If It’s Wrong, Then It’s Wrong - Chapter 91
Chapter 91: The Thirty-Third Day
“Aren’t you staying a few more days?” Cheng Liu’s mother asked, looking at Cheng Liu and Ji Chaozhou, who had already packed their suitcases.
Cheng Liu rarely came home, yet she was leaving after just one day.
“I’ll come back when I have time,” Cheng Liu said, her hand on her suitcase, turning to Cheng Gui, who had just entered. “We’re leaving. You can go back to work after the holiday.”
“Okay, Sister,” Cheng Gui said, still in his pajamas, his hair a mess.
Their father, still outside, called across the hall, “Lixia, drive your sister to the airport.”
“Coming,” a voice replied, followed by the sound of movement. Cheng Lixia emerged, dressed and carrying her bag.
“Chaozhou, come visit again,” Cheng Liu’s mother said to Ji Chaozhou, beaming. “Xiao Liu has never brought a friend home before.”
Those words were music to Ji Chaozhou's ears, a perfect affirmation of his special place in her life.
He had always wanted Cheng Liu's undivided attention, her absolute favoritism.
“Mom, Dad, we’re leaving,” Cheng Liu said, walking towards the door.
“Be careful,” her father said, waving.
As Ji Chaozhou and Cheng Liu stepped into the elevator, Cheng Lixia was about to follow, when Cheng Liu suddenly kicked her foot.
Cheng Lixia instinctively recoiled, watching as the elevator doors closed.
“They…” Cheng Lixia said, turning to her parents and brother.
“You can take the next one,” her mother said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Cheng Lixia: “…Okay.”
Inside the elevator, Cheng Liu reached for Ji Chaozhou's hand, worried he might be uncomfortable. But he pulled away.
“I’m sorry,” Cheng Liu said, already apologizing, having learned her lesson. She pushed her suitcase into a corner, hugging him. “Don’t…don’t push yourself.”
Even though the elevator wasn't descending rapidly, it was still uncomfortable for him.
He didn’t push her away this time, resting his chin on her shoulder, his eyes closed, trying to block out the sensation.
The elevator reached the first floor. As the doors opened, Ji Chaozhou gently pushed Cheng Liu away, pulling his suitcase out.
Cheng Liu, trailing behind him, felt wronged. She had already apologized, and she had paid the price last night, spending hours drying the sheets with a hairdryer!
Just because he…but she had helped too!
CEO Cheng sighed inwardly. Next time, she would try a different approach.
Ji Chaozhou, standing at the entrance, turned around, seeing the changing expressions on Cheng Liu's face, knew what she was thinking. He gave her a cold look, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Cheng Lixia hadn’t arrived yet.
He finally couldn’t hold back any longer, turning to Cheng Liu, who was reaching for his hand again: “Stop thinking about it.”
Cheng Liu coughed, looking at him, his eyes unusually bright today, her voice soft, “I can’t help it.”
“Sister!” Cheng Lixia called out, honking the horn as she pulled up from the underground parking garage.
“Let’s go,” Cheng Liu said, not daring to touch him again.
The drive to the airport would take an hour, enough time for Ji Chaozhou to calm down.
He leaned against the car window, watching the trees pass by, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips.
For Ji Chaozhou, flying was an ordeal. But with Cheng Liu beside him, it wasn’t so bad.
He didn’t speak, didn’t eat, simply leaned back in his seat, Cheng Liu holding his hand, not thinking much of it, only wanting him to feel better.
…
Cheng Liu parked the car in her garage, turning to Ji Chaozhou, who was sitting in the passenger seat, his eyes closed, his face pale.
“We’re home,” Cheng Liu said, unbuckling his seatbelt.
The lingering sweat on his forehead, the aftereffects of the recent emotional turmoil, made Ji Chaozhou look unwell.
Cheng Liu got out of the car, went around to the other side, opened the door, and helped him out.
Feeling his feet on solid ground seemed to ease his discomfort.
They entered Villa Number Five. The familiar scent of home greeted them.
“Go get some rest,” Cheng Liu said.
Ji Chaozhou went to wash up, then to his bedroom. Cheng Liu had intended to work in the living room, but he had asked her to stay, so she did.
Ji Chaozhou lay in bed, watching Cheng Liu, the creeping redness on the floor, reaching her chair, then, as if touching a forbidden boundary, rapidly receding. Once it was gone, Ji Chaozhou closed his eyes, falling asleep.
After a while, Cheng Liu looked up from her computer screen, her gaze falling on the sleeping young man. She gently brushed his hair away from his forehead, then resumed working.
She worked until evening. When Ji Chaozhou woke up, she had just quietly entered the room.
“You’re awake?” Cheng Liu asked, her eyes darting around. She pointed towards the door. “I ordered takeout. Come have dinner.”
Ji Chaozhou, still groggy, simply gave a soft “mm” in acknowledgement. He always took a while to fully wake up.
Cheng Liu walked over to the bed, reaching for his hand to help him up.
Ji Chaozhou looked at her, then smiled.
It was a genuine smile, a spontaneous expression of joy.
Cheng Liu froze, her world exploding with color. So, that was what his real smile looked like.
The smile faded as he woke up, and CEO Cheng felt a pang of regret, secretly thinking that once they were married, sleeping together, she would see that unguarded look again. She could coax him into anything then.
“Go outside,” Ji Chaozhou said, standing up.
“Okay,” Cheng Liu said, leaving the room.
She went to the dining table, picked up a large bag from the sofa, retrieved something from inside, and tucked it under a cushion before returning to her own villa.
She had almost reached her living room when she turned back, hurrying to the garage, placing something in her new car before returning to the villa and continuing her task.
CEO Cheng always kept her promises. She did what she said.
Having finished distributing her items, energized and excited, she climbed over the wall, preparing to enjoy dinner with her beloved.
But as she entered, she saw Ji Chaozhou standing in front of the sofa, looking down at a long receipt in his hand. An awkward silence filled the room. He held up the receipt, pointing at an item listed multiple times: “Cheng Liu, what were you thinking?”
CEO Cheng stammered, “Just…what you’re thinking.”
She had searched every online platform, but this size was only available in single units. In the end, she had called the supermarket manager, asking him to retrieve a box from the warehouse, unpack it, and deliver all thirty-five units.
Ji Chaozhou closed his eyes, his ears burning: “How did you…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but CEO Cheng, her mind filled with inappropriate thoughts, instantly understood.
“Didn’t we…already…” Cheng Liu said, her eyes darting around, her voice trailing off. “…confirm last night?”
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