Chapter 46 Afflicted with Aphasia

Xi Jingpeng noticed that Shang Qi was trembling all over. Recalling that incident was simply too agonizing for her. He said, "Do you still want to go to the interrogation? If you're not feeling well, I can have the lawyer ask the police for a postponement."

Shang Qi tried her best to calm herself down. She replied, "I'm fine!"

"Don't push yourself!" Xi Jingpeng was extremely worried about her current state.

Shang Qi turned to the lawyer and said, "Let's go in!"

Xu Pengfei glanced at Xi Jingpeng's expression and accompanied Shang Qi into the interrogation room. After the police officer invited them to sit down, he said, "I know reliving this is very painful for you, but I hope you can cooperate with our work so that justice can be served to you sooner."

Shang Qi nodded and began to answer the officer's questions. The inquiry covered a lot of ground, including some details from the time of the incident. Throughout the process, Shang Qi felt as though she was being stripped bare and scrutinized. Her mental state was on the verge of collapse...

Seeing that the situation was turning bad, Xu Pengfei intervened, "Officer Zhao, my client's mental state is not very good right now. Can we conclude the questioning as soon as possible?"

"Very well. I have just one last question."

The officer took a few pages of documents from a folder and said, "This is something I just found online. It states that you are Luo Yichen's lover and that the two of you have been secretly cohabitating for a long time."

Shang Qi took the documents and was shocked to see photographs of herself and Luo Yichen in an intimate embrace printed on them. Holding those few pages of paper, they felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and her hands would not stop shaking. Shang Qi desperately opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but not a single word came out. Her entire body shook violently, and her tears had already stained the photographs.

Xu Pengfei steadied her and asked anxiously, "Miss Shang, what's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

Shang Qi still opened her mouth desperately, yet no voice came out.

Xu Pengfei said, "Officer, I need to take her to the hospital. Whatever else you need, we can discuss it when we return."

"All right!"

By the time Shang Qi entered the interrogation room, Shang Wende had just arrived at the police station. Yu Xiufen complained, "What took you so long? Our daughter has already gone in with the police."

"Traffic jam!" He looked at Xi Jingpeng and asked, "Is this gentleman Qiqi's friend?"

Xi Jingpeng took the initiative to introduce himself, "Hello, Uncle! I am Xi Jingpeng."

Shang Wende looked at the imposing man before him, feeling equally puzzled: How was it that his daughter had such a friend, yet had never mentioned him before? Still, he was deeply grateful for his help.

At that moment, they saw Xu Pengfei supporting Shang Qi as she came out. Her complexion looked extremely poor.

Xi Jingpeng strode over and asked anxiously, "What's wrong with Qiqi?"

"She suddenly lost her voice. Let's get to the hospital immediately."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiufen was overwhelmed with worry. She felt a familiar, sharp pang in her heart, and beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. Enduring her discomfort, she joined the others in taking Shang Qi to the hospital. Xi Jingpeng briefly described the situation to the doctor.

Dr. Lin stated, "We just ran a comprehensive physical examination, and every aspect of her body is completely normal. I think you need to visit the psychiatry department. Follow me!"

After the psychiatric examination, the doctor declared, "This is temporary aphonia. The patient has suffered continuous, severe trauma and is experiencing this due to excessive psychological pressure. It is a self-protective defense mechanism to escape reality."

Xi Jingpeng asked, "Doctor, when will she get better?"

"It's hard to say for sure. Some people recover on their own within a week, while others don't improve for several years. Of course, some people recover their voices suddenly after another unexpected stimulus. In short, try not to put any more pressure on her."

Shang Wende asked, "I'd like to take her home to recuperate, is that possible?"

The doctor replied, "No problem. I'll prescribe some medication; just make sure she takes it on time."

As soon as Shang Qi returned home from the hospital, she locked herself in her room. At that moment, she hated Luo Yichen. The deep affection she once felt had been gradually erased by the hatred in her heart. She opened her computer and saw numerous reports about the incident. When she read how the media maliciously attacked her for seducing Luo Yichen, her heart shattered completely into pieces once again.

Xi Jingpeng was frantic with anxiety and felt utterly helpless. Shang Qi's parents were equally at a loss. They could only wait patiently, hoping that Shang Qi would find a way to forgive herself.

Luo Yichen received a phone call from the dean informing him that Shang Qi had developed aphonia, and his heart ached indescribably. He mused to himself: The dean had previously said she was fine and ready for discharge. How could she suddenly become like this? Could she have suffered another shock?

At that thought, Luo Yichen sat down in front of his computer and browsed the news online. In an instant, his face turned livid, and he clenched his teeth in fury. Luo Yichen called Mu Lichen and roared, "Was that news online arranged by you? Why didn't you get my consent?"

Mu Lichen's ears rang from the force of the roar. He said with a hint of displeasure, "This is Grandfather's order!"

Hearing that his grandfather had already taken matters into his own hands, Luo Yichen grew even more concerned about Shang Qi's plight. He said frantically, "You're deliberately framing her! Shang Qi never seduced me."

Mu Lichen retorted, "Didn't you also suspect her of drugging you?"

Luo Yichen suddenly lost his confidence and stammered vaguely, "Before the truth is completely clear, I don't want to wrong anyone. Actually, at the time of the incident, I also..."

Mu Lichen caught the implication in his words, but didn't want to probe too deeply right now. Instead, he said, "Luo Corporation's stock hit its lower limit right at the opening today. Right now, the truth doesn't matter at all. What you need to do is figure out how to salvage your image; leave everything else alone for the time being."

Luo Yichen said with boundless sorrow, "How can I just leave it alone? If this continues, Shang Qi will be driven to a desperate end."

Mu Lichen reprimanded him, "So what? Even if you abandoned the Luo Group, you wouldn't be able to undo the harm you've caused her. She hates you to the bone now, and there's nothing left between the two of you. So, forget about her! For the sake of the Luo family, she must be sacrificed."

"Weren't you close with her at one point too? How can you abandon her like this?"

"Because you are my brother. If anyone has to be sacrificed, it won't be you!"

Luo Yichen rarely heard Lichen call him "brother." At that moment, such fraternal loyalty left him feeling utterly helpless.

Mu Lichen added, "Shang Qi must be sacrificed right now!"

Hearing this, Luo Yichen slammed his phone onto the floor, smashing it to pieces. He loathed his current actions, yet felt completely powerless to change anything...

Instigated by the Luo Corporation, numerous reporters swarmed the entrance of Shang Qi's home, trying to interview her. When Xi Jingpeng heard about this, he was driven mad with worry, terrified that Shang Qi would suffer another blow. Unable to get through to her by phone, he went to her house to find her. The moment Xi Jingpeng arrived at the entrance, he was surrounded by reporters who recognized him.

Fortunately, he had brought a few bodyguards along, who helped "escort" the reporters away. After Xi Jingpeng and Lawyer Xu squeezed inside, they knocked on the door repeatedly, but no one opened it. As it happened, Shang Wende returned just then, unlocking the door to let them in. As it turned out, too many people had been knocking on the door over the past two days, and Yu Xiufen was too frightened to open it casually anymore.

Xi Jingpeng asked, "Uncle, how is Shang Qi?"

Shang Wende sighed and said, "Her aphonia still hasn't improved."

"This matter can only be resolved through legal means. Lawyer Xu has already drafted the relevant documents. However, there are some questions he needs to ask the client directly. I'd like to let the lawyer speak with Shang Qi; we need to clarify some details of the case."

Shang Wende said worriedly, "She can't speak right now, and her emotional state is still very unstable. I'm afraid that any further distress will cause her to completely collapse."

Xi Jingpeng shared this deep concern. After a moment of thought, he said, "How about I go talk to her? We've known each other for over two years, so it'll be easier for her to communicate with me than with a stranger. Shang Qi isn't that fragile; she'll pull through. Right now, the lawyer needs first-hand information to adequately prepare the case for defense."

"Very well! Just don't stay too long!"

Xi Jingpeng pushed open the door to Shang Qi's room and saw her sitting on the floor by the bed, tear tracks still staining her cheeks. He said, "Qiqi! Are you feeling any better?"

Shang Qi did not respond, continuing to stare blankly at the floor before her.

Xi Jingpeng squatted down and gently patted her shoulder. Shang Qi flinched and curled into a ball out of fright. He said, "It's me, Jingpeng!"

Shang Qi raised her head and recognized him. Her eyes seemed to ask: "Why are you here?"

Seeing how haggard Shang Qi looked, Xi Jingpeng felt a sharp ache in his heart. He pulled the trembling Shang Qi into his embrace and murmured, "Don't be afraid! This will all pass soon. Trust me, I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."

Cradled in his arms, Shang Qi looked utterly panicked and lost. Especially upon catching the scent of his male presence, she pushed him away in a panic, like a frightened bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.

Noticing the terror in Shang Qi's eyes, Xi Jingpeng vowed silently to himself: I will make Luo Yichen pay for this. He comforted her, "Don't be afraid, I won't touch you. I've already arranged for a lawyer to file a lawsuit, and we want to talk to you about what happened that day. Can you answer some questions now?"

Shang Qi nodded, pointed to her mouth, and then waved her hand dismissively.

Xi Jingpeng fetched paper and a pen and handed them to her, saying, "If you can't speak, just write it down. I'll start asking now. When the incident occurred, did you clearly express your resistance?"

Shang Qi nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her eyes. She did not want to recall any fragment of that time ever again.

"Were you tied up back then? Why didn't you open the door and escape?"

Shang Qi wrote on the paper: The door was locked.

"Afterward, did you accept any money or gifts from the other party?"

Shang Qi shook her head.

"Did anything unusual happen at the time?"

Shang Qi thought for a moment and wrote down how Luo Yichen had flown into a rage after receiving a phone call.

"Who made that phone call?"

Shang Qi continued to shake her head.

Xi Jingpeng believed this detail was crucial and resolved to investigate it thoroughly.

"I need to ask a very critical question, though I know it will be hard for you to accept."

Shang Qi gave a reluctant, arduous nod.

With a heavy knot in his throat, Xi Jingpeng asked, "Can you briefly write down how he assaulted you?"

Fear filled Shang Qi's eyes as her trembling hand wrote: He violated me twice... The handwriting was crooked and distorted. She could not write a single word past that point. Large, heavy tears fell onto the paper, blurring the ink.