Chapter 52: Reluctant Farewell

Luo Yichen said with intense agitation, "No matter how long you waited for her before, she never gave you a chance. It's the same now—she will never fall in love with you."

"After what you did to her, she is even less likely to ever love you."

Veins bulged on Luo Yichen’s forehead with anger, and he said bitterly, "Even if she doesn't love me, she has to marry me! Stop living in a fool's paradise!"

Upon hearing the words "marry me," Xi Jingpeng felt a shock in his heart: Was Luo Yichen going to marry Shang Qi? Had he lost his mind? A marriage like this would never bring happiness!

At this thought, he mustered all his strength once more and broke free from Luo Yichen's grip. Xi Jingpeng turned around and threw a punch at Luo Yichen's face. Luo Yichen dodged to the right and kicked Xi Jingpeng in the shin. Ignoring the pain in his leg, Xi Jingpeng lunged at Luo Yichen again. The two men tumbled into a brawl on the grass.

Although Luo Yichen was skilled in combat, he had not been eating or sleeping well these past few days, leaving him somewhat physically exhausted. Combined with the guilt in his heart, he inevitably hesitated when throwing punches. Xi Jingpeng, however, attacked Luo Yichen with reckless abandon. Just as the two were evenly matched, Luo Yichen suddenly stopped.

He said with sorrow, "Hit me! Consider it letting off steam for Shang Qi!"

Xi Jingpeng landed a few more hard punches. Seeing that Luo Yichen still refused to fight back, he stopped hitting him. Sitting on the grass and breathing heavily, he said, "Even if I beat you to death, it won't undo anything. Turn yourself in to the police! That is the only way to minimize the harm done to Shang Qi."

Luo Yichen lay motionless on the ground for a long time before he spoke. "I cannot do that. This whole affair is a conspiracy targeting the Luo Group. If I turn myself in, the company will suffer a devastating blow. But I will definitely find the person who framed me and bring justice to Shang Qi."

Xi Jingpeng said, "I must truly be a fool to try and talk about conscience with someone as profit-driven as you." With that, he got up and started to walk away.

Luo Yichen sat up and called out to Xi Jingpeng's retreating figure, "I truly love Shang Qi, and I believe you do too. If this matter ultimately only brings her pain, I beg you—take her away before all of this happens."

Xi Jingpeng was startled, not expecting Luo Yichen to say such a thing. At the same time, he had a premonition that an even greater tempest was about to strike. Xi Jingpeng replied, "Even without you saying it, I will protect her well."

Luo Yichen stood up from the ground and dusted off his disheveled clothes. He gazed for a long time in the direction of Shang Qi's home before finally leaving...

Xi Jingpeng had nearly finished preparations for the press conference. Shang Qi secretly overheard the time and location.

She thought to herself: The reporters don't know me; what interests them is Luo Yichen. When the time comes, I just need to shed tears in utter despair, and others will speak on my behalf. A scene like that will be more persuasive than any prepared speech.

After leaving the villa, Luo Yichen returned to the Luo family residence to check on his grandfather. Elder Luo was resting, so Luo Yichen stepped back out. Luo Shuxun said, "Yichen, come and have a drink with me."

At first, the father and son remained quiet, drinking in gloomy silence without uttering a word.

Finally, Luo Shuxun asked, "Can you truly let go of Shang Qi?"

Luo Yichen did not answer. In truth, he desperately wanted to deny the answer buried deep within his heart. If Shang Qi did not agree to his marriage proposal, there would be no turning point for the situation. And if so, he would still have to do what needed to be done. Luo Yichen was afraid that once he admitted it, he wouldn't have the heart to carry on.

Like father, like son. Luo Shuxun could not bear to see his son in such agony. He said, "How about I go and bring up your marriage with the Shang family? Perhaps they will agree?"

"I proposed to her today. But the chances are slim."

"Why don't you leave for a while?"

"I won't run away like you did!"

At that moment, Luo Yichen's phone rang. After he answered, Mu Lichen said, "Xi Jingpeng is holding a press conference tomorrow morning to release some information regarding the case."

Luo Yichen immediately grew tense. He thought to himself: It seems they have no intention of accepting my proposal at all. Perhaps they still regard me as a delusional lunatic. I cannot keep retreating without limits! Even if it means completely sacrificing Shang Qi, I must take corresponding measures.

Suppressing the pain in his heart, he said, "I will send you a video later. Make sure to publicize it tomorrow during the press conference."

After hanging up, Luo Yichen struggled desperately to keep himself from collapsing. It had taken every ounce of his strength just to suppress the agony and make these arrangements. At that moment, he felt as though his heart had been hollowed out, unable to endure any further stimulation. The harm he had inflicted upon Shang Qi was like a boomerang, striking back directly at his own heart.

Luo Shuxun comforted him, "We members of the Luo family are simply burdened by so many unavoidable circumstances. Back then, I didn't run away out of cowardice, but rather because I was afraid of hurting more people, which is why I left."

By now, Luo Yichen wanted some peace and quiet. With heavy steps, he walked out of the Luo residence.

Back at his apartment, Luo Yichen found himself utterly unable to calm down. He dialed Xia Luo's number and said, "Xi Jingpeng is holding a press conference tomorrow. Have someone secretly monitor Shang Qi and see if she goes to the venue tomorrow."

Xia Luo was jolted awake from his slumber. Yawning lazily, he said, "Aren't you going to release some explosive news tomorrow? If you're so worried that Shang Qi won't be able to handle it, then just don't do anything at all!"

"Stop meddling and just do as I say," Luo Yichen said irritably.

"Understood!" Eager to get back to sleep without lingering in a pointless conversation with Luo Yichen, Xia Luo muttered inwardly: This doesn't sound like a lawsuit; it sounds like a couple having a spat. You can't bear to see Shang Qi hurt and hesitate at every turn, but don't make it miserable for me! Having to babysit a "woman" in the middle of the night.

Early the next morning, Shang Wende accompanied Xi Jingpeng to the press conference. Taking advantage of the moment when Xiu Fen stepped out, Shang Qi grabbed her MP3 player and slipped out of the house. Wearing sunglasses and a hooded trench coat, she was difficult for the average person to recognize. Shang Qi hailed a cab, wrote the address on a piece of paper, and told the driver to head straight to the venue.

Luo Yichen had not slept well all night. Early in the morning, Xia Luo called and said, "Shang Qi left alone in a taxi; she's most likely headed to the press conference. Are you still going to release that explosive news?"

Hardening his heart, Luo Yichen said, "She's the one insisting on blowing this out of proportion, so she has no one to blame!"

"You'd better think this through! If she gets hurt by this heavy artillery shell, don't come crying to me later. I'm hanging up—you kept me awake all night, and now I'm going back to sleep."

After much agonizing thought, Luo Yichen grabbed his car keys and drove straight to the press conference venue. Upon arrival, he parked his car in a discreet spot. He called Mu Lichen and asked, "Are you there?"

"I am."

"Shang Qi is here too. Have someone find out where she is and don't let her stay here."

Mu Lichen said with difficulty, "The reporters haven't all arrived yet, so it's not convenient for me to show my face just yet. She's going to find out about what's being released today sooner or later. Can you stop living in denial? If you keep this up, all our plans will fail completely."

Luo Yichen stopped insisting. Sitting in his car, he stared ruefully at the entrance of the venue. Reason told him that Mu Lichen was right. He could not disrupt the overall plan at such a critical moment. Therefore, the only thing he could do was stay put.

Soon, all the reporters had arrived. Just as Xi Jingpeng was about to take the stage to formally announce the start of the press conference, Mu Lichen walked into the room. The reporters began to whisper among themselves, somewhat confused about the situation. At that moment, Shang Qi also appeared at the entrance. Shang Wende and Xi Jingpeng wore looks of shock, but it was already too late to pull Shang Qi away.

Mu Lichen seized the initiative and said, "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I would like to release some new information."

With that, he opened the computer in his hand and projected a passionate video. On the screen, Shang Qi and Luo Yichen could be seen passionately kissing in an elevator, along with some R-rated intimate movements. Instantly, an uproar swept through the entire room. Xi Jingpeng's face twisted slightly with rage, while Shang Wende was struck dumb with shock.

A reporter standing very close to Shang Qi was the first to ask, "Miss Shang, what exactly is your relationship with President Luo?"

Shang Qi never dreamed that Luo Yichen would make these things public. She looked at Mu Lichen, unable to believe that this man had once pursued her. Her heart felt as though it were being sliced to pieces, and she could do nothing except shake her head repeatedly. At that moment, she could not bear the sudden blow; her body swayed, and she nearly collapsed to the floor.

Sensing something was wrong, Xi Jingpeng rushed over to support Shang Qi. However, he was blocked by the surging crowd and could not get through immediately. He shouted anxiously, "Ladies and gentlemen, please come this way; I have more news to release."

Yet, the reporters refused to fall for his diversionary tactic and continued to swarm toward Shang Qi. Suddenly, someone firmly caught Shang Qi. It was none other than Xiu Fen. That morning, after discovering that Shang Qi was missing, she guessed that her daughter must have headed to the press conference and immediately hailed a cab to follow her. In her haste, she had forgotten her phone, failing to notify Shang Wende and the others beforehand.

By the time Xiu Fen arrived, the reporters were already bombarding Shang Qi. Supporting her daughter, she desperately fought her way out of the reporters' encirclement. Shang Qi tried desperately to explain, but could only manage faint, breathless gasps. From inside his car, Luo Yichen watched as Shang Qi and her mother were mobbed out the doors by reporters. Suddenly, Xiu Fen tripped and fell to the ground.

Shang Qi was dragged down along with her. Scrambling up from the ground, she shook the unresponsive Xiu Fen. Seeing the complete lack of color in her mother's face and noticing that her lips had turned a bluish-purple, Shang Qi burst into tears, her lips trembling open and closed. Suddenly, she let out a piercing scream: "Mom... Mom!" The sound was filled with utter despair and rage.

The reporters were also stunned by the scene. They stopped asking questions and cleared a wide space. Hearing Shang Qi's voice, Luo Yichen could no longer hold back; he drove his car right up to the entrance. Leaping out of the vehicle, he rushed over to where Shang Qi and her mother were. Seeing that it was him, Shang Qi roared, "Get away from me!"

With a grim expression, Luo Yichen said, "Auntie has a heart condition; we need to get her to the hospital immediately."