengyan said, slightly relaxed now that their business discussion was over, and starting to promote her company. “If you ever need any furniture, CEO Cheng, please consider Yale.”
“Naturally.” Once the business matters were settled, Cheng Liu lost interest in small talk.
Zhou Shengyan continued, “Yale has a brand, which I manage personally, that caters specifically to young people, specializing in furniture for couples.”
Something about this seemed to resonate with CEO Cheng, and Zhou Shengyan noticed her eyes light up.
Couples!
This single word echoed in CEO Cheng’s mind, and her smile became more genuine: “I happen to be looking for furniture.”
“You are, CEO Cheng?” Zhou Shengyan, surprised by her successful sales pitch, said, “I can show you around after we sign the contract tomorrow.”
The previously lukewarm atmosphere suddenly became much more lively.
…
“I’ll see you tomorrow then, CEO Cheng,” Zhou Shengyan said, standing up to leave. She had to admit, CEO Cheng had a way of making people feel comfortable.
Of course, only when she chose to.
“See you tomorrow,” Cheng Liu said, nodding.
Just then, He Bai, who had been sitting at the next table, stood up and walked over to Cheng Liu. After Zhou Shengyan left, he asked, “Why are you suddenly buying furniture?”
“I’m planning to move,” Cheng Liu said casually.
He Bai, noticing two people entering the restaurant, didn’t ask further, instead leading Cheng Liu towards the exit.
As they approached, he nodded slightly at his high school classmate.
The female director leaned against Wang Hongyang, seemingly unsteady on her feet.
“CEO Cheng?” He Bai slowed down, walking beside Cheng Liu and feigning surprise.
Cheng Liu, who had been looking at her phone, looked up and saw Wang Hongyang supporting the female director.
He Bai, standing beside her, felt a pang of guilt. This was the first time he had schemed against Cheng Liu, but he quickly reassured himself that he was simply exposing Wang Hongyang's true nature.
However, he hadn't expected that Wang Hongyang, caught red-handed, wouldn't only show no remorse but would even put his arm around the female director more tightly.
He Bai even noticed Wang Hongyang glare at Cheng Liu.
But Cheng Liu showed no signs of anger; instead, there was a hint of envy in her eyes.
Envy?
He Bai: “…” Something wasn't right.
As he and the female director exchanged puzzled looks, Wang Hongyang, his arm around the director, walked into the restaurant with an air of arrogance.
“He’s with another woman…” He Bai tried to point out Wang Hongyang's infidelity.
“We’ve already broken up,” Cheng Liu said indifferently.
She was thinking: Why was Wang Hongyang able to find another woman immediately after their breakup?
He seemed to have a knack for this.
CEO Cheng was genuinely envious and wondered if she could ask Wang Hongyang for some tips.
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