Chapter 61: Staying Out All Night

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Luo Yichen stepped closer and said, “Since you took my money, shouldn’t you fulfill your part of the bargain?”

As he spoke, he reached out to touch her cheek. Shang Qi, seeing his seriousness, began to feel afraid. Yet, she said aloud, “Fine! I do have such needs anyway. Rather than spending the money on some other man, I might as well enjoy you right here.”

Without any blush or faster heartbeat, Shang Qi spoke these blunt words. Luo Yichen was more shocked than angry; he hardly recognized the woman beneath him. He sensed that Shang Qi’s transformation was dangerous. At this rate, he truly had no idea what she might become.

“What are you spacing out for? Afraid now? Didn’t you force yourself on me with all your strength that night?” Shang Qi’s voice trembled as she said this.

Luo Yichen felt a deep sadness seeing her like this. He held Shang Qi tightly, but she trembled even more violently. With no other choice, Luo Yichen sat up and loosened his grip. He said, “Qi Qi, please don’t be like this. It pains me to see you this way.”

“Pains you?” Shang Qi sneered. “Do you even have a heart?”

Luo Yichen did not confront her head-on but instead spoke earnestly, “One day, you’ll understand my heart.”

Shang Qi did not believe him at all and sat there dazed. Luo Yichen wouldn’t let her leave, so she had no choice but to stay. Shang Qi seemed soulless, knowing only to sit. Meanwhile, the Luo family was busy to the point of chaos, but Luo Yichen dared not leave Shang Qi’s side. Before the wedding, he vowed to watch over her closely. After all, it was only for a day or two.

After Yin Guizhen left, she walked away crying, overwhelmed with sorrow. She summoned Mu Lichen to confide in him. Yin Guizhen wept, “Luo Yichen and Shang Qi have registered their marriage—they’re actually going to get married! What should I do?”

“Pull yourself together, will you? It’s just a man. Is it worth turning yourself into this sorry state?” Mu Lichen scolded.

Such a stern wake-up call brought Yin Guizhen some calm. Her delicate face was still wet with tears, but her emotions steadied slightly. She said, “I shouldn’t be so self-destructive. However Shang Qi took Luo Yichen from me, I’ll take him back the same way!”

Mu Lichen said with concern, “Guizhen, whatever you do, I will unconditionally support you. But this path is full of thorns. Do you really want to walk it bleeding?”

“Yes. Ever since Luo Yichen betrayed me, my heart has been bleeding. A little more blood won’t matter.”

Yin Guizhen’s desperate eyes made Mu Lichen’s heart tremble. He feared she might become dangerous but could not dissuade her. For now, he could only stay by her side. Even if she were to go to hell, he would accompany her. For this woman, Mu Lichen was willing to give up everything.

Inside the apartment, Shang Qi’s phone rang.

Xi Jingpeng said, “Qi Qi, where are you?”

With a hoarse voice, Shang Qi replied, “Don’t worry about it. I’m going to marry Luo Yichen. Let’s keep contact to a minimum. Also, please arrange for the lawyer to withdraw the lawsuit.”

“What?” Xi Jingpeng couldn’t hold back and demanded, “Why would you register your marriage with Luo Yichen? Have you forgotten what he did to your family?”

Shang Qi understood why Xi Jingpeng reacted so strongly. She said, “I hope you can respect my decision. I’m grateful you’ve been by my side! You helped me through my hardest times. But I have nothing to give you in return, so please don’t trouble yourself on my behalf anymore.”

“I’m not asking because I’m jealous, but because I’m worried you’ll fall into another abyss.”

“That won’t happen. I won’t let anyone bully me again. Please withdraw the lawsuit against Luo Yichen as soon as possible!”

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Before he could say more, she hung up. Xi Jingpeng felt uneasy. Shang Qi was clever and very capable at work, but her innate innocence and kindness made her ill-equipped to survive in a world of deceit. Luo Yichen was deeply calculating, and Shang Qi was no match for him.

Luo Yichen came out of the study and sat opposite Shang Qi, tapping away at the keyboard. Time slipped by unnoticed until evening.

He said, “Let’s go out to eat?”

Shang Qi ignored him.

Used to dominance, Luo Yichen couldn’t tolerate her silent resistance. He shouted, “What exactly do you want?”

Still, Shang Qi remained silent.

Growing restless, Luo Yichen grabbed a bottle of liquor from the cabinet and began drinking alone. Soon, the strong scent of alcohol filled the room. Shang Qi took a glass and poured herself a drink, drinking quickly until the bottle was nearly empty.

Seeing the empty bottle, Luo Yichen stopped her, saying, “Don’t drink anymore!”

“Are you reluctant to part with this wine?” Shang Qi asked, slightly intoxicated.

Luo Yichen said tenderly, “I’m reluctant to lose you. Drinking too much will harm your health.”

Suddenly, Shang Qi burst into laughter. She ran to the cabinet, grabbed another bottle, and started drinking again. This time, Luo Yichen didn’t stop her. He thought maybe if she got drunk, she’d feel better. Soon, Shang Qi was thoroughly intoxicated.

Pointing at Luo Yichen’s nose, she cursed, “You bastard! How dare you force yourself on me? This world is so unfair. You rich people can cover the sky with one hand, while I’m just your plaything. Luo Yichen, honestly, have I ever seduced you?”

Seeing Shang Qi finally return to something like her ‘normal’ self, Luo Yichen felt relieved. Her earlier state had truly worried him. He coaxed her, “Be good, don’t make a scene! It was all my fault, okay? Qi Qi, I promise I’ll treat you well from now on. We’ll be happy.”

But Shang Qi was too drunk to listen. She only knew to keep berating Luo Yichen, even punching and kicking to vent her endless grievances. And he willingly took it all. As long as it eased her heart, Luo Yichen was willing to endure anything.

Finally, Shang Qi tired herself out and lay half-reclined on the sofa, panting. After downing so much strong liquor, nausea rose. She couldn’t hold it and ran to the bathroom to vomit violently. The sharp smell of alcohol was overwhelming even to Luo Yichen. Yet Shang Qi remained slumped by the toilet, motionless.

Worried, Luo Yichen hurried over to support her and called out, “Qi Qi, what’s wrong?”

She murmured softly but said nothing. Her cheeks were flushed, looking irresistibly delicate. Holding his wife in his arms, Luo Yichen felt a rising warmth in his abdomen. He gently smoothed her hair and brushed her lips with a light kiss. He dared not move too much, fearing to startle her. Cherishing the quiet moment, he held Shang Qi tightly for a long time.

Perhaps the pressure on Shang Qi was too great, and she needed a warm embrace. Unconsciously, her body kept leaning into Luo Yichen’s arms. This active submission nearly made him lose control. But thinking of the disgusted look she once gave him, Luo Yichen felt uneasy.

Since that incident, he had developed a certain fear toward physical intimacy. He maintained constant caution, afraid of making another mistake. After they registered their marriage, facing her brought new feelings, both mentally and physically. After all, she was his wife now, and many things were beyond his control.

However, Luo Yichen feared that when Shang Qi sobered up the next day, she wouldn’t forgive him. So, he reluctantly let her go. The scent of alcohol on her was pungent. Luo Yichen placed her in the bathtub and cleaned her up. Then he carried her to the bedroom and covered her with a blanket.

He did not stay but slept in the room next door. After such closeness before, he wasn’t sure he could remain chaste sleeping beside Shang Qi. In the middle of the night, a woman’s scream jolted Luo Yichen awake. He rushed into Shang Qi’s room.

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There she was, eyes tightly shut, hands clawing wildly around. Shang Qi’s brows were furrowed, her face pale as paper, sweat beading her forehead. She cried out, “No! No! Luo Yichen, let me go!”

Luo Yichen’s heart ached as he approached the bedside to comfort her. “Qi Qi, don’t be afraid! I won’t do that to you again.”

Suddenly, Shang Qi grabbed his arm, clawing him desperately. Soon, red marks appeared all over Luo Yichen’s arm. Fearing she might hurt him, he pressed firmly on her arms and held her close. But Shang Qi remained unconscious, biting and thrashing against him.

Her torment lasted over half an hour before she finally quieted. Luo Yichen laid her down on the pillow. Seeing her painful expression, he felt deep guilt. This time, he did not leave but lay beside her. He knew Shang Qi must be terrified of such a silent night. No matter how much she hated him, he would stay with her...

Shang Qi did not return all night, which worried the Shang family elders terribly. They brought Xi Jingpeng to discuss and began searching everywhere. The entire night passed without finding her. Xi Jingpeng was frantic and called Mu Lichen.

He asked, “Is Shang Qi with Luo Yichen?”

“They’ve registered their marriage. It’s normal for them to be together now. Xi Jingpeng, you should stop interfering.”

Xi Jingpeng’s face changed abruptly. He shouted, “Where is Shang Qi?”

Mu Lichen ignored him and hung up.

Shang Wende asked, “How could Qi Qi be with him?”

“She was definitely forced by Luo Yichen,” Xi Jingpeng said painfully. “Yesterday, she even told me to withdraw the lawsuit!”

Shang Wende almost fainted from worry. On his sickbed, Yu Xiufen’s face turned pale. No matter what, they couldn’t let their daughter marry Luo Yichen!

Shang Wende said, “We absolutely cannot withdraw the lawsuit! Do you know where the Luo family lives? I’m taking Qi Qi back.”

“Fine,” Xi Jingpeng said grimly. He desperately wanted to beat Luo Yichen up.

Thus, the two of them went to the Luo family mansion. Luo Shixun was surprised to see them.

Shang Wende shouted, “Call Luo Yichen out! Where has he taken my daughter?”

Luo Shixun thought: Why would he come to the Luo house demanding someone? Has Shang Qi run away secretly, and now the Shang family is here to cause trouble and shift blame?

He said, “Shang Qi hasn’t married into the Luo family yet. We have no obligation to show you your daughter.”

Xi Jingpeng said, “Uncle Luo, Shang Qi and Luo Yichen have registered their marriage. Uncle Shang hasn’t found her all night, so isn’t it reasonable to ask here?”

“Registered their marriage?” Luo Shixun was even more shocked.

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