If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 104
Extra 3: I Have a Home
Many guests attended the wedding, mostly invited by Cheng Liu. Although Ji Mushan knew many people, his relationship with Ji Chaozhou was strained, far from a typical father-son relationship.
Therefore, the Ji family hadn't invited many guests, only Yun Se, a few Ranshan managers and perfumers.
Ji Mushan sat below, watching the couple exchange rings, his heart filled with emotion. He hadn’t seen Chaozhou smile like this in a long time.
Yun Se, beside him, had specially worn her favorite cheongsam, although her frail body could no longer fill it out properly. As the couple exchanged their first kiss as husband and wife, Yun Se joined in the applause, her eyes slightly red.
She had initially thought Chaozhou might remain alone forever, but at least now, he had someone by his side.
Perhaps no one knew what the future held, but at this moment, everyone’s hearts were filled with blessings for the newlyweds.
Even Yun Fei, still harboring some resentment, couldn’t deny that Cheng Liu and Ji Chaozhou looked perfect together.
…
As the newlyweds came down from the stage, Wang Hongyang, holding his gold plaque, seized the opportunity for a photo with them.
Cheng Liu went to change into a more comfortable dress. When she came out, Ji Chaozhou was waiting for her at the door.
They began making their rounds, toasting each table.
The Cheng family and Ji Mushan were seated at adjacent tables. Ji Chaozhou went to them first, Cheng Liu following, toasting them.
With her own family, there was no need for formality, not that Cheng Liu had ever been very formal.
“Sister, brother-in-law, congratulations!” Cheng Gui stood up, clinking glasses with them. He was now working at the food testing agency, his spirits much higher than before.
Cheng Lixia also stood up, toasting them, calling Ji Chaozhou "brother-in-law."
Ji Chaozhou nodded. He wasn't quite used to the title, but he liked it. It gave him a sense of belonging.
“Cheers!” Cheng Liu, in high spirits, finished her drink in one gulp after toasting her siblings. Her parents couldn't stop her.
“There are so many guests. If you finish every glass, how much will you end up drinking? Drink less,” her mother whispered, shaking her head.
Cheng Liu, looking smug, “I can hold my liquor. I don't get drunk easily.”
After toasting their family, she pulled Ji Chaozhou towards Ji Mushan and Yun Se.
“You got drunk twice in April,” Ji Chaozhou whispered, reminding the overly confident Cheng Liu.
Cheng Liu felt a pang of guilt. She had been holding his hand, and hearing his words, she discreetly tickled his palm with her thumb, a subtle act of coquetry.
Ji Chaozhou tried to suppress his smile, but his eyes still crinkled at the corners. He couldn’t resist her like this.
They reached the next table. Cheng Liu stepped forward, addressing them, “Dad, Aunt Yun.”
Her tone was so natural and affectionate, as if she had called them that countless times, that Ji Mushan felt a bit awkward, only managing a mumbled response.
“Dad, would you like to come over for dinner in a few days?” Cheng Liu asked.
Ji Mushan instinctively looked at Ji Chaozhou, “…To your villa?”
“Yes,” Cheng Liu said, turning to look at Ji Chaozhou. He had agreed to this.
Seeing this, Ji Mushan, his heart filled with emotion, readily agreed, “Yes, of course. I’ll definitely be there.”
Yun Fei, sitting beside them, her lips twitching, Cheng Liu truly had a natural talent for socializing, calling him “Dad” so smoothly. No wonder she was so successful.
“This is our wedding gift to you.” Yun Se gestured for Yun Fei to bring over a document. It was a will, dividing her assets into two equal shares, one for Yun Fei, the other for Ji Chaozhou. “Aunt Yun doesn’t have much else to offer, only this.”
Ji Chaozhou took the document, but before he could open it, Yun Se stopped him, “Read it when you get back.”
Seeing a will at a wedding wasn't auspicious.
Ji Chaozhou put it away.
“Take care of each other,” Yun Se said, her eyes red. “Communicate openly, don’t keep things bottled up.”
“Okay,” Ji Chaozhou agreed.
“Today is your wedding day. Be happy.” Yun Se raised her glass towards Cheng Liu. “You too.”
“Okay, Aunt Yun,” Cheng Liu said, clinking glasses with her and finishing her drink.
Ji Chaozhou also finished his drink. After toasting Yun Se, he refilled his glass, raising it towards Ji Mushan, a silent toast.
Ji Mushan froze for a moment, then quickly raised his glass, clinking it against his son’s.
The crisp sound of clinking glasses seemed to symbolize a thaw in their relationship.
Ji Mushan watched as Cheng Liu and Ji Chaozhou walked away, a sense of melancholy washing over him. He had once been this happy, but he had destroyed it with his own hands.
Cheng Liu had been right. He hadn’t just been busy, he had been avoiding Yun Ran.
He had known she needed reassurance, but he had felt suffocated by her possessiveness, subconsciously pouring all his energy into work.
Had he loved Yun Ran?
Yes, even now, his feelings hadn’t diminished, but it hadn't been enough. He had loved her, but he hadn’t wanted his entire world to revolve around her.
Ji Mushan admitted he was just an ordinary man. Too much affection made him feel suffocated, Yun Ran's possessiveness leaving him gasping for air.
Perhaps Chaozhou had seen through his cowardice, his tendency to avoid difficult situations, and that was why, after Yun Ran’s death, their relationship had deteriorated.
Ji Mushan poured himself another drink. The wind ruffled his hair, revealing a few strands of gray, a hint of weariness in his eyes. He sat amidst the lively wedding celebration, yet a sense of loneliness surrounded him.
The person he had loved most deeply…was gone.
…
As Cheng Liu reached the table where the witnesses were seated, a group of her business partners stood up, wanting to drink with Ji Chaozhou.
“I never thought Cheng Liu would actually get married. You’re truly something, Ji.”
“Earlier this year, we were still betting on when she’d finally come to her senses. She never understood what we were bragging about, hahaha.”
“Look at how happy and smug she is now. Who would have thought she used to be such a workaholic.”
These middle-aged business partners, Cheng Liu’s closest friends, the same ones who had gotten her drunk earlier, surrounded Ji Chaozhou, talking and drinking with him.
Ji Chaozhou accepted every drink offered, glancing at Cheng Liu, surrounded by Li Dong, Feng Shi, and the others. He wasn't the only one happy today.
From the moment he had woken up, his heart had been pounding, only his usual calm demeanor masking his excitement.
Sometimes, he wondered if he was living in a dream, afraid he would wake up and everything would vanish.
The noise and chatter around him, perhaps, were a reminder that this was real.
At another table, Cheng Liu was cornered by Feng Shi.
“One glass isn't enough. I know you can drink more.” Feng Shi grabbed two bottles of red wine, handing one to Cheng Liu. “Drink this!”
Perhaps it was their shared experience in the Z Province disaster zone, but Feng Shi no longer disliked Cheng Liu as much. He even admired her a little.
Feng Shi finished his bottle after toasting Cheng Liu, while she only poured herself a glass.
“Why aren't you drinking straight from the bottle?” Feng Shi asked, pausing for breath.
“It's my wedding day. I don’t want to get drunk.” Cheng Liu clinked her glass against his bottle. “Feel free, Mr. Feng.”
Feng Shi scoffed: “I just don’t understand you lovey-dovey types. I’ll only ever marry my work.”
“Noble goal, Mr. Feng,” Cheng Liu said, taking a sip of wine, leaning closer to Feng Shi, her voice low, provocative, “But Shenyin hasn’t given up on the private sector for rescue robots.”
Feng Shi choked, but maintained his composure: “May the best company win.”
Although both companies were involved in rescue robot development, their strengths differed. Moreover, having experienced the disaster relief efforts together, they both knew what truly mattered.
“To fair competition,” Cheng Liu said, raising her glass again, smiling.
“To fair competition,” Feng Shi replied, smiling back, a competitive glint in his eyes.
Cheng Liu finished her wine, walking over to He Bai, who had been silently observing, raising an eyebrow, “Why are you just standing there?”
He Bai felt a pang of bitterness. Even though he had told himself to let go, some things weren’t so easily controlled.
He pushed up his glasses, raising his glass, “Congratulations, Senior.”
Cheng Liu clinked her glass against his, “Are you getting used to the new job?”
“It's a bit unfamiliar, but I'm managing,” He Bai replied.
“Wang Kunxiao is a diligent man, but he lacks tact,” Cheng Liu said, twirling her wine glass, reminding He Bai. “You’ll need to be more careful.”
Wang Kunxiao was the person from the G Province car company who had dealt with Cheng Liu before. She had later recruited him, and he was now working with He Bai to establish a new branch.
“Yes,” He Bai replied instinctively.
He Bai had always been competent. Cheng Liu had nothing else to add, preparing to find Ji Chaozhou.
Just then, He Bai stopped her, “Senior, there's something I want to tell you.”
Cheng Liu turned around, surprised, “What is it?”
He Bai gripped his wine glass tightly, “Ji Chaozhou was also at the cruise ship that night.”
“Mm.”
He Bai, thinking she hadn’t understood, hesitated, then explained, “You probably mistook Ji Chaozhou for Wang Hongyang on the cruise ship.”
“I know,” Cheng Liu said.
He Bai froze.
Cheng Liu pointed at Wang Hongyang, sitting on the steps, holding his gold plaque, “Why do you think he got my gold plaque?”
He Bai turned to look at Wang Hongyang. He had seen the inscription on the plaque earlier, simply assumed Cheng Liu and Ji Chaozhou had also consulted him.
“I saw that photo,” Cheng Liu said, turning back to He Bai, smiling. “Mistook him once six months ago, mistook him again six months later. Two wrongs make a right.”
He Bai fell silent. He knew who had given her the photo.
“The food today is quite good. You should try some,” Cheng Liu said, not continuing the topic, turning to find Ji Chaozhou.
…
Cheng Liu had intentionally paced herself, not wanting to get drunk, but in the end, it was Ji Chaozhou who ended up intoxicated.
“Let’s go back to our room,” Cheng Liu said, supporting him as they walked towards the hotel suite, helping him lie down on the bed.
Ji Chaozhou, lying there, suddenly reached out, pulling Cheng Liu down towards him, his fingertips gently touching her face, his amber eyes hazy, like the glow of dawn, whispering, “I…have a home now, with Cheng Liu.”
—His Cheng Liu.
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