If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 82
Chapter 82: The Thirtieth Day
In the bedroom, neither of them paid any attention to the shattered glass.
Ji Chaozhou’s right hand rested on Cheng Liu’s shoulder as he kissed her, the bitterness of the medicine fading, replaced by a passionate warmth.
Cheng Liu’s hands were braced on the bed as she let him kiss her. He was so proactive, as if he wanted to cast aside all his reservations and draw closer.
Before she could respond, he pulled away, a hazy warmth still lingering in his amber eyes, his lips red and moist, but his expression returning to its usual coldness. He said softly, “That’s better.”
Cheng Liu, not having kissed him back yet: “???” Who kisses like that and then stops?
CEO Cheng, grabbing her beloved’s hand and placing it on her chest, her voice filled with mock distress: “…My heart aches!”
She needed more kisses to feel better.
Ji Chaozhou, feeling the softness beneath his palm, shifted uncomfortably, trying to pull his hand away, his voice cold: “Cheng Liu, let go.”
Cheng Liu released his hand, then, in the next second, pulled him down onto the bed with her.
Ji Chaozhou braced himself on one arm, careful not to crush her.
Cheng Liu, lying on the bed, looked up at him, a smile in her eyes: “When will you finally give in?” When would he finally be with her, without any reservations?
Ji Chaozhou looked away, then, unable to resist, back at her.
When she was asleep, he could freely indulge in his desires, but when she was awake, the intensity in her eyes made his heart tremble. He had to control his every breath.
He met her gaze, looking at her intently, then, as she was about to speak, he leaned down and kissed her, silencing her.
He didn’t want to answer her question, yet his actions spoke louder than words, an offering of everything he had, a silent plea for her favor.
This time, Cheng Liu finally had her chance to kiss him back, even playfully nibbling on the mole on his lower lip.
…
They lay on the dark gray bed, Ji Chaozhou’s eyes slightly closed, his lower lip swollen. Someone hadn’t been gentle, kissing and biting him relentlessly.
As for Cheng Liu, still recovering from her fever, slightly lightheaded, the excitement of the kiss now replaced by a dizzying weakness.
CEO Cheng, staring at the ceiling, cursed her own uselessness.
“Cheng Liu,” Ji Chaozhou whispered, leaning closer to her, his voice unconsciously carrying a tenderness he hadn't realized.
He gently played with her earlobe, a silent expression of affection.
Cheng Liu turned to look at him, not stopping him.
He had been more proactive since her return, although still unwilling to acknowledge their relationship.
“Stay tonight?” Cheng Liu asked boldly, patting the bed. “My bed is really soft. Try it.”
Ji Chaozhou, seeing the blatant invitation in her eyes, feigning ignorance: “If I sleep here, where will you sleep?”
Cheng Liu, her voice low: “…Together, of course.”
Even if they didn’t do anything, sleeping in the same bed was still progress.
Seeing that he still hadn't agreed, even sitting up now, CEO Cheng, thinking quickly, clutched her head: “I’m dizzy.”
She glanced at Ji Chaozhou, sighing dramatically: “What if I get up in the middle of the night, faint, and hit my head on the desk…”
Ji Chaozhou stood up.
CEO Cheng's heart shattered. She gave up the act, sprawling out on the bed dramatically.
Ji Chaozhou, seeing her, a faint smile appearing in his eyes, turned and left the room.
Once he was gone, the smile on Cheng Liu's face vanished, replaced by a quiet sadness.
The memories of the disaster zone, the scenes she had witnessed, lingered in her mind, unable to be erased.
She turned to the spot where Ji Chaozhou had been lying.
Cheng Liu shifted closer, as if she could still smell his scent.
The usual coldness and distance had faded, replaced by a warm, comforting fragrance.
Just then, the door opened again.
Cheng Liu sat up, seeing Ji Chaozhou enter with a broom, sweeping up the broken glass.
“I thought you left,” Cheng Liu said, smiling.
Ji Chaozhou, having cleaned up the glass, took the broom and left, stopping at the door, as if he wanted to say something, then turning and leaving.
He knew she was sad after returning.
Once he was gone, the smile on Cheng Liu's face faded.
Having been to the disaster zone, she had been affected, but she didn’t want to burden anyone with her emotions.
…
An hour later, Ji Chaozhou returned, having showered and changed into a dark green silk robe, the scent of bitter coffee clinging to him.
Cheng Liu, watching him sit on the edge of the bed, had a feeling that he would agree to anything she asked, except for defining their relationship. He was still struggling with that.
“You can sleep here,” Cheng Liu said, quickly pulling back the covers, making space for him, a smug look on her face. “This is the biggest bed they had. I chose it specifically!”
Ji Chaozhou looked at her. If he remembered correctly, she had already chosen the bed before he moved in. So…she had planned this from the start?
Completely unaware of her slip-up, CEO Cheng eagerly invited her beloved to share her large, soft bed.
“You should sleep,” Ji Chaozhou said, looking at Cheng Liu. Her face was pale, her lips, previously flushed from their kiss, now colorless.
“Okay,” Cheng Liu said, quickly lying down, pulling the covers over herself, then patting the empty space beside her. “You too.”
Even if they didn’t do anything, it was still progress.
Ji Chaozhou turned off the lights and lay down beside her.
“Goodnight,” Cheng Liu said, then quickly drifted off to sleep.
She wanted to talk to him, even hold his hand, but exhaustion overwhelmed her, pulling her into a deep sleep.
Silence filled the bedroom.
Ji Chaozhou turned to look at Cheng Liu, then reached out, their fingers intertwining, and finally closed his eyes.
…
The next morning, Cheng Liu woke up, turned her head, and saw Ji Chaozhou sleeping beside her, their hands still clasped together.
The usually unflappable CEO Cheng’s eyes widened in surprise.
It took her a good ten minutes to process what had happened.
They had slept in the same bed!
Being sick was wonderful. Taking medicine was wonderful. She could take a whole vat of it!
Cheng Liu looked at the sleeping man beside her. His usually aloof features were softened, his lower lip slightly swollen and chapped from her kisses, a touch of color adding a subtle allure. The collar of his dark green robe was slightly open, revealing his pale, elegant collarbones.
—She could kiss him there next time.
CEO Cheng’s mind was filled with inappropriate thoughts.
Cheng Liu looked at the clock. 5:30 am. The sky was just starting to brighten.
She carefully slipped her hand from his, quietly got out of bed, tiptoed around to the other side, grabbed her slippers, and slipped out of the room, putting them on once she was outside.
Cheng Liu checked her phone. There was a message from Li Dong, saying he had organized a dinner gathering to welcome her back.
Cheng Gui had also messaged, saying he wanted to celebrate passing his interview.
Cheng Liu told Cheng Gui to come over for lunch, then messaged Li Dong, saying she would see him tonight.
CEO Cheng, bursting with excitement, unable to contain herself, decided to send Wang Hongyang a red envelope, bragging about her latest progress with Ji Chaozhou.
Cheng Liu: [I’ll give you the gold plaque on our wedding day. Let’s not contact each other anymore after that. I don’t want him to misunderstand.]
Wang Hongyang: […CEO Cheng, I just fell asleep.]
He had just finished working with a client, pulled an all-nighter, and had only been asleep for a few minutes when his phone woke him up.
Of course, Wang Hongyang still immediately accepted the red envelope, afraid she would take it back.
Wang Hongyang: [Okay, CEO Cheng. Don’t worry, I won’t contact you. We’ll delete each other after I get the plaque.]
Cheng Liu: [Okay.]
Wang Hongyang, suddenly remembering something: [You’ve already slept in the same bed. When’s the wedding?]
CEO Cheng, hit where it hurt: [Mind your own business.]
Wang Hongyang: […]
He Bai, having been taken back to the He family home after his injury, was being lectured by his parents. He sat in his wheelchair, looking out at the garden below, lost in thought.
His foot wasn’t seriously injured, especially for someone his age. It would heal with time, but the pain was bothersome.
He Bai fidgeted with his phone. He couldn't understand why Cheng Liu liked Ji Chaozhou.
Ji Chaozhou hadn’t even bothered to accompany her to Z Province. She had returned, and he hadn’t posted anything on his Moments, while even Li Dong, a business partner, had organized a dinner gathering for her.
He Bai opened his photo album, remembering the night Cheng Liu had pulled him back, her eyes filled with concern, only for him.
If only she would always look at him that way.
He Bai’s eyes flickered. Even if Cheng Liu liked Ji Chaozhou, so what? With his coldness, they would probably break up eventually.
Even if they didn’t…
He Bai wanted to make Ji Chaozhou unhappy.
He opened WeChat and posted another Moments update visible only to Ji Chaozhou.
[Almost ten years now. Thank you for that night. photo.jpg x9]
He had chosen nine photos, each corresponding to a year. The first was a group photo from their university club, both of them standing in the center, looking like a couple. The last was the photo he had taken on the plane yesterday, a close-up shot only possible from someone sitting beside her.
Both the words and the photos hinted at an intimate relationship.
“Xiao Bai, why are you sitting outside? Let’s go for a walk,” his older sister said, having arrived after hearing he was back.
He Bai put away his phone, his mood significantly improved.
His sister, knowing their parents had lectured him, didn’t mention Z Province, instead sharing some gossip: “My friend’s daughter found some ‘love guru’ online. Apparently, he gives dating advice. Kids these days. Thankfully, it wasn't much money. Let her learn her lesson.”
Spoken casually, but He Bai's interest was piqued.
He casually inquired about the guru's contact information.
“Apparently, he’s on QQ.”
“Sister, let me see,” He Bai said. “I’ll check him out.”
His sister sent him a screenshot: “Don’t cause too much trouble. It wasn't a lot of money.”
He Bai, giving a noncommittal reply, decided to investigate this “love guru.”
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