Chapter 34: A Restless Heart and Wandering Mind
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The head of security replied, “I don’t think so. Everyone was just sent to the entrance to maintain order.”
“Pull the surveillance footage from this elevator immediately, and send someone up to inspect it. I suspect someone may be trapped inside.” With that, Luo Yichen took another elevator up to the twenty-fourth floor.
Shang Qi and Mu Lichen were indeed trapped inside the elevator. No matter how many times they pressed the emergency call button, no one answered. Their phones had no signal either, so all they could do was wait for help.
Mu Lichen kept his eyes fixed on Shang Qi. With so little room inside the elevator, she had nowhere to hide from his gaze, and she grew increasingly embarrassed. At last, she could not help asking, “Why do you keep looking at me?”
Mu Lichen narrowed his eyes slightly and answered frankly, “I want to know what makes you special.”
Shang Qi felt the air around them grow charged with ambiguity. Embarrassed, she turned her head away. But Mu Lichen’s gaze followed her. His eyes held a warm tenderness. If Shang Qi’s heart had not already belonged to Luo Yichen, she might well have been moved by such gentleness.
Mu Lichen knew the moment was not yet right, so he did not press any further. He merely took Shang Qi’s hand and said, “Don’t worry. Someone will come to rescue us soon.”
By then, Luo Yichen had already had the elevator doors opened. The moment Shang Qi saw him, she felt guilty and immediately withdrew her hand. Luo Yichen noticed her unnatural expression, then glanced at Mu Lichen, certain that something had happened between them.
He studied the two of them and asked, “Are either of you hurt?”
“No,” Mu Lichen replied. “Are the demonstrators still blocking the entrance?”
Shang Qi lowered her head, afraid that Luo Yichen would notice the relationship between her and Mu Lichen. Yet her expression only deepened his suspicions.
Luo Yichen kept his eyes on Shang Qi as he answered, “I called the police. The situation at the entrance has been brought under control. By now, I expect the crowd has dispersed.”
Shang Qi said, “That was really frightening today! How could those people be so unreasonable?”
Luo Yichen assumed she was still shaken. He said, “Lichen, I’ll leave things here to you. Shang Qi has had quite a fright, so I’ll take her home first.”
Mu Lichen nodded and watched them leave.
Once they were in the car, Luo Yichen said with concern, “I told you not to come. You insisted on coming anyway. I won’t forgive anyone who dared lay a hand on you.”
“Are you planning to sue those employees?”
“Yes. The police have already detained several people who incited the incident. They surrounded you, so we can sue them for intentional assault. We have a very good chance of winning.”
Shang Qi urged him, “Perhaps they only acted so violently because they were trying to keep their jobs. I wasn’t hurt, after all. Couldn’t we settle this privately?”
“It isn’t as simple as you think. This demonstration was directed at the company, and it was carefully planned in advance. If we don’t deal with it through legal means and set an example, we’ll be inviting trouble in the future.”
Shang Qi fell silent for a long while before saying, “There is something strange about the demonstration. As the saying goes, knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory in every battle. Until we understand everything, it would be wiser to remain still and observe. Why don’t we first see how the police handle the matter?”
Luo Yichen nodded. “We shouldn’t act too hastily. I’ve already arranged for the company’s legal representative to contact the police and find out what they intend to do.”
By then, dusk had fallen. Shang Qi’s phone rang; it was her mother, Yu Xiufen, urging her to come home early for dinner. Luo Yichen said, “We’ll discuss how to handle this tomorrow. I’ll take you home first.”
He started the car and drove her to the foot of her apartment building.
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He said, “I’m hungry too.”
“My mother usually only cooks enough for three people.”
Luo Yichen lit a cigarette and silently smoked beside her, a cloud of smoke rising around him. Shang Qi had no idea what he was thinking. Afraid that he might actually follow her upstairs, she could only resort to another delaying tactic.
She said, “The demonstration needs to be dealt with urgently. You should focus on that for now. In the meantime, I can talk to my parents about you.”
“That sounds good.” Luo Yichen’s expression softened slightly.
With that, Shang Qi got out of the car. She waited until his car had driven away before hurrying toward the entrance. Suddenly, a dark figure appeared before her, startling her. She caught the strong smell of alcohol and, upon looking more closely, realized it was Xi Jingpeng.
Swaying unsteadily, Xi Jingpeng said, “Qiqi, answer me… Do you really love Luo Yichen that much?”
Shang Qi steadied him. “How did you get this drunk? And why did you come all the way here?”
“Answer my question first. Why did you choose him?”
At that moment, Shang Qi was certain that she did not love Xi Jingpeng. Hardening her heart, she replied, “I have no reason to answer that. What are we to each other? Do I owe you an explanation?”
Xi Jingpeng suddenly pulled her into his arms. “Please don’t treat me like this. I can’t bear living without you. Even if you only see me as a friend, that would be enough! I don’t want us to become strangers.”
Shang Qi struggled instinctively. “Xi Jingpeng, this can’t go on. If you can truly treat me as nothing more than a friend, then I’ll do the same. Let me go first!”
Xi Jingpeng released her. His expression was dull, as though he had suffered a devastating blow.
Shang Qi continued, “There’s something between Luo Yichen and me that you can’t imagine. My heart has no room for anyone else.”
“Luo Yichen again…” Xi Jingpeng murmured, his voice utterly devoid of strength.
He walked away with heavy, dragging steps. This time, Xi Jingpeng had truly been hurt. Shang Qi turned and headed home. She could not look back, could not soften her heart, and could not give him the slightest hope. If she could not give him what he wanted, it was better that they had never begun. This was the best possible ending.
Luo Yichen returned to the department store. Mu Lichen had already finished dealing with matters and gone home. Luo Yichen personally inspected each department once more before leaving. When he arrived home, he saw Old Master Luo, Mr. and Mrs. Luo, and Mu Lichen gathered in the sitting room, apparently discussing something important.
Yao Minzhi held a stack of photographs. “Dad, take a look first. Which family’s daughter do you think is the best?”
Luo Yichen cast a profound, unreadable glance at Mu Lichen and interrupted, “Mom, are you choosing a partner for Lichen?”
Mu Lichen smiled. “They’re choosing a blind-date candidate for you. It has nothing to do with me. Grandfather asked me to come and offer advice.”
Luo Yichen said seriously, “I already have a woman I like.”
“Who is she?” Old Master Luo asked in surprise. “Tell your grandfather quickly.”
“I’m keeping it secret for now. I’ll introduce her to everyone very soon.”
After saying that, Luo Yichen went back to his room. The people in the sitting room exchanged bewildered looks, uncertain whether he was telling the truth. Mu Lichen felt that he had to step up his efforts. If Luo Yichen introduced Shang Qi to everyone first, he would be at a severe disadvantage.
For several days, Luo Yichen had been pestering Shang Qi to take him home to meet her parents. She no longer knew how to avoid him. One evening after work, she hurriedly clocked out and tried to escape, afraid that Luo Yichen would catch her. But as soon as she reached the parking lot, she saw him waiting beside her car.
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Mu Lichen happened to be leaving work by car as well, and he saw that she was hiding from Luo Yichen. He called out, “Shang Qi, why haven’t you gone home yet?”
Shang Qi jumped, terrified that the person calling her might be Luo Yichen. Her eyes darted about, and she replied, “I sprained my wrist today. Could you give me a ride?”
“No problem!” Mu Lichen answered at once.
His car was parked nearby, and Shang Qi hurried inside. Once they had left the company, she let out a long breath, as though relieved of a heavy burden.
Mu Lichen asked, “Would you have dinner with me tonight?”
“What?”
“Didn’t you say you’d treat me next time?”
“Well…” Shang Qi truly was not in the mood to have dinner with anyone. But Mu Lichen had helped her repeatedly at work lately. Under the circumstances, she ought to buy him a meal and strengthen their friendship.
Mu Lichen continued, “There’s something important I’d like to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll tell you after dinner.”
Shang Qi felt somewhat puzzled, but she could only follow him to a restaurant. Mu Lichen had arranged a candlelit dinner for her.
After the meal, he said, “The fact that we met through a matchmaking arrangement must be a kind of fate. These days, I’ve gradually begun to feel something more for you. How do you feel about me?”
Shang Qi slowly understood what he was trying to say. But she and Luo Yichen were still entangled in a hopeless mess; she had no energy left for an ambiguous relationship with Mu Lichen.
She said, “You’re a very good colleague and friend.”
“Don’t be so quick to decide. Qiqi, both of us fought hard to earn a place at the Luo Corporation. Compared with people who were born with everything, I understand better how to cherish what I have. If you’re willing to accept me, it would be a wise choice.”
Shang Qi sensed that Mu Lichen was hinting at something. Perhaps he had noticed her relationship with Luo Yichen.
She said, “I’ve never thought about developing a relationship with you. I’m sorry.”
“Is it because of Luo Yichen?” Mu Lichen pressed.
Shang Qi was momentarily speechless, not knowing how to answer.
“You and he will never have a future,” Mu Lichen said with certainty. “Luo Yichen is a man beyond your reach. Qiqi, I was afraid you would sink even deeper, which is why I chose to confess now.”
Shang Qi knew that his words were reasonable. Her already wavering heart began to sway even more violently.
She said, “Everything you’ve said is true. But I still can’t accept you right now.”
From her tone, Mu Lichen knew that she was wavering. “I’m not in a hurry. Take your time to think about it. Let’s start as friends, all right?”
Shang Qi neither agreed nor refused. She thought to herself: Can I really separate myself from Luo Yichen just like that? Perhaps spending time with another man will help me stop depending on him so much.
From that day onward, Mu Lichen frequently asked Shang Qi out, and she tried to spend time with him. She could not deny that being with Mu Lichen made her feel relaxed. But in her heart, there was still only one Luo Yichen.
One day, Luo Yichen finished discussing business with a client late and arrived at the restaurant well past mealtime. As fate would have it, he saw Mu Lichen and Shang Qi chatting and laughing together after dinner. The anger on Luo Yichen’s face flashed and vanished in an instant. Without revealing his feelings, he carried his tray over and sat down beside Shang Qi.
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