Chapter Fourteen: The Heart-Wrenching Pain
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The woman was flattered beyond belief and kept pouring wine for Luo Yichen. Meanwhile, the man who had brought her to Luo Yichen’s side began casting covetous eyes at Shang Qi. He raised his glass and came over to her.
“President Shang, how about a toast?”
By then, Shang Qi was already quite tipsy. The figures before her seemed to sway, and she accidentally stumbled into the man’s arms. A lecherous grin spread across his face as one hand curled around her slender waist, while the other reached toward her chest.
Luo Yichen had been watching Shang Qi closely the entire time. The instant he saw she was about to be taken advantage of, he came over and shoved the man away.
Shang Qi had no idea what had happened. She shouted at Luo Yichen, “What are you doing? Stay away from me!”
The other man snapped angrily, “President Luo, that’s pretty shameless of you. I gave my companion to you, so yours should keep me company too!”
With one arm wrapped tightly around Shang Qi to keep her from struggling, Luo Yichen said, “I don’t recall ever agreeing to an exchange like that. Move.”
By then, their argument had drawn the attention of many people.
The man, feeling humiliated, shouted, “Luo Yichen, we’re all here to have a good time. Why are you being so petty? She’s just a woman. Is it really worth making such a fuss over?”
Shang Qi caught the gist of their argument and flew into a rage.
“Luo Yichen, you actually traded me for another woman!”
With that, she broke free of his hold and turned to leave. She had no desire to remain in this filthy, chaotic place for another moment.
Luo Yichen turned to follow her, but the man blocked his path. He truly had no sense of self-preservation, insisting on provoking a man already at the end of his temper. With nowhere to vent his fury, Luo Yichen poured all of it into his fists and knocked him to the floor.
After leaving the private room, Shang Qi felt terribly sick to her stomach. She staggered to the restroom and vomited until there was nothing left.
When she swayed out of the restroom, she heard someone call, “President Shang, have you had too much to drink?”
It was Mu Lichen.
“Assistant Mu, what are you doing here?”
“I came out with some friends. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine!”
Seeing that Shang Qi could barely stand, Mu Lichen supported her.
“Careful. You’re a young woman—try not to drink too much in a place like this.”
Grateful for his concern, Shang Qi said, “Thank you. I’m going home now.”
“Shall I call you a cab?”
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“It’s all right. Go keep your friends company.”
Mu Lichen insisted on helping her to the entrance and only left after seeing her into a taxi.
By the time Luo Yichen came out after her, Shang Qi was already gone. He immediately told his driver to take a shortcut to her home.
When Shang Qi stepped out of the taxi, Luo Yichen’s handsome face appeared before her. She had no wish to deal with him and hurried toward the building.
Luo Yichen blocked her path.
“I didn’t trade you for another woman. That bastard was trying to take advantage of you.”
Shang Qi’s head was pounding, and she did not want to hear another word. She stepped around him and tried to leave.
He caught her by the hand.
“I want to talk to you.”
“There’s nothing for us to talk about.”
“Oh? You don’t want to discuss the budget either?”
When Shang Qi saw him using that matter to pressure her again, she shouted, “To hell with the budget! Luo Yichen, I quit. I don’t want to see you ever again!”
Luo Yichen lifted a finger to his lips.
“Shh. This is right downstairs from your parents’ apartment. If you aren’t afraid of them finding out about our relationship, I certainly don’t mind. You’d better calm down and talk to me. Otherwise, I might just be the one to start shouting.”
“You…”
He had left Shang Qi speechless.
With no other choice, she got into the car with Luo Yichen. The vehicle stopped beneath an apartment building.
“Get out,” Luo Yichen said.
It was already midnight. Shang Qi remained on guard.
“Whatever you have to say, you can say it here.”
“Is that so?” Luo Yichen asked, raising an eyebrow.
Then he turned to the driver.
“You can go home.”
Shang Qi tried to stop the driver, but Luo Yichen pressed her back into the seat with his body. The smell of alcohol on him washed over her, making her tense and shudder.
“Are you really that afraid of me?”
“No.”
Her eyes shifted as she carefully tried to maneuver around him.
“I just thought…the car is a little cold. It might be better to go upstairs and talk.”
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Luo Yichen looked at her in disappointment.
“Fine. Don’t try anything.”
After getting out of the car, Shang Qi searched for a chance to escape. Unfortunately, Luo Yichen stayed beside her every step of the way, leaving her no choice but to follow him into the apartment.
It was a nearly two-hundred-square-meter residence with three bedrooms and two living rooms. The interior was simple and elegant, yet its understated details revealed a sense of luxury. Clearly, the designer had put considerable thought into the place.
“This apartment was something I prepared for you,” Luo Yichen said. “But later, I realized you could never willingly become my mistress, so I never told you about it.”
Shang Qi’s gaze settled on him as she silently waited to hear what else he had to say.
“Qi Qi, I once had a failed marriage, and afterward I became afraid to hope for love. It wasn’t until I met you that I finally stopped feeling so hopeless. All these years, no matter how I tried to tempt you, you always held fast to your principles. Eventually, I understood. A man who knows restraint and a woman who insists on respecting herself are the ones who truly deserve happiness.”
Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Shang Qi asked instead, “If you understood all that, why did you make me stay by your side without ever giving me a proper place? And why did you force a kiss on me that night?”
Luo Yichen’s voice was edged with anger.
“Because I love you! I can’t stand seeing other men circling around you!”
“You had a wife by your side, and I had to keep watching. Was I supposed to be able to stand that?” Shang Qi asked sorrowfully, tears slipping uncontrollably down her cheeks.
She had wanted to ask Luo Yichen that question for a long time. For three years, every time Shang Qi began to fall for him, she reminded herself that he was married. Love was selfish; she was not generous enough to share one man with another woman.
Luo Yichen’s kindness toward her had, in truth, been a cruel thing. It had drawn her ever deeper into love, while leaving her nowhere to escape.
When Luo Yichen saw the depth of her pain, he finally understood that she had never been indifferent. She had simply loved him too deeply to compromise.
He pulled her into his arms and said gently, “I’m divorced now. We can be together openly and honestly.”
But Shang Qi shoved him away with all her strength.
“My heart is exhausted! These three years have made me too afraid to love you. I’m begging you—please let me go, all right?”
Unable to bear her rejection, Luo Yichen was stricken with pain.
“I only want to ask you one thing. Did you ever love me? Don’t think about anything else. Just answer me with your heart.”
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