If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 68
Chapter 68: The Twenty-Fourth Day
The warmth of her lips, through the thin silk of his robe, spread like fire through him. Even after Cheng Liu pulled away, a burning sensation lingered, a phantom ache.
Ji Chaozhou watched as Cheng Liu lifted his hand, her fingers interlacing with his, then, lifting his hand slightly, aligning their fingertips, gently rubbing them together.
She seemed to find it amusing, repeatedly interlacing and unlacing their fingers, playing with his hand.
Cheng Liu did find it amusing. She looked down at Ji Chaozhou's hand, long and slender, his knuckles a delicate pink against the pale skin, like the finest porcelain, the blue veins subtly visible on the back of his hand.
As she continued playing with his hand, the blue veins became more prominent, and she couldn't shake the feeling that the skin around his fingertips was also turning pink.
Ji Chaozhou abruptly pulled his hand away, hiding it behind his back: “Don’t you have work to do?”
Cheng Liu, whose only thought was to slack off and flirt: “…”
To distract her, Ji Chaozhou asked, “When are we going to buy the car tomorrow?”
“Whenever you’re free,” Cheng Liu replied, thinking she would have to work overtime tonight.
“Morning,” Ji Chaozhou said, his hand still behind his back.
“Okay,” Cheng Liu said, standing up and walking towards the door, then turning back to ask, “Can we…tear down the wall in our backyards?”
The wall in the front yard could stay, but she wanted to remove the one in the back.
That way, they could maintain the appearance of being neighbors, while secretly carrying on an affair.
Well, "carrying on an affair" seemed a bit negative.
But it was close enough, CEO Cheng thought. It would be quite exciting.
“No,” Ji Chaozhou said, a flat-out refusal.
“Oh,” Cheng Liu sighed, disappointed. “I’ll be going then.”
Ji Chaozhou watched her leave, then softly replied, “Mm.”
…
Forty minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Ji Chaozhou checked the security monitor. It was a food delivery driver.
After a moment’s hesitation, he opened the door and went outside.
“Mr. Ji?” The delivery driver confirmed the name and address, but the last few digits of the phone number were different.
It was Cheng Liu's number.
Ji Chaozhou took the food inside. It was a small portion, clearly only for one person. Cheng Liu wasn't planning on having dinner with him.
Just then, a WeChat message from Cheng Liu arrived: [I ordered takeout. Remember to eat.]
Having eaten the few remaining crackers in her pantry, she was now working furiously, clearing her schedule for tomorrow’s car shopping trip.
…
Early the next morning, after a few hours of sleep, Cheng Liu sprang out of bed and hurried next door.
Ji Chaozhou wasn't in his front yard, watering the flowers. As Cheng Liu entered the living room, she saw him emerging from his bedroom.
He wasn't dressed as formally as usual, wearing a simple burgundy hoodie and cream-colored trousers, more like her own style.
Cheng Liu didn't think he looked bad. Her mind was filled with a single thought: He looked so handsome. And kissable.
Their styles, for once, matched. Cheng Liu suddenly missed the entertainment reporter's photography skills, wanting him to take a photo of them together.
On their way to the car dealership, Ji Chaozhou drove, Cheng Liu, sitting in the passenger seat, asking him what kind of car he liked.
“What kind of car do you like?” Ji Chaozhou asked her instead.
He had expected her to say anything would be fine, but after a moment of silence, Cheng Liu stammered, “I like…spacious cars.”
Some people preferred larger cars, others smaller ones, but her hesitant tone suggested something else.
As they stopped at a red light, Ji Chaozhou, stepping on the brake, turned to look at her. Cheng Liu’s gaze darted around, her thoughts elsewhere.
The atmosphere in the car suddenly shifted, thick with unspoken intimacy. Ji Chaozhou pressed the button to lower the passenger side window.
As the light turned green, he stepped on the gas and drove on.
The early morning air was still chilly. Cheng Liu muttered, “It was just a thought.”
Ji Chaozhou’s lips pressed into a thin line, his ears turning red. He knew Cheng Liu was bold, but he hadn’t expected her boldness to extend to this.
The cold wind couldn’t dispel her words. Ji Chaozhou said coldly, “Don’t even think about it.”
“Okay,” Cheng Liu said, raising the window slightly, curling her legs up, trying to shield herself from the wind.
Cheng Liu didn’t relax until they reached the car dealership. They hadn’t gone to Tianqi. Before finalizing a collaboration partner, she wouldn't use a car from an S City company.
As soon as they entered the dealership, the salesperson, recognizing them, looked excited, wanting to take a photo with them.
Cheng Liu declined, smiling: “We’re here incognito today. Please keep it a secret.”
She didn’t want to be surrounded by people. They weren’t celebrities.
The salesperson nodded repeatedly, putting away his phone: “We’ve been waiting for Shenyin Technology’s autonomous driving technology. Your decision to open-source it is amazing!” He gave her a thumbs-up.
Cheng Liu smiled and nodded: “Can you show us the latest models?”
“Of course, CEO Cheng. What are your requirements? What kind of car are you looking for?” the salesperson asked.
Cheng Liu instinctively glanced at Ji Chaozhou, her hand behind her back, tugging on his sleeve. She whispered, “The passenger seat will be yours. You choose.”
Ji Chaozhou glanced at Cheng Liu, then said to the salesperson, “High chassis, spacious.”
Cheng Liu's eyes lit up. He might seem cold and aloof, but he had agreed to her earlier suggestion.
The salesperson nodded: “You two do need a spacious car. This way, please.”
As the salesperson led the way, Cheng Liu, following behind, couldn’t suppress her grin, until Ji Chaozhou glared at her.
“I wasn’t thinking anything inappropriate,” Cheng Liu said, raising her hands defensively, but a smile lingered in her eyes.
Ji Chaozhou ignored her, following the salesperson and seriously considering his options.
Due to Shenyin Technology’s autonomous driving project, Cheng Liu knew quite a bit about cars. She didn't care about the appearance, only about safety and spaciousness.
But Ji Chaozhou cared about the appearance, so they spent some time choosing.
By the time they had finished, it was already noon. The salesperson led them to the dealership's restaurant for lunch.
They had barely started eating when two people approached their table.
“CEO Cheng, are you here for research?” Li Dong, accompanying his wife to pick up her new car, had spotted Cheng Liu and Ji Chaozhou and immediately walked over with Yang Fanyu.
“Mr. Li, Ms. Yang,” Cheng Liu said, about to stand up, but Yang Fanyu stopped her.
Yang Fanyu stood across from them: “This dealership’s food is…passable.”
Cheng Liu smiled: “I’m here to buy a new car. It just happened to be lunchtime.”
“CEO Cheng, you’re finally replacing that old car of yours,” Li Dong said, looking at Cheng Liu and Ji Chaozhou. “What a coincidence. Shall we have lunch together?”
Cheng Liu glanced at Ji Chaozhou, who met her gaze, then agreed: “Okay.”
Li Dong pulled out a chair for his wife before sitting down himself.
“Ms. Yang, are you here to replace your car?” Cheng Liu asked.
“To pick up a new one,” Yang Fanyu explained. “I’ve been waiting for six months. I’ll show you later.”
Yang Fanyu had always been known for her love of cars and perfumes.
The four of them sat at the table, three of them adept at navigating social situations, the conversation flowing smoothly.
Ji Chaozhou’s gaze lingered on Cheng Liu. She was her usual, composed self, a polite smile on her face, effortlessly navigating the conversation, a stark contrast to her more expressive demeanor when they were alone.
“Ranshan and Midu are both excellent fragrances,” Yang Fanyu said, looking at Ji Chaozhou and extending her hand. “I’ve always wanted to meet the perfumer behind Midu. It’s an honor to meet you today.”
“Thank you,” Ji Chaozhou said, shaking her hand, then quickly withdrawing it.
He wasn't used to physical contact with strangers. It made him uncomfortable. He discreetly rubbed his hand against his leg, trying to erase the feeling.
He rubbed so hard his palm turned red.
Just then, a hand reached out from under the table, taking his, interlacing their fingers.
The familiar warmth of her touch made Ji Chaozhou turn to Cheng Liu, who was talking to Yang Fanyu.
“Mr. Li mentioned you liked Ranshan perfumes,” Cheng Liu said with a smile, as if she weren't the one holding Ji Chaozhou's hand under the table. “He seems to remember everything about you, Ms. Yang.”
Yang Fanyu scoffed: “He only remembers how to make me angry.” Despite her words, there was a smile in her eyes, a clear fondness for Li Dong.
“Thank you for helping me out with that live stream program,” Yang Fanyu said, raising her glass to Cheng Liu.
Li Dong, remembering the program, asked curiously, “I didn’t know you were into gardening, CEO Cheng.”
“People change,” Cheng Liu said, raising an eyebrow.
“That’s true,” Li Dong said, nodding in agreement.
Yang Fanyu looked at Ji Chaozhou, who had been mostly silent: “Does Ranshan have any plans for new fragrances? I’ve been looking forward to your next creation.”
She had met Ji Chaozhou's mother, Yun Ran, years ago. It was interesting how different they were.
Yun Ran had seemed quiet, but there had been a fire in her eyes, reflected in her perfumes, a desire to fill the world with her scent.
Ji Chaozhou…was more reserved.
His Midu was cold, aloof, almost ethereal.
But Yang Fanyu, noticing Cheng Liu’s right hand, now resting on the table, a smile playing on her lips, thought: Ji Chaozhou was changing.
She hadn't expected him to even respond to her handshake.
After lunch, Yang Fanyu showed them her new car, then they each went to pick up their own and left.
“I can’t believe Cheng Liu’s boyfriend is CEO Ji’s son,” Li Dong said, sitting in his wife’s car. He then started counting on his fingers. “If CEO Cheng becomes CEO Ji’s daughter-in-law, wouldn’t that make things a bit complicated?”
“Why do you care?” Yang Fanyu scoffed.
Li Dong immediately zipped his lips, falling silent.
After driving for a while, Yang Fanyu suddenly said, “I thought Cheng Liu and her assistant would be a good match. It seems I was mistaken.”
If He Bai had been uncomfortable with physical contact, like Ji Chaozhou, she imagined Cheng Liu would have forced him to interact with strangers constantly, instead of secretly holding his hand under the table to comfort him.
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