If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 73
Chapter 73: The Twenty-Sixth Day
Cheng Liu got out of the car, takeout in hand, her steps steady.
Yun Se, watching her through the car window, felt a pang of unease.
From beginning to end, she hadn’t gained the upper hand, completely led by Cheng Liu. As expected of the founder of Shenyin Technology.
Yun Se looked away. She couldn’t confront Cheng Liu, only hoping she would continue to care for Chaozhou.
…
Cheng Liu, having skillfully opened the gate next door, walked into the living room: “That restaurant’s food was quite good.”
She placed the takeout containers on the table, opening several of them. The dishes were light and not greasy, Ji Chaozhou’s preferred style.
Ji Chaozhou had received a message from Cheng Liu earlier, asking if he had eaten. He rarely ate dinner alone.
Before he could reply, she had sent another message, saying she had found some delicious food and would bring some over.
Ji Chaozhou had agreed.
He walked over to the table, standing beside Cheng Liu, glanced at the takeout containers, and asked, “Did you have dinner with Aunt Yun?”
Cheng Liu, following his gaze to the restaurant logo on the containers: “Did you two used to eat here often?”
Ji Chaozhou looked at her: “You smell of Aunt Yun’s perfume. That fragrance isn’t available commercially.”
It was a custom blend Yun Ran had created for Yun Se, a unique gift. Ranshan still produced a batch every year, specifically for Yun Se.
Cheng Liu pulled Ji Chaozhou down onto the sofa: “Eat first.”
“What did Aunt Yun want?” Ji Chaozhou asked, after sitting down.
Cheng Liu, pulling out a chair opposite him, her expression calm: “Nothing much. She just asked about you.”
She didn't mention how she had deflected Yun Se’s questions. After all, she was an elder.
“Next time…” Ji Chaozhou hesitated. “…tell me if Aunt Yun contacts you.”
Cheng Liu readily agreed: “Okay.” If Yun Se ever wanted to have dinner with her again.
Cheng Liu had already eaten at the restaurant. Now, she simply watched Ji Chaozhou eat.
She had noticed that he not only disliked eating dinner, but was also a picky eater.
A slight change in a dish's preparation could make him dislike it. He wouldn't complain, but he wouldn’t touch it again.
They were complete opposites.
CEO Cheng could eat ginger with rice.
She wasn't picky at all, as long as it wasn't poisonous.
Ji Chaozhou, across from her, seemed to survive on air, barely touching anything.
But he had been eating more recently, albeit slowly.
“Any plans for May Day?” Cheng Liu asked, resting her chin on her hand and looking at him, hoping to move their relationship forward. A trip together would be a good start.
She had learned this from the employee on the seventeenth floor, who was planning a honeymoon trip with his wife.
CEO Cheng was incredibly jealous.
Ji Chaozhou, looking at the remaining food on his plate, hesitated, then said, “…Not sure if I’ll have time.”
No rejection meant there was hope.
Cheng Liu, unfazed: “We can discuss it later. I can adjust my schedule.”
She had to arrange a meeting with CEO Ji tomorrow to discuss the collaboration.
After Ji Chaozhou had finished eating, Cheng Liu stood up to leave.
“I’ll be back after my shower. I need to apply hand cream,” Cheng Liu said, completely shameless.
She had never cared about such things before, but since that morning, applying hand cream had become a priority.
It was the only justifiable excuse to have her beloved touch her hand!
And with a bit of luck, maybe even a kiss.
CEO Cheng was already looking forward to it.
Ji Chaozhou looked at her, her intentions clear: “…”
“I’ll be going then,” Cheng Liu said, hurrying back.
After showering, enveloped in the familiar scent of bitter coffee, she returned to Ji Chaozhou’s living room, sat down on the sofa, and extended her hands, waiting.
Ji Chaozhou glanced at her, then, dipping his fingers into the celadon jar, scooped a small amount of cream, brought it to his nose, and, after a moment, gently applied it to the back of her hand.
Cheng Liu, watching his hand, her ears turning red.
She watched as he carefully rubbed the cream into her skin, then, on an impulse, she decided to replicate her morning’s move.
But Ji Chaozhou was already prepared, his hand gently covering her lower face, leaning closer, his beautiful amber eyes looking at her, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He whispered, one word at a time, “No. You. Can’t.”
Cheng Liu, smelling the faint grapefruit scent of the hand cream on his palm, a flicker of reason returning to her muddled mind.
He was doing this on purpose!
CEO Cheng, willingly led on, yet unable to kiss him, suddenly had an idea. She leaned forward and kissed his palm.
Who said a kiss on the hand wasn't a kiss?
CEO Cheng never lost.
Ji Chaozhou quickly withdrew his hand, as if burned. He looked at her, a warning in his voice: “Cheng Liu.”
“See you tomorrow!” Cheng Liu said, already running away.
Ji Chaozhou sat there, stunned. He closed the celadon jar, then looked down at his palm, his other hand gently caressing the spot where she had kissed him.
She had touched him.
Ji Chaozhou lowered his head, gently pressing his lips against his palm, the warmth of her touch still lingering.
The living room was silent, the only sound the soft whisper of his kiss against his own skin.
…
Cheng Liu, oblivious to what she had missed, energized by her small victory, worked diligently until past 1 am.
The next morning, she paid the price for her late night.
Ji Chaozhou tossed the jar at her, refusing to apply the cream: “You’re smart. You should have learned by now.”
“Oh,” Cheng Liu said, holding the celadon jar, thinking she would take it back, not use it, wait until he couldn’t stand it anymore and offered to apply it for her.
“If you’re not going to use it, don’t come over,” Ji Chaozhou said, as if reading her mind.
“I’ll definitely use it,” Cheng Liu said quickly, her mind racing. “I can even apply it for you.”
Ji Chaozhou: “…No need.”
Cheng Liu lingered for a while, then left for the company around 7:30.
…
At the company, Cheng Liu sent out the documents she had reviewed, dealt with a few project issues, then asked He Bai to schedule a meeting with Ji Mushan.
“His secretary said he’s available this afternoon,” He Bai said, entering Cheng Liu’s office.
“Then schedule it for this afternoon,” Cheng Liu said, then remembered something else. “How are the renovations on the second floor coming along?”
He Bai checked his tablet: “Almost finished. The cleaning crew has already been through, and it’s airing out now. You should be able to move in soon.”
“I know. Go schedule the meeting with Tianqi,” Cheng Liu said, returning to her work.
That afternoon, Cheng Liu and He Bai went to Tianqi headquarters.
This would be her first formal meeting with Ji Mushan. Their previous conversations had been mostly about Ji Chaozhou.
Ji Mushan had been expecting this meeting. He had been waiting for Cheng Liu.
“CEO Ji,” Cheng Liu said, walking into the meeting room, shaking his hand, and sitting down. “I’m sure you know why I’m here. Tianqi has invested heavily in autonomous driving technology these past two years, with little to show for it. Shenyin Technology’s technology is at the forefront of the industry. A collaboration between us would be mutually beneficial.”
Ji Mushan, looking at Cheng Liu, her directness leaving him no room for pleasantries: “…”
Tianqi had initially focused on developing their own autonomous driving technology, refusing any collaborations. But even a well-funded, established company like Tianqi couldn’t sustain the high R&D costs.
Some car companies had purchased existing systems, attempting to adapt them, but the resulting systems were often bloated and inefficient. Developing a new system from scratch was even more challenging, requiring significant investment.
Tianqi had initially chosen the latter approach, but the project had been halted earlier this year, the team disbanded and reassigned.
“CEO Cheng, your company recently open-sourced its technology, a great benefit to the industry,” Ji Mushan said calmly. “Tianqi has the resources to research along those lines.”
Cheng Liu smiled, a rare hint of arrogance in her eyes: “CEO Ji, do you really think your technical team can surpass Shenyin?”
“We have to try,” Ji Mushan said, his hands clasped on the table. “CEO Cheng, you’re still young. You might not realize that those who start first don’t always finish first. There are…too many risks along the way.”
Cheng Liu, unfazed, rested her elbow on the table, tapping her finger against her temple, as if suddenly remembering something: “I recall a few key members of your technical team. One of them was eliminated during the final round of interviews at Shenyin. And two others…what was it again?” She turned to He Bai.
He Bai stepped forward: “The other two submitted applications to Shenyin Technology, but were rejected during the initial screening.”
Ji Mushan looked at He Bai. He knew his parents, and he had heard of “Assistant He.” They did seem to have a good working relationship. But…
“CEO Ji, Shenyin might not be the ultimate winner, but Tianqi is unlikely to even be a contender,” Cheng Liu said, her hand on the table, her tone sincere. “Only by working together can we truly surpass the competition.”
Ji Mushan remained silent. He knew she was right.
“Most of our executives are in favor of collaborating with Shenyin Technology,” Ji Mushan said, glancing at He Bai. “But I have…personal reasons.”
Cheng Liu looked at him: “Assistant He, please excuse us.”
He Bai, surprised, but still left the room.
As soon as he left, Ji Mushan said, “You and your assistant seem quite close.”
Cheng Liu was about to agree, then, remembering that Ji Mushan was Ji Chaozhou's father, quickly changed her tone, her expression serious: “Chaozhou is the only one for me. He Bai is just my assistant. My intentions are pure.”
Ji Mushan’s face twitched: “…There’s no need to be so blunt.”
“But it’s the truth!” Cheng Liu said, raising her hand as if taking an oath.
…
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