If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 75

Chapter 75

Chapter 75: The Twenty-Seventh Day

The news reported that casualties were unknown, with power and communication infrastructure damaged in several cities across Z Province, and many areas unreachable.

In addition to rescue teams, communication repair crews were also dispatched, deploying mobile base stations and cable repair vehicles to ensure communication could be restored in the affected areas.

A few minutes later, the news switched to the next story.

Cheng Liu checked the weather forecast for the past fifteen days in Z Province. The continuous rainfall would undoubtedly complicate rescue efforts.

Most importantly, the affected areas were scattered across the province, each facing different challenges, from earthquakes to landslides and mudslides.

Cheng Liu sighed, then, taking Ji Chaozhou’s hand, led him back to the dining table: “Let’s eat.”

As she sat down, she called the company's finance manager, instructing them to prepare funds for purchasing supplies to be sent to the affected cities in Z Province. She also contacted He Bai, asking him to oversee the procurement and delivery.

But delivering supplies directly to the disaster areas would be challenging.

Cheng Liu tapped her phone, wondering if she should call Feng Shi. Since he was collaborating with the Z Province government, he would have reliable contacts there. But he was probably too busy to deal with her right now.

Ji Chaozhou, looking at Cheng Liu, suddenly asked, “Do you need a fleet of vehicles?”

Cheng Liu, surprised: “Can you connect with someone there?”

Ji Chaozhou, his expression calm: “Ranshan has its own fleet. We have several flower bases in Z Province. They’re familiar with the roads there.”

Ranshan, requiring various flowers and fragrance materials, had bases nationwide and maintained its own fleet. Currently, ten vehicles were stationed in S City, several of which regularly traveled to and from Z Province.

Since Ji Chaozhou had taken over Ranshan, the success of Midu had significantly increased the company’s profits, allowing them to establish bases overseas to cultivate rare fragrance materials and reduce costs in the long run.

Only large quantities of common flowers and materials were sourced from other bases.

Ranshan had previously experienced delays in material delivery due to a lack of reliable transportation, which had significantly impacted perfume production. There had also been instances of fragrance materials being contaminated during transport due to improper packaging by third-party logistics companies. To ensure timely delivery and prevent contamination, Ranshan now maintained its own fleet.

Cheng Liu, looking at Ji Chaozhou: “Then I’ll entrust Shenyin Technology’s supplies to your fleet.”

Communication would be unreliable after the disaster, and road conditions would likely be unpredictable, with usual routes impassable. Experienced drivers familiar with the area were essential.

Ji Chaozhou’s fleet was crucial for ensuring the supplies could reach the affected areas.

…

The next day, news of the disaster in Z Province had spread. Shenyin Technology had purchased the first batch of supplies overnight and, together with Ranshan, began transporting them to the affected areas.

Many other companies also started donating supplies to support the relief efforts.

But transporting the supplies was proving to be the biggest challenge.

“Our flower bases aren’t in the affected areas. All our vehicles in Z Province are heading towards the nearest airport, empty,” Ji Chaozhou said, calling Cheng Liu after confirming the situation. “Ranshan is chartering a plane to transport the supplies. Do you need anything?”

Cheng Liu, still coordinating with He Bai to procure supplies, knew that having vehicles waiting nearby would significantly expedite the process. Chartering a plane would be the fastest way to get the supplies there.

“Yes,” Cheng Liu said, then added, “Thank you.”

Ji Chaozhou, not wanting to hear her thanks, said softly, “It’s just a small detour.”

The two companies joined forces, sending a second batch of supplies to Z Province.

That day, Cheng Liu saw several updates on her Moments feed. Shenyin Technology and Ranshan had reacted quickly, their fleet delivering supplies promptly. But someone had been even faster.

By afternoon, Li Dong's supplies had almost reached the affected areas.

With Dongchu Hotels nationwide, he had connections everywhere, including employees in Z Province.

Li Dong had contacted his staff in the neighboring cities, arranging for the urgent purchase and delivery of supplies.

Communication had been difficult last night due to the signal issues. It had taken him several hours to get through. Thankfully, the supplies had arrived by this afternoon.

In addition to private donations, the first batch of official relief supplies had also arrived. But the biggest challenge remained rescuing those trapped.

Before leaving the company that afternoon, Cheng Liu called the project manager from the ninth floor.

“How are Keda Technology's rescue robots?” Cheng Liu asked.

“Not bad,” the project manager said, after a moment's thought. “Their underwater rescue robots seem quite advanced.”

“Alright, I see,” Cheng Liu said, then dismissed him.

She considered the situation, reviewed the ninth floor project files, and assessed the company’s current capabilities.

With the rescue efforts seemingly progressing smoothly, Cheng Liu didn't dwell on it, leaving the company at closing time.

Ji Chaozhou was still at the company, coordinating the delivery of the third batch of supplies. He didn't return until past 9 pm.

He parked, walked out of the garage, and looked up at the light on in the villa next door. Just as he was about to look away, Cheng Liu stepped onto the second-floor balcony.

She saw Ji Chaozhou in the front yard, smiled at him, and then went back inside.

Ji Chaozhou, for some reason, found his gaze drawn to the wall.

A minute later, Cheng Liu, having climbed over the wall using the ladder next door, landed gracefully in his yard.

With her long limbs, her movements were swift and silent, incredibly agile.

“Good evening. I’ve been waiting for you,” Cheng Liu said, walking towards Ji Chaozhou, a smile on her face.

Ji Chaozhou, looking at her, a strange feeling in his chest. Her words made him think she hadn’t just been waiting, but…missing him.

He could have delegated the logistics to someone else. He usually did when similar situations arose. But today, he had taken charge of everything himself.

He simply didn't want any problems or delays.

He wanted to make sure he could help Cheng Liu.

“The supplies from the chartered plane have been loaded onto trucks. They should arrive at the affected areas around 2 am, along with the first batch,” Ji Chaozhou said, updating Cheng Liu on the situation.

“Mm,” Cheng Liu said, her attention elsewhere, her gaze fixed on Ji Chaozhou.

She had received a call from Li Dong earlier, on the second floor, telling her about a friend who had passed away.

The friend hadn't been in the main disaster zone, just unable to evacuate in time, swept away by a mudslide and into a reservoir.

“She was still young, in her thirties,” Li Dong had said, sighing over the phone. “Always traveling for work. I only recently heard she had met someone, started planning her wedding. She was going to get married when she got back. It’s…unpredictable.”

Ji Chaozhou, avoiding Cheng Liu’s gaze, was about to turn and go inside when she took his hand.

He looked at her, surprised, as she leaned closer and kissed him.

Ji Chaozhou hesitated for a moment, then, his calm façade crumbling, he was swept away by her kiss.

Unlike their earlier hesitant kiss, this time, they were both more familiar with each other, their breaths mingling, the warmth of their touch lingering.

Cheng Liu, finally doing what she had always wanted to do, gently sucked on the small mole on his lower lip.

She had always felt that mole was inexplicably alluring.

Cheng Liu’s fingers intertwined with his, pushing his hand away, then holding it tightly.

Too close.

Ji Chaozhou felt everything around him fade away, the only thing real the soft warmth of her lips against his. Lost in the moment, he even learned to playfully tease her tongue with his own.

Like a cautious animal, testing the boundaries of a new territory, ready to retreat at the slightest sign of danger, yet, sensing no threat, venturing further, inch by inch.

In the dimly lit front yard, their shadows merged, intertwined, a silent dance of intimacy.

Until Ji Chaozhou felt Cheng Liu’s playful nibbling turn into something more forceful.

He turned his head slightly, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes, his breath slightly uneven: “…Cheng Liu!”

As they parted, his lips were red and moist, still warm from her kiss.

Cheng Liu smiled: “Chaozhou, have you ever thought about getting married?”

Ji Chaozhou, startled, his heart pounding, instinctively took a step back, about to deny it, but meeting her serious gaze, he fell silent.

“Just asking,” Cheng Liu said, as if it were a casual question. “We still have time.”

Ji Chaozhou looked at her, her anticipation evident, but he couldn’t speak, his emotions swirling within him, overwhelming.

The warmth of her touch lingered on his hand.

“Cheng Liu,” Ji Chaozhou said softly, his fingers curling, looking at her, his voice low and slow. “Wait for me.”

Wait until he could overcome his negative emotions, until he willingly handed her the shackles around his neck, until he was ready to risk everything, even a bad outcome, to be with her.

“…Okay,” Cheng Liu said.

They tacitly agreed not to mention it again.

…

Cheng Liu, lying in bed, couldn’t sleep.

They had kissed, held hands, but they weren't together.

CEO Cheng, turning over, stared at the wall, wondering how long this undefined relationship would last.

She had been too hasty today, listening to Li Dong, not wanting to waste any time.

At 3 am, still unable to sleep, she heard the doorbell.

Cheng Liu went downstairs and saw Ji Chaozhou entering.

“The supplies have reached the affected areas,” Ji Chaozhou said, his face grim. “But we’ve lost contact with all our vehicles.”

Heavy rainfall had caused another mudslide in Z Province, blocking the roads. Another earthquake had struck a different affected area, a significant tremor.

The last message from the earthquake zone reported a mudslide, burying the previously cleared roads.

Cheng Liu frowned: “I’ll ask Li Dong. His people are in the neighboring cities. They might have more information.”

Before she could call, her phone rang. It was Feng Shi.

“Cheng Liu, I’m heading to Z Province,” Feng Shi said, his voice lacking its usual sharpness, a sincere plea in his tone. “Can Shenyin provide some post-disaster rescue robots? Your technology is superior to ours in this area.”

“Yes,” Cheng Liu agreed immediately. “But I’ve reviewed the project data. Shenyin’s current rescue robots can’t handle the complex situation in Z Province, the earthquake combined with the mudslides. Unless…we collaborate.”

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