Chapter 54: Difficult Choice

The hospital director shook his head and said cautiously, "The patient must not be subjected to any further emotional stress. If you intend to visit her, you must compose yourself beforehand."

Shang Qi suddenly realized that her mother's sudden and drastic deterioration was entirely caused by the recent scandal surrounding herself. She shot Luo Yichen another fierce glare, yet refrained from uttering any harsh words. She was terrified that her mother, lying on the hospital bed, might overhear.

Just at that moment, Luo Yichen noticed someone in the distance secretly taking photographs. He quickly spun around and stepped in front of Shang Qi to shield her. Sensing something amiss with his demeanor, Shang Qi demanded, "What are you blocking my view for?"

Ignoring her, Luo Yichen lowered his voice and said to the director, "A reporter is taking pictures over there. Can we move Auntie to a VIP intensive care unit right away?"

Director Ye replied, "Very well! But the expenses..."

Shang Qi looked past him and indeed caught sight of a shadowy figure lurking in the distance. Noticing how engrossed the two men were in their discussion while completely ignoring her, she said with growing displeasure, "Luo Yichen, what gives you the right to make arbitrary decisions on my behalf? I am her daughter!"

Luo Yichen felt a fresh wave of hurt wash over him. He thought to himself: Even if I made numerous mistakes in the past, you have no right to trample upon my good intentions like this. Am I not doing this purely out of fear that reporters might disturb Auntie's recovery? Why won't she understand?

Driven by these thoughts, he intentionally provoked her, saying, "I am her prospective son-in-law, after all! It is only natural for me to do so."

Shang Qi's brows knitted in immediate fury as a surge of anger rose within her chest. However, mindful of the reporters lingering in the distance, she dared not make a public scene. The director was left utterly speechless, secretly bewildered by the turn of events: Didn't the news reports claim these two were locked in a bitter legal battle? Why would Luo Yichen make such a statement? And strangely enough, Shang Qi did not immediately issue a vehement denial. How very bizarre!

Noticing the director's astonished expression, Shang Qi hastily interjected, "Luo Yichen, stop talking nonsense! Don't forget that you are the primary culprit behind all this."

Glancing sideways, Luo Yichen saw that the reporter was still snapping photos. Without a word to Shang Qi, he abruptly bolted toward the photographer and snatched the camera, immediately ejecting the memory card. The reporter offered no resistance whatsoever, allowing Luo Yichen to take it without a struggle.

"Which media outlet do you work for?"

Refusing to answer, the reporter turned and attempted to flee. Luo Yichen took a swift step to the right to block his path. To his surprise, that had merely been a feint; the reporter slipped away through the gap on the left.

Luo Yichen prepared to give chase, but then abruptly halted. This was a public place; if he were to be seen chasing a reporter down the street, who knew what kind of spin would be put on the story next. He shook the camera in his hand, thinking that this might at least serve as a useful lead.

The director turned to Shang Qi and advised, "I strongly recommend moving her to the VIP ward. Being constantly harassed by reporters is detrimental to the patient's rest."

"Very well," Shang Qi agreed.

And so, Yu Xiufen was transferred to the intensive care unit. Family members were not permitted inside, leaving Shang Qi to wait anxiously outside. Watching her distraught and utterly shattered appearance, Luo Yichen felt that profound sense of self-reproach well up within him once more.

Shang Wende and Xi Jingpeng had managed to break through the reporters' siege. Having heard that Luo Yichen had abducted Shang Qi and her mother, they were frantic to call the police and have him arrested, but Mu Lichen intervened and stopped them. Upon learning of Yu Xiufen's critical condition, Shang Wende rushed directly to the hospital, leaving Xi Jingpeng and Mu Lichen behind to handle the aftermath.

When he arrived at the hospital, he was astonished to find Luo Yichen standing there. Clenching his fists, Shang Wende strode forward. Catching sight of her father, Shang Qi said with profound sorrow, "Dad, it's all my fault! Because of me, Mom has been driven to this state!"

The thought of Yu Xiufen hovering on the brink of death filled Shang Wende with agonizing grief. Struggling to suppress the boiling rage within him, he merely glared viciously at Luo Yichen, refraining from landing a punch across his face. He demanded, "How is your mother now?"

"The doctors say she hasn't passed the critical danger zone yet, and she needs constant monitoring," Shang Qi replied through her tears.

"Can we go in and see her?"

"No."

Seeing the profound despair etched across the faces of father and daughter, Luo Yichen offered tentative consolation, "Uncle, please don't worry too much! The director is a brilliant physician; Auntie will be fine."

Refusing to look at him, Shang Wende said coldly, "Qiqi, let's transfer your mother to another hospital. It's not peaceful enough here."

Luo Yichen's expression darkened instantly. With a helpless sigh, he said, "I'll take my leave then. The director is the finest cardiologist in the country, and Auntie needs him for her treatment."

With those words, he left the hospital. Watching his dejected figure retreat, Shang Qi thought to herself: Luo Yichen, what kind of person are you, really? Why must you torture me this way? True, you rushed my mother to the hospital in time and saved her life, but since this entire ordeal was caused by you, how can I ever let it go?

Upon returning to his apartment after leaving the hospital, Luo Yichen inserted the memory card left behind by the reporter into a computer card reader. However, apart from photographs of them at the hospital, the card was entirely empty. He picked up the camera and inspected it meticulously. Finally, he discovered the body serial number engraved on the bottom.

Luo Yichen dialed Xia Luo's number and said, "I just confiscated a camera from a reporter who was trailing me. Help me check who purchased it, and if possible, find out which media outlet the owner belongs to. Here is the body serial number, write it down."

After noting down the details, Xia Luo asked, "I saw reports online claiming you've turned into a kidnapper. What on earth is going on?"

"What?" Luo Yichen asked, startled. "There are already reports like that online?"

"They aren't official news reports from media outlets, but posts shared by someone on microblogs. The view count is skyrocketing!"

"Just look into the camera matter first!"

Luo Yichen had a sinking premonition that the situation was rapidly slipping out of his control. His adversary understood him far too thoroughly, striking relentlessly at his every weakness with pinpoint precision. Luo Yichen had no desire to see Shang Qi's family utterly destroyed, and he was determined to make one final effort for her sake. No matter the outcome, he had to try.

After ending the call, Luo Yichen drove back to the Luo family estate. Spotting his arrival, Elder Luo demanded, "Why aren't you staying out of sight? What brings you back here?"

Luo Yichen replied, "Grandfather, Shang Qi's mother has suffered a sudden heart attack and is hospitalized. Her emotional state is extremely fragile. I think we should stop pressing them. Have you ever considered that if things escalate further, Shang Qi might not survive it? If a human life is lost, this stain on my reputation will follow me to the grave."

Squinting slightly, Elder Luo remarked, "You believe she would commit suicide? That matters little; we would simply declare that she brought it entirely upon herself."

Luo Yichen stared at his grandfather in sheer disbelief. For the first time, he realized just how terrifying his grandfather could be. He pressed on, "I have carefully analyzed the entire course of events. It appears someone has been deliberately orchestrating every step to trap me. If that is the case, the moment Shang Qi takes her own life, all the blame will be shifted squarely onto me. By then, our family will be beyond redemption!"

After a moment of silent reflection, Elder Luo asked, "Do you have a viable solution?"

Luo Yichen answered, "Let me marry Shang Qi! We will announce publicly that this whole incident was merely a domestic dispute between a husband and wife."

Gazing deep into his grandson's eyes, Elder Luo inquired, "Are you making this proposal for the sake of the company, or for the sake of that woman?"

"Naturally, it is for the company." Luo Yichen knew that appealing to his grandfather's obsession with profit was the only way to secure a compromise.

Looking skeptical, Elder Luo probed, "If that is the case, you needn't humiliate yourself. I have my own plans for handling this matter."

"It matters not whom I marry; she would merely serve as a figurehead."

Elder Luo advised gently, "Chen'er, do not sacrifice your own happiness."

Hearing such rare concern from his grandfather, Luo Yichen decided to drop his guard. So many events had transpired over the past few days, and he desperately longed to hear his grandfather's perspective. With a heavy sigh, Luo Yichen said, "At this point, whether I am happy or not is no longer of any consequence. Grandfather, if only none of this had ever happened!"

Hearing the underlying desolation in his grandson's tone, Elder Luo asked, "Do you truly love Shang Qi? Is that why you are so utterly depressed?"

Luo Yichen did not answer immediately, weighing what his grandfather's reaction might be. Although he longed to confess the truth, he dared not openly admit his love for Shang Qi. In his grandfather's eyes, romance was entirely separate from marriage.

Elder Luo had already guessed the truth with near certainty. He said, "After everything that has transpired between you and her, even if you were to marry, you would only inflict mutual torment. A girl like Shang Qi will never forgive you. Why on earth must you torture yourself so?"

Remaining silent for a long time, Luo Yichen fought a fierce internal battle. Finally, he declared, "Even if she hates me for the rest of her life, I refuse to let her suffer any more harm. The company represents the lifelong dedication of our ancestors; I cannot let it be ruined in my hands. Yet if I do not marry her, the only alternative is to sacrifice Shang Qi. Knowing she might take her own life, I simply cannot be that cruel."

Elder Luo persisted in his persuasion, "Chen'er, you must think this through carefully. Keeping a woman who hates you by your side is exceedingly dangerous. You may never win her forgiveness. To entangle your lives in such misery will bring endless pain to you both! If you harden your heart now, this temporary agony will pass swiftly."

Luo Yichen stood firm. "Grandfather, I have considered all of this. This time, I refuse to give up!"

"Very well! If you can persuade Shang Qi to agree, then we will handle it exactly as you wish."

Seeing his grandfather relent, Luo Yichen breathed a long sigh of relief. Little did he know what was truly passing through Elder Luo's mind. Shang Qi was a stubborn creature; how could she ever willingly agree to such a marriage? Elder Luo had agreed precisely to let his grandson hit a brick wall and retreat of his own accord. That would prove far more effective than outright opposition, forcing Luo Yichen to finally abandon his foolish persistence.

Stepping out of his grandfather's study, Luo Yichen made his way to his parents' bedroom. He announced, "Mom, Dad, I am going to marry Shang Qi."

Yao Minzhi immediately erupted in protest, "Absolutely not! How could you possibly marry a woman like her?"

Luo Yichen cast an imploring look at his father. Luo Shixun interceded, "Minzhi, the company's current situation is precarious; we need to quell this crisis as quickly as possible."

"And marrying Shang Qi will magically resolve this?" Yao Minzhi was not so easily deceived.

Luo Yichen replied, "It may not solve everything, but at least our opponents will not achieve total victory. They will never anticipate that I would marry Shang Qi. Doing so will buy us precious time to alleviate our financial pressures."

That explanation convinced Yao Minzhi. The Luo family enterprise was indeed facing immense difficulties and desperately needed time to catch its breath. She fell silent, and Luo Shixun promptly escorted her out under the pretext of discussing business matters.