Chapter 42 She Called the Police

Yu Xiufen wiped away her tears while urging, "Qiqi, please stop crying. We won't ask anything else. Just lie down and rest." As she spoke, tears welled up in her own eyes, but fearing she would only upset Shang Qi further, she quickly brushed them away.

Shang Wende stood in silence, his hand gripping the hospital bed rail so tightly that the veins on the back of his hand bulged. Consumed by a fury that bordered on irrationality, he turned and stormed out of the ward.

Seeing this, Yu Xiufen chased after him, calling out, "Qiqi's father, what are you doing? Come back here at once!"

He turned around and declared, "I will not let Luo Yichen get away with this!"

With that, he left the hospital without a backward glance. Yu Xiufen felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her heart, and her body was drenched in cold sweat. She leaned against the wall for a long while until the intensity of the discomfort subsided, then returned to the ward to look after Shang Qi.

Shang Wende first went to the Luo Corporation, only to be told by the receptionist that Mr. Luo was not in. Scanning his surroundings, he spotted the directory and followed the signs to the top floor. This time, he asked no questions and charged straight toward the president’s office. The secretary tried to block his path, shouting, "Mr. Luo is not in! You cannot enter!"

Hearing the commotion, Mu Lichen walked over and said, "Sir, Mr. Luo is indeed not here. I am his assistant, Mu Lichen. You can discuss whatever issue you have with me."

Shang Wende ignored him and forced his way into the office, searching everywhere, but Luo Yichen was nowhere to be found. Refusing to give up, he stormed through the hallway, checking every office. "Luo Yichen, get out here!" he bellowed in a rage. "What kind of man are you? Hiding like a coward, unwilling to face the consequences of your actions!"

Mu Lichen studied Shang Wende, thinking to himself that the man’s features bore a striking resemblance to Shang Qi’s. Given his age, he was likely her father. But why was he behaving like a brute, barging in everywhere? Still, he supposed it was understandable; no parent could remain calm when their daughter was caught up in such a scandal.

Mu Lichen firmly restrained Shang Wende and said, "I am a colleague of Shang Qi. May we speak in private?"

Realizing he would not find Luo Yichen, Shang Wende agreed to talk to Mu Lichen, hoping he might be able to extract Luo Yichen’s whereabouts. They went into Mu Lichen’s office.

After inviting Shang Wende to sit, Mu Lichen said, "I truly never expected something like this to happen. How is Shang Qi doing in the hospital?"

At the thought of his daughter weeping in her bed, Shang Wende felt a sharp pang of agony. He let out a long, sorrowful sigh. "Alas! Aside from crying, she won't say a word."

Seeing Shang Wende’s heartbreak, Mu Lichen couldn't help but say, "I am sorry..." He caught the suspicious look in Shang Wende’s eyes and immediately changed his tone. "I had intended to visit her, but company matters have kept me tied up. Please convey my regards to her on my behalf."

Shang Wende didn't overthink it and replied, "I thank you on Qiqi's behalf, but there is no need. She wants to be left alone right now."

Mu Lichen nodded in understanding. "I am both a colleague and a friend to both Luo Yichen and Shang Qi. I believe there must be a reason for this occurrence. Luo Yichen is not the type to act so recklessly."

Hearing the name "Luo Yichen," Shang Wende asked angrily, "Where is he exactly? As his assistant, surely you know?"

Mu Lichen urged, "Please, calm down. Don't let this ruin your health! What's done is done; the priority now is how to resolve it. Being angry won't help! Besides, Shang Qi needs your care."

Shang Wende could tell that every word out of his mouth was in defense of Luo Yichen. He realized at once that the man was merely acting as a lobbyist. "I want to see Luo Yichen!" Shang Wende declared fiercely. "If he has anything to say, let him say it to my face."

Mu Lichen could only stall again. "He has gone abroad on a business trip. If you have any demands, I can pass them on for you."

Seeing that Mu Lichen was unmoved by both soft and hard tactics, Shang Wende gritted his teeth. "Then we shall see each other in court! I will make sure Luo Yichen is thrown in prison. I will make him pay the price for what he has done!"

With that, he stormed out. Mu Lichen stared at his retreating figure with a furrowed brow, thinking: *It is clear they will not let this go. This lawsuit will not be easy to fight.* At the moment, public opinion was critical. It would not only affect the trial but also the stock price of the Luo Corporation. With this in mind, he dialed the public relations manager and summoned him to his office to discuss a strategy.

Just as they were conferring, Mu Lichen’s phone rang. He gestured for the PR manager to go and implement their plan. Once the manager left, Mu Lichen answered the call. "Grandfather!"

Old Mr. Luo immediately demanded, "Where is Luo Yichen?"

Mu Lichen knew it was no longer possible to hide the truth. It seemed the media's onslaught was fiercer than he had anticipated. "Luo Yichen is at his small apartment," he reported truthfully. "His phone is switched off. Would you like the landline number?"

"I don't have time for him right now!" Old Mr. Luo snapped. "Tell him to stay put and stop causing trouble. Shixun and I are on our way to the company. Tell the department managers to meet in the conference room at ten. I have important work to delegate."

Old Mr. Luo and Luo Shixun arrived at the conference room on time and personally took charge of the operations. The managers listened intently to his instructions.

"You have likely heard about what happened last night," Old Mr. Luo stated. "Until the situation is fully investigated, Luo Yichen is removed from his position as president. All company affairs will be managed by Shixun for the time being."

"I do not want to hear any rumors circulating within the company. Managers, ensure you manage the morale of your staff; do not let outside gossip affect normal operations. The PR and Sales departments, in particular, must explain the situation patiently to the media and our clients to salvage our plummeting image. Coordinate with Mu Lichen on the specifics."

"Now, I would like a brief report from each department on the current state of affairs..."

After the reports were finished, Luo Shixun raised several points and assigned various tasks. By the time the meeting concluded, it was already two in the afternoon.

Once everyone had dispersed, only Old Mr. Luo, Luo Shixun, and Mu Lichen remained. Looking weary, Old Mr. Luo said, "Lichen, you are familiar with company matters, so please pay close attention. Cooperate with Shixun in all things. Furthermore, the other party has contacted the police and will likely file suit soon. I want you to act as Chen’s defense attorney."

Mu Lichen hesitated. "Grandfather, I only took the bar exam for fun. While I handled some cases during my internship at a law firm years ago, my experience is limited. I haven't practiced in two years, and I fear I am ill-equipped to handle this defense."

"Lichen, have confidence in yourself," Old Mr. Luo insisted. "I have reviewed the cases you handled; you won every single one. That is no small feat for an intern."

"This matter involves Chen’s privacy. As his grandfather, there are many details I cannot easily ask about. It will be easier for you to discuss the facts of the case with him. Besides you, I truly don't know who else I can trust right now."

Faced with Old Mr. Luo's trust, Mu Lichen felt a sense of unease. "I will do my best," he replied.

Old Mr. Luo nodded in satisfaction. Yet, behind his look of trust, there was a faint glimmer of suspicion. Luo Shixun observed everything, unsure of what his father was planning.

Luo Yichen had not slept all night, sitting awake until dawn. He drank continuously, with several empty bottles scattered on the floor. He had carefully replayed the events of the evening in his mind, but he was filled with questions and could find no logical explanation.

When day broke, he opened his computer to check the media's reaction. As expected, the story had been published online overnight, complete with photos and videos. Netizens were condemning and even cursing him.

As Luo Yichen scrolled through the news, his expression grew increasingly grim. He opened another news portal: a photo of Shang Qi at her doorway was splashed across the front page. In the photo, Shang Qi looked fearful, ashamed, and, above all, heartbroken. Through the doorway behind her, one could vaguely see him running off the bed, half-naked.

Suddenly, Luo Yichen felt that the man in the photo was despicable, utterly unlike himself. He slammed the computer shut, unable to bear the sight of that wretched scene. He gritted his teeth until they clicked, his eyes burning with rage. He swore that he would not let the person who set him up go unpunished.

As the image of Shang Qi flashed before his eyes, Luo Yichen was torn between heartache and hatred. Memories of their happier times flooded his mind. How he wished that everything from last night had been a nightmare. But in reality, the nightmare had only just begun.

*Ring!* The jarring sound of the phone cut through his thoughts.

"What is it?" Luo Yichen’s voice was hoarse.

"Are you alright?" Mu Lichen asked. "Have you eaten?"

Luo Yichen checked the time on the phone and realized it was already afternoon. He had spent hours sitting motionless in front of the computer without realizing it. Not wanting to reveal his disheveled state, he asked, "Are there problems at the company?"

Mu Lichen wisely chose not to press him. "No. Grandfather knows everything, and your father has taken over all company affairs. I just heard that Shang Qi has contacted the police. I made some inquiries, and she is currently undergoing a forensic examination. We cannot wait any longer. If we don't act now, it will be too late."

Upon hearing the words "contacted the police," Luo Yichen narrowed his eyes. "I understand," he said in a chilling tone. *Does Shang Qi hate me that much?* he wondered. *Is she determined to send me to the police station? Or is this all part of her scheme? Since I’ve taken the bait, how could she not reel the line in? I must think carefully about how to respond; I cannot act impulsively.*

Seeing his silence, Mu Lichen urged, "This is no time for sentimentality. We must strike first."