If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: The Thirty-First Day

When Ji Chaozhou woke up, Cheng Liu was gone. He turned, burying his face in the soft pillow, faintly smelling her scent.

He was a light sleeper, usually waking up around 6 or 7 am, but today, he had slept until 8:30.

He touched the cool, empty sheets beside him. She had been gone for a while.

After a moment, he picked up his phone from the nightstand, intending to check for messages from Cheng Liu, but noticed a notification on his Moments feed.

He clicked on it. As expected, it was a post from Assistant He.

“The night before last…” That was when they returned?

Ji Chaozhou didn’t think anything had happened between Cheng Liu and He Bai. She hadn’t been happy when she returned.

But the nine photos, each carrying a hidden meaning, clearly showed that He Bai had been with Cheng Liu every year.

Ji Chaozhou looked at the photos, Cheng Liu in each one, He Bai present in every year of her life.

—Even though he knew there was nothing between them, jealousy still gnawed at him.

Ji Chaozhou’s eyes darkened, a coldness settling over him. Having never posted anything on Moments before, he now, for the first time, created a post.

[Good morning. picture.jpg]

The photo, taken from his perspective in bed, showed the empty space beside him where Cheng Liu had slept, the alarm clock and small calendar on the nightstand visible in the frame.

The curtains were drawn. Ji Chaozhou put down his phone, got out of bed, and opened them, revealing the view below.

He instinctively took a step back, uncomfortable with the height, but didn’t close the curtains, forcing himself to look down.

When had he started liking her?

Perhaps it had been that night, when the second-floor window had fallen, and she had rushed over, shielding his eyes with her hand. Or perhaps it had been some other time.

He couldn’t remember clearly.

“You’re awake?” Cheng Liu said, pushing the door open, seeing him standing by the window. She hurried over, taking his hand and pulling him away. “I made porridge. Want some?”

Ji Chaozhou turned to look at her, his gaze lingering on her lips before meeting her eyes: “Okay.”

Cheng Liu’s ears turned red. She felt like that glance had been…deliberate, almost seductive.

CEO Cheng immediately chastised herself. Her beloved was beautiful and pure. He wouldn’t intentionally try to seduce her. It was her mind that was impure.

So, the impure-minded CEO Cheng discreetly glanced at his lower lip, its redness a stark contrast to his pale skin. The sash of his robe was looser than last night, the collar open, revealing his pale, elegant collarbones, the faint outline of his muscles visible beneath the silk.

Truly, every part of him was beautiful.

Ji Chaozhou, looking at her, his cool eyes meeting hers, feigning innocence: “What are you looking at?”

CEO Cheng, flustered, quickly looked away, stammering: “Nothing. Your sash…seems loose.”

Ji Chaozhou looked down, slowly tying the sash.

The tall, elegant young man stood by the window, bathed in the golden sunlight, half of his body in shadow, half illuminated. The light fell on his pale neck, accentuating its elegant lines, a captivating blend of ethereal beauty and mysterious allure. The dark green silk sash, wrapped around his long, slender fingers, added a touch of sensuality.

He pulled the sash tighter, holding one end between his teeth, his eyes meeting hers as he tied the knot.

Cheng Liu froze, captivated by the sight.

Ji Chaozhou, pleased with the look in her eyes, but his expression still calm, released the sash, walked towards Cheng Liu, and asked, “Aren’t you coming?”

Cheng Liu snapped out of her daze, instinctively touching her nose, relieved she hadn’t had a nosebleed. She followed him out, mentally berating herself, yet still thinking, rather inappropriately, that she should get a similar robe, so he could tie it for her every day.

Ji Chaozhou went downstairs to wash up and change before joining Cheng Liu for breakfast.

“Cheng Gui is coming for lunch today, celebrating his successful interview,” Cheng Liu said, sitting at the dining table. “I have a dinner gathering tonight. Li Dong organized it. I’ll be back soon.”

She told him everything, like a husband reporting to his wife after a business trip.

Ji Chaozhou didn't point out the similarity, and Cheng Liu enjoyed the intimacy.

…

At the He family villa.

He Bai had just added the “love guru” on QQ. He had investigated the guru, who seemed to have a good track record, reportedly having successfully matched several couples, his reputation solid.

He hadn't initially intended on seeking advice, but after seeing Ji Chaozhou’s Moments post, he changed his mind.

Unlike He Bai’s post, visible only to Ji Chaozhou, this one was visible to everyone except Cheng Liu.

He Bai even saw Li Dong’s “like” and comment: “Good morning.”

Li Dong liked everything. Anyone who added him on WeChat, he would like all their posts.

Those who liked the post hadn’t noticed anything unusual, but He Bai, seeing the alarm clock and calendar on the nightstand, his face paled.

That was Cheng Liu's bedroom.

The alarm clock was one she had bought six years ago. The small calendar was from a batch the company had ordered this year, which she had taken. At the beginning of April, both items had been in the master bedroom of her old apartment.

The angle of the photo was only possible from someone lying in bed.

He Bai’s face turned white. He hadn't expected their relationship to progress so quickly. It had only been a few days since she returned.

He Bai gripped his phone, his mind racing.

Desperate, he was willing to try anything, no matter how absurd it seemed.

He Bai opened the guru’s QQ profile, found his bank account details, and transferred money to him.

…

Wang Hongyang was filming a commercial. Having benefited from his association with Cheng Liu, his company had recently landed him a major endorsement deal, one usually reserved for A-list celebrities. He now had a team catering to his every need.

Wang Hongyang enjoyed the attention for a while, then found it inconvenient. He couldn’t openly work on his side hustle at home anymore, so he had to find opportunities during breaks, excusing himself to go to the restroom.

His side hustle was just starting to gain traction. He wasn’t giving it up.

“I don’t want any. I’m going to the restroom,” Wang Hongyang said, taking his phone from his assistant and hurrying off.

As expected, there was a new client, a big spender, offering a hundred thousand yuan deposit.

Tsk tsk, rich people.

Guru: [Hello. I’m here to solve your relationship problems. How can I help?]

Client #7: [The person I like has someone else.]

Wang Hongyang, hiding in the restroom, shook his head. Just find someone else, he thought, but he maintained his professional demeanor.

Guru: [I understand. Can you tell me more about your situation?]

Client #7: [I’ve known her for nine years. She’s a workaholic, always focused on her career.]

Guru: [A workaholic? I think those types tend to be very dedicated once they’re in a relationship.]

Wang Hongyang thought of Cheng Liu, how she had been indifferent towards him for six months, then suddenly pursued Ji Chaozhou relentlessly.

Why were there so many workaholic women like Cheng Liu lately? Strange.

He Bai, reading the guru’s message, thought of Cheng Liu moving specifically to be closer to Ji Chaozhou.

Client #7: [I’ve known her for almost ten years! That other person, it’s only been a few days! How is that fair?]

Wang Hongyang knew exactly how that felt.

Guru: [Maybe he's better looking than you.]

He Bai: “…”

He started to believe the rumors. This guru might actually be quite insightful.

Client #7: [They seemed to have gotten together last night.]

Guru: [If they’re already together, you’ll have to wait for them to break up. Then you have a chance.]

Client #7: [I’m not giving up. I thought if I stayed by her side long enough, she would eventually notice me.]

Wang Hongyang, feeling a sense of kinship with this client: [Don’t give up hope. A while ago, I had a client who liked her childhood sweetheart, but someone else came along and stole him away. But he didn't like her anyway. And she wasn't as wealthy or attractive as the other person. A sad story.]

He Bai felt like he had just been stabbed in the heart. His family was wealthy and influential, but so was Ji Chaozhou’s. He considered himself handsome, yet Ji Chaozhou captivated everyone.

Client #7: [I didn’t expect you to know so many people like me.]

Guru: [Not exactly like you. If you really like her, just wait for them to break up. People break up after a couple of months all the time these days. But you have to be ready to confess as soon as they do. Don’t miss your chance.]

Client #7: [What if they don’t break up?]

Guru: [That…feelings fade. You can wait. Ten years, if you have to.]

He Bai: “…”

Guru: [Tell me more about your relationship. Maybe I can help.]

Client #7: [We met in university, different majors. She started a company after graduation, and I became her assistant. She did date someone for a while six months ago, but it didn't last. When they were dating, I often called her during their dates to discuss work, and she would always prioritize work over him.]

Wang Hongyang, reading the message, felt a sense of familiarity, but he didn't dwell on it, continuing to offer advice: [It seems she’s not very loyal. Just wait for her to get bored with her current partner. Then you can move in.]

Client #7: [No, the person she likes now is the one she wanted to date six months ago.]

Guru: [I don’t understand. What do you mean?]

Client #7: [She seems to have mistaken someone else for him six months ago. The person she dated wasn't the one she liked. But she doesn’t seem to realize it yet. I’m not planning on telling her.]

Wang Hongyang was surprised. Why was everyone mistaking people lately? Cheng Liu had mistaken Ji Chaozhou for him, then fallen for the even more handsome Ji Chaozhou. The thought still irritated him.

But as long as Cheng Liu gave him the gold plaque, he could let it go.

“Mr. Wang, you’re up,” his assistant called out.

Guru: [Something came up. I’ll talk to you later.]

“Coming,” Wang Hongyang said, putting away his phone and returning to the set. Side hustle, main career, he was going to be successful.

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