If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 70

Chapter 70: The Twenty-Fourth Day

Compared to the silent tension in the kitchen, the atmosphere in the backyard was even more strained.

Cheng Liu, standing on the patio, turned to Cheng Gui, whose face still showed signs of fatigue: “You lied to our parents? I actually believed you were in City A.”

Cheng Gui looked down, silent. He had to lie. Cheng Liu would find out as soon as she called home.

“What are you doing in S City?” Cheng Liu asked.

Cheng Gui hesitated, then mumbled, “None of your business.”

“I don’t even have the right to know?” Cheng Liu asked, leaning against the wall, her arms crossed. “Should I tell Mom and Dad?”

“Don’t tell them!” Cheng Gui’s voice rose sharply. “They’ll just bother you again.”

“What’s wrong with them asking me for help?” Cheng Liu lifted Cheng Gui’s chin, forcing him to look at her. “You’re my brother.”

“I don’t want your help,” Cheng Gui said, his face pale. “You run your company, I’ll find my own job. I don’t need you to be my sugar mama.”

Cheng Liu released his chin, then slapped him on the head: “What are you even thinking?”

“Mom and Dad are always asking you to help me. Do you plan to support me forever?” Cheng Gui said, turning his head away. “I might be useless, but I can take care of myself. I won’t starve.”

Back then, to afford his and his older sister’s tuition in the county, their parents had left Cheng Liu behind in the countryside to attend middle school. But the school had almost closed down after a year, and their family couldn't afford the transfer fees.

If Cheng Liu hadn’t gotten the highest score on the middle school entrance exam that year, who knew what would have happened.

Everyone thought Cheng Liu was naturally gifted, easily excelling in her studies. Even their parents believed it. They didn't consider the fact that their countryside middle school only had two teachers, one for math and Chinese, the other barely managing physics and chemistry. There wasn’t even an English teacher. The students only knew the alphabet and a few mispronounced words. Even the most gifted student wouldn't have been able to learn much in that environment.

Cheng Liu had found a neighbor whose granddaughter had just finished the middle school entrance exam and borrowed her textbooks.

She had then bought a second-hand MP3 player for eight yuan and a pair of cheap earphones from a two-yuan store. After sneaking into an internet cafe, buying a cola for a gamer next to her, and spending the entire afternoon figuring it out, she had finally managed to download English learning materials.

With these limited resources, she had studied diligently, with only three months left until the exam.

Cheng Gui knew all this because he had been with Cheng Liu that day, watching her prepare for the exam.

That was when he had realized his sister was different.

While their parents had been sighing and apologizing, Cheng Liu had already decided to take the entrance exam, gathering resources and studying diligently.

The most memorable part was that Cheng Liu had twenty yuan that day, a “huge sum” their parents had given her, feeling guilty, telling her to buy ice cream for herself and her brother.

And on their way home, she had still bought him an ice cream.

Cheng Gui was young back then. He couldn’t remember many details, but he remembered that day clearly.

When Cheng Liu received an offer from the top high school in the city, their family started receiving her scholarship money regularly, and he and his second older sister, Cheng Lixia, were also given free admission to the city school.

City schools were well-funded and competitive, always vying for top students.

Cheng Liu had attended the best high school in the city, winning every scholarship available, both official and alumni-funded.

He couldn’t remember when it had started, but their family no longer had to worry about money.

Even years later, when Cheng Gui attended the same high school, he still heard teachers mentioning Cheng Liu. Unfortunately, apart from Cheng Liu, the rest of their family was ordinary.

His second older sister had graduated from a regular university, passed the civil service exam, and become a teacher.

He had graduated six months ago and still hadn’t found his direction.

Sometimes, hearing people mention Shenyin Technology, he felt a sense of unreality.

Cheng Liu was so unlike the rest of their family.

He had wanted to call Cheng Liu when he learned about the incident at her company, but he felt it would be pointless, only a distraction, so he hadn’t contacted her.

But his sister, as always, had turned the tables and emerged victorious.

“Cheng Gui,” Cheng Liu said, frowning. “You’re the only one in the family who hasn’t settled down. It’s normal for Mom and Dad to be worried.”

“It’s not normal!” Cheng Gui shouted. “They’re relying on you. I can’t!”

Cheng Liu stood up straight, a rare flicker of anger in her eyes: “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask. Do you have a problem with our parents?”

Ji Chaozhou, carrying a dish from the kitchen, hearing Cheng Liu’s raised voice, looked towards the backyard.

He Bai, setting the table, looked up: “I’ve been working with Cheng Liu for so long, and I’ve never seen her angry.”

Ji Chaozhou put down the dish, ignoring He Bai. He didn’t go to the backyard, wanting to let them finish their conversation.

But the backyard door seemed to be open. He couldn’t hear anything from the kitchen, but now, in the living room, he could faintly hear Cheng Liu and her brother talking.

“I thought it was just teenage rebellion, you being annoyed with Mom and Dad,” Cheng Liu said. “But you still don’t want anything to do with me?”

“I have a problem with them,” Cheng Gui said, glaring at Cheng Liu. “They didn’t even want to spend money on your middle school tuition, yet they keep asking you for help? Can’t you see they’re treating you like a cash cow?”

Cheng Liu paused, then asked, puzzled, “Just because of that?”

“Isn’t that enough? Do you want them to ask you to find me a job, buy me a house?” Cheng Gui said angrily. “I might just leech off you forever!”

“…What are you even thinking?” Cheng Liu said, speechless. “The night before I decided to take the entrance exam, Mom and Dad had already borrowed money from relatives for the transfer fees. I thought it was a waste. Otherwise, how would we have had money for ice cream?”

“What?” Cheng Gui froze. “I clearly heard our neighbor say Mom and Dad didn't want you to continue studying.”

“You believed that neighbor?” Cheng Liu scoffed. “They’ve always disliked us. They just like to gossip.”

“Then why did they only take me and Second Sister to the county school, leaving you behind?” Cheng Gui had long suspected Cheng Liu wasn't their biological child.

“Oh, that,” Cheng Liu said smugly. “Because you two were too stupid. You needed a better school to enlighten you.”

Cheng Gui: “…”

“What’s your job in S City?” Cheng Liu asked, looking at him. “He Bai said you were homeless.”

Cheng Gui pointed at his name tag: “I have a job!”

“Where?” Cheng Liu asked.

“At a…” Cheng Gui’s voice trailed off. “Real estate agency.”

Cheng Liu tugged on his cheap suit jacket: “What are you wearing? Looks like something a dog threw up. And your real estate agency doesn’t seem very successful.”

“You don’t look much better,” Cheng Gui retorted, looking at Cheng Liu’s clothes. “This suit cost me three hundred yuan.”

Cheng Liu scoffed: “This hoodie cost over two hundred, the trousers over a hundred, and the socks are ten yuan a pair. I’m wearing more than you.”

Cheng Gui, exasperated: “…Isn’t that your outfit from last year?”

“So?” Cheng Liu placed her arm around his shoulders, leading him inside. “I’ll take you shopping tomorrow. And I heard there’s a food safety testing center hiring. You can go check it out.”

Cheng Gui had majored in food safety.

“Don’t pull strings for me,” Cheng Gui frowned. “I haven’t seen any job postings for testing centers.”

“It’s not pulling strings. They have a proper application process, written exam, interviews. I just saw it on a friend’s Moments,” Cheng Liu said. “It’s just another way to find opportunities. You still have to earn it yourself.”

As soon as they entered the living room, Cheng Liu, smelling the food, immediately sat down, her stomach rumbling.

This time, Cheng Gui sat beside Cheng Liu, He Bai next to Ji Chaozhou.

He Bai, serving Cheng Gui some food, said, “It’s good to talk things out. Here, eat more.”

Cheng Liu, seizing the opportunity to praise her beloved, said, “Chaozhou cooked all this. It’s definitely delicious!”

He Bai, pushing up his glasses, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, maintaining his polite smile, said, “It was a team effort.”

Ji Chaozhou didn’t serve anyone food, only Cheng Liu kept piling food onto his plate.

“Why did you think your parents were treating Cheng Liu like a cash cow?” Ji Chaozhou suddenly asked Cheng Gui.

“Huh?” Cheng Gui looked up at Ji Chaozhou, speechless. He hadn’t dared to look directly at him since arriving. Ji Chaozhou was too dazzling.

He Bai, in his expensive suit and watch, had only made Cheng Gui feel like they were from different social classes. Ji Chaozhou made him feel like they were from different worlds.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Cheng Liu interjected.

Ji Chaozhou glanced at Cheng Liu: “I want to hear his explanation.”

Both Cheng Liu and Cheng Gui instinctively put down their chopsticks, sitting up straight.

“I…I think I misunderstood,” Cheng Gui said, slightly embarrassed, explaining his earlier assumptions.

Ji Chaozhou looked at Cheng Liu. He had heard her embellished version of the story, believing that she had chosen to take the entrance exam to save money, not realizing that their family couldn’t afford the transfer fees.

Cheng Liu, across from him, didn’t seem upset. She even started bragging: “That cola sparked my interest in the internet. Shenyin Technology wouldn't exist without that gamer who shared his downloaded audio files with me. Because of him, I was able to go to the best high school in the city.”

Ji Chaozhou looked down. She was always like this.

Sometimes, he couldn't tell which of her words were true, which were embellished.

Or rather, Cheng Liu rarely lied. She simply excelled at manipulating words, omitting key information. If no one asked, she wouldn't offer an explanation.

“I visited a few car companies today. I’ll send you the information tomorrow,” He Bai said, breaking the silence.

“Send it to my email. We’ll discuss the details…” Cheng Liu thought for a moment. “…tomorrow at 4 pm.”

He Bai paused: “Are you planning to take your brother suit shopping? I know a good tailor.”

“I don’t need anything fancy,” Cheng Gui said, declining the offer. “Something simple will do.”

Cheng Liu agreed: “Just something presentable for his interview. Nothing too expensive.”

“Then I’ll come with you. I have experience with suits,” He Bai said with a smile.

Cheng Gui instinctively looked at his sister, while Cheng Liu looked expectantly at Ji Chaozhou.

“Mm,” Ji Chaozhou said, a noncommittal response, but enough for Cheng Liu to beam, happily resuming her meal.

Only Cheng Gui, sitting at the table, was confused: What did that “mm” even mean?

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T/N: Sorry for the delay; I've had some personal matters to attend to and didn't have time to schedule the chapters in advance. Rest assured, I'll stick to a consistent schedule of one or two chapters a day until this series ends.

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