If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 39
Chapter 39: The Thirteenth Day
The pastries were inedible.
Logically, Cheng Liu should have left, but she lingered, pretending to be hungry, then picked up her phone: “I’ll order takeout. What do you want to eat?”
Ji Chaozhou, sitting on the sofa, opened his book: “Whatever.”
Cheng Liu perked up.
There it was! The infamous "whatever"!
Cheng Liu had heard from the business partners that when their wives said "whatever," one should never actually choose "whatever," otherwise, a storm would surely follow.
She hadn't expected to hear those words herself.
CEO Cheng straightened up, remembering the countless cautionary tales from the business partners. She had to choose carefully.
Cheng Liu ordered a few light dishes based on Ji Chaozhou's preferences. As for herself, she preferred meat.
After ordering, having nothing else to do, she leaned against the table, watching Ji Chaozhou, who was sitting on the sofa.
His head was slightly tilted, a few strands of hair falling across his forehead, his profile elegant and refined. His long, slender fingers held the spine of a well-worn book, its pages yellowed, the title on the cover faded, making his pale hand seem even more beautiful.
So handsome.
Cheng Liu felt herself falling deeper with every glance.
Ji Chaozhou turned a page, not absorbing any of the words. He could feel her gaze on him, a palpable warmth that made him uncomfortable.
He didn't need to turn around to know that Cheng Liu was watching him.
Her eyes were so dark, her gaze so intense, it created an illusion of deep affection.
Ji Chaozhou lowered his eyelashes, his fingers pressing against the page, trying to ignore her gaze. The words on the page blurred before his eyes.
Thankfully, the doorbell rang, breaking the strange atmosphere in the living room.
“The takeout’s here. I’ll get it,” Cheng Liu said, standing up immediately.
As soon as she left, Ji Chaozhou looked up, his hand relaxing its grip on the page, leaving a faint crease.
Cheng Liu quickly returned, carrying two bags of takeout. She opened the containers and arranged the dishes on the dining table, calling Ji Chaozhou over to eat.
She talked a lot during dinner, mostly about interesting things that had happened to her, her stories engaging, not annoying. At times, Ji Chaozhou would unconsciously pause, his chopsticks in hand, listening to her.
They were stories of a world he had never experienced, unfamiliar and intriguing. But even more captivating was her bright smile and the light in her eyes.
But whenever he paused, Cheng Liu would shift the conversation back to the food, and by the time he realized it, he had finished his meal.
His usually empty stomach was full, the gnawing pain subsiding.
Cheng Liu cleared the table, gathering the empty containers: “I’ll be going now.”
She didn't linger, having achieved her goal of sharing dinner with him.
Ji Chaozhou paused, then said, “Close the door behind you.”
He stood up, leaving the living room before Cheng Liu, heading towards his bedroom.
Cheng Liu raised an eyebrow, watching him leave: “Goodnight. See you tomorrow.”
Ji Chaozhou entered his bedroom and stood there, listening to the fading sound of her footsteps in the living room, until they disappeared completely.
A few minutes later, the light on the second floor next door turned on. He finally looked away, leaning against the door, lost in thought.
…
Cheng Liu, back in her own villa, was about to start working when Li Dong called, wanting to vent.
“CEO Cheng, my life is so miserable!” Li Dong wailed on the other end. “It’s been almost three days, and my wife is still angry with me.”
In the past, Cheng Liu would have found an excuse to hang up, but now, she realized that everything these middle-aged business partners were experiencing might be her future as well.
So, Cheng Liu asked seriously, “What happened, Mr. Li?”
This one question opened the floodgates, and Li Dong began pouring out his woes: “I participated in a live stream program the other day, and somehow, a rumor started that I was interested in one of the female celebrities on the show. I’ve been banished from the bedroom, and my wife hasn’t spoken to me in days. I swear I only glanced at her!”
“You’re married, and you’re still looking at other women?” Cheng Liu asked, surprised. If she had Ji Chaozhou, she would never look at another man!
“No, I didn’t have any ulterior motives!” Li Dong protested. “I just thought the celebrity looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember where I had seen her. My wife insists I was admiring her youth and beauty.”
Cheng Liu thought for a moment and asked, “Which celebrity?”
Li Dong paused, then slapped his thigh in regret: “Yun Fei. I had only ever seen her on TV before, never met her in person. I didn’t recognize her during the program, so I…glanced at her.”
“You thought she resembled your wife?” Cheng Liu asked, understanding the situation.
Li Dong bristled: “What do you mean, ‘resembled my wife’? She has a slight resemblance, but that’s not the point. My wife is unique.”
“The fact remains that you looked at another woman,” Cheng Liu said bluntly. “And your wife is angry.”
Li Dong sighed: “I should never have agreed to that program. I only did it because of the publicity it would bring to the company.”
“So, what are you going to do?” Cheng Liu asked, trying to glean some useful information for herself, just in case.
“I’m groveling,” Li Dong said, rubbing his knees. “Literally.”
Cheng Liu made a mental note: Never grovel. It hadn't worked for him in three days.
“CEO Cheng, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you,” Li Dong said, finally getting to his real reason for calling.
Cheng Liu opened her romantic phrase handbook, writing down a cautionary tale in red ink: “Go ahead, Mr. Li.”
“I signed up for two episodes of that program, but I don’t want to go anymore. I was wondering if you could…participate in my place?” Li Dong said hesitantly. “I would have to pay a penalty for breaching the contract, but they’re willing to let someone else take my place. You could use the opportunity to promote Shenyin Technology.”
“I’m not interested,” Cheng Liu said, immediately refusing. “Shenyin Technology doesn’t need the publicity right now.”
“It doesn’t take long to film, just one day!” Li Dong said desperately. “Are you going to let my family fall apart, CEO Cheng?”
“Mr. Li, when did you have children?” Cheng Liu asked, closing her handbook.
“If my wife leaves, she’ll definitely take Jin Mao with her,” Li Dong wailed.
Jin Mao was his golden retriever.
“Besides, aren’t you going to invite me to be your wedding witness? Shouldn’t my marriage be harmonious to bring you good luck?” Li Dong continued, racking his brains for a convincing argument. “The program is simple. It’s just about showing the daily life of a company CEO, and you can promote your company as well.”
Cheng Liu remained unmoved.
“I know you don’t think Shenyin needs the publicity, but you could use this opportunity to confess to your boyfriend on national television. You could even propose!”
Li Dong’s words finally caught Cheng Liu’s attention, but she remained composed: “I’ll think about it. When is the filming? I might not be free.”
“The day after tomorrow,” Li Dong said, seeing a glimmer of hope. “CEO Cheng, this is a rare opportunity. You can show off your boyfriend to the entire country.”
Cheng Liu: “…” She didn’t even have a boyfriend yet.
“I suppose I could do it, but you owe me one, Mr. Li,” Cheng Liu said, thinking that although she hadn't captured Ji Chaozhou's heart yet, she could use this opportunity to let him learn more about her.
After the program aired, she could even find an excuse to watch it with him!
“Deal! I owe you one!” Li Dong said, relieved to have passed the burden on. “I’ll send you the assistant director’s WeChat contact. She’ll explain the program details.”
Cheng Liu hung up and soon received a friend request from the assistant director. As soon as they connected, the assistant director sent a long message detailing the program’s flow.
A Day in the Life of CEOs: Starts at home (twenty minutes filming inside the residence, optional), then to the company (CEOs arrange their own schedules), and finally, dinner (can be at the company cafeteria, to showcase employee benefits and create a relatable image).
Cheng Liu decided to start filming at home, hoping to showcase her new furniture.
But…the host was Yun Fei?
Cheng Liu swiveled in her chair, opened her computer, and searched for Yun Fei.
Surname Yun…was Yun Fei related to Aunt Yun? Was she a relative of Ji Chaozhou? But she had looked at Cheng Liu with hostility at the flower market.
There was plenty of information about celebrities online. Cheng Liu quickly found various results.
She skimmed through them and discovered that Yun Fei was Yun Se’s adopted daughter, and she had often mentioned on programs that she had a long-time crush.
A long-time crush?
Cheng Liu suddenly remembered the scene at the airport. Had Ji Chaozhou gone there to pick up Yun Fei?
She felt a pang of jealousy, but logic quickly kicked in. It was highly likely that Yun Fei had deliberately caused the commotion at the airport, removing her mask and sunglasses after disembarking.
Wait!
CEO Cheng suddenly panicked. Was Yun Fei’s crush Ji Chaozhou?!
Were they…childhood sweethearts?
Cheng Liu abruptly stood up, the thought of Ji Chaozhou having a childhood sweetheart filling her with anxiety.
CEO Cheng immediately called Wang Hongyang, seeking his help.
Wang Hongyang, currently unemployed, was playing video games at home, having pulled an all-nighter. He almost cursed when his phone rang, but seeing that it was Cheng Liu, and remembering the gold plaque, he grudgingly asked, “What is it, CEO Cheng?”
“I’m going to be on a program, and I want him to learn more about my life and work, but the host is his childhood sweetheart,” Cheng Liu said anxiously. “What should I do?”
Juicy gossip!
Wang Hongyang was instantly energized: “That Ji Chaozhou has a girlfriend? And you’re trying to steal him away?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Cheng Liu said, confident on this point. “It’s Yun Fei who has a crush on him.”
“Yun Fei? The famous actress Yun Fei?” Wang Hongyang asked, shocked. “She has a crush on Ji Chaozhou?”
Yun Fei was a popular actress, and she had repeatedly mentioned her crush on various programs. Anyone who followed the entertainment industry knew about it.
Wang Hongyang, remembering Ji Chaozhou's face, murmured, “…No wonder it’s a crush.”
Even Cheng Liu liked Ji Chaozhou.
“You’re the founder of Shenyin Technology. Any normal person would choose you,” Wang Hongyang said, lying in bed. “If you’re really worried, just dress nicely for the program.”
Although Cheng Liu was a terrible person, Wang Hongyang had to admit that she was attractive, and she had a powerful aura that few could match.
“Dress nicely?” Cheng Liu walked over to her closet, opened the door, revealing rows of tracksuits and plaid jackets. “I’ll buy something tomorrow.”
However, Cheng Liu had no sense of style when it came to her personal life.
So, early the next morning, she climbed up a ladder, poked her head over the wall, and asked Ji Chaozhou, who had just emerged from his villa, “Are you free today?”
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