If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 102
Extra 1
Cheng Liu had recently become very fond of posting on Moments.
After signing documents, she'd post. After having a cup of coffee, she'd post. Even having lunch in the cafeteria warranted a post.
These posts all had one thing in common: Cheng Liu's hand would inevitably be featured.
Of course, she wasn't showing off her hand, but the ring on her middle finger.
Today, after finishing work, just before leaving, she took a photo of her hand resting on the keyboard and posted it.
Soon, comments appeared. Cheng Liu, heading downstairs, opened Moments to check them.
The first comment was from Wang Hongyang: [Can you stop showing off? Just get married already!]
Wang Hongyang was getting annoyed seeing Cheng Liu constantly flaunting her engagement ring. If she had the guts, she should show off her wedding ring! She was holding his gold plaque hostage!
He now looked at Cheng Liu like an employee owed back wages looking at their carefree, happy-go-lucky boss.
Cheng Liu had all the fun; who knew what he was suffering behind the scenes?
That He Bai called him every night to dissect his unrequited love story, but Wang Hongyang had never experienced unrequited love. Relying on his looks, he had always been a playboy. Their differing perspectives inevitably led to arguments.
Wang Hongyang was truly annoyed by He Bai. He talked too much, no wonder he was Cheng Liu's assistant.
Cheng Liu: [Thanks :D]
Wang Hongyang: “…”
Cheng Liu seemed to have a problem, replying with the same phrase to every comment.
What Wang Hongyang didn't know was that CEO Cheng was also desperately eager to get married, but there were so many things to prepare: the venue, the guest list, the wedding rings.
She took the elevator down to the underground parking garage, preparing to drive to Ranshan Building.
Cheng Liu felt a bit down. She felt like Ji Chaozhou had only been passionate towards her for a few days after receiving the engagement ring, agreeing to everything she wanted to do. But after a few days, he had become increasingly distant, now going out to work every day.
She had heard that after marriage, many men grew tired of their wives, using work as an excuse to stay out late.
Could it be that Chaozhou was already tired of her?
Cheng Liu flipped open the left side mirror, checking her reflection. She wasn't ugly, even quite pretty.
Actually, ever since they got together, Ji Chaozhou had taken over her wardrobe and styling, her appearance significantly improving.
She felt like she had become even more attractive.
CEO Cheng sighed inwardly. She was already experiencing a mid-marriage crisis, even though they weren’t even married yet!
Today, she decided to leave work early and go find Ji Chaozhou.
She had even specially ordered roses!
Sixty-six of them, representing herself, a gift to Ji Chaozhou.
Cheng Liu thought it was very romantic.
…
After arriving at Ranshan Building, Cheng Liu got out of the car, holding the roses, preparing to go inside and find Ji Chaozhou, when a large truck drove out.
A truck full of roses.
Cheng Liu: “…”
As the truck passed through the gate, the driver lowered the window, talking to the security guard.
“Why aren't they unloading them?”
“These roses didn’t meet our standards. They’re all being discarded.”
Cheng Liu looked down at the roses in her arms, then at the truckload of even more vibrant, beautiful roses, and suddenly fell silent.
She had almost forgotten what Ji Chaozhou did. He probably saw all kinds of flowers every day and was tired of them.
The roses in her hands suddenly felt heavy.
Cheng Liu hesitated for a while, then continued towards the building, still holding the roses.
She had been here once before. The security guard recognized her and let her in without any trouble.
…
Ji Chaozhou was still working in the second-floor lab. He had finalized the formula for his new fragrance.
That morning, by the pool, after Cheng Liu had put the engagement ring on his finger and pulled him into the water, he had finally realized what he wanted the final scent to be.
He had spent the past few days blending and perfecting the fragrance, wanting it ready before their wedding.
As he waited for the perfume to settle, Ji Chaozhou looked down at the ring on his left middle finger, a gentle smile appearing in his eyes, restrained yet warm.
After a moment, he raised his hand, his lips gently touching the ring, as if kissing the person who had put it there.
He missed her.
Even though they saw each other every night.
Ji Chaozhou looked up, putting his hand down, opening Cheng Liu's WeChat profile. He saw her new Moments post.
He didn't like the post, afraid of drawing her attention, but just looking at it made him smile.
Just then, Cheng Liu arrived outside the lab. Through the glass, she saw Ji Chaozhou looking at his phone, smiling, and her heart sank.
Who was he messaging? And why was he smiling so warmly?
Had he truly changed his mind?!
But Cheng Liu couldn't imagine who Ji Chaozhou would like. The closest female acquaintance he had was Yun Fei, but Yun Fei wouldn't dare provoke her now, busy filming, seemingly pouring all her energy into her work.
Perhaps sensing Cheng Liu’s resentful gaze, Ji Chaozhou looked up, seeing her, and put his phone down.
CEO Cheng’s heart ached even more: He was clearly feeling guilty!
Ji Chaozhou, unaware of her thoughts, seeing her, quickly walked out. Realizing he was being a bit too eager, he slowed down, his expression calm: “Why are you here?”
The person he had been missing had suddenly appeared before him, and Ji Chaozhou could barely contain his joy.
CEO Cheng, hearing his words, felt incredibly wronged: “You don’t want me here?”
Had he grown tired of her so quickly?!
She forcefully thrust the roses into his arms, her voice stiff: “Here. For you. Although they’re not as beautiful as the roses at your company.”
Ji Chaozhou, startled, looked down at the roses, then up at Cheng Liu, a smile appearing in his eyes: “Are you…angry?”
He had rarely seen her angry. It was a novel experience.
“No,” Cheng Liu said, still acting tough, but seeing his beautiful smile, her mind wandered. She couldn’t deny that those first few days after he had received the ring had been the happiest of her life.
He had agreed to everything she wanted to try, every location.
Unlike now, returning home for days, only able to hug and kiss him before going to bed!
CEO Cheng grew increasingly unhappy. Could it be because she was always thinking about…those things?
But he clearly enjoyed them too.
Ji Chaozhou, his eyes gentle, holding the roses, leaned closer, kissing Cheng Liu softly on the corner of her mouth: “I missed you.”
“!”
Cheng Liu felt like her breath had been stolen away.
A single kiss from her beloved was enough to dispel all her earlier negative emotions.
“I missed you too,” Cheng Liu replied enthusiastically, then, remembering her earlier suspicions, asked, “Who were you messaging just now?”
Ji Chaozhou, looking at her, understanding her thoughts, “I was about to ask you what you wanted for dinner.”
So, he had been about to message her! CEO Cheng was completely revitalized.
Ji Chaozhou, holding the roses, pulled Cheng Liu over to the bench outside the lab. He looked down at the flowers.
He had seen countless flowers, all kinds of roses, but he had never found ordinary red roses so captivating.
He gently touched a petal, its smooth, cool surface sending a thrill through him, a smile unconsciously appearing on his lips.
Cheng Liu, sitting beside him, suddenly realized his smile now was the same as the one she had seen earlier, when he had been looking at his phone.
Her heart skipped a beat. Ji Chaozhou was usually so reserved. Seeing him express his affection, even subtly, always made her incredibly happy.
“Chaozhou,” Cheng Liu called his name.
Ji Chaozhou turned to look at her, and before he could react, she leaned closer, kissing him. He didn't move, letting her kiss him.
Even though they were both familiar with kissing, the feeling of their lips touching, their tongues entwining, always sent shivers down his spine.
Cheng Liu reached for his hand, the one holding the roses, their fingers intertwining.
…
After they separated, Cheng Liu’s eyes sparkled, while Ji Chaozhou’s were hazy, as if covered in a thin layer of mist, but the joy and longing in them were unmistakable.
Even though he was with her now, he still missed her, wanted to be closer, to be completely open with her.
But Cheng Liu had already shifted her focus, her curiosity piqued. She wanted to know what he had been busy with lately.
Ji Chaozhou, masking his slight disappointment, stood up, taking her hand and leading her into the lab.
He placed the roses on the table, carefully bottled the settled perfume, sprayed some on a test strip, and handed it to Cheng Liu: “This is the new fragrance.”
He wanted her to be the first to smell it.
Cheng Liu took the test strip. She didn't know much about perfume, but scent was a universal language.
At first, she smelled a coldness, like ice, but then, a subtle bitterness. Then, the bitterness mixed with a sourness, like a freshly peeled grapefruit.
The fragrance, like a grapefruit, unfolded slowly over time.
Cheng Liu noticed the scent changing, the sourness turning bitter, like hesitation, layers of invisible shackles, making one want to retreat, to give up exploring.
The bitterness intensified, reaching a peak, then suddenly shifting, a hint of sweetness emerging, so faint it almost seemed like an illusion.
Yet, it sparked her curiosity, making her want to smell it again, to confirm it wasn't just her imagination.
Cheng Liu sniffed again, and indeed, she smelled a very faint sweetness, mixed with the lingering bitterness.
The scent was complex yet clear.
It evoked emotions, mirroring the fragrance’s evolution.
Bitterness mixed with sweetness, a lingering hint of sorrow.
Just as Cheng Liu, frowning, thought this was the end, the scent changed again. A watery sweetness spread, engulfing the bitterness and sourness.
The final note was a watery sweetness, a clear, sweet aftertaste.
Yet, the earlier complexity, the bitterness and sourness, lingered, making one want to savor it.
This perfume…
Cheng Liu, holding the test strip, couldn't quite grasp it. She looked up at Ji Chaozhou. For some reason, the fragrance reminded her of him.
“What’s it called?” Cheng Liu asked.
Ji Chaozhou, looking down at the perfume bottle, “…Bitter Departure.”
He had poured himself into this fragrance, every emotion he had experienced since meeting Cheng Liu.
If one stopped at the beginning, only bitterness and sourness remained. But at the end, the faint sweetness spread, engulfing all the previous notes.
—Because he had found her, the bitterness had finally departed.
Aww stalppp
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