If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 105
Extra 4: One More Time
Two years later.
Ranshan Bitter Departure had become another classic fragrance. With three successful perfumes, Ranshan had solidified its reputation in the industry.
Not to mention their collaboration with Shenyin Technology on a car fragrance.
Since Shenyin Technology perfected its autonomous driving technology and co-developed self-driving cars with Tianqi, gradually introducing them to the market, Shenyin’s reputation had soared once again.
Now, any company that collaborated with Shenyin Technology saw a surge in its stock price.
After the successful development of self-driving cars, the next step was market entry. Cheng Liu, however, delegated this task to He Bai.
Yesterday, He Bai had returned to S City, first reporting to Cheng Liu, then inviting her to dinner tonight. He had already made reservations.
Cheng Liu hadn't refused. He Bai had been working tirelessly this past year, expanding the market. Even if he hadn't invited her, she would have treated him to dinner.
Ji Chaozhou knew about this. Cheng Liu never kept anything from him.
Yet, Ji Chaozhou still felt a subtle unease. He didn’t like Cheng Liu spending time and energy on other people.
But it was only a subtle unease. He could still control his emotions, not wanting to upset Cheng Liu.
Afraid she might see through him, Ji Chaozhou had woken up early this morning, before she did.
He got out of bed, walking to the bathroom and standing before the mirror.
The young man in the mirror seemed even more refined than two years ago, less cold and distant.
Having spent the past two years with Cheng Liu, his life so fulfilling, Ji Chaozhou's features had softened, like a piece of cold jade submerged in sunlight, emitting a gentle warmth.
Even though he didn't like Cheng Liu having dinner plans with He Bai, the thought of her still brought a smile to his lips.
Ji Chaozhou had initially planned to go straight to Ranshan to work, avoiding Cheng Liu, trying to suppress his unreasonable possessiveness. But as he reached the door, he turned back.
He hadn’t even left yet, and he already missed her.
He returned to the bedroom, sitting down beside the bed. Cheng Liu was still asleep. She always slept hot, the blanket only covering her waist, the rest pushed aside.
Two years…
Ji Chaozhou lay down beside her, quietly watching her sleep. He remembered every moment they had spent together, every detail.
Even though they were together day and night, it still wasn't enough. He wanted to see her every moment, wanted her eyes only for him.
His fingertips gently traced her lips, his eyes filled with a deep infatuation.
Over the past two years, apart from necessary work at the company, Cheng Liu had dedicated most of her time to him. They had traveled to many places.
Actually, Ji Chaozhou preferred staying at the villa, the quiet intimacy, undisturbed. He could hold her, and she would lose herself in his embrace.
But she liked going out, so he went with her.
Just lying beside her, watching her sleep, filled him with joy. He whispered her name, his voice soft, almost a lover’s murmur, “Cheng Liu…”
As soon as he spoke, he regretted it, quickly pulling his hand back.
Cheng Liu was a light sleeper. His voice, as expected, woke her up.
“You’re awake?” Cheng Liu, frowning slightly, opened her eyes, looking at him, instinctively reaching out and placing her hand on his chest, smiling.
Ji Chaozhou moved closer, “Mm,” he replied, their faces inches apart.
“Did you change?” Cheng Liu asked, noticing he wasn’t wearing his pajamas. “Do you have something at the company today?”
Ji Chaozhou, going along with her assumption, nodded, “I have to go to Ranshan.”
Cheng Liu turned to look at the alarm clock, then sat up abruptly, “So early?”
“I have some things to take care of,” Ji Chaozhou said, not wanting to tell her he was simply giving her space, avoiding her, trying to suppress his irrational possessiveness.
Cheng Liu got out of bed, rummaging through her clothes, “I’ll have breakfast with you. I heard there’s a new breakfast place nearby that’s quite good.”
After they got married, Ji Chaozhou’s aversion to food had become more apparent. Cheng Liu, wanting him to eat properly, always accompanied him whenever she had time.
“I saw that outfit yesterday. Where is it?” Cheng Liu said, still searching through her wardrobe. The clothes she bought often disappeared, only the ones Ji Chaozhou chose for her remaining.
Ji Chaozhou got out of bed, standing behind her, reaching over her shoulder to retrieve an outfit from the wardrobe, “You can wear this today.”
Cheng Liu took the clothes and started changing. Ji Chaozhou, looking down, helped her button her shirt. They moved with a practiced ease, an intimate, familiar routine.
Ji Chaozhou liked starting each day like this. It gave him a clear sense of their relationship.
—They were husband and wife.
Perhaps because their life together had been so perfect these past two years, sometimes he still wondered if it was all a dream.
“I’m going to wash up. Wait for me,” Cheng Liu said.
“Okay,” he replied.
Cheng Liu hurried to the bathroom. When she came out, Ji Chaozhou was waiting for her downstairs.
He sat quietly on the sofa. Despite his tall, elegant figure and naturally aloof demeanor, Cheng Liu found him strangely…docile.
“When will you be back?” Cheng Liu asked, coming downstairs, holding out her hand to him.
Ji Chaozhou looked up, placing his hand in hers, letting her pull him up, “…Probably late.”
He didn’t want to be alone at home, waiting for her dinner with He Bai to end. It would only amplify his possessiveness.
They had breakfast together before Ji Chaozhou left for Ranshan Building.
There was indeed work to be done at Ranshan. Ji Chaozhou immersed himself in it, trying to distract himself from imagining Cheng Liu and He Bai together.
He knew there was nothing between them, but jealousy and possessiveness weren’t always rational. He could only try not to dwell on it.
But even with a mountain of work, he was still finished by 8 pm. He tried working in the lab, blending fragrances, but ended up breaking a test tube.
He cleaned up the broken glass, washing his hands at the sink.
Ji Chaozhou turned off the faucet, looking down at his hands, then slowly pulling up his left sleeve. The scars on his forearm were gone. He had had them removed last year.
Cheng Liu liked touching him. He wanted her to have a better experience, not to feel the unevenness of his scars.
She should be having dinner with He Bai now.
He didn’t understand the intricacies of Shenyin Technology. Cheng Liu rarely talked about work when she came home, unlike He Bai, who could go to the branch office, helping her expand the business.
Ji Chaozhou found it hard to control his emotions. Sometimes, love made him feel insecure.
He sat on the high chair in the lab, opening their photo album on his phone. They had traveled to many places these past two years, leaving behind many memories.
He slowly scrolled through the photos, his lips, initially pressed into a thin line, gradually curving into a smile. In every photo, Cheng Liu was smiling. She was happy.
His finger paused on a particular photo.
It was taken at the snow mountain villa, heavy snow falling outside the large window, the two of them lying on the soft carpet, a warm fireplace beside them.
It was from their honeymoon, two years ago.
Ji Chaozhou remembered their passionate nights in that villa, the snow falling outside, as if they were the only two people in the world, nothing else to disturb them.
He continued scrolling through their honeymoon photos, then suddenly noticed some were locked in a private album, requiring a password.
Ji Chaozhou frowned. He had never set a password on his phone.
If it wasn't him, then it must have been Cheng Liu.
He stared at the password prompt, trying a series of sixes, but it was incorrect. He hesitated, then tried Cheng Liu’s birthday. Still incorrect.
Finally, he tried his own birthday. An unfamiliar yet familiar photo appeared.
He had never seen this photo before. He hadn’t taken it, but the person in the photo was him.
It was a close-up of his upper body. He was lying on a soft, long-haired carpet, his body sinking into the creamy white fur, as if enveloped by a soft cloud. His usually pale skin was flushed, his face turned slightly to the side, his left hand resting on his forehead, his brow slightly furrowed, his lips red, the tendons in his neck visible from his suppressed arousal.
The photo seemed to reveal nothing, yet everything.
Ji Chaozhou blushed, remembering the moment, what he had been doing.
Cheng Liu had taken this photo with his phone.
There were a dozen or so photos in the private album. Ji Chaozhou flipped through them. The backgrounds were all from their honeymoon trip, and he was the only person in them.
The photos were suggestive, the most revealing one being the one on the carpet, his upper body bare, but each one captured a moment of intimacy, his desire on display.
Ji Chaozhou closed the album, not wanting to see any more. He placed his phone face down on the table, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement. He had no memory of her taking these photos…he must have been too preoccupied at the time.
Before he could take his hand off the phone, it vibrated. He picked it up. It was Cheng Liu.
He froze for a moment, then answered, “Are you done?”
“We still have some things to discuss. I’m in the restroom,” Cheng Liu said, then sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Chaozhou asked, standing up, his voice filled with concern.
Cheng Liu laughed, “I miss you.”
Ji Chaozhou froze, his heart swelling with happiness.
“I haven’t even seen you for a day, and I already miss you,” Cheng Liu continued.
“I…miss you too,” Ji Chaozhou replied.
“Really?” Cheng Liu’s happy voice came through the phone. “That’s good. I was starting to think I was a bit…obsessive.”
Ji Chaozhou, his finger tracing the edge of his phone, remembering the private album, “Are you sure it’s just ‘a bit’?”
“What?” Cheng Liu asked, confused. She hadn’t expected him to think she was obsessive.
“Nothing,” Ji Chaozhou said, looking down, then called her name, “Cheng Liu…”
“Mm,” she replied, waiting for him to continue.
Ji Chaozhou, his voice soft, “I want to go back to Snow City.”
“Then let’s go,” Cheng Liu said, agreeing without hesitation. She even added, “If you like it that much, we can go every year.”
“Okay,” he replied.
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