Chapter Thirty: Offering an Apology

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Shang Qi was genuinely furious. What hurt her most was the way Luo Yichen had ignored her all this time, leaving her feeling rather wounded. She still said nothing, her eyes fixed stubbornly on the computer, though her heart had already flown across the room.

Luo Yichen said again, “I only lost my temper with you that day because Xi Jingpeng provoked me. Don’t be angry anymore, all right?”

For the dignified President Luo, this was already an extraordinary concession. In all his life, he had never pleaded with a woman like this. Shang Qi’s emotions were thrown into turmoil by him. After hurriedly sending out an email, she said, “Someone made you angry, so you came back and took it out on me? Luo Yichen, I’ve had enough of you! Don’t come looking for me again!”

Luo Yichen was rebuffed once more. He thought bitterly, This woman really cannot be provoked. Look what I’ve done—I’ve only made trouble for myself. But how am I supposed to coax her into forgiving me? She’s furious right now. I’d better not confront her head-on. If sparks start flying, I’ll have an even harder time cleaning up the mess.

And so Luo Yichen left looking like a man who had been thoroughly mistreated. When Shang Qi saw him walk away just like that, an inexplicable emptiness opened in her heart, and she felt miserable.

Back in his office, Luo Yichen casually flipped through his emails, but his mind was occupied with figuring out how to make peace with Shang Qi. Suddenly, he saw one particular email, and delight spread across his face.

Luo Yichen had his secretary summon Shang Qi. Assuming he was about to cause trouble again, Shang Qi entered and said coldly, “Aside from work, I have nothing to discuss with you.”

“I want to discuss work with you,” Luo Yichen said calmly. “Did you send Chairman Luo an email today?”

“Yes.” The moment Shang Qi realized the subject was work, her attitude became respectful. In front of the president, she still had to conduct herself like an employee.

Luo Yichen challenged her. “Did you check the contents carefully? You actually sent last year’s year-end report!”

“What?” Sweat began to bead on Shang Qi’s forehead.

It was only an email, but it had gone directly to Chairman Luo. If she could even make a mistake like this, how could the company continue entrusting her with important work? Her position as vice president might not be safe.

As for who was responsible, Luo Yichen was partly to blame. If he had not been “disturbing” her just now, she would never have sent the wrong file. But she could not possibly say that now. She would have to rely on Luo Yichen to smooth things over.

Shang Qi said nervously, “President Luo, I’m sorry! I didn’t do it on purpose. Has Chairman Luo called you?”

“Not yet. You copied me on the email, so I spotted the mistake first. But he’ll notice it soon enough.” Luo Yichen deliberately frowned.

Only then did Shang Qi relax, seeing that there was still room to remedy the situation. “How about I send another email right away? I’ll apologize to Chairman Luo as well.”

“Would that really erase the damage? You know how fierce the competition within the company is. The current head of administration was personally promoted by Grandpa. I went to considerable trouble to put you in the position of vice president. And now, before you’ve even completed a year of probation, something like this has happened. What am I supposed to do?”

Seeing that Luo Yichen was unwilling to let her off, Shang Qi could only continue, “I know it isn’t that simple. Please help me as much as you can.”

“Help you?” Luo Yichen immediately seized upon the words. Narrowing his eyes, he said, “Didn’t you just say you didn’t want to deal with me? Now that you need something, you come running to me for help?”

“That has nothing to do with work. I’ve worked hard for the Luo family all these years. I hope you can be a little more understanding.”

Seeing how resolutely she refused to mention anything “personal,” Luo Yichen silently seethed. Shang Qi’s performance had always been good, though she did make the occasional mistake. Over the past three years, Luo Yichen had gone to no small amount of trouble on her behalf. He had secretly covered up many of her errors.

As for the email just now, he had already logged into his grandfather’s mailbox and deleted it. He was only making things difficult for her now because he wanted to force her to reconcile with him.

He said, “Since you insist on keeping work and private matters completely separate, I can’t abuse my position for personal gain either.”

Pressed to the limit, Shang Qi asked, “Then what do you want me to do before you’ll help me?”

“What do you think? Don’t you know what I want?”

Shang Qi’s face immediately turned red. At that moment, Luo Yichen was nothing short of a devil. Gritting her teeth, she said, “At worst, I’ll quit. I still won’t let you get your way.”

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“Acting out of spite won’t help. Think carefully. What would be most advantageous for you?”

Shang Qi calmed herself and said through clenched teeth, “What do you want me to agree to?”

Seeing that she had relented, Luo Yichen still did not dare make an overly outrageous demand. He said, “I want you to spend one day with me this weekend.”

“That’s all?” Shang Qi looked at him in astonishment.

“That’s all.”

“Fine. I agree.”

“I’ll pick you up at your home at ten on Sunday morning.”

“No. Let’s meet somewhere outside instead.” Luo Yichen’s car was far too conspicuous, and Shang Qi did not want her mother to misunderstand again.

Luo Yichen did not insist. “Then we’ll meet at the entrance to your residential complex.”

“Fine.”

After they settled the matter, Shang Qi returned to her office with a restless heart. Not long afterward, Luo Yichen called her and told her that she only needed to send the email again. This time, Shang Qi was a hundred times more careful.

On Sunday, Luo Yichen waited precisely on time at the entrance to Shang Qi’s residential complex. His Rolls-Royce once again attracted countless eyes. Today he was dressed casually in jeans and leisurewear, looking far less formal than he did in his usual suits.

As soon as Luo Yichen saw Shang Qi arrive, he got out of the car and opened the door for her. The gesture drew just as much attention.

Once she was inside, Shang Qi said awkwardly, “Do you really have to be so conspicuous? Everyone is staring at me.”

“I only opened the car door for you. What’s so interesting about that?”

Shang Qi noticed that people were still watching them. “Let’s go.”

Luo Yichen ignored her and pulled her into his arms, kissing her once. Several people standing near the car witnessed the scene.

Shang Qi snapped, “If you do that again, I’m getting out immediately.”

Luo Yichen merely smiled, started the car, and drove away.

“Where are we going?” Shang Qi asked.

“To a ski resort.”

“I can’t ski.”

“Perfect. I’ll teach you. If you really can’t learn, we’ll build a snowman together.”

Shang Qi could tell that Luo Yichen had put considerable thought into the arrangement. When they arrived at the ski resort, everything before them was blanketed in white.

The moment Luo Yichen got out of the car, he took Shang Qi’s hand. “Come on.”

Shang Qi did not want to be so intimate with him, but she could not pull her hand free. They entered the central lodge of the ski resort together.

Luo Yichen was a premium member there, and someone immediately came over to greet them.

“President Luo, everything you requested is ready.”

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“Good. Qi Qi, go with her and change your shoes.”

After putting on her ski boots, Shang Qi could barely walk. Seeing her clumsy movements, Luo Yichen laughed. “How did you turn into a penguin that can’t even stand upright?”

“Who says I can’t? I’m just not used to them yet. I’ll be fine in a moment.” Shang Qi’s face was full of indignation.

“Of course. Come on, then. Don’t ask me to hold you up later.”

Shang Qi wobbled out of the lodge. A slope lay outside, leading down to the ski field. Luo Yichen glided down it with steady, practiced steps and reached the flat ground with ease.

Shang Qi looked down and felt a little frightened. Fortunately, the slope was only a little over six feet high. She closed her eyes and rushed downward.

For a first-time skier, maintaining balance was the most important thing. Shang Qi failed to lower her center of gravity, and gravity sent her pitching straight toward the snow.

Luo Yichen reached out to catch her. But Shang Qi thought, If I let him, I’ll definitely land in his arms.

So she immediately twisted herself aside and crashed squarely into the snow.

The instant she fell, her face was covered in snow. Shang Qi began to regret it. Perhaps she should have simply let Luo Yichen catch her.

Luo Yichen was somewhat displeased that she had deliberately avoided him. Standing to one side, he said, “Falling onto snow doesn’t hurt. Hurry up and get up.”

Hearing his unsympathetic remark, Shang Qi wiped the snow from her face and glared at him. The ski boots were so cumbersome that, after struggling for a long while, she could do nothing but spin in place.

The hem of her clothes was already damp with melted snow, and she began to feel cold. She struggled on the ground with all four limbs for quite some time, yet still could not stand.

Afraid that she would catch cold, Luo Yichen walked over. “Give me your hand.”

Shang Qi did not want to surrender so easily. But after thinking it over, she finally reached out.

Luo Yichen gripped her firmly and tried to pull her up. Unexpectedly, Shang Qi leaned sideways, and the two of them fell to the ground together.

Luo Yichen did not think she had done it deliberately. The instant they fell, he twisted himself beneath her to cushion the impact.

Shang Qi landed squarely on top of him. She had not expected him to do that and asked anxiously, “Are you hurt?”

Suppressing the pain in his back, Luo Yichen answered with a smile, “I’m fine.”

Shang Qi was filled with remorse. “I’m sorry!”

Only then did Luo Yichen realize that she had intentionally made him fall. Still, if that tumble had earned him her concern, it had been worth it.

Delighted, Luo Yichen could not resist kissing her cheek. The position in which they lay on the ground was already suggestive, and with the kiss, several people nearby stopped to watch.

Embarrassed, Shang Qi tried to escape. But she could not stand, so she had no choice but to roll away first, putting some distance between them.

Luo Yichen was wearing sunglasses and was not easily recognized, which was why he had dared to kiss her so boldly. Even so, he could not allow people to keep staring at them. If someone recognized him and the incident made the headlines, he would only create another headache for the public relations department.

After getting to his feet, Luo Yichen walked back to Shang Qi. This time, he lifted her from the side. The moment he exerted himself, a sharp ache shot through his back. It seemed he had been hurt more seriously than he thought.

Once Shang Qi was standing, she saw snow clinging to his hair, face, and eyebrows. He looked exactly like Santa Claus.

The dignified President Luo had been reduced to this. Shang Qi began to giggle. Her laughter rang like silver bells, clear and pleasant.

Luo Yichen was rather gloomy, covered as he was in snow. But when he saw Shang Qi’s smile, his heart opened with joy.

Brushing the snow from himself, he said, “Is it really that amusing to watch me make a fool of myself? I wonder who caused all this.”

!!

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