If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 86
Chapter 86: The Thirty-Second Day
Wang Hongyang had disliked Cheng Liu's chief assistant from the start. He still remembered He Bai’s expression when he had come to pick up Cheng Liu after their first meeting on the cruise ship six months ago.
The typical condescending look of someone from a higher social class, filled with disdain.
Wang Hongyang was used to such looks and hadn’t paid much attention to it. During their dates, Cheng Liu always had to take calls from her chief assistant. He had thought it was normal, given the size and demands of Shenyin Technology.
But now, what was this Client #7 saying?
Deliberately interrupting their dates with work calls?
So it was the chief assistant who had been sabotaging him!
Wang Hongyang, wide awake now, his drowsiness gone, paced around his room, phone in hand.
He was torn between seeking revenge and maintaining client confidentiality.
After several laps, he resolutely chose revenge. He wasn't a good person anyway.
Besides, Cheng Liu was his golden ticket!
Wang Hongyang now understood that even the smallest bit of Cheng Liu's attention could bring him immense benefits.
However, he still didn't reveal his identity to He Bai. He transferred nine thousand yuan back, keeping one thousand as compensation for emotional distress.
Guru: [I’m sorry, but after careful consideration, your situation…is extremely unfavorable. I can't take your case. I’ve transferred ninety thousand yuan back. The number nine is auspicious for dispelling bad luck. I wish you well in finding love.]
He Bai, reading the first part of the message, immediately asked: [So, there's no hope for me and her?]
Wang Hongyang scoffed inwardly. What hope could there possibly be between him and Cheng Liu? But his reply maintained his "guru" persona: [Those who interfere with fate are destined for misfortune in their own relationships. I advise you to stop trying to sabotage her.]
He Bai, startled, actually started to believe him.
Client #7: […Thank you, Master. I’ll think about it.]
Wang Hongyang, having dealt with the client, immediately called Cheng Liu, hoping to expose He Bai.
But Cheng Liu, whose eyesight seemed questionable, having mistaken two different people for her boyfriend, and then falling for the wrong one, wasn't easily swayed.
…
On the plane, Cheng Liu and Ji Chaozhou sat together, Cheng Gui behind them.
As Cheng Liu’s phone rang, the flight attendant walked past, reminding everyone to turn off their phones or switch to airplane mode.
“Ma’am, we’re about to take off,” the attendant said, looking at Cheng Liu.
Ji Chaozhou, sitting by the window, glanced at her phone screen and saw the three characters: "Wang Hongyang.” They were…still in contact?
Cheng Liu instinctively hid her phone, quickly declining the call and switching to airplane mode.
She instantly regretted it. She had only changed Wang Hongyang's name in her WeChat contacts, not in her phone’s contact list.
Cheng Liu put away her phone, turning to Ji Chaozhou: “We’re not…involved anymore.”
Ji Chaozhou turned away, not looking at her. He didn't like that she had hidden her phone.
“That’s between you two,” he said, his voice cold and distant.
Cheng Liu, frowning, took his hand, intertwining their fingers, her voice soft and coaxing: “Don’t be angry. I’ll put the call on speakerphone when we land. There’s nothing between us.”
Ji Chaozhou didn't pull his hand away, but he still didn’t look at her.
The plane was taking off. The nose lifted, and they ascended.
“Chaozhou,” Cheng Liu suddenly said, remembering something.
She turned to look at him. As expected, his face was pale.
“I’m fine,” Ji Chaozhou said, his lips pressed into a thin line.
He couldn't stand heights, couldn’t look down. It was a psychological issue.
He had flown before, on his mandatory trips abroad, always sitting by the window, avoiding looking outside, each flight an ordeal.
Now, with Cheng Liu beside him, the terrifying hallucinations of blood had subsided.
But the sudden ascent still made him uncomfortable.
Cheng Liu placed her hand over his eyes: “Close your eyes and rest. We’ll be there soon.”
She regretted choosing to fly. The high-speed rail line hadn’t been completed yet, and the other options had strong smells that Ji Chaozhou would dislike. That was why she had chosen a flight.
Next time, she would just drive.
Ji Chaozhou closed his eyes, the faint scent of bitter coffee coming from her sleeve. Since she had used his shower gel, she always carried that fragrance.
He hadn’t liked the smell of bitter coffee before, only using it to mask other scents. Now, he found it strangely comforting.
As the plane leveled off, his face regained its color. Cheng Liu slowly removed her hand, pulling down the window shade: “We’re not flying next time.”
Ji Chaozhou, looking at their intertwined hands: “I can fly.” As long as she was with him.
“I haven’t driven back before. We’ll try it next time,” Cheng Liu said, smiling.
Ji Chaozhou, watching her, the earlier jealousy, triggered by Wang Hongyang’s call, now replaced by a possessive warmth.
…
“Why did she hang up?” Wang Hongyang said, surprised, looking at his phone. Was she working?
Working on May Day? How pathetic.
But this was important. He was sure Cheng Liu would want to know, even more than work.
So, Wang Hongyang called again. This time, it went straight to voicemail.
“Useless,” he muttered, then, thinking of his gold plaque, decided to send her a WeChat message.
He sent the photo He Bai had sent him, adding a caption: [Guess who this is?]
Wang Hongyang, satisfied, went back to sleep, dreaming of Cheng Liu presenting him with a gleaming gold plaque, adorned with a large red flower. They posed for a photo, which he proudly displayed in his office, his business booming, money pouring in.
…
At the airport, the three of them walked towards the exit, Cheng Liu and Ji Chaozhou trailing behind, their hands clasped together.
“Second Sister!” Cheng Gui called out, waving to someone outside.
Knowing they were returning today, their family had sent Cheng Lixia to pick them up.
Cheng Liu, still holding Ji Chaozhou's hand, her other hand occupied with her suitcase, stopped.
She switched off airplane mode, intending to call Wang Hongyang in front of Ji Chaozhou, to clarify their relationship.
As soon as she did, Wang Hongyang’s missed calls appeared on her screen. Before she could call him, Ji Chaozhou pointed at her phone: “You have a message.”
Two new messages had appeared, with no preview, only the sender's name: "Wedding Stumbling Block."
Ji Chaozhou wanted to see them.
Cheng Liu, meeting his gaze, admitted, “It’s Wang Hongyang.”
She didn’t think it was a big deal. They had broken up.
But as she opened WeChat, she saw a photo from the cruise ship, a flashback to six months ago. Cheng Liu instantly felt guilty, not wanting to look at it. And the caption: "Guess who this is?"
That fateful encounter on the cruise ship had been the start of her moral decline. If she hadn’t gotten involved with Wang Hongyang, Ji Chaozhou wouldn’t be angry now.
Cheng Liu’s face paled, then flushed. She had thought Wang Hongyang was contacting her about the gold plaque, not to send her this photo. Was he trying to blackmail her?
She looked up at Ji Chaozhou. He was frowning, clearly about to get angry.
Cheng Liu quickly exited WeChat, dialing Wang Hongyang’s number, trying to get an explanation, but there was no answer.
“I can explain…” she said, then, feeling guilty, mumbled, “It’s my fault. I did fall for him six months ago, at first sight. But I only liked him that one night.”
“What’s this photo?” Ji Chaozhou suddenly asked.
Cheng Liu glanced at him. His expression was strange, neither angry nor happy.
But she still had to tell the truth.
Cheng Liu lowered her head, her voice soft: “It’s a photo of Wang Hongyang on the cruise ship six months ago.”
She looked up, raising her hand earnestly: “I don’t know why he sent it. There’s nothing between us anymore.” Except for a customer relationship.
“Give me your phone,” Ji Chaozhou said.
Cheng Liu carefully placed her phone in his hand: “You can smash it, if you want. Just don't hurt yourself.”
Ji Chaozhou, looking at her, his gaze making her feel even more guilty: “…”
He opened the photo. It wasn't very clear, but the background and their clothes were visible.
It was him.
“This is Wang Hongyang?” He looked at Cheng Liu, holding up the phone.
Cheng Liu glanced at the photo, then quickly looked away, nodding, then quickly adding, “I only liked him for one night. I wasn’t interested the next day.”
Ji Chaozhou’s lips curved into a smile, then quickly flattened. He handed her back the phone: “Cheng Liu, is your eyesight bad?”
Cheng Liu, taking her phone, utterly confused: “…”
“Sister!” Cheng Lixia called out from outside.
Cheng Liu turned and saw her second sister, waving. By then, Ji Chaozhou had already walked out.
Still confused, unsure whether he was angry or not, Cheng Liu put her phone away and, pulling her suitcase, hurried after him, reaching for his hand.
He didn't pull away!
“Sister, lunch is ready. We’re just waiting for you,” Cheng Lixia said, her gaze drawn to Ji Chaozhou.
Cheng Gui had prepared them, but seeing him in person was still a shock.
Ji Chaozhou got into the car with them, his mood better than ever.
So, the person Cheng Liu had liked from the start…was him?
He had so many questions he wanted to ask her, but this wasn’t the right time.
Cheng Lixia drove, Cheng Gui in the passenger seat, leaving Ji Chaozhou and Cheng Liu in the back.
“Sister, what brings you home?” Cheng Lixia asked, driving.
Cheng Liu, distracted, replied casually, “Just wanted a break.”
She turned to Ji Chaozhou, mouthing the words, “I was wrong.”
Ji Chaozhou, holding her hand, his fingers tracing patterns on her palm, a silent intimacy shared between them.
Cheng Liu, surprised by his actions, looked at him, his eyes sparkling with a warmth that made her heart skip a beat.
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