If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 25
Chapter 25: The Eighth Day
The straw dolls were almost as tall as a person. Ji Chaozhou, his arms full, hadn’t yet reacted when Cheng Liu grabbed another shopping cart, loaded everything into it, and strolled out of the supermarket.
Drawing quite a few stares from passersby.
Cheng Liu didn’t care. Seeing that Ji Chaozhou was still inside, she stopped and waited for him.
Ji Chaozhou could only follow her out, holding the inexplicably acquired straw doll. He looked at the shopping cart in Cheng Liu’s hands: “Was this…also a gift?”
After leaving the warehouse, Cheng Liu and the supermarket manager had practically become sworn brothers.
“No, I borrowed it from the manager,” Cheng Liu said, seeing him awkwardly holding the straw doll. She took it back. “It’s not convenient for you to carry it. I’ll give it to you when we get back.”
She moved closer, catching Ji Chaozhou off guard.
They were so close that he could smell her scent.
A very faint grapefruit scent, slightly bitter in the April night breeze, not the scent of perfume, but the lingering fragrance of laundry detergent on her clothes.
Ji Chaozhou could even tell the brand. It was the most common, ordinary scent, yet on her, it was incredibly distinct.
Perhaps because they were standing so close.
Ji Chaozhou lowered his gaze, deliberately ignoring the scent.
Cheng Liu was busy arranging the straw dolls, placing one on each side of the shopping cart before pushing it towards their homes.
Every passerby turned to look.
Ji Chaozhou walked slowly, a few steps behind Cheng Liu, yet her presence was still overwhelming.
They soon reached the villas. Cheng Liu proactively pushed the shopping cart into Ji Chaozhou’s front yard and carried everything into the living room for him.
Of course, she didn’t forget to leave the straw doll.
“I’ll go back now. Get some rest,” Cheng Liu said, pushing the borrowed shopping cart back to her own villa.
She arranged all the paired items she had bought, placing the double happiness stickers in her nightstand drawer.
They would be useful one day.
CEO Cheng was certain of it.
In the villa next door, Ji Chaozhou looked at the straw doll leaning against the table. It had painted-on smiling eyes and a curved mouth, somewhat resembling the person who had given it to him.
Stripped of the mistaken bodyguard identity, she seemed to shine even brighter.
Ji Chaozhou looked down at his hands, his expression cold. He wasn’t used to such a vibrant presence invading his world.
…
Cheng Liu, fresh out of the shower, felt her relationship with Ji Chaozhou had progressed, and her mood was cheerful.
Then she picked up her phone, saw the message, and froze, as if struck by lightning.
Ji Chaozhou had transferred money to her on WeChat, more than covering her expenses from the past few days.
And there was another message below.
Boyfriend: [Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, we’re even.]
He was clearly trying to draw a line between them!
What did he mean, “even”? She hadn’t even properly expressed her feelings yet. How could they be even?
Looking at the cold, impersonal message, Cheng Liu felt her path to love darken, the future bleak.
Why was he suddenly distancing himself?
What had she done wrong?
Cheng Liu gripped her phone, trying to recall what the business partners did in similar situations, but her mind was blank.
Ask Li Dong? No!
She had just promised to invite him to their wedding a few days ago. If she told him the truth, the gossip would spread like wildfire within an hour.
After considering and rejecting everyone she knew, Cheng Liu finally turned to her recently dumped ex-boyfriend.
Wang Hongyang not only knew about this whole mess, he was also involved. Most importantly, he seemed to have a certain talent in this area.
He was the perfect candidate.
Cheng Liu checked her pockets; her personal phone wasn't with her.
So, the desperate CEO Cheng recalled his WeChat ID from when she had changed his contact name, searched for him on her work phone, and sent a friend request.
[It’s Cheng Liu. I have a question for you.]
Wang Hongyang was lying in bed with a face mask on, playing on his phone. Seeing the notification, he clicked on it and immediately sat up.
What did that stingy woman, Cheng Liu, want?
Wang Hongyang didn't accept the request immediately, replying instead: [Are you a scammer? Trying to harvest my organs? No way!]
Number Six: […I’m not a scammer. It’s really Cheng Liu. We can video call if you want.]
Wang Hongyang laughed in disbelief.
During their six months together, he had called Cheng Liu several times, always with the same result: either the call wouldn't connect, or she would hang up on him.
He hadn't expected to be offered a video call and her main WeChat contact after their breakup.
Wang Hongyang scoffed, typing rapidly: [What, are you broke? What could CEO Cheng possibly need to ask me?]
Number Six: [I’m not broke. I’m very rich. Was the woman you were with at Yese Restaurant last night your new girlfriend?]
Wang Hongyang was puzzled. Was Cheng Liu having second thoughts, wanting to get back together?
He wouldn't refuse, if she was willing to spend money on him.
Wang Hongyang replied coyly: [Not really. We just had dinner. I’m still available.]
The woman with short hair yesterday had only managed to hold his hand after spending over a hundred thousand yuan. Wang Hongyang considered himself a valuable commodity. Unless it was someone as wealthy as Cheng Liu, he would only flirt and take their money before moving on.
Seeing his reply, Cheng Liu hesitated: [Not really in a relationship? Then forget it.]
Perhaps Wang Hongyang wasn’t reliable after all.
What did she mean, “forget it”?
Provoked, Wang Hongyang accepted Cheng Liu’s friend request and asked: [What do you want?]
Number Six: [You seem very experienced in relationships, so I want to learn from you.]
Wang Hongyang: ?
He thought for a moment, then asked tentatively: [What’s in it for me?]
Cheng Liu: [Do you even know anything?]
Wang Hongyang boasted: [Of course! Countless people are vying for my attention.]
Thinking of Ji Chaozhou, who wanted to draw a line between them, Cheng Liu said to Wang Hongyang, [I’m trying to pursue Ji Chaozhou, but he wants to distance himself. If you can help me, I’ll have another gold plaque made for you, the same size as the last one.]
Wang Hongyang, reading the first half of the message, was so angry that his face mask almost fell off. He knew it! The “mistaken identity” was just an excuse! Cheng Liu had simply moved on and cheated on him!
But then he finished reading the message, recalling the gleaming gold plaque, and his anger subsided. He asked hesitantly, [Really the same size as the last one?]
Cheng Liu replied: [Yes, really.]
Wang Hongyang immediately ripped off his face mask and transformed into a love guru: [Tell me everything.]
Cheng Liu called him and explained everything that had happened.
Wang Hongyang couldn't believe that he hadn't received a single phone call from Cheng Liu during their six months together, yet now, after their breakup, she was calling him, and for another man, no less.
He was especially envious and jealous when he heard about them casually buying villas.
Rich people were so annoying!
“Why do you think he suddenly wants to distance himself?” Cheng Liu asked, puzzled.
“Who would be happy to receive a straw doll as a gift?” Wang Hongyang rolled his eyes. So, it wasn’t his fault; it was Cheng Liu’s. She was a cheapskate!
“He seems to like flowers. He might plant some in his front yard,” Cheng Liu said, explaining her rationale. “The straw dolls can be placed in the yard to scare away birds.”
Most importantly, they came in a pair. One for him, one for her!
“Gifts should be expensive, the more expensive the better!” Wang Hongyang said, exasperated. “With your stinginess, you shouldn’t even bother dating.”
Cheng Liu was confused: “But I gave him a jade planter worth 5.2 million, and he didn’t like that either.”
“How much?” Wang Hongyang was shocked.
“5.2 million,” Cheng Liu said, then added, “Well, maybe it wasn’t worth that much.”
Wang Hongyang: “…” He hadn’t even received a single gift worth 20,000 yuan during their six months together!
Wang Hongyang seethed with jealousy for a while, then, remembering the potential gold plaque, reluctantly offered Cheng Liu some advice: “Is his family wealthy?”
“I think so? His father is quite rich, and he seems to have his own company,” Cheng Liu said after a moment of thought.
“Then he doesn't need your money. You’re not attractive enough for him,” Wang Hongyang said, gloating. He hadn’t expected to see the day when Cheng Liu would be struggling in a relationship.
“Then what should I do?” Cheng Liu asked earnestly.
“You shouldn’t be too aggressive when pursuing someone.” Actually, Wang Hongyang had never pursued anyone himself. Relying on his looks, he had always been the one being pursued. “Being too aggressive is annoying. You need to be aloof and distant, playing hard to get.”
“How do I do that?” Cheng Liu thought about it, realizing she wanted to be with Ji Chaozhou every day.
“Since you’re neighbors now, don’t greet him tomorrow,” Wang Hongyang said confidently. “If you run into him, just pretend you don’t see him. That’s guaranteed to get his attention.”
Cheng Liu was skeptical: “Really?”
Wang Hongyang scoffed: “Suit yourself if you don’t believe me.”
Cheng Liu said seriously, “I’ll try it tomorrow.”
“You have to pay me a deposit first.” Since they had already broken up, Wang Hongyang didn’t bother hiding his greed.
“Fine. I’ll pay you the rest if it works,” Cheng Liu said, hanging up and immediately transferring the money.
Wang Hongyang received 6,666 yuan, more than he had received from Cheng Liu during their entire relationship!
Although it wasn't a significant amount, it seemed to have opened a new door for Wang Hongyang.
Cheng Liu opened Ji Chaozhou's WeChat profile, hesitated for a moment, then accepted the money he had transferred.
She would save it to buy a quilt later, a double quilt!
…
To implement her “aloof and distant” strategy, Cheng Liu woke up early and ran ten laps around her villa, finally catching Ji Chaozhou as he was leaving.
Ji Chaozhou, as usual, looked cold and indifferent, the warm morning sunlight unable to melt the ice around him.
Cheng Liu’s heart pounded as soon as she saw him, wanting to rush over and greet him, but remembering Wang Hongyang’s advice, she forced herself to look away and jogged past him.
Like strangers, neither of them spoke, their gazes fixed ahead, passing each other without a word.
This should be enough.
But as soon as they passed each other, Cheng Liu couldn't resist turning back to look at him.
His waist was narrow, his legs long and straight.
She remembered seeing him lying in bed in the hotel suite, weak and pale, only his cheeks flushed with fever.
He had gripped her hand with a strength that seemed like a drowning man clinging to his last lifeline, his pale, almost translucent hand, with veins clearly visible beneath his thin skin.
As her gaze lingered, she suddenly noticed something wrong with his right hand. There seemed to be scabs on his fingertips.
With all four fingertips injured, it was hard not to imagine what he had been doing.
To hell with playing hard to get!
Cheng Liu couldn't hold back. She turned and ran after him, grabbing his arm: “Wait.”
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