If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 53
Chapter 53: The Nineteenth Day
Forty minutes before the press conference, He Bai arrived at the hotel suite. The makeup artist opened the door. He didn't see Cheng Liu: “Where’s CEO Cheng?”
The makeup artist pointed towards the balcony: “On the phone.”
He Bai put down the clothes and walked towards the balcony. Cheng Liu stood at the far end, her hand resting on the railing, leaning against it casually, her face hidden in the dim light.
He had never seen her truly express fear or worry.
He Bai had asked his sister several times for help, which had alerted his father, who had called that morning, analyzing Shenyin Technology’s current predicament. He advised Cheng Liu to accept the loss, apologize publicly, or do nothing, wait for the storm to pass.
Either way, Shenyin Technology's reputation would be damaged.
Yet, apart from a brief moment of silence at the airport yesterday, Cheng Liu hadn’t shown any signs of stress. Seeing her now, He Bai almost felt like nothing had happened.
He stopped, listening to her phone conversation.
“Tonight?” Cheng Liu said, holding the phone, a smile appearing on her face as the person on the other end spoke. “It’s what Shenyin should do.”
Seemingly sensing He Bai’s presence, she turned around, still speaking into the phone: “Alright, I’ll be there after the press conference.”
After Cheng Liu hung up, He Bai walked over: “I brought your clothes.”
“I’ll go change. We should head over to the venue soon,” Cheng Liu said, putting away her phone.
He Bai followed her inside: “CEO Cheng, where are you going after the press conference? Do you need me to make arrangements?”
Cheng Liu took the outfit from the bag: “Dinner. Come with me. We might be drinking.”
He Bai frowned. Cheng Liu hadn’t engaged in any drinking contests since Shenyin Technology had stabilized. Who was she meeting?
“Don’t overthink it,” Cheng Liu said, turning around, noticing He Bai’s expression, and smiling. “Just a social dinner. We might not even drink. But it’s an important meeting.”
He Bai was puzzled: “Who are you meeting, CEO Cheng?”
“You’ll see,” Cheng Liu said, taking the clothes and going to change. He Bai had also brought the black leather shoes with the black and white checkered soles.
Dressed in the outfit, Cheng Liu looked sharp and sophisticated, yet the slightly loose fit gave her a youthful, energetic air.
“Let’s go,” Cheng Liu said.
…
The area outside the press conference venue was already crowded with media, everyone eager to hear Shenyin Technology’s response.
And with Shenyin Technology’s young and attractive founder having recently trended online, several entertainment news outlets had also come to join the fray.
Kong Zhouyun had been sent by his company to take photos of Shenyin’s founder and capitalize on the trending topic. Unfortunately, his small company couldn’t even get a press pass, so he was stuck outside.
“Move over! What company are you with?” Surrounded by reporters with professional cameras and teams, Kong Zhouyun was quickly pushed to the side.
Alone and trying to protect his camera, Kong Zhouyun was jostled and shoved to the very edge of the crowd.
“…”
Kong Zhouyun wiped his brow. He wouldn’t even be able to get a decent photo from here. His boss would definitely yell at him.
He looked at the cluster of entertainment reporters, thinking, Who did they think they were? He had photos of Shenyin’s founder holding hands with a man!
Kong Zhouyun had only realized a few days ago, after seeing the trending topic, that the young woman he had photographed at the airport was Cheng Liu, the founder of Shenyin Technology.
But he didn't dare to release the photos. Cheng Liu could easily crush his small company. Kong Zhouyun squatted down, thinking he would just take some photos of the venue entrance and call it a day.
Kong Zhouyun raised his camera, took a few shots, then noticed a commotion. A black SUV was approaching.
Given Cheng Liu's net worth, the car wasn't impressive, even rather ordinary. It was the car she had been driving for years.
Kong Zhouyun only managed to get a photo of the front of the car before it was surrounded by reporters.
“Oh well, at least it’s something,” Kong Zhouyun muttered, turning to leave.
Then he saw a white car approaching. He didn’t pay much attention at first, until the car stopped, and Cheng Liu got out.
Kong Zhouyun: “!”
…
To avoid the chaos, Cheng Liu and He Bai had arrived separately. He Bai was in Cheng Liu’s car, entering through the main entrance, while Cheng Liu was in another car, taking a side entrance.
But before reaching the side entrance, Cheng Liu suddenly told the driver to stop.
“CEO Cheng, if we stop here, the media will see us,” the driver said.
“It’s fine. Stop here,” Cheng Liu said, getting out of the car as soon as it stopped.
Kong Zhouyun, across the street, immediately started taking photos. He saw Cheng Liu walking away from the press conference venue, towards another intersection, and quickly adjusted his camera.
Cheng Liu had been looking out the car window when her gaze suddenly fixed on someone. Had she just seen Ji Chaozhou?
She blinked a few times, and the figure, walking towards the press conference venue, seemed clearer now.
It was Ji Chaozhou!
He was wearing a dark green jacket over a light-colored shirt, the collar folded over a coffee-colored v-neck, the top two buttons of his jacket undone, and beige trousers. He looked effortlessly elegant.
Ji Chaozhou stood under a streetlight, seemingly looking towards the press conference entrance.
Cheng Liu immediately told the driver to stop and got out of the car.
“What are you doing here?” Cheng Liu asked, hurrying over to Ji Chaozhou. “Have you had dinner?”
Ji Chaozhou, seeing her, paused. He had thought she was in the car that had just passed by. And her first question was whether he had eaten.
“Is the press conference ready?” Ji Chaozhou asked, looking at Cheng Liu. Was she wearing the outfit He Bai had picked up? The one he had chosen?
“Yes, it’s about to start. Everything should be fine,” Cheng Liu said, her mood brightening at the sight of him.
If He Bai had been there, he would have noticed the difference in Ji Chaozhou’s attire today, much more expensive than usual.
But to Cheng Liu, Ji Chaozhou looked good in anything, even a burlap sack. She didn't notice the difference.
Last night, Ji Chaozhou, hearing Cheng Liu’s voice on Ji Mushan’s phone, had guessed that she had a plan, but he had still come to the press conference, staying at a distance, not wanting to get too close, but he hadn't expected Cheng Liu to spot him.
“Are you wearing that to the press conference?” Ji Chaozhou asked.
Cheng Liu looked down at her clothes, then up at him, smiling: “I think it looks good.”
“It’s not formal enough,” Ji Chaozhou said calmly, then, taking off his watch, he took Cheng Liu’s left hand and fastened it around her wrist.
It was a blue pilot’s watch, its lugs sharply defined, the crystal made of sapphire glass, the case of titanium. An expensive piece.
On Cheng Liu's wrist, it added a touch of sophistication to her casual attire.
Cheng Liu watched as Ji Chaozhou carefully fastened the watch, her mind momentarily blank. She hadn't felt any anxiety about the press conference, but now, looking at him, her heart was pounding.
Kong Zhouyun, across the street, his camera trained on them, felt his own heart racing.
This was the incredibly handsome man from the airport! He had seen him again!
Kong Zhouyun frantically pressed the shutter button. The sight of these two standing together could have been straight out of a magazine photo.
The warm, orange glow of the streetlight bathed them in a soft light. The handsome young man, holding Cheng Liu’s hand, carefully fastened the watch around her wrist, his movements gentle and precise.
Kong Zhouyun, lost in the moment, continued taking photos. If these two weren’t together, he would eat his camera tonight!
“Thank you,” Cheng Liu said, looking at the watch. For a moment, she wanted to confess her feelings.
But the timing wasn't right. She had a press conference to attend.
“I should go,” Ji Chaozhou said, releasing Cheng Liu’s hand and taking a step back.
Cheng Liu lowered her hand, subtly touching the watch. It was still warm from his touch, the titanium case radiating heat. She said calmly, “Okay, be careful.”
Ji Chaozhou turned and walked away. He had driven, parking a short distance away.
His car was usually kept at the Ranshan building, rarely used. He had specifically gone to Ranshan to retrieve it.
As he walked away, Ji Chaozhou looked down at his hands. That had been the first time he had taken Cheng Liu’s hand. He had simply wanted her to look more presentable, more authoritative, for the press conference. He hadn't thought anything of it at the time.
Now, the memory of the touch lingered, a warmth spreading through him.
The tips of his ears felt hot, but his expression remained calm and controlled.
…
Cheng Liu watched Ji Chaozhou drive away, then turned and walked towards the press conference venue. Reaching the intersection across the street, she stopped.
“You…” Cheng Liu said, looking at Kong Zhouyun standing by the roadside. “You look familiar.”
Kong Zhouyun, his camera still in his hands: “…”
“Were you just taking pictures of me?” Cheng Liu asked, pointing at his camera.
Kong Zhouyun remained silent: “…” Where were the other reporters? Why was he the only one here? He was terrified!
“Let me see,” Cheng Liu said, checking her watch. The press conference was in fifteen minutes.
“Huh?” Kong Zhouyun stammered, wondering if she was going to take his camera and smash it.
“I want to see what you took,” Cheng Liu said, reaching for the camera.
Kong Zhouyun reluctantly handed it over.
Cheng Liu looked at the photos, scrolling through them carefully, then handed the camera back, offering a sincere compliment: “These are really good.”
Kong Zhouyun: “Huh?”
Cheng Liu took out her phone, opened her WeChat QR code: “Add me. Send me the photos.”
Kong Zhouyun: “Huh?”
Cheng Liu looked at him, surprised: “Are you…mute?”
Kong Zhouyun finally managed to speak: “No.”
“Add me on WeChat. I’ll hire you as our wedding photographer,” Cheng Liu said seriously.
Kong Zhouyun, stunned: “Huh?”
Cheng Liu: “Stop saying ‘huh.’ Add me. I have a press conference to attend.”
A minute later, Cheng Liu had added Kong Zhouyun on WeChat, saving his contact information. Before leaving, she said, “Send me all the photos. Don’t leave any out.”
Kong Zhouyun finally snapped out of his daze: “Do you want the photos from the airport too?”
He had not only taken photos of the founder of Shenyin Technology, but he had also added her on WeChat and been invited to be her wedding photographer!!!
This had to be a dream!
Cheng Liu, already walking away, stopped, turned back, looked at the reporter, and suddenly realized: “It was you!”
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