If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 80
Chapter 80: The Twenty-Ninth Day
“Yes, I’m Cheng Liu,” Cheng Liu said, keeping the young woman's attention.
The young woman’s drooping eyes opened wide, a spark of life returning to her pale face: “Are you…Cheng Liu from Shenyin?”
The doctor, watching the monitor, signaled for Cheng Liu to keep her talking.
Cheng Liu, looking at the young woman on the screen: “Yes, do you know me?”
The young woman smiled: “I saw your live stream.”
“The press conference or the program?” Cheng Liu asked, keeping her engaged.
“Both,” the young woman said, sniffing slightly. She was cold, but she didn’t mention it. “But I first saw you on the program. That outfit looked good on you. My friend sent me the link. She said you were the CEO of a big company.”
The young woman smiled, as if remembering something amusing: “I thought she was lying. I thought you were an actress playing a CEO on TV.”
“And then?” Cheng Liu asked.
“And then…” the young woman said, blinking, trying to stay awake, “then I found out you’re the founder of Shenyin Technology. You’re amazing.”
Cheng Liu smiled: “I can give you a tour of Shenyin Technology when you get out.”
The young woman shook her head slightly: “I don’t want that.”
“Then what do you want? Tell me when you’re out,” Cheng Liu said seriously.
The young woman, looking at the camera, her eyes bright despite her pale face: “Are you and that genius perfumer, Ji Chaozhou, a couple? He’s more handsome than any idol I’ve ever liked.”
The doctor, standing beside Cheng Liu, was speechless. Of all the things she could ask, this was her priority?
Cheng Liu, raising an eyebrow, agreeing with her: “I think he’s the most handsome too.”
“You two look good together,” the young woman said, then, leaning closer to the camera, “Do you like him?”
Cheng Liu hesitated: “He doesn’t want my affection.”
The young woman’s eyes widened, her voice rising: “Why?! You’re perfect together!”
She looked like a fan who had just heard their favorite couple had broken up.
Cheng Liu, certain: “We’re going to get married.”
“Huh?” The young woman was stunned, not quite following the logic.
Her muddled mind struggled to comprehend. Why would he not want her affection, and yet they were getting married?
“You can attend our wedding when you get out. Be a witness,” Cheng Liu said. “Would you like to come?”
A spark of hope ignited in the young woman's eyes: “Yes! I want to! Wait for me!”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you,” Cheng Liu said, smiling.
While they were talking, the rescue workers, having cleared a path, were now close to the young woman. Everyone’s spirits lifted, their movements swift yet careful, as they removed the debris.
Just as the young woman agreed to be Cheng Liu’s wedding witness, the rescue workers finally reached her.
They lowered a stretcher, two workers climbing down to remove the large piece of debris trapping her legs before securing her to the stretcher and slowly lifting her out.
“Close your eyes.”
Someone shouted, another person removing their raincoat and covering the young woman’s head. More raincoats were passed down, covering her upper body and her mangled legs.
Cheng Liu, having watched as they freed the young woman, now walked towards the rescue team, watching as they lowered the stretcher. She stepped forward, taking the young woman's outstretched hand: “I’m Cheng Liu.”
“It’s really you,” the young woman said, her voice weak, muffled by the raincoats, but she persisted, “Were you…lying earlier?”
Cheng Liu, holding her hand: “I wasn’t lying.”
The young woman, smiling, released Cheng Liu’s hand: “I’ll remember.”
In the light rain, Cheng Liu watched as the stretcher was carried away, then turned back, seeing the rescue workers above, still clearing the debris, passing it down by hand. Powerful floodlights illuminated the scene, the devastation stark and clear.
…
All the rescue robots from Keda and Shenyin were deployed. Three of them malfunctioned, but no one cared about the cost. Every life mattered.
The robots continued their search until afternoon, covering the entire area.
He Bai wiped his face, trying to stay awake. He was covered in mud and debris.
Cheng Liu opened a bottle of water: “Here.”
“Thanks,” He Bai said, taking the bottle. His glasses were covered in mud, his fingernails broken and bleeding. In this environment, it was hard not to be affected. Everyone was exhausted, pushing themselves to their limits.
“Go get some rest. Someone will take you to another location in two hours,” the rescue team leader said, walking over.
Cheng Liu closed her laptop, looking at He Bai: “Go clean up and get some rest.”
They were led to a resting area. Cheng Liu couldn't sleep. She stood outside the tent and called Ji Chaozhou.
The phone rang a few times, then he answered, as if he had been waiting.
“Have you eaten?” Cheng Liu asked, her usual greeting.
“Mm,” Ji Chaozhou replied calmly. He hadn't had time to send her the photos yet.
Cheng Liu, looking down at the muddy ground, told him about the situation: “We’re searching for survivors. We should be able to cover the entire area tomorrow.”
“How many times will you search?” Ji Chaozhou asked softly.
Cheng Liu explained: “Probably two more times. We have to make sure there are no survivors before they bring in the heavy machinery.”
Ji Chaozhou paused, then asked, “When are you coming back?”
“After the final search tomorrow,” Cheng Liu said. She couldn't stay here too long. The company needed her. “We’ve already trained the military personnel on how to operate the robots. The Shenyin and Keda engineers will also be staying behind.”
Ji Chaozhou opened his mouth to speak several times, but in the end, only managed a soft “mm.”
They held their phones, neither speaking, simply listening to each other’s breaths, a shared moment of peace.
Ten minutes later, Cheng Liu spoke again, a smile in her voice: “I rescued a young woman earlier. She said you’re more handsome than any idol she’s ever liked. I agree.”
Ji Chaozhou, having just walked into his front yard, standing beside the two grapefruit saplings, his voice cold: “Cheng Liu.” A warning.
But Cheng Liu knew he wasn’t truly angry.
“I want to eat your cooking when I get back,” Cheng Liu said, pushing her luck.
Ji Chaozhou, touching the leaves of a sapling: “…What do you want to eat?”
“Anything,” Cheng Liu said cheerfully. “With meat, preferably.”
“Mm,” Ji Chaozhou said softly, agreeing.
He could hear the change in her tone.
She wasn’t happy.
…
Two hours later, the teams moved to another location, continuing the search.
Cheng Liu was no longer controlling the robots directly, instead guiding the military personnel, observing the data on the screen.
They were experts as well, quickly learning how to operate the system.
He Bai, no longer participating in the digging and clearing, stood beside her, organizing and summarizing the documents sent from the company.
The blocked roads had been cleared, and a new batch of specialized rescue teams had arrived, quickly taking over the operation of the robots.
By 2 am, Cheng Liu’s guidance was no longer needed.
“Cheng Liu, it’s time for you to go back,” Feng Shi said, walking over.
“I’ll leave two of our engineers here. They can handle any problems with the robots,” Cheng Liu said, pointing at the project manager and Zou Pan.
“Don’t worry, they’ll be safe here,” Feng Shi assured her.
Cheng Liu turned to He Bai: “Let’s go.”
They packed their luggage. A soldier escorted them to the helicopter.
He Bai walked slowly, his mind still reeling from everything he had seen.
“He Bai!”
As they crossed the temporary square, Cheng Liu, noticing he had fallen behind, turned around to call him, then saw a pile of supplies collapse behind him.
She quickly ran over and pulled him away.
But a large crate still fell on his foot.
A sharp pain shot through him, his face turning pale, but he stared at Cheng Liu.
Her eyes were filled with a clear anger.
He Bai, instinctively, gave a weak smile: This was the first time she had shown such strong emotion towards him.
The soldier, noticing the commotion, rushed over, removed the crate, and called for a doctor.
He Bai, looking down at his foot: “I’m fine.”
The anger in Cheng Liu’s eyes had vanished. She knew why he had been distracted, and she couldn’t blame him. She was also suppressing her own emotions.
“Let’s have it checked,” Cheng Liu said, helping him up.
The doctor made a quick assessment. Broken toe. He bandaged it and told him to rest.
The helicopter was waiting. They hurried over, Cheng Liu now pushing He Bai in a wheelchair.
“These are the company reports from the past two days,” He Bai said, handing Cheng Liu a summarized document after they had boarded the plane and transferred to another flight.
Cheng Liu didn’t open the email immediately: “You’re injured. Get some rest.”
“Okay,” He Bai said, almost enjoying her concern.
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