If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 33
Chapter 33: The Eleventh Day
Shenyin Technology, underground parking garage.
Cheng Liu had just gotten out of her car when she heard someone call out to her.
“Senior.”
Cheng Liu turned around and saw He Bai walking towards her.
He seemed to have just gotten out of his car as well, wearing a white shirt with his tie loosened, his black suit jacket casually draped over his right arm. On his left wrist was a mechanical watch with a platinum case and a gradient charcoal gray dial, a diamond at the 12 o'clock position, and a blue leather strap. Every detail screamed expensive.
Cheng Liu's gaze lingered on his left wrist for a few seconds.
He Bai walked to her right side, raising his left hand slightly and asking cautiously, “Is there something wrong with…this watch?”
Although the chief assistant's annual salary at Shenyin Technology was substantial, He Bai's daily attire far exceeded what his salary could afford.
He Bai had always hoped that Cheng Liu would notice the changes in his appearance, but ever since she had commented on his new glasses being too flashy, he wasn't sure what to make of her glance.
“It’s quite nice,” Cheng Liu said, walking forward. “New watch?”
A flicker of hope ignited in He Bai’s heart. This was the first time she had complimented something he wore, and she had noticed his new watch. He swallowed, then said, “It’s a new Patek Philippe. Do you like it?”
Cheng Liu glanced at it again: “It’s alright.”
She had just been thinking, seeing He Bai’s watch, that Ji Chaozhou didn’t wear anything on his wrists.
Although his hands were beautiful even without any accessories, everyone else seemed to wear something, so her future boyfriend should too.
“I’ll ask you for recommendations next time I need to buy a watch,” Cheng Liu said, stepping into the elevator.
He Bai, like a butterfly, changed his watches, glasses, and other accessories almost daily, 365 days a year. He must be an expert in this area.
“Why do you suddenly want to buy a watch?” He Bai asked, standing behind her.
Cheng Liu said seriously, “For a better future.”
He Bai: “?”
Sometimes, or rather, most of the time, he couldn't keep up with Cheng Liu’s train of thought.
Silence fell in the elevator.
Cheng Liu, watching the numbers ascend, suddenly said, “Do you think I should change offices?”
“Why would you change offices?” He Bai asked, puzzled.
Cheng Liu averted her gaze: “This floor is too high up. It takes too long to go up and down. I think the second floor would be better.”
What if Ji Chaozhou came to find her?
If her office was on the second floor, he would be able to come up.
Her future boyfriend coming to her office…
CEO Cheng’s mind was filled with inappropriate thoughts.
“I can arrange that,” He Bai said, thinking it was a typical Cheng Liu request. After all, she was a workaholic, always trying to save time.
“No rush,” Cheng Liu said, clearing her mind. “I’ll let you know later. And I’ll need a separate office.”
He Bai frowned: “You already have a separate office. And mine is close by, so it’s convenient for me to report to you.”
“We can communicate through the company network. There’s no need for our offices to be so close,” Cheng Liu said. She hadn’t thought much of it before, but now, she felt that her all-glass office lacked privacy.
What if Ji Chaozhou came and she wanted to kiss him?
Cheng Liu thought to herself: Office play…it wouldn’t be appropriate for others to see.
Filled with anticipation for the future, CEO Cheng walked into her office, ready to start her day.
…
Cheng Liu, who had never felt tired from work before, now found time moving incredibly slowly, the workload overwhelming.
She worked furiously, her mind on her date that evening.
Although it was only Cheng Liu who considered it a date.
Finally, at 6 pm, after finishing the last document, Cheng Liu stood up and walked out of her office.
“Chief Assistant He, I’m leaving. You can go whenever you’re ready,” Cheng Liu said to He Bai, walking briskly towards the exit.
He Bai looked up, instinctively pushing up his glasses. By the time he focused, only Cheng Liu’s back was visible.
He felt that she had been acting strangely lately, but it wasn't related to Wang Hongyang. If it wasn’t work-related, what was it?
By the time Cheng Liu arrived home, it was already 7 pm.
Her villa wasn’t close to Shenyin Technology, and she had been caught in rush hour traffic.
She parked directly in front of Villa Number Five, not going to her own home.
Cheng Liu got out of the car and rang the doorbell: “Neighbor, I’m home!”
There was no response, and the door remained closed.
Cheng Liu looked inside. There were no lights on. Wasn't he home?
Before Cheng Liu could feel disappointed, the lights in the living room suddenly turned on.
Ji Chaozhou had fallen asleep on the sofa, the book he had been reading slipping from his hand and onto the floor.
He hadn’t been sleeping soundly. Hearing the doorbell, he opened his eyes after a few seconds, still groggy.
Ji Chaozhou sat up, his hand on the sofa, his vision still blurry, and slowly stood up, turning on the lights and opening the door.
He didn’t even check who it was, subconsciously knowing it was Cheng Liu.
As soon as the door opened, Cheng Liu walked in excitedly. This was their first dinner together after learning each other's true identities, and she was looking forward to it.
“You…” Cheng Liu was about to ask if he was ready, but the sight of Ji Chaozhou standing before her stole her words away.
Having just woken up from the sofa, his clothes were slightly rumpled, the collar of his shirt askew, revealing his long, pale neck.
Hearing her footsteps, he looked up casually, his eyes still hazy with sleep, a hint of languor in his gaze.
At that moment, CEO Cheng’s usually sharp mind went blank.
Her thoughts raced, yet she couldn’t focus on anything.
Ji Chaozhou was now fully awake. He looked at Cheng Liu.
She was still dressed casually, the strings of her hoodie uneven, hanging down her chest, even more askew than when she had left that morning, and there were now several ink stains on her sleeves.
The only thing unchanged was the light in her eyes, always shining.
“Shall we go to dinner?” Cheng Liu asked, deliberately looking away, afraid of losing her composure.
“Okay,” Ji Chaozhou said.
He went back to his room to change, then, looking at Cheng Liu still standing there, couldn't help but say, “Your strings.”
Cheng Liu, still dazed, asked, “Strings?”
What strings?
Ji Chaozhou pointed to his chest: “Your hoodie strings are uneven.” One side was almost completely tucked inside.
Cheng Liu's mind was still rebooting. She followed his long, elegant finger to his chest and, after a moment of thought, said earnestly, “That shirt looks good on you too.”
Ji Chaozhou: “…”
He walked towards Cheng Liu, reached out, and pulled the shorter string, adjusting it until it was even with the other, finally satisfied.
They were standing close together. Cheng Liu, startled by his actions, looked up at him, her mind exploding with fireworks.
He had just fixed her clothes!!!
Having shared such an intimate moment, their future together was within reach!
Li Dong had boasted about his wife fixing his tie. Now, Cheng Liu would boast about having someone fix her hoodie strings!
The faint, aquatic, bitter scent surrounded them, the subtle, moist sweetness intensifying as Ji Chaozhou moved closer.
Ji Chaozhou, unaware of Cheng Liu’s thoughts, stepped back after adjusting her hoodie strings and asked softly, “Aren’t you leaving?”
“Yes,” Cheng Liu replied immediately.
They walked out of the villa. Cheng Liu, as usual, instinctively opened the passenger door, waiting for Ji Chaozhou to get in.
Ji Chaozhou lowered his gaze. It seemed she would open the passenger door for anyone.
Cheng Liu closed the door and walked around the back of the car, touching the string he had just adjusted, thinking to herself: I have to keep this hoodie.
She got into the driver’s seat and headed towards Guyu Restaurant.
Ji Chaozhou leaned back against the seat, his gaze fixed on the front windshield, which was bare except for a yellowed parking permit.
It was probably a free gift that came with the car or the seat covers.
Ji Chaozhou didn't think Cheng Liu would buy something like that. Judging by the red plastic watering can, she simply used whatever was available, regardless of aesthetics.
Thinking of this, Ji Chaozhou turned to Cheng Liu and reminded her, “Take back your red plastic watering can.”
“Watering can?” Cheng Liu asked, stepping on the brakes at a red light and turning to him, taking a moment to process his words. “Oh, right.”
Silence fell in the car, thankfully broken by the green light.
They arrived at Guyu Restaurant at 8 pm sharp.
This time, Ji Chaozhou didn’t wait for Cheng Liu to open the door but got out himself.
CEO Cheng’s brief stint as a doorman had come to an end, leaving her slightly disappointed.
Cheng Liu had booked the same private room as before. The flickering candlelight created a warm, intimate atmosphere.
However, unlike last time, when she had openly ogled Ji Chaozhou, this time, she didn’t dare, reminding herself that he wasn’t her boyfriend yet.
She kept her thoughts to herself.
This time, they sat facing each other, not at opposite ends of the table.
After ordering, the room fell silent as they waited for the food.
Cheng Liu glanced at Ji Chaozhou across from her, her breathing slowing down. She was nervous.
Thankfully, there was a performance to watch.
Cheng Liu sat up straight, watching the musician who had entered the room to play for them.
But after a while, Cheng Liu’s eyelids began to droop. She had been working overtime these past few days, staying up late to study dating techniques, and her sleep deprivation was catching up to her.
Cheng Liu was still conscious, trying to stay awake, even drinking her entire cup of tea.
But sleepiness was an irresistible force, even the presence of a handsome man couldn’t keep her awake.
Cheng Liu rested her head on one hand, pretending to be alert, then her eyes slowly closed, and finally, she slumped forward, falling asleep on the table.
Ji Chaozhou, who hadn’t been particularly interested in the performance, simply using it as a way to clear his mind, instinctively looked at Cheng Liu when he heard the sound of her head hitting the table.
He saw her slumped over, fast asleep.
Ji Chaozhou: “…”
The musician across the room, equally shocked, stared at the sleeping Cheng Liu, his playing faltering for a moment, his confidence in his musical abilities shaken.
Fortunately, the food was ready. The waiter opened the door, and the musician, seizing his chance to escape, quickly packed up his instrument and left.
“Sir, your…” the waiter said, looking at Cheng Liu sleeping on the table, then at Ji Chaozhou.
Ji Chaozhou looked at Cheng Liu’s face for a moment, then looked away, dismissing the waiter.
In the end, the food wasn’t served. In the dimly lit, antique-style private room, one person slept on the table, while the other sat quietly across from her, his long eyelashes lowered, his thoughts drifting.
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